The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 269: Proposal - 4

“You’ve been staying up way too late these days, haven’t you?”

The night of the day we finally got Franchisee No. 1 Jeon Gil-san’s inn up and running. Im Ha-yeon opened the office door with a worried look on her face.

“I’m meeting the Guild Leader tomorrow. I have to push through until then.”

Head office work, vendor management, franchise oversight, duties as head of the Joseon Association, and even Daseogak-related work sent from Yichang—things were beyond hectic.

“Here’s the ledger for tomorrow. I also sorted out most of the miscellaneous documents.”

Honestly, if it weren’t for Im Ha-yeon’s help, I might’ve collapsed already.

“You must’ve been worn out too, training the homing pigeons. Thanks. Huh?!”

Just as I stood up to take the ledger from her, I lost my balance.

“Are you okay?!”

Im Ha-yeon caught me before I could hit the floor. I must’ve really been at my limit.

She didn’t let go, maybe out of shock, and held me tightly. Was she wearing perfume? A subtle and pleasant scent drifted from her warm body.

Get it together. You’re tired, not delusional.

“Sorry. Must’ve been a moment of dizziness.”

I steadied myself and stepped back deliberately, keeping my expression calm. Maybe it was the lighting, but her face looked slightly flushed.

“You should get some rest tonight.”

She looked at me like I was a toddler wobbling around unsteadily—concern radiated from her expression.

“I still need to review the ledger...”

“Sleep. You don’t need to check it.”

She placed her hands on her hips as if ready to take physical action if I argued. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

“...Alright.”

If I don’t want to collapse in front of the Guild Leader tomorrow, I should listen.

I nodded and sat down on the bed in the corner of the office.

“Uhm...”

As I was preparing to lie down, Im Ha-yeon called out with her head lowered.

“You have something to say?”

“...Thank you. Things will go well tomorrow!”

Embarrassed, she didn’t wait for my reply and bolted from the room.

Did she think I was overworking because of her? Not entirely wrong. Back when we first met, she could barely say thanks—she really has come a long way.

I let myself fall onto the bed.

If I want to save Daseogak and Im Ha-yeon, tomorrow’s meeting with the Guild Leader must go well.

For now, sleep. I need to meet him with a clear head.

----------------

“The Guild Leader is currently meeting with his grandsons. Please wait a moment.”

So that’s why Jeon Gil-san seemed evasive today—he had a prior appointment with his grandfather.

I came fully prepared, nerves wound tight, but I guess I’ll be waiting. A bit of a letdown.

If the true successor exam is for the grandsons, then I’m just solving a side quest. Waiting is the only option.

“Where did she go?!”

“Search faster!”

While I waited like it was a job interview, noise suddenly erupted around me.

What’s going on? To calm my nerves, I stepped into the garden for some fresh air.

“...What’s with that box?”

In the corner of the garden sat a large wooden box, big enough for a person to hide in.

That definitely wasn’t there before.

A wooden box in this carefully curated, nature-themed garden? It stuck out like a sore thumb.

“Check the garden again!”

“Young Master Kang, pardon us.”

A few attendants—presumably estate staff—came into the garden and looked around anxiously.

What the—there’s a clearly suspicious box right there. Why are they ignoring it?

“She’s not here. Try another area!”

The servants scanned around the box, but not at the box, and quickly left the garden.

Are they all in on this? Like soldiers guarding a demon weapon while pretending not to see the crawling box.

Looking closer, the area around the box was slightly blurry. That’s odd. I cautiously approached it.

“Oops!”

I accidentally broke a strange-looking wooden ornament next to the box.

Everything in this garden must be expensive. What if they ask me to pay?

“Ah?!”

As soon as I broke the ornament, a surprised voice came from inside the box.

“Check the garden again!”

The box started moving. Whoever’s inside—if this were a stealth game, they’d have triggered a game over. Firing squad, no question.

“Uhm...”

“Who’s there?”

I moved toward the box, cutting off its path.

“P-Please move...”

A woman’s voice? From inside the box, timid and hesitant.

“...”

Should I let her go?

“Could you pleeease move...”

The voice pleaded from inside the box.

“Young miss! Young miss! Where did you go?!”

“Check the jars and crates!”

“Hiiiek!”

So she is part of the Guild Leader’s family. Seems like a runaway troublemaker playing hide-and-seek.

“No one to the right.”

I really didn’t want to get involved in something troublesome right before such an important meeting. I muttered quietly so only the box could hear.

“Th-Thank youuu!”

The wooden box lifted just enough to reveal her feet, then shuffled quickly to my right.

“My right, not the box’s right.”

“Ah!”

The box reoriented itself and quickly scooted off toward an empty part of the garden.

She sounded young. Who was that girl, I wonder?

----------------

“A food delivery business using homing pigeons... You really came up with ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) something unusual.”

Shortly after the suspicious wooden box vanished from sight, the chief steward from earlier came to escort me to the Guild Leader.

“I thought it was better to pioneer a new market than to do something already established. I considered what I was capable of—and what Wuchang lacked—and this was the business I arrived at.”

“And the franchise model as well. That’s certainly unique. Expanding a business without taking on loans or spending extra capital...”

“The spirit-trained homing pigeons are something others can’t replicate, and there’s still plenty of untapped demand in Wuchang. I believe it’s a solid growth strategy.”

“And you made even one of my grandsons your tenant farmer in the process.”

So he did know about that.

“Ha ha... Well, he’s been rather pleased with the profits lately.”

I did say I was squeezing Jeon Gil-san dry, but it’d be a problem if the business wasn’t actually profitable enough to justify it for him.

“The business model is decent... By the way, are your parents still living back home?”

Where did that come from?

“They’ve passed away.”

I answered plainly, without emotion.

“It’s a shame. They should have seen the man their son’s become.”

He didn’t look particularly saddened. If anything, his tone carried a faint trace of relief. Why bring that up?

“I live each day trying not to bring shame to their memory.”

I didn’t know why he asked, but I responded like a good son, mourning his late parents.

The Guild Leader nodded and silently reviewed my ledgers and business documents for a long time.

Did something go wrong? A frown deepened on his brow, and it showed no sign of easing. We were having a nice conversation—what’s with this sudden tension?

It felt like nailing every job interview question, only for them to bring up your years-long unemployment gap.

“There’s a problem with this business.”

So much for hopeful delusion.

“What sort of problem, sir?”

“The section on the homing pigeons is lacking. You should’ve paid a premium for them, but there’s no record in the ledger.”

“I had a friend skilled in training pigeons. He helped me out.”

“I wanted your capabilities. Not your friend’s. Some assistance is fine, but the foundation of your business must not be built on someone else’s work.”

“I came up with the business model myself, even if the pigeons were trained with help.”

“Then you should have paid for that help. That way, it would’ve counted as your capability. But there’s no such record here. And if you had paid, you wouldn’t have had enough left to launch the business.”

“...Are you saying my trial is invalid?”

Spirit-trained homing pigeons are expensive. With a proper purchase, I would’ve blown past budget—couldn’t have bought the inn and funded the business. Now he’s saying that because I didn’t pay for the pigeons, my entire business is invalid?

“What? You think this is unfair?”

Of course it’s unfair. This wasn’t part of the rules. You gave me one promissory note and said to start a business in Wuchang. Even recruiting Im Ha-yeon was my skill.

If I fail this trial now, I’ll be a debt slave forever.

I looked at the Guild Leader quietly.

He was smiling faintly, like someone waiting to see what I’d do after being cornered with nonsense.

‘This old fox... he’s just like me.’

He’s waiting for me to take the bait.

“You’ve been praising me the whole time—only to bring this up now. I suspect there’s a particular reason for it.”

Let’s hear it, old man. Why drop the fishing line?

“Hoho. That ridiculous excuse about the pigeons being ‘just a bit of help’—if you’ll listen to my ridiculous request in return, I might overlook it.”

“...What kind of request?”

So it is a hidden clause in the trial.

“Meet my granddaughter. A formal matchmaking meeting.”

----------------

“Sir, I’m already betrothed to Hwa-rin.”

I was completely blindsided by the proposal. My mind went blank for a moment.

“In ten years, you mean.”

How the hell does he know that?

“Ten years or twenty—it doesn’t change the fact.”

“A man who’s building something great can’t remain unmarried. He needs someone to support him. I’ll introduce you to my granddaughter—just have a look.”

Technically, I already got married two years ago. I’m a husband. On paper, at least.

“I appreciate the high regard you have for me. But forgive me for saying—I believe this offer violates the spirit of your friendship with the Baek Family Head.”

I couldn't outright tell him the truth, so I tried to circle around.

“If you want to marry in ten years, go ahead. I’m not saying you have to break off your engagement. I’m offering my granddaughter so you can carry on the Baek Family’s will.”

He said it like he was doing me a grand favor, puffing his shoulders with pride.

Is this how this world thinks? It sounds ridiculous, but... maybe it really is goodwill.

Even in Korea, old men would sometimes introduce their granddaughters to a “nice young man.” This might be that same spirit—just dialed up to a martial world extreme.

“I appreciate your generosity, sir. But how could I betray the trust of a woman I’ve promised my future to?”

I swore to take responsibility for the heroines I bonded with. That doesn’t mean I’ll say yes to every woman who crosses my path.

I refused, firmly.

“Then I cannot overlook your own absurdity.”

You old goat.

The Guild Leader smiled as if to say: You already took the bait. Don’t even think about backing out now.

If I want to reclaim Daseogak, I have to marry his granddaughter? What kind of insane logic is that?

If it were someone else, maybe I’d understand. I might be a desirable catch. But if he truly treasured his friendship with the Baek Family Head, why this?

Then it hit me.

“...Sir. Could all of this—everything that’s happened—be related to the succession test you’re conducting with your grandsons?”

No way. No... but maybe. The test is supposed to be for the grandsons only. And yet...

“It’s rude for an outsider to ask about family matters. But if you become part of the family, I might tell you.”

So that’s a half-confirmation.

“I’m grateful for your interest in me, but Hwa-rin is the Baek Family Head’s granddaughter and a member of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

Even with the Guild’s immense wealth, the Tang Clan is the ruling power of Sichuan. It’d be better if he just gave up now.

“That’s fine. My granddaughter is from the Zhegall Clan.”

“...Excuse me?”

Zhegall Clan? As in that Zhegall Clan? Like “Zhenggu the Divine Strategist” (신기제갈)?

Among the Five Great Families often mentioned in martial arts tales, the Zhegall Clan is always one. If Sichuan has the Tang Clan, then Hubei has the Zhegall Clan.

Of course, the most powerful sect in Hubei is Wudang, one of the Nine Sects and One Gang and a pillar of orthodox martial arts.

But that doesn’t mean the Zhegall Clan is weak—far from it.

“The girl’s mother has already given her blessing. I’ve had her dressed up. Meet her first, then let’s talk.”

So everything’s been set up already?

I nearly laughed. The pigeons were just an excuse. No matter what, he was going to make this meeting happen.

What do I say?

Should I tell him Hwa-rin is treated like a direct heir of the Tang Clan? Should I say that if I send a letter home saying I’m going on a blind date months after parting with her, the enraged Poisoned One will reduce the Guild to rubble?

Or maybe I should mention that the most promising assassin in all of Salmak would never allow such a disgrace to happen?

Or maybe—

“Sir! The young lady!”

Just then, the chief steward burst into the room, panic written across his face.

“What is it?”

“She—she’s gone!”

“What do you mean she’s gone?”

“She vanished—left behind only a wooden dummy!”