The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

The banquet hall buzzed with artists invited by the Gapsu Trading Company.

“The liquor is flowing. So good!”

“Brother, drink up quickly.”

“We’re out of side dishes here.~!”

There, the invited artists had gathered, engaging in a drinking spree. Of course, I was among them.

Showing off skills to others and earning money from it was important for seasonal business. Performing daily in front of the public to earn a steady income didn’t bring in substantial earnings.

Artists showcased their skills in the marketplace, hoping to be invited to rich households.

Selling stories in the marketplace was like busking, whereas storytelling at a sixtieth birthday party was akin to a small theater performance in Hongdae.

Being invited to a rich household meant being recognized as a bona fide artist.

That day, I had made what could be considered my official stage debut in the Central Plains.

A good performance on the official stage would attract other clients.

I hoped someone else might seek me out after that day’s impressive showing.

With a light heart, I began my meal.

“Where are you from, Brother Storyteller? You don’t seem like a Central Plains native.”

A well-built man from the acrobatics troupe spoke to me.

“I’m from Joseon.”

“Joseon? A newbie in our troupe is from Joseon. Do you know Okbun?”

“No, that’s a new name to me.”

If I knew everyone from my country, I’d be best friends with all the pro gamers and athletes I support.

“It’s strange not to know each other, being from the same place. Hey! Where’s Okbun?”

“She stepped out for a moment!”

“Really? I’ll introduce you when I get the chance.”

“It would be nice to meet someone from home after so long.”

Maybe I should ask if she had some kimchi. Ramen would be great, too.

“I’ll introduce you when there’s a chance. By the way, Brother Storyteller, you’ve been famous in Chilgok County lately. How’s business here? We came here on an invitation from another place.”

“The locals aren’t too bad.”

Except for those who tried to exploit their generosity.

“That’s good. Last time we went somewhere, even though people clapped for fun, they wouldn’t drop a single coin in our money box.”

“It must be sad to have such a tough experience.”

“If our whole troupe goes hungry, it’s a real downer. Know what it feels like to starve together?”

“I’ve only ever starved alone.”

I remembered starving in a mountain cave. The sounds of hungry beasts weren’t scary; I wished they would come so that at least one of us could survive.

“It’s dreadful. I have to feed all these guys, and sometimes I think I should do something. If I were really bad, I could have turned to robbery. You’re alone, so you must manage to get by.”

“I managed to put food on the table.”

There was no point in unloading my story of surviving as a foreigner in the Central Plains on a stranger. I deflected casually.

“If you earn your keep by talking, you’d better manage that much.”

A man sitting nearby, his face red from drinking, looked at me with disapproval.

“This guy. Are you looking to start trouble again after drinking? Drink moderately.”

The well-built man scolded the drunk.

“No. We practice every day and perform acrobatics to survive. It must be nice for a foreigner to just run his mouth. Did I say something wrong? *burp*”

The well-built man glanced at me, worried I might react to his colleague’s insensitivity. I wasn’t going to fight over that.

“Haha. What do you do, sir?”

“Me? I do pole acrobatics. Can you do that?”

A skill involving climbing and performing acrobatics on a pole. He was definitely talented.

“That’s incredible. I’d be too scared to even attempt that.”

“Do you think I’m crazy for doing it?”

This guy really wanted to start a fight. So full of anger in his life.

I thought about knocking him out with one hit and putting him to sleep, but that wouldn’t be right. Especially not in a banquet hall full of acrobatics troupe members.

“Of course not. I make my living by talking, so I always admire those with skills like acrobats.”

What I truly admired were the skills of a master carpenter, not necessarily martial arts. If I had known I would fall into a martial arts visual novel, I would have learned some skills, as my father suggested.

In the world of martial arts visual novels, computer skills and a driver’s license seemed pretty useless.

“Just running your mouth, huh?”

“Although I earn my keep through storytelling, I’m learning a small trick. Would you like to see?”

“A trick?”

Curiosity flickered in the eyes of the drunk man.

“If you lend me a coin, I can show you.”

“Use your own.”

“It’s a trick that requires using someone else’s coin.”

“If it’s not interesting, you’re dead. Here.”

The drunk man fished out a coin and tossed it to me. Oh, it was a silver coin. Sweet.

“In my palm is a coin. If I grip it tightly and then, whoosh! Look!”

The coin in my fist disappeared right before their eyes.

“What? Where did it go?”

“Wow!”

“Amazing. Is this a Joseon skill? I’ve never seen this before. Fascinating.”

The onlookers, who had been cautiously watching in case a fight broke out, were also surprised and intrigued.

“Look! Now the coin is gone from this hand. But with a little magic touch! Ta-da!”

The coin suddenly reappeared in the previously empty hand.

“Wow! How did you do that?”

“If you can create money, would you like to do business with me?”

“It’s sorcery! The Storyteller is using sorcery!”

The drunk man shouted in alarm.

Sorcery, my foot. In the world of martial arts, anything you couldn’t explain was called sorcery. This was no sorcery.

“It’s just a simple trick used in Joseon drinking sessions. It’s a modest skill compared to what the acrobats can do.”

I made a few more coins disappear and reappear on the spot, laughing.

Even the acrobatics troupe, seeing this for the first time, gaped in amazement. They had never seen this before, have they? I practiced hard to master it.

I learned and practiced diligently, with the intention of using it to spice up drinking sessions with women. An insider friend had told me that this trick always boosted the mood.

“Brother, you’re so entertaining.”

“Shall I show you something else?”

I had planned to perform a coin magic trick near a woman’s ear for some skinship and hand-holding, but things didn’t go as planned. If the mood had heated up, it would have been great to go for a second round together.

Since they disliked skinship, I simply showed magic without any physical contact, and they seemed to enjoy it.

Hoping for a chance, I watched as the atmosphere warmed up. But, as always, the handsome guys left with the women after the drinks. A trick was just a trick; it couldn’t beat reality.

“Wow! Show us more.”

“Can you teach me that?”

As I performed the fascinating magic, the acrobatics troupe crowded around, buzzing with excitement. It would be nice to make a living with such simple magic.

Unfortunately, I was not a magician. Simple tricks like these, which were easily distinguishable depending on the angle, wouldn’t suffice to make a living here. They’re just for livening up the atmosphere.

Before I knew it, the drunk troublemaker had been chased to a corner, cowering.

“Burp.”

After eating and drinking to my heart’s content, I stepped outside for some fresh air.

Having drunk and enjoyed myself, I realized that it was already evening and night had fallen.

“I even earned some extra income.”

I flicked the silver coin into the air and caught it again.

The drunk’s silver coin was now in my hand. Keeping the money of those you dislike is an essential part of money magic.

Kid, don’t bother looking for the silver coin in the morning. I’m taking it instead of a punch.

“Okbun! Where have you been?”

“Just stepped out for a bit.”

An unfamiliar voice came from inside the banquet hall. Perhaps the Joseon person I’d heard about had returned. I was near the door; how had I missed them? We must have just missed each other.

Joseon people in Hubei Province, huh? They were common in Yodong Castle and coastal cities but rare inland.

I wondered if there was something like a Joseon community association in Hubei Province.

“You! I told you not to be short with your words! As a newcomer, leaving your post without telling your superiors! Do you even think?”

Inside, it seemed they were disciplining a new member.

A Joseon person in Chilgok County. I was curious to meet them, but the atmosphere didn’t seem right. It was better to head back to my lodging.

“Such a starry night.”

On my way to the lodging, looking up at the sky, countless stars twinkled. There must be more women in the Central Plains than there were stars.

One of those stars must be the true heroine.

The gap between me and the true heroine was as vast as the sky. But there was no need to be too gloomy. There was always a way.

It was easy to get lost in emotions and sink into endless gloom.

No, I shouldn’t do that anymore.

I couldn’t be sure if I would continue to have such luck, but I planned to keep earning money through storytelling.

Just being a storyteller could build fame and wealth. My current job itself was a step towards winning over the true heroine.

Rushing to write ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’ had been too hasty. I should save money and write a book. If one didn’t work, I’d write several. One of them would surely succeed. Then, I could become famous again.

Cheer up, Kang Yun-ho!

“I wonder who the true heroine is.”

When one became positive, clues for the conquest started to emerge.

I thought about the many female characters. If it wasn’t the princess or Moyong Sang-ah, who could it be? There were many suspects. Let’s start by eliminating the definite non-candidates.

“It can’t be that crazy woman.”

The character who taught me in the game that Joseon people have black hair.

The murder-obsessed woman.

It couldn’t be her.

“The head of the trading company has been assassinated!!!”

“There’s an assassin among the acrobatics troupe members!”

“There goes the assassin! Catch them!”

Loud noises and bright lights came from afar.

Who had died? A premium member?

No! I had been about to ask them to subscribe regularly.

As I turned toward the light in the distance, a figure suddenly passed by me.

Huh?

What?

Whoa?

Black bobbed hair with red eyes?

“Cheon Sohee?”

She was one of the few people in this world whose name I knew. Surprised to see her unexpectedly, I called out her name.

Reacting to my unthinkingly uttered words, the fleeing figure stopped and turned around.

As we turned, our eyes met.

In the blink of an eye, her knife was already pointed at my throat.

“You. Who are you? How do you know my name?”

Oh.

I was in trouble.