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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Real Estate Market of Nine Dragons Fortress
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#009: The Real Estate Market of Nine Dragons Fortress.
Myo Hyang's explanation was as follows.
When the Golden Blossom Pavilion was taken over by the Red Blossom Pavilion, the courtesans who had been tricked and brought there were granted their freedom.
The problem was the medieval Chinese perception of women, one that might as well have been Confucian fundamentalism.
Although they were entertainers who sold their skills, not prostitutes who sold their bodies, women who had been courtesans could neither marry nor find employment.
In the end, most of the courtesans chose to remain at the Red Blossom Pavilion, which allowed Jeok Hwa-ran to easily run her "Red Blossom Pavilion Expansion Pack."
But Myo Hyang was different.
One of the top entertainers of the Golden Blossom Pavilion, she had stormed out of the Red Blossom Pavilion.
While some might have seen her as ungrateful, Jeok Hwa-ran had thankfully gathered all the former master's valuables and given them to Myo Hyang.
"This was all earned by exploiting you, Myo Hyang. Don't refuse it."
"H-How could I possibly...?"
"My arm hurts. Just take it. You have to think about your brother studying in Nanjing. If you're really grateful, just look after Senior Jin from time to time. The way he goes around, he looks no better than a beggar."
"Thank you, my lady. Thank you. *Sob*."
The problem was.
The value of the treasures was close to fifty nyang in gold.
In modern currency, that was a staggering five hundred million won.
Hearing this, I felt my blood boil.
I, who had played a crucial role in this M&A, was fobbed off with five gold coins and a scrap of an elixir...
But I couldn't show my disappointment in front of Myo Hyang, who was like a sister to me.
I calmed myself down and spoke calmly.
"Ahem, so you're saying... you'll use that money to take care of me?"
"I've already spent all the money."
"Huh?"
"I shared some with the other courtesans who suffered with me, and I sent the rest to my brother in Nanjing. All I have left is enough to live on for a couple of months."
"...Then?"
"I plan to stay here for a while and do the housework."
The epitome of confidence.
That was right. Myo Hyang had decided to repay her debt of gratitude by working as an unpaid housekeeper.
Honestly, it was great. No, even welcoming her with open arms wasn't enough.
Housework in this world, without vacuum cleaners, washing machines, or gas stoves, was nothing short of hard labor.
That's why, in my case, I barely did any cleaning, just enough laundry to avoid looking like a complete beggar.
The problem was, my current home was a single room.
"Um... Sister? This is just a single room. There's nowhere for you to stay."
"We lived together in one building back at the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion. Why should it be a problem now?"
That was fine because the building had multiple rooms. This place is so small that if two people lie down, they'd have to cuddle to sleep.
'Well, personally, I wouldn't mind.'
"I'm really fine with it, you know? What's wrong with a single room?"
*I'm* not fine with it. There's a certain part of my body that's uncontrollable.
"How about we think about this a little more...?"
"Surely, Squad Leader, you're not trying to make me into an ungrateful beast, are you?"
"No, no, that's not what I mean... I'm just saying, we're adults, so we should be careful about..."
"Or are you seeing me as a woman?"
How could I not? Our chromosomes are different from the start.
But I couldn't voice such thoughts.
'Sorry, I only thought of you as a friend...'
'To think you were looking at me that way... I'm so disappointed.'
It wasn't because I thought of her romantically, but because of a trauma from my past life.
"Ha. Ha. Of course not. I just mean we should be careful because of what others might think."
"Is that so? Then I suppose it can't be helped."
Myo Hyang stood up from her seat.
"Where are you going? There's still a lot of food left..."
"I'm going to find a place to stay as soon as possible. I suppose Young Master Baek Ha-jin might send people to kidnap me. It's fine. What's the worst that could happen? I'll get caught and raped?"
"...Let's just live together, Sister."
"Really?"
"On one condition. You'll stay at an inn until I can find a new house."
"I'll wait as long as it takes."
For some reason, I felt like I'd been had.
***
"A broker, you mean?"
"Yeah, do you know anyone?"
"I stay in the dormitory provided by the Outer Hall."
Yu So-pyeong answered bluntly.
"Are you looking for a house?"
"That's right."
"Well, the place you're living in now is practically a ruin."
It's not that bad, you punk.
Do you even know how hard it is to buy a house in a world without loans?
"Ahem, in that case, why don't you go see Squad Leader Lee?"
"Why Squad Leader Lee?"
"I've heard rumors that Squad Leader Lee's wife is known as a big shot in the outer fortress's real estate market. Thanks to her, it's become a custom for the guys in this squad to see his wife when they're getting married."
"Really? I should pay her a visit."
Having a connection, even an indirect one, would be a huge help.
It made sense. In this era, half the brokers were no different from con artists.
That's why I was looking for a connection, and the wife of Squad Leader Lee, with whom I had a good relationship, was perfect.
Surely, she wouldn't scam her husband's subordinate.
"Nine! Dragons!"
"Hm, Nine Dragons."
Before I knew it, the salute I had spread had become commonplace in the Outer Hall.
"What brings you here at this hour?"
"Well, I'm looking to find a house."
"A house? The Seventeenth Squad Leader's abilities are more impressive than I thought."
"Ahem, I was lucky."
"Haha, as the old saying goes, 'The waves of the Yangtze River behind drive on those before.' The old adages are never wrong..."
"It is like reciting the classics before Confucius. I am unworthy of such praise."
Even though this was the martial world, martial arts weren't everything.
There were other, truly important things, and I had learned them all from Squad Leader Lee.
Things like the secret to taking bribes without getting caught...
"Right, if you're looking for a house, then you must have business with my wife."
"Yes, I don't know if I'm worthy of troubling your esteemed wife, but if you help me, I will never forget this eternal grace."
"Hahaha, I've experienced the Seventeenth Squad Leader's silver tongue before, but hearing it after so long, it seems even more well-oiled."
"This is aaaall born from my respect for you, Squad Leader Lee."
"Haha, you rascal."
Seemingly pleased, Squad Leader Lee patted my shoulder.
"Then let's go."
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to meet my wife?"
"But it's still working hours?"
"Haha, my good man, the squad members do the work, don't they? Our job is simply to 'manage' things so they can work comfortably. It's a matter of system, you see."
It had been two years since I started life in the Outer Hall.
I thought I had developed a lot during that time, but compared to this man, I was like a firefly before the sun.
My respect for him surged uncontrollably.
***
A short while later.
"Introduce yourself. This is my wife."
"It is an honor to meet you, madam! I am Jin Mujeon, Squad Leader of the Outer Hall's Seventeenth Squad, who professes to be Squad Leader Lee's left leg."
"Hoho! I've heard so much about you. My name is Bok Ri-geum."
"So you are Madam Bok."
The name rang a bell, but seeing her in person, it didn't feel strange at all.
She had the exact look of a neighborhood real estate agent.
And just as I expected.
A torrent of classic real estate agent lines poured out.
"So, you're looking for a house? What's your budget? Will you be living alone? What about the location? Does it need good transport links? How many rooms are you looking for? Hmm, housing prices have gone up a lot lately, so it might be more expensive than you think. Are you okay with that?"
Her words were fast enough to fluster anyone, but this was me—a man who had lived his entire past life as a non-homeowner, right up to the moment he died.
I had the experience of dealing with real estate agents while bouncing from one rented room to another.
"I'm not too concerned with location or transport. I can just run around for exercise. As for the size, two or more rooms would be good. I'm alone for now, but who knows what the future holds. Oh! I wouldn't mind if it were two separate buildings, either. And I'm prepared for a high price. I understand that a house is also an investment."
Hearing my answer, Madam Bok's eyes lit up.
"Oho, a house as an investment? Why do you think so?"
Heh, for me, a native of Hell Seoul in Hell Joseon, the answer was all too easy.
"Because that's where people gather."
A single sentence, but an answer that pierced through everything.
Pleased, Madam Bok laughed heartily.
"Hohohoho! It's surprising that such a young man understands the ways of the world so well."
"You praise me too highly."
"In that case, there's no need to show you any subpar properties."
Madam Bok took out a booklet bound with a gold band.
"These are the listings that meet the conditions Squad Leader Jin mentioned. I've selected only the best of the best, so I'm sure you'll be satisfied."
"Is that so? I'll take a look."
After asking for permission, I looked through the listings and soon realized one thing.
'They're expensive.'
The prices were double what I had seen just two years ago.
The house with two buildings on the very first page cost a whopping twenty gold nyang.
"Why is this one so expensive?"
"It has a stream flowing right in front of it, so of course it's expensive."
So the river-view premium started this early?
"Then what about this one...?"
"It's within a shichen's distance of the inner fortress..."
"Then..."
"That one's next to a school..."
Thus, by eliminating the unsuitable listings one by one, only a single house remained.
"A house with three buildings and a spacious courtyard for five gold nyang..."
"It's on the outskirts, but it's quite cheap, isn't it?"
"It is. Is there some kind of problem with it?"
"A problem? Yes, there is."
Madam Bok gave a meaningful look, and I immediately knew.
'I see now. It's that old trope.'
The so-called ghost cliché.
A mandatory course that every protagonist in a martial arts novel goes through when buying a house.
You later find out someone was secretly living there, or it's a scheme by villains to drive down the property value.
I said with a confident expression.
"It's a haunted house."
At that, Madam Bok burst out laughing. She laughed so hard she clutched her stomach, looking like she was about to roll on the floor.
"Ghosts? Ohohohoho! How naive you are. Where would you find ghosts in this world? Even if they existed, the living are far scarier. Hohoho, oh, my stomach."
Hey, in a world where swordsmen can shoot sword energy and act as ranged dealers, ghosts could very well exist...
As I stood there flustered, Madam Bok quickly gave me the answer.
"The location is the problem."
"The location?"
Checking the map again, I quickly understood why.
"Heuksa Road?"
"That's right. It's a property that lacks nothing, but the price hasn't risen because of its location. Thanks to that, the price is the same as it was fifty years ago."
Madam Bok took a sip of the tea in front of her and continued.
"That's why I can't sell this house to you, Squad Leader Jin."
"What? Is there already a buyer?"
"It's because it's dangerous. No matter how much I make buying and selling houses, I don't make money by deceiving people. Especially not when it's a subordinate my husband cares for."
"Then why do you keep it in your listings?"
"The ruffians of Heuksa Road are a tough bunch, but if a master martial artist were the owner, they wouldn't dare to touch the place."
"So, you're saying it's a listing exclusively for masters?"
"That's right."
"Then I must be the right person for it."
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
Madam Bok looked at me as if I were spouting nonsense.
Squad Leader Lee, who was beside me, explained in my stead.
"Squad Leader Jin is indeed a master."
At that, Madam Bok stared at me with a surprised expression.
'Hmph, in the martial world, strength is always the answer.'
In an instant, I went from a penniless loser to the prospective owner of a three-room mansion. I declared confidently and threw a money pouch in front of Madam Bok.
*Thud, clatter.*
The money pouch burst open, revealing the gold coins inside.
"I'll buy it."
Flex.
As if awed by my swagger, Madam Bok hurriedly gathered the pouch and said with a touched expression.
"You're short one nyang."
"...Could you give me a discount?"
***
The next day, after signing the contract, I headed straight for Heuksa Road.
As if to prove it was a gathering place for ruffians, men with swords were walking around everywhere.
Half a shichen passed like that.
Thanks to my fast pace, I soon arrived in front of a massive gate.
*Creeaak.*
'The sound of the rusty hinges is so clear and refreshing.'
I opened the gate and went in...? Huh? An empty house is unlocked?
Opening the gate, I came face to face with a group of about ten ruffians.
"...Did I come to the wrong place?"
I took the map from my robes and checked again, but I was definitely at the right address.
As I paced back and forth on the threshold, checking several times, one of the ruffians approached me.
"How dare you crawl into the great Black Dragon Gang's territory? You've got some nerve."
"Excuse me, is this the right place?"
"It is. Who the hell are you?"
"I'm the owner, you bastard."
*CRACK!*