“…What do you want?”
The guard captain, who had been silently staring at Jae-ha perched atop the cask, finally spoke. His face was taut with nerves, as if terrified that even a single drop of the precious Hwanggwaju might spill. His eyes blazed sharply, but with a quick gesture he ordered his men to step back—worried that provoking Jae-ha could leave a hole in the barrel.
“We didn’t do anything. So please step aside. Let us through.”
Jae-ha spoke lightly. He had no interest in the Hwanggwaju. Even if he took it, it wouldn’t help bring Sala Doryeong back. At best, he could make his dying friend taste one last sip of the liquor he’d once enjoyed—but he wasn’t about to do something so twisted.
All that mattered was getting out of here safely. By now, he could only pray that General Gyosa had already left the corridor and returned to his quarters.
“……”
The guard captain locked eyes with Jae-ha, his unblinking, piercing gaze pressing down on him like a blade.
But Seo Jae-ha was a master of staring contests.
Unsurprisingly, victory went to the champion of the management department’s MT, where more than a hundred students had once fallen before his unyielding eyes. The captain, unaware of whom he was up against, eventually admitted defeat and reluctantly raised his hand. At the signal, the guards—who had been waiting for his lead—retreated from Hae-hyun and cleared a path.
“Sunbae.”
Hae-hyun ran to Jae-ha at once, his stiff face tense as he reached out.
“Careful, come down.”
As soon as Jae-ha hopped down, Hae-hyun moved quickly, catching him with practiced ease. His strong arms wrapped firmly around Jae-ha’s waist.
“Let’s go.”
Jae-ha had just landed and was about to take a step when Hae-hyun stopped him.
“Hold on.”
Somehow, he already held the rubber tube Jae-ha had been clutching. In his other hand, he smoothly took the sword as well.
“Wait—!”
The guard captain shouted instinctively, sensing trouble. But Hae-hyun didn’t stop.
“Sorry, but I need to buy us some time.”
He muttered the words without a hint of remorse—and stabbed the cask straight through.
The blade struck dead center, piercing deep enough to lodge itself in the wooden side. Even after he let go, it stood upright. Only after confirming that glittering liquid seeped out in tiny rivulets through the crack did he grab Jae-ha’s hand again.
“Let’s go.”
He even turned to the horrified guard captain and offered advice.
“If you patch it right away, you’ll be fine.”
Ironically, the sword itself was acting like a stopper. Though the cask had been punctured, only a trickle leaked out. If they pressed an empty container to it immediately, the loss would be minimal.
“But if I feel like dragging it out… that might get messy.”
That was—if they didn’t patch it in time.
The air shifted. Forced to choose between stopping the intruders or saving the Hwanggwaju, the guards faltered, whispering anxiously among themselves. The captain’s face went pale. If Lord Yeomjeong found out they had been toyed with by two intruders and wasted even a drop of Hwanggwaju…
“You… you damned wretch, straight to hell with you…!”
The captain’s roar rang out as Hae-hyun and Jae-ha slipped past. The guards flinched and braced for combat, but the captain barked at them to stand down. Thanks to that, the two broke free unscathed.
The brewery doors were only a sprint away. Behind them echoed the captain’s shouts to fetch empty barrels, along with the panicked scrambling of men rushing to the vats. The two slipped outside.
A flawless escape.
Only after sprinting down the corridor and bursting through a tapestry did Jae-ha finally stop. He inhaled deeply to steady his ragged breath, his chest swelling as his lungs filled.
“You… you didn’t bully people back in high school, did you?”
Straightening up, Jae-ha glanced sideways. Just above his line of sight was Hae-hyun, his cheeks faintly flushed from the run.
“What kind of nonsense is that? I was too busy training to bother anyone. And even if I had the time, I wouldn’t.”
“You’re way too good at threatening people.”
“Guess I’ve got a knack for it.”
At his cheeky retort, Jae-ha burst into laughter. Even after barely escaping with their lives, he couldn’t help but feel oddly exhilarated.
Fortunately, the corridor was quiet. Just as Jae-ha had hoped, General Gyosa must have finished his business and left while they were making a ruckus in the brewery. Perfect timing.
Now all he could hope was that Nam-yeon wasn’t asleep. It was late, and the thought made him uneasy. The two hurried to the door Hyo-min had pointed out as Nam-yeon’s room.
Jae-ha knocked lightly. Knock, knock. The sound was loud enough, yet no response came. …Asleep? Tilting his head, he knocked again. Knock, knock, knock. Still no answer.
“Step aside.”
Hae-hyun brushed past Jae-ha and raised his fist. Thud! The door nearly shook off its hinges.
“You scared me!”
“If he doesn’t come out this time, I’m just breaking in.”
Boldly declaring his intent to trespass, Hae-hyun raised his fist again—when suddenly, accompanied by a shuffle of movement, the door flung open.
“No, like I said, I can’t possibly do that… Who are you?”
The man who emerged looked furious, but his eyes widened in surprise at the unfamiliar faces. His gaze swept over Jae-ha and Hae-hyun in turn, bewildered. Jae-ha offered a warm smile.
“Hello? I’m a new recruit who joined recently. I had a question, and Hyo-min said I’d find answers if I came here.”
“Hyo-min? Why would Hyo-min…?”
“Yes. She said you were the fortress’s famous connoisseur….”
“Ahh, so that’s what this is about. Come in.”
At the mention of a familiar name, Nam-yeon relaxed and stepped aside. Jae-ha was glad Hae-hyun didn’t have to step in. Relieved, he entered the room, patting Hae-hyun’s back lightly as if telling him to stay calm.
The room was modest—certainly far simpler than Lord Tamlang’s. Rows of bookshelves and drawers, plus a large desk, gave it more the feel of an office than a private chamber.
“You came just as I was finishing up work. Lucky timing.”
With a light laugh, Nam-yeon seated them at the table and served each a cup of tea. Even the sheen of the steaming brew showed the care of someone who truly loved his drinks.
As Jae-ha slowly took a sip, a rich fragrance spread warmly through his body. He’d tasted fine teas before thanks to a tea-loving acquaintance, but even he was impressed. He spoke honestly.
“This is delicious.”
“Isn’t it?”
Nam-yeon’s eyes sparkled, delighted to meet someone who appreciated it. A promising start.
Meanwhile, Hae-hyun, looking as if he’d bitten into something bitter, barely sipped before setting his cup down. Apparently not his taste.
“So, what were you curious about?”
“Well… about the Hwanggwaju.”
“The Hwanggwaju, eh? Seems I’ve had a lot of visitors asking about it today.”
Though Nam-yeon replied casually, there was a flicker of wariness in his expression. Clearly, he’d been pestered plenty over it lately. Looking closer, despite his sturdy frame, his face seemed strangely worn—dark circles under his eyes and hollowed cheeks added to the impression of exhaustion.
“Sounds like you get that question a lot.”
“Don’t even get me started. I liked it better when the fortress was quiet. First, Lord Tamlang’s page shows up at lunch… then just earlier, some general came asking about Baeksa fruit. If you came here hoping to get Hwanggwaju, you’re wasting your time. Even though I manage it, not a single drop leaves without the Castle Lord’s permission.”
His tone was sharp, drawing a firm boundary. But Jae-ha only lifted his shoulders lightly, as if to say not to worry. Fortunately for both of them, he really didn’t care about the Hwanggwaju.
“I heard Lord Cheonrok is fond of Hwanggwaju.”
“Lord Cheonrok?”
Nam-yeon blinked, clearly caught off guard by the shift. Yet in his confused look, there wasn’t a hint of guilt—just as Jae-ha had expected.
Even if Lord Yeomjeong or General Beomgye had harmed the Cheonrok, such news would’ve been buried. In a world where nearly everyone adored the Cheonrok, even a rumor would have been disastrous—no matter how rare or beautiful the Baeksa fruit, no one would come to Myeongheoseong. When Jae-ha had asked Hyo-min about the Cheonrok, her unhesitant reply had only confirmed it.
So Nam-yeon, the man in charge of the Hwanggwaju, likely knew nothing either.
“Yes, he does. But how would you know that?”
At the very least, the Cheonrok’s fondness for Hwanggwaju—and his well-known closeness to it—was common knowledge.
Finally, the conversation was moving somewhere. Jae-ha smiled warmly.
“Because I like Lord Cheonrok very much.”
