BW C221

Chapter 221

“……”

At those words, Hoeun felt his breath catch in his throat.

Once, Chilbok had explained his name while talking about his siblings.

“I’m Chilbok because I’m the seventh. Ilbok, Ibok, Sambok… and then Chilbok.”

After that, he had never spoken another word about them, so Hoeun had assumed they were no longer in this world. But hearing it like this made his heart sink all the same. Unable to find anything to say, Hoeun merely parted his lips soundlessly, when Chilbok grinned.

“I was the only one at home, so the Commander saved me.”

“…I see.”

Was it right to call that fortunate? He couldn’t tell. As Hoeun’s eyes darted around searching for something to add, Chilbok neatly folded another piece of clothing and placed it into the trunk.

“But I guess it won’t work, right?”

“What won’t?”

“Going to school. I’m already sixteen… If more time passes, I’ll be past the age for it.”

At that, Hoeun’s eyes widened, and he suddenly grabbed Chilbok’s hand.

“No. You can.”

“……”

“Even now—ah, should I speak to the General? I can send you to another town—”

But before he could finish, Chilbok shook his head firmly.

“No. I won’t go.”

“Why?”

“Actually, the Commander has been telling me to go for a long time. I’m the one who refused.”

“Why?”

Hoeun frowned, unable to understand at all. Chilbok answered again with the expression of someone who had lived a lifetime.

“Even if I go to another town, do you think I could peacefully attend school?”

“……”

“Who knows when those Shikgoe bastards will come crashing in… And there’s no guarantee the Commander would come save me again…”

“……”

“Someone like me wouldn’t even be a mouthful for them. I’d be eaten in an instant.”

Chilbok slowly slipped his hand out of Hoeun’s grasp. Then he gathered Hoeun’s spotless socks and began pairing them.

Hoeun quietly watched his profile.

He finally understood.

Chilbok wasn’t composed—he was terrified.

Having lost his entire family, his siblings, in an instant, he was afraid he would lose himself next. How frightened must he have been to choose Jeokudae—no different from a battlefield—as his refuge?

Hoeun pulled his knees closer and sat tightly beside him. Then, following his lead, he gathered the socks as well and spoke as if it were nothing.

“Once we drive out all the Shikgoe this time, let’s go to Hanyang.”

“Hanyang?”

“Yeah. There are tons of schools in Hanyang. It doesn’t matter if you’re older. There are even schools for adults.”

At that, Chilbok’s busy hands faltered.

“…Really?”

“Of course. There are night schools, and there are universities. Night schools teach adults who never had the chance to learn. Universities are where adults go if they want to study more even after graduating.”

Chilbok’s lips parted slightly. He murmured, “Night school… university…” then asked anxiously,

“C-could I get into a place like that? I’ve never been to school, so I can’t do math well, and I’m not good with writing either……”

At that, Hoeun shook his head as if to say there was nothing to worry about.

“Korean and math aren’t everything there is to learning. And Chilbok, you’re very smart. You’ll catch up in no time.”

“Do you think so?”

Hope and excitement filled Chilbok’s cheeks. But soon, they deflated again.

“But wouldn’t places like that cost a lot of money? I don’t have any… And if I go to not just one school but two, the money……”

He rubbed his hands nervously against his thighs, like a debtor being pressed for payment.

At that, Hoeun suddenly frowned, as if he had heard something deeply unpleasant.

“Chilbok.”

“Yes?”

“I’m the youngest son of the Gyeongju Choi clan.”

“…Pardon?”

At the sudden declaration of his family registry, Chilbok tilted his head. Hoeun met his gaze and spoke clearly.

“We have a lot of money. Our house is the second largest after the palace where His Majesty lives. We have more horses than we can count, carriages too, and tens of thousands of pyeong of land.”

“I… I don’t quite understand what you mean……”

“It means I can let you do anything you want. Learn whatever you want. If you want to attend five schools, I’ll let you attend all five.”

In truth, Hoeun himself had contributed nothing to his family’s wealth. But if he explained the situation to his father, he would surely help. His father practically treated it as a hobby to support intelligent people without means so they could study. Chilbok was bright—he would certainly receive help.

And if his father refused… well, then he’d throw a fit. Or sell off his own valuables to make sure Chilbok could go to school.

As Hoeun steeled himself with that resolve, Chilbok asked, looking as though he had just been struck,

“…Is that really true? B-but still, how could I shamelessly accept Young Master’s help… I’ve already received so much……”

Chocolate, fur socks…

At that, Hoeun frowned again.

“Shameless? Chilbok, you’re someone very, very precious to me.”

“Me?”

“Of course. You’re my lifesaver.”

“My… lifesaver? No, I didn’t—”

“It’s true. You just don’t realize how many times you’ve saved me.”

Hoeun remembered everything.

“It’s a secret from the others. I’m giving this to you secretly because you’re the Commander’s Ii-in.”

—The handful of braised meat Chilbok had placed over his scorched rice.

“No Military God can refuse it when their Ii-in clings to them. Even our Commander can’t resist his Ii-in.”

—The words he had said when Hoeun struggled with his relationship with Taemuk.

“The Commander sees everything and hears everything.”

—And the voice Hoeun had remembered just before being devoured in Ramjae-eup.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that all of that had shaped who Hoeun was now. Without him, he might not have grown so close to Taemuk. He might not have survived Ramjae-eup at all.

To Hoeun, Chilbok was truly someone he was grateful to.

“So anything I give you, you can accept. No—please accept it, alright?”

Hoeun gently stroked Chilbok’s forearm as he spoke. Chilbok blinked a few times, then smiled shyly.

“…Yes.”

A soft pink anticipation colored his roughened cheeks. Even his calloused fingers, hardened from kitchen work, twitched as if imagining the future. Watching him quietly, Hoeun smiled and took his hand.

“Chilbok.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s make sure we survive.”

“……”

“Let’s survive, and go to school.”

Hoeun tightened his grip on his hand.

Chilbok looked at Hoeun’s fair, delicate, precious hand, then broke into a wide grin and nodded vigorously, his hair bouncing.

“Yes!”

Hoeun smiled and ruffled his hair, brushed his cheek, and tucked his messy hair behind his ear.

Then suddenly, he thought of his older brothers’ children in Hanyang—his nieces and nephews—and had to bite his lower lip. It hadn’t been long since he had decided to only look forward to things, yet his chest felt heavy again.

Just as he was about to let out a trembling sigh—

Footsteps crossed the yard. Someone approached beyond the open paper door.

“Hoeun.”

It was Taemuk.

“Ah, General.”

Hoeun quickly stood and greeted him.

“The Commander has arrived.”

Chilbok merely turned his body and bowed. Taemuk gestured to Hoeun.

“Come out. Byeonguk will be leaving soon.”

“Ah, yes.”

Hoeun gathered the bundle of letters from the table. Then he looked at Chilbok.

“I’ll go. I’ll finish packing.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Smiling, Hoeun stepped out of the room.

As he stood on the veranda, Taemuk—already crouched by the stepping stone—personally slipped shoes onto his feet. Hoeun tried to stop him, saying it was fine, but Taemuk ignored him and carefully fitted the shoes onto his small feet.

The area in front of the gate was bustling. Dozens of soldiers were preparing to depart. Those remaining handed them food, tents, and other necessities while exchanging brief farewells.

Holding Taemuk’s hand tightly as he descended the slope, Hoeun spotted Byeonguk at the front and hurried over to him. Then he held out the letters he had been carrying.

“Byeonguk, these are the ones you asked for.”

They were official memorials. Byeonguk would be heading to Hanyang to report the Shikgoe invasion, and these would be submitted there. Normally, Byeonguk wrote them himself, but this time Hoeun had written them at his request.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Mounted on his horse, Byeonguk accepted them with a respectful bow.

Then Hoeun handed him another letter.

“And this… please deliver it to my father.”

Before taking it, Byeonguk glanced at Taemuk. Taemuk, standing behind Hoeun, gave a short nod. Only then did Byeonguk accept it with both hands.

“Yes. Understood.”

He tucked the letter inside his uniform coat, fastening the buttons tightly as if determined not to lose it no matter what.

Hoeun looked up at him quietly, swallowed once, and said,

“Please be careful.”

“…Yes. I’ll return without delay.”

Byeonguk answered with a small smile.

Hoeun bowed, then stepped aside. Gilsang sat atop a horse nearby, and behind him stood the Mongolian refugees in a line. Those too injured to regain consciousness yet lay in carts.

Hoeun looked at them with concern.