Chapter 117 – Back to Hahbuk (4)

“Wanna play with me?”

“…What? No, what did you say?”

Samayeryeong’s voice sounded bewildered at my sudden words. Well, it’s not something that would come up in the current context.

But I think it’s an appropriate suggestion to liven up the atmosphere. There’s no need for us to feel uncomfortable and blush at each other.

In truth, it was just a slip of the tongue on her part and my outburst, thinking she was disrespecting herself.

Drinking and games are the best ways to quickly become close. It might be different for women, but that’s how it was in my past life.

I looked at Samayeryeong, who was hastily trying to correct herself, and spoke with a smirk.

“Didn’t we agree to speak comfortably with each other?”

“But, still…”

“It’s fine. Right now, instead of that… how about playing a game?”

“Why are you suddenly saying that…”

Samayeryeong glanced at Samamang and Hong Yeonhwa, then shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

“It’s nothing. We won’t be homeless, and we’ll arrive at the next village by sunset. It’s still lunchtime now. I’m just bored, that’s all. Yeonhwa, Soso, what about you?”

By this point, Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso, who realized why I was doing this, let out a light sigh.

“It’s fine with me, my lady. Since I’ve almost finished reading the book, it’ll be a good pastime.”

“I’m fine with it too. But is there a game we can play inside the carriage?”

“Don’t we have a chessboard? I was planning to play Gomoku with it.”

“Oh right. We do have that.”

The distance from Mureimeng to Mosan is quite far. Of course, since we’re riding in a carriage, it won’t be a strenuous journey, but boredom is inevitable.

But it’s not like we can swing a sword or practice martial arts inside the swaying carriage.

So, I bought a small chessboard to use when we’re bored… but until now, I haven’t had a chance to use it because of all the fooling around.

Finally, it comes in handy.

“The three of us can take turns playing Gomoku, and you two can be partners. What about you, Samamang-nim?”

“Me? Ah, I can’t see ahead…”

“Oh, right…”

I acted naturally and forgot, but Samamang was still keeping his eyes tightly shut.

Although he can sense the position of objects through his senses, he can’t distinguish the colors of the Go stones.

Realizing his slip of the tongue belatedly, Samamang chuckled and opened his mouth.

“You weren’t trying to insult me, were you, Sohyeong?”

“Of course not.”

“In that case, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me and enjoy yourselves.”

“Thank you…”

I replied with a muffled voice and turned my head back to Samayeryeong.

“Well, now that it’s come to this, what will you do? We can take turns playing, and you’ll be left alone.”

“I… um…”

Samayeryeong was still hesitating. It seems like she’s worried about making another mistake. If it comes to this, there are still ways to handle it.

“Don’t want to? I remember the Samayeryeong family being known for their intelligence, just like the Jegalsega family… Could it be…”

I put on the most sly expression I could muster and raised the corner of my lips.

“Scared?”

“S-Scared?!”

“Why? You keep hesitating and trying to back away. Wasn’t that the case?”

“….”

Samayeryeong seemed dumbfounded for a moment, then her eyes flashed with determination as she gritted her teeth.

“Fine! I’m Samayeryeong of the Samayeryeong family! Am I really going to be scared by something like this?!… Ah.”

She must have realized that she said something foolish again, as Samayeryeong’s expression turned gloomy.

She’s a person with a strong sense of pride, to the point where she thinks she’s been cornered. I tried to hold back, but if I scratch her like this, she’ll eventually give in.

Of course, I didn’t provoke her to make her feel that way. Others would have the same reaction.

I chuckled at Samayeryeong’s desolate expression and took out the neglected Go board from somewhere in the carriage.

“You said we can speak comfortably. And just so you know… no mercy?”

***

“Can’t you just let me win once?”

“Hmph! You said no mercy, didn’t you?”

“Well, even so, just once wouldn’t hurt, right? Hm?”

Hong Yeonhwa – Samayeryeong – Me – Samayeryeong – Paeng Soso – Samayeryeong – Hong Yeonhwa

We took turns in this order, and until the middle, we were somewhat evenly matched, but then I was suddenly overtaken.

And it happened right after my turn.

When you learn martial arts, not only does your body improve, but your mind also becomes sharper. It’s not like those high-level martial artists who can memorize complex moves after hearing them once or twice.

In that sense, we have Hong Yeonhwa, who has reached the pinnacle of martial arts, and me, who has improved my strategic thinking through battles and the opening of the Sangdanjeon. I thought we would somehow manage, but… I was wrong.

As I kept pleading for her to let me win, Paeng Soso grabbed my cheek and let out a sigh.

“Haah… Jin Gagga. Watch closely. This won’t change just because I make a move. Even if Jin Gagga blocks here, it’ll end up the same if I do this.”

“Ah.”

Hong Yeonhwa, who had been staring at the Go board, nodded her head.

“Soso is right. We just didn’t know, but she had set up a trap a while ago.”

Only after hearing Paeng Soso’s explanation did I nod my head.

“Alright. I guess there’s no other choice.”

“So you’re finally admitting defeat?”

“Let’s play one more round.”

“….”

And so, we played six rounds, and I lost every single one.

As Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso grew tired of repeated losses, it ended up being just Samayeryeong and me playing.

And as the sun began to set and the carriage arrived at the next village.

“You pathetic loser! How can you not win even once? Huh? And you still think you’re not pathetic? Huh? Is that really what you think?”

“This is ridiculous… It’s invalid! I declare it invalid! Let’s play one more round!”

“No~ I’m done for today~”

“Where are you running off to after winning?! Just one more round, please! I’ll be serious this time!”

“Haha! Do you know that’s the third time you’ve said that? Or do you not understand that if a loser tries to be serious, they’ll just be a serious loser?”

“Ugh…!”

How did it end up like this…?

The original purpose of lightening the mood had already been achieved. Samayeryeong, who had been completely drained, seemed to have regained even more energy than when we first met.

However, I never won even once.

I didn’t know I had such a strong competitive spirit…

“Isn’t this strange? How can I not win even once? Is it a trick? It must be a trick!”

“It’s not a trick! You’re just bad at it!”

Samayeryeong pouted and tidied up the Go board, while Paeng Soso, seeing that it was finally over, stretched and spoke.

“Hmm… Haah… In my eyes, Jin Gagga, who is trying so hard to win against Samayeryeong in a mental battle, looks even more strange.”

“I also think so. Is winning one game of Go really that important? Important enough to abandon Yeonhwa and Soso?”

“No, I didn’t abandon them… When did I ever…”

Right now, Hong Yeonhwa is sitting on my lap, and Paeng Soso is leaning her head on my shoulder.

After Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso stopped playing Go halfway through, I became their new plaything.

They would jump on me, tickle me, touch my face with their fingers, and make strange expressions.

Every time that happened, Samayeryeong’s face would contort strangely… but unfortunately, there were no mistakes caused by her wavering.

Anyway, it seems that it wasn’t enough for the two of them. With Hong Yeonhwa puffing up her cheeks and slapping my thighs playfully, she let out a giggle.

– But… you didn’t even put your arms around her waist or stroke her head!

– You didn’t pull me close to your waist or touch cheeks with me either!

Paeng Soso also pressed her forehead against my shoulder and let out a giggle.

“Are you asking me to do that now? I’ve been trying to hold back…”

Samamang turned her head with an awkward expression, while Samayeryeong glanced at me with a teasing look, instead of clearing the Go board.

Isn’t it a bit strange to engage in physical contact like this as if it’s normal, especially with someone I just met today?

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Samamang spoke with a slightly embarrassed tone.

“Ahem. It’s a good thing for a couple to get along well. You don’t need to worry about us too much.”

“…Thank you for saying that.”

But for now, it’s fine. The carriage has stopped in front of a spacious inn.

After borrowing a room from Hong Yeonhwa and Paeng Soso, I got off the carriage after promising to do whatever they wanted.

***

Thanks to the money Paeng Soso received earlier, we can stay in a nice inn with a stable without any worries, as opposed to having fancy gourmet dishes. Following Hong Yeonhwa’s request, we ordered soba noodles and dumplings.

Everyone else ordered what they wanted, and as soon as the innkeeper left, Hong Yeonhwa leaned in closer.

“I was planning to ask you in the carriage, but you were so fixated on winning that I missed my chance.”

“I should have mentioned it too. Then I would have done it moderately.”

“While it might be necessary to hear it once, it wasn’t urgent. Besides, you were so engrossed in it, so why bother interrupting?”

“Ah, Jin Gagga, who kept shouting for one more game, looked like a child, so cute.”

You guys… Were you looking at me with those eyes? And yet, you took the wish tickets from me, complaining that I neglected you?

Ignoring my gaze mixed with a hint of betrayal, Hong Yeonhwa spoke to the Samas.

“Cough. Didn’t you say you were being chased by Samaryeon? If that’s the case, there must be a reason for it.”

“Come to think of it, I also mentioned that Samasaga was slowly falling from grace, unlike what is known in the world.”

Hong Yeonhwa nodded in agreement with Paeng Soso’s words.

“I don’t know what the final outcome will be, but for now, aren’t we on the same boat? Can you explain the whole story?”

“Of course, that’s what I should do. However, where should I start explaining this…”

Samamang, who was pondering for a moment, opened her eyes that had been tightly shut until now.

“From the moment my eyes turned like this, I will tell you the story.”