The moment Seoha's declaration of surrender was announced, Han Baeksa rose to his feet along with the spectators.
"That's it!"
Han Baeksa clenched both fists and stood up, then said excitedly to Lee Kangjin.
"Hahaha! What a shame this is. Unseong has taken first place, Cheolhyeol."
But Lee Kangjin replied with a satisfied smile.
"Isn't he the disciple of Cheongsin? He finished it with the Ilgeom Style in the end, so it's practically Cheongsin's victory as well."
"No matter how you put it, Unseong's victory doesn't change. Blood is thicker than water."
Lee Kangjin said nothing and simply watched Sanghyeok and Seoha embracing each other.
'You've made a good friend.'
A good friend, by nature, is someone you can trust and walk alongside, shoulder to shoulder.
It isn't something that can be achieved by personality alone, nor by having equal skill.
'The more exceptional someone is, the harder it is for them to have good friends.'
That was why the only person Lee Kangjin could call a friend was Shin Yucheol, who was seated up there now.
'You have a discerning eye, Seoha.'
That morning.
Seoha had told Lee Kangjin that Sanghyeok would be the one to win.
He said he wanted to give advance notice in case Lee Kangjin might be disappointed.
At first, Lee Kangjin couldn't understand it, but after watching this match, he finally did.
Seoha had chosen people over victory.
'Now let's hear what your wish is.'
Sanghyeok would speak the wish that Seoha wanted.
Lee Kangjin turned his gaze to his friend and king, Shin Yucheol.
Shin Yucheol clapped with all his might, then walked straight up to Lee Kangjin and said,
"Doesn't it feel like we're looking at ourselves when we were young?"
"Your Majesty. That's not quite right. Weren't we stronger than them? Those kids are just barely serviceable."
"The reality is that there aren't even many who are barely serviceable. The ending was an act, but still. That was good too. No loser was made."
Although Han Sanghyeok was the winner, no one thought that Lee Seoha had lost.
It simply presented a new topic of debate.
If they had fought wielding unbreakable famed swords, who would have won?
The spectators were already red-faced, arguing heatedly.
"An unfinished story is always more interesting. In that sense, your grandson is clever. Unlike you."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"After showing such a splendid match, I can't help but reward them. I should go down and see them myself."
Shin Yucheol walked toward the arena.
Han Baeksa stuck close to his side and said,
"Wasn't it a wonderful match? A pride of Unseong. Such an outstanding child. If you bestow your grace upon him, you will never regret it."
"Is that so, Head Han?"
"Of course. Unseong has always been loyal to this country."
"I know."
Shin Yucheol continued walking with a smile.
It was time to see the end of the performance those two children had created.
His Majesty the King set aside his cane and applauded as he praised them.
"A fantastic match. I never expected to find talent of this caliber at the Soseong Martial Tournament."
"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace."
Han Sanghyeok bowed once and straightened up, and Shin Yucheol spoke immediately.
"Let's get straight to the point and give the reward. You've shown a bright future, so now it's my turn to repay you. Speak your wish."
Han Baeksa smiled beside His Majesty the King.
What an incredible person.
According to the memories of the past that remain with me, Han Yeongsu had won the Soseong Martial Tournament.
At the time, Yu Arin had died, and Joo Jiyul had dragged his sick body to the finals but ultimately lost to Han Yeongsu.
Most likely, the poison that had been used on me this time had been used on Joo Jiyul back then.
And the wish Han Yeongsu had made at the time was related to business.
Specifically, he had asked for exclusive rights to produce and sell military supplies for a new large-scale expeditionary force.
But what a shame.
This time, that wish couldn't be made.
"My wish is…"
Even the spectators leaned in, straining their ears to hear his quiet voice, and soon the wish was spoken.
"To have land and a family of my own."
"That's right…! Huh?"
Along with Han Baeksa's stunned expression, I smiled faintly.
Shin Yucheol asked with interest,
"Land and a family of your own?"
"Yes. I wish to establish a new family of my own."
"Oh. How intriguing. Then are you saying you'll abandon the name of Unseong?"
"That is correct."
"May I ask why?"
"I am an illegitimate child."
At Sanghyeok's words, the spectators swallowed hard.
An illegitimate child was usually not accepted as a member of the family.
Sanghyeok continued,
"Because I am illegitimate, I cannot learn the Cheonroe Twin Swords, and I attend Seongmu Academy only with the help of my friend Seoha. In order to repay Cheongsin's kindness, I need to build strength under a family of my own. I humbly ask that you grant my request."
"T-This, this, this brat!"
Han Baeksa shouted in agitation, forgetting entirely whose presence he was in.
"Are you truly saying you'll betray Unseong?!"
"I was never a member of Unseong, so how could I betray it, Head of the Family?"
Seeing Sanghyeok's firm resolve, Shin Yucheol smiled with interest.
I knew he would like this.
Shin Yucheol.
The current king was my grandfather's childhood friend.
Their personalities were probably similar.
Both of them liked capable young sprouts who carved out their own destinies.
"Please calm yourself, Head Han. It's not uncommon for an illegitimate child to discard a family name, is it? And to do so in order to repay a debt of gratitude—such depth of thought in one so young. Just as you said."
"Your Majesty, but still…"
"All right then. Is there any land you desire?"
"I…"
Sanghyeok glanced briefly at me and then said,
"Eunak."
Eunak.
It was the very land I wanted.
A place that had once prospered from silver mines.
There was even a time when it was called Unseong's financial lifeline, but that was about ten years ago.
The mines had dried up, there was no fertile land for farming, nor quality timber, and now it was an abandoned region.
Shin Yucheol tilted his head, unable to understand.
No matter how generously one spoke of it, it wasn't land that could be called appealing.
But since it was currently Unseong's territory, Han Baeksa's consent was required to hand it over.
"Eunak, you say. Would that be acceptable, Head Han?"
"Absolutely not, Your Majesty. Even if it is land with nothing now, Eunak is like the spiritual homeland of Unseong. You would entrust such a place to a foolish child who cannot discern its value?"
I knew well that Han Baeksa wouldn't agree easily.
But even now, he was calculating silently.
'Because it's useless land.'
Eunak was no different from abandoned land.
Since it couldn't produce proper crops, the subsidies going in exceeded the taxes coming out.
Unseong had thoroughly turned its back on the land.
They shared in glory, but they weren't people who shared in poverty.
Many of those left behind became bandits.
They caused trouble everywhere, looting villages around Eunak and merchant caravans heading toward cities.
In other words, it was land Unseong wanted to be rid of as well.
'If I had said it, it would have become a political dispute, but Sanghyeok can claim ownership of this land.'
If I, someone from Cheongsin, had won and asked for Eunak, it would have caused major controversy.
No matter how useless the land was, it would have meant trying to seize another family's territory.
But Sanghyeok was different.
As someone originally from Unseong, taking one useless piece of land upon becoming independent could be considered a fairly natural right.
"Is there truly no way, Head Han?"
"If so, then I must be compensated accordingly."
"And how much are you thinking?"
"I'll need at least 20,000 gwan."
20,000 gwan.
Since 10 nyang made 1 gwan, that meant 200,000 nyang.
Considering that 5,000 nyang was enough to buy a small village, it was an astronomical sum.
A barren mountain city with nothing had no value anywhere near that amount.
'…Greedy bastard.'
Han Baeksa was smiling brightly, as if he'd never been angry at all.
If Shin Yucheol bought the land for 20,000 gwan and gave it to Sanghyeok, he would be getting rid of a headache, which was good.
And if not, it would ruin the plans of me and Sanghyeok, which was good in its own way.
But unfortunately for him.
The old man had miscalculated.
That land was worth more than 20,000 gwan.
Otherwise, why would I want it?
At that moment, the aide standing beside Shin Yucheol spoke.
He was a civil official in his early thirties with a blade-sharp appearance.
"Your Majesty. No matter how favorably one views it, that land is not worth 20,000 gwan. You should tell him to state another wish."
"Is that so? Is our royal treasury truly that lacking in funds?"
"It's not a matter of having money or not. If we buy Eunak for 20,000 gwan, it could cause problems later when the royal family needs to purchase land from other heads of families. It's best not to set a bad precedent."
"Is that so?"
The aide's words were correct.
But everything—from Han Baeksa naming an absurd price to the aide advising His Majesty—was all within expectations.
That was why I had prepared insurance.
"Then I'll buy it and present it to Your Majesty."
It was my grandfather.
My source of funds.
My light.
Lee Kangjin.
"If funding is the issue, Cheongsin will cover it. He's my grandson's friend, so I would very much like to grant his wish."
"Then there's no problem, is there? Head Han."
Han Baeksa looked at Lee Kangjin, let out a small chuckle, and said,
"Very well. Then let us proceed with the transaction at 20,000 gwan. I shall take my leave."
Han Baeksa withdrew immediately.
No matter whose pocket the money came from, disposing of a headache for 20,000 gwan was the same, so it was a satisfactory deal for him.
Soon, Shin Yucheol spoke before everyone.
"Very well. Then, as per his wish, I appoint Han Sanghyeok as the lord of Eunak. I hope you become a wise lord."
Sanghyeok stared at His Majesty the King in disbelief, then bowed his head.
"I will live up to your expectations."
"Congratulations."
And so, a new family was born.
After the meeting with His Majesty the King ended, Sanghyeok returned to his waiting room and packed his belongings.
That was when an unwelcome guest arrived.
"Han Sanghyeok!"
It was Han Baeksa.
Though he was somewhat satisfied with selling Eunak, he was furious that he hadn't secured the business rights.
"Did you really think that servant wench would remain unharmed after this? I'll have her executed today. Consider it something you caused."
"..."
Sanghyeok looked at his grandfather with an expressionless face.
No—now he was the Head of the Family.
The anger that had once boiled like lava had dried up and hardened into black stone.
What remained atop it was nothing more than pity for the old man.
What had turned the head of a great family into this?
What had led him to make even his own son and grandson into enemies?
After packing all his belongings, Sanghyeok said,
"Kill her."
"What?"
"Go ahead and kill her, Head Han. Isn't she your servant? I don't care."
If you can.
"This, this bastard…!"
Han Baeksa, at a loss for words, could only stand there stupidly.
He had never imagined Sanghyeok would react like this.
He expected him to beg for mercy, or at the very least, to rage.
Han Baeksa, who had hoped to console himself with a sense of moral victory, couldn't say a single word in the face of Sanghyeok's composed response.
As Sanghyeok passed by him, he added,
"Oh, and please use honorifics. I'm a head of a family now too, aren't I? I was taught that all heads of families who possess territory, whether large or small, share the same title of lord."
Han Baeksa was human too.
The grandfather who had once seemed godlike was merely a greedy man.
Why hadn't he realized it?
That his grandfather's shoulders were this small.
"I learned a lot thanks to you. Since the outcome is good, I'll say thank you."
With those final words, Sanghyeok left the tent.
As if congratulating him on his new life, the sun shone brightly.