Chapter 11

Chapter 11 — Yulli Selection Exam (1)

Isu glared at Doyul with obvious displeasure.

What's with that pale-looking guy?

Lee Isu had been born and raised in Yeongsan County.

Although he belonged to the jungin class, his father was a local clerk, so Isu had grown up without lacking much.

Naturally, he had developed a bold and fiery personality.

There were only three people in the world he truly respected.

The first was the king, the parent of Joseon.

The second were his own parents.

And the last was Kim Jiseok, the magistrate of Yeongsan.

Isu had not respected Jiseok from the beginning.

In fact, his first impression had been closer to resentment.

It happened several years ago, when Kim Jiseok had first arrived in the county.

"Isu. They say an extraordinary man is coming as our new magistrate."

"Father, aren't all magistrates basically the same? What's so special about him?"

"This magistrate is different. He placed third in the main state examination and became a Tamhwarang."

"T-Tamhwarang...!"

Hearing that title intimidated Isu.

But being young and stubborn, he deliberately answered with attitude.

"Hmph. He only passed the main state examination because he was born into the proper class, didn't he? I think you're much more impressive, Father! If you'd been born into the right class, you would've become a Tamhwarang too! No, you would've taken first place!"

"Haha. As a father, I'm ashamed to say this to my own son, but... the magistrate is truly not someone who should be compared with a man like me."

As Isu grew older, he eventually came to understand.

Thanks to his parents, he could live comfortably in this rural county.

But if he went to the capital, he would merely be one of countless ordinary jungin.

"Why are even you saying things like that, Father?! No matter what you say..."

Faced with a reality he couldn't deny, the boy inevitably realized that he wasn't particularly special.

"Compared to those yangban whose only achievement is being born into the right family! You...! You are a hundred, a thousand times more impressive than them, Father!"

"Isu! Where are you going?! Forgive this foolish father!"

Through the painful process of rejecting and questioning himself, Isu slowly began to grow up.

He realized that he might never achieve greatness.

And during that process, it was only natural that he came to resent Kim Jiseok, a man he had never even met.

He also felt disappointed in his own father for bowing his head before such a person.

"Hmph. He's only a magistrate who'll disappear in five years anyway! What's so great about him? Just let him show one foolish side. I'll criticize him to my heart's content!"

Then Isu met the magistrate for the first time.

"So, you're Isu. I look forward to working with you. I am Kim Jiseok, magistrate of this county. I am lacking in many ways, so I believe I will need a great deal of help from both you and your father. Please lend me your wisdom."

"Y-Yes?"

Isu's hostility melted instantly.

"S-Someone as accomplished as you, Magistrate... why would you need help from me and my father? We're only ordinary jungin you could find anywhere...."

"What nonsense are you saying?! This region needs a hundred men as wise as your father far more than it needs an inexperienced youngster like me!"

"...!"

Kim Jiseok firmly took Isu's hand.

"This county, and indeed Joseon itself, needs capable local clerks like your father. Never think so little of yourself. And when you grow older... I hope you become a wise local clerk like him."

"M-Magistrate...!"

"Joseon needs both you and your father."

Isu's inferiority complex transformed into admiration.

For the first time, he felt as if he understood his own worth.

That's right.

If we want to help the people of a county, we need local clerks who understand everything happening there.

People like Father!

The magistrate is incredible too, but...!

From that day onward, Isu's life goal became clear.

I'll become a great local clerk like Father.

Then I'll serve a magistrate like Magistrate Kim and make the county great!

With that ambition burning inside him, the newly announced yulli position seemed almost as though it had been created specifically for him.

The thought of serving the magistrate he admired filled him with excitement.

Then...

He saw someone react indifferently after hearing about the incredible achievement of a magistrate who had even become a Tamhwarang.

"Hey! If someone tells you his name, isn't it basic courtesy to introduce yourself too?!"

The hot-blooded Lee Isu couldn't let it go.

I've definitely heard that name before.

There was always a chance he was just a minor character who appeared once and disappeared.

But what my classmates had said bothered me.

On top of that, he said his father was a local clerk.

Although local clerks belonged to the jungin class, they were the people who actually managed much of the county's day-to-day administration.

That meant there probably wasn't much they feared locally.

Judging from his words, he hadn't realized I was a yangban.

But this wasn't something I could solve by clearing my throat a few times and pulling rank.

"My name is Kang Doyul."

"...Kang Doyul?"

Isu flinched.

I wasn't wearing expensive silk like him, but I was still dressed as a scholar, had a surname, and even had a servant accompanying me.

He seemed to realize only now that I was of respectable status.

"...Hmph. You must be quite talented, Scholar."

"I have no particular talent worth boasting about."

"You're excessively humble. Someone like you heard that the magistrate placed third in the main state examination and still reacted like it was nothing. Honestly."

...Apparently switching to respectful speech hadn't reduced his hostility toward me.

What if this kid really is a supporting character?

There was absolutely nothing to gain from becoming his enemy.

And if rumors spread that we'd fought, it might even hurt me during the selection process.

Avoiding conflict was the best option.

"I believe there has been some misunderstanding. I only came here to read the notice. I never intended to offend you, Isu."

Apparently, that wording annoyed him even more.

"...Isu? Ha! Yangban really are all the same! You're obviously angry, yet you're pretending to be calm and refined!"

"...?"

"Just because your status is a little higher! You looked unimpressed by the magistrate's incredible accomplishment because you think you could do the same thing if you merely took the examination!"

I actually stopped and thought seriously about that.

Come to think of it... what would happen if I prepared for Joseon's state examination?

I drifted into thought for a moment before quickly returning to reality and trying to brush it off.

"Ah, I think you're misunderstanding something..."

"Ha! Look at your eyes right now! See?! You were seriously thinking you could do it! That arrogance of believing you're no different from the magistrate just because your status lets you take the main examination!"

Donggu finally couldn't hold back.

"You're going too far. Our Young Master isn't like that!"

"How dare a servant interrupt!"

"Ha! You were just complaining about people obsessing over status, but now you suddenly refuse to hear a servant because he's a servant?"

Isu was left speechless by Donggu's perfectly logical counterattack.

Then he immediately apologized.

"...Argh! You're right! Sorry! I was wrong! What you said is correct!"

"Then watch what you say to the Young Master... Huh? Th-Thank you...?"

...Interesting.

Lee Isu had a fiery temper.

But he didn't seem fundamentally bad.

"Argh! Scholar! You're lucky to have such a good servant! Hey, you!"

"...Why are you calling me?"

He sounded furious, but if you actually listened, he was complimenting Donggu.

"I thought you were just some giant brute who knew how to use his muscles, but you're surprisingly sharp! Your master must feel extremely reassured having someone like you! Damn it!"

"You have excellent judgment. The Young Master tells me that all the time."

"...When have I ever said that?"

Then Isu turned back toward me.

"They say you can understand the master by looking at the servant. Seeing such a clever servant at your side, perhaps I misunderstood you somewhat!"

I could feel my energy draining in real time.

"Ah, yes.... I'm glad we've cleared up the misunderstanding. Then I'll be going..."

He struck another dramatic pose.

"Even so, I cannot tolerate your arrogance! The magistrate himself said that every person is valuable and has their own purpose! Isn't that why he put up this notice? His deep intention is to recruit whoever he needs regardless of background! In other words, he needs a talent like me!"

"Ah... yes..."

This guy was definitely supporting-character material.

And since he's the son of a local clerk, could he even be the predetermined candidate?

"Judging from how carefully you're reading the notice, Scholar, we will inevitably become rivals! However! If we compete fairly, without relying on anything else, you will never defeat me!"

"May I go home now?"

"The next time we meet... we'll be enemies!"

After saying that, Lee Isu ran off at full speed.

...He was exhausting.

But he didn't seem malicious.

And he was definitely someone worth watching.

"Donggu."

"Yes, Young Master."

"I suppose I'm not really one to talk, but... you're normally the type to use your fists first. Why did you leave him alone? Because he's the local clerk's son?"

Donggu shook his head.

"No."

"Then why?"

"He's so tiny that it feels like he'd break if I hit him once. How could I use force against someone like that? That wouldn't be justice."

"...Ah."

I found myself nodding naturally.

A few days later.

The area in front of the government office was packed with people hoping to apply for the yulli position.

...Ugh. There are more applicants than I expected.

Joseon was still Joseon.

Even though this was merely a position assisting with lawsuits, quite a few people had gathered hoping to secure it.

"Ahem. I can read fairly well, so perhaps I have a chance...."

"I memorized the Great Ming Code for today...."

"I even read the Gyeongguk Daejeon!"

Doyul calmly observed the crowd.

Is Lee Isu the predetermined candidate? Hmm. For now... I'll pass the first test and think about it afterward.

While looking around, Doyul's eyes met Isu's.

"Gasp!"

The moment Isu saw him, his face went pale and he marched straight over.

...? What now?

"Damn it! Scholar, you deceived me! Why didn't you tell me you're the Red Fist everyone's been talking about lately, solving lawsuits all over the county?! I've been staying indoors training myself for this yulli position, so I didn't know what was happening outside!"

Doyul stared at him in disbelief.

"...When did I ever deceive you? And what is this 'Red Fist' nonsense...?"

"That's right! You never deceived me. I'm just ashamed that I insulted you carelessly because I didn't know! I'm sorry!"

Did he come here just to apologize?

"Ah... yes. It's fine."

"But! That changes nothing! I've prepared with all my heart to become the yulli, so I'm sorry, but this position will be mine!"

"...Good luck."

"Yes!"

Doyul watched Isu march proudly away with a dumbfounded expression.

Then...

Wait.

He realized something strange.

The notice was posted only after I began working as an oejibu.

But he says he had already been preparing for the yulli exam before then.

That means... he knew the position would exist beforehand.

Doyul narrowed his eyes at Isu's back.

At that moment, someone emerged from the government office.

"Greetings. I am the Ibang, the local clerk. The main examination for selecting the yulli will be an oral examination conducted by the magistrate, however...."

The Ibang surveyed the crowd filling the government office courtyard and smiled calmly.

"Unfortunately, far too many people have come. We will have to reduce the number of candidates first. Let's see.... Too many candidates would burden the magistrate. Three should be appropriate."

"W-What?"

"O-Only three?! There are easily more than a hundred people here!"

"The test is simple."

The Ibang silenced the murmuring crowd instantly.

...So that one is Kang Doyul.

He glanced first at Doyul, then at his own son Lee Isu.

"Please provide the correct judgment regarding a petition submitted to the royal court concerning interest."