“Contract dating? W-What does that mean?”
I looked at the woman, who was tilting her head in confusion.
The youngest daughter of the Zhuge family. Zhuge Hyang.
Unlike the serene beauty she naturally exuded when she was quiet, her face and responses became more hilarious as the conversation progressed. But she wasn’t the character I remembered from the martial arts visual novel.
So I thought of a plan: contract dating.
If she were the heroine from the original story, she’d be trying hard to create a connection, but she was different. We could just start and end a contract relationship based on our mutual interests, and that would be that.
Of course, she could be a character appearing from the other route that I hadn’t fully cleared, but considering that would complicate things too much.
First, I needed to lay out the explanation.
“What you’re doing here right now is nothing more than delaying the inevitable. Whether you go back to Man Geum-jeon or to the Zhuge family home, the matchmaking situation won’t change.”
Let’s reinforce her situation once again.
“That’s true. I know.”
Zhuge Hyang sighed, her head drooping.
Now that I laid the bait, it was time to throw in the hook.
“But there’s a way for you to stop enduring the matchmaking or escaping from it.”
“Is that the contract dating?”
“Yes. While we wouldn’t actually be dating privately, we would make it look like we are publicly. It’s a sort of disguise. And when the time comes, we can break it off with a good reason.”
With my own issues piling up, I didn’t have time to be troubled by a new woman’s problems.
This was a good option for me too.
“A disguise…”
“As long as we’re in a contract relationship, you won’t have to endure matchmaking anymore. And since we’d only be pretending, you wouldn’t have to suffer emotionally from our relationship.”
“W-Well, um… K-Kang…”
Why is she stuttering like a broken record? Does she not know how to address me?
“Feel free to call me. Master Kang, Manager Kang, Kang Yoon-ho. Any of those is fine.”
“Then! I’ll call you Master Kang. Is that alright, Master Kang?”
It was as if she was only now able to speak after being fixed like a machine by an expert.
“I was also forced to come to this matchmaking, just like you.”
“Forced?”
“My maternal grandfather seized the Tea Bookstore, and he said, if I meet with Zhuge Hyang and pass a test, he’ll return it.”
I suppose I do know a thing or two about such passive personalities. They tend to feel burdened by one-sided favors, thinking it causes trouble for others. In this respect, it’s like I’m one of them. I don’t want to go to matchmaking either. It’s better to be honest.
“I-I’m s-s-sorry for making you…!”
Maybe that wasn’t it either.
Zhuge Hyang repeatedly bowed her head, apologizing.
“It wasn’t taken because of you, Zhuge-soja. I simply have no thoughts of marriage at the moment, much like you do, and thus have a reason to enter into a contract dating relationship.”
“Contract dating, contract dating…”
She looked as if she didn’t dislike the proposal but kept glancing at me while mumbling.
Is she hesitating despite this being a good offer?
Then I’ve got a plan!
“I understand. I’m a lowly barbarian, so I probably wouldn’t make a good match for you.”
In situations like this, I should act like I’m hurt if the contract doesn’t happen. That’ll make her feel guilty once more.
“I-I don’t think that!”
“Thank you for your empty words. But there’s only one way to resolve both your issues and mine.”
“I-I really don’t think so… Oh?”
As I stressed my words, I took a step closer. I intentionally moved toward her.
As she felt me approach, Zhuge Hyang began retreating a step at a time to match my pace.
“If you accept my proposal, we can resolve the issues of impersonation and the Rise of the Tang Family as well. Plus, I’m sure you want to date someone you love and eventually marry someone who will love you for your whole life, right? Someone other than a matchmaker’s choice.”
It didn’t matter if she retreated; I was slowly cornering her, like a cautious prey. Step by step, I closed the gap.
“Gah! T-That’s too close…”
Now I could pin her against the wall.
“Zhuge Hyang.”
I placed one hand against the wall to block her retreat. It almost looked like a wall-teasing pose, but I didn’t care.
“Y-Yes!”
Zhuge Hyang replied with a tightly strained face.
“Will you agree to a contract dating with me?”
My expression and voice softened, while my posture remained slightly imposing.
I had already built the reason and atmosphere. Now was the time for her to consent and leave.
“Uh, um… N-No, that’s… Please wait a moment!”
No! You can’t escape now!
Suddenly, Zhuge Hyang bent her knees and rolled away like a bug, disappearing behind a distant pillar.
Did I just witness the martial arts world’s taboo roll?
– – –
You wretched mess! You’d rather die than roll around pathetically like a stupid donkey?
– – –
You don’t even deserve to be called a martial artist! You abandoned the martial arts world; you deserve to be called a traitor!
It’s a technique that’s seldom used.
Zhuge Hyang should be a martial artist too, but does her passive personality lead her to unpredictable actions in another sense?
“Zhuge-soja? If I was rude, I apologize.”
I politely apologized to Zhuge Hyang, who peeked out from behind the pillar, taking sharp breaths.
“It’s not like that! I’ll do it!”
“What?”
“I-I’ll enter into a contract dating!”
– – –
“Now let’s go to Man Geum-jeon.”
As soon as Zhuge Hyang’s excited face calmed down, I urged her to leave.
“Um, well. I haven’t finished carving the wooden doll yet…”
She glanced at the wood sculpture placed in one corner of the room and spoke awkwardly.
Is that wooden doll hand-carved?
“Just say you’re going to your grandfather’s house.”
There’s no need for a wooden doll when leaving your aunt’s house.
I exited the room with the hesitant Zhuge Hyang.
“Young lady, where are you going?”
As she stepped out, a guard blocked our path.
“I’m going to my grandfather’s house.”
“When leaving, you should get permission from your aunt or Young Master Heo Song.”
“Ah… I-I…”
Is she really struggling to face such a firm refusal?
The guard smiled knowingly at Zhuge Hyang’s demeanor, then slowly reached out for her.
“Your aunt is busy with household matters, and Young Master Heo Song is currently unavailable, so you should return inside.”
“Ah… um. Well…”
It looks like facing off against my opponent is going to be tough.
The guard looked at Zhuge Hyang, as if he were saying, “Well, that’s expected,” then slowly reached out for her hand.
“Is your step-granddaughter required to ask for permission just to visit her grandfather?”
I questioned the guard incredulously.
“Who are you?”
I guess just walking out peacefully was too much to ask. Then, it couldn’t be helped.
I slowly reached for the hat covering my hair. Who do you think I am?
The guard raised his voice as he turned his attention toward me.
“I am Kang Yoon-ho from the Tea Bookstore.”
Feeling the surrounding gazes on me, I confidently introduced myself, removing my hat with a flourish.
“An intruder?! An intruder!”
The mansion was suddenly filled with chaos.
“Bring the lady!”
“Hyung wants to leave? Where did that kid go?”
“I haven’t seen him since he went to Wu Hu yesterday!”
“Is he passed out somewhere from drinking too much in Wu Hu? Hyang! What’s all this about?”
Zhuge Hyang’s aunt, the daughter of the head of the Man Geum family, arrived in a huff with a furious expression on her face.
“Greetings…”
“Who allowed a lowly barbarian to speak?”
The middle-aged woman bared her teeth and shot me a disdainful glare.
Well, like mother, like son.
“Aunt, that’s not…”
Zhuge Hyang seemed flustered as she tried to intervene, but if she could step in so easily, this problem wouldn’t exist in the first place.
So, she must have heard about who I was, but her attitude suggests she’s trying to exclude me and create a one-on-one situation with Zhuge Hyang.
That’s not going to fly.
“That lowly barbarian is the match for Zhuge Hyang!”
I calmly pushed Zhuge Hyang behind me and stepped up to her aunt.
“What?! Is that true?”
Heo Song’s mother asked Zhuge Hyang, her face filled with surprise as she sought confirmation.
“Y-Yes. My grandfather told me to meet him.”
Zhuge Hyang peered out from behind me, her head bobbing as she replied.
“Has my father lost his mind? How could he introduce a black-haired barbarian as a match for my granddaughter?”
“If you’ve understood, get out of the way.”
“Not happening.”
As I took a step forward, Heo Song’s mother blocked us.
“I can’t see the reason for stopping you. You’re accompanied by an entire squad of guards too.”
“……”
“Are you afraid of facing punishment for impersonating Zhuge-soja?”
“You impudent barbarian, what do you mean?!”
Lady, it seems you’re just angry because you know it’s true.
“Zhuge-soja, do observe how flustered she is. Isn’t my word correct?”
“Y-Yes!”
As I looked at Zhuge Hyang, who nodded in agreement, I gazed at the lady who seemed ready to explode.
“It’s over now. If you don’t want things to get more complicated, step aside.”
“Hyang! Your aunt will convince your grandfather and make sure you don’t have to meet any matches! You can stay safe at home for a while!”
That’s a hefty promise.
I couldn’t hide my surprise as I turned to Zhuge Hyang.
Zhuge Hyang watched me closely before closing her eyes tightly and speaking.
“Um… I-I will attend the matchmaking.”
“Yikes! Stop that barbarian!”
So it’s force now, is it? I can see the guards reaching for their weapons. I quickly activated the Small Wheel Mental Image Technique to increase my volume.
“How dare you reach for your weapons?!”
I mustn’t let them take Zhuge Hyang away. I shoved her behind me, protecting her against the wall, and shouted to fill the mansion with my voice.
“Think carefully! If you draw your swords now, you’re drawing them against the man that the Lord of Man Geum has put forth as his granddaughter’s match! You’re drawing your swords in an attempt to confine the head of the Zhuge family’s youngest daughter!”
Can you all handle that?
“Wait! The ordinary Zhuge family wasn’t just any ordinary family?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Don’t act recklessly!”
I guess not.
The leader of the guards seemed to regain his composure as he stifled his men’s actions.
“To be loyal is not just to obey; it is to obey rightful commands. If you step aside now, you can save your lady and save yourselves!”
By letting her go now, it’d be a minor incident, but if you don’t, people could die. I imparted a warning steeped in severity.
A tension-filled silence blanketed the mansion.
After a tense moment, the one who seemed to be the leader spoke up.
“…Can you promise to keep quiet about this incident?”
And a sign of capitulation came forth.
“You! What did you say?!”
This lady still is clueless about the situation.
“I feel like if I walk out the door, the memories will fly out of my mind too.”
“…Clear the way.”
Under the pretext of a delivery man, we left the mansion safely, having held onto Zhuge Hyang’s arm tightly.
– – –
“Honestly. I told you to come with me.”
Im Ha-yeon was pacing anxiously in the empty office of Kang Yoon-ho, unable to remain still for a moment.
There’s no way anything will happen. I can’t let news about the pink-haired light martial artist from Wuhan spread if something goes wrong in the mansion. If he comes late, just take the letter to the Man Geum Battlefield.
Despite going over Kang Yoon-ho’s words in her head, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of anxiety from his solitary figure.
‘Please be safe.’
Im Ha-yeon peered out of the window toward the mansion. She felt like leaping out of the window any moment. Just then, she spotted Kang Yoon-ho’s familiar head pushing through the inn’s door.
“I’m back… Whoa!”
Im Ha-yeon dashed out of the office, leaping down the three flights of stairs to greet Kang Yoon-ho.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Disregarding the eyes of others, Im Ha-yeon anxiously checked his arms and legs.
If someone remarks that her sister-in-law has been overly exuberant today, Im Ha-yeon wouldn’t even consider denying it, as she scanned Kang Yoon-ho’s condition.
“I’m alright, as you can see.”
“Ugh, thank goodness. What happened over there?”
Im Ha-yeon’s ample chest heaved as she let out a sigh of relief.
“I rescued Zhuge Hyang-soja who was held captive. I saw her to the front of the Man Geum lord’s mansion. I’ve informed Jeon Gil-san as well.”
“So, the Rise of the Tang Family incident is resolved now?”
“If I do one more thing, I think it’ll be solved.”
“One more thing?”
“Well… Haha.”
Why is he avoiding her eye? Im Ha-yeon felt an instinctive sense of unease at the look of awkwardness on Kang Yoon-ho’s face.
“What is it? Tell me.”
“I think I’m going to have to meet Zhuge Hyang-soja for a matchmaking.”
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