Chapter 31

"Then shall we head to Gyeongbokgung Palace now?"

"..."

Gyeongbokgung Palace.

'I took my class there on field trips a few times too.'

'The kids hated it because they said it was boring, though...'

Jio, who had been recalling those noisy days, asked,

"You said there was a night market?"

"That's right. There's no better place to get a feel for Korea."

"It sounds fun."

"Do you want to try on traditional Korean clothes while we're there?"

"Traditional Korean clothes..."

Memories that were not all that old bubbled up.

Unless the school sent him there, he had never gone out of his way to visit, but Gyeongbokgung Palace did have the fun of dressing the kids in traditional Korean clothes and taking pictures of them.

'Especially the last class I was in charge of showed me some incredible palace intrigue in real time.'

Jio sank into reminiscence. The fierce battle between Her Majesty the Queen and the eunuch had been the highlight.

Thanks to having been in charge of adorable and noisy students, Jio had many good memories of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Since he had been in the position of chaperoning them, he had never tried on traditional Korean clothes himself, but that did not mean he disliked the experience.

"Sounds good."

"Really?"

At Jio's reaction, Yu Seongun inwardly swallowed a sigh of relief.

'Since his essence is a portrait, I wondered if he might find changing outfits unpleasant.'

Fortunately, Jio did not seem particularly resistant to various experiences.

"Good. I know a decent place."

"Do you mean a place that rents traditional Korean clothes?"

"There aren't usually many people there, so we can take our time."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Then shall we slowly go take the elevated train? It should be arriving at the stop soon."

"Is there a set time for its arrival?"

"It's not a mode of transportation that comes all that often..."

As Yu Seongun led Jio to the stop, he fell into a strange mood.

'He introduced himself as Jio, so I thought he was imitating Korean culture, but was the culture he was imitating not Korean?'

The table manners Jio had shown at the restaurant were ambiguous to call Korean.

No matter how Yu Seongun looked at it, they were closer to Western manners, which was peculiar when he recalled how Jio usually spoke as if he knew Korea well.

"... Hmm."

But at this point, it did not really matter.

"How was the restaurant?"

"It was delicious."

"That's the kind of reaction that makes the person guiding you feel proud."

When his caliber was so high, it had been difficult to make out what expression he was making with that face no matter what he did, but now Yu Seongun could at least tell that Jio was enjoying this situation in his own way.

'Thanks to that, guiding him is going smoothly too.'

Yu Seongun continued thinking.

'He's acting fairly human, so as long as the other Hunters don't pick a fight, there shouldn't be any problems.'

'According to Guild Master Bi Sabeol, Jio is the type to avoid friction unless something truly extraordinary happens...'

Jio voiced his impression.

"The elevated train passes straight through buildings."

"Doesn't that make commuting easier? It's convenient if it lets you off right inside a building."

"That is true."

"After two more stops, there's also a stop that cuts through a department store."

"Are there no noise issues?"

"Of course they've soundproofed it. The Magic Department would know exactly what kind of treatment they used, but..."

Seeing Jio enjoy everything Yu Seongun showed him, it seemed he liked this human world.

'A man nearly one hundred ninety centimeters tall acting like that could have seemed immature, though.'

Strangely, things like the line of his neck when he turned his head, or his fingers lightly touching the window, did not seem childish.

He was indeed enjoying himself quite a bit, but rather than a child's pure admiration, it felt more like that of a terribly detached onlooker.

'Is it because his air is so heavy?'

It was not like he was smiling from an equal position, but more like he was looking down from somewhere with his hands clasped behind his back...

"Are we getting off soon?"

"Ah, right."

Yu Seongun took Jio and got off at Gyeongbokgung Station. He pointed below the station and said,

"This is Gyeongbokgung Palace."

One of the advantages of the elevated train was that it gave a clear view of the city.

The sky lanterns floating at a height that was not too high swayed as if they were alive, and beneath them sat Gyeongbokgung Palace and the traditional Korean village.

Perhaps because of the way the night was lit by fire instead of electricity, the entire place was filled with a gentle glow.

People who stopped by after work or came sightseeing bought food from the night market stalls lined up inside and outside Gyeongbokgung Palace. The traditional Korean clothes they wore, each suited to the role they wanted, fluttered even in the winter wind.

After waiting until Jio had taken in the whole view, Yu Seongun spoke.

"If you've come to Seoul, you have to stop by Gyeongbokgung Palace. It's a fairly famous tourist attraction worldwide."

"..."

"Why? Is it too crowded because there are too many people?"

"No. I simply did not expect the atmosphere to be this good."

"I'm glad you don't seem to dislike it. Then we should enjoy it too."

Yu Seongun took the direct elevator down and led Jio into the traditional Korean village. In every alley, none of them very wide, people in traditional Korean clothes and people without them were wandering around.

The winter traditional Korean clothes rented out by the shops were all treated for warmth. Perhaps that was why people's outfits did not look that thick, even in the middle of winter.

"Come this way. Let's change clothes first."

"Are we going to a place that rents traditional Korean clothes?"

"That's right. If we want to enjoy this properly, we need to prepare a few things."

The Gyeongbokgung village, with traditional Korean houses tangled together this way and that, was the sort of place where a beginner was bound to get lost, but since Yu Seongun had stopped by several times before, finding the way was easy. Tourist attractions with many "stories" like this overflowed with work for Yu Seongun.

'... Are they rather excited today?'

'They don't seem excited enough to cause trouble, but unlike usual, they're quite lively...'

He caught sight of the "stories" pretending to clear snow from the roofs of the traditional Korean houses, or else imitating classical scholars and noble ladies while dressed in traditional Korean clothes as well.

"..."

After confirming the thing wearing a wooden mask, Yu Seongun turned his gaze away. For the most part, they did not attack first, but the things of Gyeongbokgung Palace were not the sort of fellows one benefited from making prolonged eye contact with.

A courtyard hung with silk everywhere, and gentle-colored lanterns hanging from the edges of the eaves. Yu Seongun led Jio, who was silently appreciating their surroundings, into the inside of a traditional Korean house.

"Ma'am."

"Oh my, isn't that Mr. Seongun?"

A middle-aged woman neatly dressed in traditional Korean clothes dyed with flowers greeted him.

"It's been a while. Entertaining a guest again this time?"

"This is a company guest, so I need to be extra attentive."

"Then our clothes are just perfect."

The woman smiled gracefully and turned to Jio.

"This must be the guest?"

"We'll be focusing more on the night market than games, so please choose something comfortable."

"Why not enjoy the games? They're doing a lot of fun things this time."

"I've been walking around all day today, so I'm completely drained."

"Then we should dress you as scholars, shouldn't we? If the clothes are too thick or heavy, they'll be uncomfortable, so let's go with light scholar's robes."

"That sounds good."

Yu Seongun said to Jio,

"What do you want to do about your face? Would you rather keep covering it, or..."

"I would like to cover it."

Please guarantee the anonymity of the portrait.

Jio had been cowed by the crowd, which was larger than expected. Jio, who always wished to keep far away from people's attention, wanted to cover his face and block people's gazes.

Yu Seongun did not know that timid feeling of his, but in any case, he guessed that Jio would not like a crowded and noisy situation. He roughly understood and asked the owner,

"Do you have masks?"

"Should I give you a roomy one?"

"That would be more comfortable, right? Yes, please."

"Then let's choose the clothes first."

The owner looked at Jio and asked,

"Could you take off your cloak? I don't mind if you keep wearing it afterward, but I need to see your build to choose traditional Korean clothes for you."

"Understood."

Jio obediently took off his cloak and draped it over his arm. Having properly followed her instructions, Jio looked at the owner proudly.

"..."

"..."

"... Ma'am."

Yu Seongun called to the owner, who had turned into a stone statue.

"The guest is going to run away at this rate."

"... Oh my, I made a disgrace of myself."

Only then did the owner react.

"The guest was so handsome that my breath stopped for a moment."

"Don't say strange things to my guest."

"With a good frame like that, handsome guests like this are a pleasure to dress. Please wait just a moment."

Before long, the owner came out with two young women, pushing two clothing racks hung with traditional Korean clothes. One side held clothes with a cool blue hue, and the other held mostly achromatic clothes.

"Both are silk woven from our own silkworms. They're smooth and won't irritate the skin."

"The blue ones are mine, right? Isn't it a cold color for something worn in winter?"

"I only brought the clothes that suit you best. If not you, Mr. Seongun, who would wear a color like this in winter?"

"I'm starting to wonder if I'm being used..."

"If you promote them a little while walking around, I'd be grateful. Anyway, Hunters really do have good frames for clothes."

The owner turned to Jio.

"Seeing you dressed thinly in this weather, you must be a Hunter, right? Our traditional clothes are made sturdy and light so that Hunters can move around in them without any trouble, so don't worry."

"I was not worried."

To begin with, Jio was not a Hunter.

'Would it be strange to say I'm not one now?'

The owner fluttered her fan and smiled.

"I only said that because Hunters don't like cumbersome clothes much, and I thought you might care. Since your face isn't familiar, you must either be unofficial or have only recently gotten your license, right?"

"..."

"If you don't want to say, you don't have to. Judging by the fact that you want to keep covering your face, it seems you absolutely hate having your personal information dug up, so I'll hide it very stylishly for you."

Having his personal information dug up?

'I guess it's common for people with the job of Hunter to have their information dug up?'

What a terrifying world.

Deciding to ask Mr. Yu Seongun about it later, Jio put on the black traditional Korean clothes recommended by the owner, who had elegantly twisted up her hair with a hairpin. A black sleeveless overcoat and a gray outer robe. The waist cord was a clean white.

"If you're going to Gyeongbokgung Palace, you have to wear a traditional hat too. Yes, it suits you well. You would also look excellent with a lot of ornamental pendants. This one is made of coral, so try wearing it."

"Thank you."

"And this is a scarf. Oh my, white suits you so well. Maybe it's because your skin is so clear, but it's beautiful. This is a coin pouch for you to put brass coins in once you go inside, so tie it securely so it doesn't fall off, all right?"

"..."

"Now, and a veil."

Jio was a little flustered by the loose, pitch-black cloth. He knew what a veil was, but he had never used one before.

"... How should I wear this?"

"We'll need to help you. Ms. Dan-woo, please put a veil on our handsome guest."

"Yes, ma'am."

A young woman wearing a pink hair ribbon came over and wrapped black cloth around Jio's traditional hat. Strangely, he could see ahead clearly, as if nothing were covering him.

"You said you'll mostly be walking around the night market. Then you'll be eating often, and it would be inconvenient to have your mouth covered by a mask. For people who don't want their identity revealed, a long veil like this is perfect."

"..."

"The guest has such a distinct air that someone might recognize who you are, but the clothes are so splendid and there are so many things attached that who would look that closely at your face?"

"I see."

"The scarf is thick enough to cover most of the lower half of your face, so this is about as covered as you can get. Enjoy our village comfortably, scholar."

From one side, Yu Seongun, who had changed into blue-toned traditional clothes, asked the owner,

"We're also thinking of buying lanterns."

"Oh my, you're really going all out, aren't you? What kind of lantern would you like?"

"I don't have anything particular in mind. What's the most popular these days?"

"Well, young ladies do like moon lanterns."

"Uh... what about men? We're not young ladies."

"Do you think it's common for two men to come out to have fun by themselves like you, Mr. Seongun?"

After thinking for a moment, the owner soon called one of the women with ribboned hair.

"Ms. Hong-yeon, could you bring the aquarium?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The woman called Hong-yeon soon pushed over a large glass box. Inside it, various lanterns made of Korean paper were moving in the light as if alive, and the owner scooped out two small fish with a net.

The things fluttering in tiny movements looked just like real fish.

"How about goldfish? They're small and soft-lit, so they shouldn't be hard to bring around."

"That's nice."

Jio experienced culture shock.

'The lanterns are alive?'

When Yu Seongun said "lanterns," Jio had thought of sky lanterns one could carry by hand, or hanging lanterns.

But the goldfish lantern Yu Seongun bought fluttered lightly through the air, and soon one of them settled beside Jio's face.

"..."

The lantern swishing its tail did not hurt his eyes even when he looked directly at it.

"Then have fun, and be careful."

The owner waved and saw the two of them off.

Once they left the courtyard draped here and there with silk, they were able to stand again on the noisy village street. Yu Seongun called to Jio, who was looking around the village with interest.

"How is it? Is it uncomfortable?"

"It is very comfortable."

"If you want to look around the village before going inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, let's do that."

"The village?"

"The village market closes earlier than Gyeongbokgung Palace. By the time we finish walking around the night market and come out, the village lights will probably be off."

"Then may we walk around the village a little?"

"Of course."

Yu Seongun led Jio, who seemed unfamiliar with this kind of environment, into a fan shop.

"...?"

Jio blinked twice as his eyes lingered for a moment on a group of figures standing blankly beside the shop, wearing crude wooden masks and peering around. Their movements were not stiff, but they were standardized like machines with commands input into them.

They did not particularly look human. Just as Jio tilted his head, unable to tell what they were, Yu Seongun spoke to the shop owner.

"Sir, please show us some fans."

"Oh my, what fine scholars have come in. What should I show you?"

"Something sturdy would be nice..."

"Then this side is the best."

Jio soon looked away from the wandering masked group and curiously looked around the village market.

'All the shopkeepers are wearing traditional Korean clothes.'

Traditional clothes, or modernized traditional clothes. There were even shopkeepers wearing modern clothes underneath with only a long traditional overcoat over them. They mainly dealt with tourists walking around in traditional Korean clothes and played along with the mood.

Yu Seongun soon gave Jio a black fan as a gift.

"Here, take it. Since you're dressed as a scholar, you should have at least one fan."

"... Are fans originally essential to scholars?"

"They might be, or they might not be. It's just a souvenir without much meaning."

"Souvenirs from tourist attractions are special."

The fan made of black ribs and cloth was quite luxurious. Jio wondered if having even the fan be black made him look too much like a grim reaper, but in any case, Jio liked black, so he obediently accepted it.

"Most shops in Gyeongbokgung village sell souvenirs. Or food ingredients. They hang meat in whole chunks, or sell agricultural and marine products they raised themselves. They're much fresher than goods distributed in from the provinces, so there are quite a few people who deliberately use the shops here."

Jio nodded.

"The atmosphere is truly good."

"Right?"

After wandering the village for a while, the two soon entered Gyeongbokgung Palace.

"Wait, we need to exchange money before we go."

"Money?"

"The owner gave you a coin pouch. That's a basic service they provide so you can keep brass coins in it. Inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can only use brass coins, so it's better to exchange as much as you'll use."

"What happens if there are any left?"

"You can take them as souvenirs, or get them exchanged back at the exchange booth."

Yu Seongun soon returned with the coin pouch plump and full.

"They say these brass coins have been deliberately modified to be lighter, but they still have some weight."

"Do people not find this method cumbersome?"

"Who knows? If you look, there probably are people like that, but in the first place, they're coming here to enjoy this kind of atmosphere. The Gyeongbokgung Palace merchants like it too, since if they receive payment in brass coins, they can get more than the listed price."

"How can they get more?"

"The government supports the merchants."

Yu Seongun gave a small laugh.

"That way, they'll make more active use of the brass coins."

"I see."

"Here, take it. This is your identity token."

"...?"

There was a token too?

He could understand the brass coins since they would be used as currency, but what was an identity token for? When Jio looked at Yu Seongun, he shrugged.

"An all-access pass."

"Ah."

That was very good.