I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

17 – Awareness

The first game was lost in vain.

No, they say there are all rules that change? It’s not some kind of chess, there’s a promotion.

Since there was no instrument that plays the role of a car in janggi, at first it was a failure to just assume that there was none and pass it on. I never thought there would be an object called an owl that can only be obtained by evolving a horse when certain conditions are met.

Knowing that I was a kid who didn’t even know the rules at all, Nogucheon moved his words much more leisurely in the second round. And also lose.

In an instant, they are driven 2-0 and are on the verge of defeat.

But only then did I smile. Now I get it. Not to mention the rules of close quarters, even how I can win.

Third edition.

The conversion of the workshop takes place. I, who had been watching Nogucheon’s actions consistently while defending, went on the attack for the first time.

Could it be because I was too careless? In a sudden stabbing dagger, Nogucheon’s reputation was put to shame. The long-distance sniping through the long-moving object must have been unexpected, right?

In the fourth edition, which immediately followed, a tight battle came and went. Nogucheon’s ability to play seriously was to the point where it was quite difficult for me, who had been trained with all kinds of board games and chess, to read the numbers.

By the time the game entered the second half, Park’s victory was leaning towards me. I had a piece promoted to an owl, but Nogucheon doesn’t.

Considering the value of a rook in chess without a kick or queen in chess, there was a huge gap in the presence or absence of this piece.

‘The problem is that I prefer the shape of the Nogucheon.’

There is a word called friendship. It is a word that refers to a bad shape of the arrangement of instruments in janggi, but on the contrary, a good shape is called a good shape.

To compare it to a war, even though I have better power, the strategic point is occupied by Nogucheon.

Actually, it wasn’t a big problem if it was a long term. It’s enough for me to concentrate on defense, rearrange the pieces, and get the shape out of the right shape. Tea, or the presence of an owl, supports him.

However, close quarters were not simply a game determined by the skill of the players.

The element of luck is involved through the process of throwing dice or chopsticks instead. If close was a game of pure skill, it wouldn’t have been called a gamble.

In this part, Yukbak was regarded as gambling because Tazza cheated and manipulated the match. However, it was not on the same level as Ssangryuk, who handled steamed gambling, but it seemed that he was not treated well as a noble game like Go.

Contrary to my concerns, however, Nogucheon responded to the match fairly and squarely without any tricks. Is it because he doesn’t know how to cheat or is it because of his pride in his skills?

The decision was made at the point where Nogucheon chose the real sword fight.

“Amazing.”

As if he couldn’t find a place to put his horse, Noh Gu-chun threw his horse, which he was fiddling with in his hand, onto Bak-guk. It was an abstention.

“Young master, is it true that today is the first time you’re doing Yukbak?”

“It’s true. I just enjoyed playing Go.”

“Go and Yukbak have different chests…”

Nogucheon muttered at the end of his speech, then took the words he had thrown and rearranged them again.

There is no conclusion yet.

“This is the final version.”

And the last match that started.

Noh Gu-chun kept his convictions to the end.

Without using any hand techniques, he bet on me with pure luck and skill.

However, my understanding of close quarters had already reached a high level with just the previous four games. My reading skill, which was developed through Go and chess that mobilized various magic tricks, far surpassed that of Nogucheon.

It didn’t take long for the poet of defeat to come out of Nogucheon’s mouth.

“I lost.”

Unlike the pushy woman, Nogucheon politely bowed down and bowed to me. In addition to that, it was Nogucheon who became more polite even in his tone.

“I learned a lesson.”

“Me too.”

It was fun. Really.

I didn’t intervene simply because I wanted to enjoy the game or to make a good impression on Beauty, but from the middle, I really fell in love with Nogucheon.

When I answered with sincerity, Nogucheon asked politely.

“Can I put it again next time?”

Close-up was fun, but now we have to focus on our original purpose.

I clarified my voice and spoke with great force so that the onlookers could hear me well.

“Well, this time I came out to help my compatriots in Yan who were in trouble, not to enjoy the close quarters.”

I put an accent when I said Yan.

At my tone, which subtly emphasized Yan, Nogucheon narrowed his eyes as if he sensed something strange.

I thought about it while approaching, but this guy, Nogucheon, had a sharp intuition.

Apart from the initial purpose, it would be better to continue the relationship with Nogucheon.

“If you wish, I will gladly take the time to come back.”

“I’ll be happy to welcome you anytime.”

Me and Nogucheon bowed their heads to greet each other.

People around the scene responded enthusiastically.

This kind of showmanship, respecting each other and sharing meaning regardless of status, is the virtue and story of the times.

Watching such a show in person was an eye candy for the people, so those who were present would brag about today’s work.

‘That’s also the purpose I wanted.’

Satisfaction, satisfaction.

Then, let’s have a conversation with the woman and finish it off neatly.

“That way…”

“Young master!”

The moment I was about to turn around, I was lifted up into the air by a hand that suddenly dug under my armpit!

“Wow!”

“Ahahahahaha! Young master! Isn’t it amazing, huh? To feed Nogucheon with such a rout while being such a young kid! Keuuu Can’t possible able to see it!”

The woman grabbed me out of the blue, put her face close to her, and started talking a lot.

“Ji, what are you doing now!”

“I can’t let go of Young master right now!!”

Seok and Hugh couldn’t run away and just screamed in case I got hurt. However, there was no change in the woman’s behavior.

She is a woman who doesn’t care at all about what people say, how people stare at her actions, or what my status is. It was truly my own pace.

“Put it down for now…”

“Okay! I’ve decided!”

“No, more than that, leave this…”

“I’m going to be Young master’ guest! Mmm! Young master also recognized my ability and helped me to get hired, right? If I lost the bet anyway, I would have become Nogucheon’s subordinate, but since I helped him, I was at least a eater. It must be sensible to do!”

Gourmet?

No, I didn’t want that much.

It’s hard enough to feed me and my family right now, but what kind of foodie are you talking about?

‘I saved this from the water, so it’s not like I’m going to take it with me!’

If you go on like this, you will end up getting your nose stuck.

“Gourmet!”

“Huh? Ah, don’t worry. I showed a bit of an ugly side a while ago, but even so, I’m a great swordsman?”

The woman finally dropped me off and tapped her knife at her side. She wasn’t like a short dagger, but a proper long sword.

“It’s not the best in the world… But I’m sure there won’t be five people in the world who can use a knife better than me?”

Nogu-cheon, who had been listening to her dignified self-introduction while sticking out her chest, scolded her.

“But don’t you lose to me too?”

“Because you are the third best swordsman in the world!”

“Huh…You talk as if you’ve seen the best in the world.”

“Yes. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen two of those too. Amazing swordsmen.”

She admits that her skills are inferior, but she does not flinch at all and she strikes back confidently.

Her grin raised the corners of her mouth and she smiled. It was such a cool laugh that even the viewer felt refreshed.

A woman who digests even her shameless attitude, in addition to her self-paced aspect, seems to have made the word ‘delightful girl’ into a person.

Even though she acted on her own, she was a person you couldn’t hate if you wanted to hate her.

Even if I refused to be a guest here, that woman would be more than enough to hold a sit-in in front of her mansion and protest to be accepted as a guest. I feel that way.

I had the intention of spreading rumors in moderation, but getting too much attention is a no-brainer.

I let out a small sigh at her, reluctantly deciding to accept the woman.

‘I’m still having a hard time taking care of myself, but my family keeps growing.’

Jeongi and that woman are the same.

Is this the kind of prize that Chuyeon talked about gathering people?

It’s already hard, but what will happen when more people gather in the future.

But what can I do? I started it, so I have to take responsibility.

“Okay. I’ll take you as a guest. Even so, I was thinking of having at least one proper escort. Instead, if your skills are fake, it’s invalid.”

“hehehe, don’t worry. This older sister’s skills are real!”

“Gongja, don’t worry too much about that. Although Jing Jia behaves like that, his sword skills are quite good.”

“Huh…?”

The moment I heard Nogucheon’s explanation, I felt like my hair was dyed white.

It’s a familiar name. Not a name you know. Isn’t it the main character of the Qin Shi Huang assassination operation that decorates the end of the Warring States period?

During calligraphy class, I wrote the reciprocal song he left behind, and watched his life and the process of his assassination through a movie.

An assassin, Jingga, who was instigated by the Prince of Yan to assassinate Qin Shi Huang.

I know him very well.

But this woman is her older brother?

I froze in shock. Knowing how to understand that, she straightened her posture, saying that she would greet her properly.

Then, he put an end to my confusion.

“A man from Wei, Jingga. From today on, you’ll become a eater of practitioners!”

Brother. Brother is in front of me.

Then, now is the end of the Warring States period.

The era when Qin Shi Huang accomplished the great cause of unification.

Then, the Prince of Yan who instigated Jingga to assassinate…….

‘It’s me.’

At last I realized my true identity.

My previous life knowledge of this era was so fragmented, I knew each event and person, but I was ignorant of the overall flow.

Of course. I didn’t study by looking at proper history books, I just learned about the Warring States period from Chinese characters or anecdotes I saw and heard in calligraphy classes.

I knew the seriousness of the Great War in Jangpyeong.

I know how great Yeompa and Imok are.

He also remembered the fact that Jingga and Prince Yan tried to assassinate Qin Shihuang in quite detail.

But I didn’t know exactly how they were connected.

To be honest, I didn’t even know that I was living in the era of Qin Shi Huang’s rule.

But the name Jingga made me realize the reality.

That I am the one who will become the crown prince of a country that is destined for destruction.