NOVEL NEXT Chapter 584
‘I knew this would happen.’
Let’s write a mystery novel. Let’s get recognized for my literary talent as Je-gal Seol-rok.
Of course, I wasn’t completely at ease. Regardless of how entertaining my novel might be, if the Elders’ Council’s grumbles about the black-haired son-in-law don’t vanish, what then?
When there’s only one answer in sight, I have no choice but to firmly trust myself and charge ahead. However, when there’s a chance to prepare, it’s wise to have multiple options ready.
What if the Elders’ Council finds fault with it?
A more amazing episode. Should I confront them with an indisputable mystery novel? No. They’re bound to pick at something no matter what. So, let’s change the direction of thought.
Let’s not be bound by a perfect mystery novel and write one that can get recognized as a potential son-in-law for the Je-gal family.
The reason for writing Je-gal Seol-rok is ultimately to prove my literary talent, right? What should I do if their complaints are set?
Let’s lay traps within the content of the novel.
“The ghost ship incident was a case I solved myself. It’s the incident that made my name known in Wuhan.”
I, Je-gal Hyang, and Im Ha-yeon. The real incident we three solved together will be the material for the mystery.
“Is the content of the novel a mix of poetry and reality?”
The Elders’ Council looked at me with bewildered expressions.
“A ghost ship, all smeared in blood, appeared in Wuhan. There were no survivors.”
I nodded toward the council and set down my teacup.
You can make a speech while seated. Just a bit more theatrical than explanatory. Though I have no fan, let’s draw everyone’s attention with exaggerated hand motions.
“Hmm….”
“It’s clearly something done by bandits! Just a cover-up attempt by those Ho Pil types. An official who seemed spooked by the involvement of martial artists even took a step back! It was nothing but a gathering of people trying to save their own skins from the horrible scene.”
The story begins at the scene of the ghost ship incident.
“It aligns with the novel’s content.”
“Sadly, the world isn’t my novel. For the sake of intrigue… Or because the only person who can do it is oneself, Je-gal Seol-rok was not in Wuhan, always waiting for the right moment while indulging in mischief. There was no Officer Jung who wouldn’t turn his back on a horrible case, even though he was thirsty for promotion.”
Next, let’s eliminate the famous detective Je-gal Seol-rok.
“Then….”
“The families of the dead postmen were waiting for fathers and husbands who would never return, and the branch manager of the doomed post office could only look at the ghost ship with a blank expression.”
I lowered my eyes and shook my head to express the sadness of that time.
“Didn’t you say you solved it?”
“Yes, Je-gal Seol-rok wasn’t there. However….”
“However?”
In a world where the famous detective Je-gal Seol-rok was absent, all that remained were pathetic Ho Pil types and despairing victims. However, that incident did not end in a tragic conclusion.
I calmly say to everyone with a smile.
“There had to be at least one black-haired lad reaching out to the troubled ones.”
That was me.
——
“Wait, are you saying YOU really solved the ghost ship incident?”
“Aren’t you fabricating this?”
“If you just pay a bit of attention to the news from Wuhan, you’ll find out whether the ghost ship incident really occurred and who solved it.”
It was the incident where I made my name known as a famous postman. If someone investigates why I am called a famous postman, that incident’s name will surely surface.
“Did you really solve it like Je-gal Seol-rok?”
“Je-gal Seol-rok is merely a character I wrote about as an author. The reality isn’t as thrilling as the story of Je-gal Seol-rok. I put in a lot of thought and others also suffered.”
There’s no need to create a perfect detective out of me. The most crucial aspect of this test is my literary talent.
‘As long as they know there was indeed a real incident that served as a motif.’
A similar story. However, it’s a bit lacking. Hence, the fact that there was a realistic incident must be stated.
“Not being perfect means there were some similarities, right?”
“Je-gal Seol-rok used only evidence to pinpoint the criminals and then compared them, but I was not that thorough. After a great effort, I narrowed down the suspects with the evidence found, and then inferred the criminal’s intentions using circumstantial evidence.”
“Is that the main purpose of the ghost ship incident?”
I nodded.
“Only after realizing the rumors—a conspiracy to ruin a competing post office—could I feel certain.”
“Hmm….”
“In the end, I unearthed the essence of the ghost ship incident, revealing the culprit like Je-gal Seol-rok, wouldn’t you say?”
The novel was based on truth. A mix of admiration and awe flowed from somewhere.
“Did you really say it was a mix of poetry and reality?”
Je-gal Seol-rok is a realistic story. You couldn’t lie about something that could be easily verified. Perhaps they easily accepted it; voices of surprise erupted everywhere.
“If what you say is true, doesn’t that mean you have powers similar to Je-gal Seol-rok?”
Where did the angry voices go? Elder Jang-ro asked with an excited tone.
“The folks of Wuhan and martial artists gave up on that case, and now they’ve started calling me by an amusing name.”
Great. For now, the complaints have been settled.
Shall I throw out another story that’s trapped the Elders’ Council?
“……Famous postman.”
The name of another title of mine popped out from an elder’s mouth.
Postmen are originally the lowest rank without even a salary. However, once they’ve read Je-gal Seol-rok, it comes across differently. As a potential son-in-law of the Je-gal family, I can show off another achievement.
“While I’m not as brilliant as Je-gal Seol-rok, I do know how he thinks.”
“W-wait, does that mean…!”
“Are you asking if I can deduce like Seol-rok?”
“Whoa! Are you really going to deduce?”
Elders, I understand you’re excited, but anyone could predict that much.
“Once again, let me remind you, I am NOT Seol-rok.”
I shook my head once more.
“You did say you solved the ghost ship incident.”
Why does everyone look disappointed? Just because the author created a character who can use the Three Paths, doesn’t mean I can use them in reality.
“I don’t have the instinct to see through people in an instant like Je-gal Seol-rok. I haven’t practiced honing any abilities over the years.”
I am not Je-gal Seol-rok. I can’t read people as thrillingly as he can. For now, I lay down some groundwork.
“It was indeed a fanciful tale, wasn’t it….”
Then I say,
“However. I do know how to imitate.”
I can do it similarly.
“Imitate?”
In the end, Je-gal Seol-rok is a book I wrote to gain recognition as a son-in-law of the Je-gal family. Plus, I need to show off a little as a postman.
“For instance, Elder Jang-ro, it’d be nice for you to go home early today and attend to your angry wives.”
“What?! H-how do you know that?”
Elder Sang-ro, who had been listening with intrigue, looked at me in shock.
“What? Did you argue with your wives? Uh, wait, where are the ladies?”
“Kang Yoon-ho. How does Elder Sang-ro know he has multiple wives?!”
The stage is set. It’s time to show one of my talents.
“It seems you purposefully cover with a broad straw hat, but earlier, I noticed small scratches on your hand and neck.”
“Ugh!”
Elder Sang-ro startled and tried to cover, but while he was hiding the neck wound with his hands, the scratches on his hand became clearly visible.
“Is this, really true?”
The evidence was presented to all. Now, I’ll share the deduction process so the Elders’ Council can understand.
“If you look closely, this scratch doesn’t seem to be from a weapon. Then, what could it be? Where did it come from? No way, the neck and hand bearing a similar form of injury could happen like this. What is it? Right. It was from a fingernail. Who from the mighty Je-gal family elders? It must be a quarrel with your wives.”
“Whoa.”
“How did you know they were wives?”
I pointed to his hand and neck alternately as I continued my explanation.
“The width of the scratches varies. That means there are at least two. It suggests there are angry wives involved. It wouldn’t make sense for a martial artist to just take a beating, so it must have been Elder’s fault.”
“Did you sneak away to the Gilu again?”
“Ahem!”
Correct.
With one cough from Elder Sang-ro, all eyes, filled with astonishment, turned towards me. Originally, I had planned to stop at this point, but I discovered something amusing while observing, so I decided to share it.
“If you go home early and apologize today, I believe they’ll feel better.”
“What do you mean? How do you know that?”
“It’s clear from the clothes you’re wearing.”
“Clothes?”
“The clothes have been starched and ironed very well. Meanwhile, others’ clothes are laundered well but aren’t as stiffly starched as yours.”
“Uh? That’s true!”
“This kid, why are your clothes different today?”
Elder Sang-ro’s clothing isn’t in an ordinary state. Unlike the other elders, it’s been treated with care. This means…
“To starch and iron those broad straw hats requires at least two people; a thoughtless husband wouldn’t know, but a lot of hard work must have gone into those clothes by the wives.”
Like the breakfast table being set nicely. Or having the work clothes neatly ironed all of a sudden.
It’s a classic sign of a make-up gesture after a quarrel.
“Whoa.”
“Since the wives sent the gesture for reconciliation, you’d better go home early and have a chat.”
“What on earth… how did you do all this?”
The elders’ mouths were agape, unable to hide their astonishment.
How did I figure it out?
It’s straightforward, you see.
一 I’m Master Kang. I asked my mother to gather information about the grandfathers. But why do you need this?
一 It’s a method used in a successful fortune-telling house.
一 Huh?
I had only one thing to say.
“It’s just basic deduction.”
It’s a basic scamming method.