The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

“I’ve finished writing.”

I spent all night writing a book, compiling it for a crucial survival plan. I looked at the book I wrote for this deadly scheme.

Never thought a traditional book-making experience would come in handy like this.

A writer expresses things through words.

For the plan to succeed, this book played a vital role.

If the princess heroine in the story was a forceful heroine who acted on instinct, then Moyong Sang-ah was closer to a strategist-type heroine.

I must ensure that Moyong Sang-ah reads this book alone.

“I need a brilliant plan.”

It was almost like a gambler needing to con a novice. You needed actors, players, and a financier to get the novice to the gambling table. It required many people and a lot of effort.

The problem was that Kang Yun-ho played all these roles: the actor, the player, and the financier.

And it was not just any novice but the main heroine that I needed to get on board, so it was going to be a real challenge.

“Well, I have to try hard. What else can I do?”

“Master, did you cough? Breakfast is ready. We will depart after you’ve eaten.”

“Okay. I’m coming out.”

I packed the book in my luggage and opened the door.

The Moyong Family.

Unlike other families of Han descent, they were of Xianbei descent and descendants of the royal family of the former Yan state from the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms period.

Even though they were considered barbarians by the Han people and were actually located in the remote Yodong Province of China, no one would dare call a member of the Moyong Family a barbarian.

Being on the outskirts, the Moyong Family’s influence was enormous in Yodong Province, where other clans didn’t reside.

And this location was a necessary passageway from Joseon to the Central Plains.

“Family Head, news has arrived that Lady Moyong Sang-ah’s fiancé will be here in three days.”

In his office, the chief steward reported to Moyong Bi, the acting family head.

“He’s coming quite fast.”

There were already guests who had arrived, but the actual groom-to-be was still three days away. Such a situation would seem to be disrespectful to the great Moyong Family.

If this were a normal marriage, as the acting family leader, he would have wanted to make a big fuss.

“Apparently, Mr. Kang Yun-ho has caught the flu, hence the delay, so please calm your anger.”

In reality, it was not the flu but a hangover.

Having drunk what he thought might be his last few years’ worth of alcohol before leaving, Kang Yun-ho fell ill with a hangover.

Unable to admit that his son was late to his wedding because of a hangover, Kang Yun-ho’s father had reported it as the flu.

“Tsk tsk. If he had learned martial arts, he wouldn’t have fallen ill so easily. When Mr. Kang arrives, I’ll have to teach him some basic internal energy techniques.”

“In Joseon, those who practice martial arts are looked down upon and cannot hold official positions. If his family wants to continue their interpreter duties, he must not learn martial arts, so he probably won’t learn them in his lifetime.”

“Is that so? I’m not interested in barbarian country matters. But it makes sense that a man who is handling so much ginseng wouldn’t have learned martial arts.”

Being of Xianbei descent himself but a part of China for over a thousand years, he had no such consciousness.

“If this marriage goes through, it will bring immense wealth to the Moyong Family.”

The Kang family recently needed protection against increasing raiders. And the Moyong Family desired the overflowing wealth of the Kang family.

Marriage was indeed the best way to easily exchange what each family lacked.

“That’s right, it should be. How many people from the cult were sacrificed?”

“Who knew the barbarian guards would be so strong? It was really unexpected.”

The problem was that the recent raiders who had been attacking the Kang family were actually members of the Demonic Sect, instigated by the Moyong Family.

“But it’s a relief everything went as the chief steward planned.”

“It’s just the wisdom of an ordinary person. The real genius was your plan, leader.”

“Sang-ah, that girl. She probably didn’t expect to be sold off like this.”

“To give a valuable head of the family candidate to barbarians. Even our blood relatives couldn’t easily accept it.”

“The relatives need to be sensible. The patriarch is in a coma. The family head is me. The tide has already turned, hasn’t it? And with the money from the Kang family, a little gold plating will finish it.”

“Moyong Sang-ah becoming an external member will surely lead to the head of the direct lineage becoming the clan leader.”

“At that time, I will not forget the hard work of the chief and the sect and will repay them.”

“Is there any doubt about it?”

The sound of their laughter echoed in the office.

Two days’ distance from Moyong Family.

I couldn’t sleep a wink last night because I was writing, so I kept dozing off on the horse.

Fearing I might fall off because I was so drowsy, one of Kang Yun-ho’s close servants held the reins for me.

This was the one I should talk to.

“Let’s do a job together.”

I approached Dolsoe, who always cleaned up after Kang Yun-ho in a somehow noir-like manner, with an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“I can’t hear you.”

Dolsoe spoke indifferently, not even glancing in my direction.

“Hey! Hey!”

“I can’t hear you. I plan to be deaf until we reach the Moyong Family.”

“What? Dolsoe, do you know how much alcohol I’ve fed you and how much meat I’ve greased your stomach with?”

Of course, it wasn’t me who did it, but since Kang Yun-ho did it, it’s like I did, right?

“Young master. I’ve been seriously warned by the elders. If anything happens to you, you might get a few bruises, but I’ll be dead!”

It seemed Dolsoe got a serious scolding from Kang Yun-ho’s father. Well, he had always been by Kang Yun-ho’s side in every mishap, so it’s understandable.

That meant he wouldn’t be swayed by ordinary words.

But there was still a way.

“Dolsoe.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve been seeing Okbun lately, haven’t you?”

I heard from the household slaves that Dolsoe was seen getting close with Okbun from next door before leaving for the Moyong Family.

“….Why do you ask?”

“Just wondering. If you’re in that kind of relationship with Okbun, what about Maehyang waiting for you at the gisaeng house?”

The slaves only knew about Dolsoe and Okbun, but I knew about Dolsoe’s encounter with Maehyang the next day.

“No way! Are you going to tell Okbun?”

“I wouldn’t do~ tha~t.”

I teased him with a playful tone, wagging my eyebrows.

“….Alright. What do you want me to do?”

Dolsoe sighed and looked at me.

“Let’s see the list of bridal gifts.”

Gifts sent by the groom’s family during marriage. I needed that list.

“No, young master. If you mess with the bridal gifts, it’s not just a bruise, but your head might fly off!”

“Okbun might want to cut off your middle leg?”

“…. I’ll bring it. But don’t touch the bridal gifts.”

“We’ll see.”

“Young master!”

“Alright, alright, just bring it.”

So, Dolsoe brought the list of bridal gifts.

Let’s see.

“As expected, a lot of ginseng.”

Ginseng occupied a large part of the bridal gifts.

In the Joseon era, ginseng was a major export item, responsible for the national economy.

I guess it was almost like semiconductors nowadays. Domestic Chinese ginseng wasn’t considered very effective, and Goryeo ginseng was sought after for its medicinal properties.

In fact, Japan even made special silver coins for the ginseng trade, and far away in Southeast Asia, Goryeo ginseng was a gift that the king bestowed upon his subjects.

Unlike the fake elixirs of immortality found in martial arts novels, Goryeo ginseng was actually treated as a real elixir throughout Asia.

But this was not the past; it was a martial arts visual novel.

So, what would be the effect of ginseng, the real elixir?

Well, it’s a versatile item that restores HP, replenishes MP, and even increases maximum MP.

If the protagonist gets hurt, just use ginseng. To increase the protagonist’s inner strength? Also ginseng. I kept eating ginseng to the point of boredom.

Was this some sort of advertisement for the Ginseng Corporation? Product placement?

Or did the scenario writer not know any other elixirs besides ginseng?

It made me think that the scenario writer’s research was rather poor.

Anyway, sending such ginseng as bridal gifts to a martial arts clan would definitely be a wise decision. It’s good for strengthening the clan’s power and easy to monetize.

“I was looking for something else.”

Playing the martial arts visual novel, various items appeared to enhance the protagonist.

If a family was wealthy enough to buy the heroine of the Moyong Family with money, surely some of the items I saw would be there.

If there were items among them necessary for survival, I would need to secure them.

With such expectations, I started to look through the items.

Let’s see. Silk, jade, pearls, silver coins… Anyway, all this will be taken by Moyong Sang-ah.

Not this kind of stuff.

Huh?

“Why is this here?”

There was an item on the list of bridal gifts that I never expected.

An item that would perfectly complete my plan, no, my strategy to exploit the heroine.