Among the escorts of the Hanam Escort Agency, there were all kinds of people.
Some were old, some young; some quick-tempered, others calm. Hyeongpyo belonged to the older and more composed group among them.
Though he was not an escort leader, he was treated on par with one by both fellow escorts and escort leaders alike, and even the Chief Escort, Sama Cheol, acknowledged him as such. His martial skill might have been lacking, but his experience and years could never be ignored.
Hyeongpyo had met Sama Cheol earlier that morning—and returned with a strange request.
Take care of a porter.
Hyeongpyo tilted his head in confusion. Knowing the Chief Escort's temperament well, it made even less sense. Sama Cheol was not the type to ask someone to look after another out of personal sentiment.
"Dan Hyung-u…"
Murmuring the name quietly, Hyeongpyo headed toward where the cargo was. It was a bit early, but the work was probably nearly finished. The Hanam Escort Agency was exceptional—not only its escorts, but its porters as well.
"Hm?"
By the time he arrived, the porters were already gathered in small groups, chatting. He'd expected the work to be nearly done, but judging by the scene, it looked as though they'd finished quite some time ago.
"You're here."
One of the porters hurried over and greeted him. When Hyeongpyo turned, he saw it was Jongchil. He knew Jongchil well.
He knew that Jongchil quietly led the other porters, and that he was secretly receiving martial instruction from one of the escorts. It wouldn't be long before he became an escort himself.
"Finished early, I see. You all worked hard."
At Hyeongpyo's words, Jongchil made an awkward expression. They had barely done anything, and even someone thick-skinned would find it hard not to look embarrassed being praised for it.
Hyeongpyo noticed—but chose not to press the matter.
"Is there a porter here named Dan Hyung-u?"
At the question, Jongchil's face briefly went pale. He quickly recovered, forcing a smile as he answered.
"Yes. He joined yesterday."
After speaking, Jongchil turned his head toward one side. Hyeongpyo's gaze naturally followed. There stood a man with a sword hanging at his waist.
Hyeongpyo's expression twisted slightly.
"Hasn't he been issued his uniform yet?"
Jongchil jumped in alarm.
"Ah! S-sorry! I—I'll go get it right away!"
The moment he finished speaking, Jongchil took off running. He'd felt like he'd forgotten something—and sure enough, it was the clothes. Anyone working at the Hanam Escort Agency, escort or porter alike, was required to wear the designated uniform, which the agency provided.
Escorts wore blue martial robes embroidered with the character Ha on the front and back, marking them unmistakably as members of the Hanam Escort Agency. Porters wore gray clothing.
Hyeongpyo frowned slightly. This was far too different from normal. If he asked Jongchil about someone, Jongchil would usually summon that person immediately.
Jongchil had that much influence among the porters.
Yet now, he seemed to be minding Dan Hyung-u's reaction.
Could it be that Jongchil was overwhelmed by force?
Hyeongpyo considered the possibility. Seeing the sword at Dan Hyung-u's waist, it was clear he had learned some form of martial art. No—there was no doubt about it. Otherwise, the Chief Escort would never have gone out of his way to make such a request.
Hyeongpyo looked at a porter standing awkwardly nearby. When their eyes met, the porter hurried over. Hyeongpyo nodded and asked,
"Was there a fight?"
The porter shook his head vigorously.
"Absolutely not."
Hyeongpyo tilted his head.
"It's fine—just tell me. Jongchil's reaction isn't like him."
As he spoke, Hyeongpyo glanced subtly toward Dan Hyung-u. The sharp-eyed porters understood immediately. The porter before him shook his head even harder.
"I swear, nothing like that happened. Truly."
Hyeongpyo judged the man to be telling the truth. And that made things even stranger. If nothing had happened, why were they all being so cautious around him? He was only a porter.
While Hyeongpyo pondered this, Jongchil returned at a run, holding clothes.
"Huff… huff… I—I brought them."
After reporting to Hyeongpyo, Jongchil carefully approached Dan Hyung-u.
Seeing him again brought back memories of the previous night, sending cold sweat down Jongchil's spine.
"Um… h-here… these clothes…"
Jongchil held out the uniform cautiously. Dan Hyung-u glanced at him, then looked around. Sure enough, he was the only one dressed differently. He nodded and took the clothes.
Then he began to undress.
Everyone present froze in shock. None of them had imagined he'd change clothes right there. This wasn't a place used only by porters and escorts—monks, servants, and maids passed through regularly.
"Ah—w-wait—!"
Jongchil raised a hand, pointing helplessly, but could only make meaningless sounds.
In an instant, Dan Hyung-u had stripped. His smooth body was revealed—no excess flesh anywhere, only compact, solid muscles. His skin was pale, like that of an infant. No one had touched it, but it looked as though it would be impossibly soft.
Now naked, Dan Hyung-u put on the uniform Jongchil had given him. Undressing had been easy; dressing took longer, clearly unfamiliar—but he managed.
Now dressed like the other porters, Dan Hyung-u felt strangely pleased, as though he had finally blended in.
After fastening his sword back at his waist, he carefully folded his original clothes and tucked them away. They were precious to him as well.
Hyeongpyo watched him with a peculiar expression. He was truly an unusual man. Judging by his balance and musculature, he had clearly trained—but it was absolutely not swordsmanship.
If it were sword training, his body wouldn't be so pristine. Not in scars, but in overall condition. Even his hands, glimpsed briefly, were smooth—without a single callus.
Hyeongpyo approached him.
"You are Dan Hyung-u, correct?"
Dan Hyung-u nodded slightly. Seeing his demeanor, Hyeongpyo nodded as well. Just as Sama Cheol had said.
He would require a great deal of instruction—basic instruction, at that.
"You'll be accompanying me for a while. Follow me for now."
Hyeongpyo turned and walked off immediately. Dan Hyung-u watched him for a moment, then followed at an unhurried pace.
Once the two disappeared, a collective sigh of relief erupted among the porters.
"Ahhh… thought I was going to die."
"What kind of person even is that…?"
Only then did the porters erupt into chatter. Watching them, Jongchil finally felt everything return to normal and collapsed to the ground. He had expended more mental energy than anyone.
Hyeongpyo led Dan Hyung-u to a small teahouse. He could have spoken at his quarters or somewhere quiet within the agency—but for some reason, he didn't want to.
Hyeongpyo sat at the tea table and gestured for Dan Hyung-u to sit.
"Sit."
After hesitating briefly, Dan Hyung-u forced himself into the chair. It was something he needed to get used to. Besides, sitting meant food might appear.
Once seated, Hyeongpyo studied him quietly, wondering where to begin. Dan Hyung-u solved the problem himself.
"Where is the food?"
Hyeongpyo stared at him in confusion.
"Food? Ah—you mean tea. Wait a moment. It'll be brought shortly."
Dan Hyung-u nodded. Only then did Hyeongpyo speak again.
"That's a fine sword."
He began with the sword. Dan Hyung-u looked at him silently, making Hyeongpyo feel awkward. He was genuinely difficult to talk to.
"You should at least have a scabbard."
"There is none that fits."
Hyeongpyo frowned slightly. Speech training would clearly be necessary—urgently. Talking like this elsewhere could easily get him killed.
"We'll start by fixing how you speak. That can come later. For now, we'll find you a scabbard. I'll gift you one."
After a pause, Hyeongpyo continued.
"I hear you're looking for someone."
Dan Hyung-u nodded.
"May I ask who?"
This was the other request Sama Cheol had made—help Dan Hyung-u find someone. With his experience, Hyeongpyo was well suited for the task.
"Well…"
Hyeongpyo blinked in disbelief.
"You don't even know who you're looking for?"
As Hyeongpyo stared, tea was set before them. He took a sip to steady himself. Dan Hyung-u simply stared at the cup.
After a moment of thought, Dan Hyung-u lifted it and drained it in one go.
The hot tea slid down his throat, but he merely muttered,
"It's bland."
Hyeongpyo was stunned. To drink scalding tea like that and remain so calm—he must be forcing himself.
"A-are you alright?"
Dan Hyung-u looked at him.
"Isn't it… hot?"
Dan Hyung-u shook his head lightly—so subtly it was almost imperceptible.
Hyeongpyo fell into thought. They'd spoken only briefly, yet he had learned much.
Dan Hyung-u was simple. Clumsy in everything. Which made sense—he'd lived in the mountains for a long time.
Stripping away that layer, Hyeongpyo saw something else: a purity untouched by the world. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Well then. Let's go. We'll start by finding a proper scabbard."
As Hyeongpyo stood, Dan Hyung-u rose as well, tilting his head.
"No food?"
Hyeongpyo burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! This isn't a place for meals—just tea and conversation! Hahaha!"
Dan Hyung-u tilted his head again, wondering why anyone would sit so uncomfortably somewhere that didn't even serve food.
In any case, the two of them headed to the blacksmith together.
On the way there, Hyeongpyo talked to Dan Hyung-u about this and that. Assuming Dan Hyung-u knew nothing at all, he explained how the world worked, starting from the simplest basics and moving step by step.
Of course, he didn't expect Dan Hyung-u to understand everything. Still, he believed that repeating it over time would eventually lead to good results.
"So, are you planning to stay at the Hanam Escort Agency only until you find the people you're looking for?"
At Hyeongpyo's question, Dan Hyung-u nodded.
"If you really know nothing, it might take longer than you expect."
"That's not true. A few things came to mind."
"Oh? That's good to hear. Well then—what are they?"
"People with the surname Ak."
Hyeongpyo's mind began working quickly. The Ak surname wasn't common, but it wasn't unheard of either. Still, it narrowed things down enormously.
"And is there anything else?"
"I think they lived in a very large house."
"A very large house?"
Hyeongpyo fell into thought. Something came to mind.
"Do you remember anything else?"
Dan Hyung-u shook his head. Even recalling this much had been something of a miracle. Too much time had passed to remember details.
"They said there was a large mountain nearby."
Hyeongpyo nodded. It wasn't certain, but there were a few places that fit the description.
"Did they practice martial arts?"
At the question, Dan Hyung-u tilted his head. Come to think of it, that seemed right. In his vague memories, his friend had understood martial arts better than most others. Dan Hyung-u himself had received help from him more than once—so it was probably true.
"I think so. Ah…!"
Dan Hyung-u suddenly stopped walking and let out a low exclamation. Hyeongpyo asked with a puzzled expression,
"What is it? Did something else come to you?"
Dan Hyung-u muttered heavily.
"I remembered my friend's name. Ak Segi."
Hearing this, Hyeongpyo nodded. From Dan Hyung-u's manner of speaking and overall demeanor, he could roughly piece together the situation.
What Dan Hyung-u was searching for was likely the family of his friend, Ak Segi. And Ak Segi was almost certainly dead.
"I understand. It may take some time, but with that much information, I think we can find them. You can afford to be hopeful."
At Hyeongpyo's words, Dan Hyung-u's eyes widened slightly. He was surprised. He hadn't even dared to imagine finding them, and it was hard to believe that Hyeongpyo could be so confident based on just a few words.
"Really?"
"Yes. Really. That said, you really need to change the way you speak. It's hard to listen to—not for me, but for other people."
"Other people?"
At Hyeongpyo's words, Dan Hyung-u resumed walking, quietly repeating the phrase to himself.
Other people.
It was a concept he'd never had the leisure to think about before. That's right. Here, there were people other than himself. This wasn't a place where he lived alone—it was a place where he lived together with others.