Heavy Night A Tale Of Darkness - Chapter 2

“You’re hurt again today. I told you not to follow the beast hunting.”

A snowflake falling from the branches landed on Eunha’s nose.

As Sihoon observed the deep wound between her middle and ring fingers, he took out a handkerchief and offered it to her. Despite his reproachful tone, Sihoon’s eyes were filled with concern.

“This injury is nothing to scoff at. You slipped on the icy path earlier. Are you not hurt? Why do you insist on following?”

Even though she had sustained a significant injury, Eunha maintained her usual resilient attitude, which made Sihoon sigh involuntarily.

“Stop putting on a brave face. You won’t always be around to see my clumsy moments.”

“You weren’t being clumsy. In fact, I was worried.”

“Really? You were worried about me?”

“Of course. Last time, you sprained your leg and got a scolding from the madam. So, think of your body more than mine.”

After roughly wiping the injured area, she bowed briefly and then hurried off to the hunting leader. Although they hadn’t caught any tigers today, they had found traces of one. They marked the area and set sturdy traps, ensuring that the beast wouldn’t come down to the village for at least a few days. But Eunha felt disappointed as they hadn’t earned much money this time.

However, she felt fortunate that they had hunted wild boars while chasing the tiger.

“Take it. It’s ten nyang.”

Eunha’s mouth widened in surprise as she accepted the pouch offered by the hunting leader.

“Ten nyang? But if we didn’t catch the tiger, isn’t it five nyang?”

“Didn’t you catch the biggest one alone? So, you deserve ten nyang.”

“Really? Oh, I’m relieved.”

“Next time, make sure to catch the tiger and bring back a gold coin. Will it come out again?”

“Of course. Just call me.”

Eunha walked away with a bright smile, clutching the money pouch. With ten nyang, she could pay off the damages at the apothecary and put the rest in her secret savings. By saving a little bit at a time, she hoped to eventually rescue her sister from servitude and live modestly but happily.

Spotting Sihoon waiting for her with the other servants in the distance, Eunha rushed over. A tender smile spread across Sihoon’s face as he saw her. Then, he spoke with a courteous and affectionate tone.

“Today, I’ll treat you to some rice soup. Drink as much of your favorite liquor as you like.”

***

After stopping by the tavern and devouring two bowls of rice soup and cleaning up a bottle of soju with some beef pancakes, a sense of drowsiness washed over Eunha as she filled her stomach with food and drink, relieving the tension.

There were two reasons why the hunting leader, despite being a woman, had enlisted Eunha for the dangerous tiger hunt. She was more skilled with a rifle than most hunters, and her light frame made it easier for her to approach the tiger without making a sound.

The lively chatter of the people gathered in the tavern flowed into one ear and out the other, leaving Eunha with a contented smile on her flushed face.

“Thanks to you, I can make a living like this.”

Sihoon tilted his glass, laughing at her playful tone.

“It’s not because of me, it’s because of your talent. I still can’t beat you in hunting.”

“No, I still have a lot to learn and improve. That’s why I’m always grateful to you. You’re my benefactor.”

“That darn benefactor term is going to stick in my ears.”

“But you’re still grateful, right?”

With a soft chuckle, Eunha nodded and looked down at the rice grains stuck to her brass spoon, thinking of her sister.

Lee Young, known as the “flower of the brothel.” Her sister had become a courtesan due to poverty. Because she had no parents, no means of earning money, and was young. And because she had a younger sister to take care of.

Young was a responsible child. Even when she hadn’t had a sip of water for three days, she would somehow find a way to feed Eunha, her sister, even if it was just a single potato.

It was a fateful encounter when Young followed her foster mother, who worked as maid, to seek a job, and met Haeng-soo. Haeng-soo, seeing the dazzling beauty of Young, persuaded her to become a courtesan by offering her silk clothes and a warm room.

Ten years had passed since Young became a courtesan. Beyond the age of marriage, all Young could do was either enter a nobleman’s chamber as a concubine or become Haeng-soo’s consort by setting up another guise.

Eunha wanted to rescue her sister from this life as soon as possible. She wished to free her sister from being someone’s concubine or an old courtesan and let her live as a regular woman.

“I should probably get going now. It’s getting late, and I don’t want to get scolded.”

Keeping her tiger hunting expedition a secret, Eunha left early in the morning. By now, her sister would have heard the news, so she would be anxiously waiting for Eunha’s return.

“Are you going straight to the brothel?”

Sihoon asked as he tapped a few coins out of his pocket and placed them on the table, following Eunha as he rose from his seat. Both of their faces were as red as persimmons from drinking in broad daylight.

“I’ll stop by the pawnshop first. I need to exchange some books and pay off my debts. Then I’ll head back.”

“Then let’s go together. I need to stop by the brothel today to see my mother.”

Sihoon took a few coins out of his embrace and placed them on the table before getting up to follow Eunha.

The gaze towards the woman in men’s clothing and the scholar in silk attire was not flattering, but it was already a familiar sight.

A chilly breeze brushed past Eunha’s exposed neck, causing her to shiver. Shrugging off the cold, she called out to Sihoon, who was leisurely walking, urging him to hurry up, and then dashed towards the bookstore.