Surviving as a Cripple in Murim – Chapter 16

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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Even while enjoying the festival, I watched Gwahae, delighted as she constantly fiddled with the silk clothes and ornaments. The hefty sum I’d spent felt worthwhile.

Actually, I had been worried she’d say something like, “Gwahae! I hate stuffy clothes! Ornaments! I’ll trade them for yakgwa!” I was relieved she seemed to like them.

The festival was enjoyable on its own, but since it was her first time, I wanted to create an even better memory for her.

It’s arrogant to judge another person’s life, but objectively speaking, I thought Gwahae had lived an unfortunate one.

“Mancheon! Over there! Over there~! Let’s go! Hurry!”

I smiled along with Gwahae, who beamed brightly, unaware that her complex, shark-like teeth were showing.

I hoped she would be happy from now on. I hoped she would smile more.

Of course, the reason I cared so much about Gwahae was also for my own benefit. Considering her unbelievable growth rate, she was bound to succeed as a martial artist.

With luck, her outcast status would be lifted, and she could even rise to a high position within the Jegal Clan. No, it was certain! After all, I was the one who taught her! I would eat my hat if Gwahae didn’t succeed.

If I just waited patiently for 10 to 20 years, Gwahae, having become a top martial artist, would shower me with gold, silver, and the Jegal Clan’s secret martial arts techniques.

Even magpies, toads, and even dogs repaid kindness. Wouldn’t Gwahae repay me? She would definitely repay me many times over.

“Ooh~ Hurry up!”

Lost in pleasant fantasies, I was nudged by Gwahae tugging at my sleeve. What had she seen to be so excited?

I followed Gwahae, and there it was: a giant yakgwa. However, it was too big and thick to be called a yakgwa. It was a veritable calorie bomb.

The basketball-sized yakgwa was displayed at a festival stall, capturing the attention of passersby.

It was certainly something to be excited about. Yakgwa was Gwahae’s favorite snack. Even now, her eyes sparkled as she gazed at the giant treat.

From Gwahae’s perspective, it must have seemed like a treasure had appeared before her eyes. Sadly for her, making a yakgwa that big actually made it taste worse. She would be disappointed if she actually ate it.

I approached the stall and pointed at the giant yakgwa, asking about the price.

“I’d like to buy that. How much is it?”

But festival food wasn’t about the taste; it was about the fun. Even if it tasted bad, that was part of the enjoyment. Besides, how expensive could a snack be?

“I’m sorry, but that large yakgwa is not for sale. It’s a prize.”

“A prize?”

The stall owner smiled at my question and held out a tangled metal ring. It was a puzzle ring.

“Yes. This large yakgwa is a prize for anyone who can untangle this tangled metal ring within ildagyeong (between 5 and 10 minutes). Would you like to try?”

Me… Sima Mancheon, the genius who deceives even the heavens. I had a shameful past with puzzle rings.

Haven’t we all had that experience of trying to be unique? Reading obscure philosophy or classic literature, listening exclusively to underground music, cultivating unusual hobbies… It’s like wanting to stand out from the crowd.

I don’t look down on it, nor do I mock it. It’s a phase everyone goes through.

Anyway, for me, that phase involved puzzle rings.

I used to imagine how cool I would look if I dressed shabbily and solved puzzle rings from level 1 to 5 in one go, without a break.

“Wow, isn’t he the best in our area? Even Dong-sook couldn’t solve anything past level 4 last time.”

“Who is this guy? How can he be so skilled and yet so humble?”

Harboring such delusional fantasies, I practiced with puzzle rings rain or shine. And, of course, no one ever paid any attention to me. It was a painful memory.

“Sir? Sir? Are you going to try? Or not?”

“I’ll try.”

I paid the participation fee to the stall owner and received the puzzle ring. Examining it, I saw it wasn’t a particularly difficult one. I could solve it within five minutes.

It seemed the time I’d invested in puzzle rings hadn’t been a complete waste after all.

I casually fiddled with it, figuring out the structure and planning the steps to untangle it. Gwahae’s eyes glittered with anticipation of eating the giant yakgwa.

Her reaction was so cute, it made me want to tease her. I decided to play a little prank.

I tossed the almost-solved puzzle ring to Gwahae.

“I’ve loosened it up enough. You take it from here.”

“???”

Gwahae looked at me with a puzzled expression. I spoke sternly.

“You have to learn to achieve things on your own if you want them badly enough. If you really want that yakgwa, you have to solve the last part yourself.”

“S-Suddenly… I can’t… Can’t you help me like you always do, Mancheon?”

Gwahae looked up at me with teary eyes. Cute. But I wouldn’t give in.

“No. Opportunities come unexpectedly. If you miss it, it’s over. Focus on the ring, not me, if you want that yakgwa.”

At my stubborn refusal, Gwahae puffed out her cheeks and started fiddling with the ring. She tried her best to untangle it, but unfamiliar with the puzzle, she struggled.

As Gwahae frantically worked at the puzzle, time ticked away, leaving only one minute remaining. …There was no helping it.

I cleared my throat, trying to affect a reassuring and gentle tone. Then I whispered in Gwahae’s ear.

“Don’t worry. You’re doing great. I know you can do it. Just believe in yourself.”

I wouldn’t have given her a task she couldn’t handle. It was a challenge she could overcome.

Despite teasing her for being slow-witted, she was actually quite intelligent. If she understood the structure, she could solve this simple puzzle within 10 seconds.

However, my unexpected encouragement made Gwahae blush, and she solved the puzzle in a way no one could have predicted.

Crack!!

Startled, I watched as she simply broke the ring with brute force.

I had said she could do it, but not like that.

In the end, overwhelmed by Gwahae’s display of raw power, the stall owner declared her the winner, and she received the giant yakgwa.

I wasn’t sure if that was allowed, but seeing Gwahae’s overjoyed face as she triumphantly held the giant yakgwa aloft, I didn’t care anymore. All’s well that ends well.

Gwahae, beaming with happiness, suddenly broke the yakgwa in half and offered me one piece.

“Here.”

“You earned this first prize through your own efforts. I’m fine, so you enjoy it.”

Gwahae shook her head and looked at me with her clear, blue eyes, reminiscent of the morning sea.

“No… It’s thanks to you, Mancheon. Thank you.”

Gwahae smiled. Unlike before, this time she smiled softly, fully aware of her shark-like teeth, and expressed her gratitude clearly.

“Thank you for bringing me to the festival.”

“Thank you for helping me when I was in danger.”

“Thank you for always believing in me.”

“Thank you for teaching me so much.”

Sometimes, I wondered if I had been too meddlesome. Would she be worse off because of me? Was I teaching her the right things? Would the things I taught her lead to her unhappiness?

But Gwahae, as if mocking my foolish and unnecessary worries, smiled brightly. She smiled at me.

I was at a loss for words. My heart swelled with emotion. After a moment of contemplation, I asked an important question.

“Gwahae, are you happy now?”

“Yes! I’m happy!”

“Good. That’s good to hear.”

I reached out and took the ridiculously large half of the yakgwa Gwahae offered. As expected, it tasted awful. But somehow, it felt… good.

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Today was the day I was to play Go with Jegal Liang. To be honest, he had been pestering me relentlessly to become his disciple ever since that day, which was quite annoying, but I couldn’t ignore him after he’d helped me.

As I limped towards the old pavilion, our agreed meeting place, I noticed someone next to Jegal Liang.

It was a girl about my age, with fair skin and intelligent eyes. She bore a striking resemblance to Jegal Liang.

“Elder, I’m here. Who is this young lady? Is she your granddaughter?”

“Yes, she’s my granddaughter. Her name is Jegal Yeon. What do you think? Isn’t she pretty? Isn’t she cute?”

His sudden boasting about his granddaughter caught me off guard. But she was indeed pretty and cute, so I nodded.

“Yes, she’s pretty. And cute.”

“Good. Marry her.”

What? What did I just hear? Did I hear that correctly?

As I stared at him, bewildered by his absurd statement, Jegal Liang continued as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“What? Don’t you like her? You have high standards, I see. Very well.”

He gestured to his granddaughter.

“Go on. And bring your sisters here as well.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Jegal Yeon bowed politely to me as well before leaving. Then she returned with a group of beautiful women and girls.

The eldest appeared to be in her early twenties, while the youngest looked about six years old, clinging to her older sister’s hand.

As I remained speechless, my mouth agape, Jegal Liang spoke calmly.

“Choose whichever one you like. We’ll have the engagement now, and you can marry her when you’re both of age. If you don’t want to be my disciple, then become my family.”

“……”

“Marry into the Jegal Clan. You’ll be my grandson-in-law. And then we can strive to become the greatest Go players together.”

A-Are you crazy!? I thought you were just an eccentric old man with a bad temper! But your way of thinking is completely different from normal people! I-I have to get out of here! Far, far away! Now!!

The thought of a pretty older sister obsessing over me might be pleasant, but being obsessed over by a Go-crazed old man was terrifying.

Teeeeeeng~ Where is my rich, beautiful, and obsessed older sister (pretty, virgin, important)? This isn’t what I signed up fooooor!!

As I gathered all my internal energy, preparing to use the Golden Goose technique to escape, Jegal Liang, as if he’d read my mind, blocked my path and tripped me.

“D-Ded-?!”

He lifted me up, tucked me under his arm, and started walking away. Holy shit! I was being kidnapped!?

“Yaaaaah! Help! Someone! Anybody! Mom! Dad! Jang-sam! Gwahae! Help me~! Save me~!!”

“Shout all you want. No one will help you. Just give up and embrace the path of Go.”

Indeed, Jegal Liang’s granddaughters simply looked down, pretending not to see or hear anything. Only the six-year-old, not understanding the situation, waved goodbye to me.

I had to think. Jang-sam was working, and Gwahae was napping. There was no one but me who could save myself now.

Crying and complaining wouldn’t solve anything. I had to think. Find the best move! The best option!!

An idea struck me. A lightbulb went off above my head. I knew what I had to say to get out of this situation.

“D- Duel! I mean… Go! Let’s have a Go match!!”

Jegal Liang stopped walking. He waited for me to continue. This old man was truly obsessed with Go.

“A four-stone handicap! If I lose, I’ll become your disciple! But if I win, you have to give up and grant me any one request!”

“Your tongue gets quite sharp when you’re cornered. You usually boast about being a genius who deceives the heavens. Three stones.”

A crisis is an opportunity! I’ll show you what I’m made of, you damn geezer!!

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Oho a boardgame bet😏