The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan Chapter 148 : Vermilion Bird Tavern, Open for Business (3)

"Uraaat—!"

With a spirited shout, Ma Dong-pal slamd his head against a rock.

It was an act that so might mistake for suicide, but the people around held their breath, watching Ma Dong-pal's bizarre feat.

Crack—.

Just then, the sound of sothing splitting was heard amidst the silence.

Simultaneously, a crack ford from the point where Ma Dong-pal's forehead had struck.

As if struck by a giant hamr, the rock instantly shattered into pieces.

"Woooah—!"

At that mont, the audience, who had been holding their breath, erupted in cheers all at once.

How could a person shatter such a huge rock with their head?

The crowd couldn't easily contain their excitent at the marvelous sight Ma Dong-pal had shown them.

"Is that a human? How can he break a rock with his head?"

"Amazing! I've never seen such a rare spectacle in my entire life!"

"Drinking while watching such an interesting sight makes the alcohol taste even sweeter."

The people seed very satisfied with Ma Dong-pal's feat of strength performance.

After all, the sight of breaking a rock with one's head was a spectacle not easily seen even if you paid for it.

The Vermilion Bird Tavern, which had beco quiet due to the Azure Dragon Tavern, began to bustle again thanks to Ma Dong-pal's performance.

'It seems to be working well.'

Namgung Il quietly watched the scene from the back.

As expected, Ma Dong-pal's feat of strength performance was enough to draw people's attention, and that directly led to sales for the Vermilion Bird Tavern.

With such a spectacle right before their eyes, there could be no better side dish.

The Flying Dragon Coins that people occasionally threw in excitent for the performance were also quite a handso inco.

'But it is a bit surprising. How hard does one's head have to be to be used like that?'

It was safe to say that was no longer a head.

Neither hard rocks nor thick wooden poles could withstand Ma Dong-pal's head and were all shattered to pieces.

Just where was the limit of that stone head?

Even Namgung Il, who had planned this performance, was curious about what more Ma Dong-pal would show.

"Woooah—!"

Just then, another cheer erupted from the crowd.

As one round of the performance ended, Jin Gwon-nam, who had been waiting nearby, ca up on stage and began to clear the debris, and the audience watched with pleased faces.

"What a truly fine lady."

"I think the existence of that lady is more marvelous than the performance itself."

Jin Gwon-nam was working as a performance assistant.

Of course, she was still wearing the outfit Gwangcheon had procured.

Even in her regular clothes, she was thought to be quite magnificent, but Jin Gwon-nam in her battle attire was on a level beyond words.

"Keoheoheo— I have no regrets even if I die now."

Gwangcheon was mixed in with the crowd, speaking with a face that had achieved everything.

He's slacking off again instead of working.

Although he had been caught several tis already, Namgung Il left Gwangcheon alone as if he couldn't help it.

'At least he's not getting excited and rushing at her.'

Besides, it was undeniable that the outfit Gwangcheon had procured was a great help, so he thought that fellow had fulfilled his role sufficiently.

As long as he didn't go on a rampage, it would be fine to leave him as he was.

Namgung Il thought so to himself and surveyed the atmosphere inside the tavern.

'Thanks to those two, it seems we've recovered a certain number of custors.'

It seed the tavern was now bustling with custors to the level it had been during the initial opening buzz.

If this flow continued, wouldn't the number of custors gradually increase?

Of course, that remained to be seen, but it was certain that this had cut off the flow that was about to completely move to the Azure Dragon Tavern.

"Namgung Il! You little cutie!"

"...?"

Just then, Ak Simin, who had appeared out of nowhere, spread his arms wide and tried to hug Namgung Il.

As soon as he confird the sight, Namgung Il dodged in fright.

If he had been a little late in dodging, it seed he would have been caught helplessly.

"Wh-what is it!"

"You lucky charm. Your opinion was right!"

"..."

"To think that opinion I thought was trash would be this effective."

As the tavern filled with custors again, Ak Simin couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

If they continued this montum, wouldn't they be able to sell all the alcohol without a single bottle of inventory left?

Since all of this could be said to be thanks to Namgung Il, Ak Simin felt that Namgung Il was incredibly lovable at this very mont.

"Co here! I'll give you a tight hug as a sign of praise!"

"N-no!"

"Don't be shy. It'll be over in a mont, so just stay still."

"...!"

Ak Simin rushed towards Namgung Il once again.

To be hugged by a man like that, not even a woman.

Since he wanted to refuse that at all costs, Namgung Il desperately blocked Ak Simin.

"S-Senior Ak! It's too early to be relieved, so don't co any closer!"

"...?"

Namgung Il said, pushing Ak Simin's face away with both hands.

Only then did Ak Simin stop rushing and stand still.

It's too early to be relieved? Ak Simin looked at Namgung Il as if he couldn't understand the aning of those words.

"What on earth does that an?"

"Have you forgotten? Our goal is, in every respect, to beat the Azure Dragon Class."

"..."

"With this, we've reached a level where we can take a breather, but it's not yet enough to beat the Azure Dragon Class."

Only then could Ak Simin understand what Namgung Il was saying.

At that mont, his expression changed to a very serious one.

As Ak Simin returned his forward-leaning torso to its original position, Namgung Il finally relaxed and lowered his outstretched hands.

"I think we can win with this many custors."

"..."

"Your opinion is different, isn't it?"

"Well, I can't be sure of that either."

There was only one way to be sure of that.

He had been thinking it was about ti to go anyway, and Namgung Il, as if it were perfect timing, said to Ak Simin.

"Senior, I'll be back in a mont."

"Where are you going at this busy ti?"

"Of course, there's only one place."

Namgung Il stated the destination with a aningful face.

"The Azure Dragon Tavern."

***

Namgung Il headed straight for the Azure Dragon Tavern.

Since he had been there once before, it wasn't very difficult to find the destination.

"..."

Namgung Il stood in place and looked at the full view of the Azure Dragon Tavern.

The first thing that caught his eye was the two huge pavilions.

Below them, a multitude of people were forming a long line.

'That line... are they perhaps waiting to drink?'

There could be no other reason for lining up in a place like this.

That ant the inside of the Azure Dragon Tavern was already full of custors.

Although he had co to check, roughly guessing it would be like this, the situation looked much worse than expected.

'At this rate, we will definitely lose.'

Thanks to the performance of Ma Dong-pal and Jin Gwon-nam, they had recovered a certain number of custors, but the Vermilion Bird Tavern was not yet at full capacity.

In contrast, wasn't the Azure Dragon Tavern not only full but also had people waiting?

Even if the Vermilion Bird Tavern had an overwhelming number of custors, victory could not be guaranteed, so if they had fewer custors, they would naturally lose.

"What, is this whole thing a line?"

"What should we do? Should we go back?"

"What are you talking about? We have to wait. When else would we get to drink at such a luxurious place for a cheap price?"

"True, in the city, you'd have to spend more than ten tis this to drink at a pavilion like that."

Just then, the sound of two n talking nearby was heard.

Although a line of unknown waiting ti was visible in front of them, those two n, like the other custors, were moving to join the queue.

'As expected... that huge pavilion is the Azure Dragon Tavern's greatest advantage.'

If that wasn't there, that many people wouldn't be waiting in line like this.

As the two n who had just joined the queue said, it generally required a huge expense to drink at such a pavilion.

Even at Yongmun Tavern, the price of alcohol increased exponentially as the floor got higher.

'Namgung Cheon... he strategized quite well.'

Rich people with a lot of money would not be trying to drink by waiting in line like this.

However, most of the custors here were commoners who were not financially well-off.

I want to try drinking at a high-class tavern at least once. Namgung Cheon had properly targeted that desire of the common people.

"..."

Of course, the Vermilion Bird Tavern also had its own unique features.

But was that alone not enough to beat the luxury of the Azure Dragon Tavern?

To Namgung Il, that huge pavilion looked like an impregnable fortress.

'...No, there is no fortress that cannot be brought down.'

Namgung Il muttered to himself and moved his steps.

Following the line of people, Namgung Il arrived at the entrance of the pavilion.

There, a man who looked like a student of the Azure Dragon Class was controlling the custors.

"...?"

The man controlling the entrance spotted Namgung Il approaching.

Since it looked like he was walking towards this side by anyone's standards, the man mistook Namgung Il for a custor and spoke to him.

"Sir, if you wish to enter, you must line up..."

"Ah, it will only take a mont."

"...?"

"Well then."

Namgung Il said so and tried to pass the man and go inside without a second thought.

At his overly confident attitude, the man stared blankly for a mont, but he soon ca to his senses and blocked Namgung Il's path again.

"You can't!"

"..."

"Wait... you, could it be...!"

The man seed to have finally recognized Namgung Il's identity.

The fellow who had been with Namgung Cheon here a few days ago.

The man also rembered Namgung Il's face because he had been there at that ti.

"Namgung Il?"

"That's right."

"...?"

"Well then."

Namgung Il said calmly and tried to climb the stairs again.

Phat—.

The man, of course, could not let Namgung Il pass like this.

Especially since he knew Namgung Il's identity, the man was now glaring at Namgung Il with eyes full of vigilance.

"What is a Vermilion Bird Class brat doing here?"

"..."

"Go back. This is not a place for you to co."

"I ca to see Brother Cheon."

As Namgung Il said that abruptly, the man's eyes wavered slightly.

If it were for any other reason, it would be a different story. But since Namgung Il ntioned Namgung Cheon's na, he couldn't just kick him out.

"The Class President...? I haven't heard anything about that."

"Then Brother Cheon must have forgotten to tell you."

"..."

"Well then, I'll be going in."

Namgung Il tried to stealthily move his steps again.

However, an arm reflexively shot out and blocked his path.

Because of that, Namgung Il had no choice but to stop walking again.

"I will go up myself and check."

"..."

"Until then, you wait here."

The Namgung Cheon the man knew was a very thorough person.

One who did not want even a trivial thing to go wrong. So if there had been an appointnt, he would have naturally inford him.

Still, wasn't there a one-in-a-million chance that Namgung Il's words were true?

Because of that slight possibility, the man was trying to check for himself.

"As you wish."

"..."

Namgung Il answered with a calm smile.

Looking at that reaction, it didn't seem like Namgung Il was lying, but the man still turned around while maintaining his vigilance.

Phat—.

At that mont, a figure quickly brushed past the man.

The man belatedly spotted the person going up the stairs and his eyes widened.

"St-stop right there!"

The man shouted at Namgung Il who was climbing the stairs.

But if he had been going to stop at those words, he wouldn't have moved in the first place.

Naturally, Namgung Il ignored the man's words and continued to climb the stairs.

"..."

As soon as he ca up to the pavilion, Namgung Il quickly looked around.

The number of seats in the pavilion, what kinds of alcohol there were, and what the side dishes and prices were.

In order to find out that information, Namgung Il had co all the way up here himself.

'There aren't as many seats as I thought. And the types and prices of alcohol are...'

It was then.

Namgung Il's eyes, which had been quickly scanning the surroundings, suddenly stopped at one seat.

"...!"

Namgung Cheon was sitting there.

And another person was sitting opposite him.

The reason Namgung Il's eyes had stopped was because he had discovered that person.

Swoosh—.

As if feeling the gaze, that person also looked at Namgung Il.

A face that had beco quite familiar due to seeing it often recently.

The head of the Cheonha Escort Bureau, Su Majin, was sitting there.

(End of Chapter)