The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Although the Beggars' Sect was strictly one of the Nine Sects and One Union, its foundation was, after all, a group made up of beggars.

However, not all beggars in the world belonged to the Beggars' Sect.

That was why the knot on the belt was made as a token.

One could distinguish between a beggar of the Beggars' Sect and one who was not by the presence or absence of the belt, and one could also confirm one's status within the Beggars' Sect by the number of knots.

Swoosh—

Namgung Il once again carefully examined the belt of the beggar standing at the entrance.

As expected, even after counting again, the number of knots was eight.

In other words, that beggar belonged to the Beggars' Sect, and he could tell that he had a fairly high status within it.

'To think I'd see a Hougai here.'

Hougai. In other words, it meant that he was a direct disciple of the current leader.

In terms of status within the Beggars' Sect, it was a position that could be said to be next to the leader.

Considering that the number of knots a clan elder could have was seven, one could guess how high the status of a Hougai was.

'Why is a brat who's a Hougai in a place like this?'

He surely hadn't come here to beg.

With that kind of status, he would be busy receiving martial arts instruction from the leader, just like he had in the past.

Well, not only that, but he seemed to have done all sorts of chores for his master except for wiping his butt... but still, with that status, he was by no means at a level to be looked down on anywhere.

"If you've come to beg, get lost and go somewhere else!"

"That's not it... I've come to have a meal."

"A meal? Do you have money?"

"Yes, I do."

When the man who seemed to be the owner of the inn asked, the beggar took out money from his clothes and showed it.

"Hah—"

Confirming the money on his palm, the man snorted as if it were ridiculous.

To say that he had money so confidently with just a few coins.

The man's impression became grim again, and he said to the beggar.

"With that much money, you can have a bowl of noodles."

"That's enough. Then can I go in now..."

"No, who said you could go in?"

"Pardon? I'm sure I showed you that I have money..."

"There are no seats. So go somewhere else."

The man said and waved his hand at the beggar as if shooing away a fly.

But contrary to his words, there were plenty of empty seats inside the inn, and the beggar pointed to one of them with his finger and said to the man.

"No, there's an empty seat right there, so why are you saying there isn't?"

"There are seats. But there are no seats for you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means there are no seats to give to a brat who's only going to eat a bowl of noodles."

"..."

"It's about time for customers to start flocking in. Don't interfere with business and go somewhere else."

When the man said that, the beggar quietly put the coins he was holding back into his clothes.

Namgung Il, who was quietly watching from his seat.

Somehow, seeing that, it didn't feel like just someone else's business.

'I was also turned away at the door like that a lot in the old days...'

At first, he was kicked out because he had no money.

And then, because he didn't have enough money.

Finally, Namgung Il suddenly remembered being kicked out of an inn simply because he was a beggar and was dirty.

Swoosh—

Just then, Namgung Il got up from his seat.

"Young Master?"

Although Yeonghwa asked, Namgung Il did not answer and walked somewhere.

The place Namgung Il was heading to was the entrance of the inn where the commotion had just been.

Namgung Il said to the beggar who was just about to turn and leave the inn.

"Wait."

At Namgung Il's voice, the beggar's steps stopped.

At the same time, the man turned his head towards Namgung Il.

In a manner opposite to when he had dealt with the beggar, the man said to Namgung Il in a friendly way.

"What can I do for you, customer?"

"I've lost my appetite."

"Ah... I'm sorry. I'll chase that beggar brat away quickly, so don't worry and..."

"I said I lost my appetite because of you."

"...Pardon?"

For a moment, the man doubted what he had heard.

However.

Namgung Il looked straight at the man and continued to speak, as if to confirm that what he had heard was correct.

"If you only eat cheap food, you can't even eat here?"

"Th-that's..."

"Noodles are also a proper food!"

"..."

"Are you looking down on noodles now?"

Why was Namgung Il flaring up at him now?

As if he had a grudge against not being able to eat noodles in his past life, the man was dumbfounded when Namgung Il said that.

"Ah, I understand! I won't look down on noodles again, so please calm down, customer!"

"Then let that person into the inn."

"Pardon?"

"You said you wouldn't look down on noodles. So doesn't that mean that a customer who comes to eat a bowl of noodles is also a proper customer?"

Namgung Il said, pointing to the beggar with his eyes.

Logically speaking, it seemed to follow that way... but the man said to Namgung Il, as if he were a little troubled.

"Customer, I don't know when it's not busy, but it's a little difficult for that beggar to come in at this time."

"Why?"

"Why... wouldn't the other customers be uncomfortable?"

"What's uncomfortable?"

"That... he smells. And I think it's a little... to have a beggar next to you while you're eating."

It was then.

Namgung Il suddenly walked forward and approached the beggar.

Sniff, sniff—

When Namgung Il suddenly approached him and stuck out his head, the beggar couldn't help but be flustered.

"Wh-what are you doing!"

"Stay still."

"Pardon?"

"That's enough."

Namgung Il said and moved his head back to its original position.

And his gaze turned to the man again.

As his eyes met Namgung Il's, the man already felt an unknown sense of foreboding.

"He doesn't."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"I said this person doesn't smell."

"No way... how can you say that a beggar doesn't smell..."

"Or are you saying my nose is strange?"

When Namgung Il asked, the man couldn't say anything.

At the same time, his gaze turned to Namgung Il's waist.

As if he felt that any more commotion would be disadvantageous to him, the man had no choice but to take a step back.

"...I understand. I will let that beggar in."

"Not a beggar, but a customer."

"Th-that's right. A customer."

Hearing the answer, Namgung Il walked to his original seat as if he had finished his work.

But his steps stopped for a moment before passing the man.

Namgung Il said quietly in a voice that only the man could hear.

"Innkeeper, don't look down on beggars in the future."

"..."

"Ah, and noodles too."

"...Yes."

Hearing the man's answer, Namgung Il nodded his head as if satisfied.

And when he returned to his original seat, Yeonghwa said to Namgung Il with a puzzled gaze.

"That's unexpected."

"What is?"

"I didn't know you would step up for that beggar like that, Young Master."

"Do you know how miserable a person becomes if they can't even eat noodles when they're already sad about being a beggar?"

"...Pardon?"

"There's nothing as beggar-like as that."

Why was Namgung Il speaking so vividly, as if he had experienced that himself?

As Yeonghwa was looking at him with an incomprehensible expression, someone approached the table where the two were sitting.

"Uh..."

"...?"

"Thank you for your help just now."

The beggar had approached and said to Namgung Il.

He didn't know who he was, but it was the way of the martial world to express gratitude if one had received help.

Especially since the Beggars' Sect revered righteousness, the beggar had come to express his gratitude to Namgung Il.

"It's nothing. I just said the right thing."

"..."

"To not even be treated as a customer when you're trying to eat with your own money just because you're a beggar. What kind of absurd logic is that?"

When Namgung Il said that, the beggar couldn't help but be surprised.

He looked like a child from a pretty good family, but to think he would speak like that.

Generally, people have a prejudice against beggars.

Especially, the higher one's status, the stronger that tendency... but Namgung Il, far from having a prejudice, had a strong sense of favor towards beggars.

"My name is Jong Seo-eon."

"I'm Namgung Il."

"Namgung Il..."

Muttering Namgung Il's name, Jong Seo-eon's eyes widened in surprise as if he had realized something.

"Could it be... of the Namgung Clan?"

"Well, yes."

"..."

Hearing that, Jong Seo-eon couldn't say anything with a blank face.

To think that the person who had helped him was a person from the Namgung Clan.

Although he knew that he was a person of some status, he had never expected that he would be from such a prestigious family.

Thud—

Just then, Jong Seo-eon changed his posture and made a fist-and-palm salute.

Since he had learned that the other party was a martial artist, and a person from the Namgung Clan at that, he thought he needed to introduce himself formally.

"I am Jong Seo-eon of the Beggars' Sect."

"I know."

"...?"

"By the way, what is a person who is a Hougai doing in a place like this?"

Hearing that, Jong Seo-eon was surprised again.

Could it be that Namgung Il already knew that he was a Hougai?

Jong Seo-eon asked Namgung Il in a hesitant voice.

"How did you know that I am a Hougai?"

"You're openly showing it, so why are you asking?"

"..."

"Since the number of knots is eight, you must be a Hougai, right?"

If one were a member of the Beggars' Sect, one would know well what status the number of knots represented, but in fact, it was rare for outsiders to know the meaning of this knot.

Even if they knew, it was usually just that it represented a status.

But Namgung Il seemed to know exactly what the number of knots represented.

"...Is the reason you helped me also because I am a Hougai?"

"Well, rather than that, it reminded me of the old days..."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing."

When Namgung Il said that, Jong Seo-eon tilted his head.

"Uh... still, thank you for your help, whatever the reason.

With those words, Jong Seo-eon bowed to Namgung Il once more.

And just as he was about to leave, Namgung Il's voice was heard from behind.

"Hey."

"...?"

"Where are you going?"

"That... I'm going to eat noodles now."

"Will a beggar be full with just that?"

Namgung Il said and patted the seat next to him with his hand.

"Sit down and eat with me."

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't have the money..."

"Who told a beggar to pay? I said I'll buy, so let's eat together."

"Uh..."

"A beggar shouldn't refuse when an opportunity like this comes. You'd better sit down quickly before I change my mind."

Grumble—

When Namgung Il said that, as if in answer, such a sound came from Jong Seo-eon's stomach.

At the same time, his face turned slightly red.

Jong Seo-eon had already gone and sat down next to Namgung Il.

"Innkeeper!"

"Yes, coming!"

"Give me all the food here."

"A-all of it?"

All the food.

At those words, not only the owner, but also Jong Seo-eon and Yeonghwa couldn't help but be surprised.

"Can you eat it all?"

"It's fine."

Thud—

"This person here will eat it all."

...Me?

Looking at Namgung Il, who had his hand on his shoulder, Jong Seo-eon momentarily thought that he had made a mistake by sitting here.

(End of Chapter)