Chapter 6: A Tightrope and a Swing [2]

“Sir, give that to me.” Dolseok felt uncomfortable because Ganghyuk held a bag in his hand.

He was the servant, yet he walked empty handed while the master walked holding a bag.

As it looked heavy, he felt even more uncomfortable.

“It is OK.” However, Ganghyuk did not want to give the bag to him.

‘Although he looks very faithful…’

He looked at Dolseok persisting for him to give him the bag and thought that he could trust him at least.

He had saved the latter’s brother, and there should be nothing to doubt.

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‘But, this bag is too important.’

He did not know what would happen if he lost the bag, which was the only thing that he brought from the world he originally belonged to.

‘I can use this for earning my bread if I cannot find the way to go back easily.’

When his thought reached this point, he grabbed the bag even stronger. Fortunately, nobody tried to approach him.

He wore black hat, black shoes, and a fashionable robe, and was accompanied by a servant. Who would be suspicious of him? He was a nobleman himself.

…

“There…” Dolseok pointed at the place where many people were gathering together. Because there were too many people, it was difficult to know what they were doing, leave alone watching the performance.

“It is early in the morning. We finished our breakfast just now. Why are so many people still gathering there?”

“It is because the Aeogae performance group does not come often. Perhaps, they will go to the place of Governor of Suwon tomorrow after performing here today.”

“Governor?”

He was embarrassed for a moment because he did not understand the word Dolseok had said. But, he was a clever man, so he remembered about it from his memory.

“Governor (The third grade local government official)?

“Yes, yes.”

“We came here to watch the performance, but it seems we will not be able to watch it.”

“Why? What makes you think so?” Dolseok opened his eyes wide and showed puzzled expression.

“How can we watch it? There are too many people.”

“Heo… Sir, you have been very strange since yesterday.” Dolseok smiled and then rolled up his sleeves and yelled with a big voice.

“Go away, people. Here is a nobleman.”

It was awkward, but the effect was surely great. People split apart to leave a huge path forward. Dolseok pointed at the path created just now and said, “Sir, come this way.”

“Eo… Yes.” Ganghyuk hid his awkward face and walked through the people, thinking that even the president or the chairman could not get this kind of treatment in that world.

“I think, here would be good.” Dolseok pointed the seat at the front row.

Of course, it was occupied. There were people who might have had come there without even having breakfast to get a better seat.

“Go away, fellows.” But, with the shout from Dolseok, they turned into empty seats. Ganghyuk smiled bitterly while watching them leave the place.

‘Well…” He took a good seat and sat down there while clicking his tongue.

‘Fortunately, I am not a layman.’ He was fortunate to be a nobleman; it was really good seat indeed. He could even see the wrinkles of the performers, as it commanded a good view.

“Dolseok, come here and sit down.”

“No, I am fine here, sir.” Dolseok insisted on standing behind Ganghyuk. It seemed that he tried to be polite.

‘He is a big guy… People behind can see the performance only when he is sitting down.’

Then, he saw some women on the opposite side. There were some women among the group with voluptuous hair, seemingly of high status.

‘Do women come to the marketplace? En…’ Ganghyuk tried to remember what he had learned in school. ‘Yes! It said that customs of Goryeo still continued in early Joseon.’

It must not be the mid or late Joseon, considering that noble women came to the marketplace to watch Sandaenori.

‘There is no one beautiful here.’ He sighed with disappointment.

Yes, it was true indeed. Even in the 21st century modern Korea, he could not find someone who could fascinate him. So, how could he find someone here in Joseon?

It was no wonder at all undoubtedly.

‘It seems that they perform tightrope walking here.’ He observed

The performers moved ardently; they installed a swing and prepared the masks. But, the most remarkable thing that attracted people’s attention was a tightrope.

It appeared to be ten meters high in the air. Just looking at the rope made him dizzy.

“Sir, it is time for it to start.”

“Yes.”

With Dolseok’s comment, performers rushed onto the stage. They added to the amusement by playing on the swings and swearing. They were talented enough to make Ganghyuk excited, even though he was accustomed to various kinds of sensational content.

‘It seems like I am looking at some martial arts.’

Some of them seemed to know martial arts; when they ran here and there, he could hear some rapid wind tearing sounds. It seemed too much for old people to follow the pace.

At that moment, the man who appeared to be the boss of the group bumped into a man on the swing.

“Oh my goodness! Is he injured?”

“No, sir. Look at him. He is fine.”

As Dolseok mentioned, the boss rubbed his chest with his hands and then participated in the performance again.

“Is he OK? Yes, he seems to be OK.”

“Yes, sir. They are experienced.”

“Yes, they are really good.”

Their rough movements attracted people’s attention, but the most exciting performance was indeed the tightrope walking.

Dolseok was excited as well, so he yelled. “Sir, there comes Eoreumsani.”

Although he did not know what Eoreumsani meant, Ganghyuk could guess what Dolseok had tried to say. He could see a performer who was lifted high in the sky.

“Oh no!”

Eoreumsani walked on the tightrope freely. Sometimes, he used only one leg, and sometimes, he even ran on the rope.

“I have never seen such a good Eoreumsani before. He jumped so high! People said that Aeogae group was the best, and it indeed seems the case.”

“I agree. They are really good!”

Ganghyuk had not seen such performances since he was too busy studying all his life. But, he noticed a strange thing while he watched the performance in concentration.

‘It is strange! He does not have an Adam’s apple.’

It meant only one thing…

‘Woman? Can a woman be a performer?’

He could not understand it; however, he could not ask Dolseok about this either.

Dolseok kept saying that Ganghyuk was quite strange since yesterday, and he could not further confirm it with such an awkward question.

Soon, the performance ended and the performers took off their masks… All except Eoreumsani. Ganghyuk realized that it was definitely a woman. ‘The clothes are loose so it is covered. But, the line is very sharp.’

While he was occupied by Eoreumsani, an old man came to the front. He was an old man with white hair, but his voice had some kind of strength.

“If you enjoyed the performance today, please show your gratitude.”

With the comment, the performers ran here and there to collect money. Coincidentally, the performer who came to Ganghyuk was the very Eoreumsani.

“Sir, if you enjoyed the performance, please give me enough.”

Eoreumsani tried to talk with a thick voice, but it sounded strange, because he was already suspicious.

‘Why should I care? It is nothing.’

It didn’t matter to him if this Eoreumsani was a woman or a man.

‘Anyway, how much should I give?’

Ganghyuk put his hand in his sleeve and hesitated. There was a fan in his sleeve. It was nothing to him, but a fan was a luxurious item in Joseon.

It definitely was not the thing to give away in the marketplace.

Dolseok caught the mood and whispered in his ears.

“Please keep your fan. I will take care of it.’

“Okay. I enjoyed it a lot.”

Dolseok took the bundle off his back and gave Eoreumsani a big bowl of rice. With the sound of rice pouring into the sack, Eoreumsani bowed, “Thank you!”

The group went away after collecting the money and goods.

“Isn’t it so nice?”

“Yes, it is indeed very nice.”

“Sir, now that Sandaenori is over… I will take you to a good place.”

“Good place?”

“You know about it.”

Dolseok took Ganghyuk to a salon where Gisaeng was served for the customers. Considering the noise coming from inside, he guessed that there must be other customers in there.

At that moment, a woman with false hair grabbed Ganghyuk’s arm and took him inside.

“Sir, long time no see! I will find a room for you.”

Seeing this, Dolseok couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey ugly girl, how dare you take his arm? Why is it noisy like this?”

“The Aeogae group was here not that long ago…”

The loud voices and noises coming from inside were from drunkards. Hearing all this commotion, Dolseok shook his head and yelled, “Inside, inside. Our nobleman is visiting the place. What is all the fuss and noise?”

…

“Yes, yes. Come here.” An old woman led Ganghyuk and Dolseok inside. It seemed that there was a customer next door, but it was not as noisy as outside.

Ganghyuk could see the boss, Eoreumsani, and two other men there.

“I will get liquor and food for you.”

“Yes, hurry up!” With Dolseok’s urge, the old woman smiled and went out. Dolseok opened his mouth after confirming that the woman had gone far away from them.

“Sir, you are the best.”

“What do you mean?”

“There would be no other nobleman who would come to a salon with his servant.”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Ganghyuk showed a cool smile.

“No, no. You are the best. You saved Okseok. I will give you a treat today.”

“What? Okay. But, do you have money?”

“Yes, sir. Our master gave me two rolls of silk.”

“OK, then you can buy.” There was no reason to reject the offer after all.

Ganghyuk leaned his back against the wall, feeling tired on the warm floor. ‘Yes, I woke up very early today.’ It seemed that he would fall asleep if he had even a single drink.

‘Dan Tang Tang…’

Just at this moment, he heard big noises from the room next door while he was taking a rest with his eyes half closed. The door opened, and an urgent voice arose.

“The boss… Our boss fell down.”