yuvlian
69 lines
14 KiB
JSON
69 lines
14 KiB
JSON
{
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"dataList": [
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{
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"id": 1090201,
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"title": "Bamboo-hatted Kim's Past 1",
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"eventDesc": "",
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"prevDesc": "",
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"behaveDesc": "Who will step forth?",
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"successDesc": [
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"{0} opened their mouth to begin, stopped, then turned around to where Bamboo-hatted Kim and Aeng-du were.\n\n\"I... I am not so well-versed in the geography of this area. Perhaps Mentor would know better...?\"\n\n\"... Come on.\"\nKim let out an audibly disconcerted sigh, then walked up to the youth to give him directions.\n\n\"... And take off that royal celebratory flower crown. You don't want people to know you've passed the exam.\"\n\"Hm? But why would...?\"\n\"It's for a good reason. Just do as I say and you'll thank me one day.\"\n\nThe youth stared back at him in puzzlement, before seemingly deciding that giving proper gratitude for Kim's assistance took precedence. He handed us what appeared to be a small ceramicware vessel.\n\n\"Ah, might this be a water dropper for brush calligraphy?\"\n\"Though you may have no practical need of this, for I see none of you are much acquainted with the art of grinding ink against inkstone, I impart this gift to you in hopes that this dropper may form a small flow in your rivers of life.\"\n\"... Ha!\"\n\n... Though it would have made for a rather moving moment had it not been for the exaggerated <i>scoff</i> Kim gave, the youth hurried on his path without minding the sudden discourtesy.\n\nAeng-du later asked Kim what had spurred his sudden outburst, but he did not give her a reply, instead choosing silence behind pursed lips."
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],
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"failureDesc": [
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"\"What? So you don't know?\"\n\nThe youth wandered off, clicking his tongue in disappointment.\n\n\"... Hmmh.\"\n\nAs soon as the youth disappeared from our sight, Bamboo-hatted Kim, who had slinked away to the back of the group, suddenly let out a deep sigh.\n\n\"Have you aught to say, Mentor?\"\n\"Uh, that's... me. I am that youth.\"\n\n... The sudden reveal threw the Sinners for a brief loop.\n\n\"Back then, I was a conceited fool who proudly smelled his own farts, not knowing how ridiculous he appeared.\"\n\"The exam was to compose an essay on a certain someone who has committed treason against S Corp. Full of foolish confidence as always, I wrote them a long paper humiliating the treasonous wretch so that no such embarrassment could ever stain our history again...\"\n\"... and only upon arriving home did I realize who he was. Who would've known that the 'treasonous wretch' I had excoriated savagely in the exam was none other than my own ancestor?\"\n\n\"T-then the reason you did not seek out a seat of an official, even after passing the test, was...\"\n\n\"How could I dare, Aeng-du? Why do you think no escort volunteered to guide my foolish past self?\"\n\"Because every soul in S Corp. but myself already knew what I had done, who I was—a bastard who betrayed his own ancestor's name to pass an exam.\"\n\nKim muttered placidly as though he was sharing a mildly funny joke, then walked ahead of us...\n\n\"But they needn't have shamed me into breaking my brush, for I had already done that myself.\"\n\n... while quickly hiding his shaking hand beneath the other."
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]
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},
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{
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"id": 1090301,
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"title": "Bamboo-hatted Kim's Past 2",
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"eventDesc": "",
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"prevDesc": "",
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"behaveDesc": "Who will step forth?",
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"successDesc": [
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"{0} told past Kim that, even if he weren't to take the chance now, an opportunity should present itself again.\n\n\"What about you, what do you believe I should do?\"\n\"You were the one I wanted to hear from, after all.\"\n\nBut {0}'s reply must not have been satisfying to the young man—that is, Kim of the past—because he again directed the question toward Kim of the present, who made no effort to hide his discomfort.\n\n\"So if I answer my own question from the past, does that count as my 'second opportunity'?\"\n\"Hmph, that's more than I was afforded.\"\n\n... Kim's replies were nothing but dry sarcasm.\n\nBut the young man gave a light chuckle as though he found that non-answer to be satisfactory, then slumped back to the ground. \n\n\"Well, I did ask for your advice, but I suppose the choice ultimately comes down to me.\"\n\"Here, take this. I know to repay for people's time, answer or not.\"\n\nHe rummaged around for a bit in his pockets and handed us a rather sizeable tteok bundled in a giant leaf.\n\n\"It's a bundle of delicious tteok for your troubles. Take some for the road.\""
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],
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"failureDesc": [
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"Just as {0} began their answer...\n\n\"I don't remember asking you a single thing.\"\n\nThe young man's—Bamboo-hatted Kim of the past—voice now carried an icy edge, perhaps frustrated by Kim's silence.\n\n\"... Fine. If you would rather not say, then carry on.\"\n\nThe young man flicked his hand in a shooing motion, then slumped back to the ground. Seeing no reason to linger, we carried on without another word."
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]
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},
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{
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"id": 1090402,
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"title": "Bamboo-hatted Kim's Past 3",
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"eventDesc": "",
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"prevDesc": "",
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"behaveDesc": "Who will step forth?",
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"successDesc": [
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"\"... Visit <i>that fool</i>?\"\n\nHearing that, {0} and Kim stepped forth to explain what had led to the incident at the Right State Councilor's estate.\n... With a... particularly critical edge coming on when describing Kim's own actions, that is.\n\n\"So <i>that</i> is what has transpired...?!\"\n\"Uh— Uhm, hold on. How does that man know what happened—\"\n\"There's no time for idle chatter. You must leave S Corp. right this instant, and...\"\n\nBy the time Kim's story ended, the prisoner's curiosity finally bubbled over the limit and threatened to spill over as questions; however, the woman, who had just learned the truth of what had happened, refused to engage at all and focused entirely on removing the cangue clasped around the prisoner's throat.\n\n\"You cannot stay here; there is still much to be done.\"\n\"Ah, as for my fellow conspirators—perhaps it would be best that you make yourselves scarce as well, considering your precarious position in S Corp.\"\n\"The side entrance I used should still be open and unguarded. Leave, quickly!\"\n\nShe continued to deftly work her hands to unclasp the cangue, even as she gave us directions so detailed and vivid that we could find our way out of the prison without a map.\n\n\".......\"\nMeanwhile, Bamboo-hatted Kim had wandered off to a corner of the room and picked up a broken piece of wood, pocketing it."
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],
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"failureDesc": [
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"\"...? I don't believe I recognize you. Who are you people, anyway?\"\n\nBefore {0} had the chance to get into the details of what happened, the prisoner suddenly spoke up.\n\nAs much as he might have wanted to remain silent, it seemed that the story only he should know coming out of strangers' mouths seemed to have stirred his lips awake.\n\n\"You don't know them?\"\n\"Then might I... consider them naught but spies who have infiltrated the prison of the Royal Court?\"\n\nWe took to our heels as the woman, without giving us even a second to explain ourselves, charged at us with her weapon drawn."
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]
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},
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{
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"id": 1090501,
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"title": "Bamboo-hatted Kim's Past 4",
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"eventDesc": "",
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"prevDesc": "",
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"behaveDesc": "Who will step forth?",
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"successDesc": [
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"\"So he went that way, huh... Appreciate the assistance!\"\n\nOnce the group of Ch'unokkuns hurried toward the direction I pointed them towards, the man crawled out of the haystack.\nSeeing that the Ch'unokkuns had gone, some of the civilians walked up to the man and gave their thanks.\n\n\"Good work, good work, you!\"\n\"Can't have those vile Ch'unokkun take a noble thief like you away, a thief of the people!\"\n\"They're all wretches, I say! Wretches! So well-fed while we all starve... I bet they'll bleed rice if we gut 'em!\"\n\nHe returned their gratitude with a polite bow, then approached us.\n\n\"You have my thanks. I did not expect to be shielded by outsiders such as yourselves, but this is a welcome surprise.\"\n\n\"Who am I, you ask? Well, I have no name to give you, but it seems that the common folk have taken to calling the like-minded the 'Blade Lineage.'\"\n\"I'm only stealing the sacks of rice the corrupt officials have stolen... and returning them to where they belong. Just as Mentor Bamboo-hatted Kim had once done.\"\n\n\"... Ahem!\"\n\nKim squeaked out a small, embarrassed cough.\n\n\"I've lingered here too long... they're already on my trail again. It's about time I saw myself off.\"\n\nEven in a hurry, he bade us to wait a moment as he rummaged through his sack and produced a few packages of food.\n\n\"Take these, It's not much, but it should be quite filling for those on the road like yourselves. Gratitude and vengeance, after all, share a common quality—they are both debts to be repaid, eh?\"\n\nWith that, he withdrew into the shadows."
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],
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"failureDesc": [
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"\"... Do you speak truly?\"\n\n{0} did their absolute best to sell the act, but it seems their performance was not quite convincing enough...\n\n\"Hold now. These ones have a strange look about them...\"\n\"I hear those Blade Lineage bastards have been wandering outside S Corp., living hand-to-mouth and begging for scrap contracts.\"\n\"Then these wretches may be aiding them, eh?\"\n\"Well, if they're not... that'll still be a few coins on the side for the trouble.\"\n\nThe Ch'unokkuns pulled the dark red ropes tied across their chests loose, then slowly approached us..."
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]
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},
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{
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"id": 1090601,
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"title": "Bamboo-hatted Kim's Past 5",
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"eventDesc": "",
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"prevDesc": "",
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"behaveDesc": "Who will step forth?",
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"successDesc": [
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"{0} held up their weapon, turning it upon the man in a threatening manner.\n\nThe man seemed to shrink back in fear. Unfortunately, the old woman who was arguing with the man was no less frightened...\n\nA moment later, the man snatched the bags and disappeared into the dark alleys.\n\n\"... Tsk.\"\n\nI thought I heard Bamboo-hatted Kim click his tongue under his breath.\n\nWe told the woman we could retrieve her bags, but she let out only a heavy, tired sigh. The man was her son, she said, so there was no need to go that far.\n\nWe asked her to get a full picture of the situation. She told us her son had once been a bright young man, talented in both the brush and the sword. But one day, he left their home in a rush, saying he had a noble cause to serve—as though a crazed spirit had made a home out of his mind.\n\nSince then, he would return home from time to time to carry off the family's grain sack and what little belongings their home had left.\n\n\"... That's the Blade Lineage for you.\"\n\"When people gather under one banner to form a Syndicate, rogues will find their way in. They may call themselves Blade Lineage, but in truth are no better than brigands and highwaymen.\"\n\"... My distaste for such sorts prevented me from keeping them close, but I was hardly a righteous soul myself. It was not my place to stop them, nor did I have any reason to.\"\n\nThe old woman asked us to see whether her son was living under another's heel and persuade him to come home should we ever happen to run into him again.\n\nThen she invited us in for a warm meal, saying that although she had little to offer, she would not ask such a favor of us without filling our bellies.\n\nBamboo-hatted Kim grunted that we should not expect him to handle the matter. Yet perhaps what he had witnessed still sat poorly with him, because he wore a sour expression throughout the meal."
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],
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"failureDesc": [
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"{0} held up their weapon, turning it upon the man in a threatening manner. But just then...\n\n\"Useless cur. You had one job—sneak it out of the storage shed! What's taking so long?!\"\n\nSeveral more men, all carrying swords at their belts, burst out of the dark alleys, as though they had been lying in wait, watching.\n\n\"W-well, I...\"\n\"And what's with that rabble?! Couldn't stand getting told what to do, could you? Fetched people to guard your backside?!\"\n\nThe old woman and her son both stood rooted where they were, fear and confusion plain on their faces. Seeing them, Bamboo-hatted Kim quipped in.\n\n\"I'm merely a harmless passerby...\"\n\"But your crooked and ill-natured behavior stopped my feet—and now I have to run my mouth, too.\"\n\n\"Crooked...? Wretch, you dare look down on our noble cause?!\"\n\"If a man would leave his home and call himself Blade Lineage, he must empty his storehouse down to the last grain of rice for those less fortunate!\"\n\"Our Mentor will receive what we have gathered and see that it's justly divided among those in need!\"\n\n\"Oh? Is that so?\"\n\"A task given by this so-called Mentor of the Blade Lineage, is it?\"\n\n\"You doubt us?!\"\n\n\"Aeng-du, I do believe this is my first time hearing such a thing. Have you any memory of it?\"\n\"None, Mentor. This senseless barking of dogs stirs not my memory—though the word on the street speaks of scoundrels and rogues who have taken the name Blade Lineage for their highway robbery.\"\n\n\"... Any man who has taken up a blade may go about calling himself Blade Lineage, yes.\"\n\"But seeing them use my name as a pretext for this shabby business gets under my skin... just a little.\"\n\"And when I think they've taken the name once borne by my fellows, who walked beside me and shared my purpose, the very ones I cut down... Now that... <i>that</i> pisses me off even more.\"\n\nBamboo-hatted Kim drew his blade in a single smooth motion and turned its edge toward them."
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}
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]
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