Moon River
Episode 6
Wandering Iljimae
Open the door at once!
Open it, you old man! Come on!
Aish!
What the hell is this?!
Aish!
If you...
become a vulgar, hateful thing and resort to violence once again,
then Buddha...
will get angry and throw you into hell even before I do.
Hey, you jerk! Open this door, I say!
Let me out!
I say, let me out!
Open the door!
Are you alive?
How long are you going to keep me locked up?
For ten months, even if it kills you.
Ten months?
Iljimae, that there is your mother's womb.
Everyone grows for ten months inside his mother's womb.
You'll stay there for ten months, as though you're attached to an umbilical cord.
And then, you'll be reborn.
This time, however, you won't be abandoned on a creek.
Therefore, think deeply before entering the world.
So began, Iljimae curling up inside the womb...
Bae Seon Dal searched high and low for the boy who was falsely accused of murder.
It wasn't just to clear the boy's name.
He couldn't forget the Eung Jo Kwon kick his face experienced firsthand.
But then...
So, this is really made out of ivory?
Yes. If it weren't for my father's medicine, why would I be selling this?
I know I'm sinning against my ancestors,
but the living must survive first, don't you think?
Yes, that's right.
Anyways, thank you.
I'm more grateful to you, Sir.
Ouch, aish!
Aish? Why you!
You know me, right?
Don't you know who I am?
No!
Why that little...
Stop right there!
Stop, you rascal!
Hey, stop right there! Don't move!
That rascal!
Hey, you!
You rascal! Come here at once!
How dare you sell pork bones as ivory?!
Who would sell something made of ivory for 5 nyang?
The adult who pays a child 5 nyang for that is essentially the thief.
5 nyang? I paid 7 nyang!
Oh, you're that man!
I'm sorry, but I had to make a living, so it couldn't be helped.
Well then, I'll be going.
Stop right there!
Hey, stop! 1, 2...
That slippery kid. I'll catch him one of these days.
- You came again? - Hello.
I'll give you one extra.
- Here. - Thank you!
Take care, Sir.
- Why you! - Are you okay, Sir?
Watch where you're going!
Pay attention! Be more careful in the future!
Hey, there.
Yes, Sir.
Bae Seon Dal, who was well-known for his ability to be easily distracted,
completely forgot his initial purpose in chasing Cha Dol today,
while he was so engrossed in peering into Cha Dol's daily life.
Father, I'm back.
Hurry up and close the door, punk!
Ah... I fold.
Call.
Is this all of it?
Yes.
I told you I wouldn't do that any more.
Why you!
Why are you hitting me when I haven't skimmed?
To make sure you don't in the future, punk!
If I catch you one more time, you're dead, got it?
Hurry up! Or else, sit this round out.
Why would I, when I just got more money to play with?
Here.
Get going.
Can't I eat lunch first?
You can eat after you sell that.
You'll get nothing, if you can't sell this.
I'll see your 2 nyang and raise you 5.
Here's 2... and 5 nyang, and 7 nyang more.
Hey, how about selling Cha Dol to me?
What for? So, he can pickpocket for you?
He's got sharp eyes, so he seems like he'd be good at spotting the rich marks.
Here, I'll raise you 5.
How much will you give me?
30 nyang.
Sell him to me, instead. I'll give you 35 nyang.
Why are you butting in?
Cha Dol's got a gifted tongue.
He'd make a great assistant for swindling victims.
For that trifle? Do you know how much he brings in a day?
You can have him for 100 nyang.
Ah... 100 nyang? I couldn't break even then.
Then, forget it!
Hurry up! Let's play!
Those bastards!
Now, I'm on a roll... Deal!
- Can you spare a moment... - Officer! Officer!
What's the matter?
- That sword! - Sword?
- Butcher... pig... sword... - What?
Sheesh... illegal gambling!
Everyone, freeze!
Get them! Get them!
Arrest all of them!
Pig bones... fake swords!
See? These are all fake swords. Fake swords!
That guy made the fake swords. We've got nothing to do with them!
Weren't you gambling illegally?
And you're the pickpocket, Cross-Eyes.
And you, aren't you the grifter, Bald-headed Park?
Huh? My money! What am I going to do?
Hey, you!
I took back the price of my sword.
Come over here, if you want this.
Let go!
Stay still, you rascal!
Let me go, you worthless creep!
Worthless creep? How dare you speak to an adult that way?
Your father has already been taken away to the Police Bureau.
The Police Bureau?
That's right!
Now, you're starting to behave.
Why, you! Come back here!
Why, that little...
Who are you?
I am a louse.
A filthy louse who wandered around on dirty clothes in search of its mother.
I'm a bastard who caused a riot in the market and was chased like a wild beast.
You are even more insignificant than a tiny louse.
Lice do not hate nor despise one another.
You're right.
I am Iljimae, more worthless than a louse.
Up until now, you lived as a person who hated and despised others.
And what is worse, you even wanted to kill other human beings.
However...
That which can kill can also save.
Which of those someone chooses, decides their worth as a human being.
Understand?
Yes.
All right. If you understand that, then we're done. Done.
That'll do. We're done.
You can come out now.
Where will you go? Where?
There's someone I must see.
~ Book Dealer ~
Hello.
Oh! Wol Hee, you're here.
You suffered a lot, mourning for your father, didn't you?
You helped me a lot.
I didn't really do much.
Are a lot of books being lent out?
Yes, they are... but not enough to make a profit.
I'm just breaking even.
Why is that?
There are a lot of new books coming in,
but I don't have anyone to transcribe them.
There are a lot of readers but no books to loan out.
Ever since your father passed away, I've been short-handed.
The literate nobles won't even consider this work, so it's been hard finding someone.
So, then... what if I were to take over my father's work?
You? This work can't be done by just anyone.
You've got to know what you're doing.
I've already done this a lot.
The truth is, after my father became ill, I was the one transcribing all those books.
Is that really true?
Of course.
It was my idea to use a bigger font size to increase the number of volumes.
Didn't your profits increase after that?
Yes, it did. Other transcriptions were only 5 volumes,
but yours were always 6 volumes.
Of course, it's good for a book dealer.
But, that was your idea?
Then, how much should I pay you?
Naturally, you should pay me the same amount you paid my father, since I'm experienced.
In advance, of course.
P... p... payment in advance?
I thought you were meek, but you're uncommonly shrewd!
Oh, it broke.
They're brand new.
And the color is beautiful.
What do you think? Do they fit well?
These are the best-made hemp shoes, after all.
Ah, yeah... I'll bring you your change.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Please come again!
How can I help you?
I'd like to see some shoes.
Ah, shoes.
You look like a noble maiden.
How about these newly-arrived red leather shoes?
Isn't the color beautiful? And I have these, too.
I'm from a poor noble family.
Hemp shoes will suffice.
Wol Hee.
Uncle!
What are you doing here?
A lady shouldn't be out and about.
It hasn't been long, since your period of mourning.
You should be behaving yourself at home.
It's because of a job.
I'll be transcribing for a book dealer in place of my father.
What?
Then, that bundle there is...
Yes.
Do you think that is appropriate for a noble? And a girl, no less?
Are there different pre-established jobs for nobles, servants, men, or women?
Everyone does what is needed to survive.
They do exist.
It's because of these divisions that there are nobles and servants, men and women.
But did they exist when the world was created?
It's humanity that created those divisions.
Where did you hear such wickedness?
I heard it from my father.
It's because of that selfish disregard for others
that he was kicked out of his post and died from the indignity.
I believe what my father said is right.
All that matters is that the work I do is needed.
Oh, dear. Who's ever going to marry a senseless girl like you?
There's probably no one in the entire world who would take me.
Thank you for what you did for me.
I'm leaving without seeing you, since now is not the right time,
but I will return.
Come take a look at this cotton!
Here, take a look!
I haven't seen you here before.
What do you mean?
I'm from The Ministry. Show me your permit.
Permit?
Don't you know it's illegal to do business without a permit?
But everyone else here is doing it.
Say you'll offer him a bribe.
How much is it?
Fifty-percent of your daily earnings.
H... half?
How much do you think I have left after selling this cotton?!
Then if you'd rather be flogged at The Ministry...
Take him away, and seize the goods.
Yes, Sir!
Please, Sir! Please have mercy!
You should already know the punishment for operating without a permit is 100 lashes.
The Ministry's floggings are notoriously harsh.
You may not survive.
Sir, please have mercy!
My family is depending on me! Sir...
You wretch!
Take him away.
Come on! Get up!
Another innocent person is needlessly tormented.
Get him! He's a thief!
Catch him!
Oh, that kid is...
A thief!
Hey! Hey, you!
Hey, you!
Come here! Hey! You recognize me, don't you? Y-y-you...
Get... get him! That kid stole a dumpling!
That wretch!
Wait! N-no...
Hey! Oh, my!
You dare to steal?
How could you do that to a child?
Kid! Kid!
What's this?
There was no need to do that to a child who only stole one dumpling!
What are you staring at? Stand back.
- Stand back! - Stand back!
Move aside! Move aside!
Move aside!
This isn't right.
What happened?
I was trying to catch this kid who stole a dumpling,
and this nobleman threw a knife...
Hey, kid, wake up! Wake up!
- What happened? - Kid!
- You're just in time.
I caught this thief, and they're complaining.
Arrest them all.
See to the boy.
Yes, Sir.
Either way, someone got hurt, so you'll have to come with us to the Police Bureau.
What? Go to the Police Bureau and what?
If you need to discuss it further, then come to The Ministry.
Stop right there.
Do you not know who I am?
I am The Ministry's Seo Yun!
It's all right.
I do not wish to start a conflict.
But no one is exempt from the law.
You may go for now, but come to the Police Bureau when you're summoned.
The law? Fine. We'll see whose side the law is on.
I'll be sure to remember you.
Let's go!
- Move! - Move!
There's no time to waste! We must save the child!
Kid! Kid!
Chief, it appears that the one dumpling is all he stole.
Well, how is he?
Now that I've treated and dressed his wound, he's regained consciousness.
What a relief!
Can he be moved?
Yes. I gave him emergency treatment, but he still needs rest and continual care.
It would be better to err on the side of caution.
Then I'll stay and question the boy.
Return to the Bureau and process his transfer to the Hwalinseo* (*Office for treatment of the poor)
- Yes, Sir. - Wait...
He may have stolen, but he's still a young boy.
How hungry must he have been?
And he suffered all that over one dumpling.
Well, how about this...
Since the doctor says he needs rest,
leave him here for now, and when he improves,
I'll take him to the Police Bureau myself.
The government created the Hwalinseo for the relief of the poor,
but this child won't be able to receive proper treatment there for his wounds.
Well...
The boy and I will report to the Police Bureau together.
Okay, then. We'll do it your way.
- But, Sir... - It's all right.
It's not a big crime, so it won't be a problem,
if we do it this way.
Let's go back.
In Hanyang, at that time...
this was how minors were injured due to the abuse of public power acting under the pretext of the law.
Iljimae passed through Cheonan Junction, took a boat from Busan's Dongrae Port,
and then finally reached Hak Village on Geoje Island.
Excuse me, Sir. Is this Hak Village?
Yes, it is.
Then, would you happen to know a man named Geol Chi?
He moved here from Hanyang about 10 years ago.
Geol Chi? Yeah, I know him.
You'll be able to find him fishing under the big rock.
Where's the big rock?
At the Haegeum River.
Go over that hill there.
Gotcha! Gotcha!
Hey, I've gotcha now!
Come out. Come on out!
Oh, no! What the heck is this?
Where did it go? Where?
I was waiting for that one! Where did it go? Damn!
Who are you?
How long have you been there?
You're Geol Chi, aren't you?
That's right. Do I know you?
Don't you recognize me?
Of course not. I've never seen you before.
My name is Iljimae.
Iljimae?
That sounds like a girl's name.
They say you raised me.
What? What did you just say?
I heard it from Monk Yeol Gong...
that you carried me on your back and begged for breast-milk to feed me.
I came to thank you.
What?
Then...
you're really... my baby?
Yes, Ajusshi.
Oh, my! You rascal!
Let's see. Let me see...
It is you! It's you! Oh, my!
God of the heavens, god of the sea. Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you for bringing back my baby! Thank you! Thank you!
Although I found you in a creek,
I was so happy raising you.
After I lost you,
I searched heaven and earth and wandered around until I ended up here.
Since then, I've fished in the ocean,
and the years passed by.
But my life was so empty...
and I tried to forget everything.
And now you're here, right in front of me.
So, you mustn't leave my side again.
You and me... we're living here together. Got it?
All right. We will.
Great!
Look at that smile. It's exactly the same.
Exactly the same.
Great!
Come inside.
The inquiry is complete.
Thank you for keeping your promise.
Well, that was nothing...
So, what's going to happen to that child?
You've already paid the cost of the dumpling,
and the shop owner doesn't want the boy to be punished.
But there's still the issue of his involvement in selling the fake swords.
He'll have to stay in jail until the matter is resolved.
But it was his father who forced him to...
So, you don't know yet?
The butcher who made the fake swords is not this boy's real father.
But I'm sure I heard the boy calling him "Father".
Hey, what's going on?
He said to call him "Father".
And if I didn't, he would beat me.
What... even that?
It is very common.
So then, where are your birth parents?
My father, unable to pay the military tax, was dragged off to the army,
where he died in the war with Qing*. (*First Manchu Invasion of 1627)
And my mother...
became ill the following year... and... and... died, too.
So, I was wandering around,
and he said he would give me food, if I sold the fake swords...
I'm truly sorry to you, Sunbae.
Oh, my... well...
I thought it was lucky your injury was not too severe,
but it turns out you have already been deeply wounded.
Since we've caught the main culprit, we'll be able to return your money as soon as the case is closed.
Oh, that... well...
What will happen to the boy after the case is closed?
He'll be sent to the Jinhyulcheong where he'll be put up for adoption.
Jinhyulcheong?
That's where they take care of abandoned children or those without relatives.
These days, in addition to children whose parents have died,
there's been a sharp increase in children who've been abandoned.
Because they're oppressed by those in power or gangs of thieves,
parents have become too impoverished to sustain even their own lives,
so they abandon their babies along the road or leave older children tied to trees.
Then, it'll be hard to find adoptive parents for him.
It takes longer for babies,
but it won't be difficult for a child his age.
Oh, that's quite strange. Wouldn't it be better to adopt a younger child?
It's because adoption is not their motive.
What do you mean?
The rich conspire with government officials
to adopt these children and then use them as servants.
If a child is unable to bear the hard work and runs away, he's punished or sold off again for a profit.
This is really happening?
And you're doing nothing about it?!
Even though we know they're breaking the law,
they're backed by the goverment officials, so there's nothing we can do.
Damnit... Damnit!!
Oh... my apologies.
I inadvertently used foul language.
There's no cause for shame.
Then... don't send that boy to the Jinhyulcheong.
I'll take care of him.
And I've already received my money back for the sword, so don't worry.
I got the money from him.
Is that true?
Why would I lie about that, Chief Gu?
Anyways, thanks to him, you've caught the culprit,
so isn't he the biggest contributor in solving this case?
So, Chief Gu... what if we do this?
A lonely, jobless person with nothing to do...
And a lonely orphan with nowhere to go...
Thus began their lifelong friendship which easily transcended such things as...
age, status, class, education, and wealth.
And thus also began The Wondrous Chronicles of Iljimae.
Sir...
Huh?
What should I call you?
Um... Ah!
Just call me Seon Dal.
Geon Dal*? (*good-for-nothing)
I said my name is Seon Dal!
Geon Dal? What the heck?!
Seon Dal... Geon Dal? It's confusing.
You're right.
Seon Dal or Geon Dal... it's all the same.
Let's get going.
Oh, sorry. I forgot about your wound.
Meanwhile, another male orphan duo, Geol Chi and Iljimae...
- Oh, oh! - Did you catch it?
Yeah!
Hey, by the sound it's making, it must be a big one.
- It seems so. - Hold on tight!
- It's a sea bream! Wow! - A sea bream?
This is a precious find!
You must be my lucky charm!
Iljimae could've spent the rest of his life as a skilled fisherman in Geoje Island's Hak Village,
if not for the incident which was about to occur.
Move!
Wow!
How can he be so good-looking?
Even girls don't have skin as white as that.
Gosh, I'd like to chop off his head with a boning knife
and put it on my own neck,
but if I cut off my own head, then I'd be dead.
So, I can't do that.
What are you staring at, bitch?!
This is how all the Hak Village girls ran the preemptive race for Iljimae's attention,
whether he was aware of it or not.
But one day...
Bong Yi, who was maintaining a narrow 0.5 lead over the rest of the pack,
was found murdered in the bamboo grove.
Well, Bong Yi was holding hands with Iljimae,
so, I quietly followed them...
to see what they were doing in the middle of the night.
They were sitting side by side and kissing...
Iljimae didn't want to and was turning his head away,
but that Bong Yi was hugging and sticking tightly to him.
And then...
And then strangely, Bong Yi took off her clothes and said,
"You're my husband now. You have to marry me."
Then, Iljimae picked up a big rock, hit her on the head with it, and killed her!
Is that true?
Of course! I saw it with my own eyes.
Why, that bastard!
Bring Iljimae here at once!
Yes, Sir.
And get Bong Yi's father, too.
All right.
Where are you going?
To flower rock.
I'll catch you some eels,
so you can eat them with your rice wine.
Should I?
Hey, who's that?
It's Seong Ge whose family lives in the reed house.
But where's he going in such a hurry?
Hey, Seong Ge! Where are you going?
He must be going to catch abalone under the big rock.
If he's going to catch abalone, why's he in such a hurry?
Hey! Hey there!
Hey, Geol Chi!
What is it?
Come here!
What for?
They're calling for Iljimae!
You know my daughter, Bong Yi, right?
You killed her, didn't you?!
What?
Did you say, "killed"?
You two went to the bamboo grove last night, didn't you?
I did no such thing.
You're saying he went where?
My goodness! That's ridiculous!
He hasn't left my side, not even for a second.
You keep quiet.
There's an eyewitness.
You laugh?
That's because it's just so absurd.
Are you truly saying you didn't kill her?
Sir,
I understand you're in pain over losing your daughter,
but I absolutely did not do such a thing.
It appears that whoever killed Bong Yi is setting me up to take the fall.
Setting you up?
But Nan Yi said she saw you.
Elders, you have overlooked something important.
And what is that?
Wasn't it revealed that Nan Yi was at home that night?
That's right.
That night, I was weaving with my mother.
The neighborhood women can vouch for me.
Really?
Then, how were you able to see what happened,
when you never left the house?
Well, that's...
Seong Ge's your cousin, isn't he?
Seong Ge? What about him?
A little while ago I saw Seong Ge hurrying towards Haegeum River's big rock island.
I think he was on his way to hide something there.
What could he be trying to hide there?
How... how would I know?
Really?
Then, we'd better go see for ourselves.
Once we see what it is, we'll know who killed Bong Yi.
It hasn't been long, so we should be able to catch up to Seong Ge.
Oh, my! There's his boat!
I'll go ahead first.
Wait, where are you going?!
Oh, no! What if Seong Ge really kills my Iljimae?
- Let's go and see! - All right.
Why the hell are you following me? Eh!
Show me what's in that sack.
Although, I can already guess what's in there.
Fine then, I'll kill you, too.
You messed with the wrong guy. You won't live much longer!
Seong Ge!
Stop that nonsense and put down the knife!
Confess your wrongdoings and beg for forgiveness!
What are we to do? What are we to do?!
I'm gonna kill you!
Now, confess everything.
Aish!
That's right. I killed Bong Yi. I'm the one who killed that bitch!
After we did "it," I killed her with a rock.
So... so what?!
Those... those belong to us.
That's strange. What are they doing here?
Because Nan Yi gave them to Seong Ge...
and told him to rape Bong Yi.
But when Bong Yi resisted the assault,
Seong Ge killed her.
Seong Ge would be capable of doing that.
He's a fiercely mean guy.
But why would Nan Yi want Seong Ge to hurt Bong Yi?
Tell us... say it!
Why did you want to hurt Bong Yi?
Say it, you wench!
Bong Yi was prettier than me!
What if she were to steal Iljimae away from me?
So then, you're blaming this all on Iljimae?!
What's he doing?!
Seong Ge! Stop!
Okay, have a nice life everyone! I'm out of here!
Oh, boy... there's a lot of crying going on.
Bong Yi's mother's cry is the loudest, don't you think?
It must be because her daughter, who was all grown up, is dead.
Seong Ge's the bad guy...
but I think Nan Yi's worse.
Don't you think so?
Ajusshi...
What?
I think I should leave this village.
What did you say?
Someone died because of me.
If only I hadn't come to this village...
Nonsense! Why is that your fault?
It happened because Nan Yi and Seong Ge are the wicked ones.
Don't think otherwise!
Iljimae first headed towards Dongrae Port in search of a place to stay.
But then...
In an instant, he was dragged up to the highest peak, then dropped to the lowest valley
by the great power of this sea...
For the first time in his life, Iljimae sensed he was going to die.
And so, how much time had passed?
Now, the vast isolation suddenly overtook him...
as if it had sucked out the last drops of Iljimae's strength!
Volume 7 ~ Throw the Shuriken!
- Chief Gu!... Chief!
Gu Ja Myeong...
Come back, Iljimae!