Antifragile

“Are you sure this is the right place? It looks….I don’t know…too fancy? What kind of bandits would live in such a flashy house like this?” Chaewon questioned.

“Rich bandits, or so I heard.” Yunjin explained.

“Are you sure it’s okay for us to just stroll into an empty house? Shouldn’t we wait for them to get back?” Sakura asked sceptically as Yunjin casually strolled onto the property.

“Oh it’s fine, don’t worry about it. I know one of them anyway, she wouldn’t mind.” Yunjin replied calmly, waving off Sakura’s concerns.

“What if someone else comes home before they do? Wouldn’t that put Sakura in danger?” Chaewon added.

“Like I said, it’s all cool. We’ll be fine.” Yunjin reassured them.

Chaewon and Sakura exchanged hesitant looks before they followed Yunjin into the house, where they were greeted by silence. Sakura took the chance to look around, noticing that the family owned many famed and coveted Japanese artefacts.

“They just left all this out in the open, completely unprotected. I could easily grab like one vase and pawn it off right now. I’m sure it’d be enough to feed all of us for at least a year.” Chaewon commented.

“To be fair, I don’t think they expected for bandits to just enter their home like this. They should really build a defence system. This place is just waiting to be robbed.” Sakura answered.

“Now what? Do we just sit here and wait?” Chaewon asked, watching as Yunjin made herself comfortable on their couch. It was as if she owned the place.

“Pretty much. I’m not sure what time they’re coming over to be very honest. It could be a few hours until they come.”

“You didn’t think to contact them beforehand?” Chaewon retorted sarcastically.

“Well at least I’m doing something to help Eunbi unnie. I was too excited and forgot to write to them. Anyway, we’re already here so we might as well wait.” Yunjin fired back.

“Like I said earlier, we could’ve waited outside and not in here where we look like robbers. We’re trespassing on private property right now. If we get reported, we’re all going to be arrested.” Chaewon argued back.

“Then go outside and melt in the sun. I’m staying in here where it’s sheltered.”

Chaewon refused to admit that she had lost, crossing her arms as she sat down with a huff. Sakura watched the exchange in amusement, quietly sitting next to Chaewon. Silence fell, but it felt comfortable. Yunjin was half asleep, while Chaewon was evaluating every inch of the house.

“I think just this chair I’m sitting on is worth more money than I can make in my entire lifetime. If I sold this, I’d never have to work again. I could easily retire into the countryside and live a quiet, peaceful life far away from Hanyang and its politics.” Chaewon mumbled.

“It’s a good thing that you’re an honest bandit then.” Sakura joked.

Chaewon laughed along for a while, though Sakura could tell it was forced. After a while, Chaewon stopped, looking guilty.

“Honestly, I would’ve just taken whatever I could and left if I had the chance to. But I can’t just abandon Eunbi unnie and leave her to rot in jail, not after everything she’s done for me.” Chaewon admitted.

“I don’t blame you. Being constantly on the run is exhausting, and I know how much you must crave peace. This place would’ve been your ticket to freedom. I admire your discipline. Almost any other person would’ve just left Eunbi behind and made a run for it.” Sakura replied, trying to comfort her.

Chaewon gingerly leaned towards Sakura, placing her head on Sakura’s shoulder. Sakura stiffened initially from the shock, but slowly relaxed and just let Chaewon lie there comfortably. Chaewon eventually drifted off into sleep, leaving Sakura alone with her thoughts.

The princess couldn’t help blushing the moment she looked at Chaewon’s sleeping face. She was just so cute and innocent, and for a moment Sakura felt like she’d face 1000 soldiers to protect Chaewon.

The peace was broken when the sound of movement outside the house was heard. Chaewon was on her feet in an instant, waking a groggy Yunjin up. Sakura sprang up too, feeling anxious as she heard the door slide open.

Yunjin neared towards the entrance, grabbing a nearby stick for good measure. Though Sakura couldn’t see the door yet, she heard the faint sound of a person stepping inside. Judging from the lightness of the steps, it was a single girl. Then, she heard the girl’s footsteps pause.

“Come here!” Yunjin mouthed, motioning for Sakura and Chaewon to follow her. The three of them hid behind a wall, waiting for the girl to enter the house.

“That’s strange, it feels like someone is here.” She heard the girl mutter under her breath, in Japanese.

Sakura heard Yunjin curse under her breath, this must not be someone she knew.

“What do we do now? I don’t know this girl!” Yunjin muttered quietly.

“I told you this was a bad idea.” Chaewon retorted, though Sakura could hear the fear in her tone.

Sakura stiffened as she heard the girl move towards the living room, inching closer and closer towards them. Chaewon and Yunjin stiffened beside her, none of them sure how to react.

The girl entered the living room, immediately letting out a shrill scream when she spotted the trio hiding behind the wall. Yunjin rolled her eyes and approached the girl menacingly as Chaewon and Sakura followed her meekly.

“Ah screw this, I don’t care anymore!” Yunjin cursed as she neared the girl.

The girl tried to run, clamouring for the door, but Yunjin easily grabbed onto her robes and yanked her back. She shoved her against the wall roughly, pressing her hand against the girl’s mouth as she held the stick up to her neck.

“Make another sound and I’ll break your neck.” Yunjin threatened.

The poor girl was hyperventilating, her breathing fast and rapid. Sakura felt sorry for her, but she couldn’t risk getting caught. She had no choice but to follow Yunjin’s lead.

“What do we do now? We can’t shut her up forever!” Chaewon exclaimed, grabbing her hair in frustration.

“I saw some rope in the kitchen earlier, we can use that. Hurry!” Yunjin ordered, using the stick to lightly knock the girl on the head. She watched as the girl crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

“I feel bad for the poor soul. Imagine coming home to find three strange and armed people in your house. Who is she anyway? I thought you said you know them.” Sakura commented.

“I said I know one of them. She might be a member, she might not be. We can’t take any chances.” Yunjin said coldly.

Chaewon sighed as Yunjin carelessly made a mess of the kitchen trying to find the piece of rope she had seen earlier. Sakura did her best to clean up the mess, but after a while she simply gave up. Yunjin wordlessly returned to the living room, leaving Chaewon and Sakura behind.

“I’m going to clean up this mess. It’s evidence of a break in and we don’t need more trouble.” Sakura said quietly.

As she was cleaning up, she could hear the faint sound of Chaewon arguing with Yunjin. She sighed, though she couldn’t fault either of them. Chaewon was being rational, while Yunjin was too anxious and was just trying to save Eunbi. They both had good intentions, they just went about it in different ways.

She returned to the living room to find them still arguing, though it was less heated than before. Yunjin had tied their poor victim to a chair, even going so far as to shove a rag into her mouth. Chaewon was trying to loosen the rope, but Yunjin protested vehemently.

“We don’t know if she’s an ally or not! We can’t afford to take any more risks!” Yunjin argued.

“She doesn’t deserve this, ally or not. You’re going too far. I know you want to save Eunbi unnie, but we can’t hurt others while doing so. There’s a gentler method than straight up violence.” Chaewon replied in an even tone.

Just then, they heard a louder and more frantic chatter from outside of the house. Yunjin hurriedly grabbed her stick, stationing herself behind the girl in a threatening manner. Chaewon and Sakura stood by her side, unsure of what to do.

“Yuki! Where are you? Are you alright? Yuki! We waited and waited but you didn’t come back! Yuki!” A loud voice shouted as a group of girls burst into the house.

When she was met with silence, the girl who had shouted grabbed her knife from her pocket before slowly advancing into the living room. The moment she saw Yunjin, her eyes widened with fury, then horror, before she held out her knife.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing to Yuki? Let her go at once! Don’t make me use this on you.” She threatened.

“It’s not what it looks like, please Goeun-ah. We just had to play safe. I never intended to harm her.” Yunjin pleaded.

“Oh, so breaking into her house, attacking her and tying her up is not intending to harm her? You’re unbelievable Yunjin.” Goeun scoffed as the rest of the girls filed in.

“Yuki! Let her go right now!” Another girl demanded, pulling out another knife.

“Fine, take her! I just want to talk.” Yunjin exclaimed, dropping the stick and moving away.

“Oh, we’re gonna talk alright. What the hell were you thinking?” Goeun yelled angrily as she helped to untie Yuki.

“Obviously she wasn’t thinking.” Chaewon muttered under her breath.

Goeun overheard the remark, resisting the urge to laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. However, her anger towards Yunjin overpowered her amusement.

Yuki awoke as her friends were untying her, flying straight into Goeun’s arms as she sobbed. Goeun comforted her quietly, reassuring Yuki that Yunjin had meant no harm. However, the fury in her eyes as she glared at Yunjin was undeniable.

Once Yuki had calmed down, Goeun invited Yunjin, Sakura and Chaewon to sit. The remaining girls had introduced themselves as Dosie, Ireh, Chaein and Swan, and they were busy watching every move the trio made. None of them were willing to forgive them for what they had done to Yuki, even if Yuki hadn’t been harmed.

“What is so urgent that you had to resort to…whatever this is?” Goeun began.

“Eunbi has been arrested, and we need your help.” Yunjin replied, much calmer now than earlier.

“Why should we help you? We don’t owe you anything, especially after that little stunt you pulled earlier. In fact, we could turn you all in right now. Not only for trespassing, abduction and attacking a Japanese citizen, but also for housing the princess who currently has a bounty worth more than everything in this house on her head. Don’t think I didn’t notice who she was earlier, I’m not stupid.” Goeun demanded.

“Because we know that Jieun has been arrested as well, and that the soldiers are using her to bleed Yuki’s family dry. Word gets out pretty fast.”

“My family can afford to pay the ransom. We don’t need your help.” Yuki protested quietly.

“Your money is not infinite, it will run out sooner or later. The soldiers will bleed you dry, then kill Jieun. Even your influence in the kingdom cannot rescue a bandit, or else suspicion will fall on your family. Then there will really be trouble.” Sakura answered.

“Goeun, listen. I understand that what we did was wrong, and I won’t try and pretend that it never happened. But if you’d be willing to forgive us, or at least put your grudge aside for the time being, we can save two innocent lives. I’m sure deep down you know that they’ll never release Jieun, even if you keep paying them. Breaking her out is the only way to save her life. After we rescue both of them, I will allow you to punish the three of us for the harm we caused.” Chaewon said calmly.

“I’ll cut you a deal. We’ll forget about this whole situation today, if you promise us this. You will not incriminate any of us should you get caught. I don’t work with traitors and dishonest cheats.” Goeun agreed.

“Deal, as long as I can trust you to do the same.”

“We never go back on our word, I can assure you that. I guess we have a deal then.” Goeun said with a grin.

“We have a deal.”