Soon the sound of the drums boom, boom, boom resonating, and the mounted competitors rode into the prayer enclosure. Those with white ribbons tied around their heads and those with black ribbons tied around their heads split left and right and then faced each other.

The most familiar face was Heeije, who belonged to the white team. She responded to the opponent with a spirited expression, and her high-tied hair ribbon was fluttering behind her.

Each team was appropriately mixed with Yongrin and Mugwan. This was a competition held every year to foster harmony and friendship between Yongrin and Mugwan, and they said that as this tradition continued, the effect of relieving the conflicts and discord that had arisen between them had been gained.

It was the only recreation available in the solemn palace as well, so everyone had been waiting for this day, and the competition's selection process was also fierce. The winning side was given incentives to a higher degree — so the interest could not but grow. Yunseo also had heard of the custom by word of mouth but having actually encountered it like this it was fresh.

At the beat of the drum again, the competitors armed with mallets on the horses took their fighting stance.

"Which side do you think will win?"

"I don't know well. I'd like the side with Heeije to win, but…… how does Your Majesty see it?"

"If you say in advance it won't be fun."

"You must be planning to say something wrong."

"There is nothing I do not know."

Hwi's boasting was truly shameless but truly he couldn't help but believe it.

Soon a large drum sounded and the competitors charged toward the ball. The ball moved here and there as the Mugwan mingled in a muddle. It was difficult to tell where to look so his eyes kept going everywhere while Hwi pointed somewhere with his finger.

Between the horses' legs a ball rolling along came to view, when the woman wearing black ribbons approached in an instant and with a * jangsi caught the ball and sent it out quickly.

"Waaaah!"

The ball flew out flipping through the air. It was a clean, open shot. The Heukdae cheering warriors cheered enthusiastically, and at this Baekdae supporting warriors raised their voices higher.

Before he knew it Yunseo was wiggling together and then put his shoulder back down. Beside him a laugh was heard, he turned around vacantly — Hwi was looking straight at him.

"Heeije will be disappointed."

"……Heeije's inside is not narrow so she's fine."

"To know about Heeije's inside as well — you seem to have grown truly close."

"If you say it that way, isn't it because of your own doing that I'm attached to you?"

"Then, differently from the competition, Heeije not showing even a fraction of her ability before the match was because she wanted to conserve strength or it seemed risky to throw off the balance of the match. Yunseo noticed that fact belatedly and nodded his head."

"He too like them wanted to run sweating and charging and the desire to run for victory surged. If I go to Manguwon I'll learn some martial arts from Hwi I resolved — the side of Heukdae that had gotten a point."

Even in the midst of hanging on, Heeije did not lose her smile and encouraged her teammates. Yunseo chased after her figure and asked.

"If Yongrin don't use their strength, is the skill about the same as an ordinary Mugwan?"

"There are those and those who aren't but Heeije is distinct. It's not that I'm attached to her because of your honour."

Then the reason Heeije participated before the match without showing obvious ability was not to conserve strength, but it seemed risky to throw off the competition's balance. Yunseo realized that fact belatedly and nodded his head.

The competition consisted of a total of three rounds to be played and two rounds had already been scored. In the first two rounds, Yongrin could all not use their strength, but the last round was different. In the last round, each team was allowed one person who had been selected for each side to use their strength, and Heeije was the white team's captain and she would probably use full strength in the last round.

The first round ended with Heukdae's victory. When a rest was given, court attendants brought out light refreshments and tea. Yunseo was eating a snack and looked beside him.

"Which side do you think Hyeonbi will say will win?"

"The final result is hard to predict but I think the next round will be white's."

"Why do you think that?"

"It is natural that the side that lost runs to die for victory, so the winning probability would be a little greater wouldn't it."

It was a reasonable opinion and he naturally agreed. For the tension and fun of the competition it would also be better for white to win. One side being overwhelmingly dominant would make it a bit nerve-wracking too.

Soon the second match began. As Hyeonbi had said, the white team's Mugwan charged dying to win and the competition became fiercer.

The passionate clash of bodies and the rough sound of shouts while truly not turning it into a bad fight was impressive. The cheering rising from the audience seats was even more ferocious and the white team connected the ball twice in succession and seized victory.

"Your Majesty, now that you've seen the prayer enclosure, doesn't your heart not stir?"

"When young I tried to fit in too but now I'm grown. If I participate everyone will probably light up their eyes and rush at me."

"Even your Yongsin?"

"The warriors' passion toward me is always drawn upward so if a seat is given a divine would emerge leaping."

"Then…… even the young man there?"

At the cautious question Hwi slid his brow corner up and looked at the pure-looking child and sent his eyes to Yunseo.

"In sacred power it is a hundred times superior, and in martial strength since the age of ten I have not once had a match."

That there was experience before ten was a curious fact. Digging into the past Hwi simply talked about growing up dueling with a master and growing martial strength — he told it simply.

Even having been completely polished from the start there was a time he had been clumsy too. Hearing directly about his growth process was very interesting.

Around when the story ended Heukdae's victory closed the second match.

As the final match approached, the atmosphere of the prayer enclosure became tremendously tense. Heukdae's captain Heeije tied the blue ribbon around her head, Heukdae's captain Kangbaek tied the black ribbon around his head. They exchanged looks at each other before looking at the ball and grinning.

"Does the general select the most outstanding people?"

"Not necessarily. Heeije's reason for being selected is of course her ability, but……"

Heeije let out a great shout and the ball went to the prayer enclosure rolling hugely. At the moment everyone's eyes were directed at Heeije, she turned on the saddle and leaped into the air and flew around three rotations before coming back down. At the same time cheers and acclaim poured out from the audience.

"It's because she has flair."

Not wanting to be outdone, Kangbaek immediately raised his hands to the sky and stomping the floor went backward somersaulting and in an instant flew into the air. Among the most recently come-of-age Yongrin, having the spirit fully absorbed, laughter burst out.

"The last round is the most fun."

"One more fierce match."

As the drum sounded both sides' competitors charged each other blocking and grabbed the ball to snatch it.

Heeije kicked the horse's flank and soaring into the air rode several times and coming back down to the horse rushed forward. Right then Kangbaek blocked in front of them and they collided their mallets, and Heeije revealing her teeth laughed. As if marking like shadows the two captains faced off and their mallets collided and Heeije sent the ball flying through the back pass. Heukdae then charged together closing in on the ball, and in the midst of the horses' legs the ball snuck out, and while Kangbaek who was chasing Heeije like a shadow dashed after it, Heeije circled and caught it again.

As Kangbaek suddenly turned to catch her, Hwi gripped the horse's mane and used it as a support and his body spun, flipping backward to dodge the arm. The end of the mallet that landed hit the ball and flew away passing through the prayer enclosure.

"Waaaah!"

"Baek! Baek! Baek!"

Heeije burst out laughing and raising her fist she raised her hand and turned around the outer ring of the prayer enclosure. Upon approaching Jangjeon she came flying up with a broad leap and got down on one knee in front of the flower consorts and put her hand in their arms.

* 장시: 杖匙. The part used in the polo game (毬場) to pull and throw the Taejang (苔杖) ball. Made by twisting wood and creating an empty hollow on the bottom, covering it with tightly woven leather. National Institute of Korean Language, Standard Korean Language Dictionary.