Original subtitles

[ominous music plays]

[shaky breathing]

[shaky breathing continues]

[breathes heavily]

[groans in pain]

[screaming]

[Rodent Scrap breathes shakily]

[screaming]

[screams]

[Rodent Scrap whimpers]

[groans]

[screaming]

[Rodent Scrap breathes shakily]

[dramatic music plays]

DEAR HONGRANG

[music fades]

[Hongrang grunts]

[breathes heavily]

Who sent you here?

Who is the mastermind pulling your strings

and instructing the black-robed swordsmen?

Father--

That is all you want?

You have seen this hideous thing on your son's body.

Are you not curious to know what it is and how it even got there?

How dare you call me your father?

Do you actually believe you can still keep up with this insane act of yours?

[chuckles]

Why do you not think I am your son?

Is it really so hard to believe

Hongrang could have this on his back?

What makes you so certain I am not him?

I know.

While everyone else recoiled,

you were the only one who was unfazed by it.

It was as though…

you recognized it.

The painter.

Where is he?

Who is he? Who did this? I want to know now!

[stick clatters]

[sinister music plays]

Chief Merchant Sim,

where are you going?

The painter. Tell me who he is!

Tell me.

I need to know!

[sinister music continues]

-[stone sizzles] -[groans loudly]

[groans]

[sinister music continues]

Yes. He is definitely the slave we had in our household.

The mole on his knee was there since he was born,

and that disfigured toe,

I believe he injured it when he was three or four years old.

Huh.

[tense music plays]

In other words, the mole and disfigured toe

that Hongrang may have sustained after his disappearance

are an exact match to those of your household slave?

[Master Yu] Correct.

Very well. Might I ask what happened to that slave?

[woman] He was caught after attempting an escape.

Then a woman came and offered to buy the both of them.

Both? There were two?

He was not alone when you caught him after his escape?

He was with another child who was a mute.

Then a woman came and offered to buy the both of them.

I recall his name being In-hoe.

[gasping]

They are telling lies!

They are committing perjury!

How dare you come in here and defame my son?!

Perjury is what you have been committing until now.

-What did you say? -Tell me honestly.

Were you truly unaware

that he was an imposter?

[indistinct muttering]

[tense music plays]

This is the sales document regarding the slave named Rodent Scrap.

It not only confirms the man who has been impersonating Hongrang

is nothing but a slave with a broken body,

but that he is undoubtedly an imposter.

-Grandmaster. -[Mu-jin] Yes, Father?

I order your reinstatement as grandmaster.

This will restore the guild from the disarray it is in.

I want the mute called In-hoe captured.

-He has been working with the imposter. -How could you?

Furthermore, I order Lady Min confined to her quarters

for appointing an imposter to the position of grandmaster

in order to assert her authority in the guild.

[hushed muttering]

How could you do this?

How could you lead your own son to ruin?

What kind of father are you? You are not a father! [grunts]

[gasps]

But was Hongrang ever truly my son, madam?

[tense music continues]

[shattered pottery cracks]

[somber music plays]

My brother was the one who brought proof, you say?

My lady,

say it is not so.

There must be some kind of mistake.

Our young master Hongrang,

he is your brother, is he not?

Where is Mother? Where is she? What is she doing?

[tense music plays]

Yuk-son.

Yes, my lady?

I know he is my son.

[Yeon-ui exhales]

Undoubtedly,

I know that boy is mine.

[music fades]

[gentle music plays]

[door creaks]

Is this the reason

you did not tell me that Hongrang was an imposter?

Yes.

That is how desperately I wanted you to stay with me.

Were you the one

who had that old man deliver me that drugged drink in the mountains?

I was willing to do whatever it took to have you back with me.

[both grunt]

Let me go!

You… you must marry me, Jae-yi.

I… am already married.

-[Mu-jin grunts] -[Jae-yi gasps]

[Mu-jin] That bastard will disappear.

Mother's influence is waning.

I will regain my position soon enough.

Then you will marry me, and the two of us shall lead the guild together.

That is the only way you shall live, and the path you will take.

[breathes shakily]

I do not need your consent.

I am not here to ask for your permission.

[door opens]

[music fades]

I wish you to set the wedding date, Father.

The disownment should come before marriage, should it not?

We will marry first.

You can use consanguineous marriage as reason for disownment.

[Yeol-guk] Do you really have no regard

for how your actions will affect public opinion and the guild's standing?

Everyone knows the truth. Jae-yi and I are not related by blood.

Furthermore, you almost became the previous chief merchant's stepson,

but ended up as his son-in-law instead.

This should not be considered that unusual either.

Jae-yi has agreed to give you her hand, has she?

[Mu-jin] Why would you ask such a thing?

You have never taken her will into account about anything, Father.

My reasons are my own.

I presented proof that he is an imposter, did I not?

Yes, but you failed to keep your word on bringing them back here, I recall.

In the end,

you needed my assistance, did you not?

We must find the mastermind behind this to prevent future issues,

and obtain the partition deed from my wife.

It is of utmost importance.

Chief Merchant Sim.

His Royal Highness has ordered the imposter be brought to him, my lord.

Why is that? Because of that drawing that we all saw on his back?

You told me not to harm it.

You strictly cautioned me about it.

Even the most sought-after horse is regarded

as nothing more than a useless and harmful creature

when it is left untamed.

[somber music plays]

You may sharpen your sword.

However, I will not tolerate you swinging it before me.

Have Bang Ji-ryeon watched, and never let him out of your sight.

Yes, my lord.

It has been a long time since I sent word to you.

[Yeol-guk] Forgive me, Your Highness.

I nearly considered going there myself. I had to… try to be patient.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

And yet…

here you are, empty-handed.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

Is that all you can utter, Chief Merchant?!

With all due respect, Your Highness,

the man who was impersonating Hongrang is being questioned at this very moment.

What?

The drawing on his back that you are so curious to see

is shockingly vulgar and promiscuous.

So explicit and lewd

that it is simply unsuitable for Your Grace's eyes to behold.

Your Highness,

I once witnessed something.

I saw two feral dogs locked in a struggle,

literally at each other's throats.

Can you hazard a guess as to which of the two dogs

ultimately triumphed in the battle?

It was not the one that stubbornly clung to the end.

It was the one that let go.

That released its hold at just the right moment.

It ultimately triumphed.

You see, it had been observing the other dog bleed through its wound

and chose the right moment to let go.

Now, that is truly

the wisest way to beat an opponent stronger than you are.

Do you not think so, Your Highness?

What nonsense you speak!

[grand prince sighs]

I see.

You wish to speak in metaphors.

I wish you would, uh,

speak your mind.

What is it that you need?

I am deeply honored, Your Highness.

I would like to inform you that

I will be making a request shortly.

Go now.

[somber music continues]

Oh, that man.

What remarkable audacity he possesses.

Now that you have dared test your god…

I shall shower you with heavenly thunder.

His Royal Highness will make a move soon.

We must be ready to move the imposter at a moment's notice.

Yes, my lord.

[music fades]

[haunting music plays]

[Jae-yi] I am

right here

with you.

[sighs]

[music fades]

What brings you here at this hour?

I am here to arrest the one who has been posing as your son.

But I never filed a report, sir. How could--

These are orders from above.

Where is he?

I recommend you act quickly and hand him over immediately.

[ominous music plays]

[gasps]

-[door opens] -[gasps]

[breathes shakily]

[ominous music continues]

Stop them! We must not lose him!

[swords clash]

Get it!

This way!

-[arrow whooshes] -[suspenseful music plays]

[men groan]

[groans]

Go now.

[suspenseful music continues]

[music stops]

What will happen if you ever get caught?

Then

I suggest you take the opportunity and use me as a simple pawn.

The chief merchant will announce that I am an imposter

and implicate Lady Min as my accomplice.

Then the partition deed will be handed over to the chief merchant,

and the tables will be turned in his favor.

Lady Min, sensing the impending ruin of her family name,

will try to hand the deed over to me.

Not only does the deed represent the guild's wealth,

it details decades of the guild's corrupt practices.

It also has the power to keep wealthy families and patrons

under its control.

So, to save me and protect herself, she will have to give it to me.

Before that happens, the chief merchant would try to get rid of you, would he not?

He would seek to strike a deal for himself, using me as leverage.

That is when we should be able

to uncover the mastermind pulling the strings behind him.

With the drawing on my back now exposed,

it is only a matter of time until we find out their identity.

[suspenseful music plays]

[box opens]

[Hongrang groans]

[Hongrang] The one who seeks

to obtain my body, which has now lost its use and purpose…

[music stops]

…is

the painter.

[chuckles]

Is it truly you?

[haunting music plays]

Is it?

Yes, and here you are.

You belong to me. You always have.

[yells]

[Hongrang strains]

[Hongrang breathes shakily]

[Hongrang yells]

[yells]

[strains]

[chuckles]

[Hongrang yells]

I am so sorry. I…

I did not recognize you sooner. I should have.

-[Hongrang yells] -[gasps]

[Hongrang groans]

[grand prince laughs]

[Hongrang yells]

[grand prince laughs]

[Hongrang yells]

[music fades]

So… His Highness took him by force, did he?

He had the government army, my lord.

They were stationed on every street.

[Yeol-guk sighs]

He purposely

sent them our way to force us into moving him,

which is when he intended to intercept us.

How could you have fallen for such a predictable plan?

How could you?!

[breathes deeply]

[foreboding music plays]

[Mu-jin] I have asked you a question.

What was your reason for handing the imposter over?

[breathes shakily]

Fine, then.

You do not have to say anything.

I could just ask Father myself.

[gasps]

[Ji-ryeon whimpers]

Once Father learns about this, what do you think will happen to you?

Everything you have amassed from betraying your master over the years

will all be for naught.

You will not be able to save either yourself or your family

from the consequences of this.

Young master.

It has been a while

since you called me by that name.

What is it you would have me do, my lord?

Well,

I would like you to take me to your real master.

[Yeon-ui] My son has disappeared?

[music fades]

[Yeon-ui panting]

[whimpers] Move aside!

[grunts]

[gasps]

I said, move aside!

Please! Come inside with me, my lady.

[grunts] Let go of me! Now!

No! No!

[Yeon-ui breathes shakily]

Yuk-son,

please find my son for me.

[haunting music plays]

You must do it.

Find him.

[music fades]

Grand Prince Hanpyeong is the painter?

Of all people… This is most troubling.

Approaching Hongrang will be a challenge. Retrieving him will be impossible.

Yes. Some of our men are stationed around the grand prince's manor

to observe suspicious activity.

Surveillance is challenging,

as the grand prince has his men stationed around the manor.

He is guarding against Chief Merchant Sim and Min Yeon-ui's forces.

Even if there were an opening, he is not an opponent we can easily confront.

We would need a justifiable reason or hard proof.

-My lady. -[Kkot-nim] Why did he do it?

What motivated the grand prince?

He has marked Hongrang and the other children

with drawings on their bodies for years now.

He has made an enemy of Chief Merchant Sim for stealing Hongrang away from him.

This was a close relationship that has endured for many years.

He must have a compelling reason for his actions.

Yet we do not know what his intentions are.

[suspenseful music plays]

[breathes quietly]

[suspenseful music builds]

The painting of fertility is in poor condition,

so we must act quickly.

Expedite the repairs on the bell tower and start preparing for the grand event.

[servant] Yes, Your Highness.

However, Your Grace, you have a guest waiting for you.

It will be Chief Merchant Sim.

It is not, Your Highness.

[music fades]

I urge you to cast aside what you had

and take me under your wing instead, Your Highness.

[intriguing music plays]

-Who are you people? What do you want?! -These are my brothers.

I grew up with these men.

This is the life that I led. This is the kind of life I led.

-Pardon me. -Yes, my lord.

[tense music plays]

[Jae-yi gasps]

What are you doing here? Do you wish to die? Is that it?

[Jae-yi breathes shakily]

Is he in there?

What if he is? What will you do?

Why are you here, then?

Are you here on Father's orders to bring him back?

Have you seen him?

Is he all right? Tell me, please.

[sighs]

It was Father.

[music stops]

What?

The one who destroyed and ruined that bastard was your father,

Chief Merchant Sim.

You are nothing to that imposter

but the daughter of an enemy he intends to exact his revenge upon.

Can you not see that?

Even if he showed a mere semblance of sincerity toward you,

he would never be able to overcome the truth.

Every time he sees you,

it will reignite the deep pain and anger he has suppressed for so long.

He will resent the very blood that runs through your veins.

Therefore,

you must be the first to walk away.

I will not.

If what you say is true, that gives me even more reason to stay.

What?

If Father cannot ask for forgiveness, then I will atone for his sins.

He has bewitched you! Has it not crossed your mind

that this could all be part of his grand scheme of revenge?

If it means he can have his revenge, find some comfort,

and heal his wounded heart, then so be it.

I sincerely hope he gets his way.

Why?!

Why is it that you only have eyes for that bastard

who has been nothing but deceitful to us?

Why is it that you are blind to see

the love I have always had for you?

[gentle music plays]

It does not matter.

I do not care if you see it or not.

I shall embrace that sullied body and heart of yours.

I will. I promise you that.

Is this what you call affection?

Is that what you think this is?

If that is what you truly feel for me, then stop fooling yourself.

It is but an obsession for what you cannot have!

That is what this is.

[music fades]

[grand prince] The ceremony shall be held on the day of the water pig.

Prepare 75,000 nyang of copper, 27,000 nyang of tin,

and 5,500 nyang of gold.

If you manage this successfully, you shall not have complete redemption,

but I shall spare your life.

So you say His Grace gave you this letter himself?

Yes.

His Highness also orders that you use me to execute the orders written there.

What is this? You dare try to replace me?

As I should.

What is it that has you so vexed?

I am simply following in your footsteps

and living up to your expectations.

You once said

that I should aim to embody your essence, did you not?

Please obey His Grace's order, Father. I will follow your lead.

I have always done that,

to your advantage.

[man] Hmm?

[tense music plays]

[man groans]

[breathes heavily]

[tense music continues]

[exhales]

Master, we have detected unusual movements

by the chief merchant's forces and the grand prince's.

What do you mean?

[music fades]

[cattle moo]

[goats bleat]

Hundreds of newborn animals

are being continually brought to the grand prince's country manor.

Also, large quantities of various types of grain, silk,

and unidentified items are arriving at the estate.

There are even locks of virgins' hair.

We are unsure why, but Chief Merchant Sim

is transporting large amounts of copper and tin across dangerous terrains.

[children cough]

[child] Please… please spare us!

[somber music plays]

[unsettling music plays]

[gasps]

[Gwigokja] They are preparing for a ritual.

[music fades]

Cleansing oneself with the blood of recently born creatures.

Burning locks of virgin hair as incense

and preparing grain and liquor.

[haunting music plays]

These are Spiritual Ascension ritual procedures.

Spiritual Ascension?

A forbidden ritual that has been passed down in the shadows.

It is practiced by those arrogant enough to abandon their humanity

in pursuit of transcending into a higher being.

It stems from the depth of greed.

One elevates oneself and becomes a god.

[unsettling music plays]

The ritual starts by activating six talismans,

each symbolizing a different aspect.

Fortune,

fertility,

wealth, and longevity,

the ability to control nature,

and the balance of yin and yang.

The ritual concludes with dissolving these talismans in liquid bronze

to create a sound-producing object

designed to resonate throughout the country.

So the talisman is…

the drawings on their backs.

Correct.

They are living talismans.

-[soldier] That way! We must catch him! -[soldiers] Yes, sir!

[unsettling music continues]

[music fades]

What is this?

-After him. -[soldiers yell]

[dramatic music plays]

[roars]

[music fades]

[eerie chiming]

[strains]

[eerie music plays]

[breathes shakily]

What are…

what are you trying to do?

Mm, do not be afraid, for you have been laced with my spirit.

You all

shall become the sound that will encompass

the energy of the world.

[yells furiously]

-We must hurry and rescue Hongrang! -Abandon him.

What?

He no longer wields the wealth, power, and influence

over the Min Family's Guild.

It is not worth the risk to save him.

Min Ban-hyo, Min Yeon-ui's father,

brutally massacred

my priestess mother and sisters overnight.

[ominous music plays]

His reasoning was this.

We had refused to put a curse

on a certain individual that he found repulsive.

That was why they were killed.

The sacrifices that were made that day

are what have formed the basis of our resolve, have they not?

We should then consider

that child a foundation for the fulfillment of our cause.

Our failure to eliminate all wickedness will now

require many more sacrifices in the future.

Master, Chief Merchant Sim's daughter is here.

[ominous music continues]

[music fades]

My orders were that no one is to enter.

[scoffs]

How dare you enter these grounds? This is all your fault!

If you had not seduced my son into running away with you…

No, no. It was not only you. It was also your father and that stake.

You all worked together to have my son labeled as an imposter, did you not?!

Hongrang is

not an imposter.

What?

[tense drumbeats]

He truly is my little brother.

He carried this with him.

When I was young, I pulled Hongrang's tooth out.

I put it in here for him.

[tense drumbeats continue]

[Yeon-ui gasps]

[Yeon-ui cries softly]

[Yeon-ui] Yes.

My son. [cries]

Yes.

He is my son.

[chuckles]

I need your help.

I want to rescue him.

My sweet little brother.

[tense music plays]

[music fades]

[tense music plays]

[gasps]

[music fades]

[lock rattles]

[gentle ballad plays]

It is I, Jae-yi.

I am here.

Please be strong

just a while longer.

I will get you out of there.

How did you get in?

You must leave before they--

I met with the master.

She said she needed to be sure

that you could provide her with the partition deed.

And Mother told me to tell you this, which should lead you right to the deed.

"Stroke the shoulders of Mong-jun."

"The shoulders of Mong-jun."

Tell the master that I have secured the partition deed.

Then tell her, in three days at midnight,

beneath the gorge in the saddle, Inwang Mountain,

she will find all the proof she needs.

Will you be all right until then?

[Jae-yi breathes shakily]

I am all right.

Jae-yi, I…

-[Jae-yi sniffles] -[man 1] Have you checked over there?

[man 2] I checked everything and found nothing unusual, sir.

Go.

Hurry.

You must go.

[gentle ballad continues]

Go.

Please.

[cries]

[sighs]

[music stops]

[breathes shakily]

[ominous music plays]

[women] Oh, mighty mountain deities, listen to the pleas of this soul.

We call upon you now, asking you to shower us

with your mysterious light for protection and guidance.

Let this soul intertwine with yours and unite as one.

Oh, mountain deities, the highest of the high, may you grant…

[ominous music continues]

[howls]

[chanting continues]

[woman howls]

[chanting continues]

[woman yells]

[woman yells]

[chanting continues]

[chanting stops]

[ominous music continues]

[coughing]

[breathes deeply]

[coughing]

[cauldron bubbles]

[ominous music continues]

[ominous music builds]

[music fades]

[instruments jangle]

[ominous music plays]

[men whimper]

[breathes deeply]

[tense music plays]

[strains]

[man 1] Do not stand idle! Catch him!

[dramatic music plays]

[Hongrang yells]

[man 2 yells]

[straining]

[suspenseful music plays]

[women gasp]

Stop! Do not harm him.

You must not damage my talisman.

[Hongrang breathes deeply]

[dramatic music plays]

-[metal hisses] -[screams]

[suspenseful music plays]

[yells]

[screaming]

[music fades]

[tense music plays]

[screaming]

Catch them! I order you to secure all of my talismans!

[music stops]

[Hongrang groans]

[tense music plays]

-[yells] -[music stops]

[yells]

[haunting music plays]

[music fades]

[panting]

[uneasy music plays]

[yells]

[groans]

[Snow Man groans]

[Snow Man splutters]

[knife slices]

[music fades]

[gentle music plays]

[Jae-yi] I heard it was my father.

[cries] The person who did this to you.

It was my father.

But why…

What… Why do you…

Why do you love me so?

I deserve to die.

I am sorry.

I have caused you so much pain.

I am so sorry.

[cries]

I love you.

[gentle music continues]

[Jae-yi cries]

[Hongrang sniffles]

Hand over the partition deed and then leave.

You have fulfilled your purpose.

We have identified the painter,

and I have proof of his actions in my hands.

I no longer have use for you.

Where is In-hoe?

I have not seen him here.

He, too, is none of your concern now. He will remain with me.

He is mine.

I shall be the one to use him.

So you… are abandoning me, then?

You were the one who first betrayed me.

You no longer need to be involved to seek revenge.

So leave.

I will bring you the partition deed, but…

I have one favor to ask.

Jae-yi's younger brother.

Please tell me where he is.

You raised me to become Hongrang from the moment we met.

But you never considered for a moment

that the real Hongrang could return someday.

That means that you were entirely convinced that he never would.

[sighs]

If you knew, what difference would it make now?

I need to know.

I want her to stop dwelling upon it.

I do not want her to live like this.

Her life consists of waiting.

A life of endless longing and not knowing whether he's alive or dead.

She deserves the chance to see him again.

She could give him a heartfelt embrace or…

or say her final goodbye.

I wish for that child, for Jae-yi,

to lead the life she deserves to have.

[music fades]

[water splashes]

[man 1] Goodness me.

[man 2] Pull that up, quick. Hurry now.

-[man 3] Sure. -[panting]

We're almost done. Hurry!

-There was a lot of water. -[woman] Who would have known?

Wait, what is that? Young mistress.

[woman] Oh, my lady!

[haunting ballad plays]

[panting]

[Jae-yi] I never imagined

you would be this close by.

You were always by my side, yes.

Forgive me for not knowing and

for being so late.

Here you are,

Hongrang.

[cries] Hongrang!

Hongrang!

[sobs]

[screams]

[haunting ballad continues]

[music stops]

[gentle ballad plays]

[music fades]