Thugs in the Marketplace
Treasure Hunter Kim was right—markets were pretty much the same everywhere. It was like they had some kind of network; thugs started calling their crews from all directions.
"Hey!!! Chun Sam!!"
"Who the hell are you?!"
The ones spotting the corpses strewn across the market panicked.
What was really scary was how lukewarm people's reactions were to the bodies. Most just went, 'Aigoo, what a mess.' Yeah, it was a mad era, alright.
"What else? Imperial troops. Come quietly to the magistrate's office."
There were plenty like that.
This Paeguk place is crawling with these rogue knight gangs. Paeguk itself had that vibe from the start, and more than anything, tons of famous knights from here had made it big.
Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, Fan Kuai, Wang Ling, Xiao He—they all started as rogues. And the warlord Cao Cao who dominated this region? He cut his teeth as a rogue knight here too. Cao Cao, the Xiahou sisters, and even that jerk from before—they were all from here.
In short, it was like Loguetown where the Pirate King was born. Naturally, it was packed with hot-blooded young punks dreaming big and forming their own rogue crews.
These guys looked the same.
Actually, one of the good deed quests here in Paeguk—the infamous Dumpling Quest—was a nightmare for noobs.
Taking down a bunch of tough swordsmen was brutal for low-level players. Plus, the market map was so cramped, you couldn't even kite them with hit-and-run tactics.
Noobs would charge in all pumped up like, "I'll help these folks and live the knight's code!" only to end up rage-quitting at their character's cold corpse.
But at this point? No problem.
Paeguk Rogue lv. 5
Paeguk Rogue lv. 6
They gave no EXP when killed—just gray text on their nametags.
I could handle it solo, but with Zhao Yun as backup? Unbeatable lineup.
"Imperial troops?!"
"Some lackey of the new Yizhou Inspector?!"
The thugs grabbed their weapons, posing like they weren't scared of any damn officials. Yeah, that's the rogue knight way—gotta show you fear no law to prove your grit.
"Hah. What, you think you're one of Liu Bei's crew? Like Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, or that Kim guy?"
One laughed, name-dropping the somewhat famous named members of Liu Bei's squad.
Nope. Spot on.
As I was thinking that, one punk's eyes went wide in shock.
"B-Boss…!!"
He trembled, staring my way.
"That baldy… it's Kim!! Matches the description!!"
"And that black-haired beauty next to him… gotta be Zhao Yun!"
The punks looked freaked.
No photos in this era—just rough descriptions. No wonder recognition was slow.
And who expects a faction's big-name general on patrol duty?
"The monster who ate Huangjin hearts for breakfast… gouged out their eyeballs for lunch… and devoured their guts at night?!"
Suddenly, they started spouting wild rumors.
No. Shit. That cannibal crap was still going around?
"K-Kim Gong…? For real?"
Zhao Yun shot me a panicked look.
"Nah!!"
It started because I ripped out some Huangjin guts mid-fight. Damn rumors.
"D-Don't chicken out!! Rumors are always exaggerated…"
The boss puffed his chest and bellowed.
"I'm Ho An-a, the rogue of Paeguk!!! You heard of me, right?!"
He slapped his shoulders, hyping his rep.
"Didn't you just say rumors are exaggerated?"
Guy forgot his own line. Impressive IQ.
"Guh…!"
He shut up.
"Fine. Interfere with official duties, and you die."
I drew my sword and charged first.
"Guh… Attack!!"
True to rogue form, the punk mob rushed me like maniacs.
Full speed, but way too slow.
SPLASH!!! THUNK!!!
Every swing dropped a punk as a warm corpse.
WHOOOOSH!!!
Zhao Yun blasted through the gap.
Target: that loudmouth boss. Her breakthrough speed was like a flash.
SPROOOOT!!!
Her sword gleamed; the rogue boss's head flew.
"B-Boss!!!!"
Punk screams echoed everywhere.
"W-We surrender!!"
"Mercy!!"
Soon, Paeguk's rural rogues tossed weapons and groveled.
That day, the Ho An gang that ruled the area disbanded.
Once sorted, the locals swarmed us with complaints. "That bastard's pure evil!" time.
Self-proclaimed rogues, but really parasites leeching protection money from folks.
We hit their hideout—an abandoned outskirts building—and returned their loot hoard to the people.
"Thank you!! Great hero!!"
"Thanks!!"
They grabbed my hands, gushing gratitude.
Reputation in Paeguk has increased by 3.
The little system ping confirmed the good deed quest was done.
"K-Kim Gong… thank you…"
A girl from the dumpling shop approached shyly.
"Heh. No prob."
I ruffled her hair with a grin.
"Kim Gong really is a good man."
Zhao Yun smiled watching.
"…"
Wait. We just sliced up people, and good man fits? Kinda dubious… but hey, apocalyptic world—let it slide.
After, we patrolled casually, checking for other good deed triggers… none popped.
Random, after all. Clearing three in a day would've been busted. Planned to hunt more tomorrow and wrapped up.
Then, a clear song floated over.
"So beautiful."
"Fairies. Actual fairies."
A huge crowd buzzed.
Where there's a spectacle, you go. I dragged Zhao Yun over.
Two beauties sang and danced lightly.
Cho Seon and Choi Yeom, huh. Street performing? Unexpected.
Ting. Ding.
Cai Yong strummed zither backup behind.
Deeng.
I lost myself in Cho Seon and Choi Yeom's song. Heard they had talent for poetry and music, but this level? Insane. Without the chaos, they'd be idols or singers.
As the song ended, time slipped away.
"…"
Three seconds of silence.
"Wooooaaahhh!!!"
Clap clap clap!!!
Me and Zhao Yun went nuts clapping and cheering.
Then, Cho Seon and Choi Yeom's eyes met mine.
"Kim Gong!!"
"Ah, it's Kim Gong."
They beamed warmly, pushing through the crowd.
"On patrol, huh."
"Hard work serving the public."
They bowed shyly, smiling.
"Heh. Kim Gong looks best with a sword at his side."
Cai Yong, packing his zither, nodded lightly.
"Gets stuffy cooped up at home, y'know. My soul lives for poetry and song."
He chuckled, explaining.
Fair enough—better to let talent breathe than rot indoors.
"Father's composing his masterpiece poem and song right now."
Choi Yeom brushed her cherry-blossom hair, grinning at him.
"It's Kim Gong's saga. Guess you made a great impression."
Sudden embarrassing topic.
"What? My life story…?"
Kinda blushy.
"Heh. You're the greatest hero I've seen, Kim Gong. And what a wild ride—plenty of enemy-slaying thrills and heart-tugging tales."
Cai Yong chuckled.
"Old man's pre-death hobby. Allow it."
He looked pleased.
Fine then.
"Show me later."
Honestly curious.
"Hah. Of course."
Cai Yong glanced at me, Cho Seon, Choi Yeom.
"Anyway, sunbathing's got me drowsy. Heading home first. You young folks look raring to play more."
He smirked.
"Kim Gong. Off duty soon? Mind entertaining my girls a bit?"
Choi Yeom and Cho Seon blushed.
"Ah, right."
Yeah, bit thoughtless. They trusted me, came to this remote spot—must be tough. I saved 'em; gotta own that.
"Let's all unwind today."
Yong Hwa and Guan Yu'd understand if I explained.
"Thank you."
Choi Yeom gazed softly, murmuring. Kid, why so intense?
"Kim Gong's so kind…"
Cho Seon suddenly teared up.
"…"
Zhao Yun stayed blank—hard to read.
Anyway, planning where to go with this crew—
"By the Chancellor's order!! Clear the way!!"
A fancy carriage barreled down the street.
Clop clop!! Clop clop!!
The driver whipped it along, then spotted me and halted.
"Ah!! Kim Gong!!"
He cupped fists in Bao Quan salute, pointing at the carriage.
"The Chancellor praises you and sends gifts!! Silk and silver!! Says take 'em without fuss!!"
The driver grinned amiably, then glanced aside.
"Heard your HQ's at the magistrate's. We'll deliver home. Heh heh."
Before I could speak, he drove off for delivery service.
"The Chancellor…"
Zhao Yun eyed the vanishing cart warily.
"…"
Yeah. Looked like Cao Cao had me marked.
Gift offensive to snag me. This'd be a pain.