Chapter 79: Reunion (3) (Illustration)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: Reunion (3) (Illustration)
-Hey. Are you really doing this?
-You didn't necessarily have to mind us...
-Damn it! I was stuck in there the whole time...
The voices of the swords were cut off all at once, and my head fell silent.
If you guys were in my position, do you think you could do something important while someone was staring at you?
I closed the wooden box and looked at Sama-yeong.
Seeing her with a red flush on her face, breathing softly, made my heart race.
Sama-yeong opened her cherry-like lips.
"Is it okay now?"
I waved my hand, using my internal qi to prevent any sound from leaking out of the room.
To think I’d reached this realm only to use it for something like this.
"......Yeah."
As soon as I spoke, Sama-yeong walked toward me.
Only a single step of distance remained between us. I could hear her breathing grow louder.
"Haa."
The sound of her breath tickling my ear made my face flush, beyond just making my heart pound.
Sama-yeong and I looked into each other's eyes. My face was reflected in her pupils, and I could see them trembling.
"Young Master......"
She called out to me and placed her hand on my cheek.
In that moment, without either of us needing to lead, we lunged into an embrace and kissed.
As we kissed, our tongues naturally intertwined, and our saliva mixed as they softly enveloped one another.
We kissed for a long time as if craving each other, then pulled our lips apart, breathing heavily.
"Haa.... haa.... Young Master."
"Yeong-ah."
"I feel strange. The books didn't mention anything like this."
Just what kind of books have you been reading?
Sama-yeong looked at me with a face turned bright red from embarrassment. She looked truly beautiful.
"Young Master, since a moment ago.... Ah!"
Sama-yeong glanced downward.
Then, her face turned even redder, and she didn't know what to do with herself.
Sama-yeong murmured coyly, her voice airy.
"You beast...."
In that moment, I lost my reason.
As if I had truly become a beast, I roughly pushed her against the wall, kissed her, and tried to pull off her top.
"Haak."
An erotic sound escaped her lips.
Sama-yeong exhaled hot breath and wrapped her legs around my waist.
Even if the books hadn't taught her, her instincts as a woman seemed to tell her what to do next.
I used my strength to tear away the cloth that had been binding her chest for her disguise.
—Riiip!
I exhaled like a water buffalo at the sight of her hidden, beautiful, and elastic curves.
It seemed I wasn't the only one feeling this mysterious sensation.
She let out hot breaths and moved her hands as if she were a lioness ready to tear my clothes apart—
—Bang!
Suddenly, the guest room door was thrown open.
"Hey. What are you doing that Woo-hyeon keeps knocking on the door and....!?"
Song Jwa-baek was standing at the door.
In an instant, everyone froze.
Song Jwa-baek's eyes, faithful to basic human instinct, naturally tried to drift somewhere.
Panicked, Sama-yeong covered her exposed parts and screamed.
"Kyaaaaak!"
A flustered Song Jwa-baek hurriedly slammed the door shut.
Then, his voice drifted in from outside.
"F-fuck....."
Why are you the one swearing?
The one who should be swearing isn't you.
We had been thoroughly interrupted.
I looked at Sama-yeong; her embarrassment was brief, and she was now glaring at the door with a look of extreme displeasure.
I let out a deep sigh and said to her.
"If Woo-hyeon is here, it means those guys have arrived at the meeting point."
I had sent Song Woo-hyeon to the meeting spot where we were supposed to meet Yeong Jeong, the messenger of Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon.
I had told him to let me know when they appeared.
"They're at the meeting point, so come out quickly."
Song Jwa-baek's voice came from outside.
It was just as expected.
It was a shame, but it seemed I’d have to postpone going any further.
Ah.......
A groan escaped me involuntarily.
I set Sama-yeong down and tried to pull my clothes back together.
Then, Sama-yeong grabbed my wrist.
I looked at her questioningly, and she sent me a heated gaze, speaking in a sultry voice.
"......Isn't it a shame to end it like this?"
"I have to go to the meeting point...."
"You can get there in no time with Sword Flight Art."
With those words, she pressed her body completely against mine and whispered in my ear.
"Please?"
The sound of her breath tickling my ear made my heart thud.
.......I wouldn't be a man if I just let this pass.
As if I had forgotten Song Jwa-baek was outside, I lifted her up and headed for the bed.
.
.
.
A bout of heat warmed the room.
"Young Masteeeer. Hehe."
Sama-yeong clung to my arm, acting coquettishly with a satisfied face.
I had grown used to her dressed as a man, but the woman hidden beneath that disguise possessed a sensuality that was hard to describe in words.
My cheeks flushed every time I thought back to a moment ago.
-Are you happy? Happy? It was too much, stuffing us in there like that.
The grumbling of the Lesser Conversation Sword reached me.
Now that I’d taken it out of the wooden box again, it was full of complaints.
-I am satisfied. It is a unique sensation I never experienced with my previous master.
What on earth is this Namcheon Iron Sword talking about?
If you say it like that, what does that make the Namcheon Sword Guest?
-Hmph. What are you getting satisfied over? Just by the sound of it, I can tell our darling is still lacking in technique.
'!?'
Ah...... my head is starting to throb.
I should have waited a bit longer before letting them hear again.
They were saying all sorts of things.
It was embarrassing enough to make a person cringe.
Then, the Blood Demon Sword spoke to me.
-......Human. In the future, when such things happen, do not shove me in a wooden box. Do you think this body would feel any inspiration from watching humans entangle with each other?
.......No inspiration?
He was the one making the biggest fuss, and now he’s saying something so ridiculous.
Are these guys perverts in the shape of swords?
In the future, when something like this happens, I should leave them far away.
When I opened the guest room door and stepped out, I saw Song Jwa-baek standing by the second-floor railing with his arms crossed.
He was looking at me with an extremely displeased expression.
"Ahem. Where's Woo-hyeon?"
At my question, he took a deep breath and spoke as if vomiting out his anger.
"It's been two double-hours! Two! Did you really have to, right now, uh! Like that....."
Song Jwa-baek was about to say something when he locked eyes with Sama-yeong behind me.
Sama-yeong's gaze was nothing short of murderous.
"Is there a problem?"
Perhaps intimidated by her fierce glare, Song Jwa-baek gulped and answered in a mumble.
"Well.... that.... I was just saying.... you should consider.... the position of the person waiting...."
"I did consider it."
"Huh?"
To the questioning Song Jwa-baek, Sama-yeong cupped her cheeks and said with a slight blush.
"......I came out quickly."
At her appearance, Song Jwa-baek looked at me with a complex gaze.
Envy, jealousy, and annoyance were all mixed together.
The Lesser Conversation Sword clicked its tongue and said.
-Seriously, just introduce him to someone.
I really should.
Wearing the evil ghost mask, I used Sword Flight Art to cut through the air and reach the meeting point.
Just as Sama-yeong said, I arrived in no time.
Concentrating my eye power with Innate True Qi, I could see a carriage and about a dozen figures in the distance.
I should walk before I get within their sight.
There was no need to show any commonalities with my other identity as the Lesser Sword Immortal.
—Tap!
Landing on the ground, I used my lightness skill to head toward the carriage.
Not a single torch was lit, making it dark, but the faint light of the full moon was enough to see them clearly.
Around the carriage were twelve people who appeared to be guards, wearing bamboo hats with veils. Standing before them was Yeong Jeong, the subordinate of Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon.
-Is that old monster called Wicked Heart Granny inside that carriage?
Honestly, I didn't know.
I could feel a strange energy inside the carriage.
However, I couldn't tell if someone was inside, no matter what method I used.
It was as if the energy was being blocked.
-Be careful. You said there are no normal humans among villains.
I have to be.
Jang Mun-ryang had also warned me.
[Even the Jonju himself strictly warned me not to touch Wicked Heart Granny. If that monster-like man warned me, it certainly wasn't empty talk.]
Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon.
She was one of the five monsters evaluated as the strongest among superhumans.
She might be an existence that even I, as I am now, would find difficult to handle.
Because she was such a dangerous person, I hadn't brought anyone else, keeping the possibility of escape in mind.
Once I make contact, I’ll know if that old hag came in person or not.
I squared my shoulders and walked forward with my hands behind my back in a dignified manner.
—Shhh!
As the distance closed, Yeong Jeong performed a fist-and-palm salute and greeted me.
"Have you come?"
I also gave a light nod.
When I saw him before, he was wearing the attire of the Martial Alliance, but now, with his hair down and wearing black martial robes, he did look like someone from the Evil Faction.
I gestured toward the carriage and asked.
"Did the one you serve come in person?"
At my words, Yeong Jeong nodded.
Then Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon really was inside that carriage.
The fact that she came here in person meant there was a high probability that the old hag also viewed the alliance I proposed positively.
I performed a light fist-and-palm salute toward the carriage and said.
"I am the Leader of the Blood Cult. It is an honor to meet Senior Cheol, whose fame is so great."
I believed this was enough courtesy.
Since this was a meeting as the head of an organization, there was no need to be too subservient.
However, Wicked Heart Granny did not show herself.
Even after my greeting, there was no word.
'What is it?'
While I was wondering, I heard a sound from inside the carriage, as if someone were chanting a mantra.
It seemed Wicked Heart Granny wasn't the only one inside the carriage.
It was hard to tell because I couldn't sense any energy.
—Flinch!
What was that?
In an instant, goosebumps rose all over my body.
An indescribable, sinister aura permeated the surroundings.
It was an extremely bizarre phenomenon, but this chillingly sinister aura was soon sucked back into the carriage.
'......What on earth is this....'
It was right then.
A voice echoed from inside the carriage.
-So you are the current Blood Demon.
I heard a woman's voice that was hoarse yet somewhat full of vitality.
Considering she had been called a villain for a long time, why did she sound so young for the voice of an old woman who must be at least a hundred years old?
Whatever the reason, seeing the sinister aura and pressure suddenly emanating from the carriage, it was undoubtedly Wicked Heart Granny.
I shouldn't let myself be overwhelmed by her momentum here.
"That is correct. I wish to face you directly and speak, Senior. Please show yourself."
I spoke directly, without beating around the bush.
Then, the sound of mad laughter erupted from inside the carriage.
-Kakahakakakakakak.
The laughter was bizarre beyond belief.
It would have been fitting if I thought of it as an old woman's laughter, but it was truly grotesque.
Then the laughter stopped, and Wicked Heart Granny's voice came from the carriage.
-The brat is acting quite bold.
"Brat?"
Is this old hag really here to form an alliance?
Even if she is the villain who has lived the longest, she is acting more arrogant than expected.
Does she not care about the Blood Cult at all?
I shouldn't get agitated here.
If I get caught up in the opponent's flow, I’ll end up being dragged along as they wish.
"If it is difficult for you to show your face, I can ask for your understanding, but..."
At my words, laughter erupted from the carriage once more.
-Kakahakakakakakak!
No matter how many times I heard it, I couldn't get used to that sound.
It sounded like something rotting and grinding.
-You have quite the guts. I suppose that's why you could talk about an alliance or whatever.
It seemed she wasn't laughing because she was in a bad mood.
Her emotional range was different from normal people, so I had to be careful as I didn't know which way she would jump.
There was no need to drag things out.
Let's get straight to the point.
"I believe there is nothing to lose by forming an alliance. Since you are interested, Senior, you came here in person...."
-Give me five virgins every month. If you do that, I will consider that thing called an alliance.
'!?'
What did this old hag just say?
Give her five virgins every month?
For a moment, I was flabbergasted.
I knew she was the mastermind behind the Inak Village incident, but asking another organization for virgins in exchange for an alliance—this wasn't something she would say unless she looked down on me and the Cult significantly.
"You want.... virgins?"
-Yes. The younger and more beautiful, the better. And it would be even better if they were martial artists.
......It seems she isn't called a villain for nothing.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Moon Evil Sword or Ghost-Slaying Fist Demon were gentlemen compared to this old hag.
She wasn't just testing me; she was truly demanding it.
-Are you actually going to give them to her?
Give them to her? No way.
No matter how much I’d become the Blood Demon, I still had my principles as a human.
How could I kidnap women and offer them to that old hag?
Then, laughter came from the carriage.
-Kakahak..... You are an interesting fellow. You didn't react at all until now, but when I asked for a few mere girls, your heart started beating louder.
'This old hag.....'
-You are excited. Are you angry?
She can hear my heartbeat from inside the carriage?
That makes no sense.
No matter how much one's senses are developed by reaching a high realm, hearing another person's heartbeat from this distance is impossible.
-You are harboring doubts. Do you think this old woman cannot hear your heartbeat?
'!?'
This old hag is much more dangerous than I thought.
She’s acting as if she can see everything outside from inside the carriage.
As I stood there speechless, Wicked Heart Granny's voice came again.
-Didn't you say you wanted to know that man's secret?
"......."
She was likely referring to the Jonju.
She was emphasizing that she held what I wanted.
It seemed I had taken this old hag too lightly.
I have to somehow turn the flow back to my side.
"Your subordinate accidentally let slip that you know the weakness of the man called the Jonju, but isn't your side just as desperate?"
-You are mistaken about something.
"Mistaken?"
-Do you think I responded to your request because I fear that man?
What does this mean?
Does she not care at all about what the Jonju is after?
-I am giving you a small chance because you saved my child.
She had gone beyond arrogance.
This old hag was incredibly conceited.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the stage where we could form an alliance or negotiate had already passed.
Even if we joined hands, she wasn't someone who could be trusted.
"It seems you and I do not share the same goals, Senior."
As I said that, I gathered my internal power at my Yongcheon point.
It seemed better to leave this place immediately.
Then, Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon spoke.
-You are planning to run away. However, while coming here might have been up to you, leaving is not allowed without this old woman's permission.
—Tinkle!
An ominous sound of a bell came from inside the carriage.
In that moment, something bizarre happened.
My body became incredibly heavy, as if something were pressing down on my shoulders.
—Rumble!
Even the soles of my feet were slowly digging into the ground.
It was unbelievable.
I had heard that Wicked Heart Granny Cheol Su-ryeon was skilled in sinister arts, but I never expected it to be to this extent.
—Tinkle!
As the bell rang once more, the pressing force became even stronger.
My feet were completely buried.
-Seize him.
As Cheol Su-ryeon's command fell, the bamboo-hatted men moved, letting out eerie groans.
"Huuuuuu."
"Heuuuuuu."
It was a sound similar to the monster I had seen at the inn.
I had felt a strange energy from them, and my prediction was correct.
If so—
—Boom!
I recited the oral formula for the Illusion Eye and raised my internal power, stomping the ground fiercely in a True Awakening.
However, when the True Awakening echoed, the bamboo-hatted men approached me as if nothing had happened, except for the man named Yeong Jeong who was on one side.
-It's not working.
I know that.
For some reason, the bamboo-hatted men were not affected by the suggestion.
Come to think of it, the suggestion hadn't worked on that monster with the sewn face at the inn either.
-Do not waste your strength in vain.
Damn it!
'Blood Demon Sword!'
At my call, the Blood Demon Sword that was in its scabbard unsheathed itself.
—Shring!
At the same time, the Blood Demon Sword flew through the air and lunged toward the bamboo-hatted men.
Unlike me, the Blood Demon Sword flew without any trouble, as if it weren't affected by this bizarre art.
That was a relief.
If they were like the monster at the inn, they might not die just by having their bodies pierced.
'Cut their necks!'
-Understood.
The Blood Demon Sword flew to decapitate the bamboo-hatted men.
—Slash!
The Blood Demon Sword cut the neck of the monster that had approached closest.
As the head rolled on the ground and the bamboo hat fell off, the face of a man with his eyes and mouth sewn shut with thread was revealed.
It was just as expected.
Then, the bell rang from inside the carriage.
—Tinkle!
At that, the bamboo-hatted men who had been slowly approaching lunged at the same time.
It was as if they were trying to do something before the Blood Demon Sword could cut their necks.
Do I look that easy to you?
—Shoooooo!
Steam rose from my body.
I activated my True Blood Golden Body along with the Blood Demon Transformation.
Then, the heavy weight that had been pressing down on me suddenly felt light.
'Lesser Conversation Sword!'
-Got it!
The Lesser Conversation Sword also flew out of its scabbard and charged toward the bamboo-hatted men.
In the meantime, I leaped up like a flash of lightning and kicked the chest of one of the bamboo-hatted men who had reached right in front of me.
—Thud!
As the bamboo-hatted man was sent flying, I spun my body in that state and swung my Sword Formula fingers.
—Slash!
Sharp killing intent flew toward four of the bamboo-hatted men.
The bamboo-hatted men crossed their arms and took the flying killing intent with their bodies.
Their wrists were half-cut by the killing intent as they were pushed back.
—Clatter!
Then, one bamboo-hatted man swung a large, blunt weapon-like object toward my head.
I tilted my upper body slightly to the side to avoid it, then grabbed the bamboo-hatted man's neck and slammed him into the ground.
—Bang!
In that state, I applied strength to my hand to tear off his neck, but—
'!!!'
For a moment, I doubted my eyes.
As I slammed him into the ground, his bamboo hat fell off, and I saw the face beneath it.
His eyes and mouth were sewn with thread, but how could I ever forget this face?
"A...... Song?"
He was my servant, A-Song, who had gone missing.