Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: Those Martial Arts Bastards
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As expected, there was no problem in this world that could be solved with words. No matter how much I tried to use modern rationality and objective explanations, this was another world. A barren place where common sense didn't apply, and even reason was ignored!
What mattered to them wasn't the truth, but saving face!
The utter disgrace that was Kim Katt!
I felt an intense sense of crisis!
"Follow me!"
Mariel shouted fiercely and yanked on the rope binding my body tight. What the hell kind of rope was this?! I wanted to unleash my true power and snap it, but it was tied too securely.
There wasn't even room to flex...!
"Mariel, I'm sorry! I apologize! Please forgive me just this once!"
In half-panic, I dropped to my knees and rubbed my face against Mariel's calf.
"Ha, haha! How pathetic, Heavenly Demon! Now you'll pay the price!"
"What price am I paying?! I was wrong! I'm fucking sorry!"
"Kuhahaha!"
"Mariiiiel!! I was wrooong!!!"
A scream!
"Wh-what is this...? This delightful feeling? Beg more! Beg me more!"
There was nothing I could do against the maniacally laughing Mariel but beg! Drawing on macho grit, I amped up the pitiful act even more. A true macho knew to bend all the way to rock bottom when it was time to bend.
That was the macho way.
"Mariel."
Then the guild master spoke coldly.
Mariel flinched as if shot.
"Cut the crap and walk. Do you still not realize this is all because of you?"
"G-Guild Master, that's..."
"Shut it. Hah, and you're supposed to be an instructor."
"..."
Anyway, the three of us were heading somewhere right now.
The Martial Arts Guild building seemed pretty large. We walked down a long corridor. The guild master led, followed by Mariel and Serka dragging me along.
"And Serka."
"...Yes."
"No matter how much you hate nomads, is it okay to show it to a stranger? If we're assigning blame, yours seems the biggest."
"You're right..."
"Behave properly."
"...Yes."
Suddenly, the guild master started reasonably scolding Serka.
Was this it? They'd sort out right and wrong, but I still had to be punished? These bitches were too busy protecting their own.
I felt infinite rage.
Not content with picking a fight first, now they were punishing the victim. In my eyes, they were all worthless trash not fit to live. No different from bandits!
These heathen bastards!
The hatred from back then flared up...!
Creak.
The guild master opened the door straight ahead. It seemed to lead to another building... Please! Where the hell were we going?! I yelled hysterically!
"Aigoo! Guild Master! Wait a sec! Even if it's just a scuffle between guild members, it's overkill for you to step in personally! Our Swordsman Guild master wouldn't just stand by either!"
It didn't make sense for the guild master to intervene in a fight between nobodies. Sure, there'd been a big brawl recently, but that was in the past.
She turned to me and said,
"Oh? Is that a threat?"
"A threat?! I'm just stating the obvious!"
"Are you saying I lack common sense?"
"No way! Of course not! You're always right, Guild Master!"
"Hehe, don't mock me. It hurts my feelings."
"I'm not mocking!"
"Then you're making fun of me."
"Not that either!"
This fucking bitch counters everything!
The guild master smirked as she said it.
"Mercy, mercy! Please spare my life! I'll do anything!"
Desperate, I straight-up begged for my life.
"No jobs for a filthy man like you."
"No way! I'm super useful! The best!"
"What can you do?"
When I actually thought about it, nothing came to mind. This was the downside of rote education. People forget their strengths and lose their dreams in rigid schooling.
What could I do? Aside from killing and hunting, not much... Then it hit me.
One thing.
"...I sing pretty well!"
"Sing?"
The guild master showed interest.
"Yes!"
"Let me hear it."
So I stopped in front of the door, cleared my throat with an "Ah, ah." Perfect! I'd move these brutes with my song! Convert them and escape—that brilliant plan formed in my head.
"To Jongnooo—!"
The song: Teacher Seol Wondo's Compass.
A divine tune that moved the world.
"Shall we gooo—! To Myeongdong~! Tsuaraari! To Cheongnyangni~?"
Singing with 100% sincerity for the first time in ages, I nailed the accent and pronunciation, unleashing my honed skills to the max.
I felt like I could debut as a singer on modern Earth with this. I was pretty good, after all.
And the guild master's reaction?
"It's trash!"
"What?! No way!"
"Shouldn't have listened!"
You picky bitch!
"Even your singing takes after you! Get in there!"
"Eek!"
Thus, I was dragged inside.
No escaping after all that clowning.
Overwhelming despair crashed over me.
"By the way. A swordsman overwhelming Mariel with martial arts? That's intriguing."
As we walked the seemingly endless corridor, the guild master said that. I was about to reply when she continued.
"It shouldn't happen. If word spreads, we're done for... Mariel. Know why I'm mad?"
So that's it.
Losing to a swordsman in hand-to-hand seemed a big deal. Makes sense—I live by the blade, they by fists. Losing there was humiliating.
"That's..."
"If you'd won, fine. But getting wrecked in front of a crowd like that? What does that do to our guild's face? We're already catching flak from losing big to the Swordsman Guild last time."
"...Sorry."
"That bitch Karin is so smug now... Anyway, we need to take proper measures. In you go."
Another door at the corridor's end.
Serka hesitantly opened it.
"This is...?"
Mariel tugged the rope.
I followed into the room.
"Greetings, Guild Master!"
"Greetings, Guild Master!"
"Greetings, Guild Master!"
"Wh-what the fuck?!"
Booming voices greeted us the moment we entered.
It looked like an indoor gym. Spacious, high ceiling. Men and women in training uniforms knelt filling the edges.
"This is...?"
"Our guild's indoor gymnasium."
Swordsman Guild eats shit!
They've got better facilities!
The guild master raised a hand casually, and the room fell silent instantly.
"Mariel. Untie the rope."
"Yes, ma'am."
What was she planning?
Mariel slowly unwound the rope around me.
"Personally, I'm quite interested in your martial arts. Heavenly Demon, right? Sky Devil—a fierce moniker... Where'd you learn it?"
"...Tribal traditional martial arts."
No need to reveal internal energy secrets, so I answered vaguely.
"Nomad traditional arts? Hmm, so that's why Mariel...?"
The guild master eyed me like prey, whispered with Mariel, then chatted briefly with an approaching male martial artist and female one. Then back to me.
"Rights and wrongs, reasons, origins—none of that matters. We're starting spars now. You'll face junior instructor, mid-level, then senior instructor in order."
What?
"Hold on. I don't get it. Why?"
Spars?
"Think of it as saving face. You'll get wrecked anyway, so it'll be a good lesson and payback."
"Wrecked...? Holy shit! You don't mean...!"
I was horrified!
Facing junior, mid, and senior instructors—all of them!
No breaks, straight consecutive duels!
Even as Heavenly Demon, I'd lose 100% like this, beaten like a dog for chopping a baby on dog days back when I first came to Isvant!
Fuck! No way!
"Show us that tribal art properly, and I'll be grateful."
She'd sat on a fancy sofa that appeared, fan out covering her mouth, legs crossed.
"This is unfair! Guild Master! I think not! Anyone with reason and sense knows this is insane! Stop it now!"
Terrified, I panicked and yelled.
"Told you, rights and wrongs don't matter. It's for the guild's face. So many members resent you. Know how many got wrecked? You planned to ruin us."
You fucking bitch! I've been wrecked by you too!
And you bastards jumped me first! Aaaargh!
"Our guild master would love seeing me wrecked!"
"Perfect chance to mess with that rude bitch Karin. Damn spinster."
"What the hell!"
Cr-crazy!
Insane!
They say in a village of one-eyed people, two-eyed ones are monsters...!
I stepped wrong!
In this mad moon world!
"Just a side note: beat the senior instructor too, and you're free. Impossible, but."
"..."
These fucking lunatics...!
"Fine! Come at me! A warrior never shies from a fight! You, Liztina or whatever! You'll regret this!"
Good! Smash them all and leave! It's already blown up! Fix it as best I can!
You dog bastards!
Does the Central Plains' Heavenly Demon look that funny to you?!
Situation was already rock bottom.
Only way out was to go all out...!
"Ooh, great spirit. Manly grit. Mariel. Strip his outer clothes."
"I'll do it myself."
Rip!
I slowly removed my gauntlets first. Serka quietly took my gear, holding a soft cushion.
You bitch, this is your fault. Remember that...!
Off came the breastplate, greaves, then quilted armor. My inner shirt was sweat-soaked. Off with belt and shirt too. I flung the shirt to the floor.
Smack!
"Ooh."
"Well-trained body."
"A warrior's physique."
My scarred torso, honed by killing and battle, was revealed. The martial artists murmured in admiration. Fighters themselves, they respected it.
I'll make you regret underestimating Kim Katt, the reverse hero surviving bare-handed in this isekai hell.
"My, nice body."
The guild master muttered, eyeing me.
I unclasped my necklace and handed it to Mariel.
"...Ahem."
"What? My nipples bothering you?"
She averted her eyes as I dangled it. Note: looted from a bandit boss when I first hit Isvant. Kept it as emergency cash.
"Wh-what vulgar talk!"
"Ha! Man's nipples are too advanced for a kid like you. Go suck mommy's tits more!"
"Didn't you say you'd kill me earlier?!"
"Did I really die?"
"Eek!"
This bastard! Insulting Instructor Mariel!
Shut up!
Guild Master! Let me fight him!
Chaos erupted.
Have fun, you bastards.
Silenced by one guild master gesture.
"Let's begin. Hmm, who first? Junior instructor... Mariel."
"Y-Yes?"
"You want to?"
"...No. I'm fine."
"Tch. Then..."
I'll do it!
A young man shouted from the crowd.
Sleek build, green mohawk—striking.
Hair insane?
"Salio? Good. Step forward."
Opponent set.
He walked to the gym center; I followed, facing him.
"Begin."
Guild master called indifferently.
Ding!
Serka rang the bell.
Haa... Fuck. How'd it come to this.
I assumed the Murderous Stance of the Divine Dragon Claw Technique.
"Wabarat!"
Come on!
Started? See it through!