Chapter 332
Chapter 332
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 332
Chapter Title: Those Martial Artist Bastards
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"What the hell are you doing? Hitting a kid?!"
"What?"
I modulated my voice just right, playing the part of a decent savage uncle. I still had a few things I wanted to dig out of him, so I'd hold off on the real interrogation for a bit.
"Wh-what...? Who the hell are you?"
The guy panicked the moment I charged in, stumbling backward.
Anyone would freak out if a fully armed thug like me came barreling at them. Midway through, terror must've set in—he spun around to bolt.
I shouted right on cue.
"I asked what the hell you're doing hitting a kid! Have you no shame? Stop it right now!"
—Some reasonably sensible lines.
"...Huh? Shame? What the fuck is this old geezer babbling about? Hey, fuck off before you get hurt, asshole. Mind your own business. Didn't they teach you in the slums that sticking your nose in other people's shit gets you fucked?"
His attitude flipped in an instant, and he started yelling.
Guys like him just get bolder the more polite you are—they see it as weakness. What a dumb fuck. Falling for it that easily?
Seeing my rogueish demeanor, he scrapped the idea of running and went full tough guy. Fine, I'd keep up the act a little longer.
"You fucking bitch! You're making this annoying!"
No sooner had I thought that than—thwack!—he kicked Lina over again. "Kyaaak!" she cried out in a childish scream from the second hit.
Fuck.
—Tremble.
For a split second, my sheathed blade nearly ignited.
I suppressed it and yelled.
"Stop hitting her! What the hell did this kid do to deserve that?!"
I acted like someone who never resorted to violence, verbally rebuking him without touching the guy even after he beat on Lina. The bastard seemed to gain confidence from my approach.
"Haa, what a pain. She's getting beat for not paying tribute. Why? You gonna pay her tribute for her, old man?"
He spat it out like he never even considered getting hit himself, thrusting his face right up to mine with his cheek muscles twitching.
My conviction that he was a demon cultist was growing stronger by the second.
"Tr-tribute? You're saying you're collecting tribute?"
"Gotta pay up to live in this turf."
I feigned shock, and he let out a heavy sigh. Like he was pissed at some clueless little shit who knew jack. Deep sigh.
"Don't know where you crawled out from, but every place has its own rules. If you're not planning to cover for her with your own cash, fuck off and mind your business. I might just kill you for real."
You first, asshole. Learn to read people.
That was all I wanted to say.
"...If she pays tribute, you won't hit her?"
"What? You gonna pay up?"
He perked up at the mention of money, blinking like a frog. Kinda funny watching him.
"...How much?"
"For real?"
"I asked how much."
"Uuum..."
He pondered for a moment.
"Eh, one silver'd do it. That was her quota anyway... But hey, mister. You got a thing for 'em or something? You look plenty vicious. Kinda suits you."
Your mom's a bitch—how the fuck is a kid's quota a whole silver? Even kids collecting coffee beans in Ethiopia don't deal with that shit, you unrealistic prick.
"If you're into it, I could hook you up with a good spot... For a referral fee, of course. A place for fine gentlemen with tastes like yours."
Looked like this murderer doubled as a pimp for illegal brothels too. "Demon cultist" didn't even cover it anymore.
This fucker's true name was straight-up Demon. International law says you could stew guys like him and get away with it. Hell, the UN encourages it. They even run quarterly campaigns.
"Don't pay him, mister! He already took five silvers from me last time!"
"Shut the fuck up, you bitch! Hey! Keep it up and I'll sell you to a whorehouse for real!"
Right on cue, Lina chimed in with her acting.
"Five silvers...? The tribute's that much?"
"Shut up and pay up, mister. I'm in a shit mood right now. You wouldn't back out now, would you? Hate to imagine it, but if you do, you ain't leaving this place alive."
This prick... now he's straight-up extorting me.
Dumb fuck. You think you'd win against me? I'd tell him to check my build and gear. Then again, a guy who could think that far wouldn't be pulling this shit in the first place.
And he wouldn't be walking around shirtless.
"...Explain the five silvers, and I'll pay."
"Haa, what a pain in the ass."
The tensest moment.
—This was why I'd been acting.
"Fine. Deal. What now?"
My answer.
"Found you, you fucking—bastard."
"Huh?"
Good. You heard that.
"Heavenly Demon Cataclysm Palm."
—Crunch.
"Guhek... Ack?! Kahuk! Wh-what...? A-ghrrrk...!"
No need to watch anymore.
I slammed the Heavenly Demon Cataclysm Palm straight into his gut.
His back arched like a shrimp, knees buckled, and his face smashed into the ground. No lowlife like this could withstand it.
Plus, the Saint effect probably stunned him extra as a demon.
"Gehk? Gek... Gegek... Kooluk!"
Eyes rolling back, foaming blood at the mouth—a demon convulsing. Necromancy maybe!
I grabbed his ankle in a frenzy. Now to drag him somewhere quiet, interrogate him, trace the money flow, and get it back.
Finally, I'd reclaim my cash.
I could see the end of this mess.
A week's worth of my efforts wouldn't come cheap.
"O-oppa..."
As I dragged him by the ankle, Lina hurried after me.
"You okay?"
"Yeah... I've taken worse beatings lately, so this is nothing... But..."
"Tch, tough life. Anyway, let's go. Gotta interrogate this fucker now."
"..."
—Drag drag drag.
"Sung—"
I habitually started calling for Teacher Seolun-do's compass but clamped my mouth shut.
What I was about to do was judge this devil and track down the money. No way I'd sing a holy song for that.
"Guk... Kahuk... Geheeek..."
"This guy's in bad shape."
Might've ruptured all his guts by hitting too hard.
I'd held back, but figured demons had more durability than humans, so I went a bit heavy.
Bad call, apparently.
"—Keurk!"
Now he was straight-up puking blood.
Fuck, is he gonna croak?
That'd be losing the catch of a lifetime.
Interrogate him before he kicks it.
I had to get my money back, no matter what.
—Murmur murmur.
Dragging this demon around like a nuke drew every eye on the street. All sorts of scum gathered like it was prime entertainment. Couldn't not rage at that.
"Get the fuck outta here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Eek!!!!"
"M-monster!!"
"Serial killer!!!!"
One furious roar sent them all scattering like roaches.
What worthless shits.
"Lina. Any empty buildings nearby?"
"Ah... Yeah, think so. Follow me."
"Got it."
I followed Lina's lead, endlessly dragging the demon. Even after all this commotion, nothing happened—that was slum quality for you.
"...Oh, Jeepers Creepers."
Hit by that inhuman vibe, a devilish tune popped into my head.
"Where'd you get those eyes."
It fit the moment so perfectly that I ended up humming and shaking my shoulders.
"Wh-what song is that?"
"An ominous... devil's song."
Now I had to judge a devil.
—Drag.
Following Lina into a dark alley revealed an empty little warehouse. Come to think of it, I'd found a spot like this when interrogating Elise and the cultists before.
—Bam!
"Keurk!"
I hurled the demon face-first into the wall. He screamed, so he wasn't dying yet.
Alright then.
Time to make him pay for touching my money.
"Lina, stand watch outside."
"Okay..."
She looked scared, so I'd have her keep lookout. Not a sight for kids. They should only see pretty, happy things.
—Sching.
I drew my knife and approached the sprawled demon.
"Shall we have an honest chat? Ever heard of the Mouth of Truth?"
"Grrr...!"
"The mouth that only speaks truth is called the Mouth of Truth."
"Krahk...! Haa... Haa... P-please don't...!"
Composed enough to talk, he looked at me with terror-filled eyes, scooting his ass backward. But behind him was no exit—just the wall.
Nowhere to run.
"Will your mouth today be the Mouth of Truth... or the Mouth of Lies? Heh heh heh."
"Wh-why are you doing this?! I was wrong! Sorry! I got cocky! Spare me!"
"Smart kid. Quick on the uptake."
I flipped the knife and shoved it in his face.
"You wanna live long, right? Heh heh heh."
"Y-yes...? Yes! Of course! I wanna live long... Heh, heh he. Heh heh heh..."
"Heh heh heh."
"Heh heh heh..."
"Heh heh heh."
"Heh heh—"
"—Don't you fucking laugh, you piece of shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He cracked up all creepy-like, snapping my rage—I jammed the knife right through his hand.
—Stab!
"Gaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!"
Blood sprayed as it pierced clean through.
"You think there's times to laugh and not laugh, you fucking prick daring to mock me!!! This is a challenge!!!"
"Krrk...! Kaaak! Grraaaaaahhh!!! "
"Shut the fuck up!!!!!!!!!!"
I followed up with a gauntlet knuckle-rapping strong hit, and the demon wailed in sorrowful screams. Like a newborn monster plummeting to ruin.
"Keurk!!!!"
"Talk! Why the fuck did you steal my money?! That cash had the blessings of Order God Izmart, Bear Master's grace, and the souls of me, Elise, and Lina! Why steal it!!! I can't understand!!!"
I'd planned a proper interrogation, but with the culprit right there, I couldn't hold back the fury. I grabbed his wounded hand as he cried and unleashed a barrage of taekwondo kicks.
—Thud!
—Thwack!
"Krahk! Grk! Graaaah...! St-stealing money?! What're you...! Krk!"
"You bullshit fucker still playing dumb? You said you took it earlier!!!"
"Th-that's... what do you even... mean!!!"
"You fucking shit still at it!!! You think I'm a pussy?! You worthless worm!!!"
He kept bullshitting, and I couldn't take it anymore.
"Hand out here!"
I bellowed, ready to chop off his fingers.
Scum like this grow a new conscience the moment you lop off a few digits.
Today, I'd be Conscience Injector Kim Katt.
"W-wait! Hold on! My bad! I stole the money!"
"You just said you didn't!"
"Th-that's, so just now...!"
"Changed your tune again!!!!! Raaaaah!!!!"
—Fury.
"Hand out here!"
"Eek!"
I yanked his arm violently, and he resisted like mad. Like Iron Man, red blood sprayed from his hand.
"Hand here, bitch!!!!"
"Noooooooo!!!!!"
"No my ass, you fucking criminal!"
—Stab!
He wouldn't give it up, so I impulsively stabbed his forearm. Fresh blood and agonized screams erupted.
"Gaaaaaaaah!!!"
Good.
Now we could have a proper talk.
You always break their will first with this bullshit to ensure no lies.
That's the Mouth of Truth.
Probably some WWII British intelligence protocol.
"Grraaaaaah...!"
"I'll count to three—stay quiet till then. You wanna leave alive, right? You got a mom too."
"Hoo, hoo...! Hoo! Hooo...! I-I'll be quiet...!"
"Good choice. Deep breaths, slow."
A few stabs, and he was cooperating instantly.
Conscience injected.
Terror and pain suppressed, he followed my orders with deep breaths.
Once calmed, I said.
"What's your name?"
"Ki... Kithon... Hoo."
Demon's name: Kithon.
"Right, Kithon... Fuck, what a shit name? What'd your mom think you were, naming you that?"
"..."
"Must've really hated popping you out. Makes sense—who'd wanna birth a grown-ass you? No bullshit—even the Holy Mother would pass."
Holy Mother, that is.
Even her mom wouldn't birth Kithon.
"..."
Good.
No reaction to the roast—resistance fully broken.
Interrogation time.
"Hey, Kithon. You said you extorted five silvers from that girl earlier, right?"
"Y-yes.. I-I did..."
Kithon answered obediently.
Gone was the cocky swagger from before. Over-injected with conscience, he was a polite young man now.
"Why'd you do it?"
"..."
"Why?"
I wiped the knife's blood on his shoulder, and he spilled instantly.
"W-well... See... I gotta pay tribute to the organization too... S-so I shake down kids like her... To gather the cash."
"I see. Yeah... Makes sense. Tribute's important."
Tribute, huh.
"Damn right."
Tribute mattered.
"Exactly."
I mumbled nonsense while watching him desperately press his arm and hand to staunch the bleeding.
"Good. Perfect. That's how it should be."
His blood draining in real time—
"Tribute's important."
—and my filler talk.
"Damn right."
Soon enough,
"P-please... Let me get healed... I'll answer anything, okay? Please..."
Kithon caught on and begged.
Sensing he'd bleed out like this. It wasn't that bad—he'd last—but panic set in.
What a coward pulling robberies, fuck.
End times for sure.
"Fine. Tell me how you took those five silvers that day. Oh, I've heard the story already—no bullshit. Lie, and I'll turn you into a pirate roulette."
—Slash slash slash!
I slashed Nine Phantom Dragon Strikes through the air with the knife.
"W-well, see..."
And so the Mouth of Truth opened.