Chapter 1 (4)
Chapter 1 (4)
The satisfying feeling of my axe blade splitting the lackey bandit's skull.
The expression on the lackey bandit's face before he died.
The thrill of victory in a life-or-death struggle.
"Nah, let me correct that. It's fun. If I'd known it would be this fun, I would've tried it sooner."
"You... what... the... hell... are... you..."
"I ain't got nothing to say to you, so just die already."
I used a playful tone as I pulled the axe embedded in his body out.
And then, kwajik into his skull.
"Damn, the hand feel is killer. Is this what the pleasure of cracking a skull feels like?"
Having taken care of the big brother bandit, I approached the lackey bandit whose side and arm were broken.
"Hi... hik...!"
"Well, it's just the two of us now, right?"
I smiled and swung the axe through the air to shake off the blood.
It was a deliberate act to make the guy feel terror.
Just as I planned, he made a face like he was about to piss himself.
'First, I need to figure out the geography around here.'
I need to find out where I am and where the village is.
Then, I'll steal their stuff and head to the village.
"Who dares to cause a ruckus in my territory!!"
"Ugh!?"
What the hell is this!? A voice as loud as a megaphone!
I'm not joking, it sounds like someone's shouting right next to me!
Dudududududu---!!
At the same time, the sound of horses running echoed from the mountain path leading upward.
Kung!
A giant of a man jumped into the air and landed near me.
Wearing tiger skin and wielding a massive saber, the man glared at me like he wanted to kill me.
I'm fucked.
My instincts are telling me.
That I shouldn't fight that bastard right now.
"You."
The man, who literally had a face that screamed 'I'm a badass villain bandit!', opened his mouth at me.
"What is your identity?"
His tone was like a growl, practically a threat.
After checking the corpses of his subordinates, his gaze became even sharper.
"Keuk...!"
An invisible, powerful energy tightened around my heart as if to burst it.
It's hard to breathe.
My body is feeling fear towards him.
"Ah... um... I..."
I stuttered like a wimp, like an idiot, just like before.
While making the most terrified face I could.
And then, I threw the axe in my hand as a surprise attack.
Kwajak!
"Trying to pull a fast one!"
But he swung his massive saber with one hand and easily smashed the axe to pieces.
"Do you think such cheap tricks would work on Lee Seung-hyun-nim, the leader of the Ho-san-chae!"
Nice self-introduction.
No, this isn't the time for jokes.
The speed at which that saber was swung earlier was no joke.
The surprise throw didn't work.
The power gap is too big to fight head-on.
"Fuck!"
In that case, run, whether it works or not!
At least the survival rate will be higher than fighting that bastard!
"Haaat!"
"Urya!"
"Ugh!?"
But the moment I tried to run away, those ugly-faced bandit bastards popped out and swung their weapons in the direction I was fleeing.
"Heh heh heh. Did you really think I came alone?"
My escape route is blocked...
No, even before that, I was already surrounded.
Looking around, I could see other bandit bastards positioned in a circle.
'I'm fucked.'
Really fucked.
There's no answer if I'm surrounded like this.
Fuck... if only I had learned martial arts...!
Wait a second. But even if they heard the commotion, isn't it a bit strange to bring this many people just to catch one person like me?
"Now, if you obediently tell me where you came from, I'll at least kill you without pain. Are you from the Jugeompa? Or are you one of those Aksanchae bastards?"
Jugeompa? Aksanchae?
Ah, I see. That's what it was.
That bastard, he has bad relations with the surroundings or has made enemies.
The reason the bandit leader stepped out himself is that he thought I was a spy.
He stepped out personally to prevent information from being stolen by a spy.
"I am..."
If I speak honestly, wouldn't he at least listen?
No, look at that bastard's eyes.
They're already full of the intent to kill me.
No matter what I say, he has absolutely no intention of letting me go.
In that case...
"I came out of your mom's asshole."
"..."
At least I'll struggle to the end!
"Keuk-keuk-keuk. You're a guy who's dying to die."
Ugh! Something is pressing down on me!
Is this what they call the 'spirit' of martial arts!
"Alright. I was itching for a fight lately anyway, this is perfect."
He threw away his weapon and approached, cracking his neck left and right like a thug.
Swish!
"!!"
Immediately after, my vision was filled with something.
I instinctively fell backward as if sliding.
Tuduk!
Along with the pain of a chunk of my hair being ripped out, I witnessed his fist swinging powerfully through the space where my head had been.
"Ho, so you've got a trick or two."
"Aaaaaah!!"
Now that he's discarded his weapon, this is my chance!
I steadied my stance and immediately hugged one of his knees, putting strength into trying to knock him over.
"Ugh!? Ughhh!!"
What the hell is this! He won't even budge!
Puck!
"Keuhak!"
Looking up at the pain felt in my back, I could see the smile of the bandit leader bastard who had struck my back with his fist.
"Do you think such cheap tricks would work on me!"
Then, he grabbed me by the waist and threw me with all his might.
Kung! Kwang! Kwareureuk! Puck!
"Keuheok!"
My vision spun dizzily before my waist hit a thick tree trunk.
"Keu-sseup...!"
My waist hurts. It's throbbing like it's going to break.
It's a pain I've never felt even once until now.
"Cough! Cough!"
Coughs burst out from the impact on my back.
And I understood.
'This isn't virtual reality...'
It goes without saying, but virtual reality games have a maximum sensitivity of about 30%.
Because if you really experienced pain close to death, your brain would mistake it for actually dying.
'This... this isn't the virtual reality pain I've felt...!'
That's why, through the pain that felt like my waist was breaking, I realized what kind of situation I was in.
I'm surrounded on all sides and can't escape.
There's a being stronger than me in front of me, harboring killing intent.
"Aaaaaah!!"
So what!
Did you think I'd whine about dying now!
At the very least, I won't die being treated like a toy!
"Die, you son of a bitch!"
As it happened, the axe dropped by the bandit I killed was nearby.
I grabbed it and rushed at the bandit leader.
If I'm going to die, I'll at least leave a mark so he'll remember me!
He must have read my killing intent, as he openly showed a sneer.
I can't swing with full power!
I have to swing quickly and concisely in succession to land even one hit!
Bung-bung! Bawung!
The bandit leader with the sneering expression easily dodged my axe swings.
As if dealing with a child's toy.
He was mocking and ridiculing me.
"You bastard!"
I took a stance to do a big full swing, as if my head were paralyzed by rage.
The bandit leader tried to strike, aiming for the opening in my posture.
Now's the time!
Tat!
"Hm?"
As I jumped backward, the fist aiming for my abdomen tore through the air.
This is what I was aiming for!
If I show an opening this big, he'd definitely want to strike!
Full swing throw at close range!
I was aiming for this from the beginning!
"Kyaaaat!!"
While jumping back, I swelled the muscles in both arms to the maximum and threw the axe, aiming for the bandit leader's head.
His expression is also one of surprise.
No matter how fast he is, he can't dodge this here!
At least I'll take one arm!
The bandit leader hurriedly covered his head with both arms, and the axe blade stuck into the bandit leader's forearm.
Chwakak! Ttaenggeurang!
"...Ah...?"
What? The axe... it definitely hit his arm...?
Why is the axe that hit his arm falling to the ground?
I looked back and forth between the axe on the ground and his arm, my expression turning bewildered without me realizing it.
It was wounded by the axe blade, but it wasn't the level of wound I wanted.
A wound only about 1~2cm deep and blood flowing accordingly.
What I wanted was for the axe blade to have gone in more than halfway.
Fuck! Is it External Martial Arts? External Martial Arts is the specialty of bandits, right!
"..."
The bandit leader didn't even let out a scream despite being wounded.
His expression, looking back and forth between the wound and me, turned red enough to be recognized even in the darkness.
He approached me with eyes like axe blades.
And that, in an instant, right up to my close proximity.
Pueok!
"Uup!!"
My... my insides... are being crushed...!
God... damn it... I couldn't even... see him... attack...!
Puck! Puck! Puck! Puck!
"How dare you! How dare you! How dare you! How dare you, you piece of trash!"
"Keuk! Kehek! Kahak!"
I feel pain all over my body.
His fists are mercilessly beating my whole body.
Even though it hurts this much, countless memories flooded my head.
Ah... I see.
So this is what a flashback is...
Thud-
With the sound of something falling, my vision toppled toward the ground.
"Puheok..."
Blood burst from my mouth.
My body won't listen to me.
My ears are ringing.
My whole body is throbbing.
"Die!"
I heard his angry voice in my ringing ears.
Is this the end?
I closed my eyes as my consciousness faded in the pain.
"Argh!"
"Keuak!"
"Hm!? Who is it!"
"It's Shin Doo-chung of the Jugeompa!"
"The leader of the Ho-san-chae is over there! Attack!"
"Counterattack! Fight!"
At that moment, a commotion broke out from all sides.
I wanted to check my surroundings, but due to my fading consciousness, I didn't even have the strength to turn my head.
Clang-clang-clang-clang! Argh! Die! Kill them! Wai... wait... Argh!
Various kinds of sounds, screams, and shouting could be heard from all around.
Sounds mixed together to the point where I couldn't tell whose was whose.
Drag-drag-drag-
At that moment, someone grabbed my leg and dragged me somewhere.
The bandit leader? Or someone from the Jugeompa?
No, it doesn't matter now.
Because... I can't... hold onto my consciousness anymore...
I lost consciousness just like that, unable to even check who was dragging my leg.