Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Separation (3)
The Barbarian Tribe.
A people who ruled the northern part of the magical world.
They were also a people who considered combat the highest value and judged the worth of life by blood and victory.
The Barbarian Tribe was fundamentally a form of several tribes united together. Groups of 30 to 100 people lived as separate tribes, operating as village units.
Each tribe had a chief who held decision-making power, and when facing major events, they would seek advice from the elders.
The 15 elders stayed with each tribe separately but formed a single independent council of elders.
Outwardly they took the form of giving advice, but in reality, it was the 15 elders—that is, the shamans—who moved the Barbarian Tribe.
The current population of the Barbarian Tribe was estimated to be around 1,000 people. How many of them were reincarnators was unknown.
They were raised in the shamans' sorcery from birth, and by the time they underwent their coming-of-age ceremony, they had become formidable warriors.
This fact was confirmed directly by seeing Ure.
Even though Ure was not a reincarnator, he possessed tremendous skill.
15 tribes.
15 shamans.
They were rapidly absorbing the indigenous people of Africa and expanding their power.
"Are shamans really that impressive?"
I had never met a shaman.
"They're very different in form from magic. In fact, it's not a field that comes from research. They manifest the power of faith."
"Faith, then—priests?"
I had experience with priests. They mainly took the form of healers or Holy Knights.
"It's the same method, but what they can do is very different. There aren't even records, so I don't know much either. There was never any reason to fight with the Barbarian Tribe."
Even the Witch didn't know about this opponent.
"By the way, she's late."
Five hours had passed since So Iryeon left.
The sun had already risen, and the waiting was turning into anxiety.
"We'll wait one more hour and then go directly."
I made the decision and looked at my watch.
The Witch, who had come to the lodging 10 minutes ago, sat on the sofa and said,
"But why did So Iryeon go to the Barbarian Tribe?"
Jimun Seo-saeng told her about what had happened with Ure.
After hearing the entire story, the Witch let out a long sigh.
"You guys really never have a quiet moment. Did you live like this in your previous life too?"
"Compared to my previous life, now is leisurely."
Jimun Seo-saeng answered.
The Witch used every facial muscle to express her displeasure.
"How undignified."
"That's why I like dignified women. Because I don't have it."
Though she grumbled, the Witch also kept her seat.
An hour passed like that.
"Let's go."
I stood up from my seat.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approaching the lodging was heard.
"Cult Leader!"
At So Iryeon's call, I hurried outside.
So Iryeon was carrying Ure on her back, someone several times larger than herself.
Ure was almost on the brink of death, but there seemed to have been no combat as both So Iryeon and Cheong Ak-sal were fine.
"Lay him down first."
I grabbed Ure and laid him on the floor.
His breathing was faint and his pulse was on the verge of stopping. Bruises covered his skin everywhere and at least ten places were broken.
Signs of having been beaten.
I looked at the Witch and Jimun Seo-saeng.
"Move him to the ice bed."
Fortunately, the Witch agreed and immediately began treatment.
Once the ice bed's effect and Jimun Seo-saeng's treatment began, his breathing gradually returned to normal.
Ure woke up two days later.
He was eating while half-sitting up on the ice bed.
"Urk!"
He grimaced as if feeling pain while eating. Then he began eating ravenously again.
"Does it taste good?"
Ure nodded.
"Good, eat a lot. Come see me when you can move."
Ure received treatment for a week. Then, for the first time, he left the ice bed and came out of the research room.
"Tell me what happened."
I had waited without asking until now.
Ure began his story.
When he returned to the tribe, he was criticized for not properly completing the mission of his coming-of-age ceremony.
He simply endured it and accepted it.
However, the chief and shaman, who already considered him a thorn in their side, didn't leave him alone. They gave him another chance, ordering him to attack the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Ure refused.
Having refused the elder's words, he was stripped of his warrior qualification.
At this, Ure couldn't hold back and spoke of the injustice.
In any case, he had completed the coming-of-age ceremony mission, yet they had given him another mission—he clearly contested this point.
Right there, the chief banished Ure.
—You are no longer part of our tribe. Leave.
The chief turned away after those words, but the shaman did not.
—On his way out, we must take away the warrior's soul. He is not qualified to have a warrior's soul.
Ure was subjected to concentrated attacks from his comrades. Beaten to a pulp, he was dumped like garbage in a back alley of Egypt.
On the verge of death, the ones he thought of were the Heavenly Demon Cult. People who had been warmer than even his chief.
He only knew So Iryeon's number and called her. That was his last memory.
"We searched all the back alleys and barely found him."
The reason it took over five hours was because Ure had lost consciousness.
"So do you still have lingering attachment to the tribe?"
"No."
"What will you do now?"
He glanced at So Iryeon.
When So Iryeon nodded, he suddenly knelt down.
"If you'll accept me, I will dedicate myself to death with a warrior's pride."
It felt like an ancient tree falling to bow.
"Life as the youngest will be tough. Are you okay with that?"
"I'll do anything!"
"Hundred Tiger Ghost."
Hundred Tiger Ghost stood beside me.
"The youngest has arrived. Teach him well."
"Yes!"
A new subordinate fitting for the new year had joined.
February 1st.
Ure, whose body had fully recovered, first engaged in combat with all of the Hundred White Blood Corps. It was a kind of welcome party for the new member.
Those watching their sparring most carefully were Torto and Cheollu. It was to create weapons suitable for Ure.
In their sparring, excluding weapons, Ure displayed tremendous skill.
Without weapons, Ure's abilities were overwhelming. Excluding Hundred Tiger Ghost, no one could beat Ure in pure physicality.
However, the situation changed when they took up weapons.
Just by holding a staff, Ure began to be pushed back.
Ure also picked up a hammer but couldn't block the staff that persistently dug in.
"That's enough!"
When Hundred Tiger Ghost called out, Ure gasped for breath and lay sprawled on the training ground.
Ure had a pleasant expression.
He seemed to feel instinctive pleasure from fair and square matches.
"So Iryeon, stop."
I stopped So Iryeon, who was about to step forward.
After all the sparring ended, Torto and Cheollu came to me.
"I'm thinking of remaking the weapons."
"Do that."
"First, let me explain..."
"You don't have to."
"Do you trust me, or are you just bothered?"
I flinched.
"Of course, I trust you."
Torto seemed suspicious but didn't press the issue.
"I'll make it in a new way. So that everything can be concentrated in one weapon."
"Simple is good."
"And I'll make the Heavenly Demon Sword."
This was unexpected.
"The Heavenly Demon Sword?"
"From my research so far, I've realized something. I'll make it by pouring my soul into it."
His expression was serious, unlike Torto.
"If it's a legendary sword, I have no reason to refuse."
Cheollu also showed resolute determination, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
"Then I'll tell you when it's complete."
"Wait."
The Witch, who had been watching from afar until now, came over. Then she threw something to Torto.
It was a notebook.
"What's this?"
"Roltui's magic circles. It'll be helpful if you look at it."
This was unexpected even for me.
"If it's helpful, make me a dress too. If you judge it's not worth it, just throw it away."
I couldn't understand her intention.
Whether it was for the dress or for Torto's research, it was ambiguous.
In any case, it wasn't a bad proposal.
Torto accepted it for now.
"I'll need many things."
"Say anything. Jimun Seo-saeng will get it all for you."
They were satisfied with my words and returned.
The addition of a new person brings vitality. Especially Ure would play a role like So Iryeon's in the Hundred White Blood Corps.
"Winter is slowly coming to an end."
Soon, fierce factional fighting would begin.
The early stages would likely flow with politics and secret struggles.
'I hate that.'
Jimun Seo-saeng would handle it splendidly, but that wasn't what I desired.
Being restricted, being swayed, sitting and counterattacking—that wasn't my way.
Jimun Seo-saeng would hate it, but I had already made my decision.
'Only until the weapons are complete.'
Waiting was only until then.
While I was thinking such thoughts inwardly, an unexpected incident occurred.
—The Magic Guild has driven out the North Sea Ice Palace.
The Magic Guild cut the first thread.
It was an announcement that came out at an unexpected time. Just as I was about to confirm it, the Russian government's official position came out first.
—Russia transfers public security authority to the Magic Guild.
Eventually, the dissolution of the North Sea Ice Palace became official.
The Magic Guild's moves didn't stop there. And here's where the problem arose.
The incident started with Mongolia.
The Magic Guild of Europe negotiated to absorb Mongolia ahead of China.
Having even driven out the North Sea Ice Palace, everyone thought Mongolia wouldn't be a problem, but Mongolia refused.
Then the Ehwa Palace approached Mongolia this time.
The incident escalated at this point. The Mongolian government also refused the Ehwa Palace.
Both Europe and China had been rejected.
Other countries couldn't understand this. Only I understood.
'Old Man Gu Ak-chil must be being stubborn.'
I was about to just let it pass when the Magic Guild made a reckless move.
They copied the exact process the Heavenly Demon Cult used to strike Japan.
Mages intruded into Mongolia.
And an unexpected result occurred.
30 Magic Guild mages dead.
Mongolia had repelled them. The military had stopped them.
There's something people commonly mistake.
—Reincarnators are stronger than the military.
This is a wrong perception.
One needs at least one and a half jiazi of internal energy to withstand bullets.
For sniper rifles, one needs internal energy of over two jiazi or external energy like So Iryeon's.
The Heavenly Demon Cult's combat personnel met those conditions with internal energy plus shields. That's why they could fight against modern weapons.
Mages could also block weapons if they used shields.
However, they couldn't move fast enough to prevent weapons from aiming at them.
Ultimately, unless they used shields indefinitely, they were vulnerable to sniping.
And even with shields, many mages couldn't block anti-tank rockets.
Their combat power was fundamentally different from the Ice Witch's.
Those who tried to show off their power recklessly just by watching the Heavenly Demon Cult's moves suffered a miserable defeat in Mongolia.
—I wonder what Russia's reaction is.
In terms of military power, Russia overwhelmed Mongolia. Yet Russia acknowledged the Magic Guild as is.
'Since they lost the North Sea Ice Palace, do they have to grab onto them at least?'
I understood and passed it over like this.
But the incident didn't stop there.
An incident occurred where the Ehwa Palace first entered Mongolia under the pretext of protection, then was driven out again.
This time it wasn't modern weapons.
If they were Ehwa Palace warriors, many would be capable individuals who had surpassed modern weapons like the Heavenly Demon Cult.
They were driven out by one organization.
The Mongolian Security Force.
It was a group of 30 people, with only one reincarnator.
Gu Ak-chil.
Through this incident, his name was revealed to the world.
"What a personality."
The events that followed were as clear as a picture.
'If the Ehwa Palace Lord and 30 elite warriors go, they won't be able to withstand it.'
The Ehwa Palace wouldn't just sit still.
I called Gu Ak-chil just in case.
—What business does the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader have? Contacting this old beggar and all.
"I felt pity seeing a beggar trying to die in a struggle."
—Keul keul, don't worry. A beggar's life has a tenacious fate.
"Not you, but your disciples. What did your disciples do wrong?"
—Isn't it natural for a beggar to see all kinds of situations while living?
His voice was as cheerful as ever.
Listening to his laughter, I spoke seriously.
"The Ehwa Palace Lord. Don't take that woman lightly."
—Is she skilled enough for the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader to personally inform me?
"Enough."
Gu Ak-chil's words stopped. He had understood the meaning of my words.
She was an opponent even I couldn't easily subdue.
But Gu Ak-chil's answer was unexpected.
—If she's that level, it seems doable, keul keul.
"Is the beggar overconfident?"
—Watch and see, keul keul. Even an old beggar has a trick or two.
The call ended. He didn't request any help.
'Could it be...'
There was a fact I had never considered until now.
'What level is Guakchil's skill?'
I had never seen him fight.
I had only estimated that he had achieved great results based on his disciples' growth.
'I underestimated him too much.'
I had a fixed notion that people I already knew couldn't surpass me.
'I've become lax.'
The call with Gu Ak-chil made me tense again.