Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Mount Wuak Brotherhood
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"Boss..., what should we do?"
"......"
East Dragon, gripping his sword, asked me tensely. I swept the shards of the broken cup aside and looked around.
"Bring more booze, you lot—!!"
"Ehehe..., tasty...."
"Hmmnya...."
All my underlings except East Dragon and me were completely wasted, unable to think straight.
"Damn..., useless bastards...."
I clicked my tongue once, then shouted toward the direction the arrow had come from.
"Hey, I don't know who you are, but how about we talk this out?"
"......"
"No need to be tense. There's only five drunken sots here anyway."
After a brief pause, I sensed presences approaching.
"Pleased to meet you."
Out of the dark thicket emerged a man with a scruffy beard and a fierce look.
He wasn't alone—several shadowy figures appeared around him.
'From the sounds, a few more behind us too..., about twelve in total?'
They seemed nervous at the sight of us, hands trembling as they held swords and blades.
The man at the front eyed me warily and spoke.
"This area belongs to the Mount Wuak Brotherhood. Who might you be, making such a racket in the mountains this late at night? The arrow was just a warning—forgive us."
His words carried a measure of courtesy, as if he suspected we might be righteous sect warriors.
Or more precisely, the bastards....
Gulp.
They were eyeing the luggage at our feet.
The goods from the Shansu Yu Clan we carried weren't ordinary items at a glance.
They must have figured anyone hauling this stuff around wasn't just some average joe.
I could have played the part of a stern righteous warrior to slip out of this, but....
"...Pfft."
"...?"
"Ahahahahaha—!! Oh, I can't hold it in. Hey, mister! Mount Wuak Brotherhood? What kind of frog-brained naming sense is that? Ahahaha—!!"
"......"
I lost it at the name Mount Wuak Brotherhood.
Whoever came up with it named it like total shit.
"You... what the hell are you?"
As I burst into raucous laughter, the guy's tone lost its politeness, and he leveled his blade at me.
He must have realized from my reaction that I wasn't some righteous sect type. Those self-important pricks don't laugh like maniacs.
I boldly extended my hand and asked him.
"I'm Mu, from the Mount Hyangak Bandit Stronghold. And you, sir—what's your name?"
"...I'm Eung-chil, vice boss of the Mount Wuak Brotherhood."
Eung-chil stared at my outstretched hand without taking it, still keeping his blade raised as he questioned me.
"Mount Hyangak..., that's in Shansu territory, isn't it? What brings you all the way out here?"
"Ah, why so stiff between fellow bandits? Come sit, have a drink, and chat. Heave-ho...."
I plopped back down and poured booze into another ladle.
"......"
Naturally, Eung-chil neither took the drink nor sat—instead....
Shing—.
"No funny business. State your business here."
"......"
He thrust his blade close to my throat in a threat.
East Dragon flinched at the sight, but I shot him a glance to hold him back and spoke.
"Truth is, Shansu territory's no good for banditry right now. Know why?"
"......"
"One of the great clans there, the Shansu Yu Clan, is sweeping the nearby mountains clean. Wiping out all the unorthodox remnants, they say?"
Total bullshit, of course, but righteous sects did regularly purge bandits and river pirates like that.
He nodded in apparent agreement and asked.
"So?"
"Ah, but these guys are ruthless. They're hell-bent on uprooting us entirely, chasing us like mad. What could we do? We held back the tears and fled our home. And on the run..., we heard the rumors."
Rumors? What rumors?
East Dragon beside me couldn't keep up with the conversation's pace, just rolling his eyes. But I kept my expression steady and continued.
"Ah, word is there's a powerful, fearless bunch living on Mount Wuak. So I thought, perfect! And came straight here."
"Why...?"
Sadly, Eung-chil seemed as dim as your average bandit. I made my intent crystal clear to his baffled look.
"Why? To throw in with the strong, of course. Me included, all five of us want to join the Mount Wuak Brotherhood."
**
A dark, treacherous mountain path.
My underlings and I, all bound with ropes, were led along by the Mount Wuak brothers.
They carried all our luggage.
"Uh..., where are we...?"
"Hey, Grim Reaper sir..., one more drink before hell...."
Leaving the still-slobbering drunks behind, East Dragon sidled up to me and whispered.
"Boss...!"
"What's up, East Dragon?"
"No, what are you planning...!"
"What do you mean? Didn't you hear me earlier?"
He looked horrified at my reply.
"N-No way, you're really joining these idiot bandits?"
"Hey, East Dragon. We're settling here, remember? When else are we gonna build a house and set up? Easier to just slide into a ready-made spot."
"B-But even so...."
As East Dragon hesitated despite my persuasion, trying to say more.
"Hey, you there. No chit-chat!"
Some runt-looking guy spotted us talking and shut us down, so we couldn't continue.
Instead, I signaled East Dragon with my eyes and quietly followed them.
'Damn, they've made this path a maze.'
These were seasoned bandits—the route to their lair was brutally tough.
Twisting this way and that, so convoluted a first-timer could never find it.
After another quarter-hour or so.
"Oh...."
Finally, we reached their stronghold.
And I couldn't help but be impressed by the sight.
'They've got it damn well set up....'
Surrounded by sturdy outer walls, the camp held just under ten buildings, all looking solid and fine.
Bright lanterns suggested ample oil and supplies....
Most of all, lots of people. As we arrived, others came out to gawk—around forty in total, by my count.
This size wasn't a stronghold; it was practically a small village.
Eung-chil led us to the central house and said.
"Wait here. I'll fetch the boss."
He'd switched to casual speech with us already.
The old me would've made a rude punk like that pay dearly, but....
"Sure thing."
I just grinned and nodded. East Dragon beside me looked utterly bewildered by me.
After a short wait....
"Ahem."
Swoosh—.
The door opened, and someone stepped out.
"Who's the punk who wants to join our Mount Wuak Brotherhood?"
Thud.
The ground shook with a boom as he took a single step forward.
At first I thought he'd stomped hard, but....
"Whoa...."
No.
His massive bulk made the sound unintentional from sheer weight.
'Over two meters tall...?'
I gaped at his enormous frame.
First time seeing someone this huge since reborn in this world.
And besides his height and build, there was something else shocking....
"That's Jeok Yeom-bu (Redbeard Axe), boss of the Mount Wuak Brotherhood."
"Ahem."
As his title suggested, he sported a fiery red beard.
'Axe, huh? So he wields an axe?'
Spot on—a giant axe hung on his back, matching his size.
"So..., you're the kid who wants to join our Mount Wuak Brotherhood?"
"Ah, yes! Us! It's us—!"
As his gaze turned our way, I raised my hand and shouted.
"I long to stand with Mount Wuak's famed hero of boundless valor, Jeok Yeom-bu. So here I am from Shansu lands, unworthy as I am."
"Ho ho, my fame's reached Shansu, has it?"
I groveled nearly to the dirt with flattery, and Jeok Yeom-bu chuckled happily. He looked like a sucker for praise.
"Of course. Seeing your mighty presence up close fills me with emotion."
"What? Ahaha—! I like this kid's way with words!"
"This unworthy one is honored to catch Jeok Yeom-bu's favor. Ah! I've prepared a humble gift for the great Jeok Yeom-bu—could you have these ropes untied?"
"What? Sure! Boys, what're you waiting for? Untie them."
In high spirits, Jeok Yeom-bu casually ordered our ropes cut.
Freed, I went back and showed off the loot from Shansu Yu Clan.
"See, we stole these while fleeing."
"Th-These are...."
Bandit as expected.
His eyes went wide, instantly recognizing the value.
But that wasn't all.
"Haha, and check these out too? Those jars—we snatched them from merchants on the way here..., and inside them, packed full...."
"Full of...?"
"Top-shelf Dukang liquor."
"Wh-What...?"
His eyes bulged even more at "top-shelf Dukang liquor" than at the Yu Clan treasures.
Clearly a booze hound.
I sidled up to him as he swallowed hard and whispered.
"All this is a gift for you, Jeok Yeom-bu. So, with this...."
"......"
"Would we be worthy to join the Mount Wuak Brotherhood?"
"What? Wahaha—!!"
I played it humble, and he roared with laughter.
Then he slapped my shoulder and bellowed.
"Of course—! How could I turn away such a fine kid? You're all Mount Wuak Brotherhood now—!"
"As expected of Jeok Yeom-bu! A true hero of boundless generosity! Ahahaha—!!"
"This one's got a silver tongue. Good! I like you! Call me big bro from now on—!"
"Gosh, thank you, big bro!"
"Wahahaha—!!"
And just like that, things went smoothly.
With the boss's approval, the rest of the Mount Wuak Brotherhood accepted us. East Dragon looked awkward in the sudden turn, while the other underlings, still drunk, danced cluelessly about.
Jeok Yeom-bu threw a feast to celebrate the new members.
Food was a massive whole wild boar roast; booze, our top-shelf Dukang.
After gnawing on tasteless jerky for anju, fresh fatty boar was pure bliss.
As I tore into a huge boar leg, Jeok Yeom-bu approached.
"Little bro, you brought the good stuff—pour me one!"
"Ah, sure, big bro! Of course I'll pour."
His face lit up with bliss as he downed the cup I filled.
...Bit early, but timing feels right.
"Big bro, another round?"
"Yeah! This booze goes down so easy!"
As I topped his cup, I slipped in casually.
"But big bro, we're new to the Mount Wuak Brotherhood—shouldn't we do that thing?"
"Hm? What thing? Haha! Whatever my little bro wants. What is it?"
In great mood, he accepted eagerly.
But....
"Settle the pecking order."
"...What?"
"New guys joined—time for some proper bandit hierarchy sorting."
"......"
My words silenced Jeok Yeom-bu and everyone around, the mood turning icy.
I took a swig, eyeing their faces.
The real fun was about to start.