Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Chain Rampage Incident (2)
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Around 1 p.m., Baek Do returned with a somewhat sorrowful expression.
She looked so dejected that we held back from speaking, but she glanced at my mask and addressed us.
"Third Disciple. First Disciple."
San Su-yu and I nodded simultaneously.
"To be honest, I hold both of you in high regard talent-wise."
San Su-yu gave a faint smile at the lavish praise. Regardless of other emotions, she had a thirst for skill, and Baek Do had nailed that perfectly.
Baek Do twisted her snow-white ponytail as she continued.
"That's why we're heading into real combat."
"Suddenly?"
My words popped out the moment hers paused.
She'd stormed off in a huff earlier, and now she was back talking about real combat. It wasn't unwelcome, but it was bewildering.
"Especially you, Third Disciple—you shine in actual battle. Am I wrong?"
"You're not."
I did have a Combat-Type Physique, after all.
"Exactly. And since an opportunity for real combat has come up, give it a shot."
I delayed my response and glanced at San Su-yu. Her yellow eyes sparkled faintly.
Boost your skills! It's a great chance! It felt like her thoughts were beaming straight to me.
"Well, why not."
"And if you handle this well, I'll take you as my direct disciple."
"Understood."
Since she hadn't brought up the direct disciple debate this time, I accepted easily.
Baek Do's expression softened with relief at my reply. She cleared her throat awkwardly and headed toward the cabin. We followed suit.
-Creak.
"We'll probably be in Seoul for at least three days, so pack everything."
"Yes."
I packed my bags in the cabin and cradled the flowerpot lovingly. Shiba rubbed its face against my hand.
San Su-yu, having finished packing first, patted Baek Do's back.
"What's wrong, First Disciple?"
"Can't I be your direct disciple too?"
Baek Do looked troubled at the wistful remark.
It made sense. With two disciples, favoring one as direct would raise questions.
Baek Do stroked her chin thoughtfully before reaching a decision.
"I'm a martial artist; I don't know swords. I can't teach swordsmanship. Lee Si-heon has the talent for martial arts. Right?"
It was a plea for backup.
I considered playing dumb but decided to help since she'd skipped the direct disciple issue.
"Sure. I'm planning to set the sword aside this time anyway."
"...Huh?!"
San Su-yu whipped around in shock.
"Why? Why give up the sword?"
"Martial arts suits my talents better."
"But... you wield it so well?"
I nodded, and San Su-yu shuddered in disbelief.
Impossible. I heard her mutter under her breath.
What could I do? The world's strongest woman had vouched for it.
Though, was Baek Do really the world's strongest? She was Star's pick for master, so she couldn't be weak, but her constant bragging made it hard to trust.
"Yeah."
"...Okay?"
San Su-yu seemed to buy it, so now for the real question.
"So, what exactly is this real combat?"
"...Ent extermination."
"Ent extermination?"
Ent?
San Su-yu and I tilted our heads.
"What, you don't know?"
"No, we do. But why are they popping up?"
I already knew about Ents from class.
Wood People overwhelmed by a World Tree's power, twisting into wooden monsters fueled purely by malice.
They were so significant that papers linked dungeon monsters like goblins to Ent derivatives.
"A chain rampage incident broke out. Near Seoul. We'll investigate and uproot it this time."
Chain rampage. Mad terrorists who'd inject World Tree power into Wood People, causing berserk outbreaks. They popped up in history books occasionally.
Something I'd only seen in textbooks was happening for real.
Baek Do took our blank stares as understanding and continued.
"You'll probably join the investigation too."
"Not combat? But starting with investigation will take forever. Training period's short."
"I've notified the Academy."
Perfect.
Legit way to skip Academy.
"Alright. Let's do it."
"Me too."
Baek Do smiled faintly at our responses.
"And there's someone I want to introduce you to."
"Who?"
"The comrades you'll team up with after graduating the Academy. You've been recruited the moment you became my disciple."
Comrades?
Why lump me in?
I shot her an incredulous look.
"Who decided to slot me into your master squad?"
"None other than our mercenary group. Join up, and I promise decent treatment."
"Even good terms sound shitty with you around, Master."
"Fuck. You sure have a way with words. Monthly pay of ten mil, two days off a week, performance bonuses on top. No regrets guaranteed."
Ten mil a month. Two days off weekly, bonuses?
"Oh ho, should've led with that."
"What a materialistic bastard."
I followed Baek Do with light steps, and she glared at me before sighing deeply.
"Why'd I take a punk like you as disciple."
"Your choice. Suck it up."
"Seriously pisses me off."
She didn't seem thrilled, so probably not her idea. Heavenly Demon or something pulled strings? Not my problem.
We bantered with curses en route to Seoul.
San Su-yu zoned out, unable to follow our crude exchange.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Peach Blossom Haven.
A world-class organization active mainly in Korea, an elite mercenary group of only top-grade hunters.
The Korean Association bowed and invited them whenever shit hit the fan.
And Baek Do was the legendary leader of Peach Blossom Haven.
Undefeated in battle, invincible Cornelian Cherry—rumors abounded, but to me, she was just a tantrum queen. Whatever.
Anyway, Baek Do led a global powerhouse, and I'd been scouted into it.
Bonus: She invited San Su-yu on the way, but San Su-yu declined for family reasons.
Four-person elite squad.
Couldn't help but feel a thrill.
World-class elite mercs always seemed poised for big feats.
With that mindset, I followed Baek Do into the appointed cafe. Three figures—two women, one man—sat at the deepest sofa.
"Master, over here!"
The redhead jumped up first, waving enthusiastically.
"Sit here."
"Right."
"These are Master's disciples?"
"Ahem, yes."
Baek Do sat sternly, unlike with us, loosening her neck.
I eyed her dubiously before scanning the members.
One redhead who'd rock pigtails.
One stylish beauty in ripped jeans, black hair.
One massive muscle hunk.
Man:1, Women:3.
The redhead caught my gaze and smiled slyly.
My heart skipped at her prettiness. She placed a hand on her chest over the fitted dress and bowed.
"Hello, junior. I'm Rosie."
"Rosie? Foreigner?"
Baek Do tossed at me.
"Family name's Goda."
Ah... Goda Rosie. Goroshi. What kind of name...
I glared at Rosie; she grinned murderously, like tease me and die.
Laugh and you're dead. Better shut up.
I took a deep breath internally. Beside me, San Su-yu, who'd been pondering with head in hands, exclaimed.
"Goroshi? I saw that on Tree Insider."
Goroshi's face froze at San Su-yu's brutal honesty.
......
Silence all around.
"Pfft! Bwahaha!"
The black-haired ripped-jeans woman broke it.
"P. Wanna die?"
"Nah, the yellow kid's bolder than she looks. Heh. Tree Insider. Yeah... how's anyone's name Goroshi?"
"You're dead."
Goroshi and P bickered.
P was pretty but seemed off too.
Baek Do nodded at me knowingly, reading my thoughts.
Really world-top-tier?
Doubts inevitable. San Su-yu tilted her head innocently after gutting Goroshi's ego emotionlessly. I sighed.
P extended a hand, cutting words short.
"Anyway, welcome. I'm P. Just call me P. Paprika BJ."
"Paprika BJ?"
"You know me?"
P's eyes lit up like a kid finding common ground.
"I'm Hemp Tree BJ. Know this? Pine Tree fans, follow—"
"Cut the trashy crap. Strip-streamer's got a lot to say."
"—Not stripping? Game stream."
"Tits out on stream? That's stripping, not gaming."
I glanced at Baek Do as they clashed again. She maintained stoic dignity, enlightened.
Ignore P and Goroshi's ongoing spat.
I stroked Shiba's sprout and approached the muscle man.
"What's your name, by chance?"
He removed his cap. His sleek black skinhead screamed pro.
"Bap."
"Pardon?"
"Name Bao, or Bap. From Africa."
Ah... Baobab Tree.
I whispered urgently to Baek Do.
"Fuck, Master, not a sane one here."
"Bap's solid. Those two are top-tier mercs."
"Not as people though."
"Same as you."
True?
"Yeah... fair enough."
I got it.
This was my burial ground.
Half-resigned, I looked around. Hemp and Goroshi still bickering.
"P, never liked you from the start. Pine Tree? What even?"
"Says the slut hawking pussy juice."
"Aaaah! Told you not in front of me! It's the honorable Boxelder family tradition!"
-Pffft!
Chaos.
I got the gist, but what trees were they?
Squinting, trees rose behind them.
I wielded this odd power freely now.
【Hemp Tree】, 【Boxelder Maple】
Trees obvious from names.
Still ridiculous. Goroshi as a name? So many better ones. Like Dorothy.
Griping inwardly, Hemp and Goroshi eyed my mask with interest.
"Hey, junior should show his face, right?"
"Yeah. Take off the mask, junior."
Target switched to me—they'd allied to mess with me.
I backed up, then realized and removed it.
"Hold on... fine. Taking it off."
All eyes on me.
"......What."
"......Handsome."
Hemp and Rosie deflated, disappointed no tease material.
Baek Do's eyes widened in surprise.
San Su-yu stared, shocked.
"Siheon."
"Yeah."
"Magic trick?"
She acted genuinely stunned.
Guess masked me looked that ugly.
I understood, but my mouth felt bitter anyway.