Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Sweet Home
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‘What the fuck are you doing?'
He didn't think there was any fault in how he'd responded. It hadn't been Yuri's decision not to open the gate, and he figured his explanation had been polite enough in its own way.
The guy had kept pressing the doorbell, ignoring his words completely and responding curtly. Fine, even that was okay.
But then the bastard had hopped straight over the fence without warning, hurling "son of a bitch" and swinging to slap him across the face. That was clearly crossing the line.
"Fuck? Did you just say fuck?"
It was a classic case of the farter getting mad. The guy had already forgotten his own "son of a bitch," latching onto Yuri's "fuck" instead.
"You dare... say fuck... to me, Namgung Jin?"
Namgung Jin's face flushed beet red. His shoulders trembled all the way up, like his rage had reached the top of his head.
Yuri was just as pissed.
"You're the one who called me a son of a bitch and tried to slap me out of nowhere, and my one little fuck sets you off that bad?"
It was a good thing he hadn't come with a sword. But even without one, he had fists. Namgung Jin glared at Yuri, his own fists shaking.
Yuri had sensed it from outside the gate too, but this unknown bastard didn't have even a scrap of internal energy. There was no way he was some peak expert who'd reached the Return to Purity Realm at that age, and his speech didn't carry the weight of years, so he couldn't be some rejuvenated elder master either.
Which meant this guy was just a regular person who didn't know martial arts. And that only made Namgung Jin even angrier. The bastard was clearly insane.
"If you kneel and beg right now..."
"Why the hell should I kneel and beg? You fuck..."
Fuck again. Namgung Jin couldn't hold back and struck out. He was aware enough of his opponent being a regular person not to infuse internal energy, but unlike his earlier emotion-fueled swing, this attack was sharp.
First, he had to smash that uppity nose. His tightly clenched fist shot straight for the center of Yuri's face.
Unlike before, when he'd dodged on instinct, this time Yuri was fully aware. Namgung Jin's fist was incomparably stealthier and sharper than Oh Bong-chun's attacks. It was only right before the strike that he realized it was heading for his face.
But it didn't seem like he couldn't dodge it. Whether it was from expelling the rotten energy in his body or because his meditation had gone well, his body felt light. His eyes, no longer stiff, didn't miss the incoming fist, and his head, no longer throbbing, promptly provided an answer on how to counter.
Internal energy from his dantian spread through his body. Thwack! He slapped the fist flying at his face to the side. In the instant Namgung Jin's arm flared open, Yuri's fist shot out.
'What?'
He hadn't expected a counter. Namgung Jin startled and dragged his foot back, leaning his waist away. Whoosh! The wind trailing Yuri's fist tousled Namgung Jin's bangs.
"You bastard!"
Namgung Jin bellowed and swung his fist again. This time, it wasn't just a punch—he wove in footwork. His staggering body had somehow shifted to Yuri's side. The hooking punch targeted Yuri's face once more.
Thud!
Unlike before, Namgung Jin's fist carried internal energy this time. Yuri couldn't deflect it and blocked with both hands instead, but his body floated up and back.
He'd aimed for it. Yuri landed a short distance away. He took a few more steps back to regain his stance. The palm that had blocked the punch stung, his bones aching.
"Blocked...?"
Namgung Jin didn't pursue. He was genuinely flustered, staring back and forth between his fist and Yuri's face. He'd closed the blind spot with footwork and swung, yet it was blocked. His movements had been read. Yuri hadn't missed Namgung Jin or the fist's trajectory.
"You fuck, what the hell is this bullshit?"
Yuri didn't want to fight Namgung Jin anymore. He was keeping up with the attacks for now, but that didn't mean he could actually "fight." Namgung Jin was still holding back, not fully unleashing his internal energy.
His body felt light. His eyes worked fine. His head turned sharply. He had plenty of internal energy in his dantian. He hadn't even used Holy Flame Force Emission. He kind of wanted to try a real fight.
But he couldn't. If Namgung Jin got serious and circulated his internal energy, Yuri would lose for sure. He had to stop here.
"You..."
"Yeah, you son of a bitch. You damn thief hopping over someone else's fence. What makes you think you can barge in yelling and try to beat on people?"
"What..."
"What, you fuck. Namgung Jin? Namgung Clan? Don't bullshit me, you little punk."
He said that, but this bastard was probably really from the Namgung Clan. Who else but a lunatic would impersonate them here in Lutran?
"You... you son of a bitch, I am Namgung Jin of the Namgung Clan. What do I have to be ashamed of that I'd hide my name?"
"If hopping someone's fence in broad daylight to slap a properly invited guest is nothing to be ashamed of, then sure, something to brag about? You fucking impostor from the Namgung Clan. There's no way the noble and lofty Namgung Clan acts this rude."
People with status usually did, but prestigious families especially prized face. And this wasn't just anyone's house—it was the home of Elena Haiderga, the favorite child and Golden Lily of the Derusia Magic Tower.
'Golden Lily? Is that nickname just because her hair's blonde?'
If so, wasn't that a lazy-ass nickname? Yuri pushed the thought aside and glared at Namgung Jin.
"Breaking into Elena's house without permission, swinging violence at her guest—me—threatening me, and impersonating the Namgung Clan? You're fucked now. Don't even think about running; stay right there."
The mansion's security magic had already triggered. Elena, at the Magic Tower, would've noticed by now, and Ha-ryeong from the nearby inn would burst in soon. That solved the problem. Yuri's barrage of insults?
'There was a misunderstanding. Sorry.'
Who in this situation would blame Yuri?
"You arrogant..."
Namgung Jin just trembled at the shoulders, unable to string words together. Once his anger flared, he lost judgment and acted rashly—that was Namgung Jin's bad habit.
And yet he caught on quick. He realized the situation wasn't remotely favorable to him.
If it were just anyone's house, maybe, but he'd intruded into the home of Elena, who had Heavenly Thunder Orca's favor. It was too trivial to sour relations with the Derusia Magic Tower, so the only way to resolve it smoothly was for him to bow his head.
"There... there must be some misunderstanding. I thought you were an intruder in the mansion..."
"Misunderstanding my ass, you ridiculous bullshit. I explained who I was. Why not just be honest? You got pissed at being turned away at the door."
Namgung Jin chewed his lower lip instead of answering. He was right. He'd gotten irritated at the door not opening despite the introduction, and snapped at being told to leave or wait outside.
And—he'd lost it seeing Yuri's hair wet with water. Fresh out of a bath. In Elena Haiderga's house! Namgung Jin breathed raggedly, then swallowed hard and took a step back.
"...So who the hell are you?"
"Shouldn't you say something else first?"
"I... I still don't know who you are. Even calling yourself a guest... I can hardly believe Elena's really not home. So first, tell me your name and your relationship to Elena."
Stubborn to the end. Were all the bratty kids from prestigious families like this? Lee Soo-hyuk and Yuri hadn't had parents to teach them manners, but this guy with his fancy parents—why was he such a mess? Yuri swallowed his boiling anger and opened his mouth to answer.
"Huh."
Yuri shut his mouth obediently.
Ha-ryeong stood at the now-open gate, daggers gripped in both hands. In the week-long journey, Ha-ryeong hadn't shown a single "expression," but now she wore one Yuri had never seen.
"What the hell is this?"
Ha-ryeong's face was genuinely baffled and flustered. She blinked her wide eyes, scanning around, then strode into the garden.
"How strange. From what I see... I don't spot any other intruder..."
Only after checking the garden depths did her gaze land on Namgung Jin.
"Which means... the identity of the thug who intruded into Miss Elena's mansion without permission... is none other than Fourth Young Master Namgung Jin of the great Namgung Clan?"
"Ha, Ha-ryeong."
"If there's any mistake in my judgment, please speak up. But as I see it, not only did Young Master Namgung Jin intrude without permission..."
Her wide eyes narrowed. Ha-ryeong glanced at Namgung Jin's footprints etched in the garden dirt and Yuri's swollen hand.
"...but he also assaulted Yuri, Miss Elena's guest."
"Th-that was a misunderstanding."
"Young Master Namgung Jin. I can't imagine what misunderstanding there could be in this situation. And even if there was one, you clearly crossed the line."
Ha-ryeong's voice sank cold. She concealed the daggers in her hands and continued.
"Given your status, and no risk of flight, I'll hold off on any punishment for now."
"Punishment...? Ha-ryeong, did you say punishment? You, an assassin of the Killing Guard Sect, would punish me, Namgung Jin?"
Namgung Jin's eyebrows twitched. He openly showed his fury, glaring at Ha-ryeong.
"Yes, that's right. Don't misunderstand. I'm wary of the Namgung Clan's power too. But what can be done? As a Killing Guard Sect assassin, I must fulfill my contract to the letter."
"You dare...!"
"I don't understand why you're getting upset, Young Master. If someone intruded into the Namgung Clan estate and attacked a servant, how would the Namgung Clan punish that intruder?"
With that, Ha-ryeong shut the gate.
"Naturally, Miss Elena will decide your punishment. So, Young Master Namgung Jin. Please stay right here and don't move."
"...I said it was a misunderstanding."
"I've answered that. If you want to explain the misunderstanding, don't tell me—tell Miss Elena directly."
Namgung Jin chewed his lower lip. He clenched and unclenched his hands anxiously, then let out a short sigh.
"I'll return to my clan, send a letter of apology for the misunderstanding, and appropriate compensation, so... for today, just let me go."
"A letter?"
Ha-ryeong tilted her head.
"Why write a letter? The one you should apologize to is right there."
Her finger pointed at Yuri.
"And Miss Elena will be back soon. Surely, Young Master Namgung Jin, you don't want to face her directly over this?"
"..."
"Wouldn't it be better to bribe me and Yuri here to make it go away?"
"...You'll really let it slide?"
"No, I can't do that. Yuri might not know, but I'm bound by contract to Miss Elena."
"I won't take bribes either."
Yuri grimaced and replied.
"Unexpected. I thought you would, Yuri."
"What the hell do you take me for?"
"Who knows, but Young Master Namgung Jin will offer a fortune to smooth this over. He's that magnanimous."
Ha-ryeong approached Yuri as she spoke.
"No injuries...? Hm, sorry. I'm not blind, so I can see your hand's all swollen."
"Is that concern?"
"Of course I'm concerned. Any other injuries?"
"Shoulder's a bit stiff. Maybe landed wrong when I fell; ankle too."
"Shoulder? Fell? What the hell happened?"
Namgung Jin, who had been clenching and unclenching anxiously, whipped his head around.
"That..."
"Sorry, Young Master Namgung Jin, but I didn't ask you."
Ha-ryeong answered without turning. Yuri glanced at Namgung Jin's flushing face and said.
"Attacked three times."
"Three times?"
"Yeah. First, he leaped from the fence to slap me, but I dodged. Twisted my ankle dodging though."
"A slap?!"
"Yeah. Then a fist at my face; blocked it with my hand. Wrenched my wrist doing it."
"Your face!"
"Yeah. And... he vanished from in front, appeared at my side swinging. Blocked with both hands in surprise, body flew up into the air and crashed."
"Young Master Namgung Jin. Footwork and internal energy?"
Ha-ryeong stared at Namgung Jin, truly flustered. It wasn't surprising Yuri had handled the first two attacks. No matter how hot-blooded, a Namgung Clan heir wouldn't use martial arts on a regular person without internal energy. It wasn't conscience—it was the rules of the storied Namgung Clan, rooted in the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
But from the story, Namgung Jin had clearly used footwork and infused his punch with internal energy.
"I... didn't think of that man as a regular person."
"Don't talk nonsense. Young Master, you really didn't know? No way."
"..."
"Good thing it ended with this; what if Yuri had been seriously hurt? And aiming for the face? Could've been fatal without luck."
"That's why... I said I'd apologize and compensate...!"
Namgung Jin's voice trembled.
"For starters, who the hell even is this Yuri guy? Ha-ryeong! I heard his name from you just now! He wouldn't answer no matter how many times I asked. Naturally I'd find him suspicious?"
"Why are you getting mad at me?"
"I'm not mad! I'm saying there was reason for misunderstanding. Who the hell is this guy to be in Elena's house, bathing, with you protecting him?"
"Young Master Namgung Jin."
Ha-ryeong's eyebrows twitched.
"I get you're worked up, but your attitude's over the top. I don't see why I should put up with your temper."
"I'm telling you, it's not temper...!"
—Rumble...
Frustrated, Namgung Jin pounding his chest startled and looked up. Thunder from a clear sky.
"My god."
Ha-ryeong was shocked too. She reflexively grabbed Yuri's wrist and pulled him back.
Yuri stared stiff-faced at the sky.
The sound effect he'd heard countless times in the game.
In Seronis, sudden thunder heralded one thing.
[Heavenly Thunder Orca Derusia has appeared.]
No text scrolled on screen, but a bolt of lightning struck dead center in the garden.