Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: You Marrying the Queen
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“You insolent cur! A man who has eyes but cannot see has no need for them. Gouge out that bastard’s eyes!”
The young man seated before Hyunul Cheolryeong bellowed.
He was Hyunul Cheolryeong’s eldest son, Hyunul Daerang.
Hyunul Cheolryeong had brought all three of his sons to the royal gathering because of the issue of his marriage to the queen.
Queen Arak Siru had been widowed for five years.
Her status remained unchanged since she had been a queen, not a consort.
The problem lay in the Chacha Kingdom’s national law, which stipulated that both king and queen must have a spouse.
Originally enacted to prevent unmarried individuals from ascending the throne, the clause also applied to widowed rulers, requiring them to step down if they had no partner.
However, a five-year grace period was granted upon widowhood.
This year marked the end of that period.
In truth, the four great clans’ plot to eliminate Cha Sawoong had ties not only to the gold mines but also to Arak Siru’s marriage.
The Chacha Kingdom had two unique customs: levirate marriage and polygamy.
Levirate marriage, where a younger brother takes responsibility for his deceased elder brother’s wife, arose to preserve family lines.
Polygamy, on the other hand, was instituted to protect vulnerable households.
A second wife had to be a married woman whose husband was deceased.
Moreover, a man who took such a woman as a wife was responsible for all her children as well.
Once married, divorce was difficult.
Divorce required surrendering one-third of one’s assets.
What the four clans feared most was a union between the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga Clan and the World Subduing Heaven Rak Clan.
They had caught wind of whispers about a marriage between Arak Siru and Cha Sawoong and put out the hit.
“I am the head of the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga Clan!”
Ak Muyoo roared.
“Lies! Gouge out his eyes!”
Hyunul Daerang shouted again.
At that, over a dozen Celestial Guard squad members charged toward Ak Muyoo.
“Keuk!”
Ak Muyoo roughly shook both arms.
Iron chains attached to his Mad Demon Armor sprang forth.
“Those who won’t listen...”
Ak Muyoo launched himself forward.
The oncoming foes swung their swords in unison.
Ak Muyoo whipped his right arm.
A four-chi-long iron chain shot out like a serpent.
Chaang!
The chain coiled around a Celestial Guard’s sword.
Ak Muyoo yanked his right arm viciously to the side while swinging his left.
Puk!
Peok!
The wrapped sword flew right, embedding in an enemy’s chest, while the left chain smashed the head of the man who had lost his blade.
“Kuaak!”
“Aak!”
Ak Muyoo ducked low and surged forward.
Peok!
He shoulder-checked the torso of the man whose head had burst.
He followed the flying body, swinging his chain.
The speed of his chain was ferocious.
Block the middle, and the tip whipped around to crack an enemy’s skull.
It sank deep into flesh or shattered bone on impact.
Legs snapped, heads exploded, and men died on their comrades’ weapons in droves.
Peok! Puk puk! Peok!
“Kuaak!”
“Aak!”
“Euaak!”
Screams of agony erupted one after another.
As his subordinates fell indiscriminately, Hyunul Daerang—who had given the attack order—panicked.
He had ordered the assault upon hearing Ak Muyoo was no warrior.
Of course, he hadn’t intended to kill.
All he wanted was one of Ak Muyoo’s eyes.
Yet the Celestial Guard was getting slaughtered helplessly.
He glanced at his father, Hyunul Cheolryeong.
Hyunul Cheolryeong watched the fight with a rigidly hardened face.
“Kuaak!”
“Aak!”
Screams continued as the squad’s numbers dwindled from ten to two.
Then over twenty more drew weapons and leaped into the fray.
“You fools don’t know me at all!”
Ak Muyoo bellowed, swinging his chains.
His chains were no different from a flexible sword.
No—since they could disarm foes, they were even more versatile.
Blocking the chains was impossible.
They bent around blocks to fell enemies, and if the bend was too short to strike, they wrapped weapons instead.
A hard yank disarmed the foe, and the stolen weapon was turned on another.
Even with over twenty joining, the situation didn’t improve.
Successful strikes merely sliced Ak Muyoo’s clothes without wounding him.
Meanwhile, the original Celestial Guard fighters dropped rapidly.
Swaaak!
Peok!
“Keok!”
Peok! Peok! Peok! Puk!
An arrow from somewhere pierced a Celestial Guard’s torso.
“Stop!”
Hyunul Cheolryeong shouted urgently.
The Celestial Guard hastily retreated.
“You’re not done.”
Ak Muyoo grabbed a fleeing man’s hair.
“Eek!”
The man swung his sword.
But the hand gripping it was caught too.
Ak Muyoo twisted the man’s wrist.
The man strained with all his might but couldn’t match Ak Muyoo’s strength.
His sword slowly turned toward his own throat.
It was not his will.
Ak Muyoo looked at Hyunul Cheolryeong.
“When people speak, you bastards should listen.”
Ak Muyoo slowly pulled the man’s hand.
Puk!
The sword plunged into the Celestial Guard’s throat.
“Kuaaaak!”
The man let out a wretched scream.
Peok! Peok! Peok!
“Keokeok!”
“Keueuk!”
“Eueuk!”
Arrows from afar kept slamming into Celestial Guards.
“St-stop. I am Hyunul Cheolryeong.”
Hyunul Cheolryeong bellowed with inner energy.
“You’re not a fake?”
The newcomers were Luha and the Ageukta crew.
She had heard the Solitary Cloud Hyunul Clan head was heading to the palace and feared trouble for Ak Muyoo, so she followed.
Sure enough, the Solitary Cloud Hyunul Clan had picked a fight with Ak Muyoo.
“Y-yes. I am the real one.”
“A true clan head wouldn’t fail to recognize the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga head. Reveal yourself!”
Luha nocked a Dark Current Arrow and aimed at Hyunul Cheolryeong.
“You impudent wretch, daring to... some Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga...”
Eldest son Hyunul Daerang shot to his feet.
“You must truly want to die.”
Killing intent poured from Luha’s body.
Chwak!
A sharp slap rang out from Hyunul Daerang’s cheek.
“You bastard!”
Hyunul Cheolryeong roared.
“Father!”
“Get out and apologize right now!”
“......”
“Do it!”
At the second roar, Hyunul Daerang stepped down from the carriage.
Hyunul Cheolryeong followed.
“My apologies.”
Hyunul Daerang bowed toward Luha.
“Not to me.”
“Pardon?”
“Apologize to the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga head.”
“......”
“Truly.”
Hyunul Cheolryeong trembled with rage.
“I’m sorry.”
Hyunul Daerang bowed to Ak Muyoo.
“Please forgive my son’s rudeness.”
Hyunul Cheolryeong bowed alongside his son.
“Keuk! Slippery fox. Dumping it all on his son and slipping away clean.”
Ak Muyoo smirked.
Then he spoke.
“What if I don’t forgive?”
“What would it take for your forgiveness?”
Hyunul Cheolryeong asked.
“Do as that fool said.”
Ak Muyoo pointed at Hyunul Daerang.
“What did my son...”
“‘A man who has eyes but cannot see has no need for them. Gouge out that bastard’s eyes!’ or something like that.”
“You want his eyes gouged?”
“That’s what it’ll take.”
“......”
Hyunul Cheolryeong glared at Ak Muyoo.
“Keuk! Easy to say, isn’t it, clan head? Right?”
Ak Muyoo sneered and walked off.
Passing the carriage, he joined Luha’s group.
“How did you know to come?”
“We were worried we’d be late, so we came to meet you.”
“Good timing. Any later, and my eyes might’ve been gouged.”
“Some mad bastard dared threaten the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga head’s eyes?”
“They underestimated me. Let’s go.”
Luha turned to glare at Hyunul Cheolryeong.
He glared back.
“I won’t forget today, clan head.”
Luha said coldly.
“I begged forgiveness. You refused my apology.”
Hyunul Cheolryeong replied.
“That’s what they call turning the tables.”
Luha shot him a final glare before turning away.
Hyunul Cheolryeong watched until they vanished from sight.
“Father!”
Hyunul Daerang called.
In an instant, Hyunul Cheolryeong’s right hand sliced the air.
Jjaak!
Sparks flew from Hyunul Daerang’s face.
“Keokeok!”
Hyunul Daerang screamed and tumbled back.
His mouth turned bright red in seconds.
“F-Father.”
“Go home now!”
Hyunul Cheolryeong bellowed.
“I...”
“Are you deaf?”
“Was all this my fault?”
This time, Hyunul Daerang stood his ground.
“Then it’s my fault?”
“You didn’t know he was the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga head? You enjoyed it at first too. Am I wrong?”
Peok!
“Keokeok!”
Hyunul Daerang flew back again.
“Father was always like that. If it went well, it was his credit; if not, someone else’s fault. Even to his sons. Always...”
“Go home now! If you don’t...”
“Will you kill me?”
“You insolent—!”
Hyunul Cheolryeong’s furious shout exploded.
He was genuinely enraged.
“Let’s go, brother.”
Second son Hyunul Jukrang dragged Hyunul Daerang away.
“Kuaaaaa!”
Hyunul Cheolryeong roared uncontrollably in rage.
“Keuk!”
Ak Muyoo, walking away, chuckled.
“You did that on purpose, right?”
Seo Haran asked.
“What?”
“Not accepting the apology.”
“You’re pretty sharp sometimes.”
“Beautiful women are dumb—that’s a myth made up by fools like you.”
“Why drag me into it?”
“You keep picking on my brains.”
“It’s a joke, a joke. Even when you joke, you take it seriously.”
“Be careful from now on.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Ak Muyoo joked around.
“But you foresaw this?”
Seo Haran asked again.
“What if I had accepted the apology?”
“Well...”
“Hyunul Cheolryeong and his brat would’ve shared a laugh, saying ‘good fun.’ Sure, some underlings died, but that’s nothing compared to crushing the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga head. They’d even publicize that I killed them to stir up enmity. Insult and enmity in one stroke. But I said I’d accept if they gouged their own son’s eyes. At first, they thought it was a joke. But I stayed dead serious. Now he’s panicking and tastes humiliation. That roar was the result.”
“Scary bastard.”
“I’ve been on the front lines of life since age three, making money. No room for amateurs to toy with me.”
“But thanks to you, we’re in a bind.”
Luha said gravely.
“You mean they might act?”
“Yes.”
“In my view, it’s just a matter of time before they do.”
“True, but delaying gives us prep time.”
“Wars I’ve fought don’t work that way. Never give the enemy time to prepare. Strike when they try.”
“I suppose so.”
Luha nodded.
Back at the Heavenly Central High Citadel Chaga Clan, Ak Muyoo and Luha went straight to their rooms.
“There’s a way to buy time.”
Luha said the moment they sat.
“How?”
“You marry the queen.”
“......”