The Mountain Bandit Asks You to Save the World - 29 Chapter
I don't even know how many days have passed.
All I remember is my body thrashing wildly in agony, bones shattered beyond repair.
"Ask me anything. I'll tell you everything."
I shouted it over and over in my mind, but not a single question came.
They just left me to suffer in hell.
Finally, a chance arrived after that endless hellish time.
“I-I am Hansen, the leader of the monster reinforcement team from the Black Sun. A five-circle necromancer, forty-six years old, with no family.”
“I never thought the Black Sun lot would still be lurking around.”
Sybel had quietly slipped up beside me.
“You know this place?” Jin Chen asked.
“Yes. Among necromancers, these are the worst of the worst. About two thousand years ago, they led golems and undead armies to plunge the entire continent into chaos.”
“Their scale?” Jin Chen inquired.
“I-I can't say for certain since they scatter in cells, but the team I'm with numbers over a thousand.”
“What do you do exactly? Hunt monsters and ship them somewhere?” Jin Chen pressed.
“Y-Yes, we gather the corpses and blood of monsters and ship them to designated spots.”
“Where do you send them?” Jin Chen asked.
“T-That's something even we don't know. Once the mission ends, we leave coordinates at the agreed spot and only deliver them there. We haven't set foot there ourselves.”
“Where is that place?” Sybel interjected.
“T-Those teams active in the Dragon Mountain Range leave their coordinates at the back of the slums' lord's mansion in the alleys behind Cologne.”
“Cologne?” Jin Chen repeated.
“Y-Yes.”
“Hah, I never imagined even this until now.” Sybel shook his head.
“They’re dragging around Jiangshi. How many are there per team?” Jin Chen continued.
“N-No, they were only first supplied to teams operating in the Dragon Mountain Range. Rumor has it the mass production system is only now being set up, and it’ll take time to fill the quantities we need.”
“That’s the only saving grace, huh?” Jin Chen muttered.
“U-Um...” Sybel nodded in agreement.
“And who leads you lot? Where are they right now?” Jin Chen asked coldly.
“Our l-leader is the g-green...” Hansen suddenly stammered and began to tremble.
Jin Chen’s face hardened as he reached out.
“PAAAAAANG!” Hansen’s head exploded.
“H-Hah, look at this bastards?” Jin Chen’s eyebrows twitched, and the atmosphere plunged into icy silence in an instant.
Sybel’s face also hardened with cold resolve.
Of course it was serious. After witnessing the cruelty of these necromancers right before our eyes.
Hansen’s death was something none of them could have predicted.
Even a mere five-circle necromancer was restrained like this. I never imagined they’d be so thorough in keeping their secrets.
It seemed finding these bastards wouldn’t be easy.
So the only thing I could do right now was research the captured Jiangshi and find their weaknesses for certain.
When Sybel’s eyes turned cold, Jin Chen slowly wiped the blood splatter from his face and said,
“Their kind is no different from the righteous path bastards.”
Bbakbbaki beside Hansen also wiped the blood from his face and answered.
“We’re on the righteous path too?”
“Who told you we’re righteous path?” Jin Chen shot back.
“Everyone knows that bandits are greenwood, and greenwood is righteous path.”
“Who told you we’re greenwood!” Jin Chen continued immediately.
“I only swept into the greenwood main base out of spite. I thought the greenwood king was half-dead! Even among bandits, there are different paths, so I made sure to distinguish them!”
“Then we’re not on the righteous path?” a bandit asked.
“Of course not. Comparing us to those kinds is just laughable.” Jin Chen nodded firmly.
“Then the orthodox path?”
“You see anyone like us carrying axes in leather jackets as orthodox path?” Jin Chen countered.
“Looking at Chaeju-nim’s personality, wouldn’t the evil cult side be closer?” another bandit suggested.
“Yeah, that might be true.” Jin Chen admitted.
The easygoing ones chimed in one after another as if they’d been waiting for a quiet moment.
“What nonsense! Why would we be evil cult?” Jin Chen exclaimed.
“Then what should we call ourselves?” the bandit asked.
“We’re!” Jin Chen cut them off and swept his gaze across the bandits.
And with a small smile, he continued,
“We’re just True Dragon Fortress, kids.”
“Eh?” the bandits tilted their heads.
Jin Chen’s next words came.
“Bandits who steal others’ things don’t change, so I’ll say we lean slightly toward the righteous path side. And since we don’t spare anyone we see as enemies, I’ll say we lean slightly toward the evil cult side too!”
“Then what about the orthodox path?” a bandit asked.
“I’m here, aren’t I, kids!” Jin Chen grinned.
When the bandits looked bewildered, Jin Chen casually continued.
“Not only did I make sure you didn’t starve, but I even taught you martial arts. That takes a pretty good heart, doesn’t it? On top of that, this world’s savior keeps pestering me for help, enduring the hassle without any reward. That’s how righteous and just it is. It’s the perfect orthodox path sample. Right?”
Every bandit’s expression changed to the same one.
They were seriously debating whether to laugh or not.
Sybel stood with his back to them, looking up at the sky with a peaceful expression.
Oh Jinasi, there must be a reason You’re giving me such trials. I believe so.
As Sybel prayed to the Creator God, Jin Chen spoke with his usual brazen expression.
“So we’re neither orthodox path, righteous path, nor evil cult. Just True Dragon Fortress. And since those bastards struck first, I’ll call them evil cult and crush every single one of those double-nosed bastards we meet!”
“In short, do whatever you want?” a bandit asked.
“It fits True Dragon Fortress perfectly.” Jin Chen declared.
When the bandits’ expressions turned satisfied, Jin Chen chuckled.
“Of course it does.”
“Then what do we do from now on? Should we storm in?” another asked.
“How do we find bastards we don’t even know the location of?” Jin Chen countered.
“Then we have to wait until they come to us?” a bandit replied.
Jin Chen snorted at his subordinates’ words.
“You think we don’t have confidence when they come to us?”
The bandits subtly avoided his gaze.
Even the bandits who had only learned basic fighting held their tongues tight.
Because they knew just how formidable a Jiangshi could be.
“I heard these bastards have been holed up somewhere for a thousand years plotting. With all that time locked away, they must have prepared a lot. Now they’ve even started making Jiangshi.” Jin Chen slowly surveyed his subordinates and said.
“How can we possibly deal with such bastards? Surviving that long means they’re strong.”
“No, what do you mean?!” Jin Chen cut in.
“We can! Let’s try it. Just believe in me.”
Even after saying that, it wasn’t enough.
Sybel looked utterly bewildered.
“Are you scared?” Jin Chen asked.
“No, I’m not.” Sybel replied.
“Why?” Jin Chen pressed.
“Because we bandits have pride! I’d rather die than get scared!” the bandits shouted while clenching their fists.
“If we die, Chaeju-nim will avenge us!” another added.
“Are you underestimating us too much! We’re the ones who endured Chaeju-nim’s brutal torture!” a bandit growled.
Far from being discouraged, the bandits’ eyes burned with fierce resolve.
Jin Chen smiled faintly, as if he had expected this.
“What do we do? That torture might have to be repeated.”
Instead of answering, the bandits clenched their fists.
We can endure it! Their whole bodies answered.
Jin Chen smiled with satisfaction at the sight.
“Stay on guard, but don’t rush. This is their problem, not ours. They’ve been locked up for a thousand years, and now it’s out. Got it?” Jin Chen said.
“Yes! We’ll remember!” the bandits shouted.
“Good! From tomorrow, training and banditry will be tough, so eat and drink well today!” Jin Chen ordered.
“As expected, Chaeju-nim is the best!” the bandits cheered, their spirits soaring.
Jin Chen clapped his hands and shouted, “What are you all doing?! Hurry and prepare!”
At that, the entire fortress erupted in chaotic movement, scattering in all directions.
Once everyone dispersed, only Jin Chen and Sybel remained.
Sybel slowly circled the fortress and said, “Honestly, I was a bit surprised. I thought your subordinates would despair or be discouraged.”
“I didn’t raise them weak enough to break at that little thing.” Jin Chen replied.
“How can you be like that? How did you train them?” Sybel asked.
“Why? Can’t your subordinates handle it like this?” Jin Chen asked back.
Sybel fell silent.
Jin Chen grinned. “How did you educate your kids?” he asked.
“My subordinates grew up from childhood receiving thorough education to erase their own egos, so they know nothing of despair or discouragement.” Sybel answered.
“You erased their emotions?” Jin Chen asked.
“That’s right. It lets them adapt to any environment and not hesitate when the time to choose death comes.” Sybel explained.
“There were even bandits like you here.” Jin Chen commented.
The righteous path was a gathering of warriors who valued practicality and gain over virtue and righteousness.
Since Jin Chen had heard of the Central Plains on the first day, Sybel already knew the meaning of the righteous path well.
Sybel slowly nodded. “I won’t deny it. To us, humans or other races are no different from bugs.”
“I knew dragons were like that from the start, but hearing it directly still feels fresh.” Jin Chen replied.
“Don’t misunderstand. I just think life has different weights, not that I consider them insignificant.” Sybel clarified.
“Well, even among humans, there are such types.” Jin Chen shrugged.
“No matter what your world is like, in this world it’s not occasional—it’s common. Necromancers are like that, and those blinded by money, honor, and power are the same.” Jin Chen nodded.
It was the same in the Central Plains too.
“We dragons were born like this from the beginning. That way we can guard the world without leaning too far to one side.” Jin Chen said.
“Now that I think about it, it’s a pretty pitiful race. Not many things to enjoy or feel from the joys and sorrows of life, right?” Sybel replied.
“No, we also feel through play. Of course, compared to our lives, it’s just an instant.” Jin Chen countered.
“Humans live while holding onto those instants their whole lives. They become the focus and goal of life. But looking at you, it doesn’t seem like living longer is always good.” Sybel answered in silence.
Jin Chen waved his hand. “Ah! Let’s stop with the heavy stuff. What’s the name of the group your subordinates belong to?” he asked.
“Why ask that? Are you hiding something?” Sybel squinted.
“No, I’m not. How can I find you if I don’t even know where you are?” Jin Chen avoided his eyes.
“It’s because I’m afraid you might be secretly following me to find out.” Sybel suspected.
Jin Chen secretly avoided his gaze. It reminded him of the dwarves who once said something similar while building houses.
“So you won’t teach me?” Jin Chen asked.
“...It’s Goldmoon. Every subordinate has a golden crescent moon tattooed on the left side of their chest.” Sybel replied.
“Golden crescent on the left chest. Nice. Want me to do the same? Since it’s True Dragon Fortress, engraving the dragon character would fit perfectly. The chest is too obvious, so a bold tattoo on the forearm would look great.” Jin Chen suggested.
“If you want, I can even do it in one go.” Sybel offered.
“That sounds good. I like it a lot.” Jin Chen replied.
Sybel smiled faintly at that. Jin Chen also let out a short laugh.
It felt like pouring out his heart and having a real conversation.
And for a reason, he felt a tiny bit closer.
The two were truly becoming friends.