The Bandit's Lesson in Discipline
The battlefield had been quickly cleared.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities, and the injured were swiftly tended to by clergy in gray robes—clerics and acolytes who had fled the church alongside Chloe.
The bandits assisted them as well.
They pressed pressure points to stop the bleeding or cleared away the mess of the battlefield.
As Jin Chen watched the scene in silence, Geunyuk-i approached and asked.
“Chaeju Hyung, are we not going to rob these guests?”
“You call them ‘guests’? The healing potions are all gone!”
“Right, that’s true.”
“We’re bandits, not humans, right? We shouldn’t be robbing the ones who came here to help people.”
“Got it. I agree with that.”
Geunyuk-i flashed a bright smile and hurried off to help the mercenaries once more.
He must have been worried about what decision Jin Chen would make.
Children, he really is too soft-hearted.
Who would’ve guessed that this brute would have mastered the most vicious and horrifying technique among the one hundred and eight flowing blood arts—the legendary Baekpalmanryuhongong.
Well, he didn’t pick it up because he wanted to.
Thinking that, Jin Chen gazed at the bracelet on his wrist.
“Speaking of which, why isn’t this brat coming?”
The moment bright light flashed above Jin Chen’s head, Sybel materialized.
He descended in front of Jin Chen and said.
“What happened that you suddenly summoned me?”
A stiff expression and a blunt voice.
Anyone could see he was in no mood.
“Why are you late now?”
“I’ve been researching jiangshi. What’s the matter?”
“Why didn’t you come earlier? What were you doing?”
“You really don’t know what I was doing? …Are you asking that seriously?”
Jin Chen nodded after learning the formation and merging it with the magic circle. He had also installed it in the fortress.
He’d been so busy he hadn’t even had time to study about jiangshi.
That’s why, as soon as he finally had a moment to relax and research, this guy starts complaining.
“I told you I’d teach you! You said you wanted to learn by grabbing my crotch!”
“Grabbing my crotch? When did I ever say that……”
“And you installed the magic circle in the fortress because you said it was good? Now you come complaining? It’s my fault?”
“I never blamed you……”
“That’s why I said not to take head yellow beasts.”
At Jin Chen’s words, Geunyuk-i, who had been far away, shouted in a loud voice.
“Chaeju Hyung, you mean head black beasts?”
“Doesn’t matter! As long as the meaning gets across! Forget about me—hurry up and clean this up!”
“Yes, Chaeju Hyung!”
Sybel, who had heard the exchange with Geunyuk-i, twitched his eyebrows and said.
“You called me a beast just now?”
“Then are you human?”
“I am the noble dragon race! Not only did you call me a beast, you also said you tamed me! That is an insult to our clan!”
“I saved your life, didn’t I?”
Sybel’s mouth was suddenly shut tight.
“And I taught you the formation. I let you stay in the fortress. I even said I’d help with what you do. That’s almost like feeding and raising you!”
“I, I paid a fair price. I gave you all the gems from my lair. Our deal was——”
“Hey, hey! Take them. You’re eating me alive just because I gave you some gems. Take them! I’ll just tear through and rob them myself!”
Who’s the one eating me alive here!
Sybel forced down his boiling rage.
Don’t speak. Don’t speak!
While staying in the fortress, Sybel had realized one thing.
That one should never speak at length with this guy.
It was clearly good for the mind and body to only listen to the main point without debating.
Huuuuhuuu.
Sybel calmed his heart with a deep breath and opened his mouth again.
“Enough. Let’s get to the main point. Why did you summon me?”
“From now on, come right away. That’s what I told you when I marked the coordinates on the bracelet.”
“That was me saying to mark it for when those guys appear… Haaa. Got it, so talk about the main point already.”
“The brat is saying. He’ll come out like that from now on.”
Crunch.
When Sybel ground his teeth, Jin Chen gave a chin jerk toward Chloe and said.
“You, do you know who these guys are?”
Sybel finally began to examine Chloe’s back.
The people who had been staring blankly at Jin Chen and Sybel snapped back to their senses.
D-Dragons!
Everyone had heard clearly.
That he called himself a dragon.
Unable to hide their tense expressions, Sybel’s eyes lit up.
It was because he had spotted the embroidered pattern on the chest of the robe Chloe wore.
“Crescent moon and sun, crossed by a line. I never expected to see the children of the dawn goddess here.”
“That’s what he said.”
“Is there some problem with them?” GT
“They robbed us, but they were pretty strong. Sword masters and grand sword masters in this world, I guess.”
“So that’s who they were.”
Jin Chen nodded.
“Correct. Calling them a general guild would be too mild.”
“It would be an easy mistake to make.”
“Are the ones from this side’s religion like that normally?”
“The level of executors depends on which god they serve, but I believe most are at least sword master level.”
“How many executors?”
“Just like the saintess, there’s one who executes the will of the god.”
Jin Chen nodded again.
“Well, then there’s no problem.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There’ll be times when Bbakbbaki takes the kids with him.”
“D-Don’t tell me you’re planning to rob the temple procession too?”
“I’ve never seen richer people than those who serve gods.”
Sybel wore a dumbfounded expression.
Jin Chen looked at the middle-aged man standing off to the side with the mercenaries.
“Then is he a mercenary? His skill level looks pretty good.”
“Not just having a name—Kalard, called the king of mercenaries. He renounced his noble title and became a mercenary himself to seek out the strong and leave the continent.”
“Heh, a freak.”
At Jin Chen’s words, Kalard clenched his fist.
Not because he was angry.
Because this was probably the only chance he’d get.
Kalard lowered his head and shouted.
“Grant me guidance.”
No one was surprised by his action.
Everyone had heard.
That he saved a dragon.
And it was by a human.
How could an ordinary bandit do that?
Such thoughts never entered his mind.
Only awe and respect filled him.
Feeling that gaze, Jin Chen slowly opened his mouth.
“Why me?”
“I’ve wandered the world only to become stronger. But I could never quench my thirst for strength anywhere. But if it’s you! I believe I can quench my thirst with you.”
“So why are you demanding it from me?”
“Please grant me the magnanimity of a strong one.”
Kalard lowered his head even deeper.
The action was not easy for one called the mercenary king.
He must have received endless praise as a mercenary.
Just from seeing that action, one could tell how vast his thirst for strength was.
Jin Chen laughed with a “heeh” and said.
“You’re asking a bandit for magnanimity?”
“Y-Yeah, that’s right.”
“Well, I’ve seen all kinds of weirdos, but I’ve never seen one trying to eat a bandit alive.”
“N-No, as a strong one……”
Kalard was bewildered by the unexpected reaction.
Jin Chen erased the smile on his lips and gave a chin jerk toward Bbakbbaki.
“You, are they the type who just did whatever?”
“Um.”
“Until not long ago, they were mercenaries. But why are they standing here now? I saved their lives. And they’re standing here to pay it back.”
Every gaze turned to Bbakbbaki.
In that gaze, Bbakbbaki wore a bitter expression.
It wasn’t because the gaze was unwelcome.
It was because he felt sorry and ashamed.
To Jin Chen, who compared him to the mercenary king.
And to someone who had nothing else.
Without knowing whether Bbakbbaki understood or not, Jin Chen continued.
“Of course, there are those who said they’d follow me because they wanted to become strong. No, they definitely would. Do you know why I accepted those guys even knowing that? Unlike you who only think of swallowing me up while claiming to teach, those guys gave me everything from the start.”
“What did they give?”
“What do you mean? Their lives.”
Kalard pressed his lips shut.
No matter how strong he was, learning was important, but would he really give his life to a total stranger, one that was also a bandit? Could he really do that?
While he was thinking that, Jin Chen curled the corner of his mouth upward.
“Thinking about it means you’ve already lost. If you truly wanted strength, nothing could have come before it.”
“N-No, I……”
“Just live like that, begging for your whole life. While being treated as the mercenary king. In my opinion, that suits you perfectly.”
What kind of insult is this?
Kalard opened his eyes wide and froze his body.
However, Jin Chen paid it no mind and looked at Bbakbbaki.
“Shoulders straight? Head up!”
“Y-Yes!”
“Who told you to be so down? Didn’t you learn from the elders? Bandits are all about momentum and dignity! No matter who you meet, you have to glare and act cool! So, how are you going to chew up this continent!”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“I won’t do it again.”
Bbakbbaki raised his head sharply and shouted like a newbie, shoulders tense.
At that sight, Jin Chen nodded with a big head bob and looked at Bbakbbaki.
“Hey! Bbakbbaki!”
“Yes, Chaeju-nim!”
“There’s only one step left.”