Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Green Forest Assembly (1)
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To Cheongun, the kind of villains worth killing weren't defined by any single trait.
If he had to pick a common thread, it was that they were the sort he wanted to kill no matter the hassle.
Killing them cleared his mind and cleaned up the world, so there was no reason not to.
Of course, Cheongun didn't kill people just because they annoyed him.
Unless they picked a fight first, he wasn't the world's greatest hero obligated to take them all out one by one.
"Then why did you kill them?"
"Because they picked a fight."
Cheongun answered Ryeon's question bluntly.
Back in his newbie days before possession, Cheongun had been killed countless times by Gangho Cheon of the Yunbong Mountain Bandits across numerous playthroughs.
Thus, in every subsequent run, he had wiped them out without fail.
And truthfully, weren't they scum whose daily behavior was utter trash?
So to Cheongun, they were garbage worth killing.
At that moment, Ryeon pointed to one side with her fingertip.
A single bandit-looking guy remained there.
"Then why'd you let that one live?"
"Because he's young."
That's what Cheongun thought.
The older humans get, the more rigid their thinking becomes, and their egos swell disproportionately.
Squander those years, and eventually, they refuse to admit fault, reflect, or trust anything beyond their narrow worldview.
Especially those who'd lived their whole lives as trash.
Reformation was impossible for them.
Well, possible, but it took far too long.
Young ones, though, still had flexible minds ripe for change.
Besides, while the others brazenly demanded tolls with swords drawn, this kid alone had seemed reluctant, glancing around nervously and moving half-heartedly.
And there were still questions for him.
Cheongun spoke up.
"So, was what you said earlier true?"
"Pardon?"
Cheongun addressed the man he presumed was underling to Gangho Cheon.
The guy looked brutal enough to snap a neck barehanded, yet he responded in a chirpy voice with a blank stare—someone you just wanted to smack.
"The Green Forest Assembly. Didn't you say with your own mouth it's in a few days?"
The man nodded frantically at Cheongun's question.
"O-Of course it's true! Why would I dare lie to a great hero like you?"
"Fair enough."
Cheongun nodded.
If it was a lie, he'd have followed the buried stronghold leader earlier.
"But."
As Cheongun spoke, the man's gaze locked onto him.
"It's a tournament, so is there a prize?"
"Absolutely. There is."
"How much?"
"Well... it changes every year, so it's hard to say exactly. But it's half of the total tribute the seventy-two strongholds pay to Green Forest HQ annually, so it should be quite a sum, right?"
Half of the total tribute.
His senses sharpened instantly.
In the Central Plains, banditry—evil reputation aside—was actually a high-income profession.
And what?
Half of the annual tribute from seventy-two strongholds?
For real? This was legit?
"Where's the Green Forest Assembly held?"
"Head to the heart of the Dalu Mountains, and you'll find a peak called Golden Buddha Mountain. That's where it's held every year."
So Ye-rin, who had been listening quietly, nodded slightly.
"Conveniently on our way."
Jeok Hwa-ryeon picked up.
"If we head out now, we won't be late."
"Roughly four or five days' walk, so even on foot, we'll make it."
Both So Ye-rin and Jeok Hwa-ryeon raised their voices in agreement.
They were executives of their respective factions.
Jeok Hwa-ryeon led the Darkwood Sect, So Ye-rin the Filth Gate.
Traits of both: first, unorthodox factions; second, growing larger by the day thanks to their mad sect leaders.
Naturally, bigger size meant bigger expenses.
So the thought struck them.
Green Forest Assembly.
With a prize of half the total tribute, no less.
How much was that exactly?
Already short on cash, why pass up such windfall?
Besides, wasn't bandit-hoarded money ownerless anyway?
Just like that, their minds aligned.
Clearly influenced by Cheongun's constant money-worship mantra.
Cheongun nodded and said,
"You. What's your name?"
The dazed man blinked and replied.
"Jin Ga-bok."
"Ga-bok. Guide us."
"Pardon? Guide you? Where?"
Cheongun clicked his tongue.
"Ugh, you idiot. Where do you think? The Green Forest Assembly, duh. Guide us there."
Jin Ga-bok stared at Cheongun.
"Wait, what are you going to do there?"
"None of your business. Just guide us."
Cheongun said with utter seriousness.
Jin Ga-bok, meanwhile, looked at him like a madman.
"It's... literally the Green Forest Assembly, great hero."
"Who doesn't know that?"
"It's not open to just anyone. Only Green Forest bandits, and specifically one stronghold leader per lair."
"I know. You idiot, Ga-bok."
"Then why go if you can't even enter?"
"Who says I can't enter?"
Jin Ga-bok replied hesitantly.
"Because you're not a Green Forest bandit."
At that, Cheongun spoke fondly.
"I killed the Yunbong Mountain Stronghold leader."
"Pardon?"
"From now on, I'm the Yunbong Mountain Stronghold leader."
"..."
Madman.
Jin Ga-bok gave up trying to understand.
Cheongun's appearance trudging along the mountain path was uniquely bizarre in every way.
It made sense.
Days of grueling trekking had left his clothes ragged, and slung over his shoulder was a fishing rod, making him stand out even more.
Unlike his shabby attire, his eyes gleamed sharper than ever.
He'd spent every waking hour minus walking and sleeping plotting how to claim the assembly's prize.
Jin Ga-bok, leading the way with heavy steps, glanced back and muttered,
"Great hero, can't we just turn back now and go our separate ways?"
"Shut it, Ga-bok."
Jin Ga-bok pleaded almost desperately.
"They say even the Green Forest King attends to watch! If we're caught, how do you plan to handle the fallout?"
"I'm the Yunbong Mountain Stronghold leader."
"..."
Madman. Totally insane!
Did he think killing first fixed everything?
Reading Jin Ga-bok's mind, Cheongun replied,
"It will."
"..."
From Cheongun's view, it was true.
From Jin Ga-bok's, it was maddening.
He couldn't get tangled with this lunatic and face a purge.
"Then can I just guide you and head back to my stronghold?"
Jeok Hwa-ryeon cut in.
"Think that'll fly, you moron?"
Cheongun followed up.
"Ga-bok, you idiot. Is that even a question?"
So Ye-rin chimed in once more.
"Tsk tsk. Moron. That's why you wander as a bandit."
"..."
Now he saw—the madness wasn't just one person.
The whole group was unhinged.
Hearing "moron" echoed like a hallucination, Jin Ga-bok bristled.
"My martial arts may be weak, but I'm not a moron..."
"Shut it."
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Jin Ga-bok summoned every ounce of patience.
Cheongun, whistling tunelessly as he walked, asked,
"Those bandit-lookalikes passing by—are they Green Forest too?"
"...I'm too dumb to know."
At that, Cheongun gazed wistfully and raised a fist.
"Summer..."
"Yes! You're right! As we near the destination, more are showing up."
Jin Ga-bok swiftly cut off Cheongun's nonsense.
Beating him to the punch before more summer drivel.
Cheongun turned regretfully to eye the passersby.
They screamed "I'm a bandit" with their fierce looks.
Bulging eyes and massive cleavers slung over shoulders marked them as assembly participants.
About five per group.
Perfectly matched fives suggested a rule.
"Why five?"
"That's the rule."
Cheongun asked again.
"And us?"
"Uh, four?"
"Ga-bok, not just dumb—you're oblivious too. Everyone else comes in fives, and we're four. What happens then?"
"Uh, well... maybe we can't join?"
Cheongun clapped in admiration.
"Impressive, Ga-bok, you idiot. Your stupidity is endlessly fresh."
Jeok Hwa-ryeon followed.
"Hey, moron. There's a limit to stupidity. What good is saying that now?"
So Ye-rin nodded along.
"Moron. Among those I've met, you're top-tier dumb."
"...Can you stop calling me dumb?"
Cheongun, Jeok Hwa-ryeon, and So Ye-rin shouted in unison.
"Shut it."
"Fuck."
It was a real problem.
Green Forest Assembly required teams of five.
Even Cheongun hadn't known.
No Green Forest route in the original story.
Cheongun clicked his tongue and spoke.
"We need one more person."
Ryeon tilted her head.
"Where do we find that one?"
"No idea. We'll figure it out."
"How about bashing one of those passersby?"
Jin Ga-bok shook his head.
"Touching fellow Green Forest before the event disqualifies you."
So Ye-rin scoffed.
"Forget the assembly—why not kill them all?"
"No justification."
"Threaten the Green Forest King then?"
"That's reasonable."
Jin Ga-bok was floored.
Weren't these Justice Alliance folks?
How could their warriors act so thuggish?
They suited banditry better than anyone.
Then.
"...Huh?"
Jeok Hwa-ryeon, staring somewhere, let out a sigh.
All eyes turned at her sigh.
A low hill stood there, a figure ascending it.
A man with a notably shiny bald pate; squinting revealed him gradually.
Jin Ga-bok sighed too upon recognizing him.
One hand clutched a gourd of rice wine, the other prayer beads.
A bald monk chugging liquor in broad daylight.
As the stronghold's intel guy, Jin Ga-bok knew him well.
"Three Madmen..."
Another of the Three Madmen.
Bang Jong-dae.