The Strangest Compliment
"What? That's me."
It was the most absurd thing Namgoong Juhee had encountered since stepping into the murim world. She'd overheard people badmouthing her before, but never showering her with compliments like this.
"Those crazy bastards."
With a single mutter, she turned toward the source of the voices.
A goatee and a sleazy-looking guy. Something about them felt familiar, and digging through her memory, she recalled the wanted posters from earlier.
These were the ones who'd racked up the triple crown: robbery, kidnapping, murder. Guts spilling out their asses, huh. Daring to eat in a tavern like this? That was Juhee's thought.
If they'd heard it, they would've been baffled. Setting aside their thorough disguises, what else were they supposed to do in a tavern but eat? It sounded ridiculous.
So Namgoong Juhee decided to give them a chance to explain themselves.
There were other customers around, but... justice always required a bit of collateral damage. Like pulling over for an ambulance. That kind of vibe. With her own twisted logic, Juhee started moving.
"Amhyang Pyo!" "Huashan Sect!"
Cheers erupted from around the tavern. Like applause before a show.
Normally, the two who'd been singing her praises would've joined in. But those hidden darts were headed straight for them. Better to fiddle with their own darts than cheer. That's why their hands dove into their pockets.
"Hm? What is it, wench? Got business with us?"
"Heh, think she overheard us? Hey, she looks familiar... Oh, check it out! This is Namgoong Juhee! The bitch we were just talking about."
"Ah, heh heh. Damn, she is a looker. Face you'd wanna eat right up."
They clocked her identity immediately and cackled. No surprise— the Namgoong family didn't have the resources to track down every thug. They wouldn't hire assassins just to catch a couple of perverts, and Juhee wasn't famous for her martial prowess. At best, 3rd Rate. They figured they could take her, no problem.
"Right, Namgung Sojeo... Nah, hey you bitch. You know where you are?"
"Think we look easy just 'cause you can run a bit? Know who we are?"
"……."
"Hey, this bitch is scared shitless? What do we do? Did we scare her too bad?"
"Aw, poor thing. Need a hug from big bro? Heh heh heh... I'll treat you real nice."
The sleazier's laugh was downright creepy. And the way he reached out, wiggling his fingers. Classic extra mob vibe.
"Hey! Say something—! Gurk?"
"Yeah, sounds like you guys were having a fun chat. Mind if I join?"
Namgoong Juhee flashed a grin.
Normally, they'd welcome her with open arms. The top beauty (and virgin) in the province smiling and asking to sit? They'd roll out the red carpet.
But that welcome vanished. The sleazy one's jaw dangled loose— then thunk. Off it came. In the blink of an eye.
"A...! Ah—! Haaarghhh!"
"Ch... Chugwi!"
"Chugwi? Don't care if it's your name or nickname— fits like a glove. What're you, Orphan Ghost? No-Mommy Ghost?"
"You... you crazy bitch!"
"Hey, it's me, Namgoong Juhee. The one with the easy-lay jar of soybean paste. You're next, right?"
Juhee pulled out her Noksu sword, thinking. Come to think of it, there's that game where pulling weapons in town makes NPCs hostile. Assassin's Creed? GTA? Whatever, I'll figure it out later.
Curious as ever. She didn't believe anything she hadn't seen with her own eyes. No hesitation— out came the Noksu.
"Come on, one at a time or both together, your call. Just one jaw busted so far— you can still fight."
"Fuck, Chugwi! You good to fight?"
"Haa! Hooorrrgh!"
Whatever it meant, sounded like a yes. Even if he won, he wouldn't last long. Clinging to life so beautifully!
With Juhee's inner monologue, the Noksu flashed. At the same instant, darts flew from both men's sleeves.
"Fuck this! Kill her!"
"Hrrgh! Arrrghhh!"
Fast speed, menacing power. If Juhee knew her dart arts cold, she'd have yelled "Cheok Jeuk Gyeol!" and upheld murim justice on the spot.
But Juhee was fresh out of the tutorial. No way she knew obscure assassin tricks.
Clang!Clang!
The Noksu flickered twice, and the darts hit the floor. She'd already beheaded the Whirlwind Ghost. Slaughtered bandits galore. No rookie flailing at no-name NPC hidden weapons.
"Too slow."
Slice.
The guy's head— who'd been praising her so freely— hit the ground. Then, chopsticks.
"Grrrk!"
"Like this? Feels right."
"You motherfuuu...!"
The man groped the chopstick in his eye, seething. A lifetime of secret arts stolen by some girl in seconds. If that didn't piss you off, you weren't a martial artist. Positively, one-eyed pass.
But if he'd known the truth, he might not have been so mad. She hadn't mastered Cheok Jeuk Gyeol perfectly— just mimicked the form. All an act.
"Big skill gap, right?"
"Why...! Why! Kill over a little insult? Is this Namgoong justice?!"
"Hm... is it?"
The goatee's eyes twitched. One life taken, another half-blinded. And her response? "Hm... is it?" Infuriatingly absurd.
Even more rage-inducing: he couldn't do shit about it. Just yell and curse. No real damage to Juhee.
"N-Namgoong Hero. Please end it here. One eye and a friend's life for gossip— fair, right?"
"Why should I?"
"N-Name your price. C-Compensation, even."
"Hm... ."
Juhee pondered. Money? Loot it off the corpse. Plenty of ways to get more. Demand something only a live one could give. Vicious thought.
"That throwing art then? Hidden technique?"
"Cheok Jeuk Gyeol, you mean?"
"Yeah, that. Chant the incantation."
The goatee hesitated. Martial arts were a martial artist's life. And Cheok Jeuk Gyeol? Years of errands, grunt work, humiliation. A decade to master. Spill it just like that?
"Gotta tell her, then."
He muttered under his breath. All that suffering meant nothing if dead. He recited promptly.
"Killing intent stays not in the hand, will stays not in the eyes. The throw comes before thought..."
Juhee listened quietly. Focus power without hesitation— key. She practiced a few motions, nodded like she'd got it.
"Okay. Like this? Got the gist."
"Th-then... you'll let me live...?"
"Nah?"
"Our deal! You said if I chanted—!"
"When did I?"
Goatee racked his brain. Right— she never promised life. Just asked for the chant. He'd been a total idiot spilling secrets for nothing.
"Th-that's not murim way! No formal agreement, but context implies—!"
"Oh, true."
"Then...?"
"Tell Jesus that in heaven. Good logic. You tried."
Slice. Goatee's head landed beside his buddy's.
⋯
"Whew... good meal."
Thoroughly satisfying. Hongsuyuk, was it? Tender fat, perfect spicy kick. Yeomsoju hit nice too— cleared the richness. Perfect pairing.
Top-class waiter handles orders and cleanup flawlessly. Juhee's verdict.
Blood splatters gone in a flash. Fleeing customers rounded up. Even the bailiff called to wrap it official-like. Not their first rodeo.
Thus, Juhee scored some silver from the "victims'" effects and a martial art. Farming mid-meal? Gamer's creed. Humming happily, she fidgeted her fingers practicing Cheok Jeuk Gyeol's essence.
"Like money?"
Famous basketball manga scene vibes.
Smooth timbre, subtle curiosity. A silvery voice that naturally turned heads.
"Oh."
Worth the hype, Juhee thought.
Red hair, snow-white skin. Exotic rarity in the Central Plains. Sharp features aside, absolute knockout.
No ordinary NPC. Juhee brimmed with anticipation.
"Name the first man on the moon?"
"……?"
"Kidding. First president of South Korea? 3, 2, 1..."
"No idea what you're on about."
"Ah... ."
Not a player. Named NPC, then. Juhee scratched her head.
"Tch, never mind. So, business?"
"Hee hee, cause that much commotion and expect zero interest? Normal."
"Eh, I'd think 'stay the hell away' first."
"Someone who knows that still slaughters so brutally? More dignified ways existed."
Dignity? For real life. In games, nothing topped fun. Juhee grinned.
"I don't hold back. Fuck that noise."
"My, how cool."
"Cool? Fall for me then. I like girls."
"Such a joker."
The redhead brushed off Juhee's crude banter. Eyes sparkling, like more intrigued.
"Looking for someone just like you, young hero."
"Eh? Me?"
"Tough... beautiful... and righteous."
"Yeah, pretty much."
Conscience-shattering line. If Namgoong folks heard— Sihoon included— they'd spit blood. Good thing none were here.
"Hee hee, you're fun."
Redhead extended her hand, oblivious.
Handshake? Games used fist salutes.
Curious but no reason to refuse a beauty's hand. Then— a coin in her palm.
"Gold piece?"
"Just to start building rapport."
"Hm. Names first, usually?"
"Oh dear, how absent-minded of me."
Like Juhee should know her. Juhee guessed: one of the beauties those dead guys mentioned. Bingo.
"I'm Yi Hayeon. Sub-branch head of the Eonha Merchant Group."
Pretty as hell, Juhee's take.