Chapter 25: Murim (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25: Murim (2)
“Hah, haah, huff!!”
“Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.”
I ran like a madman through the dense forest.
Even as I pushed through all sorts of obstacles like bushes and branches, my magic-enhanced body reached speeds nearing forty kilometers per hour.
However, the crushing pressure of the terrifying killing intent aimed at the back of my neck didn't fade in the slightest. In fact, it was getting closer.
“Hey! I told you I didn't peek on purpose!”
“Silence, heretic.”
There was no getting through to her.
Her voice was so cold it felt like my head had already been lopped off.
‘Should I try to subdue her?’
I couldn't be sure, but the skill gap between us probably wasn't that large.
Against an opponent of equal skill, I had the advantage with my hidden card: magic. Besides, I knew several spells for restraining people, so I was confident I could subdue her if I had to.
But her job description in the profile gave me pause.
[Name: Cheon Yeo-hwa
Age: 20
Affiliation: AXZ-174
Occupation: 2nd Princess of the Heavenly Demonic Cult
Disposition: ??]
‘The Heavenly Demonic Cult?!’
As you could see from her profile, the woman's identity was none other than the 2nd Princess of the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
That meant this was a world straight out of a Murim novel.
What if I not only peeked at the naked body of the Demonic Cult's princess but also subdued her?
‘There he is! Kill that pervert!’
‘It is the Cult Leader's command! For the honor of our princess, tear off his limbs and feed them to the dogs!!’
‘Kieeeeeeek!!’
Just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine.
If she were from the Orthodox Faction, I might have had a chance to explain myself, but it was naive to think I'd get that opportunity with those crazy Demonic Cult bastards.
‘Of all people, why did I have to get matched with the daughter of a nationwide gang leader?!’
This was so fucking unfair.
Is this my fault? The app has been screwing me over with these malicious spawn points since last time.
“Just listen to what I have to say!”
She wasn't even responding anymore.
She just kept charging at me like a serial killer, intent on slitting my throat.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
If I just kept running, this would never end.
But subduing her? That would be a poor move, just ignoring the bigger problem right in front of me.
“Kyaaak?!”
“?!”
Just as I was frantically running without any solution in sight, Cheon Yeo-hwa's scream from behind made me stop in my tracks.
For a moment, I wondered if it was a trap, but Cheon Yeo-hwa—who had been chasing me with the intent to... no, who was definitely going to kill me—was lying on the ground, pinned under some strange net.
‘What is that?’
Just then, someone emerged from the nearby bushes.
“Khahaha! We finally got her!”
“Damn, I thought she was gorgeous from a distance, but up close, her beauty is insane.”
“Wow, if we'd tried to catch her head-on, a few of us would've died. This iron net cost a fortune, and she's already trying to break free.”
“We got lucky. Never thought we'd find such a prime catch on our way back to the stronghold.”
My confusion at the unexpected situation was brief. A few men appeared, their visuals screaming, ‘Hi, we're bandits!’
There were about a dozen of them.
“You pieces of trash!!”
Wait... those guys obviously threw the net, so why is she yelling at me?
Is this another one of those bullshit situations I have to endure?
“Boss, look how smooth this bitch's skin is. She looks like a rich man's daughter. You sure this is okay?”
“You idiot.”
“Ack?!”
“If you're scared of something like that, why be a bandit? We're not the Green Forest Clan. We'll just pass her around for a bit and move our stronghold. Who's gonna know?”
Hmm, for an ugly bastard, he's got a loud mouth.
Thanks to that, I could hear every single word they said.
So, those guys spotted Cheon Yeo-hwa and me during our chase through the forest? And they were so captivated by her looks that they tried to kidnap her, and succeeded?
‘Those idiots don't even realize the apple they're about to eat is poisoned.’
If this Heavenly Demonic Cult was anything like the ones in the stories I knew, they'd burn down several mountains just to hunt these guys down, even if they moved their base.
Of course, since I'm a kind man who loves nature, I'll make sure that doesn't happen.
“Hey.”
The bandits' gazes all turned to me at once.
They were saying something, but I didn't feel like listening.
“Well, uh... I don't really have anything to say.”
I took a wand from my inventory and aimed it at them.
“Drop dead.”
[Chain Flame Circle]
A streak of fire shot from the magic circle at the speed of light, piercing through their bodies.
“Kuaaaargh!?!!”
“Uwaaack!!!”
“H-Hot!!!?”
The screams of the bandits, suddenly set ablaze, echoed throughout the forest.
Engulfed in flames, they rolled on the ground and ran around frantically, trying to put out the fire, but the flames only burned more fiercely, using their bodies as kindling.
Before long, the bandits were roasted whole, collapsing to the ground like trash.
For bandits, they lasted quite a while.
And strangely enough, they were still alive.
“Ugh, ughhh...”
“Eee, eeeh...”
“Guuuhhh...”
To think they were still alive after being burned black like charcoal... is this the mystery of the human body?
I suppose it's because I lowered the spell's power so I wouldn't hit Cheon Yeo-hwa.
I looked away from the mysterious men. If they died after suffering like that for a while, it should be enough to appease the souls of their past victims.
Their voices were disgusting to listen to, but I could put up with it.
“Just wait a second, I'll get you out of there.”
I carefully freed Cheon Yeo-hwa from the iron net, making sure not to hurt her.
By the way, I thought it would be cheap since bandits were using it, but I was surprised by how heavy it was.
I don't think even I could have escaped it easily if I'd been caught.
“You okay?”
Freed from the net, Cheon Yeo-hwa stared at me with a strange expression.
Sigh. She must be stunned by how handsome I am.
“...Why.”
“Hm?”
“Why did you save me?”
“Want to get back in?”
When I pretended to lift the iron net, she scurried backward. I sighed.
It's bad enough I almost got stabbed, but now she's questioning me after I saved her.
“Was I supposed to just stand by and watch a woman get dragged off and raped by bandits?”
“...I see. You didn't want anyone else to take what you've already claimed for yourself. Just like a pervert.”
“What the f—!”
This woman was impossible.
“Why am I a pervert?!”
“Did you not peek at a woman's naked body?”
“It was a misunderstanding! I have a girlfriend who's prettier than you! Why would I risk my life to peek at some woman with a sword while she's bathing?!”
“Hoh? That is a claim I cannot simply overlook.”
Cheon Yeo-hwa suddenly swept her damp bangs aside and gave me a provocative smile.
“There cannot possibly be a woman in this world more beautiful than I. A man's pathetic attempt to protect his pride is truly laughable.”
“...”
With her translucent skin, ruby-red eyes, and a figure accentuated by her wet, clinging clothes, she was undeniably a great beauty, comparable to Iris.
And her chest, too.
‘They were magnificent earlier.’
Not as big as Iris's, but they were close.
“Seeing as you can't answer, it seems it was just an empty boast after all.”
Her strangely triumphant tone was getting on my nerves.
I admit Cheon Yeo-hwa is as pretty as Iris, but she's not prettier.
If I could, I would've shot back, ‘What bullshit, of course my girlfriend is prettier,’ but the situation didn't allow for it.
I'm scared of the Heavenly Demonic Cult.
“Anyway, I'm sorry for peeking, but it really wasn't on purpose. It was an accident neither of us wanted, so how about we just move on?”
“Unacceptable. You dare try to walk away after peeking at the naked body of a maiden who has yet to marry?”
“...What do you want?”
This was a miserable, pathetic moment where the power dynamic was crystal clear.
Seriously, it's the app's fault for summoning me to such a weird place, not mine, right?
Honestly, if it weren't for her background as the princess of the Heavenly Demonic Cult and the fact that she was my match, I would've just subdued her, apologized, and then either traveled with her or ditched her. It's fucking frustrating that I can't.
“How strange.”
“...What is?”
The hint of amusement in her voice made me even more anxious.
“Is it not your wish to beg for my mercy and save your life? Then it should be your role to decide what you will offer in exchange for your life. How shameless for a pervert.”
Wow...
Strange. We'd only just met and barely exchanged a few words, but I somehow already had a good idea of what a terrible personality she had.
Is this some kind of mind-reading?
“So I can give you anything?”
“Of course. However, it will be my decision whether to grant you mercy or my blade in return for your offering.”
Why are you suddenly cleaning your sword?
‘Sigh...’
As I sighed internally, I tried to recall what I had in my inventory and what I'd packed in my bag.
What do I have right now that a woman might want?
I couldn't just get away with offering something mediocre. My opponent was the daughter of a crazy cult leader who, in most stories, could take on the entire Orthodox Murim faction by herself.
I had no idea why a woman like that was bathing in the middle of the woods, but the need to give her something that would please a rich man's daughter was giving me decision paralysis.
‘...Will this do?’
Most of the food I'd packed was high-calorie emergency rations. Of course, if I ran out of food, I could just end the match, but what if a situation arose where I couldn't?
I hoped it wouldn't come to that, but it was better to be prepared, so I'd packed mainly emergency food.
And among snacks, chocolate is a superb emergency food, being relatively nutritious and high in fat.
“Here.”
“This is...?”
I handed her a chocolate bar I'd bought at a convenience store.
Just a plain, ordinary chocolate bar.
“How peculiar... It doesn't seem to be a jewel... and this crinkling wrapper is fascinating. I have certainly never seen such a thing. Is this an item of the barbarians?”
Hey, lady. You can't just call someone's ancestors barbarians...
Of course, cacao doesn't originate from Korea, but this was made in Korea.
Being hit with a sudden ancestor diss left my mind reeling.
“Not barbarians. Haedong.”
“Haedong? Ah, you must mean the country by the eastern sea. Then are they not barbarians?”
“You...!”
I'm not the most patriotic guy, but I couldn't tolerate someone calling my roots barbarian.
I don't care if someone insults Korea.
But I can't stand being called a descendant of barbarians.
“Huhu, for a pervert, you seem to hold your homeland dear.”
“What are you... Ugh, stop talking nonsense and just eat it.”
“Eat it? You mean this black lump is food?”
“What, you think it's an elixir?”
Even I can't get my hands on elixirs.
Actually, I wanted to buy an elixir as soon as I saved up enough money. But they cost a fortune, so I couldn't even dream of it.
‘...Wait a minute. Murim means elixirs.’
A sudden desire to become a Divine Thief and make my name known throughout these Central Plains began to bubble up inside me.
In a world without CCTVs or psychometrists, it might be easier than I thought.
‘If I took elixirs I don't need and sold them at an auction house, how much money would that be?!’
I could almost see my future self, popping open a bottle of (anyway, it's fucking expensive) wine in a penthouse.
“Haah...”
A sensual moan snapped me out of my delusion of a bright and prosperous future.
In Cheon Yeo-hwa's hand was the now-empty chocolate wrapper, neatly folded.
“This black, pill-like food you gave me... its appearance was a bit off-putting, but the taste is magnificent. It is sweeter and more intense than any confection I have ever had.”
Cheon Yeo-hwa's face after eating the chocolate was dangerous.
The combination of her slightly unfocused eyes and the reddish blush on her pale white skin elevated her beauty by several levels.
Who eats a convenience store chocolate like they're in an R-rated photoshoot?
“But you called me a pervert. Is it okay to just eat something a pervert gives you?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but poison does not work on me. Besides, if it were a bewitching powder or an aphrodisiac this sweet, I would welcome it anytime.”
What the... Is the princess of the Heavenly Demonic Cult immune to all poisons or something?
“So, do you have any more?”
“What?”
“Surely you did not intend to atone for the grave sin of peeking at my naked body with just one of these?”
How can she be so shameless?
But she was so beautiful, I could forgive her.
Still, I was pissed that she'd branded an innocent, model citizen as a peeping tom pervert, so I didn't want to just give it to her.
“I don't have any.”
“That is a lie. How many cunning men do you think I have met? They at least try to hide their intentions. Yet, you do not even make that effort.”
“Because it's not a lie.”
“Don't tell me you're pouting because I called you a pervert? Huhu, what a petty man.”
“...”
Can't you just give me a different match?
[Tip. A bond is a precious thing that cannot be exchanged for anything.]
Fuck...