I’m Thirsty
Episode 18
The bandit chief let out a triumphant shout.
"What a beautifully honed blade. And all this liquor, too... I like it. Put everything in the warehouse."
Apparently mistaking it for ordinary liquor, the chief kept gulping it down in high spirits.
He had no idea that it would be his last drink.
"You lot!! Move faster."
With a grotesque grin, the man slapped the deputy chief on the back and laughed loudly.
"You didn’t even suspect a thing and drank the whole lot... impressive."
"You’re amazing... how did you know?"
"Keep your mouth shut."
Bandits like these were usually addicted to rough liquor.
That was what made them bandits.
Laugh while you still can.
Once you’re in the Yellow Springs, you won’t even have that luxury.
"Kahahaha!! To think you’d offer tribute of your own free will. Your village will be specially..."
The bandit chief couldn’t even finish his sentence.
In the next moment, a loud gong rang out, and one of the bandits came sprinting in, shouting in a panic.
"Looks like he still hasn’t come to his senses and is back again."
At the sound of the gong, the chief immediately snatched up a large saber.
"Chief, Chief!!!"
"What is all this racket?"
"The insolent bandits have gathered at the foot of the mountain! We need to deal with them right away!"
The chief shot us a sidelong glance, then shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Those bastards!! Everyone, move out! Today, I’ll cut off the heads of those cocky thieves myself! Deputy Chief, you stay behind with the guards and keep the mountain camp secure!!"
"You’re taking everyone except the guard squad? Chief, isn’t that dangerous...?"
"What, you expect me to hide away from a bunch of trash like that?"
"...Ah, no. Please be careful."
The bandit chief led his underlings away and vanished in an instant.
Seeing him throw away the advantage of the mountain stronghold and charge downhill, it was obvious he’d gone only to protect his pride.
He was a hundred points as a warrior, but zero as a leader.
I’d heard that the bandits had avoided direct clashes so far and only relied on night raids and guerrilla tactics.
The fact that they were now openly challenging us meant they must have already prepared a countermeasure for the chief.
Idiot.
No wonder the Green Forest bandits were called the village punching bag.
Once you drank drugged liquor without suspicion, there was a good chance you’d never come back.
The fool was the one who drank whatever was handed to him without a single doubt.
This was the price of his carelessness.
At this point, there was no need to wait until nightfall.
"Hey, you bastards—hurry up and move this..."
A fountain of blood burst into the air.
Slash—
Unfortunately, the deputy chief couldn’t finish his sentence either.
"W-What are you doing...?"
"The deputy chief!!!"
Because his body and head were separated.
Swish—
Swish—
Even while they were thrown into confusion by the deputy chief’s death, the bandits drew their blades in an instant like true members of the Green Forest, but...
It didn’t matter.
No one in the mountain camp could stop me now.
Whatever the method, all I had to do was get the granddaughter out safely.
The corners of my mouth lifted.
Taking a little extra compensation was my right, after all.
"Hand over everything you’ve got."
*
"Sob... sob sob."
"......"
In the dark room where not a single ray of light seeped in, only sorrowful crying filled the air.
"Hic... I... why do I have to end up like this...?"
A young woman was weeping miserably.
Normally, seeing someone cry so pitifully would make another person want to comfort her, but everyone just watched coldly.
In fact, they’d be lucky if nobody snapped at them to shut up.
The filth and stench strewn all over the place told the story of their situation all too clearly.
"Someone shut her up!"
"Yes, sister..."
Even in that filthy, reeking room, there was still a hierarchy; several gaunt women got to their feet and clenched their fists.
In a place like this, violence was more effective than words.
"Stop it. At least let her cry."
But a golden-haired girl stepped in front of them.
How arrogant. She still hasn’t figured out her situation.
I didn’t like the liveliness still left in her eyes.
She could afford to say things like that because it had only been a day since she’d arrived.
Once she’d been used as bandit fodder even once, she wouldn’t be speaking so casually.
Let’s see how she talks after tonight, or after tomorrow night.
"This isn’t the time for that. You should be thinking about how to get out of here together."
"Ha. Seriously?"
At the golden-haired girl’s calm words, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.
Not just me—the exhausted women nearby all burst out laughing as well.
It was because her words were so utterly unrealistic.
How was anyone supposed to escape the Green Forest stronghold, which sat in the middle of a deep mountain range?
There were more than a hundred bandits staying in the mountain camp alone.
Even if you somehow managed to slip out by luck, the chief was a master of martial arts.
If he set his mind to it, getting caught would only be a matter of time.
Stupid bitch.
She really got on my nerves.
It wasn’t just her looks; her personality was irritating too.
"......"
"Don’t spout bullshit, you crazy bitch. How the hell are you supposed to get out of here?"
"Someone might come rescue us!! Don’t lose hope!!"
"Pfft!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Ahaha... Are you serious right now?"
I couldn’t hold back and laughed again.
It wasn’t strange.
After all, I’d once had that same hope—that someone would come save me.
"It’s not bullshit...!!"
Of course, it was a hope that would never be fulfilled.
Never....
Smack—
A stick is the best medicine for a moron who can’t read the room.
Smack—!
Smack—!!
She’d understand naturally in time, but I couldn’t wait for that.
Her cheek swelled up in an instant.
"Nonsense."
"Ugh... Then are you planning to stay here for the rest of your life?!"
"Shut up! Let’s see how long you can keep babbling!"
Getting used to being hit by the golden-haired girl was no problem.
Right now, I just needed something to take my frustration out on.
An idiot...
She was impossible to talk to.
The moment I raised my hand again—
Clank, clank.
Creak.
Thud—
With the sound of a lock being undone, the door began to move.
At the unfamiliar noise, the women’s crying stopped.
So did all their movements.
It couldn’t be a bandit.
Not long had passed since lunch had been served.
And besides, given the chief’s temperament, any man who sneaked in to lay a hand on a woman would be executed immediately; without his permission, no one should’ve been allowed in at all...
......
Gulp.
All around, I could hear the sound of swallowing.
The door slowly opened, and the person who appeared was...
"Is Miss Paeng Gayeon here?"
...an unimaginably handsome man I had never seen before.
He was looking for someone.
"...Ugh, i-it’s me."
The one who answered the handsome man’s question was the golden-haired girl who had been taking the beating.
"......"
Cold sweat ran down the back of my neck.
*
"Is there no other survivor?"
I slowly shook my head.
"There’s no one else here. Miss Paeng Gayeon, come with me. We need to get out of the mountain camp right away. Can you walk?"
She had been beaten after her meridians were sealed, and bruises covered her body here and there; even her legs were limping.
"This much is nothing."
The woman, still marked with streaks of dried tears, asked me with a face full of hope.
"A-Are you here to rescue us?"
The room was packed with women wearing rough hemp rags.
All of them had tired, worn-out faces.
"......"
A cute golden-haired girl with long hair down to her waist stared at me with blazing eyes.
This is troublesome.
I wanted to take only Paeng Gayeon and leave, but...
I had stormed the mountain camp claiming I’d rescue the common people, forgiven the woman who’d been beating her a moment ago, and now there was no way she’d quietly listen if I tried to take only her.
I finished thinking in an instant. There was no time to hesitate; escape came first.
I slowly nodded.
"That’s right. We don’t have time, so hurry and follow me."
*
*
*
North of Iseo, Ningxia.
Squelch!
A fountain of blood burst forth, and...
"Ghh... gggraaaah..."
Thud.
At last, I’d put down the final spy as he fled.
There was no helping it; the moment they were caught, they’d kill themselves.
"Hmph... They weren’t much after all."
"Those bastards... How dare they put me through so much trouble!"
Namgung Jin kicked the corpse, which was already cold and lifeless, again and again.
He really has no class.
I let out a quiet sigh and slowly wiped the blood from my blade.
Then I pulled a scroll from the dead man’s robes; stamped on it was the seal of Blood.
"I found it here."
We had successfully completed our first mission.
"Hoo... It’s finally over."
"Man. I really thought I was going to die."
Namgung Jin and the others were lying around in various places, catching their breath.
To be exhausted by this much... honestly.
In my eyes, they looked pathetic.
Still, I told myself this was better than back when I was in the Jintian squad.
Tang Soyeong needed strength.
Strength worthy of inheriting the Tang family.
Tang Soyeong smirked as she looked at Namgung Jin, who was sprawled out like an idiot.
At that moment, a certain man suddenly came to mind.
Come to think of it, Sojin was really handsome back then...
That rough, almost transformed look.
Could it be that he’d finally mastered the Jinblood Great Sword Art and the Advance Qi Great Daily Method?
If that was the case, then I...
"......"
She shook her head from side to side.
No way. That’s impossible. What a ridiculous thought.
He was weak, after all.
That was why he’d been driven out of the Jin family in the first place... what a foolish man.
Slowly, she rubbed her forehead.
Clench—
To think he’d do that to me... I’ll make him regret it...!
By now, after spending so long together, she considered herself to know Sojin well.
He was a kind man, an idiot who chased ideals.
A weak, indecisive, hopeless man.
Beating Namgung Jin had simply been luck.
That idiot had just fallen over on his own.
After all that moving around, her throat had gone dry.
She looked at Namgung Jin and said, "I’m thirsty. Go fetch me some tea."
"Miss Tang, who are you speaking to?"
"Who do you think? Don’t play dumb and hurry up and bring it."
She could feel everyone’s eyes on her.
He couldn’t even manage something this simple quickly... how pathetic.
The sight of Namgung Jin standing there with that stupidly open-mouthed expression made irritation surge through her.
"......"
"What are you waiting for? Are you deaf? I said I’m thirsty."
##