Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Standoff at the Abandoned Mine
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A man dressed in splendid robes furrowed his brow.
"What the hell are those? Did you actually guide us right?"
The rat-mustached man bowed even lower, sweating bullets.
"I'm certain, sir. They head out every morning and don't return until evening."
Vice Captain Rat of the Red Rose Knights confirmed his words.
"There are clear signs of training here, without a doubt."
The Red Rose Knights and the mercenaries were facing off across a wide clearing. And scattered across that clearing were fresh human footprints that looked recent.
"Is that so... But what are those?"
"He was definitely alone..."
The rat-mustached soldier, tasked with surveilling So Gun-ak around the clock from a safe distance, was dripping sweat. The mercenaries were just as flustered.
"Wh-who are you lot?"
"None of your business. Haven't seen a man in black clothes around here?"
The mercenary eyed Komora's bold question with a stiff face and shook his head.
"Nope."
"Hmmm, really? Then what's that guy?"
In the shadowy abandoned mine, a dozen men who looked plenty vicious at first glance had gathered. And they were surrounding a single man bound tight with rope, threatening him. Anyone could tell this wasn't exactly righteous business.
'Damn it. Of all the knights to show up, some nobodies...'
Lauter ground his teeth. Since founding his mercenary band, he'd never faced a crisis this big. If these knights played the hero and tried rescuing Jake over some misplaced sense of honor, they'd be sitting ducks.
But heaven must have been watching over him?
Jake, who should have been begging for his life, kept averting his eyes from that side, twisting his head away in panic, not knowing what to do.
Komora tilted his head at the sight of Jake.
"Hold on. That guy's face looks familiar. Let me see it."
Cha-chang!
The Red Rose Knights drew their swords in unison. They were ready to charge and cut them down if he didn't comply. Lauter flinched and grabbed Jake's head, forcing his face forward.
Komora's eyes widened.
"No way? You're Jake, aren't you?"
Every mercenary's face twisted like they'd bitten into a bug. Who would've thought the slave they'd dragged in knew this noble-looking young lord?
'Shit, we're done for.'
Lauter sensed his entire band was about to get wiped out. But...
"Ah, hey, Komora. Haha, long time no see."
Komora threw his head back and burst out laughing at Jake's awkward greeting.
"Puhahaha! Look at the great Jake, what a sorry state! Puhahaha!"
All eyes focused on Komora. His next words would decide if blood would spill or not.
"How the hell did the Royal Academy's top prodigy end up like this?"
"Haha, yeah, about that. Mind giving me a hand?"
Komora, whose eyes had even welled up with tears from laughing, suddenly sobered, his face hardening completely. His expression was so grim it almost seemed like a different person entirely.
"Were we ever that close?"
"W-well, yeah?"
Jake felt his guts shrivel. If he'd known this would happen, he would've made more effort to buddy up with Komora back at the academy.
"Every time I think about the humiliation you put me through, I want to rip you apart and it still wouldn't be enough."
At those words, the mercenaries exchanged glances. The hostage they held knew the noble young lord, alright—but it was bad blood. Looked like they might have a way out after all.
As they racked their brains to use Jake as a bargaining chip, Komora beat them to it.
"Kill that bastard right now. Do it, and I'll spare your lives."
No sense getting their—or the Red Rose Knights'—blades bloodied over one lowlife. Lauter hesitated at the order aimed at his band.
'Damn, that 20-gold commission...'
Just deliver Jake safe, and 20 gold was theirs. But if he died, nothing. Still, they had no choice now. A shame to toss away 20 gold, but their own necks came first.
"Kill him."
At Lauter's command, the mercenaries hesitated but advanced on Jake. Komora watched with keen interest, like someone who'd tossed a mouse and cat into a barrel and was enjoying the hunt.
"Eek! Hiiik!"
Pak!
Jake panicked and headbutted the mercenary right beside him. Then he bolted with every ounce of strength. They say even a cornered rat will bite a cat?
His arms bound tight, Jake scampered off like the rat he resembled.
"Grab that bastard!"
At Lauter's urgent shout, the mercenaries gave chase.
"Puhahaha! The little rat's thrashing for its life."
Komora clapped and laughed, clearly delighted by the pathetic sight. Back at the Royal Academy, how many noble heirs like him had been scolded at home, held up against the always-topping Jake?
'The chewing-outs from Father alone, all because of that punk...'
By his measure, that was justification enough to order Jake dead. In this case, he was even showing mercy—letting someone else do the deed while he just watched.
They say people unleash hidden strength before death, and Jake ran faster than ever. But with his arms tied, he couldn't keep his balance.
"Urk."
He stumbled and fell, scraping his face along the ground to scramble back up. But by then, the mercenaries had grabbed his shoulders.
"You little shit, where do you think you're going!"
Lauter drew his sword himself and approached Jake. The mercenaries forced him to his knees.
"Sp-spare me! I can't die like this!"
Jake looked up at Lauter in utter desperation. That was when he spotted a black-clad man perched silently in the tree above, gazing down.
"Y-you there! Save me, please!"
Lauter instinctively glanced up at Jake's cry. No sign of anyone before, but sure enough, a man sat on the branch.
"Wh-who the hell are you!"
At his reaction, Komora and the Red Rose Knights looked up too. Rat startled.
'Either a master assassin or an elite expert.'
He hadn't sensed a thing. Sophia's eyes went wide as she pointed.
"Th-that's the guy!"
"Oh?"
Komora stroked his chin. All eyes locked on the man—So Gun-ak—who gave a wry smile.
'True masters can conceal even their presence.'
He cursed his insufficient inner energy. A bit more, and he could've hidden completely, presence and all.
So Gun-ak gripped his spear and leaped down.
He landed right in the midst of the mercenaries surrounding Jake, making them flinch back on instinct.
Though surprised by the imposing figure, mercenary leader Lauter didn't tense up.
'They said they were hunting a man in black clothes.'
This had to be the guy the Red Rose Knights were after. Escape this mess unscathed, and he might even snag a reward from the noble young lord.
"Grab that fucker!"
At the mercenary leader's order, the roughnecks charged So Gun-ak.
So Gun-ak had watched the whole fiasco unfold from the abandoned mine. No one here deserved saving.
Whirlic. Slash!
His spear whipped around his waist in a spin before piercing a charging mercenary's chest. No hesitation—the swift strike stunned his comrades.
"What are you waiting for! Kill him!"
At Lauter's bellow, the mercenaries drew their blades and rushed in.
"Haaap!"
"Die!"
They screamed their battle cries, but none could match So Gun-ak.
Slash, slash!
The spear tip sliced through the charging men's chests in succession. Spears mainly thrust, supplemented by swings with the shaft—those were the basics.
But So Gun-ak's move mimicked swordplay. A slash with the tip. Precision and power were key; nothing less would do.
"Kugh!"
Too deep, and it'd snag on bone; too shallow, no real damage.
The chests of the three men raked by So Gun-ak's spear tip split wide, gushing blood. Even with emergency aid, they'd bleed out first.
Swish, slash!
The mercenaries froze, but So Gun-ak's spear didn't pause.
"Grrrk."
Every thrust pierced a heart without fail, felling another man.
Then Lauter, desperate for a kill, closed into close range.
'Got him!'
Lauter sensed victory. So Gun-ak's spear was buried in a comrade's chest, while he was inside its reach.
His weapon was a shortsword—perfect for brawls and close quarters.
Shuuuak!
The shortsword thrust for So Gun-ak's side. But was So Gun-ak's arsenal limited to spearwork?
Clang!
His left arm moved, blocking the blade's path. Sacrificing an arm to guard the body? No—using the cloth wrapped around his wrist, he deflected it aside. A small buckler on the wrist would have done the same job.
Lauter's sword lacked sharpness and qi. Even barehanded, slapping the flat would have sufficed.
Lauter gaped in disbelief, hastily recovering for another strike—but So Gun-ak's left hand was already at his chest.
Thud! Bang!
"Kahak!"
Struck by So Gun-ak's Blazing Sun Palm, Lauter flew backward. The clothes over his chest were scorched yellow. At greater mastery, they'd have burned away.
He crashed into a tree trunk three meters back and died on impact.
"Hieeek."
Only three mercenaries left alive. They backed away from So Gun-ak in terror but couldn't flee toward the Red Rose Knights either.
Ching. Ching.
They dropped their swords and bolted toward the pathless mountains.
Shuu-shuk!
"Gahk!"
But before five steps, So Gun-ak's thrown darts embedded in their skulls. They collapsed almost simultaneously.
The only survivor by So Gun-ak's side was Jake, torso bound tight.
"Huff!"
Jake couldn't even meet his eyes, face buried in the dirt, trembling violently.
He'd seen plenty of the merchant group's warriors growing up, including some in black who moved fast and handled spears well. But none killed so effortlessly.
Humans hesitate even killing flies, yet this man slew like mowing roadside weeds—natural, indifferent.
A true terror, a killing machine. At least, that's how Jake saw it.
So Gun-ak glanced at the shivering Jake, then gripped his spear and strode into the clearing.
The Red Rose Knights eyed So Gun-ak's prowess with interest. Some rank-and-file tensed, but Vice Captain Rat and Komora regarded him like an object. Komora's eyes especially gleamed with excitement.
"See? He's strong."
Sophia stoked Komora's fighting spirit.
"Ahh, you stay back."
"What?"
"Stay out of it. I'm really pumped right now."
"Wha— What?!"
Sophia was too stunned to speak. But seeing Komora's thrilled face, she lost the will to argue. Like an excited kid? Or a snake eyeing tasty prey?
Either way, Sophia was beneath notice now.
'He's lost it.'
Her thoughts nailed it. Komora's reason was numbed by exhilaration.
Fight a strong foe. Win. Kill the loser. What thrill compared?
Gambling's rush multiplies a hundredfold, a thousandfold when stakes are high. Nothing beat wagering your own life—even knowing you'd never lose.