Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Blood Knight
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“Yes! Just say the word.”
“Do you happen to have a horse market around here?”
“You'd have to go all the way to Toton City for that.”
Chirato Village wasn't all that big, so So Gun-ak had asked just in case, but it seemed there was no way to procure a horse here after all.
Toton City was the most developed city in Viscount Jamby's territory.
“But you should be able to find a horse somewhere.”
The primary modes of transportation in this world were horses and carriages. Horses were used to pull carriages, as pack animals, or for farming. There were plenty of households that kept them, and some even had two or three. If you offered a good price, someone might be willing to sell.
“Why don't you ask my father? That'd be quickest.”
“I see. In that case, is there a clothing shop?”
“Yes! There is.”
“Good. Wait here a moment.”
So Gun-ak returned to his room and opened the front pouch of his backpack. There were more than twenty gold coins gleaming with a yellowish hue at a glance.
“No idea what the prices are like.”
Recalling how Ralph had made a huge fuss about twenty gold coins being a fortune, So Gun-ak pocketed three of them for now.
He left the spear leaning against the backpack.
“Let's go.”
“Okay.”
So Gun-ak followed Jimmy toward the bustling heart of the village.
True to its commercial development, even this modest-sized village boasted three inns.
Hunters earned more from selling beasts than farmers did from their crops, which had drawn business to that trade. It wasn't just talk.
So Gun-ak stopped at a clothing shop and bought a black martial robe and cloak.
He checked the smithy hoping for a decent weapon, but none of the displayed arms caught his eye.
The Black Dragon Corps armed themselves with six standard weapons: spear and shield, greatsword and one-handed sword, dagger, and throwing axe. Some added a few more based on personal preference.
Jamie’s spear was a bit shorter than what he was used to, but it was serviceable enough to carry for now. The short dagger he'd used to skin the deer had come from Jamie’s pack and was hardly fit for calling a proper dagger.
He'd even scoured Ice Fortress's armory for replacements, but nothing satisfied him.
They just didn't measure up to his usual gear. He'd planned to commission a skilled smith once he found one, but Chirato Village had no one capable of such work.
For now, he bought a long sword and strapped it to his waist.
It was the most common sword in this world, but to So Gun-ak, it was just an awkward middle ground—shorter than his preferred cavalry greatsword, longer than his close-quarters one-hander.
He also picked up five palm-sized daggers.
Next, he visited a tanner selling leather armor made from animal hides.
No village this small sold iron plate. So Gun-ak selected a black leather tunic that buttoned like a vest and put it on.
It was a common choice for hunters, with pockets perfect for concealing daggers. He slotted the five in easy-draw positions.
He had no helmet, and the weapons were far from top quality, but Jimmy kept gasping in admiration at So Gun-ak's new look.
Dressed head to toe in black, So Gun-ak cut an imposing figure. His red hair stood out fiercely against the dark ensemble.
“You look just like a knight. A black knight! So cool.”
So Gun-ak chuckled at Jimmy's excitement.
“Let's head back.”
This was just temporary gear until he found a master craftsman for custom pieces. He hadn't even used up a single gold coin on all of it.
The cheap long sword had been the priciest at one shilling.
Twenty pennies made one silver shilling, and twelve shillings equaled one gold coin.
So Gun-ak still had two gold coins, five silvers, and some pennies left.
He was starting to get a handle on the currency. The five days at Ralph's had been invaluable to him.
After fifty days of scant food and harsh cold training, his body had weakened without him realizing. Now it brimmed with vitality, and steady meditation had bolstered his inner energy somewhat.
Even accounting for how inner energy growth slowed as it accumulated, just one uninterrupted year of training would push him to the peak realm.
At peak, one advanced from channeling qi to reinforce weapons to projecting it outward. Super-peak allowed sword beams.
The gap between peak and super-peak hinged more on personal insight, innate senses, and talent than mere inner energy quantity.
So Gun-ak was confident he'd shatter the barrier to super-peak immediately upon reaching peak.
He'd walked that path once before.
Just one year.
Delivering Ryle's Sword to the Willis family would settle his debt to Jamie. After that, secluded training in peace.
So Gun-ak bought Jimmy some snacks, wandered the village a bit more, then returned home.
The moment he entered the yard, So Gun-ak's expression soured.
“Father!”
“J-Jimmy! Stay back!”
Ralph lay collapsed, blood streaming from his head. A dozen burly men clutching clubs had surrounded him, his wife, and his mother. The family cowered in terror; Ralph's mother had already fainted from shock.
One thug lunged toward Ralph but snatched Jimmy by the collar mid-stride.
“Let go! Put me down!”
“Well, well, we were wondering where you'd scampered off to. And here you come crawling back. Heh heh.”
“P-Please, let Jimmy go.”
Despite Ralph's pleas, the man grinned wickedly and rapped Jimmy's head. Wedged under the brute's arm, Jimmy kicked futilely against the iron grip.
Spotting So Gun-ak approaching slowly from the side, Ralph cried out desperately.
“So Gun-ak! I beg you. Take my son! Get Jimmy out of here!”
Ralph had witnessed So Gun-ak's spearmanship firsthand. Even so, he figured not even he could handle ten armed men.
No matter how impressive So Gun-ak seemed, he was just a wandering knight in truth—a hired sword with no patron.
In his desperation, Ralph prayed at least his son would survive.
Chirato Village was monopolized by the Beritz Merchant Group, who periodically bought up hides, horns, and byproducts.
Infamous for ruthless tactics against rivals, these men were their hired mercenaries.
Somehow catching wind, the Beritz Group had sent warriors after the massive-horned deer's head trophy.
Their mercenaries were all highly skilled.
Ralph was certain they'd slaughter his entire family. With the trophy destined for the lord, killing the original owner nipped any future trouble in the bud.
So Gun-ak shook his head and walked forward slowly. Had he stumbled on this scene in passing, he'd have ignored it.
He had no reason to meddle in strangers' affairs, just or not.
But these Beritz thugs had come to Ralph's home. That changed everything.
He wasn't a bloodthirsty maniac, but he wasn't a hypocrite who hesitated when needed and let threats fester.
“Who's this guy?”
Five burly men tossed their clubs, drew swords from their belts, and advanced on So Gun-ak.
So Gun-ak drew his long sword as well.
Unfamiliar in his hand, but hardly unmanageable.
Whoosh. Swish.
The thugs sneered as So Gun-ak swung experimentally.
“Kahaha! Oh no, I'm so scared.”
They took it for mere posturing to intimidate.
So Gun-ak's eyes didn't flicker. He tested the blade thoroughly, then thrust it toward them.
“Come on.”
“No blustering punk's ever worth a damn.”
The five mercenaries charged, swords raised.
3. Blood Knight
The lead attacker's sword arced down at So Gun-ak's head with savage force, enough to cleave him in two.
He was a veteran killer, without a shred of hesitation.
Shiiing. Clang!
But his blade was effortlessly parried by So Gun-ak's long sword.
Thrust. Slash!
So Gun-ak deflected it upward, then drove his sword at the man's throat. By the time the thug's shocked eyes followed, So Gun-ak was already gone.
Slash! Clang! Clang!
A flurry of slicing sounds rang out. In a blink, So Gun-ak's form had passed all five.
Thud.
Two heads hit the ground. Their bodies crumpled almost simultaneously.
The remaining three had chests burst open, fountains of blood erupting.
“Kyaaack!”
In the stunned silence, Ralph's wife screamed and squeezed her eyes shut. So Gun-ak strode straight toward the remaining five mercenaries, their dazed faces twisted in fear.
“D-Don't come closer! I'll kill the kid!”
The one clutching Jimmy under his arm reached for a dagger in his bosom.
Puk!
A dagger—faster than the eye could follow—embedded in the center of his forehead.
“Gaaargh.”
The man toppled backward with a guttural groan. Jimmy tumbled free, spotted the blade, and scrambled away in horror.
“Eek!”
The other four mercenaries recoiled, their sneers wiped away by pure dread. Their will to fight shattered.
“You have ten minutes. Take the corpses and get lost.”
As they hesitated, So Gun-ak flicked the blood from his sword and sheathed it.
That seemed to be the signal. They loaded their comrades' bodies onto a cart and fled.
So Gun-ak approached Jimmy.
Jimmy backed away in fright and clung to his father. Ralph steadied his shaking nerves, stroked his sobbing son's back, and addressed So Gun-ak.
His voice trembled with fear.
“S-Sorry.”
“It's natural to be startled.”
He felt no offense at Jimmy's terrified gaze. He understood completely.
It must have been traumatic for a child.
“I'll head up first. Pull yourselves together.”
With that, So Gun-ak entered the house. Left in the yard, the family clung together and wept.
“It's okay, we're fine. Dear, it's all over now.”
“Waaah, are you okay?”
The wife wiped blood from Ralph's head.
“I'm fine. Look after Jimmy and Mother first. I need to talk to him.”
“Go on. I was rude to our lifesaver.”
They owed their lives to So Gun-ak, yet had treated him coldly.
Her guilt poured through her words.
Ralph hurried up to So Gun-ak's room.
My greed went too far.
He blamed himself for nearly dooming his family over that "lucky" deer head trophy. Had he invited misfortune indoors?
We'd have been done for without him.
So Gun-ak's movements were anything but ordinary. Most wandering knights lacked skill, drifting without lords to take them in—little more than mercenaries.
That's why Ralph had treated him casually. Now he worried it had been a grave mistake.
So Gun-ak truly seemed to wander for training. His prowess suggested as much.
“You in there?”
Too awkward now to revert to formal speech, Ralph asked cautiously.
“Come in.”
Ralph newly appreciated how polite So Gun-ak was, given his skill and prowess.