Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Adoptive Father
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The battle was over, but the real work was just beginning.
The moment we passed through the gates, I wanted to wash away the nauseating stench of blood, but there was still plenty left to do.
"Don't slack off! Gather up every last bit of armor, weapons, and horses from those dead bastards! If even one guy's missing something, there'll be no soup for you tonight! Got it!?"
"Yes, sir!"
My shout snapped them to attention, and the men sprang into action.
They called themselves volunteers, but in truth, they were just a ragtag bunch who'd gathered because they trusted me alone. And to keep these guys fed, we had to sell every scrap from the dead.
I led them straight to the biggest weapons dealer in the market inside the city. This was the only place that could handle spoils on this scale in one go.
The merchant's eyes gleamed with greed at the mountain of loot. He scanned the cart's contents and started calculating with practiced ease.
"How much for the lot?"
Even after decades in the trade, he couldn't help swallowing hard at the sight of my spear, still slick with fresh blood.
"Heh heh, Captain Lu Bu. These goods are... this sword's edge is all nicked up, and this armor's got holes that'll cost more to fix than it's worth. The horses you dragged in are just frontier mutts—hard to put a fair price on 'em..."
This bastard was trying to lowball me again.
"Ha? What? Hard to price fairly?"
I snorted and casually pulled a Wuhuan tribesman's head from the cart, dropping it right in front of him.
"Why don't you go fight these guys yourself and bring back pristine gear, then? You're gonna melt it all down anyway. You think I don't know the market rates? You looking to mess with me? If you don't pay up proper, next time I'll arm my men with stuff from your shop."
"Eek...!"
No need to haggle further with a schemer like him.
"A-alright! I'll pay full price!"
"Now that's more like it."
Sweat beading on his brow, the merchant nodded frantically. Moments later, a heavy pouch of coin was in my hand. Less than I'd hoped, but enough to keep the band going for now.
I headed back to where the volunteers were gathered and dumped the entire pouch onto the ground.
—Clink
As the coins spilled out, forming a little hill, their eyes bulged.
"First shares go to the families of those who died today. Wei Sok, handle it."
"Yes, brother!"
I called Wei Sok over to set aside portions for the dead men's kin, then peeled off another chunk from the pile.
"Send this separately to the families of the ones who fell behind. Get a few guys to deliver it in person—if they're starving, bring 'em back. Got it?"
"You got it. We always do. Understood, brother."
I wanted to smack him for the cheek, but dividing the rest came first. I pointed to what remained.
"Split the rest equally. By headcount. Any complaints?"
"Hahaha, you took the most heads—equal shares make no sense!"
"Take a bigger cut, Captain."
They said that, but I had no desire to grab extra coin.
"Talk big now, but you'd riot if I did."
"Hahahaha!"
I played along with their dumb jokes and divided the rest evenly.
Everyone pocketed their shares and scattered with rowdy cheers of "Let's drink ourselves dead tonight!" Victory whoops, curses, and laughter filled the air. But I didn't join them.
Like partying would change the world.
These guys are impossible to understand.
Grabbing a cheap jug of liquor, I headed to a quiet spot atop the wall. The raucous cheers faded, leaving only the biting north wind whistling in my ears.
I threw back the booze, chasing the wind's howl.
"Kahaa, what a drag."
The liquor burned down my throat, warming my chilled body. And with the warmth came more thoughts.
How much longer did I have to keep up this endless slaughter?
This rotten world wouldn't change from killing one or two people. I knew that all too well.
I'd never wanted to be some hero. I just needed somewhere to vent my rage. But at the end of that rage was always the same bitter emptiness.
"How long do I have to keep this up?"
Kill and kill again. But the bandits kept coming, and whenever the weather cleared, the barbarians raided the frontiers like Saibang without fail.
It was like pouring water into a bottomless jar. That's all my efforts amounted to.
I was grumbling and drinking alone when soft footsteps approached from behind.
Weak steps—no mistaking it for an old man.
"What brings an old timer all the way up here?"
I asked gruffly without turning. Unfamiliar presence, but no killing intent.
"I've come to meet you."
I glanced back at the voice. There was the dignified old scholar I'd spotted at the gates.
The first time our eyes met, I'd known he wasn't your typical frontier geezer. Curious, I'd asked the soldiers—turns out his name was Master Chae, some great scholar exiled from the capital.
"Me? What's the business?"
"I've seen many warriors in my time, but none like you. Charging through hundreds of Wuhuan tribesmen on your lone steed, breaking their lines— a rare sight, the mark of a true hero. However..."
The old man stepped up beside me, gazing at the dark horizon I stared at.
"...raw power can protect people, but it can't lead them. To become a true hero, you need knowledge and wisdom to wield that overwhelming strength properly."
"Ha, knowledge and wisdom?"
I snorted. Here we go again.
Guys who wanted to use me always came at it like this. Your power is mighty. Use it for me. That's the gist, right?
I decided to hit this hypocritical-looking elder with a question he couldn't handle.
"You talk of knowledge and wisdom, so let me ask you something."
I set down the jug and faced him squarely.
"Suppose... a man had three fathers. If he served three masters and betrayed his adoptive fathers one after another—what then? Wouldn't the world rightly curse him as a dog deserving death?"
My eyes were ice-cold as I posed it. Vaguely, I knew this echoed Lu Bu's tragic fate from the original history—the future I might face.
The old man fell silent.
As if reading the deep sarcasm and rage in my words. After a long pause, he spoke carefully.
"It depends on his purpose."
"Purpose?"
"If the adoptive fathers he served were greed-blinded tyrants harming the people—what then?"
His voice was calm, yet carried an uncommon resolve.
"If the betrayal was for selfish gain, he's worse than a beast. But if it was a decision for a greater cause, it would be the hero's path—cutting down kin in pain to uphold righteousness."
My heart thudded hard. And he didn't stop there.
"But first, as a son, if he'd advised his father toward the righteous path, and the father still refused... what choice would even a son have then?"
His words struck like lightning in my mind.
That's it...!
Betrayal itself wasn't evil. Betrayal without cause was. Betrayal without even trying to guide them right was.
So... with Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo ahead... I'll try to lead them to the right path first. If they refuse...
Then I could cut them down for the greater cause! Not as a traitor—but as a hero!
This old man had given direction and justification to my aimless rage at this wretched world.
I sensed he wasn't just a knowledgeable scholar. He could be the master and father to save my life.
I hurled the jug from the wall.
—Crash!
As it shattered, I stood abruptly—more solemn than ever—and bowed deeply to him.
"...Um, elder..."
My voice trembled faintly.
"May I take you as my father?"
My sudden declaration left Master Chae, the great scholar from the capital, frozen in shock—the first time in his life.