Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 33
>Chapter Title: Manpower Recruitment (2)
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Former bandits. After coordinating opinions with the current slaves, we headed to Hwajung County.
Taking nearly twenty slaves into Hwajung County all at once would draw too much attention, so we decided to hold the bandit leader hostage.
The rest were ordered to camp out somewhere a good distance from Hwajung County.
Perhaps because the bandits had delayed us a bit, by the time we arrived at Hwajung County, the sun had already fully set.
Just like in Gocha County, we stayed the night at an inn and began inspecting Hwajung County the next morning.
We wandered the village for quite some time with the former bandit leader, who was dragged along with a face full of resentment.
"Hmm."
Stroking my beardless chin, I reached a conclusion.
"It's not much different from Gocha County."
The branch warriors were helping the villagers with their livelihoods, and the one who seemed to be the Branch Leader was teaching children in much the same way.
The children chattered endlessly, and the Branch Leader flailed about, struggling to continue the lesson despite their antics.
The one silver lining was that this Branch Leader wasn't flying into a rage.
Just as I concluded there was nothing special worth noting.
A noisy commotion came from somewhere.
"Warriors! Please help me!!"
A middle-aged man was clutching the trouser leg of a young man dressed in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's uniform and shouting.
The young man, who appeared to be a branch warrior, wore a troubled expression.
Judging by the load in his hands, he seemed to be a warrior assisting with other tasks.
'Hmm. Short on manpower, huh?'
It made sense. It would be tough for just the branch warriors to handle all the village's work. I knew they rotated helping different households.
Still, compared to children helping, the labor from qi-trained warriors would be far more efficient, even if rotated.
'Tsk. Just wait your turn properly. Or could it be that this branch is already rife with corruption, only helping their cronies?'
Such thoughts crossed my mind, but the ensuing conversation revealed it was a misunderstanding.
"Please wait just a bit longer. We've sent word to the Cult, so they'll dispatch a martial unit soon."
"What if those bastards flee in the meantime?!"
"Have faith in the Divine Cult's martial unit. No matter how far they run, those warriors will surely chase them down and deliver heavenly punishment."
"We're grateful that you help with our work and teach the children to read, but you have to catch the bad guys too! Isn't that why we offer tribute to the Divine Cult?!"
It seemed someone had stolen or robbed him of his goods.
It looked like we needed more details, so I approached them and asked.
"Is there a problem?"
In response to my question, the man gripping the warrior's trouser leg explained his plight with a sense of injustice.
The situation was simple.
The man was a nomad who traveled the Singang region with companions, grazing goats and donkeys on pastures, then stopping at villages to sell milk or animal byproducts. On the way to Hwajung County, they encountered bandits.
Fortunately, they survived, but all their animals were stolen, leaving them destitute.
After hearing the full story, I promptly smacked the back of the former bandit leader's head.
Thwack!
"Urk...."
While the acupoint-sealed, powerless bandit leader groaned, the poor nomad and the branch warrior stared at me with expressions asking what that was about.
In the meantime, I grabbed the bandit leader by the back of his head, lifted his chin, and said.
"Doesn't this guy's face look familiar?"
The nomad, scrutinizing the bandit leader's face at my question, suddenly widened his eyes.
"It's this bastard!! He's definitely the leader of that bandit gang!!"
!!!
At his shout, the branch warriors and surrounding onlookers all looked back and forth between me and the bandit leader in shock.
Then I turned to Jin Ha-yeon, who carried my identity token.
The inspection of Hwajung County was more or less done, and with all eyes on us, there was no need to hide anymore.
Catching my intent, Jin Ha-yeon drew her identity token from her sleeve and held it forward.
"This is Il-mok, Young Master, the eighth disciple of His Exalted One."
"We pay respects to the disciple of the Heavenly Demon!!"
No sooner had she finished introducing than the branch warrior prostrated himself, and the onlookers began kneeling one by one, quick on the uptake.
"Rise."
Still not used to such displays of authority, I had them stand appropriately and spoke.
"As the eighth disciple of His Exalted One, I came here upon hearing that villains were disturbing our Divine Cult's territory."
"D-Does that mean you've wiped out all the bandits tormenting us!?"
"Indeed."
I answered boldly.
My original purpose was inspection, but there was no need to hem and haw about it.
And above all.
'As I told Master, some faith is starting to waver.'
As I mentioned to Master, people come to see prolonged goodwill as a right. That nomad grabbing the warrior's trouser leg and shouting was proof.
So this was a chance to shore up that shaken faith.
'Though I don't know why it has to be me....'
At that moment, the faith-lacking nomad, having heard my explanation, slyly asked a question.
"B-But why just this leader?"
"I killed the rest. Dragging dozens of corpses here would be a hassle, so I captured this one as proof that we exterminated the bandits."
!!!
This time, Jin Ha-yeon, the two escorts, and the bandit leader all stared at me in shock.
I glared at the four of them, signaling with my eyes.
- Play along smartly!
As if sending a sound transmission I couldn't yet perform due to my low realm.
"Ahem. That's right."
Catching on, the two escort warriors cleared their throats, and Jin Ha-yeon returned to her usual stoic expression.
Right then, an oblivious onlooker posed a sharp question.
"But you've been wandering the village with that bandit leader since morning, haven't you? Why hide the fact?"
Because it was for the inspection. Plus, this bandit leader wasn't for killing—he had other uses.
But explaining that now would dilute the impact of my words.
"It was to test your hearts!"
I went with a cult leader's disciple-worthy response.
"I toured the village to gauge how much you trust our Divine Cult, and frankly, I was quite disappointed!"
At my shout, the villagers, led by the most faith-lacking nomad, knelt again and began babbling in repentance.
"Heavenly Demon!!"
"Please forgive us!!"
"We've committed a grave sin, Young Master!!"
Guilt washed over me as I glanced at them fervently confessing their sins, but the momentum was already there. Better to wrap it up quickly.
Toss.
"This is compensation for the tribute this bastard took from you. If it's insufficient, have the headquarter confirm and we'll pay more."
First, I tossed my emergency money pouch to the nomad who said all his goods were stolen, then shouted again.
"The Divine Cult strives to help and protect you. If you take our goodwill lightly, we cannot continue aiding you. I'll overlook this incident, so please trust and follow our Divine Cult more faithfully."
"Aaah!!"
"We'll trust and follow you, Young Master!"
"Long live, long live, eternal life!!"
"Save us!!"
Believing their sins repented and forgiven, the villagers bowed to me as if to Master.
"Then I'll take this one to the Cult to conclude this matter, so return to your tasks."
With that, I turned without delay and headed toward the inn where the carriage waited.
It wasn't just because playing cult leader was burdensome.
'Damn it. Should've sent them farther away.'
Lingering too long risked the bandits waiting outside the village being spotted by others.
Especially since, from what we'd heard, a request for headquarters support had already been sent.
While we dawdled here, the bandits might get massacred by the Cult's martial unit.
That would expose my lie and waste the other plans I had for them.
'Hah. Can't even get a proper reception and have to leave like this.'
The reception in Gocha County tantalizingly flashed in my mind. Glancing back, Jin Ha-yeon, the two escorts, and the bandit leader watched me with varied expressions.
Some looked moved, others intrigued.
Among them, I smacked the back of the head of the bandit leader, still wearing his shit-eating face.
Thwack!
Because of this guy, no reception and we're heading back.
* * *
The carriage leaving Hwajung County headed to the rendezvous with the bandits.
Perhaps because their leader was hostage, they waited obediently, and we set off for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult headquarters together.
For safety, all the bandits had their acupoints sealed, inner arts blocked, and followed on horseback.
The hostage-like bandit leader rode in the carriage with us, ensuring his men couldn't dream of rescuing him.
Still wearing that shit-eating face, I asked the bandit leader, Hang Geon.
"What's with the dissatisfaction?"
"...Being dragged like this, how could I not be dissatisfied?"
I chuckled dryly and replied.
"Didn't you hear back in the village? They called the Cult's martial unit to kill you lot. If not for me, your heads would've rolled in days."
"Better death than this treatment!!"
Listening started to grate on me.
"I've felt it since yesterday, but you're a real idiot. Makes me pity those risking their lives to save a guy like you."
"If you're going to humiliate me like this, just kill me!"
"Your life ends with you? Don't you have a sense of responsibility for your followers? Huh? You did the same yesterday during the banditry. The leader reeks of reluctance, yet makes his underlings do the work while watching. Pathetic idiot. No wonder you got framed—it's obvious."
"W-What did you just say?!"
"Shut up and listen! Useless scum with only pride left. That Jeong Cheon-ho guy who came from Jeongcheonho was from a wealthy family, right? In a few years, he'd be way above you, invisible. Was holding out that long so hard? Forcing your men to risk their lives deserting because of you?"
!!!
Hang Geon's eyes shook violently.
If he'd replied here, 'I didn't order it! They deserted on their own!', plans or not, I'd kill or ditch him.
Working with trash lacking responsibility would just ruin everything.
"If I were you, I'd see it as opportunity. Swallow pride, flatter, grab his line. Yeah, that young guy seemed incompetent to you. But get close with some flattery, then subtly advise later. For your loyal men's future, you'd do it. Right?"
"......"
Because I kept hammering, Hang Geon, who was bristling, deflated and hung his head like he was deep in thought.
My excitement cooled seeing him that way.
And after a moment.
Having sorted his thoughts, Hang Geon asked in a calmer tone.
"Then, you plan to spare us?"
"I'll discuss with Master first, but if you do as told, no harm."
"Even as slaves, we must survive somehow. For my brothers."
To his bitter last words, my cooled emotions led me to smile gently.
"Don't worry. Do well, and no slave life. I'm young but His Exalted One's disciple. Time to grab the right line, right?"
!!!
Hang Geon, startled, slammed his bound arms down and kowtowed on the carriage floor.
"I'll serve you as my lord!"