Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Preparation
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I eavesdropped on a conversation between Ji-hyeon of the Hapbi Branch and a man and woman I presumed to be warriors from Tyrant Heaven Fortress.
The more I listened, though, the harder it was to hold back my laughter.
I had wondered if they had some brilliant scheme I couldn't even imagine, but no—they were just out of sync with each other.
It left me a bit deflated, but it was good news for us.
That discord would create an opening, and we could slip through it to shatter their plans.
As I nodded to myself, their conversation continued.
It seemed Ji-hyeon had gone off and acted on her own without consulting them.
The carefully prepared stage of the martial tournament had gotten messed up before it even started, all because of that slippery eel named Ji-hyeon.
So, what faces would they make if we showed up now to set the tournament rules?
No doubt it would be quite the sight.
Unable to contain my anticipation any longer, I urged Namgung-hyeon and Seol Sojeo along.
"Come on, let's go."
"Huh? Oh... sure."
I led the two of them—who were looking at me with puzzled expressions—deeper inside.
And there they were: the man and woman standing before Ji-hyeon.
The man was a giant who towered a full head above most men, his sleeveless martial robe exposing both arms completely.
The way the muscles on those arms rippled was quite striking.
I'd already gotten descriptions of the people I needed to know about from Namgung-hyeon on the way here.
That must be Tak Cheol-woo, the deputy commander of the Heavenly Light Brigade.
His nickname was Great Power Tyrant Blade, and sure enough, a massive cleaver sword as long as his body was slung across his back.
With the Heavenly Light Brigade leader Sagong-chan dead, Tak Cheol-woo was currently Tyrant Heaven Fortress's strongest force.
But for me, it wasn't Tak Cheol-woo who caught my attention—it was the woman standing beside him.
She was striking in a completely different way.
She looked like a delicate beauty who couldn't even lift a single iron sword properly, yet the energy emanating from her was on par with Tak Cheol-woo's.
No, not just on par... it felt even stronger?
And that energy—what was it? Fierce? Savage?
The very nature of her qi felt vastly different from that of ordinary warriors.
What is this? Some special technique?
I tilted my head inwardly while flashing a bright smile on my face.
"I've come regarding the martial tournament~"
The three of them fixed their gazes on me at my words.
Their initial expressions of "What the hell is this guy?" shifted to dismay when Namgung-hyeon followed behind me.
I stepped aside, and Namgung-hyeon strode forward to stand before Ji-hyeon.
"Y-Young Lady of the house. What brings you here this time...?"
His face was a far cry from the smug attitude he'd had when leaving the family head's quarters earlier that morning—he looked utterly flustered.
Perhaps heartened by that sight, Namgung-hyeon replied with an even brighter smile.
"You told us to come to the present branch to set the martial tournament rules, didn't you? I figured it'd be easier to prepare if we settled them in advance, so I came as quickly as possible."
Their faces crumpled miserably in contrast to Namgung-hyeon's beaming one.
"A-hem! What's the rush? Now that I think about it, isn't the Namgung family quite busy these days? We can give you plenty of time to prepare..."
"The branch deputy commander wanted to confirm whether our family is still qualified to maintain security in Hapbi and Yeo Prefecture, didn't she? We have no desire to keep troubling her for so long."
"......"
Ji-hyeon, recovering the fastest, tried to awkwardly laugh it off and talk Namgung-hyeon down with excuses, but it was far too late for that.
She must have been bottling up some resentment, because Namgung-hyeon picked apart every word Ji-hyeon had spouted since early morning, point by point.
In the end, Ji-hyeon fell silent.
It was a classic case of giving as good as you get.
Once Ji-hyeon was routed, the man and woman from behind stepped forward.
Tak Cheol-woo and the woman with the savage energy.
The woman took the lead, cupping her hands in salute to Namgung-hyeon.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Chilji of Tyrant Heaven Fortress."
Chilji? That's an awfully unusual name for a woman.
A savage energy and an odd name.
My suspicions about her were growing stronger by the minute.
"...Namgung-hyeon of the Namgung family."
Namgung-hyeon returned the salute and glanced briefly at Tak Cheol-woo before facing Chilji again.
She must have been surprised that Chilji had stepped up instead of the deputy commander Tak Cheol-woo. So was I.
I snuck a peek at Tak Cheol-woo, but he didn't seem particularly bothered.
If anything, he looked like he considered it natural for Chilji to take the lead.
Just who the hell is this woman?
"I've met several people from Tyrant Heaven Fortress before, but I don't believe I've seen you around, miss."
As my curiosity about Chilji skyrocketed, Namgung-hyeon beat me to the question.
Chilji gave a small smile in response.
"I was drafted in to assist with the Heavenly Light Brigade's current mission. I've been swamped with paperwork, so my introduction is belated."
In other words, she was just some clerk handling documents.
To me—who could sense the savage energy pouring from Chilji—it was pure bullshit.
Of course, Namgung-hyeon didn't seem to buy it either. But whether they believed her or not, Chilji's true identity wasn't the pressing issue right now.
"I see. In any case, we've come to discuss the martial tournament rules, but where might the Heavenly Light Brigade leader be...?"
"......"
At Namgung-hyeon's feigned ignorance, Chilji clamped her mouth shut.
Tak Cheol-woo spoke up instead.
"You must not have heard yet. The leader met his end during an inspection of the populace, slain by a vicious demonic fiend."
...Is that vicious demonic fiend supposed to be me?
I shot Tak Cheol-woo a sidelong glance in disbelief as Namgung-hyeon sighed.
"Ah... such a tragedy. Did you catch the culprit?"
Look at her playing dumb when she knows damn well.
I barely stifled a laugh at this new side of Namgung-hyeon I'd never seen before.
Then, Tak Cheol-woo's voice—cold as a beast's growl—dug into my ears.
"It won't take long to hunt him down. We've tightened inspections on everyone entering or leaving Hapbi, so he hasn't escaped yet."
As he spoke, rage boiled up in him, twisting his face into a demonic snarl.
"Once I find out who that bastard is, I'll cleave him in two with a single stroke...!"
Oh dear, how scary.
I chuckled inwardly while feigning a grave expression on the outside.
"So... we can discuss the tournament with you, Deputy Commander?"
No matter what face Tak Cheol-woo made, Namgung-hyeon pressed on with the tournament rules.
She even came across as brazen.
In response, Chilji and Tak Cheol-woo openly showed their discomfort, glaring sharply at Ji-hyeon.
"...Ahem."
Ji-hyeon, guilty as charged, could only cough awkwardly without a word.
Of course, Namgung-hyeon ignored their expressions and kept repeating the same demand.
"...Very well. Come inside, and we'll talk."
Chilji and Tak Cheol-woo finally surrendered and let us in.
As we followed them toward the audience hall as planned, I launched the "operation."
"Urgh... oh man, my stomach...!"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"M-My stomach just cramped up...! Um, where's the outhouse around here...?"
Ji-hyeon and Tak Cheol-woo gave me looks like "What a pain in the ass" as I clutched my stomach with a twisted-up face.
Chilji, however, narrowed her eyes at me.
Uh... was that too forced?
For a moment, that sharp gaze made me think I'd been caught, and I flinched.
"...This one will guide you."
My anxiety didn't last.
Chilji grabbed a passing low-ranking clerk from the present branch without further questioning and assigned him to escort me.
Looks like she didn't find it that suspicious after all...
"Thank you. And since you're waiting anyway, you look tired—why don't you take a quick nap?"
"Pardon?"
I immediately struck the clerk's blood points.
I carefully caught his collapsing body and gently laid it down in a hidden corner out of sight.
Alright, surveillance taken care of.
And there don't seem to be any other people wandering around...
I leaped up onto the roof.
Now then... which way is the inner hall? Oh, over there?
After scanning the surroundings, I spotted my target and dashed silently across the rooftops.