Chapter 116
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: The Banquet (1)
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Kwang—!
"Guh...! Ugh... Hack...!"
Riki crashed into the wall and collapsed, vomiting blood.
Just as I let out the breath I'd been holding, thinking the match was finally over, I spotted Riki staggering back to her feet.
'...She's actually getting up from that?'
It was a blow that anyone would call devastating. For someone with low stats, that punch alone could've burst their body apart without a second thought.
"Hack! Heh... Fuck, it's not over yet. Gah... You think a cheap shot like that could take me down?"
Watching the spar, me, Seo Yu-ju, and Wi Ho-yeon were all impressed by Riki's mental fortitude and grit.
And there was another reason for our surprise.
'...She never let go of her sword.'
Riki still gripped her blade tight. Even after taking Yun Yeon's full-force strike, she hadn't dropped it.
"Ha, you crazy bitch..."
"Heh... Calling a crazy bitch crazy won't do shit. And you—your arm okay?"
Riki grinned as she spoke, drawing my eyes to Yun Yeon's arm. I hadn't noticed before, but her right arm bore a fresh gash.
'She attacked while getting thrown back...?'
At Riki's words, Yun Yeon glanced down at her own arm.
"...You're definitely different from before."
"Kuh... Acting all composed when your arm and the side you grazed earlier aren't exactly fine?"
Sensing something off from Riki's comment, I used my unique trait to inspect her sword.
Yodo Muramasa (Legend Grade) - The famed sword known as the cursed blade and the cursing blade. Inflicts a curse on wounds, eroding through the injury. The deeper the erosion, the more it assaults the target's mind and temporarily lowers their stats. Equip: +5 Strength, +3 Agility.
'The curse erodes...?'
Yun Yeon looked outwardly calm, but I could sense a faint discomfort beneath it.
"So? Yeah, it's a bit uncomfortable. But you know you're in worse shape, right?"
"Heh... Fair enough. Ptui."
Riki spat blood and steadied her stance.
"Round two. Focus up."
Flash.
Riki closed in on Yun Yeon in an instant. Her speed was slower than before, thanks to her injuries—but Yun Yeon was hurt too.
Riki swung her sword, and Yun Yeon deflected it outward with her right hand blade. Her left arm shot out toward Riki, but the curse slowed it with a twitch.
In that split second, Riki's eyes gleamed. She seized Yun Yeon's arm and yanked her forward.
And Riki's knee met Yun Yeon's midsection.
Thud—!
"Ngh!"
Yun Yeon grunted, swinging her fist. Riki countered with her own punch.
Clang!
The air cracked with force as both flew back.
"Haa... So, couldn't you two have gone a little easier on each other?"
"Mm..."
"Fuck."
In the Kototsuke Clan's infirmary, Yun Yeon and Riki were receiving treatment after their bout.
Their external wounds had healed, but internal damage lingered.
Riki grumbled in complaint.
"Fuck, what was I supposed to do? That bitch is insanely tenacious!"
"Pot calling the kettle black? You got slammed into the wall—could've just stayed down, but no, you dragged yourself up and charged again."
"Going down there would've made me look like a punk, bitch."
"......"
I sighed and spoke up.
"Anyway, both of you rest up. Looks like it'll take longer than expected to head back."
We'd planned to return to the neutral nation right away, but their "light spar" had turned into a full-on brawl, delaying us.
Yun Yeon looked sheepish about it and addressed me.
"Ahem... Sorry about that. But hey..."
"Yes?"
"Why the formal speech? Because of her?"
"W-Well? It's not just us two—there's three of us here."
"Pfft, just ignore me and talk like you normally do. Yun-seong, you treat me casual too."
"No... You're both masters of major clans. Feels weird bantering half-assed here."
"I don't care about that stuff. She won't either, right?"
Riki's words made me glance at Yun Yeon, who nodded.
"Got it. Fine, then..."
"More importantly, Yun-seong. Since we're sticking around longer anyway, how about joining the banquet?"
"...What banquet?"
"The Eastern Alliance holds these gatherings for major clans every so often. It's in a week. Please? Come with me. Your clanmates can tag along too."
'Ugh, a banquet? Sounds annoying.'
I'm no social butterfly. Parties and banquets were my nightmare.
Sure, if necessary, I'd manage—but this Eastern Alliance event offered me zero upside.
"Isn't that... awkward? I'm not even in the Eastern Alliance. I'd just feel out of place."
"Just stick by my side. With the clan purge making waves, I'm drawing enough attention already."
'Fuck, wouldn't that drag me into it more, you idiot?'
She picked up on my reluctance and started wheedling.
"C'mon? I'll be lonely. Pleeease ~"
"Haa... Fine. I'll talk it over with the clan first."
Hard to refuse when she begged like that, so I caved reluctantly.
"Hehe, thanks. You're the best friend ever."
Riki seemed keen on me hanging around the Eastern Alliance—or her clan specifically—a bit longer.
Once we returned to the neutral nation, it'd be ages before seeing her again, so I figured I'd humor her for the short stay.
'...Plus, there's stuff to gain.'
"...What about you, Yeon-noona?"
I probed Yun Yeon just in case, but she shut it down quick.
"Nah, can't. Can't leave the clan shorthanded too long. Planning to head back first."
This time, even Riki didn't push. As fellow clan masters, she got the responsibilities involved.
'...Unexpected.'
I'd figured she'd urge Yun Yeon to stay longer too.
She looked a tad regretful. Though it felt more like disappointment over missing another brawl.
'Well... Hard to find sparring partners on her level.'
In the end, Yun Yeon and Seo Yu-ju headed back to the neutral nation first.
Yun Yeon had clan duties, and while Seo Yu-ju did too, she'd freaked out when I said I'd linger in Kototsuke a bit longer before returning.
'Fuck...'
She'd ranted about me being bewitched by Yanagiya Riki, swearing she'd never approve a clan transfer, and I'd barely calmed her tantrum.
Seeing Kototsuke treat me with utmost respect eased her safety worries, but she clearly hated me sticking close to Riki.
Still, we'd agreed I'd return within two weeks tops, and for my safety, she left Wi Ho-yeon by my side.
I'd assumed Riki and Wi Ho-yeon, both from the Eastern Alliance, knew each other. Turns out they'd only heard rumors.
"Oh, you're the Sword Empress, right? Heard a ton about you. Won that martial tournament, yeah?"
"...I've heard plenty about you too. Whenever the Eastern Alliance's top swordmaster comes up, your name—Yanagiya—is always there."
Wi Ho-yeon, obsessed with martial arts, held genuine respect for Riki's skills. Especially after watching her spar Yun Yeon.
"Thanks. Martial tournament champ... Never got to enter—too busy. Must've been fun, though?"
"Yes. It broadened my horizons in martial arts. Gained insights clashing with so many powerhouses."
"Sounds jealous-making. Should've joined back then. Can't exactly enter at my level now."
I'd pegged them as oil and water, but they chatted fine enough. Relief.
"Anyway, no worries for either of you. It's just a banquet-slash-party vibe. No one in the Eastern Alliance is dumb enough to mess with me, so relax."
I nodded slightly at Riki's assurance.
We'd arrived at the venue entrance, where two warrior guards checked identities.
"May I have your names?"
"Yanagiya Riki. These two beside me are my guests."
"Yanagiya Riki-nim. Confirmed. Now, for your guests' identities..."
As the man moved to check me and Wi Ho-yeon, his partner cut in urgently.
"W-Wait, no need! Haha... Please, go right in. Yanagiya Riki-nim and company—verified."
"Senior? But we should still—"
"Shut it! Haha, please, proceed!"
The man sweated bullets guiding us in.
Riki took it in stride, unfazed.
"Alright, let's head in."
First impression of the banquet hall: Nothing like neutral nation events.
More like a Joseon-era gisaeng house for yangban elites? Women played gayageum-like instruments everywhere, and crowds filled the seats.
Men with women on their arms—or vice versa—showed Eastern Alliance players wore their desires openly.
Neutral nation folk restrained themselves at official functions, even the debauched ones.
A quick glance at Riki—she seemed indifferent, even comfortable in the vibe.
As we entered, most eyes turned our way. Expected, with Yanagiya Riki arriving.
"...Yanagiya Riki's here."
"Heard there was a massive purge in Kototsuke recently..."
Overheard chatter was mostly Riki rumors. But other snippets too.
"Who's the guy next to her?"
"Wait, isn't that woman the Sword Empress?"
"...Yeah, Sword Empress. Back in the Eastern Alliance? Thought she went to Baronia."
A few in the neutral nation recognized my face. Sadly, zero here.
'Eh, maybe for the best. Less spotlight.'
My goal: Lay low at this banquet. Anonymity suited me fine.
Felt like a gathering of Earth's corporate titans. Most here were likely major clan masters, executives, or big merchants.
A quick stat skim confirmed: Top-tier numbers across the board.
'And naturally, some shady dealers in backroom biz or dirty work.'
Not my problem. Riki ran a clan tangled in underworld ops herself.
'...Speaking of, gotta ask her for a favor.'
As the Eastern Alliance's de facto drug lord, she was my hookup for narcotics.
'Recipe and factory would be nice, but doubt she'd go that far.'
Honestly, no need for factory or recipe. Moderation in all things—just snag the drugs.
Securing them was for brewing Ha Yu-ri anyway.
'Soon as I get back, time to get to work.'