Chapter 51
Translator: uly
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Black-Haired Storyteller Reappears - 4
To be honest, I got a little too caught up in the moment.
It's been over a year since I've been wandering this world as a cold, hungry, and helpless barbarian.
In a world like that, when someone declared they would protect me, I guess a sense of relief welled up in my heart without me realizing it.
"Follow me quietly. If you scream, you won't like what happens."
Great Hero Yun pressed down on me with a menacing face.
Should I scream and ruin the fun?
If I let out a shriek symbolic of the Heavenly Demon, people would surely take notice.
Of course, if I did that, there's no telling what the Great Hero Yun currently gripping my shoulder would do. Even if he backed off, there's no knowing when he might appear before me again.
Then I'd have to be prepared. Settling a deep-seated grudge from within one's heart is more vicious than a fight born from a petty quarrel.
It would be fine if Cheonsalseong were here when he appeared before me, but if Cheonsalseong wasn't here, I might end up in a worse state than if I just followed him now.
"May I ask what this is about?"
"Shouldn't you know without asking?"
Great Hero Yun tightened his grip on my shoulder. Ouch! If I'm dragged away like this, it's the second season of the Cheongsa Clan. I quickly searched for Cheonsalseong to ask for help.
Where did he go? He said he'd be my guard.
"Don't even think about screaming for help. If this escalates, you'll be the only one at a loss."
A faint killing intent laced Great Hero Yun's words.
"I understand."
Did something happen to Cheonsalseong?
"The Storyteller is leaving with Great Hero Yun."
"Is it because of the money he lost earlier?"
"Who knows if he's planning to do something nasty."
"Ah, come on. The Changgeom Clan is part of the righteous faction, they wouldn't do that."
I could hear a few people who had been secretly watching this situation whispering, but no one actively stepped in to stop it.
I decided to accept it for now and followed Great Hero Yun.
The place Yun-what's-his-name led me to was an alley that seemed sparsely populated.
"I won't waste words. I have my pride too. Hand over all of today's earnings, and I'll overlook your insolence."
Great Hero Yun said to me with his arms crossed.
I thought he'd draw his sword right away; this is unexpected.
Maybe my image of this bastard was the absolute worst. Among the guys who tried to rob me with swords, this is actually quite gentlemanly.
Is it because he's supposedly a righteous faction person?
Judging by his actions, he's absolutely not someone worthy of being called a 'Great Hero,' but the fact he's even mindful of the surroundings means he's definitely the type who cares a lot about his reputation.
Of course, he's still a shameless bastard trying to take all my money.
Under normal circumstances, I should have groveled and handed over the money, but now is a situation where I can try to muster some courage.
"No! Great Hero Yun. That money is my wages for today. You're trying to take that money? Are you trying to do what even bandits do?"
You're a righteous faction person. I'm a civilian. Can a righteous faction person rob a civilian?
"I know you have some grievance against me, which is why you pulled that stunt today. If you had just asked for more money, I would have accepted it as the whining of an ugly barbarian. But how dare you make a fool of me?"
Oh wow. Scary.
Calling him up on stage and making a fool of him must have been quite humiliating.
"Make a fool of you? The sword dance was truly splendid. I was amazed, the audience admired it, and you enjoyed it too, Great Hero Yun."
"That's because my swordsmanship was outstanding, and the fact that you made a fool of me doesn't change."
Wow, shamelessly gilding his own face.
"If you didn't like it, you should have just avoided the situation."
I looked at Great Hero Yun with an incredulous expression.
"Ha! What did you say? Are you saying it's my fault now?"
Perhaps finding my attitude unbelievable, Yun-what's-his-name let out a small scoff.
"Great Hero Yun. Since you are skilled in swordsmanship, allow me to use a swordsmanship analogy. An opponent in a life-or-death duel with you attacks using the same move twice. If they use the same move a third time, would you fall for it?"
Something that happened once might not happen twice. But something that happened twice can happen a third time. That's common sense in matters of contest.
"Twice is enough to get familiar. It won't work a third time."
Though sometimes there are people who fall for it a third time too.
"What if there were a martial artist in this world who fell for it a third and even a fourth time?"
"Hmph! Such a pathetic martial artist has no right to live in this world."
As if imagining such a pathetic martial artist, Yun-what's-his-name sneered and shook his head from side to side.
"For a storyteller, the coin trick is like a martial artist's life-or-death duel. I use the coin trick on the audience every day for my livelihood. If there's someone who keeps falling for the same trick without me even trying, of course I would keep going to that person, wouldn't I?"
That pathetic martial artist is you. You easy mark, you bastard.
"So you're saying it's my fault for continuously falling for it. Is that it?"
Yun-what's-his-name grasped the point of my words and scowled.
"A storyteller's tales are not free. I merely sold a story for a fair price, as is due. If I were to return the money under such threats, who would want to pay for a storyteller's tales?"
'We lend our swords for a fair price, as is due.'
'My sword belongs to our clan. If I were to sell my sword for free, who would pay for our clan's swords?'
Yes. The words I heard that day. The more I chew on them, the angrier I get.
I gave them right back to Great Hero Yun.
"Hahahaha! Are you seriously trying to throw my own words from that day back at me now! Now I see! I must have incurred quite a grudge from a mere barbarian."
Yun-what's-his-name laughed uproariously enough to shake the alley. But his eyes weren't laughing.
"Hey. Barbarian."
Having finished laughing, Yun-what's-his-name instantly turned serious and lowered his voice.
"Yes."
It's hard to breathe. Is this the killing intent of a martial artist?
"Do you think I'm a joke?"
Yun-what's-his-name took one step closer to me. It was just one step, but I felt an intimidation as if standing before the judgment seat of the King of the Underworld.
Yun-what's-his-name's hand had already left his crossed arms and was resting near his waist. It looks like he's ready to draw at any moment.
"Great Hero Yun. You clearly said the righteous faction does not wield swords against common folk. But are you now about to wield your sword against a commoner?"
Just like how when discussing who will drive during a summer vacation with friends, those without a license are excluded, a righteous faction person must not wield a sword against common folk.
That's the minimum line.
And I am not a martial artist.
In this damn martial arts world, the weakness I possess could be utilized as a strength right here.
"Why are common folk called '(mincho, lit. people-grass)'? It's because they are like grass that remains still even when trampled. Have you ever seen grass seek revenge?"
"I have not."
Even the old saying (tying grass to repay a favor)' has a separate person who tied the grass.
"
The moment a commoner seeks revenge against a martial artist, they are no longer a commoner. They have become a martial artist who has entered this world. And you sought revenge against me today. Are you still just a simple commoner?"
For a moment, I was speechless at his logic. It wasn't because it was absurd logic.
Rather, it was a perfect, correct argument.
When does the protagonist of a martial arts novel, who lost their parents to a martial artist, become a martial artist? When they learn martial arts? Or when they debut in the martial world? Neither.
The moment they decide to take revenge against a martial artist, even without a handful of internal energy, they have become a martial artist.
I claimed to be a commoner, but in Great Hero Yun's eyes, I must look like a martial artist who has pointed the blade of revenge at him.
"Great Hero Yun. Just as you righteously turned a blind eye to my misfortune that day, I merely did my rightful duty today."
I said to Great Hero Yun with a hardened, serious expression.
Of course, tricking him today was indeed revenge. But if Great Hero Yun considers my actions revenge, then he too must acknowledge one thing, just like I did.
That day, Great Hero Yun's actions were an injustice that should not be done by someone of the righteous faction. If he admits this, then he can call my tricking him revenge.
But you claimed that day's events were righteous. If so, then my actions today become the rightful actions of a storyteller.
"Interesting logic. Fine! What I did that day was righteous, and what you did today could be righteous too. Then, as you say, it wouldn't be revenge."
"Then......"
"But listen. To make that kind of claim, you need to have some strength to back it up. Do you keep talking because you think I'm a pushover? Do you think I'll forgive you for making a fool of me if you flap your gums like that?"
In the end, it's about strength. No matter how sharp a three-inch tongue is, it's over once it's cut by a sword.
Since logic doesn't work, he's switching to the 'I'm just upset' line. Fine, that's easier.
Great Hero Yun gripped the hilt of the sword sheathed at his waist.
Is he really going to draw it?
"Great Hero Yun. It's merely that the Great Hero is in a bad mood. Up until now, we have both done rightful things, so there is no grievance or favor between us. If you were upset, I apologize. But if you draw that sword today, a true grudge will be born."
I delivered my apology in the form of an ultimatum.
The dignified apology of the weak.
Be satisfied with this much.
"Haha! Just because you say you're not a commoner, do you think you've actually become a martial artist? How dare you, not knowing your place, lecture me!"
So, he's not accepting the ultimatum after all.
Strength entered Great Hero Yun's hand gripping the sword. The moment he draws his sword, the neck I greeted this morning will curse me for mentioning clichés.
But such a thing will not happen.
It absolutely cannot happen.
"Stop."
Actually, So-hee had been behind Great Hero Yun from the beginning.