Even I Get This Kind of Fortuitous Encounter?! #2
"Ah, that."
The village chief avoided my eyes.
"Only one was sighted. So we can't know the scale. But why specify it as small-scale?"
This bastard... Did he slap a small-scale label on it based on shaky info just to skimp on the request fee? That's straight-up fraud. This fucking prick.
"Ah, that's! If it was a large group, they'd have hit the village by now! It's a small pack, so they didn't! That's why I said it that way!"
The chief blabbered on like that, but I wasn't about to let it slide like some pushover.
"Then, village chief. What if the goblin pack turns out bigger than expected?"
"Uh?"
"We came here on a small-scale request. But now it's clear the info's off. If the goblins outnumber what we were told, that's a fraudulent contract. You ready to own that?"
"Th-that's..."
I bore down on him, and he dodged my gaze, trailing off.
You gotta nail these things down hard.
"Ah, hold on!"
That's when scrawny Jang Yeo-min cut in.
"Hm? Jang Yeo-min?"
"Kim Geun-hyeop! We could just smooth this over nice and easy—why keep picking fights with the chief?!"
"What'd you say?"
What the hell?
"Bickering over this does us no good! Chief! Let's keep it friendly—forgive the rudeness!"
"Uh, ahem."
What bullshit is this?
"Jang Yeo-min. What the fuck are you on about? We're here for a combat job. Contracts need specifics on the work and clear rewards. 'Nice and easy'? Come on."
"You're so dense! I'll handle the talking—you butt out!"
Jang Yeo-min yelled like I was the idiot.
"Nice and easy" is for bros hanging out. Road trip or whatever, you gloss over minor crap and just vibe. But this ain't playtime. This is a life-or-death fight contract.
No room for "nice and easy" here.
"Dense? Fuck that! Jang Yeo-min! I'll negotiate with the chief—you shut it!"
"Just go nice and easy—no need for negotiating...!"
I wanted to smash this prick's face in!
What the hell is this guy?
"Understood."
As we bickered, the chief stepped in to calm us.
"If there are more goblins than expected, we'll up the reward. So pipe down a bit."
"Got it, chief. So specifically, how much extra per head..."
"Ah! Nice and easy, I said! Kim Geun-hyeop! The chief's giving us face, and you're still trying to start shit!"
"You fucking..."
This prick for real!
"Ah, hey! Calm down! Kim Geun-hyeop!"
"You too, Jang Yeo-min!"
O Geun-sik and Do Sam-cheol grabbed us apart.
That Jang Yeo-min... reeks of Go Seok-sam vibes. I wanted to tune him up bad, but we were a team, job ahead, in someone else's village. That checked my temper.
Fine, whatever—the chief promised extra pay. Let it go.
We stepped out of the chief's house.
Still, Jang Yeo-min glared and grumbled like he wasn't over it.
"Can't believe how you handle shit."
My fists itched. For real.
"Jang Yeo-min... let's go over this again. This is a contract where we risk our necks. 'Nice and easy'? Don't spout nonsense. Skip the details, and we'll get backlash later. You know that?"
"The chief'll handle it! Always haggling like that—exhausting!"
"When'd you ever see me do that every time?!"
"Uh..."
Time to lay down the law!
"Damn it! Cut it out!"
"Ugh..."
I held back for O Geun-sik's sake, who was pulling me off.
Jang Yeo-min, you prick—we'll settle after the job.
"Whew, sorry. O Geun-sik. Do Sam-cheol. It's late—crash in the village tonight, move out before dawn tomorrow."
I swallowed my anger and took charge.
Separate room from Jang Yeo-min.
* * *
Deep into the night. We geared up and headed to the mountain the chief pointed out.
But that chewing bastard Jang Yeo-min kept yapping behind me, bitching nonstop.
"Chief was giving face, and he shits on it... Not a proper martial artist."
O Geun-sik and Do Sam-cheol mumbled back half-assed.
Wasn't buying into his crap, so I ignored it.
Focus on the goblins, not this loser.
"Hm, could've gone nice and easy though."
Do Sam-cheol muttered that under his breath.
"..."
These pricks... nah, you're not trash, right?
"Whatever. Intel says sightings around here—slow search, find the bastards."
"Got it."
"Sure."
They spread out on my order, hunting goblins.
"..."
I moved like Song-ssi taught, scanning trees for traces.
Knowing exactly what to do built confidence, no hesitation.
Pro knowledge is king in this murim world.
Song-ssi's tips made me sharper. Worship.
Anyway. Normally I'd share with the team, but... not with that prick Jang Yeo-min.
I know it's petty, but fuck giving him shit.
Thinking that, then—
"Bingo."
Found goblin traces carved in the tree.
"Everyone, over here!"
"Found something?"
O Geun-sik arrived first.
"Goblins moved nearby. See that—broken branches, trampled plants."
"Oh, ooh?"
Bullshitting a bit, and he bought it, impressed.
Then the other two showed.
Jang Yeo-min glanced around, muttering.
"This goblin trace? Looks fake... You sure?"
For real. Kill him?
Killing intent surged.
But I'm no psycho serial killer... Annoying as fuck, but don't kill.
Just beat the shit out of trash like him.
Last time with those bandits, I set a rule in life-or-death fights.
Kill who deserves death.
Or: don't kill who doesn't.
"Jang Yeo-min."
This guy's just for a beatdown.
"Hm?"
"No more warnings. Yap once more, and I'll smash your face. Got it?"
"Wh-what? You little shit—! Ha! What a joke! You've pissed me off since yesterday! Spouting crap in front of the chief!"
"Hey."
Enough.
Didn't want drama before battle, but fuck it—didn't matter.
Discipline exists even on the battlefield.
Tradition: fist-fix the trash killing morale.
"Didn't I just say? One more word, you're done."
"O-O Geun-sik!"
He called the others, but—
"Shut it!"
They went spectator mode.
I drove a Luk Hap Kwon fist straight into his ugly mug.
Thwack!
"Gaaack!"
One hit, and Jang Yeo-min flew back.
This lightweight punk was way below my weight class.
Realm? Third-rate vs. third-rate, doesn't matter much.
Stronger, tougher guy wins.
"You fucking bastard!"
He grabbed his sword hilt in rage.
Shink.
I had my blade at his throat first.
"Huh?"
Faster than his flailing ass.
Blade tip nicked his chin—his face went pale quick.
"Draw? Swordfight means one of us dies."
"Th-that!"
Wasn't kill-worthy before, but draw steel? Now he is.
"Dunno why you're always on my ass, but wanna end it here?"
"Mercy...!"
Tears from his eyes.
"H-hey! Stop!"
"Yeah!"
O Geun-sik and Do Sam-cheol wedged in, breaking it up.
Jang Yeo-min slumped, deflated. I sheathed.
"Whew. Sorry for starting shit before battle. But this is all Jang Yeo-min's fault."
"True, but..."
"Jang Yeo-min. Right?"
"..."
He nodded silently.
"Cool it here. Man to man, settle with fists. Loser obeys winner, no bitching. Deal?"
"S-sorry! My bad!"
Threat of more beatings, and he bowed.
Yeah, that's how it's done.
Been choking on frustration since yesterday.
Earth or murim—same deal. Stick works on crazies.
"Apology accepted. No more grumbling—follow my lead. Got it?"
"Yes..."
"Good!"
Discipline set. No more pests.
"Again: goblin turf here. They patrol their turf. Ambush—they'll show."
No objections.
We set ambush.
"Kim Geun-hyeop. How long we wait?"
"About an hour."
"You... know yokai well."
O Geun-sik and Do Sam-cheol said that, more respect than yesterday.
They saw me school Jang Yeo-min.
"Comes with the job. Quiet now. Wait for them. Two'll come—kill all but one. Wound it, release. It'll lead us."
"Ooh."
Dropped a bit of Song-ssi's wisdom—they ate it up.
Even Jang Yeo-min perked ears.
Whatever.
How long we waited—
"Kerrk-kerrk."
"Kerrrk."
Goblins approaching from ahead.
Two.
"...!"
Song-ssi nailed it!
Just like he said...!
Can't help but worship Song-ssi more.
Song-ssi, how are you so damn cool?
Can't stop the worship.
I kept fangirling internally, waiting for the moment.
Thud.
Goblin neared Jang Yeo-min.
"Now! Charge!"
"Raaagh!"
"Aaaah!"
"Kerrk?!"
Four dudes burst out—goblins freaked.
O Geun-sik's sword crashed on one's head.
Splat!
"Kek!"
One down instant.
"Die!"
I tackled the axe-wielding other—grappling tackle, not soccer.
"Kerrk?!"
It flipped back; I mounted, smashed with body weight.
"Die! Die, you fuck!"
"Keeek!"
Splat! Splat!
Beat till eyes and balls swelled—pitiful cries.
Finally off it.
"Release now. It'll lead to nest. Oh, Jang Yeo-min—snap both arms first."
"O-okay."
"Keeek!"
It thrashed, but injured against grown man? No chance.
Jang Yeo-min broke arms as ordered.
Crack!
"Kryaaaagh!"
Miserable scream echoed skyward.
"Keeek!"
Goblin fled into the woods.
"Pursue. Time to hit their main force."
"..."
"Tense, huh..."