Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Stage
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“Boy, do you intend to stand there without a greeting?”
“...Ah! Greetings, Cult Leader.”
“So I have to drag it out of you.”
“……”
He didn’t make me prostrate… no, that’s not it. What on earth is going on?
This was, quite literally, an unprecedented event.
Had the Cult Leader ever once observed a martial arts tournament for low-ranking warriors?
And it wasn't just Dam Un-cheon.
All the other disciples, excluding Neung Un-bi and So Seon-hwa, the heads of each family, the Elder Council Head, the masters of the previous generation, and even the elders.
They had all flocked here, filling every empty seat in the VIP section.
“Waaaaaah!”
Since their visit was completely unexpected, it was only natural for a roar to erupt.
Dam Un-cheon, who had been lightly waving at their cheers, glanced at Neung Un-bi.
“What are you staring at? Come and sit.”
“Yes.”
At Dam Un-cheon's chiding, Neung Un-bi quickly found his designated seat and sat down.
“Begin.”
“Yes, Cult Leader!”
As the Cult Leader gave the quiet command, the official overseeing the tournament, looking completely stiff, called out the two finalists.
“Th-the finalists, step forward at once!”
“Yes!”
It wasn't just the official. The finalists themselves walked out stiffly, clearly tense.
At this rate…….
“Hmm, the skills of this year's finalists seem to be lacking compared to previous years, don't they?”
“Indeed. They look very stiff.”
“Tsk, for those who will form the foundation of the Demonic Cult, their level is disappointing.”
Starting with Dam Un-cheon, as the figures in the VIP section showed their displeasure, Fifth Elder Gu Ja-seong's face turned beet red.
Well, it was understandable.
He was in charge of training the cult's martial units and had personally organized this tournament.
But you guys, do you really not know?
Do you really not understand why the finalists' skills suddenly seem so poor?
This was by no means Gu Ja-seong's fault for planning the tournament carelessly.
It was because of the Cult Leader's unexpected attendance.
When the highest-ranking person in the Demonic Cult shows up, it would be stranger if the low-ranking warriors, who are practically at the bottom of the ladder, *weren't* nervous.
And yet they sit here, blaming their skill level without understanding any of that…….
Anyway, this is why high-ranking bastards are the worst.
Tsk.
Just as Neung Un-bi was clicking his tongue inwardly and shaking his head, Gu Ja-seong quietly rose from his seat.
“Fifth Elder, it's just about to start. Where are you going?”
“Yes? Ah, nature calls…”
“My goodness. I thought you were drinking quite a bit earlier… Hurry back.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
Having received the Cult Leader's permission, Gu Ja-seong quickly exited the VIP section.
Damn ‘nature calls.’
Wang Cheon did it too. Is that the only excuse they can come up with?
It's obvious he's going to tear into those kids.
He's probably sending a frantic telepathic message the moment he's out of sight.
Something like, ‘If you don't do your best and end up embarrassing me in front of the Cult Leader, you'll have hell to pay…’
Look at that. The moment Gu Ja-seong disappeared, the finalists flinched in unison. The official's eyes look like they're about to pop out of his head.
Haa… Damn it. I thought this was going to be pretty interesting.
Now, it's painfully obvious how this will go.
How could warriors who are stiff as boards possibly display their true skills?
Neung Un-bi stared at the back of the Cult Leader's head with a displeased look.
Why on earth did he come to observe when it wasn't even planned?
Dragging all these busy people with him…….
“B-Begin!”
While Neung Un-bi was wondering about the Cult Leader's intentions, the final match began with the official's signal.
“Haaap!”
“Chaaat!”
Their kiai were loud, but they were putting too much force into their movements. They looked like they were fighting for their lives, but it only made one frown.
The crowd seemed to feel the same way; they all wore disappointed expressions.
If the Cult Leader hadn't been there, they would have done more than just boo—they would have thrown whatever they were holding.
This whole situation was the Cult Leader's fault.
Though, of course, he himself didn't seem to know it.
“Hah! Just look at that.”
“Hmm…”
“It's a mess.”
It was inevitable.
As the match intensified, it devolved more and more into a dogfight.
They were even grabbing each other's hair and rolling around….
I understand they wanted to show something, but it was just unsightly.
“Fifth Elder.”
“…Yes, Cult Leader.”
Gu Ja-seong, who had just returned after finishing his threat disguised as a nature call, answered the Cult Leader's summons listlessly.
“Even to you, it looks a bit… doesn't it?”
“…Yes.”
“Perhaps we should send a message to all branches of the cult?”
“You are absolutely right.”
“See to it that things improve. At this rate… honestly, tsk tsk.”
“……”
The Cult Leader clicked his tongue.
And with that, the training regimen for warriors in every branch grown from the roots of the Demonic Cult was decided.
An official notice would probably be sent out by express messenger as soon as the tournament ended.
The training instructors everywhere would be racking their brains to improve their warriors' performance, and the warriors themselves would have to endure more than double the training.
The stone the Cult Leader had casually tossed was about to kill a bunch of innocent frogs.
As Neung Un-bi mourned for these people he didn't even know, the Cult Leader spoke again.
“How can we call this a festival when the atmosphere is so cold? Shouldn't someone step up and liven things up?”
At Dam Un-cheon's words, the VIPs, who had been cautiously observing him, quickly darted their eyes around.
“Cult Leader, my family has some newly trained warriors. Shall they give a demonstration?”
“No, my family will…”
Those who spotted a chance to get into the Cult Leader's good graces raised their hands from all over.
“No, no. That's too predictable, isn't it?”
“……”
But the Cult Leader shook his head with a serious expression and continued.
“How should I put it… wouldn't it be better if there was a… dramatic feel to it?”
“A dramatic… feel?”
“Yes. For example, someone who was in a crisis making a dramatic recovery… Something like that would be nice.”
“……”
“Like someone who lost their martial arts and miraculously regained them.”
With each word the Cult Leader added, the gazes, one by one, turned toward Neung Un-bi.
The stone had suddenly flown in a strange direction.
The frog that's about to be hit by that stone… It can't be me, can it?
Before he knew it, everyone in the VIP section was staring at him.
What are you looking at, you bastards!
I should just gouge your eyes out!
He desperately wanted to shout that and cause a scene, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
This was the VIP section. No matter how precious a disciple of the Cult Leader he was, there wasn't a single person here that someone like Neung Un-bi could mess with.
“Haha, M-Master?”
“Yes?”
“You aren't, by any chance, saying this with me in mind, are you?”
“……”
At Neung Un-bi's words, Dam Un-cheon, who had been staring intently at him, suddenly clapped his hands as if he'd just had a realization.
The sound of the clap was so crisp and clear.
“Oh! That's right! Un-bi, you would be perfect.”
“……”
“A disciple who suffered from Qi Deviation has regained his skills. No, he's become even better than before. Yes, yes. What could be a more dramatic story than this?”
Dam Un-cheon beamed from ear to ear, clapping his hands repeatedly.
Are you happy? Huh?
It's obvious he was aiming this at me from the very beginning, isn't it?
“Oh! Truly brilliant words. This seems perfect for livening things up.”
“That's right. It was a shame that only the Elder Council Head got to see him withstand the Cult Leader's three strikes. Will we finally get to see it as well?”
“Of course! So Seol-ok-su was boasting about it so much in private.”
“That's right. I hear he even trained by breaking through the inescapable net cast by three units of the Cavalry Division?”
“……”
Everyone in the VIP section, one after another, threw in a word to curry favor with the Cult Leader.
…It wasn't an inescapable net.
But as everyone's attention focused on Neung Un-bi, the Elder Council Head's expression noticeably soured, while So Seol-ok-su's face lit up.
Ha, bragging must run in the family.
So that's where the saying 'like mother, like son' comes from.
But he had to stop this. He had no desire whatsoever to show off his skills and make his rivals wary of him.
“Haha, um, Master?”
“Yes?”
“You're joking, right?”
“……”
“How could I not understand the Cult Leader's profound intentions, but your disciple is still weak… I think I slept wrong last night, my shoulder is stiff…”
Neung Un-bi put on a servile smile and even pretended to be weak, trying every way he could to refuse Dam Un-cheon's suggestion.
Dam Un-cheon, who was staring intently at him, tossed out a single sentence in an indifferent voice.
“Does it look like I'm joking?”
“……”
Shit… How menacing. His eyes automatically lowered.
Damn Cult Leader, what the hell is he scheming?
His eyes are overflowing with sincerity… I can't figure out what he's thinking at all.
Am I your toy? Do you get canker sores on your tongue if you don't mess with me every once in a while?
But that one indifferent remark sent shivers down Neung Un-bi's spine, and he immediately smiled brightly and scratched his head.
What more could he say at this point?
The atmosphere was already ruined. Everyone was in cahoots with the Cult Leader, staring only at him.
“This disciple knew you were serious from the start. Of course! I must do it. How dramatic will it be? Hahahaha!”
“I see. I'm truly glad you understand my intentions.”
“……”
Dam Un-cheon nodded and then fell into thought again.
“By the way, who would be a good opponent?”
His eyes rolled around.
But why were they heading toward the disciples?
Before Neung Un-bi could say anything, Dam Un-cheon's rolling eyes stopped in one place.
And everyone's gaze followed his.
The emotions that followed were surprise and shock.
“You'll do.”
“……”
The man pointed out by Dam Un-cheon rose from his seat without a moment's hesitation.
“If you wish it.”
“……”
Neung Un-bi could only stare blankly.
Why him?
There are five disciples, so why did it have to be the one said to be the strongest… the First Young Master, Wi Ji-hyeok?
“Junior Brother, what are you doing? This is our Master's command. Follow me at once.”
“……”
Wi Ji-hyeok spoke in a calm voice and then leaped toward the tournament stage.
As he flew with his robes fluttering and landed squarely on the stage, the crowd began to murmur with a strange sense of anticipation.
“Un-bi.”
“……”
“Your Senior Brother is waiting, is he not?”
At Dam Un-cheon's urging, everyone's eyes pushed Neung Un-bi forward.
Damn Demonic Cult bastards. Once I leave this place, I won't even piss in the direction of the cult.
Shoulders slumped, Neung Un-bi headed for the stage.
Fine, I'll do it.
Isn't it just a matter of playing along for a bit?
“Haa, I'm going, I'm going. Is it enough if I just go?”
While grinding his teeth inwardly, all he could do on the outside was grumble.
What more could he say?
But no matter what they expected from this, he was the one who would decide the outcome.
Whatever. I'll just liven things up a bit and then fall down at an appropriate moment.
Bowing his head deeply to the Cult Leader, Neung Un-bi secretly sighed and walked toward the tournament grounds.
Trudge, trudge….
Ah, I don't want to go.
He felt like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse by its owner.
“Senior Brother!”
“……”
So Seon-hwa called out to Neung Un-bi in a wistful voice.
You feel sorry for me too, don't you?
“Keuk! What a shame. I wanted to fight him…”
“……”
Seeing her clench her fists, her eyes burning with enthusiasm, it seemed she was genuinely disappointed.
Of course, her disappointment seemed to be for a completely different reason than Neung Un-bi's.
“Hoh? You're going to fight the First Senior Brother?”
“……”
“I can just picture what a mess you'll be!”
Was it because he had revealed his true feelings to the other disciples?
Yeo Jin-gang openly mocked him.
That bastard!
Neung Un-bi glared fiercely at him.
He almost lost control of his surging demonic energy and planted his fist in Yeo Jin-gang's smirking face.
By the authority of the Thunder God… Quickly, as if by law or decree.
“Hoo…”
Barely managing to control his breathing and suppress his anger, Neung Un-bi forced a smile at Yeo Jin-gang.
You, just you wait.
I might let the others go, but I'll definitely crush you later.
So make sure you remember today's mockery.
Because it'll be a pain to have to remind you what you did wrong later.