Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Reluctant Bandit Boss
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The woman, Narin, let out a light yawn.
Being a bandit meant taking it easy. She'd started this line of work in the first place because farming was such a hassle.
Yet somehow, the more money they made, the more work piled up.
Narin smacked her lips and asked her subordinate.
"So... you're saying we should expand our territory?"
"Yes! That's right, Big Sis!"
"Why?"
"Don't we have to outdo the bandit lairs next door?"
"Why bother?"
"Well..."
The subordinate rolled his eyes.
"Our breadbasket's not cutting it anymore, Big Sis."
"So why?"
"The men's grumbling is getting out of hand..."
"They're eating three square meals a day, aren't they?"
"Sure, but a full belly doesn't make everyone happy, does it?"
"Quit beating around the bush and spit it out. What are you getting at?"
"...Big Sis, come on. Can't we run things like the other bandit lairs? I'm being straight with you. At this rate, we're all gonna starve."
Another big yawn escaped her.
Narin smacked her lips again. She sank deeper into her seat.
"You need more money, huh?"
"Exactly, Big Sis!"
"Money... sure would be nice. You could buy all sorts of tasty food, enjoy every pleasure under the sun, and make paupers dance for a single coin."
"Yes! Spot on, Big Sis! That's the fun of money!"
"Fine. If you're that worked up, you must have a plan. Let's hear it."
"Yes, Big Sis! First off... we've only got one village under our thumb right now, right? We'll expand to two or three more and build up our power! Oh, and while we're at it, start collecting protection money from places we haven't hit before!"
"And then?"
"Then... instead of just tolls on the road, we'll shake down travelers like the other bandit lairs do! What do you think?"
"Right down to their last bundle?"
"We'll leave 'em with a little something... What do you say?"
"What if there's a martial artist mixed in?"
"Huh? Come on, Big Sis... martial experts aren't like the neighbor's mutt. You can spot 'em a mile away. The strong ones strut around trying to look tough."
"Is that sooo?"
"Yes! Big Sis, just give the word! I'll handle everything and bring you fat tribute payments!"
"Sounds good?"
"Haha! As expected of Big Sis! You've got an eye for business...!"
"But rejected."
"Huh?"
Narin's subordinate, Gwangyang, faltered.
"Wh-why...?"
"Even tolls make us watch our backs. If we start stripping bundles bare, who'd use that road? She'd go the long way around. Customers would dry up. Just leave it be."
"B-but Big Sis...!"
"We're the ones maintaining the roads and planting trees in the first place, right? That's why we charge tolls. If we start looting bundles too, are we even bandits?"
"We are bandits, Big Sis!"
"Oh. Right."
"I-I know Big Sis has no greed, but... just once or twice! I bet you'd love it! No more skimping on coarse grains!"
"Eh, honestly... this feels like more than we deserve already. Not farming a lick and eating our fill? Makes my shoulders heavy."
"What's Big Sis's shoulders made of, scarecrow straw?! Heavy over that?!"
"But it feels kinda guilty. Tolls are one thing, but protection money? I haven't even protected them."
"We're protecting them! We are!"
Narin took a long swig of water.
They were bandits, sure. Lounging around without working, making money off nothing-that made them thieves. Narin knew her place well.
But pushing beyond that? It just didn't sit right.
No farming... sitting all day... rolling around...
Preying on folks working hard? It pricked her conscience.
"Gwangyang."
"Yes, Big Sis."
"Let's just build a few more roads."
"Come on, Big Sis!"
"Spruce up the landscaping... plant pretty trees... scatter some flowers... maybe we could raise tolls then?"
"We're bandits! Not gardeners!"
"True... yeah... that's true..."
"Look, Big Sis! I'm fine with it! I am! But the underlings making those roads are fed up! They're talking about jumping to other lairs! And now this big shot claiming to be one of the 72 Bandit Strongholds is creeping into our turf-how can you be so chill?!"
"Wasn't that just a rumor?"
"Big Sis!!!"
Narin leisurely crossed her legs.
"Gwangyang, how many years we been together?"
"Three years, Big Sis! Isn't it time you listened to me?!"
"You're the sharpest bandit around. You gripe, but you don't betray. When everyone else turned tail, you stuck with the kids under me."
"B-Big Sis... finally acknowledging my loyalty...?"
"So you know what I'm gonna say by now, right?"
"Ah, damn it! Big Sis, come on!"
Gwangyang spat out an angry rant.
"Talented folks gotta rise up! Gotta have ambition! Big Sis, you've got the talent and strength! Walk the royal road of bandits! At this rate, even our measly breadbasket'll get snatched by the neighbors!"
"Bandits have a royal road? Even at best, it's just a bitter path..."
"True, but...! If that's the case, why not go ronin instead of banditry?!"
"Ronin means working."
"Bandits work too!"
"Can make underlings do it."
"Damn it! That's the point! Those underlings are all leaving! Gotta win hearts somehow! Don't wanna end up just the two of us sucking our thumbs, do ya?"
"At least one stuck around."
"That's not a positive spin!"
Gwangyang huffed and wiped his sweaty face.
"No, Big Sis, please... we're family, aren't we? I wanna see you thrive. And me too, while we're at it. Ideally, sleeping somewhere warmer, holding a woman now and then."
"Not something to say to my face."
"We're past being shy about that, right? Tolls have limits. If it's just us two clinging on... other lairs cross over, we lose even that. No territory left. We'd really starve then."
Gwangyang prostrated himself flat.
"This path leads to total ruin. Let's try it once. Taste the money, maybe it'll sway you?"
"Doesn't sit right... doesn't sit right..."
"Then get up and do something! Sitting idle 'cause it doesn't feel right-what're you gonna do?"
"Why are people born?"
"If you're pondering that, study some philosophy. But you don't even do that."
Gwangyang pleaded desperately.
"Just one test run. Shake down one guy. Win the kids' hearts. No blood on our hands! Never! I don't wanna either, but we gotta survive! Need underlings to play bandit! Lose what we built, end up rolling in the dirt? Huh?!"
"...Sigh..."
"Big Sis, please!"
Narin racked her brain. Hearts, huh.
Fair enough. Had to keep them somehow. If the underlings all bailed, she'd have to work herself.
Still, didn't wanna hurt anyone. Banditry already felt like growing thorns on her conscience.
Narin checked their emergency funds on the sly.
Still some left. So...
Pretend to rob, then follow and repay later?
"Just once. If it doesn't sit right after, we do landscaping."
"Yes! Big Sis! Trust me! I'll bring back a fortune!"
"Don't overdo it. No blood."
"No chance of blood! Really!"
"I mean it, keep it moderate."
...
"Bro."
"What."
"Why's Big Sis got zero greed?"
The bandit Gwangyang glanced sideways.
New recruit, huh. Numbers barely holding steady now-every newbie was precious.
Ten-plus total, scraping by.
This crew was the whole lair. So Gwangyang coaxed and coddled.
"Big Sis has her deep reasons."
"You know those deep reasons, Bro?"
"Yeah."
He swallowed the truth: Lazy as hell but with ironclad morals.
Same for him, really. Damn. Living off others left a bitter taste for everyone.
Just didn't know better ways. Couldn't lose everything and hit the streets.
"Big Sis thinks ahead. Seems dumb now, but you'll see later."
"...That so?"
"Doubting me now?"
"Heard this was a big deal around here, but hardly anyone's around."
"Smoke and mirrors. Lull enemies into complacency."
"Who's the enemy?"
"Other bandit lairs."
"Why lull them? Better to intimidate openly."
Gwangyang's pea-sized patience hit its limit.
"What's your name again?"
"Yeon-guk, but..."
"Yeon-guk, yeah. Damn it, just shut up and do it. Maknae with all the questions?"
"Heard you guys rule this area, but it's nothing like the rumors..."
"Kid, you show everything to a fresh newbie? Gotta hide 70% of your skill. Don't you know?"
"Feels like 90% hidden here... And isn't that a martial world saying? Bandits are a stretch..."
"You got a sword or not."
"Yes."
"Martial artist or not."
"Not really?"
Whack!
The maknae's head nearly kissed the dirt.
"You are. Kid. Sword makes you martial folk. That's why we hide 70%. Got it?"
"...N-no, I..."
"Come here. Come on, don't dodge."
"O-okay!"
"Damn kids. Shoulda got it sooner."
The maknae slunk away. Gwangyang, leaning on a tree, spotted another subordinate approaching.
"Hey, Bro."
"What now."
"What's Big Sis to you that you stick like this?"
"Sis and bro. Damn, what else?"
"Honestly, can't wrap my head around it. She's strong, sure, but no heart for banditry. Talked to the guys-better jump ship now? Live warm, eat good, gamble... enjoy life a bit. Right now, it's just wetting our lips."
"......"
"Bro, let's bail while we can. Those 72 Bandit Strongholds guys are swelling up. Word is they're sniffing our turf. Jump before we get crushed. I got connections-we could make it work..."
"You damn fool, never been a newbie? Every group starts you at the bottom. Ditch Big Sis? You nuts?"
"B-Bro..."
"Who saved your ass from tiger jaws? Sure, I live off stolen coin, but I know one thing: repay favors with favors. You too, right? Everyone here owes Big Sis. Ungrateful bastards."
"......"
"Shut your traps and prep for work. Damn it. One more word, I'll kill ya. Gotta have shame-betraying your savior like it's nothing? Crazy bastard! We lured you into this bandit life, and now you wanna bail 'cause it sucks?!"
"Isn't that just talk?"
"Kid! That ain't the point!"
Gwangyang wiped his face.
"Shut up and get the kids ready. Something's coming soon."
"Shake everyone down?"
"Big Sis said one guy. So pick a good mark. At least... yeah, someone with heavy bundles. Poor-looking? Toll and send 'em off."
"What about martial artists?"
"Martial artists, my ass. That common? Sword users don't travel solo anyway! Solo fat-purses are our game."
"...Isn't solo rich weirder?"
"Wanna fight outnumbered? One mark only! Prep!"
Gwangyang let passersby pay tolls and go.
Just one guy.
One to show his boss the taste of money, open her eyes.
And it came soon. Backlit by the sinking sun, a hulking figure with massive baggage approached slowly.
Leather-wrapped loads hiding contents, a wide hat blocking the sun-reeking of "I'm loaded" from the road.
Big build. Face hard to see.
But...
His gait seemed ordinary. No oddities, just like any traveler...
Big lug, traveling alone, loaded up-peddler type.
Perfect!
"You!"
Gwangyang blocked the road with his men.
"Drop everything and scram!"
".......?"
A scarred face emerged from under the hat.