Chapter 75
Chapter 75
************************-
Translator: uly
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Piercing the Human Skin Mask
************************-
Human skin mask?
You saw through that in one glance?
I checked her face, thinking it might have fallen off. The woman smiled.
"It's not fallen off. I just have sharp eyes. Don't worry. I have no intention of telling anyone else. Your target is Yeokmin?"
"...That's right."
"You're after the Ghost Killer Black Night Squad?"
"Something like that."
The woman gave my body a quick once-over.
"I can see the outside, but not the inside. You're well-hidden. Still, I can tell one thing. Your energy is sharp like a blade, so you've clearly been eating 'sword rice' for quite a while."
"Doesn't the lady have something similar?"
"You can see it?"
I gave her a quick scan. The first thing that caught my eye was the blackened nail beds.
Inside those hands that looked beautiful at first glance lurked a vicious amount of yin energy. Things I wouldn't have noticed before.
And that was just the start.
Her energy was off too. It fluctuated densely, feeling like demonic arts trained to their limit. I couldn't pinpoint exactly where, but...
She wasn't someone to take lightly.
A martial artist. One with several hidden cards up her sleeve.
"Same here. Though I can see one thing."
"What's that?"
"That you're a hard worker too."
"Flattery. Hilarious. But not bad. Though it wasn't the kind of effort I wanted."
She giggled.
"Where are you from?"
"Didn't you see the human skin mask? I can't say."
"Oops. My bad. Hey, why'd you really give me the jerky?"
"Like I said before, you asked for it, so I gave it. No other intentions."
"You're a rare one. A real oddball. And it's high-quality jerky too... Runaway young master from a wealthy family?"
"No."
"Reaaally?"
She dragged out the end of her words and waved her hand lazily.
"Anyway, I'll eat it well. Thanks."
The anchor came up. The boat slowly began to move away from the harbor.
Favorable wind. A timely breeze pushed the ship along. The mid-sized vessel glided across the water.
It was an unfamiliar sway. I'd rarely been on a boat, so it felt novel too.
A few people rushed out and started vomiting over the riverbank. Luckily, I had no such side effects, so I leaned leisurely against the railing.
A man whose eyes met mine approached.
"Martial brother. Where are you from?"
"From far away."
"...Haha. I see. I'm Yang Dohyun, an escort from the Dragon Banner Escort Agency. My skills aren't anything special, but I still wield a sword."
His tone seemed polite at first, but it carried pride.
"I greeted you because I had a question. Martial brother, may I ask why you're carrying four swords?"
"No particular reason. They're spares. My martial arts are a bit fierce, so swords break often. That's all."
"Fierce swordsmanship... I'd love to see it. But we're on a boat, so that's not possible."
Escort Yang Dohyun stood beside me. He paused, leading into the main point.
"This Dragon Banner ship is headed to Yeokmin. We'll pass through Ansa Water Ghosts territory en route. They're armed with several ships, and I hear they have considerable power and influence. The agency plans to pay tolls to minimize trouble... but things won't always go as planned."
"......"
"Martial brother, I know it's rude, but we'd like to limit risky choices. When we enter Ansa Water Ghosts territory, would you please follow our guidance?"
"You mean hide?"
"Just hold your breath for a bit. That's enough."
I thought it over.
"I've heard they collect tolls arbitrarily and spill blood. If that's true, I'd like to lend my sword too."
"We appreciate the sentiment, but tolls are like a custom. Thanks to the Ansa Water Ghosts dominating this area, various bandit groups that would've clashed have dwindled. Overall, the tolls we pay have actually decreased. To put it bluntly, they've cleared the waterway for safe passage. The road to Yeokmin was incomparably more dangerous before they appeared. Accidents still happen, but actual damage has lessened considerably."
"...Even so..."
"This is between the Ansa Water Ghosts and our escort agency. We appreciate your heart, but please understand. Everyone on this boat has agreed, so not drawing your sword actually helps us."
I nodded in the end. Yang Dohyun bowed his head.
"Thank you for cooperating."
Yang Dohyun went around asking for cooperation from the others on board afterward too.
The woman I'd seen before naturally leaned against the railing next to me.
"Escorts are so busy. Living off handouts ain't easy."
"Lady, are you here because you're hungry?"
"Busted."
I handed her another piece of jerky.
She munched away under the cloth. I couldn't see her eating clearly, but she seemed to enjoy it, which put me in a good mood.
I turned my head. Gazed at the river.
"The escort agency seems pretty anxious."
"Ansa Water Ghosts. Vicious bunch. Ruthless hands, and tempers even worse."
"Do you know them, lady?"
"Never met 'em in person. But I've heard so much my ears are calloused. Had reasons to listen, and needed to know what kind of scum they are."
She sucked on her fingers.
"Let's introduce ourselves properly. What's your name?"
"I'll go with Nameless."
"'I'll go with'? That's blatantly a fake name. I'm Joo Ryeong-ryeong. Nameless. Everything in that backpack food?"
"More or less..."
"Live with me."
"Aren't you a bit too transparent?"
"Better than invisible. Right?"
Joo Ryeong-ryeong.
Her face hidden by the cloth, she was somewhat brazen. But it wasn't the unpleasant kind of brazenness.
Especially since she'd handed over even her own share.
"Not as tasty as jerky, but mine's pretty good too. What do you think?"
I tried the dried fruit she offered.
A bit sour. But the lingering sweetness followed, bursting with a unique flavor in my mouth.
"...It's good."
"Really?"
"Yes. Very."
"Dried it well, huh? I worked hard on it. Not all fruits dry well just 'cause you try. Bugs come, half-ass it and mold grows... It's sneaky hard labor. All skill. Skill."
"You made this yourself..."
I smiled.
"Impressive, Lady Joo."
Joo Ryeong-ryeong wiggled her fingers shyly.
"Didn't expect such high praise for one dried fruit... Here! Eat it all! This too! Want me to teach you how?"
"If you're offering, sure."
"How you do it is..."
The boat pressed on steadily. But as expected, it took quite a while.
There were limits to ways to pass time on deck. Couldn't practice swordsmanship, couldn't train my body properly.
Couldn't just run the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art endlessly either. Heart methods require securing your surroundings to circulate safely.
Even a touch during circulation is dangerous, so I settled for light stamina training.
When I sat on deck moving my body, Joo Ryeong-ryeong sidled over.
"Body carved like a statue. External arts practitioner?"
"Something like that."
"You never give straight answers. Hilarious. Mind if I train next to you?"
"What kind of martial arts do you practice, Lady Joo?"
"Don't use a sword. Mostly lightness skills. If specialized, maybe these nails."
She waved her hand lightly.
"Pretty, right?"
"Very."
"Eek. Didn't expect you'd really say that. Not scary?"
"What's inside is more beautiful than it looks, so calling it pretty is only natural, no?"
"...Huh?"
She slapped my back.
"Don't flirt. You don't even know my face."
"Wasn't flirting."
"Speaking of, aren't you curious about my face? You've gone three days without mentioning it once. Surprised me."
"Figured you had your reasons. You saw through mine, so I should do the same."
"...You're upright. Real rare type."
Joo Ryeong-ryeong flailed her arms.
"Chatting too long during training's weird. Alright, let's go!"
Training continued.
Joo Ryeong-ryeong collapsed first.
"How are you not tired?!"
"I'm used to it."
"What the hell martial arts did you learn...?!"
Better than sitting idle, and since I couldn't train internal energy, I just honed external strength.
During the ongoing deck life, I got used to the rocking. Even when weather turned rough and it pitched wildly, I kept balance effortlessly.
"You could be a sailor."
"Still prefer land over rivers."
"What about the sea?"
"Never seen it, so no idea. Endless water... Curious, though."
"Right? Your jaw'll drop when you see it."
"Have you seen it, Lady Joo?"
"Nah. Just heard about it."
"......?"
"Your face. Hilarious."
The incident happened on the 13th day after boarding, at dawn.
From morning, escorts bustled about. Raising voices too.
"Ansa Water Ghosts territory approaching!"
Escorts opened spots hidden by cargo. A heavy, long passage leading inside.
Seemed like a remodeled fish hold, the fishy smell from the wood stinging my nose. Escort Yang Dohyun earnestly warned everyone repeatedly.
"No noise. We'll open the doors after passing Ansa Water Ghosts territory. For your safety."
We crammed into the narrow hold. Not many people, but enough that we had to press close.
--Thud.
A vibration rang out. Like ships bumping, presences multiplied above.
We held our breaths. Joo Ryeong-ryeong did too.
Sounds from outside were muffled. But harsh curses and someone slammed to the deck came through clearly.
Cargo-checking noises too. A nearby voice muttered.
"Nothing wrong... Probably not hiding anything?"
"Nothing."
"Tie the boat up proper. Boss is coming soon. He'll take a quick look, then set the toll. No funny business. Unless you want blood."
"Of course."
The voice faded.
Joo Ryeong-ryeong whispered.
"Not stuffy?"
"It is, but we endure. If I butt in against their wishes, it'd be no different from the pirates."
"True. But listen. Know what? I'm not actually going to Yeokmin. Had my own reason for this boat."
"...Pardon?"
"Just like the escort agency and Ansa Water Ghosts are connected, so am I. Not a good connection. Nameless. You stay put. Until it's all over."
Joo Ryeong-ryeong stood. Energy rippled from her fingertips.
"This is between Ansa Water Ghosts and me. Don't interfere."
--KABOOM!!!
The cargo-hidden door exploded open.
```