Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Righteousness and Duty - 1
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Only a few stayed behind in Changik Village, while everyone else set out to subjugate the Mythical Hound. The ones left were me, Namgung Hye, and two members of the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit. It was just four of us guarding the village, but it didn't feel like much of a burden.
"They caught most of them on the way here last time, so the only demon beasts around are Earth Dogs at best. And they don't come near the village much anyway, so nothing should happen."
Earth Dog. A canine demon beast with blue fur that feeds on corpses.
And if there are no corpses, it attacks and devours people. Dangerous enough if you're alone, but it has the trait of avoiding places with lots of humans.
Changik Village had around a hundred residents. Earth Dogs rarely invaded a place with that many people, so there shouldn't be any issues.
"Alright, let's go then."
But that didn't mean we could let our guards down completely. So we decided to patrol the village outskirts in pairs. And the one paired with me was none other than Namgung Hye.
"Have you ever hunted an Earth Dog before?"
"This is my first time besides last time."
"Hehe. Then I'm your senior. Don't worry. As a member of the Namgung Family, I've hunted plenty of demon beasts."
She's brimming with confidence. Fine, let's trust her this once.
We strolled around the village outskirts with Namgung Hye, chatting about nothing special. It was supposed to be reconnaissance, but with nothing showing up, it just felt like a walk.
Maybe that's why. As we walked and she got bored looking around, Namgung Hye spoke up.
"I'm thinking of going to the Heavenly Martial Hall next year."
"Heavenly Martial Hall, huh."
"I was actually planning to go this year, but Father said I'm not ready yet. He said that since it's where Righteous and Evil Faction warriors gather, you need solid basic strength. Otherwise, you'll get picked on..."
"I've heard that."
It was the same in the novel. The first thing Wi Cheonryong did upon arriving at the Heavenly Martial Hall was get into a huge brawl.
Putting young, hot-blooded warriors from the Righteous and Evil Factions in one place—did they really expect them not to fight?
Plus, Wi Cheonryong had the title of Sword Heaven's disciple, so the Evil Faction side probably wanted to take him down even more.
"What about you?"
"Well, I'm thinking next year too, for now."
"Oh... Then let's do our best. By the way, if Sword Heaven's disciple enters the hall, the Evil Faction will go nuts, right?"
"Not sure if you can call it a disciple. I'm not learning Sword Heaven's martial arts."
"Hmm. Is that so? But if you're learning from her, doesn't that make you a disciple...?"
"People see it differently..."
-Rustle.
I stopped talking and looked toward the sound. Namgung Hye did the same. As we reached for our sword hilts, the bushes shook more and more.
-Grrrrr...!!
A low growl accompanied the emergence of a massive blue-furred dog. It was so big it could pass for a wolf, with madness gleaming in its eyes.
The man-eating demon beast, Earth Dog.
-Kaaang!!
Strike first, win.
I charged in and slashed down. As it staggered from my blow, Namgung Hye moved.
Soaring Palace Free Sword Art. Her sword, mimicking the heavens, flashed, carving a deep gash in the Earth Dog's eye.
-Grrrrr...!!
The wound was shallow. It hurt bad, but not fatal.
The staggering Earth Dog lunged again. Its sharp fangs aimed for Namgung Hye's side.
To block it, I stepped into a footwork stance and thrust at its belly. Hit by my attack, the Earth Dog's assault weakened, allowing Namgung Hye to dodge.
"Hah!!"
A clear shout followed. Soaring Palace Free Sword Art?
No. A lightning-sharp slash. The strike, infused with faint yellow energy, was the Namgung Family's Lightning Flash Thirteen Thunderbolts.
-Zzzt!!
The sound of the sword cutting air was like thunder. Unable to withstand the powerful blow, the Earth Dog collapsed, and I plunged my sword into its throat.
"Whew."
"That startled me. Didn't expect an Earth Dog this close."
It wasn't far from the village. A faint unease lingered about how unnaturally active the Earth Dogs were.
"Let's check it out more after we get back."
"Yeah, we should."
No time for chit-chat.
We hurried back to the village, reported the Earth Dog sighting, and decided one of the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit members skilled in lightness skill would scout.
"Shouldn't we inform the main unit?"
"They should be two days away by now."
"With lightness skill?"
"Two days even with lightness skill."
Namgung Hye's face darkened at the unit member's reply. She seemed to be thinking of the worst case.
"Nah, it'll be fine. Nothing to worry about."
She tried to sound casual to reassure herself, but that Earth Dog earlier nagged at me. Especially with demon beasts increasing around here lately.
"Miss. If things go south..."
"...Hold on. What are you trying to say?"
He didn't answer. But Namgung Hye and I instantly knew what he meant.
In the worst case, abandon the villagers and escape.
I already knew this world valued lust and desire over righteousness and chivalry.
But hearing it firsthand left a bitter taste.
Is that what a Righteous Faction member should say...?
"...We can't do that. We're the Righteous Faction."
Why else be Righteous Faction?
Her words silenced the unit member. She turned to me with a smile.
"You think so too, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Then..."
"Miss!"
Just then. The scouting unit member returned.
No need to hear the report—his stiff expression said it all.
"Western Drought Demons and Demon Foxes. Even Human-Faced Spiders."
"...What?"
Western Drought Demon. Cow-like but blue-bodied, crying like a baby as it eats people.
Demon Fox. Tiger body with a human face. Eats people like the Western Drought Demon.
And Human-Faced Spiders too?
Practically spiritual beasts. Giant spider with a human face here too?
It made no sense.
Even with the Mythical Hound spreading its qi, these were too strong to be nearby.
"What the..."
"And a bunch of Earth Dogs."
"But they're not fighting each other?"
"Yes. Shockingly, they're moving together peacefully. Heading... toward Changik Village. Toward where the qi is felt."
A pack of Earth Dogs alone, we could handle. But with Demon Foxes, Western Drought Demons, and Human-Faced Spiders? Different story.
Namgung Hye bit her lip hard.
"...Call the village head."
The village head paled upon hearing the situation. He knew how absurd it was.
"Does this make sense? Human-Faced Spiders aside, Demon Foxes and Western Drought Demons hate each other. Why together...?"
I think I knew the reason.
The Blood Cult's demon envoy arts.
A few Blood Cultists empowered by the Blood God could control them. Even beasts that loathe each other could move without major clashes.
But whether the Blood Cult was involved wasn't the point now. How to handle this crisis was.
"Let's evacuate first."
"Where to?"
"To where Sword Heaven and the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit leader are."
Namgung Hye pointed on the map spread on the table. Two days by lightness skill from here, but four days on foot for ordinary people.
"They're not moving fast. If we hurry, everyone can make it."
As long as we reach Yu Ye-ryeon and Namgung Je, no high-tier demon beast matters. The village head pondered, then nodded.
"Understood. We'll prepare to evacuate right away."
"Leave other luggage. Just take food. They're slow now, but..."
All man-eaters. If hunger strikes and they speed up for the hunt? Everyone here dies.
The village head nodded, face ashen at her serious advice.
"Y-yes, got it!"
As he rushed off, the unit members looked at her worriedly. To them, her life mattered more than the villagers'.
They wouldn't like her decision, but what could they do?
Orders were orders.
"Let's prepare to leave too. Jin Hyun, you'll help, right?"
"Of course."
One unit member would go ahead with lightness skill to warn them. Me, Namgung Hye, and the other would lead the villagers.
Anxiety filled the faces of Changik Village's people.
Understandable. Running from demon beasts they rarely saw living in the village? Normal to be scared.
"Why are so many demon beasts suddenly appearing...?"
The Blood Cult. The tower for the Blood God's descent doesn't build itself.
Lives fuel it—the more deaths, the sturdier. They cause countless incidents for that. This is one.
"Come on, let's move quickly!"
Namgung Hye forced a bright smile, but the situation wasn't good. Anxiety spreads. It grew on their faces as time passed.
"Jin Hyun!"
Then. Namgung Hye called me. Three Earth Dogs approached where she pointed, drooling toward us.
Me and Namgung Hye charged.
After a short fight, we slew them all, but the villagers were terrified.
"Don't worry! We'll protect you all somehow!"
She said it, but her expression wasn't great either.
She knew this was just the beginning.
Attacks continued after the first Earth Dog assault. We couldn't rest properly even at night.
Luckily, we had time for meditation, or we'd all be exhausted by now.
"Feels like they're hunting us, doesn't it?"
Sending Earth Dogs bit by bit without full force, like trying to wear us down. Namgung Hye felt it too.
But now it's fine.
"Just pass that gorge and cross the river. Then destroy the bridge for more time."
Namgung Hye said, showing the map. She pinned her hopes on it. Not a bad idea. River crossing would slow pursuing demon beasts.
How long after exiting the narrow gorge?
"The river!!"
River sounds reached from the gorge's end. A lead villager cheered and ran; we followed.
And saw it.
The bridge to the other side, collapsed like melted by something.
Deep despair enveloped the group.
"W-we can make rafts!!"
Right. Plenty of trees here for rafts.
Namgung Hye desperately shouted hope, but few agreed. Naturally. The demon beast horde was nearly upon us.
How to build and cross rafts with over a hundred people in time? Impossible.
"Miss. Even now..."
The unit member's whisper to evacuate her, the Namgung Family treasure, reached my ears. As Namgung Hye moved to refuse.
One idea struck me.