Chapter 29: A World of Martial Arts and Chivalry-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 29: A World of Martial Arts and Chivalry-3
Despite Namgung So-yeon’s claim that the village was "just around the corner," it turned out to be incredibly far away.
I was panting, struggling just to keep up with her. She tilted her head in confusion and adjusted her pace to match mine.
"I thought you were a martial artist, but I guess I was mistaken."
She likely assumed I knew martial arts because of my toned physique and the way I carried myself.
We camped out several times on the way to the village, sharing stories as we sat by the campfire. Well, it was mostly her chatting away as she pleased. It wasn't like I knew enough about this place to contribute much to the conversation.
"By the way, Young Master Kang, why on earth were you there in the first place?"
"Ah, well..."
I hesitated before telling her about my experience with the strange religious group. I left out the part about possession and other nonsense that no one would believe, and instead told her that I’d woken up in a bizarre space, fled from suspicious cultists, and eventually fell off a cliff. By the time I finished, her eyes were brimming with tears.
"Oh my... how tragic. You were escaping the clutches of the wicked Demonic Sect."
"The Demonic Sect?"
"Yes. The Demonic Sect. A truly vile organization that plagues the Central Plains."
If she meant the Demonic Sect, she had to be talking about the one led by the Heavenly Demon.
"But Young Lady Namgung, why were you there?"
"Oh, I was..."
She trailed off, staring blankly into the flames.
"I was looking for the entrance to the Demonic Sect to assassinate the Heavenly Demon."
"Assassinate her?"
"Eh... what's with that look?"
"I don't know much about the Heavenly Demon, but... isn't she supposed to be incredibly powerful?"
"She is."
"And you were going to fight her one-on-one?"
When I indirectly implied that she looked a bit too weak for such a feat, she puffed out her cheeks.
"How rude. Judging an opponent solely by their appearance is the mark of a total amateur."
"I'm not a martial artist, though."
When I retorted bluntly, she let out an "Ah," as if just realizing that fact.
She pulled out some jerky, skewered it on a stick, and waved it over the fire a few times before handing a piece to me.
"But you're not heading to the village just because of me, are you? You said you came to find the Heavenly Demon."
As I chewed on the tough, salty jerky, she shook her head.
"No. There's no way to get inside because of the defensive formation. More importantly, I received intelligence that the Heavenly Demon isn't even there right now."
"I see..."
"Young Master Kang."
She spoke again as she handed me another piece of jerky.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to go to the Murim Alliance with me? I have a feeling you might have some sort of connection to the Demonic Sect. It's just a hunch, though."
I was already in a hopeless situation if I parted ways with her. If I could build a stronger rapport with her until we reached the Murim Alliance, wouldn't that give me at least some foundation to settle down in this world?
That was my calculation.
"Yes. I'd like that. I was feeling quite lost since I couldn't think of anything else to do."
*
The Heavenly Demon stood still for a long time, staring intently at a painting.
"Sect Leader?"
The Chief Steward called out to her cautiously, but she didn't respond.
After a long silence, the Heavenly Demon finally spoke.
"Spirit Demon."
"Yes."
Someone slithered out from a dark corner of the palace.
"Did you find any traces?"
"Yes. I have searched the entire area, starting from the spot where the intruder was said to have jumped."
"Did you find anything?"
"I found this a short distance away."
The Spirit Demon held out a set of high-quality clothes.
"......"
"Any other traces?"
"Judging by the lack of damage, it appears he changed into different clothes. The tracks are approximately five to seven days old."
"I see. Chief Steward, where are the sinners?"
"They are currently at the execution ground."
At the execution ground, the sinners were kneeling, bound tightly. Their faces turned ashen the moment the Heavenly Demon appeared. Among them, the man who seemed to be the squad leader slammed his head against the ground and cried out.
"Sect Leader! I am sorry! It is all my fault! Please, take only my life—"
"Quiet."
Her voice was soft, yet everyone at the execution ground held their breath, unable to even exhale.
"So. You wish to escape punishment with just your life?"
"......"
"To think you'd dare try to strike a bargain with the Heavenly Demon herself... The order of our Cult has truly crumbled."
"N-No, that is not what I meant..."
"Shut up."
The Heavenly Demon slowly approached the squad leader and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Originally, I planned to cut off your hands and gouge out your eyes."
"......"
As the squad leader looked up at her, trembling violently, the hand gripping his shoulder tightened.
—Crr-ack!
His arm was torn away with a gruesome sound.
"AAAAAAAAGH!!!"
A beast-like scream echoed through the execution ground.
"I don't think tearing the limbs off everyone here would soothe my heart... so what ever shall I do?"
She spoke cutely, resting her palm against her cheek. Her tone suggested she was genuinely troubled, but no one dared to look her in the eye.