Breaking the Martial Alliance Gate
Belhart’s Eastern Continent.
Having arrived in the Honam region, Do-ha unfurled his light-foot technique and raced forward at full speed.
“Do-ha.”
“What?”
Canteas, keeping pace beside him with a Fly spell, called out.
“You killed every single branch manager in Korea earlier.”
“Yeah.”
“Is that really okay?”
Just as he had told Han Jeong-soo, the day before he had wiped out every New Age branch manager hiding in Korea.
But if he cleaned them all out at once, wouldn’t New Age find it suspicious?
“I’m already on bad terms with New Age anyway.”
He had been straddling both organizations, yet Shurike had still been a proper New Age executive. After fighting that bastard live on broadcast, Do-ha was, from New Age’s perspective, an enemy that needed to be eliminated.
“More importantly, even if I annihilate every branch in Korea, New Age won’t think it’s strange.”
After all, hadn’t they put out a false article claiming Shurike had escaped? A few days after that “escape” story, every branch vanished? Anyone looking at it would conclude that Do-ha had tortured Shurike and extracted the branch locations.
“New Age never believed that escape article to begin with.”
“So they’ll assume he got caught and spilled everything.”
“Exactly.”
That was why he had taken out all the New Age branch managers in one sweep. It was also the reason he hadn’t been able to give Han Jeong-soo any real orders until now.
“Let’s move faster.”
Tadat-tadat.
The moment the Martial Alliance came into view in the distance, Do-ha poured on the speed.
As Martial Alliance Leader, Namgung Je-u usually stayed at headquarters on ordinary days.
“You’re going straight in?”
“If I do that, every Alliance Sword Unit will come pouring out.”
Four units stood at the Alliance Leader’s side: the Heaven Sword Unit, the Earth Sword Unit, the Moon Sword Unit, and the Sun Sword Unit. Direct subordinates of the Alliance Leader, each unit consisted of ten members. Every last one of them was at least at the entry stage of Super-Peak, and the Heaven Sword Captain’s martial prowess was nearly on par with the Alliance Leader himself.
If Do-ha simply vaulted the wall, all four sword units would mobilize without question.
“But you’ve reached Super-Peak, so you can use Noeryeongsinbo now, right?”
Noeryeongsinbo—the Lightning Spirit Step. Do-ha had created it by fusing divine footwork with light-foot techniques, riding a single bolt of lightning with his body. It consumed an enormous amount of internal energy, so he had never been able to use it before reaching Super-Peak. When unleashed at full power, it could carry him several kilometers in the blink of an eye.
“I can’t go that far right this second, but a few hundred meters is no problem.”
People seeing Do-ha’s Noeryeongsinbo for the first time often mistook it for teleportation.
“True enough. But you can’t move with me.”
Even if he grabbed Canteas and tried, the lich’s mana would give them away the moment they appeared inside the Martial Alliance.
Huuuk.
“Who goes there?”
The two guard martial artists stationed at the Martial Alliance entrance laid hands on their swords the instant Do-ha arrived.
“I’ve come to see the Martial Alliance Leader.”
“I don’t know who you think you are, but get lost. Do you take the Alliance Leader for some innkeeper? You don’t just get to meet him because you feel like it.”
“Ha… of all the… how did trash like this even become Alliance members?”
He had spoken politely, with full honorifics, and this was the answer he got. Guests who came to the Martial Alliance were never to be treated carelessly. How could anyone know who they might be? They could be someone with influence among the Nine Great Sects and One Guild. Even if their clothes were shabby or filthy, they might be from the Beggars’ Sect. You simply did not act recklessly.
So what was this idiot doing? Telling a guest who had come to see the Alliance Leader to get lost?
“What?! What did you just say?”
Chaeng!
The guard martial artist who heard Do-ha’s words drew his sword. He was already in a foul mood after losing money at mahjong the day before, and now some beggar-looking bastard was picking a fight. The clothes were strange and the tone was light—clearly no one important.
“For running your mouth so freely, I’ll take one of your arms!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
Canteas covered his forehead with one hand at the sight.
Jjeojeojeok.
Kwaaaaaang!
The Martial Alliance’s main gate shattered, and the guard martial artist went flying.
“Hey, if you were going to do this, you might as well have just jumped the wall.”
“At least now I know the Martial Alliance is still standing strong.”
Waving the rising dust aside with one hand, Do-ha walked into the Martial Alliance.
The instant the crash rang out, every martial artist inside came pouring outside in a single surge.
As expected, their movements are sharp.
Truly worthy of the Martial Alliance. Even the ordinary soldiers, not just the sword units, emerged without a single man lagging behind.
“But why was that one so completely clueless?”
Thud. Thud.
While Do-ha was tilting his head, someone strode forward.
“Who are you? Did you know this was the Martial Alliance when you acted?”
The man who stepped out was Dan Woo-hyeon, Captain of the Heaven Sword Unit. He regarded Do-ha with an expressionless face. No one had visited the Martial Alliance in this fashion for decades.
“You’ve altered your appearance with Illusion magic. What is your purpose here?”
As mentioned, the Heaven Sword Captain possessed martial prowess nearly equal to the Alliance Leader’s—which meant he stood in the Hwa-gyeong, the Transcendent Realm. That was how he had instantly seen through Do-ha’s false face.
“Are you after the Alliance Leader?”
“If I were, I wouldn’t walk in like this. Assassination is supposed to be quiet. This is way too conspicuous.”
“Then explain why you behaved this way.”
Cheolkeok.
Dan Woo-hyeon rested one arm lightly across the hilt of his sword. Even that casual posture left no openings.
He’s gotten a lot stronger.
Looking at Dan Woo-hyeon, Do-ha smiled. The little brat who used to swing a wooden sword alone in the corner of the training grounds was now captain of the Heaven Sword Unit.
Dan Woo-hyeon was no genius. Average—no, closer to a dullard. Yet that same fellow had climbed to this realm on pure tenacity alone. Truly a man with no talent for shortcuts.
“I don’t know what’s so amusing, but answer me. Why did you do this?”
“I said I’d come to see the Martial Alliance Leader, and that guard over there told me to get lost. So I asked how Alliance membership standards had fallen this low… and he jumped me. I only counterattacked because he attacked first. Besides, you already know this, don’t you? Guests who come to the Martial Alliance are never to be treated carelessly.”
Seuk.
Hearing Do-ha’s words, Dan Woo-hyeon turned his head toward the unconscious guard. The man had already come to and was standing there awkwardly.
“Is what he said true?”
“…….”
“I asked if it was true.”
“Th-that’s… well…”
Sweat beaded on the guard’s forehead.
At that moment—
“Hey, Heaven Sword Captain. And if that bastard’s words are true, what then? You planning to discipline my subordinate?”
Patrol Leader Geon-ho glared at Dan Woo-hyeon. Most of the guard martial artists fell under his command as Patrol Leader. If anyone was going to hand out discipline, it would be him.
“If that man’s words prove true, I will discipline the guard.”
“Haa… the kid who couldn’t even look me in the eye when he was little keeps talking down to me just because he joined the Alliance Sword Units…”
Geon-ho let out a deep sigh, scratched his nose, and muttered under his breath. The Alliance Sword Units answered directly to the Alliance Leader and did not share the same rank structure as the other hall leaders or unit captains, so the casual speech was not technically a problem—but it still grated on him.
“Hey, Heaven Sword Captain. Instead of disciplining one of our own Martial Alliance brothers, you ought to be punishing that guy over there. Fine, let’s say our soldier was a hundred percent in the wrong. Does that make it okay to smash the main gate and walk in? Just because a soldier messed up, you get to break the door and barge into the Martial Alliance?”
“…….”
Faced with the Patrol Leader’s words, Dan Woo-hyeon could say nothing. The Martial Alliance soldier had clearly been at fault. Even so, as the Patrol Leader said, smashing the gate and entering the Martial Alliance was still an unforgivable act.
“Hey, you rat-faced bastard.”
“……Are you talking to me?”
Geon-ho pointed at himself. Surely the man wasn’t addressing him?
“Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you be off running a transport company? You sure run your mouth for someone who looks that sly and shifty.”
“Ha… in all my years I’ve never been insulted like this.”
“Guess everyone you’ve met until now was just too nice, treating a slippery bastard like you so kindly.”
“You worm of a man!”
Chaeng!
As Do-ha kept needling him, Geon-ho finally drew his sword.
In that instant—
Thud.
“What is all this commotion?”
A solemn voice rolled out from behind the gathered martial artists.
Chajajajak.
“We greet the Alliance Leader!”
The martial artists parted to either side, formed the martial salute, and bowed their heads.
Martial Alliance Leader Namgung Je-u had come out after hearing the uproar.
Oh, Je-u.
Wiggle-wiggle.
At the sight of him, Do-ha gave a light wave of his hand. Now that the Alliance Leader had appeared, the whole mess would settle.
“…….”
?
When Je-u simply stared without a word, Do-ha tilted his head. Why was he just standing there looking? Could it be that he didn’t recognize him because of the Illusion magic on his face?
Impossible. The moment he felt the aura, he should have known it was Baek Do-ha.
“All this uproar over a single enemy?”
“We apologize!”
At Namgung Je-u’s words, the martial artists answered in unison. Watching the Alliance Leader’s behavior, Do-ha let out a hollow laugh.
—Hey. This is how you’re getting your revenge?
Unable to hold back any longer, Do-ha sent a sound transmission. Even so, wasn’t this going a bit far?!
Seuk.
“Listen here, Patrol Leader.”
The corner of Namgung Je-u’s mouth lifted as he called to Geon-ho.
“Yes, Alliance Leader!”
“I saw you exchanging words with him a moment ago.”
“My apologies. That bastard kept picking a fight…”
“Is that so… You must be quite angry. In that case, why not put that feeling into a spar? Not a life-or-death duel—just a proper match.”
“……Pardon?”
Completely unexpected words from the Alliance Leader left Geon-ho slightly flustered. The soldiers already present could simply arrest the fellow. Why order a spar?
“You’re angry as well, so spar with him.”
As well?
Hearing the Alliance Leader’s phrasing, Geon-ho tilted his head inwardly. Saying “as well” meant the Alliance Leader himself was angry too. Well, of course. Anyone would be furious after someone entered the Martial Alliance like this.
Chaeng.
“Hey, loudmouth. Draw your weapon. The Alliance Leader has given permission, so I’m going to punish you.”
After bowing respectfully to the Alliance Leader, Geon-ho turned and drew his sword. Originally he had wanted to kill the man, but with the Alliance Leader present he would settle for taking just one arm.
“…….”
“If you beat me, I’ll forgive you for smashing the main gate.”
“Pfft… puhahaha.”
In the end Do-ha covered his forehead and burst out laughing.
Namgung Je-u, that damn bastard. Getting beaten last time and taking revenge like this.
“What’s so funny?”
“Ah, sorry, sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you—I was laughing at my friend.”
Teobeok-teobeok.
Do-ha shook his head and walked up in front of Geon-ho.
Look at that smiling face.
A faint smile hung at the corners of Namgung Je-u’s mouth. Damn that bastard. He used to have such a soft heart—when had he turned into such a cunning old snake?
“You’re a hall leader, right?”
“What, does hearing ‘hall leader’ scare you?”
“Not a chance. I’m just curious how the current Patrol Leader measures up compared to the past.”
The previous Patrol Leader had once faced a Demonic Cult elder alone and come away victorious. The Geon-ho standing before him, however, gave off an entirely different atmosphere from that man of the past.
“Compared to the past?”
Zuaaaang.
Tuk.
Do-ha flicked his hand; a magic circle formed, and his Un-jeop-bi-jang dropped to the ground.
“A staff? So you really were a mage after all.”
Seeing the magic staff, Geon-ho spat out a sneer. A mere mage daring to challenge a martial artist.
“I’ll make you beg for your life.”
“And I’ll straighten those buck teeth of yours.”
“You—!”
At those words, Geon-ho’s face flushed crimson.
Tuk.
Zuaaaaaang!
“Go ahead and make a move.”
Do-ha planted the tip of his staff against the ground with a solid thump, and multiple magic circles bloomed into existence all around him.