Chapter 234: Battlefront. (4)

“What the hell is this crazy bastard…?”

Never mind that it’s a face I’ve never seen before.

Why the hell does he have to faint the moment he sees someone’s face, giving me the creeps?

“Hey. What’s this guy?”

To my question, Gu Jeolyub cautiously replied.

“…He’s a warrior from the Meng who was left alone in the plains area I just mentioned.”

At Gu Jeolyub’s words, I scowled deeply.

This makes it the third person this month alone.

Meaning, Gu Jeolyub had brought back three warriors from the Meng he’d found while scouting.

Recalling that, I said to Gu Jeolyub, looking utterly bewildered.

“If you’re going to pick things up, why don’t you pick up some money instead of constantly bringing back useless people?”

“…”

“Ever since he got some pretentious nickname, he’s gotten even weirder.”

Yeolhyeopgeom, or maybe Hyeopyeolgeom.

I heard some ridiculous nickname got attached to Gu Jeolyub.

If you break down the meaning, it means a chivalrous swordsman who emits heat from his sword.

Just hearing it gave me chills. What kind of name is that?

‘And he’s walking around grinning like he loves it.’

Although Gu Jeolyub himself was walking around smiling as if satisfied even with such a nickname.

Perhaps because my harsh words weren’t easily understood?

Gu Jeolyub asked me again.

“…But, we can’t just stand by and watch someone in danger, can we?”

“I told you to think before bringing them back.”

“It wasn’t the situation….”

“If it wasn’t the situation, you shouldn’t have brought them back.”

“…”

Gu Jeolyub slightly frowned, as if displeased with my words.

Well, saving someone in danger is indeed the morally right thing to do.

From another person’s perspective, Gu Jeolyub’s actions were right as a human being, but…

“You fucking bastard, don’t you remember last time you brought someone back carelessly, and they turned out to be a spy sent by the Meng?”

“…”

“Hey.”

“…Yes.”

“I told you, it’s fine to have chivalry and act on it, but if you don’t have the strength to take responsibility, don’t go sticking your neck out.”

Gu Jeolyub is kind-hearted.

He’s the type to spout romantic nonsense about dreaming of being a chivalrous hero.

But.

That’s only acceptable once or twice.

“You’re really damn weak. If something happens here, you’ll die without being able to do anything?”

“…Gulp.”

As if my words had pierced him like daggers.

Gu Jeolyub staggered for a moment.

“If you saw him in the plains, you should have just dumped him there and left. Why drag him all the way here?”

“He’s… injured…”

“Just because he’s injured, you bring him here? Can you even treat him here? Anyone would think we have a medical clinic.”

“Well…”

“Weren’t you the one who was laid up for nearly half a month after being bitten by a Blue Viper because you got careless during a hunt last time? Who are you to worry about someone else?”

“…Gack….”

It’s fine to dream of being a chivalrous hero.

And I understand the desire to become a hero, but…

The problem is that you make a big show of it but can’t properly clean up the mess afterward.

I looked at the staggering Gu Jeolyub, then examined the guy lying comfortably on the floor, knocked out cold.

‘A low-ranking sword soldier of the Meng, perhaps.’

Judging by his clothes and general level, that seemed likely.

“Hmm…?”

As I looked him over, I suddenly took a closer look at his face.

For some reason, his face looked familiar.

“Who is it?”

My memory was hazy about whether I knew him.

Which meant, even if I had met him, he wasn’t a very important person.

“Who is this guy?”

“Bi… Bi…. What was it?”

“Yeolhyeopgeom Daehyeop, have you forgotten information now too?”

“Ah…!”

“Aren’t you just great? Seriously, do you want to die?”

Because I had been wrestling with a monster right up until just before.

I stretched my body, which felt a bit stiff.

Seeing that, Gu Jeolyub flinched and stepped back.

“…Young Master Il, why are you stretching?”

“Seeing his face, I think I know why.”

“No, I don’t know.”

Even as he said that, I could see Gu Jeolyub’s weight shift towards his legs.

Look at this guy?

“Oh?”

Is he planning to run away now?

You’ve grown so much, my Jeolyub.

Whoosh.

I wrapped a bit of heat around myself and took a step closer.

Seeing Gu Jeolyub about to move away, I tried to speed up, but…

Clutch

A cold hand grasped my wrist.

I looked at the owner of the white hand.

Moyong Hi-ah looked at me with her sky-blue eyes and said.

“…The food will get cold, Gongjanim.”

I considered shaking her off, but…

Feeling the coldness from the hand holding my wrist, I eventually clicked my tongue and turned away.

“I’ll deal with this and be right back. You go on ahead.”

“How long will it take?”

“It won’t take long.”

Nodding at my words, Moyong Hi-ah walked back in the direction she came from.

Gu Jeolyub, who had been watching us cautiously, also slipped away behind her.

“Hey.”

“Yes…?”

“You need to take that guy with you.”

Gu Jeolyub, with a look of realization, slung the unconscious Meng warrior over his shoulder and followed Moyong Hi-ah.

That clueless guy seemed to get dumber in proportion to his skill increasing.

“Someone might think his head was injured…”

Hmm…

“…”

Did I hit his head often?

But thinking back on how I spent the last year with Gu Jeolyub, it flashed through my mind.

My tiny shred of conscience pricked me, making it impossible to deny.

“…Let’s finish this quickly and go eat.”

Moyong Hi-ah and Gu Jeolyub.

After sending off the nameless guy and the others…

I looked at the pile of monsters stacked behind us.

If left like this, monsters hiding nearby…

Or those who tear through dimensions would sense the blood and swarm here.

As I said, I had to deal with them first.

Crack

I lightly cracked my knuckles.

From this point on.

The clear sky gradually darkened in an instant.

The deep, settling darkness pressed down on the surroundings.

The miasma mixed in the air vanished instantly.

Wriggle-!

As I activated the Demonic Arts Heaven Absorption technique, I felt the movement of energy deep within my dantian.

The movement was so distinct…

It was like stretching after waking up.

The world had suddenly become pitch black.

The sky hadn’t actually darkened.

It was just that darkness had fallen upon my vision.

Looking at the hill piled high with monster corpses.

I whispered very softly.

“It’s food. Eat up.”

Did it hear me?

[Grrr…]

A beast’s growl echoed from somewhere.

---

After finishing the cleanup and returning to the tent, several people were already gathered.

Including Mu-yeon, who had taken turns on guard duty.

Gu Jeolyub, who had brought the person earlier.

And the current commander of the Five Swords Unit, along with other members, were seated in a line around the table.

“You said you’d eat first. Why is everyone gathered here?”

I slightly lifted the tent flap.

As I entered, everyone who saw me stood up and paid their respects.

I quickly gestured for them to sit back down.

Why are they bothering with this?

To my question, the commander stood up and answered.

“We thought it was better to handle the work first.”

“That thing?”

At the commander’s words, I pointed towards the person lying in a corner as if dead.

“Why? Is there something strange about it again?”

“…We’re still checking, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be like last time.”

Again, like last time.

At those words, Gu Jeolyub, who was sitting slumped at the end of the table, flinched and coughed repeatedly.

Of course, he’d be self-conscious.

“What about Noenim?”

“The Great Leader went to check on the gate.”

I nodded at the commander’s words.

‘Looks like it opened again.’

Lately, it feels like the demonic gate, Magyeongmun, has been opening more frequently on the frontline.

The difference in frequency compared to the past was significant enough that I could tell for sure.

“What should we do?”

I nodded at the commander’s question.

Since the Great Leader Gu Huibi was absent, command had temporarily fallen to me.

Ironically.

“Why are you asking me about every little thing? I told you, the commander should just handle it.”

“How could I possibly do that? It’s an order from the Family Head, not the Great Leader… I wouldn’t dare.”

“Tsk…”

It was because half a year ago, I had grit my teeth and cleaned up a mess that occurred within the Five Swords Unit.

At the time, I acted because it seemed like everyone would die if I didn’t intervene.

Thanks to that, I ended up in this troublesome position.

“…As usual, send a letter to the Meng first. Follow the procedures, and if there’s nothing particularly unusual, just dump them outside the forest. They’ll handle it from there.”

“What should we do if, like last time, the Meng isn’t having people wait at the entrance of the plains area?”

“You’ll have to figure that out yourself. It’s not our concern beyond that point.”

“Understood.”

“Ask him about the rest.”

“Huh?”

As I indicated the unconscious guy with my chin, the commander gave me a strange look.

Was it a look that said, ‘What are you going to ask someone who’s sleeping?’

If that’s what he was thinking, there was no need to worry.

“He woke up a while ago.”

As expected.

Perhaps hearing my words, the guy who was pretending to sleep stirred slightly.

“…Ah…. Ahh, I slept well….”

Did he realize all eyes were on him?

His sheepish attempt to sit up was amusing.

‘Judging by that, he’s clearly lacking somewhere upstairs.’

I wonder where Jeolyub found another idiot like himself.

Just looking at him gave me a headache.

“Ha… Haha…! Hello.”

Seeing his embarrassed greeting, I sighed deeply and got up from my seat.

“Is there anything else?”

“Ah… Um, Great Leader…”

“I was going to go meet her anyway. You don’t need to mention it.”

“Understood. Please rest comfortably.”

He meant that I should go meet Gu Huibi when she returned after finishing her duties.

I thought, ‘Why do I have to go meet her?’ but…

I was planning to do it anyway.

‘It’s not like I’m going to see Gu Huibi, but…’

It’s all the same story, one way or another.

After telling them to handle the remaining tasks themselves…

I left the tent and headed elsewhere.

As I walked, I could see smoke rising slightly in the distance.

“Young Master.”

As I approached, Hong-wa came forward quickly as if she had been waiting and greeted me.

“What did you make so much of this time?”

“…Um, Miss Moyong… said that Young Master had exerted himself a lot.”

Did Moyong Hi-ah say that?

Even so, why prepare so much food starting from lunch?

“Why go to such trouble for the others?”

“Oh, no. Most of it was prepared by the Moyong family.”

“Again?”

I had to let out a hollow laugh at Hong-wa’s words.

I couldn’t understand why they kept preparing food for us when they should be focusing on their own.

Before I could even voice my question…

Moyong Hi-ah walked over from behind Hong-wa and said.

“I thought it would be nice if we prepared it together, so I arranged it. Please accept it kindly.”

“It’s because this isn’t the first or second time.”

“You worked hard today.”

It’s not like my hard work is limited to just today, though.

I was about to say more, but…

Regardless, it was a kind gesture, so I decided to let it slide.

More importantly, it made things easier not just for the Gu family’s sword members…

But also for the attendants.

If there was one thing that bothered me…

‘Given her personality, she wouldn’t have done this without a reason.’

Moyong Hi-ah wasn’t the type to do something like this without reason or any expectation of reward.

Furthermore, pretending to be subtly kind by speaking gently to those around her…

Or perhaps because she took the initiative to work hard, unlike someone of her noble lineage…

Word had spread that Moyong Hi-ah’s standing among the subordinates was steadily improving.

‘…It seems quite intentional.’

From my perspective, it seemed full of hidden motives, but…

Regardless, she seemed to be trying to foster goodwill.

So I was trying to overlook it.

“Oh, right. I also prepared dumplings.”

“…Where?”

Perhaps it was because I looked for them too obviously without realizing it.

Moyong Hi-ah, noticing my reaction, let out a soft chuckle and smiled brightly.

Over the past year, Moyong Hi-ah had started to smile more easily.

She used to smile before, but…

It wasn’t a stiff, creaky smile like wearing a mask anymore.

She smiled naturally much more often now.

And I thought that wasn’t too bad.

As I casually glanced at Moyong Hi-ah…

“Young Master Gu.”

“Yeah.”

“If it’s not too much trouble… do you have some time after we finish eating?”

Moyong Hi-ah covered her mouth with her sleeve and asked me in a slightly syrupy voice.

What the…? Where did that overly sweet voice come from?

Since it was a question, I picked up a dumpling from the plate and answered while eating.

“I have to go meet someone later.”

“What?”

“It seems Noenim is on duty today.”

Perhaps my answer didn’t sit well with her.

Moyong Hi-ah’s expression turned cold, unlike moments before.

“…Young Master Gu.”

Her voice was filled with frost again, just like when we first met.

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to meet Sword Phoenix? Or are you going to meet Sword Dancer?”

“Why ask something so obvious?”

It was such an obvious question that it was absurd.

“Why would I go out of my way to meet the representative lunatic of my family? Of course… Hey, where are you going?”

“You really have no sense at all, do you?”

“Hey! Leave the dumplings behind!”

“Help yourself!”

Moyong Hi-ah stormed off, taking the plate of dumplings with her.

…I hadn’t finished eating them yet.

I watched the dumplings disappear with a forlorn look.

I swallowed the last dumpling I was holding.

Since there was only one bite left…

It was quite disappointing.