episode_0136

136. A Father’s Heart.

‘The Tower is a place of infinite possibilities. Attaching an arm or two shouldn’t be too difficult.’

Of course, Johann sincerely hoped things wouldn’t go that far.

And the Seven Wizards lived up to Johann’s expectations.

“Of course, of course. We’ll trust only Wizard Johann.”

“Don’t worry. Support is one of my specialties.”

“I, I can do well, too!”

“······?”

A question mark appeared on Johann’s face. Why are they so compliant?

‘Is it a trap? A trap to let my guard down?’

Johann narrowed his eyes and examined the wizards.

And he could feel it. They were afraid of something.

Johann relaxed his expression. That’s a relief. It’s not a bad feeling.

‘Well, the better, the better.’

Johann said with a brighter face.

“I understand. Then, I’ll take a rest.”

His whole body ached from using the Acceleration Art for so long. Johann instantly created an ice chair and slumped down.

Cool coldness soothed his tired muscles. A satisfied groan escaped Johann’s lips.

“Kheu······.”

“”······.””

In contrast, the wizards were secretly sighing in relief.

Johann’s prediction was correct. They had great pride and self-esteem in their skills.

What if some unheard-of wizard, not Johann, had told them to assist?

Perhaps that wizard wouldn’t have escaped their wrath. The temperaments of skilled wizards were very picky.

But Johann was different.

‘Monster······.’

‘To defeat that boar! This man is on a different level than us!’

‘Moreover, there’s more water here than when we fought Heukwon. We must never upset this guy!’

The time gap between when they arrived at the Yellow River and when the Special Task Force arrived wasn’t that large.

Thanks to that, they were able to witness a scene they couldn’t believe even after seeing it. A scene of a player defeating Heukwon!

‘Moreover, he wasn’t even a warrior-type class. A wizard, no less. A wizard killed the highest-ranking executive of the Black King Castle······.’

Every class has its pros and cons. Wizards are good at wide-area attacks, and warriors are good at single attacks.

In other words, it’s not easy for a wizard to beat a warrior in a one-on-one fight.

“Haaam······.”

“”······!””

Suddenly, when Johann yawned, the wizards behind him were startled.

Although his face was clearly pale and clean, in their eyes, it was no different from a lion’s yawn.

They swallowed hard. Hoping that this trial would be successfully completed without incident.

***

Chief Manager Shim, who had been watching the farce from afar, smiled contentedly.

‘The effect is excellent. After all, fear is a great leash.’

It wasn’t a coincidence that the wizards saw the battle between the leader and Heukwon.

It was an inevitability thoroughly planned by Chief Manager Shim. Chief Manager Shim turned his head.

Heukwon was standing there. Chief Manager Shim was the chief in charge of this operation. He was a person who deserved to be guarded, and the subject of that guard was Heukwon.

“Thank you. Heukwon. Thanks to you, it will be easier to lead the wizards.”

“It’s nothing. Chief Manager.”

Heukwon’s expression was indifferent. An attitude that genuinely considered it nothing.

Chief Manager Shim chuckled. Really, he was a guy you couldn’t hate.

“For the Lord, I am willing to act as a clown. Even if the opponent is the Sorcerer of Evil of the Igyeo, there are no exceptions.”

Heukwon rolled his eyes to look at Johann. The distance was quite far.

“And, what I did yesterday wasn’t clowning. It was a fair duel where we risked each other’s lives. I have no regrets.”

Heukwon vividly remembers the battle with the leader. At first, he only intended to raise morale appropriately, but after seeing the leader’s power, he changed his mind.

Not giving his best against an opponent like the leader would be an act that violated his pride as a martial artist. Heukwon protected his pride.

Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard in their ears. It was the Black King. He was talking to Chaeju.

“By the way, Chaeju. Why has the number of people decreased so much? Did something happen?”

Chaeju frowned. His eyes seemed to be looking at the past.

“Well, life as a pirate can’t be smooth. Many brothers were injured. Some died, too.”

“I see. I’m sorry. I scratched a sore spot.”

“Hahahaha, it’s okay. The brothers died for their cause. It will continue to be so in the future.

The Black King grinned. He liked the attitude of Chaeju and the pirates.

“Wonderful.”

“You flatter me.”

Chaeju politely shook his head. The Black King looked around with a smiling face. The Yellow Sea River flowing leisurely, and the martial artists and pirates of the Black King Castle.

The martial artists of the two forces were laughing and chatting as if they had originally been one. A soft smile formed on the Black King’s lips.

The Black King and Chaeju enjoyed the scenery of the Yellow River and chatted.

Who would be the martial artist of the White Path guarding Gansuk, who would be the next Chaeju, and how old was his son that he had heard about······ and so on.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see your son? Until two years ago, I saw him running around on the ship.”

“······Ah, my son is not on this ship. I sent him to a safe place.”

“An excellent choice. Chaeju. You said the child is fifteen years old?”

“Yes.”

The Black King poked Chaeju in the ribs.

“You’re very protective of your only blood relative. You did well. It’s still too early for a fifteen-year-old to participate in the war.”

“······Hahahaha.”

The Black King smiled and looked ahead. Quite a bit of time has passed. Judging from the surrounding terrain, it was almost time to arrive in Gansuk.

‘We’ll arrive tomorrow morning.’

He was talking without realizing how time was passing. Before he knew it, the surroundings were darkening.

Most of the martial artists went into the rooms prepared inside the ship.

Tomorrow, they would face the martial artists of Gansuk. Perhaps tonight’s sleep could be their last.

So the martial artists lay on their beds as quietly as mice. The better they slept tonight, the higher the probability of sleeping well next time.

“I’ll go in now. Chaeju. Thank you for being my conversation partner.”

“I’m fine. Please sleep comfortably.”

“Okay.”

The Black King was no exception. He went into the room prepared separately for him.

“······.”

The Black King soon fell asleep. He was a veteran martial artist with experience, and quick sleep was an essential skill.

***

Chaeju, Suroakgwi, watched the Black King’s sleeping quarters with sharp eyes.

He turned his head.

Shaaaaa-

He could see the river flowing sadly. The color of the river felt very black because the surroundings were dark.

“Heu.”

Was it because of that? In his eyes, it seemed that dark red blood was flowing instead of transparent water.

“I’ve killed too many.”

There is a Surochae in the Yangtze River, and there is also a Surochae in the Yellow River. Although the locations are different, the way the martial artists of Surochae make a living is all the same.

They extort money from people who use the river, and plunder food and valuables that merchants are carrying.

In the meantime, there’s no way fights wouldn’t break out. Countless bodies were submerged in the river. It was easy. There was no need to bury them, and the fish were excellent cleaners.

It was a damn life. He had no regrets. If he hadn’t lived like this, he would have surely died.

“It’s too late to quit.”

Yes, at least······

“I’m too late.”

A round moon was reflected in the dark river. In that reflection, he saw his son’s face.

Unlike himself, who was stained with dirt, his child was as white and pure as the moon.

“······.”

Suroakgwi steeled his resolve.

***

The sun had not yet risen. But on that horizon, a brilliant light was slowly crawling out.

Flash-

At that time, the pirates who were entangled and sleeping with the martial artists of the Black King Castle quietly opened their eyes.

They only rolled their eyes to observe the martial artists’ movements. Each and every one of them was an outstanding martial artist.

Perhaps if they were to launch a surprise attack, they would be quickly suppressed.

“Eueum······.”

“······!”

In fact, even though they only rolled their eyes, the martial artists felt something strange and tossed and turned.

The pirates’ backs became wet with cold sweat. The fear of death constricted them like a snake.

Gulp, someone swallowed. That was the signal. It was dangerous to delay any longer.

Ssssseuk-

The pirates got up from their seats with subtle movements. They slowly opened the door. They had to get out of the sleeping quarters quickly······

“Where are you going now?”

Sreung-

A sharp metallic sound brushed past their ears. They could tell without looking back. The martial artists had already drawn their swords.

A martial artist’s voice was heard from behind. The pirates still didn’t look back.

“An explanation······ no, never mind. It’s obvious that you don’t have good intentions─”

It was at that moment. The pirate furthest from the door suddenly turned around and charged at the martial artists.

The pirate shouted loudly.

“Go! Hurry!”

Kwaaaaaang!

The pirates violently broke down the door and ran outside. The martial artists wouldn’t just stand by and watch. The martial artists took out their respective weapons and slaughtered the pirates.

Swish-

“Kkeuaaaaaack!”

“G, go! Hurry up and go!”

Ppaaaack!

A martial artist kicked away a pirate who was clinging to his leg.

“Damn it! You’re so annoyingly persistent!”

As if the pirates had eaten something wrong, they showed an ogre-like tenacity and blocked the martial artists.

In the end, the martial artists could not kill all the pirates. The surviving pirates jumped to the bottom of the ship.

“Heoeok, heok! S, shit!”

The pirates, who barely arrived at the bottom of the ship, rummaged through their pockets.

Something in the shape of a long cylinder. It was something called hwaseopja (火攝子).

A ship made of wood. And something that could set it on fire.

“Huuuuuu!”

Hwareureureureuk!