episode_0016

“Yongbong Assembly?….”

If it’s Yongbong Assembly, isn’t that it? The thing where the successors of each sect compete in skill, often seen in martial arts stories?

Why would I go to that? Isn’t that an event for you guys? Is it okay for an outsider like me to participate?

“You have a look on your face that says you don’t know why you should participate.”

“That’s right.”

“Okay, I’ll explain. There are 14 major forces in our Yeom country.”

Even if you call them forces, it’s about the sects that rule each region, like Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheong-do, or something.

Of course, there are a lot of them, and it’s hard for me to memorize them all since I only superficially watch martial arts stuff, but probably….

“The eight sects of Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Emei, Qingcheng, Kunlun, Zhongnan, Diancang, and Kongtong, and the five noble families called Namgung, Tang, Peng, Zhuge, and Murong. And the imperial palace that serves our Yeom Emperor. That makes fourteen.”

“Wow, that’s a lot. How do you memorize all that?”

“Shouldn’t you know about your ancestors, young master?”

“You’re all noisy! Shut up and listen before I chop off your heads and display them!!”

The guy who was angrily raising his voice calmed down and cleared his throat as we closed our mouths.

Then he continued the explanation in a voice that sounded as dignified as possible.

“Each sect and force has its own martial arts that represent them. Shaolin’s Hundred Step Divine Fist, Wudang’s Tai Chi Sword, Huashan’s Plum Blossom Sword Technique, and so on! But these ungrateful bastards have forgotten the grace of the first Yeom Emperor and are only trying to fill their own bellies, so you have to go to the Yongbong Assembly to slap them down.”

“….Sorry, but that doesn’t explain anything.”

“Huh? You guys really aren’t very bright.”

I think he’s not very smart.

However, at that moment, a handsome young man walked out from behind him.

“I’ll explain instead. Dongho-nim.”

“Tch, do so. These guys seem to be lacking in brains, so explain it well.”

‘What’s wrong with this guy’s head?’

It seems like this guy is the leader (or something), so I can see how much his subordinates suffer.

Anyway, the explanation of the story was passed from a guy named Dongho to a young, handsome man.

“Hello. My name is Yang, the advisor who assists Dongho-nim and manages the security of this Shinhyun City.”

Yang, the advisor, started the story by first giving a polite greeting.

Fortunately, this guy seems to be able to communicate, unlike his superior Dongho, so I’m relieved.

“Leon. He came from the central continent of Pilgreria…. no, the west.”

“I’m called Baekryeon. I came from Jo.”

“Indeed, it makes sense that Ms. Baekryeon is from Jo, but Leon, you speak Yeom so well for someone from the West.”

“My teacher taught me, saying there would be a time when I’d need it.”

Yang, the advisor, nodded as if he understood, and took out some paper documents from his pocket and handed them to us through the iron bars.

When I received the paper and looked at it, it seemed to be some kind of advertisement written in the Yeom language.

“Read it to me.”

“Hmm…, it seems to be an advertisement for the Yongbong Martial Arts Assembly. I think the Yongbong Assembly that guy was talking about is referring to this.”

I threw a look at Yang, the advisor, as if asking for additional explanation, and he started to tell the story about it.

“First of all…, our Yeom country’s national power consists of the national army directly under our Yeom Emperor, called the Yeom Emperor’s Army. And the sects and noble families of each region. As a reward for contributing to the founding of Yeom, each sect and noble family was granted autonomy over their regions, and in return, the sects and noble families pledge allegiance to Yeom…, that’s the structure.”

It’s feudalism. I know that.

It would have been difficult to just abandon the 13 sects and noble families that made great contributions to the founding of Yeom. Even so, if the sects tried to take more of the pie, they would have to deal with the remaining 12 sects and noble families at the same time, so they must have compromised on their own. Under the name of Yeom, all the sects and noble families form a single alliance.

“So?”

“Do you know when Yeom was founded?”

“Uh…, was it 1000 years ago?”

“That’s right. 1000 years ago, the first Yeom Emperor united the sects and noble families to establish the country of fire, Yeom. After that, the system was working normally. However, after 1000 years, the power of each sect and noble family became very strong, and our control over the central government, Yeom, began to weaken.”

They say even the mountains and rivers change in 10 years, so there’s no need to even mention 1000 years.

I think I roughly get the gist of it now.

“So, in this situation, there was a need to show the dignity of Yeom to the other sects and noble families. And winning the Yongbong Assembly is the way to show that?”

“Yes. That’s right. The Yongbong Assembly is originally a martial arts competition that anyone can freely participate in. But over the years, several implicit traditions have emerged. One of them is showing off the successors of each sect.”

“Our sect has a child with such outstanding talent~, are they trying to show off like that?”

“That’s right.”

If that’s the case, a few questions arise.

“Doesn’t the Yeom army have any talented guys? If you’re trying to show the strength of the Yeom army as you say, shouldn’t the talented guys from the Yeom army be the ones going?”

“….Unfortunately, that’s the case.”

“…What?”

Really?

I glanced at Dongho, and he seemed displeased, frowning and clicking his tongue, but he didn’t say anything, so it seems to be true. The Yeom army, which has to balance the harmony of the 13 sects and noble families, lacks successors to entrust the future to, while the sects continue to grow their power and influence….

This country is quite a time bomb, unlike what it seems….

No, is that why the Heavenly Demon appeared and wiped them all out as a disorganized rabble? While they were increasing their size and expanding their bodies, the pie was limited, so there must have been considerable schemes and checks and balances, whether underground or above ground, to occupy the limited pie.

The central government, which should have been coordinating this, couldn’t exert proper influence over each sect, so the conflicts escalated, and eventually they faced a powerful enemy called the Heavenly Demon without cooperating and were shattered.

‘Hmm, it was content that allowed me to roughly understand why it was such a mess as soon as I received Yeom’s support and went.’

In the game, Yeom isn’t given much importance.

To be precise, there’s no reason to give it much importance.

Since 80% of the territory has already been destroyed and is full of monsters and demons, how much importance would there be?

At best, it’s just a hunting ground and a stage for the final battle.

“Then one more thing. Let’s say I participate as a member of the Yeom army. But I’ll be found out soon because of my appearance, right?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. You can disguise yourself as a Yeom person with a wig and a human skin mask. Fortunately, you speak the Yeom language well enough, so it’s perfect.”

That’s thorough.

But a human skin mask….

If it’s a ‘equipped’ judgment, there’s a very high chance that the effect won’t be applied…

Due to an error that occurred when loading the save file, if I try to equip or use an item here, eight out of ten times the effect won’t be applied. And that applies to the Holy Sword, so it’s just a strong sword that works well against the undead.

‘….No, the Holy Sword somehow feels a bit different from that.’

Well, I can’t solve it right now.

“But even if I help and somehow solve it for the time being, that won’t lead to a fundamental solution, will it? What are you going to do about that?”

“….That’s none of your business.”

Dongho, who had entrusted the explanation to Yang, the advisor, and stepped back, said with a displeased expression.

….Well, I won’t be here for long anyway.

I’ll just get the Great Root Pill and beat up the Heavenly Demon while I’m at it, so I don’t need to get too involved.

“Okay. Since we don’t have a choice other than accepting.”

“Hmph, you’ve made a good choice. As I said, the Yongbong Assembly is in 2 weeks. Also, to prevent you from running away, one of you two must remain here.”

Dongho said arrogantly, as if he expected it.

Since the meaning of leaving one person behind is understandable, I looked at Baekryeon.

“Who’s going out?”

“Young master should go. I’m fine. Above all, if it’s young master, no matter who the opponent is, he won’t lose.”

“….Okay. I understand.”

I nodded, looking at Baekryeon who was smiling and telling me.

Yang, the advisor, who roughly guessed who would come out, took out the key from his pocket and tried to open the iron bars to unlock the handcuffs.

Crack, thud

However, before Yang, the advisor, entered the prison, I lightly tore off the handcuffs that the guys had put on and stood up from my seat.

The handcuffs were stronger than I thought and couldn’t be easily removed, so Dongho and Yang, the advisor, looked at me with wide eyes as they saw me breaking and removing them with simple force.

“H-How did you do that with your bare hands…”

“Clearly, his energy is disrupted, so he shouldn’t be able to use internal energy…, could it be external energy?”

“Hey.”

I also forcibly broke and tore off the handcuffs on Baekryeon’s wrist, just like I did with mine, and turned to look at the guys.

“There’s a saying that you should follow the laws of the country you go to. If even finding the Great Root Pill is a big crime as you say, then it’s only right to repay the crime as you say. So I’ve been quiet until now, and I haven’t refused your requests either…, but if you do anything stupid to my companion while I’m gone, this place will be completely destroyed, so keep that in mind.”

“Y-You! How dare you threaten…”

【King of Swords’ Pressure】

The King of Swords’ pressure overwhelms all those of lower status.

As if proving that there are no talented people in the Yeom army, no one could withstand the weakly emitted pressure.

Only Yang, the advisor, barely endured without passing out, but his legs gave way and he collapsed, while Dongho and the soldiers behind him foamed at the mouth and passed out pathetically.

“Ugh….”

“Don’t worry. Baekryeon will stay here quietly, and I’ll participate in the Yongbong Assembly or whatever you asked me to, and I’ll destroy everything and win. So keep in mind. If you even lay a hand on my companion, everything here…, the entire Shinhyun City will be devastated, so keep that in mind.”

Yang, the advisor, nodded his head several times at my words.

Satisfied with that sight, I turned my gaze to Baekryeon this time.

“You should just get out if these guys try to do anything weird too.”

“Hehe, are you worried?”

“It doesn’t feel good if something weird happens to my companions.”

“I understand. I’ll get out right away.”

After confirming that Baekryeon was smiling and nodding her head, I grabbed the passed-out guys and went out of the prison with Yang, the advisor. Then, I received my sword back from Yang, the advisor, and left the building.