Ch.120The Fist King, Ma Seung

A group emerged over the ridge shrouded in thick morning fog. Two horses pulled a crudely made cart behind them. Many people were riding in the back of the cart, with a strangely blowing wind gently enveloping it.

This was the returning procession of the Blue Wing after the campaign against the Four Dragon King. Sae-rin was at the front. This was because there weren’t many combat-ready personnel available. She walked alongside her peers.

“Once we get down from here, we’ll reach a fairly large city. It’s called Bellov. It would be much better to stop there for treatment before heading back.”

Sae-rin turned around at Flora’s suggestion. The two vice-captains who should be deciding the group’s destination were both incapacitated. The same went for other senior members. Naturally, Sae-rin ended up leading the group.

Although she had always intended to eventually rise to the highest position and command the Blue Wing, this was too sudden.

“It could be dangerous.”

The Blue Wing has many enemies. The moment they show weakness, they might be ambushed in the middle of a big city. If this were the capital of Karma, she wouldn’t have worried. That’s what concerned Sae-rin.

But what could she do? There was no other option. The Blue Wing members needed doctors, medicine, and comfortable beds.

Sae-rin started walking. A cart wrapped in wind slowly advanced, cutting through the mist.

The fog-shrouded city of Bellov had a strong cultural influence from another dimension. It was evident in the structure of the buildings. Fragrant wooden buildings were topped with jade-colored roof tiles, and the clothes worn by residents strongly resembled those from the Central Plains martial world.

“Feels like we’ve arrived in another dimension.”

“They all look like reincarnators. Should we draw our swords?”

Flora and Theo asked playfully, but Sae-rin shook her head. They had just entered the city after quietly revealing their identity to the city guards. It was best to avoid unnecessary commotion.

As Sae-rin walked lightly, a stall caught her eye. Wooden sculptures and colorful accessories were on display. They appeared to be handmade by the shop owner.

“How much is this?”

What Sae-rin inquired about was a long pipe, commonly known as a jangchuk. The shop owner stepped forward to explain the price. It was quite expensive, but Sae-rin didn’t hesitate to pay.

A shiny silver coin flew from Sae-rin’s hand. She gripped the pipe and swung it lightly. It had a good weight and wasn’t threatening.

It seemed like she had found an appropriate weapon to use instead of a sword when dealing with ordinary people.

Though the group was in bad shape, the Blue Wing was a wealthy organization. They rented the largest inn in Bellov and bought medicine and doctors good for wounds. An astronomical amount was spent, but none of the Blue Wing members worried.

After all, it wasn’t them but the Karma Empire that would be paying.

After renting the inn, Sae-rin could finally relax. Several swordsmen working for the inn kept vigilant watch around the inn day and night, their eyes burning with alertness.

Only then did the small girl put down her sword and change into comfortable clothes. It was a plain black martial outfit without any decorations, but when Sae-rin wore it, it exuded a strange mystique.

***

Rumors about the group that appeared in Bellov spread quickly. Though they looked disheveled, the scale of money they used indicated they were far from ordinary. Moreover, each of them carried a sword, leading to opinions that they were foreign mercenaries or knights.

“Do you really have to go?”

“Of course. They’re foreign knights. How often do we get to see that? Someone said they might even be the Blue Wing.”

“But the Blue Wing usually operates in small numbers… Father said the people who came in this time looked like about thirty…”

On the streets of Bellov, a conversation took place between a woman and a timid-looking young man. They were Yuri, the daughter of Bellov’s largest merchant guild, and Yujin, the son.

Yuri had a great interest in reincarnators and the Blue Wing that eliminated them. This was because one of her parents had been a reincarnator. It took five years after her father’s death to discover that he had been a reincarnator.

It was because her mother had thoroughly hidden the information.

Time blurs emotions. Now all that remained for her was simple curiosity.

“Is this the place?”

“If it’s the largest inn in our city, this is the only one.”

The two looked up at the large inn as they spoke. It was an inn built for foreign tourists, not city residents. The tall pavilion-style building exuded an exotic feeling.

“But will we even be able to get in? The security is extremely tight.”

Yuri silently smiled at Yujin’s words. Who were they? People backed by the largest merchant guild in this city. Unless it was a space exclusively for nobles, there was no place they couldn’t enter.

Just as Yuri stepped forward first.

A gentle wind moved the pure white fog. It looked so similar to a dragon from mythology that they were lost in the sight. Before the two, a girl appeared.

Not even the usual sound of footsteps was heard.

“Wow…”

“Gasp…”

The two involuntarily exclaimed in admiration. A girl shining white as if born from the mist. The black martial outfit she wore created an exquisite harmony, producing a mysterious atmosphere.

Swish-

The pipe hanging at her waist was drawn. It was pointed at the two.

Sae-rin opened her mouth.

“What’s your purpose?”

She had been sitting on the edge of the inn’s roof, observing the surroundings. Sensing two strange presences approaching, she hurriedly came down. They didn’t seem hostile, but she couldn’t let them come closer.

“Um, are you perhaps from the Blue Wing?”

Sae-rin silently put away her pipe and folded her arms. Then she tilted her small head slightly. She hadn’t mentioned her identity, so why had such rumors spread? She had confirmed that the city guards in charge of security hadn’t disclosed that information either.

It was truly strange.

“No, I’m not.”

“Oh, you’re not? Then who exactly…”

“We’re mercenaries.”

“I see…”

Yuri didn’t ask any more questions. She just sighed deeply and openly showed her disappointment. Watching her, Sae-rin frowned.

It should be an insignificant encounter, but something strange was bothering her. It felt like she shouldn’t let go, as if she were facing a reincarnator.

‘But she’s probably not a reincarnator…’

What could it be? Sae-rin unconsciously opened her mouth.

“You seem very interested in the Blue Wing.”

“…Yes, I am.”

“I happen to know a bit about the Blue Wing.”

Yuri, who had been subtly turning to leave, stopped in her tracks. A faint smile appeared and disappeared on her lips.

“Really?”

Sae-rin just nodded. Then she turned and beckoned, with an expression that suggested even she didn’t know why she was doing this.

“I was bored anyway. Come and keep me company. I’ll tell you about the Blue Wing.”

***

A man appeared from the hazy fog. He had a particularly massive upper body. His shoulders were broad, and his well-built muscular physique was clearly visible through his gray martial outfit.

A black rosary was wrapped around his casually hanging left hand. Below it, strange energy swirled around the bandages.

The disheveled man opened his mouth.

“Is this the place? I should be able to see something.”

“Without a doubt. A group matching the characteristics the elder mentioned arrived just a few days ago.”

Standing beside the man was a middle-aged woman. Though not flashy, she exuded an elegant dignity. The disheveled man looked at the woman with a hint of pity.

“By the way, where are your children? I haven’t seen them since they were little, and I’m curious how much they’ve grown.”

“They’ve all grown up. It seems like it’s time for them to leave the nest, so I let them do as they please…”

The woman and man stopped walking in front of a building. The hazy fog gradually thinned due to the blowing wind. What was revealed was a multi-story pavilion-style inn building.

“If they’re going to imitate, they should do it properly… This must be the place, right? I can sense some unusual ones inside.”

The disheveled man clicked his tongue as he stepped forward. The woman standing beside him quietly retreated, watching cautiously.

“Hmmph…”

The disheveled man, Ma-seung, took a deep breath. His already large upper body muscles swelled even more as he threw a punch.

The internal energy extending from his fist ground the earth. The sight of it pushing away everything in its path was like a storm pouring out.

KWAGAGA-!

Just as the sudden force was about to engulf the large building. A hazy wind seemed to bring the mist down to the ground.

KWAANG-!

Ma-seung’s brow deeply furrowed. Someone had blocked his unleashed force. Just as he stepped forward to confirm who it was.

WHEE-

The wind enveloping the scene pushed away the fog. What was revealed was a small girl. Her snow-white hair and black martial outfit fluttered roughly.

“What, did you perform some kind of body-switching technique…?”

Ma-seung asked in a disgruntled voice. But Sae-rin didn’t answer. She threw the pipe in her hand to the ground and stretched her other hand behind her back.

As the broken pipe turned to powder and scattered, a sword flew quickly from inside the inn and was drawn into Sae-rin’s hand.

CHUK-