episode_0099

99. Recruitment.

“Indeed, the facilities in this village are far superior to the previous one. Even the chairs.”

After saying that, Johann sank into the chair decorated with wolf skin. It smelled a bit musty, but it was a reasonably cozy space.

Around him, numerous martial artists stood respectfully with their hands clasped. Among them, some were seated, namely Jang Cheong and Squad Leader Ma Rim, along with other executives.

Conversely, those standing were the martial artists who had been hostile to Johann until just moments ago. Now they were in the position of dogs with their tails between their legs.

Suddenly, Squad Leader Ma Rim turned his head to the side and spoke. There, the Black Forest Chief lay sprawled on the floor in a miserable state.

“Chief. Please get up now. It seems your insomnia has improved in the meantime. You sleep so well anywhere.”

A total of five holes had been pierced through his body. Three in the abdomen, two in the chest. All were damage from the cult leader’s blue energy attack.

Upon hearing Squad Leader Ma Rim’s characteristically sarcastic tone, the Black Forest Chief twitched his eyebrows. Then, he frowned as if annoyed and rose from his spot.

Johann watched this and thought to himself. The chief and deputy chief, their behavior is quite similar.

“Keuh, chief, you say. In the meantime, the small amount of respect you had has disappeared even more.”

Squad Leader Ma Rim snorted. His expression was very irritating.

“Of course. Now that we’re no longer in the same organization, why would I show respect?”

“You have such a sharp attitude. If I had known you were this kind of person, I would never have given you the position of deputy chief.”

“Don’t be too harsh. I’ve grown quite fond of the chief over the years.”

“How amusing.”

“I’m serious.”

Johann silently watched their conversation. He had no intention of intervening. He planned to recruit the Black Forest Chief into the cult in the future.

‘Still, it would be better if someone who used to be a colleague persuades him.’

Although Squad Leader Ma Rim lacked respect, the two seemed to have a fairly good relationship. You could say they were like comrades who had overcome difficult hardships together. They seemed very close.

Johann watched their banter and unconsciously touched his ankle. Glancing down, it was slightly swollen.

Johann looked at the executives and Squad Leader Ma Rim.

‘Why did I run across the rooftops with these guys? My physical condition is terrible.’

How often does a modern person get to kick off rooftops and run? Unless they are practitioners of parkour.

Moreover, the rooftops in this world were much rougher and more irregular than those of modern buildings.

Johann recalled the battle with the Black Forest Chief.

‘Indeed, his skill is on a different level from the deputy chief.’

He expected to lose a battle that only tested swordsmanship and physical ability. The important thing was how long he could last.

Roughly ten exchanges. That was the number of exchanges Johann aimed for. However, he ended up using a spell after only two or three exchanges.

It couldn’t be helped. He had no regrets. Johann was confident that he made the best choice.

‘I would have died if I hadn’t used it.’

Especially the technique that strangely twisted the neck. That was the most dangerous. It was a flexibility that exceeded human limits.

It was an attack that defied reason, something that couldn’t be replicated with mere yoga or stretching.

As Johann was reviewing the previous battle, the conversation between the former deputy chief and the chief was finally coming to an end.

“······Ma, what? What cult? Anyway, are you telling me to join such a minor cult?”

“Minor cult, you say. Even so, the number of followers isn’t exactly small. Yes, it’s about the size of a small clan.”

The Black Forest Chief raised the corner of his mouth as if dumbfounded.

“Surely, you’re saying that with the assumption of absorbing the Black Forest?”

“That’s right.”

“······You’re crazy.”

“Are you just realizing that now? Among the martial artists who walk the black path, who isn’t crazy? Hehe.”

“······.”

The chief closed his mouth. It was true. Most of the martial artists on the black path are not normal. If they were normal in the first place, they wouldn’t be living on the black path.

The chief’s eyes scanned Squad Leader Ma Rim’s entire body.

“Anyway, my answer remains the same. Just kill me. I have no intention of joining such a minor cult.”

“It’s not a minor cult······. Even though our cult leader lacks some common sense, his talent for martial arts is unmatched in the world. I guarantee it.”

“How amusing. What can you guarantee? You’re just a deputy chief of a third-rate black path faction.”

“······Are you spitting on your own face?”

Squad Leader Ma Rim pointed his finger at Johann. It was highly disrespectful to treat the cult leader like that, but he didn’t say anything in particular.

“I myself can’t believe it, but I hear he’s just barely come of age. How about that? Is that enough of an explanation?”

“······What? Come of age? Are you kidding me right now?”

The chief’s expression became strange. Come of age? That can’t be. Unless he’s the young master of a prestigious family, how could he have such martial prowess at such a young age?

The chief couldn’t believe it. It was foolish to believe such nonsense in the first place.

Johann calmly said while looking at the two of them.

“It’s true. Of course, you don’t have to believe it. I don’t have any means to prove it anyway.”

“Are you really not an old monster wearing a human skin?”

“Human skin? Ah, right. I can prove that. How about I let you touch my facial skin or something?”

“If you allow it.”

“I allow it.”

The chief approached Johann while clutching his abdomen. The chief’s expression contorted with the excruciating pain that surged with every step.

In an instant, the distance between the chief and Johann was only about three spans. Johann still had a calm expression, and none of the executives stopped the chief.

This was because they firmly believed in the cult leader. More precisely, in his martial prowess.

The chief’s hands slowly reached towards Johann’s face. The gazes of the two men met in the air.

‘Can I kill him?’

For a moment, the chief had such a thought. If it’s such a close distance, there’s a good chance of winning.

However, he quickly gave up. He could, but he didn’t want to. In the first place, it didn’t seem like it would work.

Thud-

The chief’s rough hand touched Johann’s face. The chief moved his hands around as if kneading dough.

Knead, knead-

Johann twitched his eyebrows. What is he doing right now?

At that moment, the chief’s hand movements changed slightly. He also touched the back of Johann’s head and poked at his nostrils.

‘Should I kill him?’

Especially when his nostril was invaded, he felt that way very strongly.

However, he endured. He couldn’t see any hostility, and even if he did attack, he could retaliate sufficiently.

It wasn’t arrogance, but the result of the experience he gained from the previous battle.

Fortunately, the chief’s absurd gestures seemed to be gradually coming to an end.

“Re, really?”

Johann indifferently said, looking at the flustered chief.

“Whether it’s real or fake, I don’t care, so please take your hands off me. Even if the facial skin is real, it will peel off.”

“The seams on the back of the head are perfect, and the texture of the mask around the nostrils has been meticulously implemented······.”

The chief seemed to have fallen into his own world. Johann sighed inwardly and raised his finger, aiming it at the chief’s face.

Whoosh-

The familiar blue light began to coalesce. Only then did the chief come to his senses and step back.

“Wh, what······ Keuh!”

He hurriedly took a step back and then clutched his abdomen, as if belatedly feeling the pain. What a sight to behold.

“Didn’t you hear me say to let go.”

“······Heo, heok. I apologize. I’ve shown you an unsightly appearance.”

Squad Leader Ma Rim interjected from the side. He was overflowing with a sly smile.

“Judging from your reaction, it doesn’t seem like it’s fake. Come to think of it, Chief, didn’t you used to work as a servant at an illegal merchant when you were young? I think you handled masks quite a bit back then.”

The chief frowned as if he didn’t like his smile. Still, he answered.

“······Yes, I did say that before. It’s true.”

The chief looked back at Johann again.

“It doesn’t seem like a mask. Or else, it’s something that easily surpasses my senses······.”

Gulp, the chief swallowed unconsciously. To make such a mask, what level of artisan and materials would have to be mobilized? It was definitely not something an individual could do.

It was clear that it was an organization that a mere chief of a third-rate black path faction could not even dream of.

‘Unless it’s something like the Black King Castle······.’

The chief opened his mouth with a more nervous expression than before.

“······Alright. I’ll retract my words about it being a minor cult. However, I cannot accept the fact that you are of age.”

“Think as you please. I don’t particularly want to prove it.”

Johann shrugged his shoulders. Then, he lowered his posture and glared at the chief.

Johann’s height was greater than the chief’s. Nevertheless, the chief did not raise his head. He only raised his eyes.

Johann liked his spirit. Yes, you need this much spirit to be suitable to be a subordinate.

The cult leader said.

“Join the Demonic Cult. We are not a minor cult. Even if we are a minor cult, what does it matter? In the future, our power will grow to the point where no one will be able to call us a minor cult.”

Whoosh- The cult leader’s eyes blazed with a blue light. The chief was startled by the bizarre sight.

A short time passed, and the chief’s mouth opened.

“······I refuse.”