episode_0109

109. Encounter.

Jang Cheong’s face turned deliberately serious.

“War… are you saying? Surely, until last year, there were no signs of that, were there?”

The master replied indifferently.

“Well, that’s because last year, we were an insignificant, weak faction. It’s not much different now, though.”

“……”

Yohan felt a little prick in his conscience. Somehow, there was a barb in his words.

“Then that explains why the Black King Castle is gathering martial artists. It was to prepare for war.”

“Probably. In my opinion, after assessing their skills through the martial arts competition, they will definitely use that information to deploy the martial artists in the war.”

“That makes sense.”

Yohan nodded. War, it seemed like the main stream of this trial was slowly becoming visible.

The master said.

“We don’t have much left until we reach Black King Castle. Perhaps the next encampment will be the last.”

Yohan and his group immediately left their spot.

There’s no way they could sleep among corpses. Their pace naturally quickened.

***

The next morning dawned, and the group walked leisurely along the road.

“We’re almost there, disciple. Are there any strange guys around?”

“Unfortunately, no. It’s just us.”

“Is it because we’re getting closer to Black King Castle…”

Indeed, it was a position that would be burdensome even for the attackers.

Before long, a large building came into Yohan’s view.

It was a huge castle wall. It was a little smaller than the castle wall he saw on the first floor, but there wasn’t much difference.

Rather, it was admirable that they expressed such grandeur without borrowing the power of magic.

Jang Cheong said.

“It’s my first time coming to Black King Castle… Indeed, I can see why people call it Black King Castle. A black castle wall.”

“Originally, the original name of Black King Castle wasn’t Black King Castle.”

The master said so and led the group toward the castle wall. His gait was quite familiar.

Yohan asked unintentionally.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s your first time here, have you ever been here before?”

“Been here… Heh, similar.”

The middle-aged man with grizzled hair wore a strange expression. It was a faint expression, as if he was recalling past memories.

He opened his mouth quietly.

“Slave traders dragged me here. Because it’s the place where the best underground dealers in the Central Plains exist.”

The master tapped his scabbard, tap, tap-. He smiled fiercely.

“There are so many cherished relationships… I hope those guys are still alive.”

Yohan thought as he looked at the master.

‘Is it a bad relationship?’

Yohan rolled his eyes and looked at the black castle wall.

Relationships with different colors gather in one place.

Threads of various colors were tangled and twisted, wriggling into a pitch-black skein.

For some reason, Yohan felt like he would meet a welcome relationship here.

The group was sucked into the black castle.

***

The process of entering the castle was simpler than expected.

They just showed the name of their group and a letter, and they were let in.

Yohan tilted his head at the simple procedure.

“The security is lax for the best stronghold of the Black Road.”

“To be exact, there’s no need to be strict. Who would dare to cause a ruckus here?”

“Ah. That’s also true.”

Yohan rolled his eyes at the master’s words.

Most of the people walking along the main street were martial artists.

Of course, there were some who were of low level. But their numbers could not be ignored.

The difference between a martial artist who has experienced battle many times and an ordinary criminal is significant. They were a sufficiently threatening force.

‘Magic Missile won’t work. I have to use great magic.’

If he were to fight them, what spell should he use?

Fire series? Water current series? Or should he combine Dig and other spells?

Various combat methods came to mind, then disappeared repeatedly.

Then suddenly, Yohan felt a familiar energy.

“……!”

Yohan’s head turned sharply. His pupils dilated and his vision spread out like rays of light.

Passing through people and people, Yohan made eye contact with familiar eyes.

Eyes as black as obsidian, strangely dead. Yohan grinned.

‘So you were here.’

The moment Yohan thought so, the other side also found this side. Immediately after, she was already arriving at Yohan.

Flapping-

A dark robe confuses Yohan’s vision. Yohan felt that [Thought Acceleration] had been activated. The weight of the world becomes lighter.

The hem of the robe slowly falling to the floor, and a pale face could be seen in between. Her features were elegant, but her cold expression gave people an intimidating feeling that made it difficult to approach her.

It was her.

“It’s been a while.”

“……Mr. Yohan.”

Yohan opened his mouth in a nonchalant manner. It was because he had expected it to some extent.

Unless she fell to the White Road, she would have no choice but to meet at Black King Castle.

Her skills are bound to shine anywhere, whether it’s in a dark place or a white place.

She said with a somewhat affectionate voice.

“I thought Mr. Yohan didn’t fall into the same trial. I couldn’t find you even after searching for a long time.”

Yohan shrugged his shoulders. Suddenly, he saw a group running towards this side from behind her.

They must be her colleagues.

“It seems like a lot has happened in the meantime. Their expressions are unusual.”

At Yohan’s words, she turned her head. She looked at Yohan again and said coldly.

“Shall we move to another place?”

Yohan was momentarily stunned. They seem to be quite strong martial artists, but she’s saying she’s going to run away without any explanation?

“……It’s okay. I can’t cause such a nuisance.”

“It’s not a nuisance, okay.”

Tadat-!

Soon, burly men with dark robes arrived with rough footsteps.

“Great Lord! What’s going on all of a sudden! Could it be, is it an enemy!”

Seureung, the handsome man at the very front drew his sword. He pointed the blade at Yohan’s neck.

“You! Judging from your appearance, you seem to be the leader of some weak sect! What business do you have with our Great Lord!!”

“……”

That’s absurd. She’s the one who came over, but he couldn’t understand why they were doing this to him.

Just as Yohan was about to say something─

Seueueueuk-

“……!”

He saw that Sara’s sword, which had already been drawn, was rushing towards the young man’s neck.

It was an attack that even Yohan could only see as a blurry afterimage.

‘Crazy! Even so, they’re colleagues!’

Yohan immediately snapped his fingers.

A pale, white barrier is created right above the man’s neck.

Now her sword and the shield will collide. Yohan never doubted that future.

But the next moment, Yohan’s eyes widened like lanterns.

Seureung-

“……Huh.”

In his view, he saw Sara’s appearance, already sheathing her sword. To recover the sword strike that had been extended in that short amount of time, she wasn’t just fast.

It was an art possible only with the strength to overcome the weight and acceleration of the sword, as well as lightning-like reaction speed.

Of course, the man in front of Yohan didn’t realize that fact. He just screamed like a pig.

“Can’t you hear me! If you don’t reveal your purpose right now!”

Yohan sighed inwardly and opened his mouth. He shouldn’t have used the shield.

“She’s an old acquaintance, so I think I greeted her happily without realizing it.”

“What, what? An old acquaintance? Is that true, Great Lord?”

The man looked at Sara with a face as if he had seen a ghost. She raised her eyebrows.

“……Yes. He’s not an enemy, so don’t worry. Rather, he’s closer to being a more reliable ally than you.”

“……!”

The man’s face stiffened. Yohan and Sara didn’t care. Yohan scanned the men and said.

“Where are you affiliated? It doesn’t seem like a normal sect.”

The level of the martial artists standing behind her is not ordinary.

And since they called her ‘Great Lord’ earlier, they must be the members.

‘If it’s a force that has a sword unit of that size under its command…’

After all, there’s only one.

“Ah, I fell to Black King Castle. I’m in charge of a small sword unit.”

“A small sword unit…”

It doesn’t look small at all?

When he glanced to the side, he saw Jang Cheong, whose face was full of tension. This was no exception for the master either.

“Are you participating in the martial arts competition?”

“No, I’m in charge of the role of a judge. Mr. Yohan, are you participating in the Ganmu Association?”

“Yes. Well, I might be able to see you at the venue.”

When Yohan said that, she turned around. And asked a man with an intellectual impression.

“Which training hall am I in charge of as a judge?”

“It’s the Black Wolf Training Hall.”

Her gaze turned to Yohan. Yohan answered with a sense.

“The Demonic Cult. It used to be the Black Forest Squad, but it changed recently.”

“He says that’s right. Can you tell me which training hall the Demonic Cult has been assigned to?”

The man took out an old book from his back pocket and flipped through the pages.

He said in a plain tone.

“It’s the Black Wolf Training Hall.”

“Same.”

“Yes.”

Yohan looked at the book with a curious expression. What a coincidence.

She wore a seemingly happy expression.

“Mr. Yohan. You haven’t found a place to stay yet, have you?”

“That’s right. I was looking for one.”

“There’s a detached house prepared for guests of the sword unit. Follow me.”

“Oh, I’d appreciate it if you would.”

His face was stinging. The man who had shouted at Yohan earlier was glaring intensely at Yohan.

Yohan’s eyebrows twitched.

‘It’s not going to be easy.’