Chapter 48
“Who would have thought a clockwork mechanism would be hidden in a bandit den.”
Installing a mechanism cost a huge sum, even for something simple. For thieves who survive by stealing, spending that kind of money to install a mechanism was unexpected.
“Well, those who live off others’ lives probably don’t value their own much either.”
No matter how much the mechanism cost, it wouldn’t be worth more than their own lives. Thinking that, it was easier to understand.
“More importantly, we should hurry.”
When the floor opened, noises that hadn’t been audible before stabbed into my ears — the clashing of metal weapons. There might have been traps on the way down, but I didn’t hesitate and launched myself down the stairs.
“Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any other mechanisms.”
Like Geumgabigo, the stairway led underground, but there was a clear difference. Geumgabigo’s stairs went deep and took a long time to descend; the underground stairs of this place, Yeomwangchae, didn’t even have forty steps.
Thanks to that, a few light jumps were enough to reach the bottom.
After descending, we entered an artificial cave dug into the earth.
“It doesn’t look very deep.”
I’d heard the clash of weapons above, and the sound grew louder now — my guess was reasonable. That guess was right: not long after moving into the cave, we reached the source of the noise.
Cheng! Cheng! Cheng!
“Hold on until Chaeju drives out the poison with his energy!”
About ten bandits were protecting a leader-looking man and were facing off against three men. It wasn’t hard to identify one of them: his clothes and features matched Doosanbaek. The other two were quickly identifiable as well.
The bandit who had shouted to protect Chaeju raised his voice again.
“You filthy traitors! Did you think you could betray Chaeju and our mountain family and walk away alive?”
One question from their words was answered.
“So those other bandits being drugged was their doing.”
An inside traitor is frightening for that reason. You can be taken unawares with no defenses. Still, the situation wasn’t immediately clear.
“I thought Doosanbaek had come to ask for Yeomwangchae’s help.”
Why was Doosanbaek now attacking Yeomwangchae by his own hand? The timing of the traitors emerging from Yeomwangchae also didn’t make sense. It was unlikely Doosanbaek had prepared an ally in advance at an infiltrated place where he’d been cast out.
This situation was the work of Sahun and Geumchosan. In other words, something not in Doosanbaek’s plan. The bandit who had shouted earlier explained that part.
“Do you think Gunryongchae would take care of you traitors and leave you alive? The moment we judge you have no more use, your necks will be cut. It’s not too late — help to kill that despicable man, and I’ll promise to spare your lives!”
Now it made sense. On the way here I’d heard a rough outline from Sahun. The treasure Doosanbaek had touched belonged to Gunryongchae, and Gunryongchae and Yeomwangchae were on bad terms. I had thought Doosanbaek would trick Yeomwangchae and use them to get away from Gunryongchae’s threat, but that wasn’t it. Doosanbaek apparently allied with Gunryongchae instead.
“Deceive Yeomwangchae, strike them down, and profit from it.”
A classic Gujunghoe-style move, or perhaps just Doosanbaek’s usual method. It fit their character — not admirable, but consistent. I had no intention of letting things play out as they intended.
First, I took stock of the battlefield. Yeomwangchae had more people but was clearly losing. Like the bandits outside, they hadn’t fallen but were drugged. A single man shouting kept them holding on, but that too was near its limit. Fundamentally, the skill gap was huge.
“Even at best, they’re only at the early stage of climax.”
Meanwhile, Doosanbaek had reached a fully matured state of climax. The difference was like heaven and earth. There was no way to win as things stood. But the bandits still had one hope.
“A climax, and one not outmatched by Doosanbaek.”
My gaze turned to Yeomwangchae’s master, still seated in lotus, drawing in energy. I couldn’t be sure how much he’d recovered, but if he woke he could help restore some balance. My role from now on was set.
Blending into the darkness, I picked up stones that had fallen on the floor. When the Yeomwangchae bandits were in danger, I threw them — just enough to be an annoyance.
Thunk!
Doosanbaek knocked the stone flying toward him with his scabbard and finally spoke.
“Who’s there!”
I snorted inwardly at his reaction. Replying would be silly. And to let Doosanbaek target me deliberately? That would be an even bigger fool’s mistake.
Luckily, the bandits facing Doosanbaek weren’t that stupid. The one who’d been shouting warned them so Doosanbaek wouldn’t turn toward me.
“He’s an ally! Don’t let him be targeted!”
Because I threw stones to help at key moments, the bandits grew bolder and began charging Doosanbaek. The man who stood out the most was the one who had been giving orders to the other bandits.
“Fan Lord!” “Danger!”
The bandits screamed. He really did stand out second only to Chaeju — it was the Fan Lord. He fell into danger: Doosanbaek’s sword had disabled his twin blades and was now thrusting for his heart.
Of course I didn’t simply watch.
Thwack!
A stone pierced the darkness and struck Doosanbaek’s blade. The impact twisted the sword slightly and slowed it, letting the Fan Lord narrowly evade. Phew.
All the bandits, including the Fan Lord, breathed a collective sigh of relief. But Doosanbaek’s teeth grinding — audible even here — showed he wasn’t pleased.
“After I finish off the bandits, I’ll tear your heart out and chew it.”
It was a menacing threat, but it was aimed at me and had no effect. If anything, it was almost cute.
“I wonder if you have that skill to back it up.”
I picked up two stones a bit larger than before and threw them in quick succession at Doosanbaek, harder than before. Thwack! He deflected one as before, but the remaining stone — uh-oh.
“Damn!”
Too late to block, Doosanbaek tried to dodge, but it was already too late.
Wham!
With the sound of a thud, a fist-sized stone struck Doosanbaek’s head. He didn’t fall but barely held on. I inwardly regretted it — I’d tested to see if he really had the reputation he claimed, but I hadn’t expected him to be unable to avoid that.
I must have overestimated him.
“Sorry. I guess I overestimated you. My apologies.”
I loudly called out my apology so Doosanbaek could hear. The cave rang with the sound of him grinding his teeth until they nearly shattered. Then, a furious shout erupted from him.
“I won’t hold back anymore — I’ll kill you all here!”
From then on, Doosanbaek’s displayed martial skill was clearly different. He was no longer affected by stones, and in an instant he cut down five bandits, and even deeply wounded the Fan Lord.
“This—! We have to stop him somehow!”
In a panic, the Fan Lord tried desperately to stop Doosanbaek, but things were worse than he expected. With five bandits down, the two bandits who’d betrayed Yeomwangchae had more freedom. Avoiding head-on clashes, they flanked and headed straight for Yeomwangchae’s seated master.
“Stop them!”
The Fan Lord realized their movement too late; the two traitors had already approached the lord.
“Die!”
The two traitors shouted in unison and swung their short blades at Yeomwangchae’s neck.
“No!”
The Fan Lord screamed. Until that moment I had only been watching their actions. Why hadn’t I helped sooner? Because it wasn’t necessary. My judgment proved correct.
Snap!
The two daggers froze in midair, inches from Yeomwangchae’s throat. He had opened his eyes and grabbed the traitors’ wrists with both hands.
Crunch! Aaaargh!
With a break of bones, Yeomwangchae crushed their wrists, leapt to his feet, glanced over the dead bandits, and fixed Doosanbaek with a cold stare.
“Even if I die here today, I will not let you live, Doosanbaek.”
Doosanbaek glanced at Yeomwangchae and moved like lightning. But his target wasn’t him this time.
Thud!
Doosanbaek’s sword plunged into the Fan Lord’s chest.
“You bastard!”
Yeomwangchae lunged at Doosanbaek, but Doosanbaek didn’t engage him; instead he attacked other bandits. His movements were so swift Yeomwangchae couldn’t stop him. As a result, every bandit in the place except Doosanbaek himself died.
“Why even us, on the same side…?”
Even the bandits assisting Doosanbaek were killed. As they died they looked at him with disbelief, and Doosanbaek sneered faintly.
“How dare you think you’re comrades? You’re disposable tools who didn’t know your place — you deserve to die.”
No surprises there. With a click of his tongue, Doosanbaek barked at me again.
“You! After I deal with Yeomwangchae’s lord, it’ll be your turn — don’t run, wait obediently!”
Then he added:
“If you follow my terms, I’ll spare your life. Though I’ll take off an arm or so.”
Ridiculous. I had no intention of fleeing, and who’d accept that?
“…The Fan Lord who just died seemed smarter than you, you know?”
I was annoyed that a scumbag like him tried such a thing to go after the Geumhwa trading guild. So I decided to change the plan.
Originally I had intended to let Doosanbaek and Yeomwangchae’s lord fight so I could take advantage of the aftermath.
“Stop right there.”
I emerged from the darkness, stopping the fight just as Doosanbaek and Yeomwangchae were about to clash. At the same time I declared war on both of them.
“If you were going to fight me anyway, do it now.”
But there were three people.
“Both of you, attack at once.”
I had faced a peak-level expert one-on-one before; this time I decided to take on two at once.
