Chapter – 21
Mabaek was waiting for the hired hand’s return with an expectant heart.
The one hired from the Dark Soul Association was quite arrogant, but his work was certainly reliable. Because of that, Mabaek could smile and overlook that arrogant attitude.
Judging by his track record so far, he would undoubtedly bring Sehwa back.
Of course, for this plan, he had involved some useless people, but they were insurance.
In case, by some chance, things went wrong, they were the ones to pin the blame on.
From the start, Mabaek had no intention of keeping his promise to share Sehwa with the others.
According to the Dark Soul Association’s plan, they would serve as bait. They would be used without even knowing it.
Originally, his plan was to buy Sehwa from the Cheonwol Pavilion and take her as a concubine.
If the Pavilion Master hadn’t flatly refused, saying people at Cheonwol Pavilion weren’t for buying and selling, there would have been no need for such troublesome matters. It was ridiculous. A brothel that didn’t hang red lanterns, a place that didn’t sell women’s laughter and bodies.
No matter how much they pretended to be noble, the fact that it was a brothel didn’t change, yet that fellow called the Pavilion Master acted all high and mighty. That didn’t sit well with him.
Mabaek tried to think positively. If he met the Cheonwol Pavilion’s conditions fairly through his own ability, wouldn’t Sehwa see him in a new light?
That’s how it should have been originally. If it weren’t for that damnable tiger cub from who-knows-where, that no-good bouncer, he wouldn’t have had to flee so disgracefully.
‘I spent a fortune to request the Dark Soul Association. So, I will definitely make Sehwa mine.’
It’s only right that the more you invest, the more you gain. Besides, Mabaek never had the slightest intention of sharing Sehwa with those riff-raff from the start.
They were merely bait and tools, nothing more. Compared to those guys who acted high and mighty with just a sword, he was far more capable, so why should he consider himself their equal?
Such a beautiful and outstanding person should be possessed by someone worthy of her. Mabaek believed he was fully qualified to be Sehwa’s husband and master.
“Once she eats this, Sehwa will do as I wish.”
Mabaek giggled while looking at the pill in his hand. If not for this pill, he wouldn’t have bothered requesting the Dark Soul Association. His family had plenty of strong fighters.
But if you have a good tool, you should use it. A pill that subdues a woman’s reason, dominates her body, and eventually makes both body and heart submit—how could he not use it?
Truly, it was a dream-like pill.
If the person from the Dark Soul Association hadn’t guaranteed the pill, Mabaek would have snorted and thrown it on the ground.
That’s how much Mabaek trusted that guy. He didn’t even give his name, telling him to call him whatever, and was arrogant, but his skill was reliable enough to justify that arrogance.
“But why is he so late?”
Images of his future with Sehwa were already vividly forming in Mabaek’s mind.
If he grabbed a passerby and told them, they would scoff at his delusions. Mabaek smirked.
His delusions, spun even before the Dark Soul Association member returned, were almost artistic.
Knock knock-
Then, a light knocking sound was heard at the door.
“Are you back? Come in!”
The sound was too light, but Mabaek beamed and stood up.
This place was a hideout Mabaek had prepared.
After being beaten by that damnable tiger cub, since he was planning this affair, a hideout was essential.
He was thoroughly prepared in unnecessary ways.
The door opened. However, the person outside was not the one Mabaek had been waiting for.
“What’s this, a kid?”
His face twisted into a scowl.
“Go away. If you’re begging, I have nothing to give!”
Despite the cold response, the child didn’t move an inch. Sensing something odd about that reaction, Mabaek narrowed his eyes.
‘Let’s see. For a beggar, the clothes are too clean, aren’t they?’
Moreover, the child’s features were clear; she would grow into a stunning beauty.
Mabaek looked the child up and down like a commodity and snorted.
Still, just a kid. And an uninvited guest at that.
“What are you doing, not leaving quickly!”
At his shout, the child’s lips moved.
“A big uncle carrying a large sword sent me. Should I just leave?”
At those words, Mabaek paused.
“What? A kid sent by that guy? Strange. There’s no reason for him to send a kid… And for a kid, the way of speaking is odd too… Where did you pick that up?”
“He said it would take a little more time.”
“Incompetent fool! That simple task takes more time?!”
Mabaek swore without a thought for his own past actions.
The child, who had been watching him calmly, spoke again.
“He said he went to the Cheonwol Pavilion. So he asked me to deliver something he has for you.”
“Something to deliver?”
“He said you’d be pleased if you got it.”
“Is that so? Then come in quickly and hand it over! What are you waiting for!”
His attitude towards a child was rough, but the child didn’t shed tears or look frightened.
Rather, as if waiting for those words, the child stepped inside and closed the door.
Then, the atmosphere changed.
The air grew heavy in an instant, and Mabaek’s body reflexively froze.
“Wh-what?”
“Uncle is a bad person. Being mean to a little child like me.”
His gaze reflexively turned at the high-pitched, thin voice that didn’t match the situation.
The child was smiling.
But the eyes were cold and sunken.
“Moreover, you covet a human who serves me, and dare to attempt such a troublesome thing.”
A child, yet not a child.
At that dissonant appearance, Mabaek reflexively stepped back.
“Y-you! Who are you?!”
He drew his sword and pointed it at the child. A sight that even an ordinary person would criticize and point fingers at.
However, for Mabaek, it was a desperate act.
The pressure weighing down the air.
The speech and aura emanating from the child that were unlike a child.
The chilly gaze sent like a predator looking at prey.
It all came from that child.
His instincts were frantically warning him.
Run. If you want to live, run without looking back.
His reason said,
She’s a girl not even ten years old.
Maybe my senses have become strange from waiting too long?
While those two fought fiercely, the child smiled.
“Insolent fellow.”
A flash of yellowish light flickered momentarily in the child’s eyes.
And the next moment, Mabaek’s vision spun and turned upside down.
“…Huh?”
And immediately after, excruciating pain surged.
“G-gyaaaaaah!”
“Your bones aren’t broken.”
Saying that, the child swiftly grabbed the sword Mabaek was holding and threw it.
With a thunk, the sword embedded itself in the wall.
As he clutched his right leg, writhing in pain, something with tremendous force struck his chest.
“Keuk!”
Having taken a direct hit, Mabaek coughed, unable to breathe properly. The child looked down at him and spoke.
“I am very displeased right now. Do you know you reek of a scent you shouldn’t be emitting towards me?”
The child’s hand grabbed Mabaek’s hair. It was a ferocious strength unbelievable for a child.
Looking at him with widened eyes in shock, the child asked.
“Answer me. Where did you get that pill?”
Following the scent made finding the hideout simple.
‘That big oaf, he didn’t lie.’
If he had lied after being stomped to a pulp like that, he would deserve praise. Praise aside, I would have gone back to stomp him again.
Until opening the door, my mood wasn’t bad, but…
‘Why would the scent of the Blood Cult be here?’
I moved personally to watch over the fox’s game and protect Sehwa, only to encounter this unpleasant yet familiar matter.
I poured that feeling into stomping on the fellow named Mabaek.
The disappointing thing was, this guy was surprisingly fragile for his size.
“Stop! Stop!!”
“You’re not in a position to give orders, are you?”
When I poked his disgusting-looking eye with my index finger, his reaction was priceless.
No, just a light touch and he acts like this. His fussiness is emperor-grade.
“Show some manly spirit.”
After slapping his back a few times with my palm amidst all the curses he spewed, he finally quieted down.
“So I’m asking, where did this come from?”
“That is…”
“If you don’t answer quickly, one more…”
“The Dark Soul Association! The Dark Soul Association gave it to me, aaaah!”
Ouch, my eardrums.
I poked his earhole with my finger while slapping his mouth with my palm.
“You’re too loud.”
After glaring at him, who couldn’t even retort and just groaned, I took out the pill from my pocket.
‘It’s definitely the scent of the Blood Cult.’
Even smelling it, nothing changed. This was unmistakably the scent of a pill made by the Blood Cult.
‘I should have stomped and interrogated that big oaf more thoroughly.’
Still, with that body, he won’t get far. I turned him into more of a rag than the rags used for cleaning at the Tianhualou.
Now, seeing Mabaek curled up in a corner, sniffling, I just sighed.
‘Should I knock him out first and search this room more thoroughly?’
Maybe more clues related to the Blood Cult will turn up.
Thinking that, the sniffling sound became annoying, so I struck the back of his head hard.
Without even making a sound, he fainted on the spot. I roughly shoved him into a corner.
‘The human realm has too many scents mixed together…’
Moreover, how long had this guy stayed here? There’s no spot untouched by his scent.
Grinding my teeth at the rising irritation and seething feelings, I returned to my tiger form. Maintaining a human form while losing composure was a waste of energy. Also, the tiger form had a sharper sense of smell than the human form.
First, I’d pinpoint the location by scent in tiger form, then change back to the human child form to search.
Just as I thought that and was about to move, a sound caught my ear.
A commotion. And mixed within it, the name of that pathetic fellow, Mabaek.
‘His accomplices?’
While estimating the number by scent, I tensed my legs.
…I should deal with them all first so I’m not disturbed, then search.
