“Ah, that…”
The village chief avoided my gaze.
“I only witnessed one of them. So how can I know the scale? But why did you specify it as a small group?”
Could this bastard be trying to save on the commission by recklessly estimating the scale based on uncertain information and claiming it’s a small group?
That’s fraud.
This damned bastard.
“Ah, that! If it was a large group, of course, they would have attacked the town, so I said it that way! Since it’s a small group, they didn’t raid the village! That’s why I meant it like that!”
The village chief rambled on, but I wasn’t someone who would let this slide.
“Then, chief. What if the goblin group turns out to be larger than we thought?”
“Uh?”
“We came here confident that it was a small group based on your request. But now that we’ve seen it’s proven that information was inaccurate. So if the goblin group is larger than we knew, it would count as a fraudulent contract. Are you able to take responsibility for that?”
“Th-that…”
As I pressed, the village chief averted his eyes, trailing off.
We need to be thorough about this.
“Ah, wait!”
Just then, Jang Yeomin, who looked like a weasel, interrupted.
“Uh? Jang Yeomin?”
“Kim Geunhyeop! Why do you keep trying to start a fight with the village chief when we could settle this nicely?”
“What do you mean?”
What is this?
“There’s no benefit to us in getting our faces heated over this! Chief! I’m saying let’s handle this nicely, so please forgive the rudeness!”
“Uh, umm.”
What kind of nonsense is this?
“Jang Yeomin, what on earth are you talking about? We’re here to carry out a combat request. Thus, the request needs to be specific, and the rewards must be clear. But you talk about handling this nicely?”
“This guy is so frustrating! I’ll handle this, you just step back!”
Jang Yeomin shouted, like I was the one being frustrating.
Handling things nicely is for when friends are doing something together. Sure, if we’re just hanging out, we can gloss over petty issues and just enjoy ourselves.
But this isn’t some leisure activity. We’re talking about a contract that involves life and death. There’s no room for ‘handling it nicely’ here.
“What’s so frustrating! Jang Yeomin! I’m going to negotiate with the chief, so just stay quiet!”
“And I said let’s go about this nicely, what negotiation…!”
I truly wanted to smack him!
What is this guy doing!
“I understand.”
As I was arguing with Jang Yeomin, the village chief stepped in to intervene.
“If the number of goblins is more than expected, I’ll increase the reward. So please keep it down.”
“Understood, chief. Then can we set a specific reward per head…”
“Oh! I said let’s keep it nice! Kim Geunhyeop! The chief is taking our dignity into account, and you keep bringing up our red faces!”
“You bastard!”
This guy is unbelievable!
“Ah, ah! Calm down! Kim Geunhyeop!”
“You too, Jang Yeomin!”
Oh Geunshik and Do Samcheol each tried to break us apart.
That Jang Yeomin… he really smells like Go Seoksam!
I truly wanted to teach him a lesson, but since we’re on the same team, about to take on a job, and in someone else’s village, I managed to hold my temper.
Regardless, the chief said he would increase the reward, so I should let this slide.
We finally exited outside the chief’s house.
Even so, Jang Yeomin still seemed unsatisfied and kept glaring at me while grumbling.
“Why does it have to go that way…”
My fist was itching, seriously.
“Jang Yeomin… let’s review this one more time. We’re in a contract where we have to risk our lives for this fight. And then you say ‘handling it nicely’? Don’t be ridiculous. If we don’t clarify things, there will be repercussions, you know?”
“The chief will take care of it! Isn’t it tiring to act like this all the time!”
“Since when have you seen me act like this!”
“Ugh…”
Let’s set the rules straight!
“Damn it! Stop it already!”
“Ugh…”
I held it in as I looked at Oh Geunshik’s face who was trying to calm me down.
Jang Yeomin, I’ll see you after this job.
“Ha, sorry. Oh Geunshik. Do Samcheol. Then it’s getting late, so let’s stay in the village tonight and move before dawn tomorrow.”
After calming my anger, I directed my team.
Jang Yeomin and I should have separate rooms.
—
Late in the early morning.
Having finished our preparations, we moved towards the mountain the village chief told us about. But what’s with Jang Yeomin? What a whiny brat, he walked behind me, constantly badmouthing me.
“The chief is taking our dignity into account, and you’re just tarnishing it… You’re not a proper martial artist!”
Oh Geunshik and Do Samcheol gave appropriate responses to Jang Yeomin’s comments.
I can’t believe they are encouraging him. I just held it in. The important thing isn’t him, it’s the goblins.
“Hmm, things could have gone peacefully.”
Just then, Do Samcheol muttered softly.
“…”
These guys…
They can’t be that useless, right?
“Huh. According to the information, goblins have been spotted around here, so let’s move slowly while searching for them.”
“Understood.”
“Right.”
At my words, everyone scattered to find the goblins.
“I’m following what Mr. Song taught me and looking for signs of the trees.” Knowing what to do gives me confidence and removes hesitation from my actions.
Really, in the Martial Arts World, there’s nothing more valuable than specialized knowledge. Mr. Song’s precious information made me more seasoned.
Let’s praise him.
Anyway. Normally, I would share this information with everyone, but… Jang Yeomin, that bastard ruined it for me. I know it’s stingy, but I don’t want to give him any information.
While I was thinking that…
“Bingo.”
I found goblin traces carved into the tree.
“Everyone, come this way!”
“Did you find something?”
Oh Geunshik was the first to arrive, asking.
“It seems like goblins have moved around here. Just look, the branches are broken, and the plants are lying down, judging by the signs.”
“Oh, oh?!”
As I bluffed my way through, Oh Geunshik was in awe. Soon after, the other two arrived.
Jang Yeomin scanned the surroundings and mumbled.
“This is the goblin’s trace? I’m not sure about that… Can you take responsibility for it?”
Really.
Should I just kill him?
My anger was rising. But I’m not a crazy serial killer… Even if he’s causing trouble, I shouldn’t kill him.
This kind of guy… should just be beaten up.
I set a murder principle while battling bandits last time. If the person needs to die, you can kill them. In other words, if they’re not meant to die, don’t kill them.
“Jang Yeomin.”
This guy is one I can just beat up.
“Uh?”
“There will be no more warnings. If you say one more word, I’ll beat you senseless. Got it?”
“W-what? What are you saying…! Hah! You’re laughing matter! I haven’t liked you since yesterday! Babbling nonsense in front of the chief!”
“Hey.”
This is it.
I didn’t want to stir up conflict before a battle, but thinking about it, I didn’t care that much. Even on the battlefield, discipline is key. It’s an ancient tradition to control problematic individuals with a fist.
“Didn’t I just tell you? If you talk again, I’ll make sure you’re dead?”
“Oh, Oh Geunshik!”
Jang Yeomin called for the other team members.
“Shut up!”
Everyone took on the role of bystanders. I immediately delivered a punch from the Six Combination Fist to Jang Yeomin’s face.
—Bam!
“Ughhh!”
With that hit, Jang Yeomin fell backward. Size-wise, he was far weaker than me. Martial arts level? That’s not that important against someone broken like him. The strong and tough one wins.
“You bastard!”
Just as Jang Yeomin was freaking out and reached for the sword at his side.
—Thud.
I pointed the sword at his neck.
“Huh?”
It’s faster for me to draw than his fumbled attempt to rise. As the blade touched his skin, Jang Yeomin’s expression quickly turned pale.
“Thinking of drawing it? If it comes to a sword fight, one of us is definitely going to die.”
“Th-that’s not!”
Even though he wasn’t supposed to die, if we drew swords, then he’d be the one to die.
“Why do you keep picking a fight with me? Should we just settle this here?”
“Please…!”
Tears rolled down from Jang Yeomin’s eyes.
“St-stop!”
“Okay!”
Oh Geunshik and Do Samcheol stepped in to break up the fight. Eventually, Jang Yeomin slumped down, and I sheathed my sword.
“Ha. I apologize for starting a fight before the battle. But this was entirely Jang Yeomin’s fault.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Jang Yeomin. Isn’t that right?”
“…”
Jang Yeomin nodded silently.
“Let’s resolve this here and move on. As men, let’s settle this with fists. The winner dictates what happens next. How about that?”
“I-I’m sorry! It was my fault!”
As I threatened to beat him even more, Jang Yeomin bowed his head. There we go, that’s more like it. It was suffocating since yesterday.
Whether it’s Earth or the Martial Arts World, it’s the same.
With a madman, a fist is the remedy.
“I’ll accept your apology. Then don’t complain anymore and follow my lead. Understood?”
“Understood…”
“Good!”
I’ve regained control.
Now, there’s no obstacle in our way.
“I’ll say it again. This is the goblins’ territory. And goblins have a habit of patrolling their area. If we lie in ambush here, they will show up.”
There was no dissent.
We began to lay in ambush.
“Kim Geunhyeop. How long do we have to wait?”
“About an hour.”
“You seem to know quite a bit about demons.”
Oh Geunshik and Do Samcheol said that to me. Their voice was filled with respect, more than yesterday, now that they had just witnessed me school Jang Yeomin.
“Well, you learn as you go. Now, be quiet. Let’s wait for them to show up. Two should come out, kill all but one of them. We’ll injure the survivor and let it go, and it will guide us.”
“Ohhh.”
As I revealed some of the knowledge I learned from Mr. Song, everyone marveled. Even Jang Yeomin’s ears perked up at the front.
So, we waited.
How long has it been?
“Keruk keruk.”
“Keruk.”
Over there, goblins began to approach.
Two of them.
“…!”
Just as Mr. Song said!
Mr. Song’s information proved true…! Now I can’t help but worship Mr. Song again. Mr. Song, how can you be such a remarkable man? I can’t stop worshipping you.
I continued to silently worship him in my heart while waiting for the opportunity.
—Thud.
When the goblins had approached close to Jang Yeomin.
“Now! Charge!”
I gave the command.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Ahhh!”
“Keruk?!”
As four of us suddenly jumped out, the two goblins froze in shock as if they were having seizures. One goblin’s head got knocked off by Oh Geunshik’s sword.
—Slam!
“Kehk!”
In an instant, one goblin was done for.
“Die!”
I threw myself at the other goblin holding a stone axe, tackling it. This wasn’t a soccer tackle, it was more like a grappling tackle.
“Keruk?!”
The goblin I caught toppled over, and I used my weight to pin it down and started beating it relentlessly.
“Die! Die, you bastard!”
“Keheeek!”
—Thud!
—Thud!
The goblin took a beating until its eyes looked like they were about to pop out. After a while, I stepped off it.
“Now I’ll let him go. Then he will guide us home. Ah, Jang Yeomin. Before sending him away, break his arms.”
“…Understood.”
“Keruk!”
The goblin struggled, but it couldn’t match the strength of an adult man in its current state. Soon, Jang Yeomin broke its arms as I instructed.
—Snap!
“Kerayyyyy!”
Its pitiful scream echoed up to the heavens.
“Keruk!”
With that, the goblin fled beyond the trees.
“Let’s pursue. It’s time to fight the enemy’s main force.”
“…”
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