As the great Tolstoy spun another tale related to land, Jade Flower Sword brought her snack basket and joyfully shared mooncakes with me.
“Can it really be this delicious…?!”
The taste of the Ming Dynasty mooncake I was having for the first time was to die for. Filled with sweet red bean paste, it felt overwhelmingly stimulating since I had just sworn off all sugar as soon as I got here.
“Such delicious food exists? Is this from the celestial realm?”
“It’s a must-have for fairies. But where on earth did Geunhyeop hear such stories? They’re all excellent tales.”
Of course, they were excellent—written by literary giants.
“Ehe, I just remembered what the storytellers said.”
“Storytellers tell such things?”
“There are many who tell good stories. Wow, but this!”
The mooncake’s delightful impact just wouldn’t end.
“It’s really too delicious. An unimaginable heavenly taste… no, I can’t even breathe!”
To be honest, I hadn’t eaten red bean bread back on Earth—because it was never that tasty. I preferred korokke or salad bread instead.
But this mooncake, after years, completely drove me crazy. Sweet bread could taste this good!
I should earn more money from now on and buy all the mooncakes I want. I’ll even post them on Martial Arts Instagram.
“I’ll give you one more, so calm down.”
“Huah!”
Jade Flower Sword handed me another mooncake!
What’s this…?!
How could such a kind-hearted woman exist? With generosity like this, she’s practically perfect enough to be called Auntie!
“Thank you!”
“Always thank you. I had quite a lovely time. Now, I must take my leave.”
“Goodbye, fairy!”
I immediately bowed in gratitude, making Jade Flower Sword smile in satisfaction.
“You know how to show proper manners. I commend you.”
“Yes!”
I watched her return to her carriage, fondling the mooncake like Gollum with his ring.
“Ugh!”
What a delightful time it was.
Not only did I spend time with a beautiful woman like Jade Flower Sword, but I also got to enjoy food from the celestial realm.
“Wait a minute!”
But isn’t there a saying that if you eat food from another world, you can never return? Like in Greek mythology, eating food from the underworld means you can never come back.
No way!
If I become aware of this delightful mooncake, there’s no way I could eat military rations anymore! I wouldn’t be able to eat the snack I just had with Jaemi Son ever again!
That’s when I fell into confusion.
“You.”
“Huh?”
A martial artist from the clan approached me.
He had a really tough-looking face.
“What do you want?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“What? About what?”
“It’s merely a fleeting interest in a wanderer. So don’t entertain any strange thoughts.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“This isn’t a warning; it’s a warning. There won’t be a next chance.”
Saying that, the martial artist swiftly turned and stomped away.
“…”
What the fuck?
I’ll remember that guy’s face.
Just you wait until I become a master.
I wonder if they got jealous because I was talking to their master, huh? They’re holding back now because I’m weak, but you’ve already made it onto my Death Note.
“Hey, Jaemi Son.”
Returning to Jaemi Son, I grumbled.
“Get lost… jealous guy.”
“Hey! Are you planning to kick out the guy who recognized the true worth of your weapon?”
“I don’t know… about that.”
“Hehe, you crazy bastard. Hey, let’s eat together.”
“That’s…!”
While pretending to split the mooncake exactly in half, I skillfully broke off about thirty percent and handed it to Jaemi Son. His eyes widened as he devoured the mooncake like a starving dog.
“Gag, gag! Can it be this delicious?!”
“It’s unbelievably delicious.”
I finished off the remaining mooncakes myself.
The flavor still resonating in my mouth was unbearable. If only I had some milk—what a shame.
“Thanks, you lad… I’ll spend more time with you.”
“Shut it.”
“Anyway… it seems that martial artist from the clan just warned you.”
“She said not to hang out with Jade Flower Sword.”
“Being from the clan, it’s only natural they’d be filled with jealousy… but that’s not all. Look over there. Even the wanderers are shooting envy-filled glares at you.”
“What?!”
I quickly scanned the area.
“…”
“…”
A few wanderers glanced at me and then quickly looked away.
“Are you serious?”
Really?
Just because I talked with Jade Flower Sword, they’re acting like this? Are these guys out of their minds? How childish can they be?
“It’s to be expected… Jade Flower Sword is Martial Arts History, the flower of this continent. For a wandering nobody to have a jovial conversation with her… it’s no surprise that some would harbor jealousy and grudges.”
“That’s nonsense! You mean these guys would hold a grudge over such a childish reason?”
“There’s nobody normal among martial artists… Except me.”
“Exclude me too.”
I realized many martial artists had learned that there are no decent ones through experience.
Still, it’s unbelievable. Just because I hung out with a girl, I’m gathering grudges? They really seem crazy.
“But there’s no way they would dare come after me or anything…”
“Hehe… Get prepared in your mind.”
Jaemi Son just smiled eerily, as usual.
I stayed alert a little longer.
*
We reached our destination.
“Huh.”
“Eh…!”
“Thi-this ominous energy!”
Even though I couldn’t see any dungeons, I could sense it—it was clear even the third-rate wanderers could feel the ominous energy on their skin and were starting to tremble.
I was shivering too, sticking close to Jaemi Son, who was also shaking like crazy.
“Kick… This is exciting. It’s time for my ideal self to shine.”
“No matter what kind of demon appears, this Kim Geunhyeop will slaughter them all!”
I tried to sound brave, but with every move, the foreboding energy felt stronger.
“No way! I can’t do this!”
At that moment, a wanderer yelled.
As I pondered what nonsensical thing he meant to say…
“Shut up!”
The martial artist from the clan flew in with a kick.
“Ugh!”
The wanderer rolled on the ground, clutching his injured arm. The martial artist shouted at him.
“Everyone, remember the contract! If you run away from here, you’ll have to pay a penalty! Do you still want to run?!”
That was true. If we fled now, we’d have to pay a penalty. Plus, fleeing in battle would mean strict punishment in any army, even for mercenaries.
Once you’re deployed on the battlefield, no matter how much of a mercenary you are, you can’t just say, “I’m not getting paid, I’m leaving.” The world doesn’t work that way.
“Enough.”
Jade Flower Sword spoke as she stepped off the carriage.
“We’ve arrived at the dungeon as planned. Now, there’s only one thing left to do: exorcise the demons and eliminate the dungeon. We can’t expend any more effort elsewhere.”
Her voice echoed throughout the now-quiet space.
“I suppose this is the time.”
The moment Jade Flower Sword drew her sword, a bluish sword energy coated the blade.
That must be the sword energy. They say only top-tier masters can wield refined sword energy, and I was seeing it for the first time. It was indeed beautiful, just as much as her looks and heart.
—Swish!
The sword sliced through the air.
—Swish!
And thus, the entrance to the dungeon revealed itself!
Like something hidden within a barrier was finally uncovered!
“Well, what?!”
“Huah!”
“Is that the dungeon?!”
“That’s the mouth of hell!”
A door that looked like the gaping maw of hell.
Both the wanderers and I stared wide-eyed at the entrance in shock. There’s no way this is martial arts! No way a hellish gate would exist in martial arts stories!
—Swoosh!
Eerie energies poured out from the great door. Strangely, it felt a little refreshing—as if standing in front of a big vent.
“Now, I will enter.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
With Jade Flower Sword’s command, the clan’s warriors answered vigorously, and the entry into the dungeon began, with Jade Flower Sword and the warriors leading the way.
“Wanderers, follow me!”
The squad leader commanded us.
“Hurry!”
The wanderers hesitated at first, but under his scolding, they became subdued and moved without a word. I too moved in, squeezed between Jaemi Son and the others as we entered the dungeon.
*
As soon as we entered, the scenery changed completely.
As if we had come to another world.
“Huah…!”
“This can’t be!”
“No way!”
A world made of hellish red rocks. Flames were raging all around, and a river of blood flowed beside us.
“It’s hell! This is hell!”
“It’s hell!”
“Uwaaaah!”
The sight drove the wanderers into a panic, but the squad leader was not one to let that slide.
“Move!”
The squad leader yelled and slapped the head of the guy screaming in front.
“It’s just part of hell manifested due to the eerie energy! Get a grip! It’s nothing big!”
Nothing big, you say?
What? Seriously? The landscape changed completely to hell the moment we entered the dungeon? Are we really gonna conquer this immense space?
“Jaemi Son, is this really okay…?”
“I don’t know… Hehe.”
Jaemi Son was sweating buckets too.
Thinking about it, neither of us had entered a dungeon before.
“Hey! You guys over there! Collect those flowers!”
“Flowers, you say?”
I looked over to see a bizarre flower blooming on the red rock. Could that be the flower of hell? They want us to collect that?
“Is it poisonous?”
“No! It’s a kind of medicinal herb that grows in the dungeon! Hurry up and collect it!”
“Understood.”
If ordered, we had to comply.
Carefully, Jaemi Son and I began collecting the flowers. I didn’t forget to wrap bandages around my hands.
—Snap!
“Ow.”
As soon as I picked a flower, some blood dripped from the stem… but it’s just a plant. No need to be scared.
“Where do we store the collected plants?”
“Put them in this box! What are you all doing? Search the area! Gather everything you can!”
At those words, the wanderers started spreading out and unexpectedly began to enjoy a picnic. Collecting flowers in hell? This is an experience you can’t even buy!
So precious that I even wanted to tear the flowers apart.
Filled with that mindset, I placed the collected flowers into the big box.
“So the dungeon has all kinds of things, huh, Jaemi Son?”
“Don’t let your guard down… Demons will surely appear in the dungeon.”
“I’m not letting my guard down.”
—Aaaaaaah!
At that moment, I heard a scream.
“Huah!”
Immediately, everyone’s attention turned toward that direction.
—Clatter.
Something was approaching from over there.
What it was, I soon learned.
—Clack.
“Golemxghost!!”
“A skeleton appeared!”
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