Chapter 37

The march went smoothly. The heavy snow that had fallen during our last reconnaissance mission had melted away long ago, and command moved us while conserving as much of the troops’ strength as possible.

“At this rate, we’ll arrive in Jeongyang by tomorrow at the latest.”

I blinked at the oddly familiar man’s words.

“And you are?”

Judging by his clothes, he wasn’t from the Jin Family of Taiyuan. Aside from the reconnaissance squad, most of the rear guard consisted of martial artists from the newly allied small and mid-sized sects, so that made sense.

“I’m Gwak Jun of the Three Paths Sect. We met once before… We even shook hands.”

Gwak Jun of the Three Paths Sect? I almost remembered him. Almost.

It wasn’t as if I’d shaken only one or two hands trying to raise my Fame.

He was probably one of them.

“Sorry. My memory isn’t very good.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to remember, honestly. Haha.”

Gwak Jun gave me a friendly smile and went on.

“To be honest, I was disappointed at first when I found out we’d been assigned to the rear guard.”

“Why?”

“Because there’d be fewer chances to distinguish ourselves. Isn’t this the chance for an unknown grunt like me to make a name for himself?”

“Ah. Right.”

There were two possibilities in cases like this. Either he’d been through so many battles that he’d developed nerves of steel, or he simply had no fear.

I raised my Qi Sense.

Ding.

System

Lv.40 Gwak Jun

Oh. He’s got some skill.

At Level 40, he was at least First Rate. He couldn’t exactly go around bragging he was a master, but it was more than enough to feel wronged about being stuck in the rear.

“Half of the enemy troops were recruited in a hurry. They’ve dragged in every kind of deadweight, and they must have force-marched to join the main force. They won’t stand a chance against the elites of the Jin Family of Taiyuan and the Three Paths Sect.”

His words sounded plausible enough.

Except for the part about the Three Paths Sect being elite.

I nodded half-heartedly.

“I see.”

“And we have Peak masters superior to the enemy’s as well. There’s the Lesser Family Head and Great Hero Wipeng, of course, but the reputation of the Blade of Flowers has spread throughout the Central Plains, hasn’t it?”

The Blade of Flowers. It was the first time I’d heard the title, but I could guess who he meant.

The Jin Family of Taiyuan had three Peak masters. Exclude Jin Wikyung and Wipeng, and only one person was left.

The Head Elder.

Was that old man really that strong?

Gwak Jun’s next words were nothing but praise. Title after title, name after name of masters the Head Elder had cut down in his youth, decades ago, came spilling out.

“He was a hero born of the Great Faction War.”

A war hero from the past. Listening to Gwak Jun, he sounded like a chivalrous hero among chivalrous heroes—a man who loved justice and couldn’t stand to see injustice go unpunished…

Then why do I feel so uneasy every time I see him?

Maybe it was the first impression, but I disliked the Head Elder.

That peculiar air of his. The strange gaze that bored straight through people. The fact that he had formed a political faction against Jin Wikyung.

And yet after that, the Head Elder had thrown his full support behind Jin Wikyung, and the Jin Family of Taiyuan had been able to pull tight together, inside and out.

Well, when an outside enemy invades, even family feuds have to stop.

The Head Elder was currently leading the vanguard alongside Jin Wikyung. If he really was as skilled as the rumors claimed, tomorrow’s battle would be that much easier.

“Just thinking of Great Hero Blade of Flowers sweeping the battlefield tomorrow already has my heart racing.”

Gwak Jun shuddered like a man finally taking a piss after holding it for three days.

Does this bastard not know what tension is?

And where was he getting the confidence that we were going to win?

“You’re certain of victory.”

“If we lose, we’re in big trouble.”

“Excuse me?”

Not big trouble. We’d be finished.

Judging by everything the Mount Heng Sword Sect had done so far, they would lay waste not only to the Jin Family of Taiyuan but also to the small and mid-sized sects allied with us.

“What do you mean by—”

“I’m joking.”

This bastard’s a lunatic too.

As I stared at him, speechless, Gwak Jun flashed me a grin.

“We’ll win. We will.”

One sentence, packed with conviction.

When Gwak Jun left it at that and moved away, Hyuk Mujin came up and asked,

“Who was that?”

“Level 40.”

“What?”

“There’s this guy. Overflowing with confidence.”

I didn’t like him, in more ways than one.

Well, it wasn’t as though I’d have to talk to him again.

Time passed quickly. On the second night of the march, we reached Honju, and Jin Wikyung gathered the command staff for a meeting. He was holding a small slip of paper.

“A dispatch from the Lower District Sect. The enemy reinforcements crossed Mount Otae two days ago.”

“Then…”

“They’re likely to join the main force around now, or sometime tomorrow.”

What?

I couldn’t understand it. If we had attacked the main force before the reinforcements joined them, the fight would have been much easier.

He must have something in mind.

Sure enough, Jin Wikyung went on.

“The enemy reinforcements that just joined them are exhausted, and their food is running out. If we take Jeongyang’s high ground first tomorrow, the Mount Heng Sword Sect Leader will have a choice to make. Fall back, or clash.”

The next moment, Jin Wikyung’s gaze shifted to me.

“What choice do you think he’ll make?”

I was caught off guard, but the answer was already there. If he were the kind of man to fall back at this point, he would have done so long ago.

“I think he’ll clash.”

Twice our numbers, and they weren’t behind us in Peak masters either. From the enemy’s side, they would want to end this fight as fast as possible.

“Exactly.”

Jin Wikyung smiled, pleased, and traced a finger across the topographic map on the table.

“There are four routes the enemy can take into Jeongyang. But with their food situation as it is, they’ll choose the fastest one.”

His finger stopped on a place labeled Eight Spring Gorge. The Head Elder, who had been sitting quietly until then, spoke for the first time.

“Eight Spring Gorge. Jar-shaped, with a narrow, steep mouth. The mounted bandits will have to abandon their prized horses.”

“They’ll have to abandon their lives too.”

“The enemy will fight with their lives on the line as well. This much won’t be enough.”

“I’ve hidden about a hundred horn bows on the cliffs above the gorge.”

“Hoh.”

A stir ran through the tent. I stared at Jin Wikyung with my mouth open.

When the hell did he hide those?

“Right after our victory at Honju. Thanks to a resourceful ally.”

Jin Wikyung looked straight at me as he said it.

The Lower District Sect. Wolhwa.

She had been helping us constantly from places we couldn’t see. Of course, Jin Wikyung was impressive too, for drawing a picture this big.

That’s fucking cool.

A build like a human meat grinder, and a sharp mind to go with it. Suddenly I wanted to call him my big brother.

“Oh!”

“The Lesser Family Head…!”

The tent went hot under the burning gazes of those dark, burly men.

Jin Wikyung swept a heavy look over everyone assembled.

“Let’s settle this.”

No one objected. The Head Elder was the first to rise, then gave Jin Wikyung a fist-in-palm salute.

“By your command.”

That was the end of the meeting. As I left the tent, a familiar voice bored into my ear.

—Don’t forget what I told you yesterday.

I stiffened for a moment. Then I gave a small nod.

And at dawn that day, three hundred martial artists from the Jin Family of Taiyuan and one hundred fifty reinforcements from the small and mid-sized sects—four hundred fifty in all—set out for the gorge.

Still, this was the last time, and I hadn’t even said a proper goodbye.

I climbed a hill and stared endlessly at the winding line of torches.

The next morning, Hyuk Mujin flinched when he saw me and stepped back.

“You startled me. What’s going on?”

“What?”

“What do you mean, what? You look like a living corpse. Didn’t you sleep?”

“Nah. I slept a little.”

That was a lie. I hadn’t slept a wink. I had planted myself on a rock and stared at the System Window all night.

Counting down to the moment that had finally come right up to my nose.

System

Achieve Fame 500 (497/500)

I never thought the number 1 could feel this precious.

In a voice that had aged all of a sudden, I muttered,

“I’m going, I’m going, going home now…”

“Now you’re even talking to yourself. Have you lost your mind?”

Hyuk Mujin clicked his tongue, then his eyes went round.

“What’s that? I’ve never seen those before.”

“This?”

I pointed in turn at the old book and the small case sitting on the rock.

“One’s a martial arts manual. The other’s an elixir.”

“Whoa. Really?”

I explained in a drained voice to the guy whose eyes were halfway out of his head.

“The manual’s a Supreme Peak martial art, and if you absorb the elixir properly, it’ll give you thirty years of internal energy.”

“What?”

“But they say if you take the elixir wrong, you’ll burn to death. You want it?”

“Uh, right…”

Judging by that unimpressed face and the snout sticking out a good five feet, he didn’t believe a damn word I was saying.

Well, if someone suddenly came at me with a Supreme Peak martial art and a thirty-year Fireball elixir, I’d figure it was a joke too.

“You really won’t eat it? It’s good stuff.”

“Oh, I’m fine. Learn plenty of that Supreme Peak martial art, and be sure to chew your elixir thoroughly.”

“I don’t need this kind of thing anymore.”

“Of course. You’re the Sleeping Dragon.”

Normally I would have smacked him in the back of the head. Right now I didn’t feel much of anything.

Is this how a short-timer sergeant feels?¹

At the same time, I felt strange. Was it the aftereffect of everything I’d been through? It had only been a little over a month, but it felt hazy and distant, as if I’d been here a year.

I started tracing back through old memories.

I first opened my eyes at Honghwaru.

That was where I met Wolhwa for the first time and realized I was trapped in this game. Even now, thinking about that moment gave me goose bumps.

I really thought I was going to lose my mind.

It had taken me three days just to decide to go to the Jin Family of Taiyuan. And the guy I met there was this one—Hyuk Mujin.

Smack!

“Argh! Why did you hit me?”

“Hmm. Just thought of the old days.”

“What old days?”

“Nope. Not telling. Get back already.”

“What are you, some back-alley thug? Just because your martial arts are a bit strong, you think you can oppress people like this?”

As Hyuk Mujin threw a fit, everyone’s eyes turned toward us. Even the reconnaissance-squad members who had been watching like it was none of their business jumped in.

“What are you two talking about?”

“Dunno. The deputy squad leader must have done something wrong.”

“Hey, I didn’t do anything!”

“This is Murim. Being weak is a crime.”

“But should we even be doing this?”

At someone’s words, silence fell for a moment.

“True. Waiting here is our mission, but…”

The tension and fear they had been suppressing with forced smiles hung in the air. Even I, who would soon be returning to the real world, felt uneasy with Jin Wikyung’s face flickering through my mind. How much worse must it be for these guys?

There was only one thing I could say.

“I trust my big brother.”

Big brother.

This time, I put my heart into the word.

Jin Wikyung had been the greatest source of strength I’d had in this place. Maybe I simply wanted to shake off that unease, even if only like this.

The faces that had stiffened for a moment relaxed.

“We feel the same.”

Hyuk Mujin slipped in as well.

“I trust the squad leader more.”

“Wow. Deputy squad leader, that side-switching of yours is really something.”

“You little bastards. Is there anyone here who doesn’t owe the squad leader their life?”

“Well, when you put it that way, what can we say?”

“I trust the squad leader too. Honestly, I knew all along, even when you were playing the thug. I thought, Ah, that man is the Sleeping Dragon. I could tell right away.”

I felt strange.

They say even dried squid gives water if you squeeze it. Who knew I’d feel something like this toward NPCs in a game?

Well, honestly… it doesn’t feel bad.

Suddenly I wondered about Jin Wikyung, somewhere beyond those mountains. Had the battle started? If so, which side was winning?

And I wasn’t the only one thinking that.

“By now, the battle must have started.”

It was Gwak Jun of the Three Paths Sect. Unlike before, he was wearing black martial robes.

Was that what this guy originally wore?

At my look, Gwak Jun shrugged.

“I like this sort of thing. Easy to move in, and even if a little blood splatters, it doesn’t show. You fellows feel the same, right?”

That last question wasn’t aimed at us. It was for the martial artists of the Three Paths Sect under his command. Every last one of them had changed into black, and they nodded without a word.

“Apparently so.”

Gwak Jun smiled, satisfied, then turned to me.

“Well, shall we set out too?”

What the fuck is this bastard talking about right now?