novelraw Chapter 78 : Chapter 78
Chapter 78 : Chapter 78
Chapter 78 Life-and-Death Tournament (1)
“Ah…… this wasn't what I intended.”
Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong ruffled her hair messily as we walked out of the Alliance Leader's Palace.
“Still, we found a way to obtain the Sado Alliance’s support.”
“That was just the Alliance Leader testing you. In any case, if the Blood Cult starts moving, the Sado Alliance will have no choice but to stop them.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, I wore a smile.
“I know. But in that case, it would only be a passive response to protect the Sado Alliance. Since the Alliance Leader has sworn on her name, if I do well enough, wouldn't we be able to receive much greater help?”
“You're right. That's true, but……. It’s too dangerous. As you must have felt, the Sado Alliance is full of people who will do anything to achieve their goals.”
I looked back at Ice Rakshasa with a smile.
“No matter what tricks they use, I don't think my sword will fail to reach them.”
When I replied with a confident voice, Ice Rakshasa frowned as if worried.
“I know well. I know, but I don't want Young Master Jaun to take on even a slight risk.”
Ice Rakshasa, who had been grumbling and kicking the ground a few times, continued.
“Anyway, the Alliance Leader is truly too much. Couldn't she just help without any conditions?”
Approaching Ice Rakshasa, I quietly patted her shoulder.
“Actually, this is for the better. If I resolve this matter well, it becomes a powerful weapon that can hold the Sado Alliance Leader in place.”
Ice Rakshasa stared at me blankly at my words, then let out a deep sigh.
“Well. Since it’s already happened…… it can't be helped. In exchange, Young Master Jaun, you must give up immediately if you feel it’s dangerous.”
“I don't know if that will happen, but alright. If I feel it’s truly dangerous, I won't overdo it.”
Looking at me with distrustful eyes, Ice Rakshasa grabbed my wrist.
“Let’s prepare a weapon first. That dagger you have, it will likely be disadvantageous because it’s short. The warriors of the Sado Alliance use various weapons, and among those weapons, there are many that can attack from quite a distance.”
I fiddled with the dagger in my bosom, Red Blood, for a moment.
“I was already feeling the need to buy a sword anyway. Where can I buy one?”
“I’ll buy it for you, so follow me. I know a good place.”
“It’s fine, Miss. You know I have money to receive from the Moyong Merchant Group, right? I’ll take care of the sword's price myself, so you don't have to worry.”
At my words, Ice Rakshasa licked her lips and nodded.
“Alright. Then let’s go withdraw the money first.”
****
“May I see your storage token?”
A person from the Ten Thousand Gold Bank asked while scanning me from top to bottom.
I took the jade plaque Eun-wol had given me from my bosom and handed it to the employee.
The employee, who looked at the jade plaque here and there, widened his eyes and straightened his posture.
“P-Please wait a moment. I must go through one more verification procedure.”
The employee, who ran off hurriedly somewhere, handed the jade plaque to a middle-aged man sitting in the corner.
The middle-aged man, who examined the jade plaque, jumped up from his seat and rushed toward me.
“I did not recognize an honored guest. Please, come this way.”
At the suddenly changed atmosphere, I looked back at Ice Rakshasa as if I didn't know why.
But Ice Rakshasa also seemed unable to understand the situation.
The middle-aged man, who guided me and Ice Rakshasa to one side, took out a silk cloth from a drawer and carefully examined something.
“The current amount stored under the Young Master's name is eight gold taels. Ah, this is as of last month, and the amount for this month is scheduled to be updated again.”
Hearing those words, Ice Rakshasa’s mouth fell wide open.
“Wait a moment. Eight gold taels?”
“That is correct, Miss.”
Ice Rakshasa shook her head at the middle-aged man's reply as he bowed.
“With that much money, you could buy a small manor. That girl Eun-wol……. It seems she pulled some strings.”
The monthly living expenses of an ordinary civilian family were about two silver taels.
Since one gold tael carried the same value as a hundred silver taels, the money I possessed was at a level where a civilian family could live and eat comfortably for thirty years.
“To think you earned this much money in such a short period. There’s a reason why the Moyong Family stakes their lives on the merchant group like that.”
Looking blankly at Ice Rakshasa, whose eyes looked somewhat hollow, I asked.
“How much should I take to buy a proper sword?”
“Even if you only bring fifty silver taels, you'll be able to buy the best sword in Ak-yang. Just take that much out.”
Nodding my head, I spoke to the employee.
“I’ll withdraw just fifty silver taels.”
“I will prepare it immediately. Please wait a moment.”
As soon as the middle-aged man disappeared like the wind, the employees standing nearby approached me and Ice Rakshasa with fragrant tea.
****
After purchasing a sword whose blade was made of dark steel from the blacksmith’s shop Ice Rakshasa guided me to, I sat in the lodging and quietly closed my eyes.
Ban Cheol-hwi, who had thrown a tantrum for a long time saying he must visit a bookstore since he was in Ak-yang, had gone out to the streets with Ice Rakshasa.
I enjoyed my solitary time and quietly fell into thought.
‘The Life-and-Death Tournament begins in five days.’
Stroking the sword placed on my knees, I flowed my Demonic Energy into it.
─ Hummm
As the sword made of dark steel vibrated finely, I gathered my energy again as if satisfied.
‘With a sword of this level, it will be able to withstand my energy up to a certain point.’
After the clash with Zen Master Manhae of Shaolin, it had been a long time since I faced those who did not use Demonic Energy.
‘Since I plan to register as a member of the Murim Alliance Demon Study Hall, it shouldn't be a big problem even if I use Demonic Energy.’
I thrust the sword on my knees forward in an instant.
─ Thud
The energy that shot out from my sword slightly shook the scroll hanging on the wall before disappearing.
Quietly circulating the energy in my body, I slowly composed my breathing.
‘To obtain proper support from the Sado Alliance, I shouldn't do it half-heartedly.’
I cracked my neck from side to side.
‘It will be difficult to use the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, but then again, it will be hard to satisfy the Alliance Leader's expectations if I only use basic martial arts…… I should bring out a few other martial arts of the Divine Cult this time.’
I looked at the sunset pouring in through the window.
****
“The Life-and-Death Tournament begins tomorrow?”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who had his ears stuffed with cloth and his eyes buried in a book, raised his head.
“Yes. Tomorrow.”
At my words, Ban Cheol-hwi nodded.
“Well, if possible, couldn't you just get eliminated quickly and return to the Murim Alliance? I don't have the confidence to spend a long time in this place called Ak-yang.”
─ Crash, bang!
At the noise that was heard as if to prove his point as soon as he finished speaking, Ban Cheol-hwi trembled as if he were fed up.
“Why is it that every single inn in Ak-yang is noisy and never-ending with incidents! This is already the third inn we've moved to……!”
─ Creak
“You'll get used to this as well as time passes.”
Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong spoke as she opened the door and entered the room.
In Ice Rakshasa’s hands were steaming dumplings.
“Since Young Master Ban won't come out of the room because he's looking at books, I'm even doing this kind of thing.”
Ice Rakshasa, who set the dumplings down with a thud, glared at Ban Cheol-hwi.
“Just what do you mean by noisy? Coming to Ak-yang after a long time, it feels like people are actually living, and I like it.”
Looking up at Ice Rakshasa with narrowed eyes, Ban Cheol-hwi shook his head and turned back to his book.
I picked up a dumpling.
“I just need to register today, right?”
At my question, Ice Rakshasa replied with a beaming smile.
“Yes. Since the Alliance Leader asked to delay registration until the last day, you can register now.”
Ice Rakshasa sat down heavily beside me.
“Give up immediately if it’s dangerous. You remember, right?”
“Don't worry. There won't be any reason for me to be in danger.”
I smiled brightly and put a dumpling in my mouth.
Ice Rakshasa let out a smirk, took a dumpling, and approached Ban Cheol-hwi to shove it into his mouth.
“Ugh-ugh.”
Watching Ban Cheol-hwi jump up in horror, Ice Rakshasa cackled and brought a dumpling to her own mouth as well.
Having finished a noisy breakfast while bickering like that, the group tidied up their spots after taking a brief rest.
Ice Rakshasa brushed off her hands and stood up.
“Now, let's go. The last day of registration is always crowded. I think it would be better to leave now if we don't want to wait too long. Young Master Ban, are you going to stay here?”
At those words, Ban Cheol-hwi shook his head and closed his book with a snap.
“Even if I stay here, the book won't enter my eyes. It’s better to get some fresh air.”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who picked up the last dumpling in front of him and shoved it into his mouth, stood up.
****
After walking for a long time and arriving at the registration desk located in the Outer Court, the group took their places at the back of a long line.
“Ah, everyone crowded here on the last day again.”
Looking at the people stretched endlessly ahead, Ice Rakshasa, who had covered her entire body with a large robe and a veil, let out a sigh.
“At this rate, I think we'll have to wait for at least four hours.”
“I heard the Life-and-Death Tournament is extremely dangerous, so why are there so many people registering?”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who stuck his head out to check the front, asked with wide eyes.
“Because entering the Alliance Leader's Palace is often the final goal for the Sado Alliance warriors. Even if they don't make it into the palace, it's also a good opportunity to verify their own standing.”
Looking around here and there, I asked Ice Rakshasa.
“How many people are participating?”
“Well. it varies each time, but for the preliminaries, at least several hundred people will participate. Only the top fifty among them can challenge the warriors belonging to the Alliance Leader's Palace.”
‘Fifty people.’
I didn't know how much the Sado Alliance Leader was expecting, but it seemed I had to at least enter the top fifty to properly request support.
While checking the level of the warriors around me, I suddenly whipped my head back.
“Get out of the way if you don't want to die!”
With a loud shout, a group of warriors was pushing through the main road.
The warriors standing behind me had already moved aside before I knew it.
I turned to Ice Rakshasa. She watched them with curious eyes, let out a smirk, and took a step back.
“Move aside. There's no need to cause a disturbance unnecessarily.”
Following Ice Rakshasa, I moved back with Ban Cheol-hwi and observed the warriors brushing past.
A young man with a giant build and chains wrapped around his entire body.
A girl wearing red clothes and carrying a red sword.
A lanky young man with a large scythe and a small-statured boy who had covered the area around his mouth with a black bandana.
Finally, even a woman who was dragging a long pole.
Giant men surrounded the five warriors in the middle while shouting and clearing the way.
“Are they also participants?”
Ban Cheol-hwi frowned and looked at them.
“They are the Five Evils of the Sado Alliance. They are five rising stars called the future of the Sado Alliance. To participate in the Life-and-Death Tournament, one must be over twenty, but they are the ones recognized as exceptions to that rule.”
“Twenty years old?”
“Because it’s a tournament conducted with lives on the line, it’s a measure to prevent participants who are too young from being sacrificed pointlessly.”
At the following explanation, I nodded.
“However, even if they are young, if they have skill counted among the top five of the rising stars, they gain the right to participate in the Life-and-Death Tournament specially. You can think of it as being similar to how Young Master Jaun received special permission from the Alliance Leader. Those who obtained that privilege are them, the Five Evils.”
Hearing Ice Rakshasa’s explanation, I looked closely at the five rising stars, the future of the Sado Alliance, with curious eyes.
“The Five Evils. In any case, doesn't that mean they are ultimately participants just like everyone else? Then what is the reason they are pushing through without knowing shame, even while seeing people lined up like this?”
“Usually, geniuses show their potential from a young age. Ultimately, more than half of those five will secure a spot in the Alliance Leader's Palace. Since such things are common, there is a tacit custom of yielding a step to the Five Evils. Because they are hidden dragons whose heights are unknown, they are respected early on.”
“Tsk, tsk. The stronger one is, the stricter they should be with rules. This is why Ak-yang becomes a lawless world.”
Ban Cheol-hwi, whose mood had been unpleasant for the past few days, grumbled, picking an unnecessary fight.
“They’ll hear you. Be quiet.”
Ice Rakshasa raised her finger and placed it in front of Ban Cheol-hwi’s mouth.
In the meantime, the Five Evils and the warriors escorting them arrived at the registration desk without any interference.
Seeing that, Ban Cheol-hwi, who licked his lips with a bitter taste, looked around and then looked up at the sky.