NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25
So I went to a nearby tavern with Jaemi Son to drink. As soon as we arrived, I ordered a bottle of liquor and some dumplings, but waiting for the menu felt too hard, so I chugged some booze first.
“Kha!”
“Hoo!”
After finishing work and downing drinks, I felt great. My pockets were also bulging, so if I felt short later, I’d just order more food and drink.
“You’re… a pretty good guy.”
Jaemi Son said after taking a swig of liquor.
“You recognized the true value of my weird weapon, and your skills are decent too.”
“Heh, that’s the same for you, Jaemi Son.”
Compared to others, he had a decent personality, and when we caught a goblin, his skills were pretty impressive. He had excellent finesse when stabbing goblins to death.
Because, let’s face it, oddball weapon users usually have good skills. Jaemi Son seemed like a solid killer.
“I thought you were just some weirdo using strange weapons, but they turned out to be exceptional.”
“Heh… so it is. I also like the name ‘Ikjeonggyeo.’”
“Develop it well. Just talk freely from now on.”
“As you like…”
While we were talking, the dumplings arrived. I quickly picked up a well-steamed dumpling with my chopsticks and ate it. The dumplings in this place were quite tasty.
Anyway, this Jaemi Son guy seemed pretty cool to me. Building a rapport wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Even if we didn’t know each other well, once you start drinking and chatting, you become friends. Sure, back on Earth, no matter how much you bond over drinks, you’d naturally stop contacting each other the next day, but this is the Martial Arts World.
I could run into Jaemi Son anytime and work together.
“Then let me introduce myself again. I’m Kim Geunhyeop. I’m from a village near the boundary of Hanamseong and Anhwi-seong. I came to Anhwi-seong to make some quick cash, ended up doing some work, bought a sword, and became part of the martial world. How about you, Jaemi Son?”
“I’m from the wind… I have no hometown.”
What kind of nonsense is that?
“You’ve forgotten your past? Heh, must be some circumstances. Well, being the owner of such an odd weapon, you might have a story.”
As I said that, Jaemi Son smirked and ate another dumpling.
“Indeed… however, I’ve settled here to deal with pesky creatures. I think we match well, so it would be good to meet frequently for work.”
“Heh, I agree. I was just about to say that.”
“But you followed Mr. Song.”
“Oh, but Mr. Song was stronger!”
“I can concede that… nice skills. Truly a master of silent killing.”
“What? Silent killing?”
Immediately, Jaemi Son explained about Mr. Song.
He was known as a martial artist with the alias “Silent Killer,” famous in this area for quietly and stoically taking down demons.
“So a martial artist with an alias! No wonder I want to befriend him!”
How can I stop worshiping Mr. Song now…!
How bright does he think he is? GOAT!
“Working with such a martial artist broadens one’s horizons…”
“Indeed!”
I’ve certainly learned a lot working alongside Mr. Song. But trying to engage a marker in a random way with a martial artist that has a title? Yeah, that’s something to watch out for; I could get killed if I’m not careful.
“Hey, keep drinking, Jaemi Son.”
“Yeah…”
So I shared drinks with Jaemi Son, talking about various things, mostly me asking questions and him answering.
I had lots of questions about this martial world, and Jaemi Son, being a local, had a lot of knowledge. Any kind of conversation gets easy when you’re drinking.
“So Jaemi Son, what kind of demons have you slain to improve your skills?”
“Various ones… I’ve dealt with Bone Horn Demons and Corpse Demons.”
“Huh? You’ve got quite the experience!”
This guy’s résumé is impressive!
“But what are those demons?”
“Bone Horn Demons can be described as resurrected bones… Corpse Demons are dead humans reanimated by sorcery…”
“What.”
Wait, they’re undead?!
Skeletons and zombies are out there too?!
“Th-That’s surprising.”
“Heh… but they’re just lowly beings that don’t even make up the rank of the Hundred and Eight Demon Groups. To make a name as a demon slayer, you need to tackle at least that level of demon.”
“Really? But what’s this Hundred and Eight Demon Group?”
“What? You don’t know?”
As I urged him for answers, Jaemi Son said,
“Not knowing… The Hundred and Eight Demon Group refers to the lowly demons scattered across the Central Plains that are at least of the leader rank.”
“Oh! So that’s it?”
So they call the leader-level of minor demons the Hundred and Eight Demon Group.
“So does that mean goblins like them are recognized as part of the Hundred and Eight Demon Group?”
“Yeah…”
“Why specifically ‘hundred and eight?'”
“Because they’re all over the Central Plains…”
“So that’s why it’s ‘hundred and eight.’ Oh, what about someone stronger than that?”
“Then it’s the Central Plains’ Nightmare Killers… notorious vicious demons.”
“Central Plains’ Nightmare Killers!”
These demons are said to require at least peak martial artists to confront.
“And next comes the Underground Demon Generals.”
“Underground Demon Generals!”
Just the name sounds like a boss-level enemy!
So are the Underground Demon Generals super-elite demons or what?
“And after that are the infamous Ten Great Demon Beasts of the World…”
“T-Ten Great Demon Beasts of the World!”
Just the name alone sounds like a boss-level monster!
“How strong are they? What kind of demons are there?”
“According to rumors, there’s a nine-tailed fox… and a monkey known as the Golden Fist… among others like the pig that built a kingdom of indulgence… but I’m not sure… actually, the ones above them, the Demon Lords, are more famous.”
“Demon Lords…!”
What the heck is going on?!
This guy knows too much!
“Anyways, Jaemi Son, the Ten Great Demon Beasts must be…!”
“I hear you have to be at least a peak martial artist to deal with them… they’re terrifying demons, but since there are only ten in the whole world, that’s why the country isn’t destroyed.”
Wait a moment. As I hear this, I remember what I heard back at the military post last time. Did they say General Sang Wuchun was fighting the Demon King?
“So the Demon King is?”
“That Demon King is indeed a Demon Lord…”
“The Demon King! So the Demon King is indeed the strongest demon in the Central Plains?”
“Even combined with hell, that’s about right…”
Last I heard, General Sang Wuchun, a founding member of the Ming Dynasty and the greatest general in the world, was said to be the absolute master in the current realm. He was even called the best below Heaven.
While I was dealing with the Soseongui goblins, absolute masters were out there battling tremendous demon beasts.
“Jaemi Son! Share more about these demons!”
“I’m running low on liquor…”
“Server! Bring another bottle of liquor here!”
“Yes!”
It seems befriending Jaemi Son was indeed a brilliant choice!
* * *
After drinking with Jaemi Son to my heart’s content, we headed out.
“Ugh! I’m starting to feel tipsy!”
My head felt like it was spinning.
When was the last time I got this drunk?
Now that I’m an adult, I once got scolded thoroughly by my aunt for getting completely plastered, so I haven’t indulged like that since.
“Ah.”
Suddenly sober, really.
Thinking of my aunt’s cold face watching me with her arms crossed, sitting with her legs crossed in front of me as I caused trouble while being inebriated, all that intoxication fades away.
How long had I been like that?
That terrifying scolding first hit me right after I got home and ran into my aunt coming out from the shower.
Cold sweat…!
“Kuh kuh! I feel the same!”
Jaemi Son’s loud laughter snapped me back to reality. This guy has a sense of fun. Drinking together is enjoyable. The information about demons was definitely useful. This world has that many kinds of demons.
But…
“Ah, but I think I’m feeling woozy… that place I got hit still kinda stings.”
My arm, which got hit by the goblin, hurts a bit too much. I brushed against a stone axe, so it makes sense. I meant to go see a doctor, but I drank first.
“Heh… you should hurry up and report to the clinic that you got hit by a goblin.”
“What are you talking about?”
“And make it public with the martial artists… that you got hit by a goblin.”
“Stop talking nonsense, haha.”
Anyway, I need to rest.
“Sigh, I should probably go to the clinic and rest. Hey, Jaemi Son. Let’s work together next time. Where do you usually chill?”
“I usually hang out at Bangsam Tavern… it’s nearby.”
“Oh, really? If I think of something, I’ll visit. I’m staying at Chugok Inn.”
“Got it…”
And so, I parted ways with Jaemi Son and headed to the clinic.
* * *
In my dream, I was killing people and demons. As I did so, tears were streaming down my face. Before I knew it, the area was soaked in blood.
When I turned around in that state, I saw my aunt watching me.
I wanted to make some excuse, but I couldn’t speak.
“Hah!”
—Thump thump!
My heart felt like it would burst.
“Ugh…! What kind of dream is this?”
Is it because I drank too much for the first time in a while?
I slept terribly.
“Ugh.”
I touched my arm and realized it wasn’t hurting too much. The medicine prescribed at the clinic must have worked well.
I got right up and tidied my belongings. A shiny silver coin shyly greeted me. That sexy bastard! I’d love to lick every inch of this coin, but that’d lead to heavy metal poisoning.
Just a peck and into the pouch it goes, snugly tucked.
Now, let’s set my tasks for today.
Since it’s too late to work, I should rest. But I’m not lazy enough to just lounge around on a day off.
“Alright.”
I’ve decided.
Let’s go buy some gear!
I’m ashamed to have gotten hurt by a goblin. My pride feels shattered. If I’d had some armor or something, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt, and I could’ve actively defended myself during combat.
“After all, it’s all about the gear.”
The difference between having gear or not is massive. Even experts rely on gear. If you bought weapons, it’s a given to get armor too.
Fully prepared, I headed straight to the weapon shop.
“Greetings! I’m here to check out some goods!”
“Welcome! What can I help you find?”
“I’d like to buy a decent armor for martial artists.”
“You’ve come to the right place.”
At present, I have a shiny silver coin and about 200 coins in my pocket. With that, I should be able to buy at least some armor.
“This way.”
Following the store clerk,
“Oooh!”
I walked into a section filled with various kinds of armor. But isn’t this stuff more suited for military than martial arts?
After a quick look around, my eyes shifted to the section showcasing armors.
“Whoa.”
There are leather ones, plated ones, and chainmail reinforced ones. Even the types of armors are a treasure trove of choices.
But they all seem pricey.
“How much for this one?”
I pointed to a small plated armor.
“That will be just three silver coins.”
I nearly fainted.
What the hell.
Is this armor really 3,000 coins?
“Hmm, is there something cheaper?”
“Then you might want to pick a leather one.”
“I specifically want something I can buy with one and a half silver coins.”
“…How about this one, sir?”
The clerk pointed to a greenish leather armor.
“Can I try it on?”
“Of course.”
I quickly slipped into the leather armor. The sturdy leather wrapped around my forearm. I tightened the straps along the inside, securing it, and…
“Ooooh! I really like it!”
The armor fits so snugly!
“This is a Yopi armor made from the leather of the Pig Clan. It’s very popular among martial artists. I’ll let it go for one and a half silver coins.”
“What kind of demon is the Pig Clan?”
“You know, the big green-skinned guy.”
“Hmm…”
Sounds like an orc? Thinking of it as orc leather armor feels like gear a fantasy warrior would use in their beginner days.
“I’ll take it!”
I promptly purchased the Yopi armor!
“Hahahaha!”
Here I am, wearing a sword and now armor too! I’m truly living the martial arts life!
Who knew equipping gear could be this delightful? This is a whole different ball game compared to gearing up in games. Instead of hunting demons for rice, I should be gearing up.
In a great mood, I started checking out other products.
But then I spotted some flashy boots.
“What are those…?”
“Oh, customer, you have an eye for quality. Those are luxury boots made from the leather of the Skin Snake. They don’t get wet and are incredibly durable, making them quite handy.”
They remind me of some boots made from crocodile leather.
“And the price?”
“Five silver coins.”
“Gah!”
What kind of boots cost five silver coins for a pair?
But damn, I really want them!