Chapter 39: A Fragment of an Ancient Myth (1)

Baek Mu-ho, who followed me onto the roof, identified the identity of the attackers. A curse burst from Baek Mu-ho’s mouth first.

“We’re screwed. Looking at their attire, they’re real bandits from the north.”

“Real ones from the north?”

“The guys who, even at the age of five, naturally ride horses and shoot arrows to hit birds. Those are all horse archers.”

The number of those galloping toward us, shaking the ground, reached as many as fifty.

Considering the martial prowess of martial artists who spoke of being a match for a hundred, the number of fifty might not have felt very significant, but…

“The greatest strength of horse archers is mobility. Can you run faster than a horse?”

“If it’s only for a split second?”

If it was the power and explosive force of the Heavy Earth Divine Art, my movements could certainly become faster than a horse for an instant.

“Right, then if you run in desperately and fight, you might take down two or three of them.”

“Ah… Dammit!”

Just as Baek Mu-ho said, I would probably be able to take down two or three. If they let down their guard due to my young appearance when I charged, I might be able to take down a few more, but even so, the limit for the two of us would be around ten.

If they realized I was strong, all they had to do was utilize their mobility to keep their distance and shoot arrows.

What if I chased after them to catch them?

While chasing them, I would end up as a living target.

“Especially those guys, they are the worst to fight when you are protecting something.”

In a situation where the initiative of the attack was taken away like that, what if one could not leave a certain area to protect something?

“This is too one-sided.”

The more I thought about it, the more hopeless it became.

“How does the escort agency deal with those guys?”

“Father steps in. Really, in earnest. Then it’s usually resolved.”

“Then go quickly and call Uncle Baek.”

As a hint of annoyance entered my voice, Baek Mu-ho also let out a sigh.

“Ordinary escort agencies prepare a sufficient number of shields and arrows in preparation for clashing with guys like that. After all, the scary thing about horse archers is that they pour down one-sided ranged attacks by utilizing their swift mobility. Besides, arrows aren’t infinite, and if we have our own means to counterattack, they will also have to think twice.”

In the end, it meant that rather than fighting to defeat them, it would end if we just endured and held out.

“What about the ranged attacks we can perform?”

“If we rummage through places like kitchens in every house, there might be pots or kitchen knives; should we try throwing those?”

Regrettably, it was too weak.

Then, it seemed we had to go with the strategy of holding out.

“Where is the first place they will target when they attack?”

“Probably a place like the storehouse?”

“As expected, right?”

Yes, a place like this. The very place whose roof we were stepping on right now.

Even looking from afar, it looked like there was something inside.

Although it did not seem to be a place with valuables like precious metals, there was bound to be something in a storehouse like this. They would not just pass it by.

Particularly in the case of bandits, since it was difficult to obtain food through trade, securing food when raiding such places was a basic necessity.

This meant that even if we disguised ourselves as if we were basing ourselves elsewhere to avoid revealing our intention to protect this place, those bastards would not be fooled.

In the end, it meant we had to fight while defending this place.

“Makes me want to curse.”

If it was just a matter of preserving the bodies of the two of us, me and Baek Mu-ho, there seemed to be a way somehow.

But what if they got annoyed by us blocking all of their attacks and shot fire arrows at the storehouse we were defending just to screw with us?

Of course, fire arrows were harder to maintain than regular arrows. At most, they might only possess one or two per person.

However, fifty of those would turn a storehouse like this into a fireball in an instant.

Then, the people inside would all die.

If I jumped into the storehouse before the flames spread, I might be able to save a few people.

If only I could survive even after being shot by enough arrows to become a beehive while saving people.

The more I thought about ending the situation without any sacrifice or damage, the more hopeless it became.

Only options that accompanied someone’s sacrifice kept coming to mind.

‘No.’

I had said it.

That everything would be fine.

I did not want to make those words in vain.

To maintain my stubbornness, what did I have to do?

Before I knew it, strength entered my fists. As they clenched tightly, my twitching tendons touched the bracelet worn on my wrist.

The artifact of the immortals, said to have remained on this land even during Master Bodhidharma’s era.

“There is… one way, isn’t there?”

This relic had proven it before.

That it could allow me to wield, if only for a moment, a power that could be considered the strongest within the scope of my knowledge.

Since I had done it once, there was no reason I could not do it twice.

“Although the fact that I have to risk my life probably won’t change.”

“Risk what?”

Hearing my muttered words, Baek Mu-ho asked with a frown.

“There is something like that.”

Now was not the situation to worry about Baek Mu-ho.

Nor could I explain it in detail.

Master Heavenly Demon had said it. It was a figurative expression, but the meaning was clear.

That if I stepped into that realm again without preparation, I would die.

“It only needs to be for a very brief moment.”

The masters’ words were always right.

If so, it also meant that if I was prepared, things would work out somehow.

‘Clear Brightness Mind Method. And this relic.’

This time, I would end it at a point of not going too deep.

“I will handle it somehow, so I leave the rear to you.”

“Hey!”

Sensing that something was unusual, Baek Mu-ho tried to grab me, but I was faster.

My body, leaping forward, bounded far into the distance.

A strange sensation brushed between my legs. The odd tickle made me laugh, strangely enough.

Even though a desperate danger was pressing right before my eyes, my head actually grew clearer.

That was why I laughed even more.

If someone had asked if I could risk my life for a complete stranger, how would I have answered?

I would have shaken my head.

Yet, reality was like this.

As they said one only knew when faced with it, it seemed I was a guy with hotter blood than I thought.

If the masters had been watching, what would they have said about this situation?

Would they have praised me, saying I did well?

Would they have scolded me, saying I was reckless?

‘I will know when I hear it later.’

Either way, it seemed it would make for a fun story.

As I advanced while letting out a trace of a smile, the band of bandits raising a cloud of dust closed the distance.

Perhaps because I had to lift my head quite high to meet their eyes, it felt as though giants were charging while roaring.

There was more pressure than I had expected.

From within that pressure, sharp things were shot toward me.

Swoosh!

Arrows flew in, cutting through the wind.

I had heard through the grapevine that mounted archery carried the momentum of a galloping horse, making it faster and fiercer, and it was certainly as said.

However, compared to the attacks of martial artists that extended like lightning from unseen places, it fell slightly short.

I could see it and feel it.

My mind and senses, heightened to the limit by the Clear Brightness Mind Method, accurately read the trajectories of the incoming arrows without difficulty.

However, despite seeing and feeling them, I did not perfectly dodge or deflect the arrows.

Thwack!

I deliberately acted clumsy.

‘Urgh! It hurts like hell!’

The sensation of arrowheads tearing through my clothes and ripping my flesh as they grazed my body was not welcome. I had prepared myself for it, but it hurt beyond imagination.

But I had to endure it.

‘Because there is only one opportunity.’

They had to view me as a greenhorn they could trample over at will.

Only then would they approach without hesitation.

I had to draw them into the range where I could project my power.

Only then could I wipe them out in one fell swoop.

“Hahahahaha!”

The bastards, laughing out loud, aimed their arrows once again.

True to their nature as northerners, the speed at which they nocked another arrow was a work of art.

In the span of a single breath, arrows were placed onto the tautly drawn bowstrings once more.

‘Why are they aiming again!’

Did I have to be hit again?

Since it was close-range shooting, couldn’t I dodge it?

Whizz!

Just as a weak thought crossed my mind, the sound of arrows flying in immediately clawed at my ears chillingly.

‘One more time!’

I couldn’t miss the chance.

I had to end it with a single blow no matter what.

It was for that purpose.

Thwack!

“It doesn’t… hurt!”

Sharp arrowheads cut through my flesh. This felt different from being cut by a blade. It felt like a fist-sized insect was biting and tearing. It meant it felt like my flesh was being ripped away.

I could feel the blood flowing from my torn flesh soaking my clothes.

Not hurt? It hurt like hell!

“Come…! Come! Come on!!”

The bandits, who had charged while shooting arrows twice in a row, now rushed straight at me.

Holding the reins with one hand and drawing a crescent saber with the other, their appearance as they swung it in circles in the air was exceedingly fierce.

As the shouts they let out, drunk on momentum and swept up in excitement, drew closer, a bloom of laughter blossomed on my face.

“Yeah, even if you don’t say it, I’m coming!!”

They probably did not mean it that way, but I welcomed those words.

“You came at just the right time.”

Because it was also the moment when there was no longer any need to hold back.

I awakened the teachings of Master Heavenly Demon that I had suppressed once more.

The demonic nature, which had been so suppressed by the Clear Brightness Mind Method that its presence was faint enough to be inaudible, raised its voice.

Kill.

‘Gladly.’

It was time to return what I received.

A being that once looked down upon the heavens and ruled over the earth.

Tribulation of the Heavenly Demon!

A fragment of an ancient myth was cast upon my body.

***

Sal-hi, whose name meant wind in the northern tongue, was from a shamanic bloodline rare even in the north.

Although he possessed an innate spiritual gift, his learning was shallow, and after failing at prophecies a few times, he was exiled from his tribe, only for this band to take him in, leading him to do this kind of work.

Sal-hi was able to show several unexpected performances in this band.

Since he possessed an innate spiritual gift and his senses were outstanding, he could divine simple fortunes and misfortunes.

Such a Sal-hi had not been pleased with accepting this job.

This was because his feeling was not very good.

However, since the conditions set by the person who made this request were tempting enough to be greedy for, he had said nothing when the leader of the band accepted the job.

And he had not regretted that decision, either.

Until this very moment.

‘This is?!’

The moment a sensation that transformed the air in an instant overcame him, Sal-hi read an existence that had changed the world with his innate spiritual gift.

A being whose head was open and connected to the heavens!

‘He… he is not human!’

Sal-hi’s eyes filled with terror.

Frightened out of his wits, he even fell off his horse.

As a native of the north who lived on horseback for his entire life, he showed a disgraceful sight that made one doubt his origin, but Sal-hi could not even perceive the pain of the moment he fell.

“Run away! Run away!! Run away!!!”

His mouth, unleashed from his paralyzed reason, screamed of its own accord.

But it was too late.

Something transcending perception was sweeping over them.

“H-Hieeeek!”

The moment the companion at the very front was swallowed by it.

Crack!

A scene at the peak of unreality unfolded before his eyes.