A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 20



Only Noblemtl

Episode 20. The bitter cold is coming

* * *

I left the village and walked east.

In fact, there was no need to think too complicatedly since all I had to do was follow the road that stretched straight east.

Once I got somewhat closer to the center, I would have to look at the map a bit, but since I was currently so far west, there was no need to look it up.

As I walked along the street, I naturally built up my internal energy.

I used the internal energy I had raised along the path of the wind.

‘I can’t let go of my training for even a moment.’

I don’t want to let go of my training even for a moment.

Maybe I’m addicted?

In the case of the Pyohaengbi, since the energy was free even while unfolding, I practiced the Pyohaengbi while walking.

As my inner energy made a circle along the path of the wind, I felt the wind getting closer to me.

No, maybe I’m getting closer to the wind.

Gradually, my steps became lighter and a sound like the howling of a ghost swept past my ears.

Even though I desperately wanted to continue practicing the Night Sky Moonlight Art without resting… … the circumstances were not favorable.

I want to quickly conquer the realm of starlight and then advance to the realm of moonlight… … .

Even though I couldn’t sink that deep, I honestly wanted to keep exercising my muscles, even if it meant maintaining a shallow consciousness.

‘I just wish someone would stand by my side and guard me.’

[That is expressed as protecting the law.]

‘I wish someone would stand in my way.’

But for now, it’s like a dream.

Ake… … In the village of what is happening, we were delayed by one day longer than planned.

[It’s Akhenaten, you idiot.]

After another day of delay from Akhenaten, I think it’s time for the dagger-wielding raiders to show up.

It’s been two days since the Baron was killed, so rumors have probably spread to some extent.

For that reason, I had no choice but to settle for practicing the Pyohaengbi for now.

I walked along the road, operating the flag, paying slight attention to the raid.

Although the Pyohaengbi also consumed internal energy, it did not consume as much as the Yacheonseongwolgong, so it could be used with a lighter mind.

If you practice the Pyohaengbi, you will be able to use it effectively in battle.

I walked along the forest path with feather-like steps, listening to the sound of the wind that sounded like the cries of the dead.

Pissed!

At that moment, the sound of something cutting through the wind was heard from the right.

I was walking with enough caution that I immediately tilted my head back to avoid it.

What passed before my eyes was a small knife.

I immediately grabbed its handle and threw it where it came from, spinning around.

A small groan, “Ugh.” could be heard through the grass.

I nodded in satisfaction, looking at my palms, which showed off my quick reflexes.

“Hmm. It was good.”

I feel like I’m getting used to it now.

Cheonma’s talent was becoming more and more familiar to my body as the fight continued.

“Rather than throwing it right away, wouldn’t it have been better to let out some of your internal energy the moment you catch it and then throw it?”

I walked towards where the groaning had come from, thinking deeply about what had just happened.

The thought led to reflection.

“Then I would have died cleanly.”

After finishing my recovery, I went into the grass.

Then a man with blood dripping from one shoulder jumped out, swinging a sword with the other hand.

“Die!”

The sword curved towards his neck.

I dodged his sword by slightly bending my knees, then straightened my knees and used the recoil to strike his chin.

Bam!

“Crack… … .”

The guy just fell down and passed out.

“Hmm. Is it starting now?”

I muttered and stabbed the sword he was holding into his neck to confirm the kill.

Phew!

“In your next life, do some good deeds, you loser.”

I briefly wished him peace and then continued on my way.

After walking for a while, this time a guy blocked the road.

He was a fierce looking guy who looked like he was about to commit banditry.

I stopped a few steps away from the guy.

He looked me up and down and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Blood-red eyes. Black hair. A stern expression. Certainly.”

“……hey.”

How dare you judge someone so arbitrarily based on their appearance.

The moment I was about to protest, two more guys came out from the grass on either side.

They were equally ugly.

The man blocking the road said.

“Put your dagger down and go. Then I will spare your life.”

I moved my body without even listening.

I concentrated my internal energy that had been swirling along the path of the wind on my toes, then kicked off the ground and jumped to the right.

The sound of the wind lingered in my ears.

I ran towards him, engulfed in the wind, and punched the wide-eyed guy in the neck with all my might.

“Ugh!”

Then, he snatched the sword the guy was holding and threw it at the guy watching from the other side with his internal energy.

Wedge!

The bastard tried to deflect the sword he was holding, but was unable to overcome the force contained in the flying sword and ended up allowing it to pierce his chest.

puck!

The blade came out of his back like a slash.

He fell to the side with a thud.

“What… … !”

The man blocking the road watched the scene with his eyes wide open.

I ran towards the guy as soon as I threw my sword.

“What if I take my eyes off you?”

I just kicked the bastard’s leg.

Bam!

It felt like my muscles were tearing.

When the bastard lost his balance and staggered, I snatched the sword from him and cut his throat.

Push!

“Tsk tsk.”

He quickly evacuated his body so as not to get blood on it.

I checked the condition of the sword I was holding and then threw it far away across the grass.

It was a cheap sword and cheap skill.

They were so sloppy that I could have easily cleaned them up by myself before I fell off the cliff.

The difference is that back then I had to draw my sword, but now I don’t have to.

“It’s not enough yet.”

I had to kick hard enough to break a bone, not just tear a muscle.

I reflected on this and grabbed the two guys by the legs and dragged them to the side of the road.

Then he approached the guy who had been hit in the throat.

The guy was still unconscious, clutching his neck and sobbing.

“S, save me―”

Bam!

I kicked the guy in the jaw and it stopped his coughing.

Then he grabbed the bastard’s leg and threw him to the side of the road.

“This is enough.”

I didn’t have the time to hold a funeral for each person, so I just cleaned them up on the road and hurried my steps.

And… … that was just the beginning.

* * *

Chomp!

“… … Which number is this?”

I muttered, wiping the blood off my sword.

As soon as I stepped outside the walls, petty thieves started to rush at me one by one. They gradually increased in number and became stronger, bothering me.

No matter how much I think about it, something seems strange.

Even though the rumor spread, why did so many suddenly rush in as soon as you left the village? As if someone had waited for you, one after another? And with increasing difficulty, as if you were climbing stairs?

“… … .”

I felt the intention.

It was someone’s design.

It’s like it’s slowly eating away at my stamina.

“……no way?”

I thought of one possibility though.

“Hey, no way.”

I shook my head and shook it off.

“That guy would be in prison right now, shaking the bars of his cell.”

Still, even if it wasn’t that guy, the fact that I had to catch the mastermind who was putting pressure on me by setting up this board didn’t change.

“hmm.”

I stroked my chin and sat lost in thought.

Let’s think about it.

What is his intention?

He sweet-talks other worthless guys and throws them at me one after another.

Then, when I get tired or injured, I strike the last blow and take the dagger.

then?

That’s all that needs to be done.

As soon as I finished thinking about it, I put it into action.

One. Then another. Sometimes two. Each time they were attacked, they moved more and more slowly.

“Hoo… … Hoo… … .”

I deliberately shrugged my shoulders and exhaled roughly.

Then he muttered out loud.

“This… … How many people is this? Haa… haa… I’m getting tired.”

I walked forward with heavy steps, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

There was no sweat on my forehead, but I wiped it anyway.

“… … I guess numbers don’t do anything. My body is getting heavier and heavier. If I’m not careful and get injured, it’ll be a big problem.”

And a little while later, this time six of them were waiting for me, hiding in the grass on either side.

“Hoo… … Hoo… … .”

I walked into their trap, breathing heavily and pretending not to know, and they pounced on me, saying, “That’s right.”

“now!”

“Uriyaah!”

“Dead!”

Six spears, three on each side, stabbed in.

Even though the paths were clearly visible, I purposely leapt into the air a little late.

A window grazed his shoulder, spraying blood onto the floor.

“Huh!”

I hardened my complexion and leapt into the air, spraying black energy toward the bushes on my right.

“Ugh!”

Blood spurted out.

I went straight into the bush on the right and finished, then this time I threw myself into the bush on the opposite side.

In the process, he intentionally applied more blood to his body to make it look like he had sustained additional injuries.

“He came in!”

“Kill him!”

“Ahh!”

A moment later, I crawled out of the grass, blood streaming from my shoulder.

“Ugh… … . I let my guard down. I can’t believe I made this mistake.”

Then, he lay down face down in the shape of the letter “大” toward the sky and closed his eyes.

Then I sharpened my senses and looked around.

‘Master. What do you think? Is it perfect?’

[Hmm. I guess I’ll get fooled.]

‘… … .’

Tch. Was it too artificial?

As I was thinking that and about to get up, the tops of the trees next to the road suddenly shook.

I quickly laid my back back on the ground.

‘Did you get caught?’

He must have been quite a cautious person, as he didn’t come down hastily but instead observed this side intently.

I wiped the blood off my body with my hand, then covered my mouth with it and coughed loudly.

“Coolook, coolook! Coolook, coolook!”

Then he weakly threw his arms up, palms facing the sky.

“Ugh… … .”

Naturally, there was bright red blood all over his hands.

I lay down as if all my strength had left me.

I opened my eyes and observed the situation.

At one point, the top of the tree where the guy was shook slightly.

‘Coming!’

I immediately closed my eyes and let the energy spread around me.

Not very wide, but densely packed.

Phew!

The guy immediately fell towards me like a shooting star.

The dagger in the guy’s hand plunged down like a ray of light toward my neck.

I opened my eyes with a start.

Rolled sideways to avoid the attack.

Bam!

The dagger was stuck in the poor ground.

I rolled to the side and grabbed the guy’s wrist.

“Huh!”

The guy made a panicked sound.

But it was already too late.

“Got it.”

I just grabbed the guy by the wrist and threw him to the ground.

bang!

“Ugh!”

I quickly climbed on top of the guy who had fallen on his back and subdued him with both hands.

When I checked the face while it was subdued like that… … .

“uh?”

It was a familiar face.

“What are you doing here?”

Shushuruta was glaring at me, grumbling.

* * *

I stared at Shushuruta and muttered.

“I clearly caught him?”

Shushuruta snorted.

“Huh. I wonder if I can’t escape from that flimsy prison.”

I thought something was strange, and it turned out to be this guy’s doing.

After escaping from prison, he strategically attacked me by blowing air into the ears of various rascals.

“… … Kill this and let it live?”

“Don’t kill.”

“Why me?”

“… … .”

Shushuruta’s eyes rolled busily around.

“Because I can read the code engraved on the dagger of Oposus.”

“Do you have a password?”

“Yes. Even if you have a dagger, it will be of no use if you do not know the location of the Tomb of Ophiosis and how to enter it.”

“Then read it. Right now.”

I took out the dagger of Ophiuchus and held it out in front of her eyes.

She glanced at the dagger and then looked away.

“… … I can’t read it right now.”

“That’s too bad.”

I held the dagger of Oposus and prepared to strike.

“Okay, wait a minute!”

“what.”

“I can’t read ‘now.’ ‘Now.’”

“then.”

Shushuruta spoke quickly.

“I just need to gather information. There’s nothing I can’t figure out. It just takes time.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

I got into a staring contest with the guy and ended up sticking my dagger behind his head.

“bout!”

“Ugh!”

I made a motion to swing my dagger, but then relaxed my posture after seeing Shushuruta close his eyes slightly.

I had no intention of killing this guy in the first place.

I was just trying to scare you a little because I was annoyed at the suffering you had because of this guy.

“Hey, Shushuruta.”

“Something.”

Shushuruta opened his eyes slightly and looked at me.

“To be honest, I don’t care about the legacy of Oposis.”

“Lies. Then why did you kill Hans and take the dagger?”

“I didn’t kill him. I got it from Hans.”

Shushuruta narrowed his eyes.

“……lie.”

“Believe it or not.”

“Then why did you kill the Baron?”

“Because he’s a piece of trash. He even tried to kill me.”

“You killed the nobleman just for that reason?”

“It’s my choice. I’m the type of guy who does whatever I want. Do you have any complaints?”

As he raised his dagger again, Shushuruta answered in a voice the size of an ant.

“……no.”

“Anyway, I’ll keep the dagger for the time being, and then I’ll leave this country. Come see me then. I’ll give it to you.”

“lie.”

“If you’re lying, why wouldn’t I kill you now?”

Shushuruta asked with a shameless face.

“Because I’m pretty?”

“… …Should I just kill him?”

I came down from Shushuruta.

The guy started to get angry as soon as I let him go.

“Okay? So stop bothering me and get out. Before I change my mind. I won’t be so lenient next time.”

Shushuruta stared at me intently, like a cat bristling with fur, and opened her mouth.

“I just want to ask you one thing.”

“what.”

“Why didn’t you kill me?”

“I said it was my heart.”

“… …Just because of that?”

“Even if you save me, it’s fucking bullshit.”

I grumbled and got up.

“Stop nagging and get out. Come back in a month.”

Shushuruta seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then looked at me with a strange expression and said.

For a moment, I saw a glimmer of color in her eyes.

“That won’t do.”

“what?”

“You never know when you might die to those devils who are after your dagger. You would have already attracted more attention by killing the Baron.”

“That won’t happen.”

“No matter how strong you are, this is impossible alone. How will you sleep? Even if you do sleep, it won’t feel like you’ve slept.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Do you remember what I suggested to you before? Let’s chase the Red-Eyed Demon together.”

“no.”

“The circumstances are slightly different now, but the context is the same. The two of us will join forces to protect the Dagger of Oposus from the devils blinded by greed, and find the Tomb of Oposus to claim his legacy.”

“What the hell is this?”

“Half for you, half for me. Of course, you take the ninth sword. I’m not interested.”

“No, I said I’m not interested either.”

“Don’t lie. I’ve never seen a swordsman who didn’t covet that sword.”

“It’s here.”

Shushuruta spoke with a determined expression, pretending not to hear what I said.

“With your strength and my wisdom, we can overcome any danger that comes our way.”

“Are you listening to me?”

Hehe, Shushuruta snorted in pride and crossed his arms arrogantly as he spoke kindly.

“From this moment on, I will accompany you. Know it as an honor.”

“No need.”

“Please take good care of me, Ashvan.”

“… …Should I just kill him?”

“Are you planning to kill your comrades?”

“I told you to get out of here.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Hey.”

It didn’t seem like I would ever fall, so I wrapped myself in the wind and ran out.

“Ashvan! Where are you going? Let’s go together!”

I heard the sound of Shushuruta chasing me from behind.

“Hey, get out of here!”

* * *

A stern royal family.

The old man sitting on the throne laughed heartily.

“Baron Barranquilla is dead?”

The subject standing before him bowed his head respectfully.

“That’s right.”

“Where is Barranquilla?”

“The westernmost part of the kingdom. It is closest to the Misty Cliffs, the border area with the Kingdom of Maia.”

“Who is the culprit?”

“They say he is a demonic man who uses cursed black magic. I have determined that he has black hair and blood-red eyes. They say he is called the Red-Eyed Demon.”

“You still haven’t figured out the identity?”

“… … I’m sorry.”

The king rested his elbows on the armrests of his throne and touched his lips.

“Devil? A devil. It’s not a nickname that can be easily given to a person. Do you know that, Eleanor?”

The subject answered the king’s question politely.

“What are you talking about?”

“There is a strange power in the names people call us. It is because we call people by the names that best suit them.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It’s so mysterious.”

The king raised the corners of his mouth.

“A man called the devil. This is a funny thing that happens in the later years. I should dispatch a royal knight.”

“Yes. Also… … .”

“Tell me.”

“They say he possesses the dagger of Oposis.”

The king’s expression hardened for a moment.

“… … The Dagger of Oposus?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you sure?”

“It is reported that the Baron of Barranquilla was also killed while trying to steal the dagger.”

The king covered his face with his palm.

“Hehehe… … .”

A sinister laugh leaked out through the gap between his hands.

“Heh heh heh… Heh heh heh! Eh ha ha ha!”

A sinister glare shot out between his fingers.

“This, this… … This is not going to work. A commoner harming a noble. It is disrespectful. It is disrespectful. If we turn a blind eye to this, won’t the laws of the country be overturned?”

“Your words are very true, Your Majesty.”

The subjects all bowed their heads.

“Lord Sulkov.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The knight standing beside the king answered.

Every time he opened his mouth, a puff of white breath came out.

“Bring that bastard’s head with your own hands.”

A man with blue hair knelt on one knee before the king.

“gladly.”

The king laughed heartily, as if he was so happy about something.

“I’d like to take a good look around before I go.”

The king muttered as he gazed out the window, which was now dyed red by the setting sun.

“Devil. The bitter cold is coming.”