Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel - Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel chapter 73

Chapter 73 – People Gathering (01)

It’s been a bad day these days, but it’s starting to snow.

The Murim Alliance’s expeditionary force was stuck in heavy snow, slowing down its advance, and the Demonic Bridge gained about three days’ time.

Of course, the Demonic Cult had already prepared and was determined to kill the entire Murim Alliance expeditionary force, so the waiting time only increased.

“Are you telling us to save the dogs of the Murim Alliance who are attacking us using the misfortune of the Demonic Cult as an opportunity?”

Mahu Geumseon immediately got angry and refused to listen to what I said, and Cheonma looked equally troubled.

“Brother. No matter how much it is your request, if you grant such a request, the Demonic Cult will become a fool who will only accept you helplessly.”

“No, I just want you to not attack first.”

“They are the ones who have already invaded Hundred Thousand Mountains. The Demonic Cult has already been attacked.”

As she listened to Geum-seon Ma Hu’s firm stance, her head started to hurt, but it wasn’t that she didn’t understand her position.

“Hmph, the moment they enter the newly renovated Five Demons’ Battlefield, they won’t be able to leave even a single bone behind. That’s their own merit.”

“If they don’t come over the castle wall, let them retreat.”

“I didn’t think you were on the Murim Alliance’s side.”

“I’m not on anyone’s side.”

Geumseonmahu’s red eyes are watching me.

“It is true that our church has been greatly indebted to you. That is an undeniable fact. However, it is difficult to think that you can control everything in the Demonic Cult.”

“……What are you going to do, sister?”

“As an elder leading our school, I will reject it.”

‘It also works, doesn’t it…’

“But from the perspective of the Gold King who has received a silver crown from you, I will yield to just observing the situation for now.”

It was an unexpected result.

Even if the Cheonma listened to me, I thought that the Geumseon Mahu would pounce on her until the very end, with blood on her neck.

“Why? Did you think that the main woman would have a vein in her neck and suddenly start an argument?”

“I can’t deny it.”

“Hmph.”

When Geumseon Mahu gave permission, Cheonma thought for a moment, but she promised that she would not attack the Murim Alliance’s expeditionary force as long as they did not go beyond the castle wall.

“But, brother, I’ll tell you in advance, if they go beyond the walls and show their intention to attack, the Demonic Cult will never show mercy.”

“If that happens, I will also help you fight.”

“I understand. I will tell this to the demons under my command.”

Cheonma, who had a lot of work to do, left first, leaving only me and Geumseonmahu.

“These days, there has been a lot of talk within the Demonic Cult about the relationship between you and the original woman.”

“……”

Actually, I wasn’t paying much attention, but Sikbong, who specializes in information gathering, tipped me off.

Aren’t I, the highest among the demons currently residing in the Demon Cult, making a marriage contract with Geumseon Demon and aiming for the position of Heavenly Demon and Heavenly Demon?

“It’s an interesting idea.”

Are you showing your ambition to take advantage of me and take over the position of the Heavenly Demon?

“Even if I don’t try it, I don’t intend to do that. I don’t have the personality to create and lead an organization.”

Just taking care of a few people around me gives me headaches, but taking care of an organization with over hundreds of people? If you don’t last a few days, you might get heart disease, vomit blood, and die.

“Also, there is no time to think about marriage until the Black Moon Party collapses.”

Later… When everything is over, you might think about finding someone good.

“……”

“Why. What. Why.”

As I was speaking out loud out of shame, Geumseonmahu openly sighed as if I should listen.

“I feel sorry for Saengbong once again.”

By the standards of this place, Nana Gyu is an old bachelor and an old maid, but by my standards, I think she is still in her prime.

‘Well, people here usually get married in their late teens and get impatient even in their early 20s.’

By the standards of this place, Seolhwa should be considered to have reached marriageable age.

“If you think about it that way, doesn’t Mafu Geumseon have anyone in her heart?”

If you think about it, Geumseonmafu was also quite an old maid by the standards of this place. Because she was about the same age as Saeng Bong.

“Didn’t you get kicked just now?”

“……?”

She thought that Geumseon Mafu had failed in her love life without my knowledge… But when she heard that it was just now, she wondered if it was possible.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Didn’t she just tell you who she was?”

Rather, Geumseonmahu asked back with an astonished expression.

“It was just a rumor among magicians, but it was an interesting idea.”

“……Me?”

Nod.

For a moment, her mind was blank and she couldn’t think of anything, so she brought the kettle on her table to her mouth and drank the tea in one go.

“It must be hot to pour it in like that.”

Her tongue was slightly burned, but she was in good spirits so she was okay.

“Umm…”

To be honest, I knew to some extent that Sojeo Gyu had a crush on me.

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The fact that he saved her from danger was an element that made her likable, so he might be a little moved by her.

I also thought it would be okay if it was Gyu Sojeo, so I don’t know now, but I was going to think about it seriously later when I have some free time, but when Geumseon Mafu suddenly announced her bombshell, her head was getting complicated.

“If you’re doing that to repay the kindness I gave you for saving me…”

“The Demonic Cult follows the principle of respecting the strong. And you currently have the strongest martial arts skills among the unmarried men my wife knows. So, is there a problem with the conclusion that you are not a bad match for her to marry?”

“Oh, was that the direction?”

If it was such a simple thing, I could just accept it. That’s what it said in the original…

‘……Wait a minute. That line wasn’t originally meant for me…’

In the original work, Somafu, who escaped to the central plains, says that line after becoming friendly with Ban Gyu-seong and says that he will change his mind if a stronger man appears in the future.

But it doesn’t change.

Those words are just a superficial excuse, and in fact, Mafu Geumseon loved Ban Gyu-seong deeply at that time, and her feelings did not change even if a stronger and younger head of the Black Moon Party came out later.

Rather, until the end…

“……”

“Why are you doing that?”

I realized it.

Where is Geumseonmahu’s heart heading now?

“No… It’s not a big deal. I guess I should just say thank you for now… Right?”

“Not much to say.”

“……”

“……”

We were looking into each other’s eyes for no reason, so I felt embarrassed and looked away first, and I could see that the corners of Geumseonmahu’s mouth went up ever so slightly.

‘Yes. It doesn’t feel bad, though.’

It’s really shocking that a situation like this happens to me, who usually criticizes Ban Gyu-seong’s three wives’ secrets…

It is extremely difficult.

* * *

The afternoon of the day with three days left until the scheduled arrival of the Murim Alliance expeditionary force.

There was a commotion going on at the castle walls.

When I heard that a warrior who appeared to be from a political faction had appeared, I immediately took Sikbong and ran to the castle wall.

Fortunately, it was not the Murim Alliance expedition team that arrived earlier than scheduled, but a young man with a beard growing all the way to his chest and his clothes in rags.

His hair was covered in leaves and spider webs, as if he hadn’t washed it properly, but his body was showing a strong and powerful force that couldn’t be hidden. No matter how you look at it, the demons guarding the castle walls couldn’t handle it, so he asked for support.

When we arrived at the top of the castle wall, Sikbong and I were able to immediately recognize his identity because there was a huge black iron greatsword rolled up in a chain hanging from his back.

“Prince Nangong!”

“It doesn’t look good. Sword Dragon.”

“He is no longer a sword dragon. Since he was cut off from the Namgung family, he is no longer a Namgung Young master.”

As I watched him calmly explain his situation, I persuaded him that he was not an enemy and had come to join us, and although the demons were wary, they trusted me and let Namgungjeon in.

“The divine beast looks clear.”

“That’s right. If anything, he looks stronger now.”

“I guess there are no beggars?”

Sik-bong looked a little displeased at being called a beggar, but Namgung realized that she had made a mistake and apologized to Sik-bong, so they didn’t get into an argument.

“Huh. People who grew up well like Young master Namgung don’t know much about beggars, so I’ll skip it.”

When Sikbong, who was eating good food and having a good time here, showed off his pride, Namgung and I burst out laughing, but she thought it was cute so we let him get away with it.

It’s nice to see you again after a long time, even though we’re friends we made through determination to be superior. Even though Namgung-jeon’s appearance has changed quite a bit, it seems like he’ll be able to see his old self once he shaves and washes his hair.

Actually, I didn’t have a clean appearance before either, so there may not be much of a difference.

“By the way, I heard you ran away at night with Saengbong Sojeo?”

“……Who started that rumor?”

“I guess that’s because Young master Cheongsang sometimes says things like that…?”

I was dumbfounded when the answer came from Sikbong next to me.

“If you knew, why didn’t you tell me?”

“It looks real when you come here?”

Hit Sikbong’s forehead with the palm of your hand to create a handprint that will last for about a day.

“As soon as I heard the news about you, Sojeo Sikbong left in a hurry and I thought he ran away with flowers in both hands.”

“Yes? No?”

Looking at the way the pupils are turned to the side, that statement is a lie. As a result, it seems to be true that they came in a hurry after hearing my news.

“The others will tell you where to stay, and after you wash up in my room, we can have a meal together.”

“Of course. Because I’m tired too.”

As I watched him skillfully conversing with Namgungjeon, Seolhwa, who was waiting nearby with his mouth shut, was looking at me with curious eyes.

Actually, I haven’t met Namgoongjeon very much and the time we’ve known each other hasn’t been that long, but it’s surprising that we talk without hesitation as friends.

“Seolhwa. I would like to have a brief sparring with Namgungjeon.”

Seolhwa seemed to hesitate for a moment at those words, but she slowly nodded her head.

I thought it would take a while, but unexpectedly, Nam Gung-gung did not wait for the water to heat up, but instead roughly wiped away the foreign substances on her head with cold water and shaved her with her knife, leaving a sparse beard. Appeared again.

“Story.”

As I mentioned earlier, when Seolhwa took the sword and stepped forward, Namgung raised his hand to stop her and sat down to eat.

“There is no need to find a master to fight with me. The martial arts is over.”

“Is that so?”

I thought a master of Seolhwa’s level would roll his eyes and say he wanted to fight.

For no reason, I recommended Seolhwa to Geumseonmahu and Cheonma so that they wouldn’t cause trouble by holding a sword, but it was surprising because they declined on their own.

“And I have no intention of putting any effort into anything else until I split the head of the iron dragon or the iron bar.”

“…You really hate Ban Gyu-seong.”

“It’s not that I hate the individual, but because of that, the Five Dragons and Seven Peaks were divided, so shouldn’t the grudge be avenged?”

In the end, they said they didn’t like it.

“I feel like I’m starting to get a clue these days. If I do well, I might be able to step into the realm of transcendence just like you… I dare to think.”

It was definitely the Namgungjeon that had reached its peak, and seeing as it seemed to be in a more orderly manner than before, it was clear that something had been gained.

However, in a similar situation to Namgungjeon, there are people who are blocked by a wall for their entire lives, and surprisingly, it is possible to break through the wall even now while eating, so I was not convinced and congratulated him in a calm tone.

As we had done in the previous Yongbong branch, Namgungjeon, Sikbong, and I were eating while talking to each other, so the atmosphere was quite noisy, unlike usual.

“……”

Seolhwa just watched, leaning against the wall.

That is her choice, so I will not interfere.

She declared that she would not treat me as a private sister, and she did not tell me not to approach her as an individual, but she did not approach me until the end and only carried out my orders while hiding her feelings.

“I would like to inform you that the room you will be staying in is ready.”

Her maid who came to welcome Nam Palace arrived, and after finishing her meal, Nam Palace put her black iron sword on her back and raised her body.

“I’ll come back again. For now, I need to take a nap.”

“There is still time.”

“Then, brother. I will also go to rest for a while.”

“I guess we’re going to eat again. And didn’t we say you shouldn’t go alone?”

If I left Sikbong alone, he might get into a fight with the demons again, so I had to follow him.

‘I heard you’re bothering me…’

Before leaving the room, I pass by Seolhwa and snatch her stiff hand and give her the object in my hand.

“……”

Since I was with Sikbong all day and couldn’t even speak and ended up handing over snacks, there were a few yugwa that I kept aside.

‘I heard you both bother me…’