In the world of martial arts and visual novels, what skill is most essential for a barbarian to survive?
Talk? Writing skills? Good looks? Money?
Nope. It’s martial arts.
Country bumpkins who dislike a barbarian in their village come at me swinging sticks, trying to snatch the loaf of bread I’m munching on. Thugs conspiring to sucker-punch me and rob the hard-earned cash I earned from labor.
To protect myself from such lowlifes, I needed martial arts. Yet, there was no one to teach a black-haired barbarian like me who had neither money nor connections.
A wandering barbarian. Hungry, broke, and without a place to sleep.
So, what could I do? I lived off roots in the mountains and diligently practiced the Murong family’s Tonae Technique.
Living amidst nature. Living on the green hills. I’m no Taoist Master, yet here I was, training on a diet of bland food free of any fiery substances.
Thanks to that, my body became healthier, and my physical abilities explosively improved. I’d become strong enough to easily deal with petty thugs or neighborhood hoodlums using the Tonae Technique.
But then, swordsmen are no trifling hoodlums.
“Hey, where are you rushing off to, buddy?”
In an alleyway leading to a slum, two sword-wielding martial artists blocked my path.
As I turned my head back, I realized one of their cronies was already blocking the way from the direction I came.
Bad premonitions never miss.
“Whoa now, what brings martial artists like you to a nobody like me?”
I quickly shifted to a friendly expression and spoke to the swordsman blocking my front.
“Nah, I heard there’s a peddler in the market who’s ignored the tribute to Cheon Sal-pa. So, I came to check out that piece of work.”
One of the Black Knife goons said with a sneer.
Cheon Sal-pa, huh? I’ve been living in Chilgok County for over a month now. I’ve heard of the Sword and Spear Sect, but I’ve never even heard of you guys.
As Mr. Wang said, seems like a few thugs from the Black Knife are cornering people for money.
“Oh really? I just got here, so I didn’t recognize the members managing this area. If I had known, I would’ve come to pay the tribute myself.”
You’re meeting me for the first time today, aren’t you? You wouldn’t start with the slicing, right?
“You should’ve tipped us off beforehand. We didn’t come all the way here for nothing.”
“I’m really sorry. But can you tell me how much the tribute is?”
I had money from a few peddling days in my pocket. If I’m going to get robbed anyway, might as well just hand over a little to get through.
“All of it.”
“Excuse me?”
“Give me everything you’ve earned.”
Have you ever seen such a bastard?
“If you want the tribute, wouldn’t it be better to take it steadily? If you grab it all at once, I’ll find it hard to do business here.”
Pretending to negotiate again, I took a step back. I twisted my body slightly to check my front and back. Two sword-wielders in front, one in back.
It’s sensible to run, but I’m too far from the guy behind. If I start running, he’ll draw his sword instantly.
“Who the hell do you think you’re talking back to, barbarian!! Shut up and hand over everything you have!!”
These are the kinds of thugs that usually shake down peddlers, so their skill level shouldn’t be too high. They’d probably be only third-rate at most. Of course, I couldn’t take on three armed men.
“I must’ve overstepped. Here’s my money pouch.”
The two Black Knife guys in front were sticking closely together. It wasn’t a good spot to draw my sword. If I pulled it in this narrow alley, we’d all end up hurt.
Holding the pouch in my left hand, I approached.
“Quick, hand it over.”
Just as the guy in front lunged to snatch my pouch,
“Barbarian Punch!!”
“Gah!”
I slammed my punch, laden with my weight, into his chin. With his legs giving way, the Cheon Sal-pa martial artist tried to fall. I shoved him hard backward.
“You little punk!”
The thug behind shouted curses, but thanks to the one who got knocked back, he lost his balance too.
Time to act!
I kicked off the alley wall and jumped over the two martial artists. The sight of my leap widened the eyes of the thug teetering backward. Surprised, huh? My physical abilities are on a whole different level from those of ordinary folks.
Would you all hand over the cash you earned over days?!
Without looking back, I made a run for it.
————————
“That punk!! Catch him!!”
“That bastard had the nerve to hit my face?!”
“Where did he go!!!”
The chase turned into a longer ordeal than I anticipated. I might be above average in physical skills, but those guys are martial artists with real training.
The Black Knife thugs knew their way around these back alleys too. Just when I thought I was hidden well, they found me quicker than expected. If I hadn’t trained in Tonae Technique, I’d have been caught for sure.
After several close calls, I finally broke free from their sight, but I was still in danger.
“Huff, huff. Damn.”
My breath hitched in my throat. It was impossible to shake them off in the slum. The sun was already down, and the surroundings were dark.
Would it be okay to go back to the marketplace? Mr. Wang’s textile shop would be closed by now. Where should I go?
If I get caught, I’ll get robbed on the spot, so I hurriedly moved. They wouldn’t randomly search through the marketplace throng.
As I stepped onto the path leading from the slum to the marketplace, there stood a martial artist in a heroic outfit.
Yun Dae-hyeop.
He was the martial artist from the Sword and Spear Sect I had just seen at the textile shop. Aren’t they supposed to be the righteous faction? Protectors of the marketplace.
That guy might help me.
“Yun Dae-hyeop!”
I called out to Yun Dae-hyeop, my voice barely audible through my exhaustion, and he perked up.
“Hmm? Isn’t that the barbarian I saw earlier at the textile shop? Where are you rushing off to?”
“Yun d- huff, huff.”
I used the last of my strength to reach him, feeling like I might collapse.
“You’re out of breath. Take a moment to catch your breath.”
I don’t have time! I took a big gasp for air and spoke again.
“A group of Black Knife thugs tried to rob me!”
“The Black Knife group? Now that you mention it, I’ve heard that Cheon Sal-pa gang has been extorting merchants lately.”
“Yeah! They were lying in wait for me, wanting to take my money as I passed through the slum!”
I pointed with my finger back the way I came.
They’re after you.
I didn’t know how strong he was, but he could definitely handle several third-rate martial artists. If I could just bring him along, this whole mess would wrap up.
“Hm. Be careful moving forward.”
Yun Dae-hyeop said that and turned his gaze elsewhere.
“Huh?”
That was not the reaction I hoped for. I expected him to show hostility towards the Black Knife, but instead, he seemed indifferent.
“Are you a peddler that’s hard of hearing? I said to be more careful.”
I could hear the annoyance in Yun Dae-hyeop’s voice.
“The Black Knife scoundrels are chasing me for my money! Please help me!”
Didn’t he understand? I directly asked for help.
“Not gonna happen.”
He flatly rejected me. He didn’t say ‘no’ but ‘not gonna happen.’ What in the world does that mean? Shouldn’t a righteous faction draw their blade for those under persecution?
“I don’t dislike you personally or have any debts against you.”
“Then, please, just help me.”
“But my blade belongs to my faction. If I sell it for free, who will pay for our faction’s sword?”
“The reason the righteous faction draws blades is to uphold justice, isn’t it? If you’re bearing a sword to enforce justice, what’s the difference between that and a rogue’s sword?”
“Ah… You seem to be a skilled talker, maybe you’ve heard those tales somewhere. But that’s incorrect.”
“Huh?”
“It is about who pays the fair price. If I draw my blade, I won’t wield it against the common people, which is why we are called the righteous faction. There’s no difference between me and those rogue thugs blindly swinging swords without understanding.”
“Quickly come and catch that punk!!”
The voices were getting closer.
“Well then, I’ll pay you!”
I was suddenly filled with urgency.
“It’s also important who the blade of the faction is sold to. If a mere barbarian’s few coins are worth my sword, how do we expect to uphold our faction’s honor?”
“What the…?”
Is this really the so-called righteous faction?
“Caught that punk!! Hey, Yun Dae-hyeop, do you happen to know this little brat?”
Before I knew it, the Cheon Sal-pa thugs had snagged my shoulder.
“Never met him.”
“Ah, then we have some business with this brat. Hehe.”
“I hope the magistrate doesn’t stir up trouble for no reason tomorrow.”
“Of course not! Hehe. We abide by the rules around here.”
“……”
I thought maybe someone would step in if I appeared pathetic.
Passersby cast glances at the commotion but quickly dismissed it, continuing on their way. Even Yun Dae-hyeop, who I thought might help, walked off as soon as I was dragged away.
“Come on, you little punk!”
I did all I could to resist, but just like a leashed dog, they dragged me along.
I live in the martial arts world.
But in this place, no one draws their sword for an innocent barbarian.
————————-
“Damn punk!! How dare you hit my face?!”
“Who do you think you are, a barbarian, coming here?!”
“Step on him!!”
I received punch after punch.
It was a one-sided assault I simply couldn’t resist. Though third-rate martial artists are looked down upon in the martial world, I was just a bug being devoured by that fly.
The only resistance I could muster was curling up to protect my vital areas.
“This barbarian kid carries a lot of money, huh?”
“Cough, spit!”
Did they get tired of hitting me? Or had they lost interest?
The Cheon Sal-pa thugs seemed satisfied after relieving themselves, spat on my face, and grabbed my money before leaving.
————————-
Rain began to fall in the slum.
The muddy ground soaked in the rain, and the stench of refuse filled the air.
Rainwater began to seep into my wounds. The dark sky poured endlessly. I needed to get up from the muddy ground. But I couldn’t. It hurt, and I ached all over.
This world is a dog’s life.
Really, it’s a dog’s life.
What have I done to end up in this world and be treated so poorly? I was beaten black and blue, and it hurt everywhere.
But what hurt the most was my heart.
I didn’t suffer like this when I was starving. Even when I was chased away from the village for being a barbarian, it didn’t feel this despairing. I didn’t feel this sad when thugs took the money I worked hard for.
But now, I was hurt and miserable beyond measure.
“What have I done wrong? Huh? Let’s talk it out.”
I asked the indifferent sky.
I asked for help, and instead, I ended up in the body of a man who had only a few days to live. I squeezed out everything I had to survive. I roamed the Central Plains for a year, being treated like a barbarian.
Just when I thought I could finally live like a human, I got robbed of the money I earned with so much effort.
“Neither martial arts nor visual novels. What kind of world is this? If you can hear me, come out and talk!”
Yeah, this world might be a visual novel for the protagonist. For someone like me, it might not be that at all. My life was never close to romance anyway. But still.
It’s supposed to be a martial arts world, right?
Which righteous faction would turn a persecuted commoner over to the Black Knife? Just because it’s lawful means I’m righteous? If there’s no righteousness in this martial arts world, then what even is the point of martial arts?
Please, speak up.
If you went to the trouble of sending me to this world, you must be able to hear me.
“I’ve worked hard. I’ve tried harder than anyone to live here!! But what the hell is this? Huh? If you can hear me, just talk to me!!!”
But the heavens only poured rain without reply. If they were listening, I hoped they’d come down and speak to me. Where’s the justice in a world full of bullies?
From Yodong Province to Hubei Province. I’ve seen no one who would draw their sword for an oppressed barbarian. Am I just not looking well enough? Or does such a thing not exist in this place?
“Status screen!! Stats!! System!!”
In a world where they sell carbonara in taverns and take copper coins for payment. This isn’t a martial arts world.
“After all, this isn’t a martial arts world. This is a martial arts visual novel world. Just show me something, please…”
Why don’t I get any special privileges now that I’m here? Why must I live as an oppressed barbarian? I cried out to the sky.
I couldn’t control the tears pouring down my face. Yet, in no time, the pouring rain washed away my tears just as it would for any other dying barbarian in this Central Plains.
“I want to end this. I want to go home.”
I wake up begrudgingly to the morning alarm. Working myself to the bone, being scolded by my boss and the assistant manager, then before I know it, the quitting hour has arrived. As soon as I get off, I’d write, receiving comfort from the readers’ responses.
I missed that kind of life.
If I just opened my eyes, I felt like I could go back there.
But no matter how much I closed and opened my eyes, I was trapped in this martial arts visual novel world.
I was destined to live as a barbarian, rolling in this muck for eternity.
“If only I knew the ending conditions.”
If I knew how to clear this game world.
It wouldn’t be so miserable and despairing.
[Ending conditions unlocked]
“Huh?”
A green screen appeared in front of my blurry vision, stained with tears and rainwater.
[You have achieved the minimum fame requirement. Ending conditions have been unlocked.]
“Huh????”
[Ending conditions: Capture the true heroine.]
What is this?
