“Here!! There’s a murderous barbarian!!”
How did they know?
I was a bit worried that someone would overhear if I went around calling out “Ok-bun” in Chilgok County and report me to the Gap-su Gang.
But maybe the real issue was that the Heavenly Killing Star had suspiciously been in the inn yesterday. No way someone suspected a murderer from the Gap-su Gang yesterday.
“Here!! It’s her!!!”
The bald, pot-bellied uncle pointed at us, directing the martial artists at the inn’s entrance.
What do I do?
I glanced at Cheon So-hee first. She had reverted back to her naturally expressionless face with sharp eyes that seemed ready to cut.
I could sense that, having finished a hearty meal, she seemed ready to unleash her murderous intent at any moment.
The hand slipping under the table was probably to retrieve a hidden weapon.
This is dangerous.
“I’ll handle this, so don’t draw your sword.”
I quickly stopped Cheon So-hee in Joseon language.
“How?”
“Is that your face from the acrobatic troupe, Ok-bun?”
There’s no time to explain everything. Let’s just get the necessary information.
“No. A different face.”
Thank goodness for that.
But the situation is still not safe.
The woman with black hair and red eyes is unique to this world; there’s no one else like her but Cheon So-hee.
“Then it’s fine. Don’t draw your sword. I don’t want my little brother to see blood. I’ll figure this out for sure.”
If blood is shed here, it would be troublesome.
I’m not sure of Cheon So-hee’s current state. But one thing is certain.
In a few years, Cheon So-hee will turn into a woman possessed by murder.
I don’t know how that happens.
I have to act based on the martial arts knowledge and settings I know. One of those settings indicates that once she starts killing, she won’t be able to restrain herself.
Seeing Cheon So-hee shed blood now could be like shaking the bomb’s fuse.
If I were a martial arts master, it wouldn’t matter if the bomb exploded or not, but I’m just a sturdily built ordinary person.
“What the hell are you idiots babbling about? Come here!”
I ignored the bald uncle’s ramblings and stared at Cheon So-hee.
She looked at me with an expression of disbelief, as if wondering how I planned to resolve this situation.
“Trust me.”
I spoke confidently.
Cheon So-hee might refrain from killing here. I might not die immediately, but even after this, there’s a problem.
If she escapes unharmed, that’s the end for her, but I, being an ordinary person, would surely be caught. I’d end up receiving her punishment in her stead.
I can’t stand that.
“Is it these people?”
The martial artists from the Gap-su Gang rushed in front of us. They surrounded us with swords drawn, creating an oppressive atmosphere.
“Greetings. I am Kang Yoon-ho, an envoy from Joseon. What seems to be the matter?”
I stood up and greeted them as casually as if I hadn’t just been called a murderer.
“Envoy? Ah! You’re the envoy from the gang leader’s birthday party!”
“Yes. I believe I’ve seen you a few times on my travels.”
I hadn’t seen the martial artists closely, but their faces seemed familiar.
“Right. I’ve seen you a few times too. That’s why I’m so disappointed now.”
The martial artist glared at me.
“Disappointment? Why is that?”
“Repaying kindness with malice is unforgivable. How dare you associate with a killer who attempted to murder the gang leader!”
The head of the martial artists drew his sword and aimed it at my neck.
It seems like swords are poking at my neck often lately.
It’s not surprising that I’m feeling uneasy; it’s just absurd. Is it common for ordinary civilians to have swords at their necks in the Martial Arts World? Or am I just unlucky?
If the sword was drawn and I was the one to be harmed, it would be less unjust; but I’m just standing here while swords keep pointing at me. It’s frustrating enough that I want to learn martial arts.
Sneaking a glance at Cheon So-hee, her hand was slowly creeping under the table again.
“I’ll handle this, so please just stay still.”
I said it loud enough for the martial artist to hear.
“What are you saying!”
Perhaps because the martial artist didn’t understand Joseon language, he shoved the sword closer to my throat.
“I got too excited and slipped into Joseon language. My apologies. But what do you mean by a killer? Who are you talking about?”
I slightly pulled my neck back to increase the distance from the sword and spoke with a puzzled tone.
“That girl over there! Isn’t she the one who killed the gang leader? Now that I look, it’s her! Black hair with red eyes! Exactly the impression I had!”
Other martial artists began to encircle Cheon So-hee.
“No! Martial artist! She’s my hometown sister! How could she be a killer?”
“Acrobatic troupe Ok-bun! Are you really going to stay quiet like this? Or are you going to draw your sword?”
Ignoring my words, the martial artist leader pointed his sword at Cheon So-hee and pressed her.
This is not a good situation. If this continues, blood will surely be spilled.
“Wait a moment!”
I squeezed between Cheon So-hee and the sword.
“Are you protecting a killer just because you share the same faction?”
“No! My hometown sister doesn’t speak Central Plains words well! She doesn’t understand what you’re saying!”
“What?”
“She froze in shock because you suddenly aimed your sword at her!”
I coldly prepared to draw my sword while portraying Cheon So-hee as a woman frozen in fear.
When I looked at Cheon So-hee, she was looking at me with an expressionless face. Yeah, just keep that neutral expression.
I’ll handle the cover-up.
“Don’t lie! This girl is an acrobat named Ok-bun. I’ve heard she spoke Central Plains fluently!”
A nearby guest, who had been observing the incident with interest, chimed in with a testimony.
Sigh. People really have nothing better to do. Why are you testifying here? You’re siding with the Central Plains rather than with us, the barbarians?
Yeah. We’re foreigners and barbarians here.
“Her name is indeed Ok-bun. You must be a killer!”
The martial artist leader looked pleased, gazing triumphantly at me.
I had already prepared countermeasures because of guys like him.
“It’s true my hometown sister’s name is Ok-bun. But how can you call her a killer?”
Let’s dismantle the logic starting from her name.
“Black hair, red eyes, plus the name Ok-bun. How many assassin girls could there possibly be?”
“There are many people named Ok-bun in Joseon. Back in my town, there were three Ok-buns, and the nearby town had five. If I shout ‘Ok-bun’ in the marketplace, more people would turn than you martial artists here!”
“What kind of name is that to have so many of?”
Does he think the name “Cheon Ok-bun” is special? This racist jerk!
“No, martial artist. Think about it. I haven’t traveled much in the Central Plains, but I know that Ok-bun is a fairly common name there.”
“That’s right.”
The martial artist leader nodded his head in agreement after my metaphor. Thank you, common Ok-buns.
I stole a glance at the other martial artists, and they seemed somewhat convinced as well. First stage passed.
“I see that the name Ok-bun is common in Joseon! But this girl has red eyes and black hair! She resembles the assassin’s description too closely.”
How many people named Ok-bun with red eyes and black hair are there in the world?
Exactly one.
“There are colorful people with red eyes, not just black eyes in Joseon. Right now, martial artists, you’ve drawn your sword based on the characteristics of red eyes and the name Ok-bun.”
People who probably have never been to Joseon don’t know the truth.
I glanced back at Cheon So-hee, who looked expressionless, but I also seized the chance to make her look like she was trembling in fear.
“No, that’s…”
“And look at this neck.”
I raised my head to show them my neck.
“My neck?”
“I almost got my neck slit by an assassin from the Gap-su Gang. Fortunately, other martial artists came and saved me.”
“Oh? I heard about that. One of the entertainers almost died because of an assassin.”
One of the martial artists next to me supported my claim. Thanks. It seems this world isn’t too ruthless.
“That was me. So martial artist, think about this. According to your logic, if I was in league with the assassins, they would’ve ignored me and run away instead of trying to kill me.”
“That’s true.”
The head of the martial artists agreed. I quickly surveyed the inn area.
Inside the inn, customers watched the unfolding situation from afar, while the innkeeper was calculating the damages of potential destruction to prepare for claiming reparations.
I focused on the innkeeper, who looked worried as he watched us. This guy probably begs for help every time trouble arises and winds up in tears trying to restore everything back to normal after each incident.
Public sentiment is not on the side of the barbarians.
But if that innkeeper reacts, I can turn public opinion in my favor.
Let’s give it a shot.
I took a deep breath to speak loudly and elegantly like an envoy speaking.
“I was the one who stayed here for a few days doing mourning, and even gifted the master a present! And now you’re saying I’m in league with the assassins? You think it’s reasonable for an assassin who attempted to kill the gang leader to still be in Chilgok County? Does that make any sense?!!!”
I shouted loudly enough to shake the inn.
“W-why are you suddenly shouting?”
“I’m indignant! I finally met my hometown sister after a long time, and the innocent sister who can’t speak Central Plains was frightened, while I almost died at the hands of an assassin, and you martial artists call us accomplices?! This situation is too unfair!”
“Stop breaking things and just settle down! What are you doing, catching innocent people! Hey! You guys, stop this!”
The innkeeper hurriedly intervened upon hearing my reasoning.
“They’re accusing innocent people in the Gap-su Gang!”
“Hey! The envoy has only been in Chilgok County for a few days; how could he be associated with assassins?!”
“It seems like the Gap-su Gang is trying to take the life of innocent people!”
Suddenly, the inn’s regulars began to heckle the martial artists after the innkeeper’s remarks.
“No, wait! That does seem reasonable, so let’s head to the Gap-su Gang together. I won’t draw my sword, so take me with you.”
The head of the martial artists, flustered by the shifting public sentiment, attempted to negotiate with me.
You’re only trying to bargain now that things are unfavorable to you?
“Are we criminals? We can go there, but just have the martial artists stay here and send one person to bring anyone from the acrobatic troupe. Shouldn’t that suffice?”
Cheon So-hee’s transformation technique and reversal technique are amazing enough for someone like me who reads martial arts novels.
It’d take an exceptional legendary thief-like Shin-too to stand a chance against her. However, if I get dragged into the Gap-su Gang for interrogation, my cover could be blown. At times like this, you have to push.
“Cough. Alright. Let’s proceed as you suggested.”
The head of the martial artists agreed and instructed one martial artist to go to the Gap-su Gang.
—–
“No! Why would this guy be involved with the assassins? We were just drinking together! This girl is different from Ok-bun.”
The one called in was the acrobat uncle I drank with the night before. He looked weary from being interrogated over the assassination, but he still actively defended me.
“Seems like there’s been a misunderstanding. Off you go now.”
Eventually, perhaps realizing it was a misunderstanding, the head of the martial artists shot a glare at the bald, pot-bellied uncle who reported us and turned away.
“Not at all. Please go.”
I concealed my relief and saw them off at the inn door.
They left without apologizing. Traitorous martial artists.
After sending off the martial artists, I sighed in relief and headed up to the second floor with Cheon So-hee.
I’m exhausted. I just want to relax on the bed when I enter the guest room.
As I reached the door to the guest room, Cheon So-hee, who had been leading, turned to look at me.
“Why did you help?”
She gazed up at me with her expressionless face.
Because if you mess up, it’ll be a real disaster.
“Why? So-hee. Your little brother was in trouble, so it’s only natural for me to step in.”
“I didn’t need your help. They weren’t worthy opponents for me.”
That may be true. If she’s a tiger, they wouldn’t be worth a rabbit.
The problem is, even if the tiger fights the rabbit, the bugs next to them will still get crushed.
“So-hee, I don’t know how you’ve survived until now. But I can’t just stand by and watch your sister about to commit murder in front of me.”
“Rather, you could have been hurt.”
“If I can get hurt a little to prevent you from committing murder, then I’ll do it anytime.”
If I can prevent a bomb from exploding with a small scratch, then that’s worth it.
When Cheon So-hee heard my words, her gaze slightly wavered.
Why? Are you feeling frustrated that you think I could stop you from killing?
Suddenly, Cheon So-hee bowed her head and mumbled something.
“Go…”
“Uh?”
“…Away.”
What does “go away” mean? I dislike gore too.
Bam! Cheon So-hee finished her words and went inside the room.
What the…
Hey! Why did you lock the door?
I paid double to rent this room, so why are you locking the door?
I need to come in! You just leave!
I want to rest too!
