Chapter 121: Mercenary (5)
Bang!
“Just what is the meaning of this Hyungnim!”
The Spear God Flanc roughly opened the door where the Martial King was staying.
He felt his anger bubbling to the surface after healing that Yeon-woo, Phante, and Edora had gone over to the Red Dragon.
And they must’ve taken secret information of Cheonghwado with them, because they were suffering from Red Dragon’s attacks.
Because they were children he had raised like his disciples. He couldn’t help but become angry.
Everyone who had been inside turned to look at him. They were all faces the Spear God knew.
Elders. The Martial King treated them like they were old geezers mooching off of the tribe, but they were actually largely respected by the tribe members.
“Flance, what are you doing? Even if we’re brothers, no, because we’re brothers, you should be more respectful! This is an official conference. Behave appropriately.”
Then, an elder giving off an impression of a scholar lifted his head.
Head Elder. The Spear God didn’t particularly feel comfortable around him since he was one. No, everyone felt uncomfortable around his strict personality except for the Martial King.
His Mugong was known to rival the Martial King’s, so the Spear God felt intimidated.
“No. Since with this contract, you’ve completely let go of all authority for the royal tribe. You have to be treated as the Spear God of Cheonghwado. Spear God, please be respectful.”
“….”
The Spear God bit his lower lip. He had forgotten about his position because he was blind from anger.
The reason why the One-horned tribe participated in the Tower’s business was because of the pledge the Spear God had made with them.
The Pledge of the Horn.
The pledge to let go of his horn.
The One-horned tribe had a lot of pride for the god they served. They were able to achieve what they achieved because of this god, and with the vision of Mugong, they were able to have the reputation they did.
Because of this, the direct royal descendants of their guardian god were extremely respected.
Of course, they didn’t focus on their statuses within the tribe, but there was still an underlying respect.
And so the family had a lot of responsibilities. The same went for the Spear God. He didn’t have to do as much because the Martial King became king, but his place as the Martial King’s blood-related brother was safe and set in stone.
However, he said that he would throw away all benefits of being a part of the royal family and not fight in the name of the One-horned tribe.
That was the Pledge of the Horn. Since the tribe was receiving the horn of the royal family, they needed to pay for its price. This was the reason why the tribe joined Cheonghwado’s side.
But even with that kind of pledge in place, the fact that they were forced into the war didn’t change. The tribe didn’t look too nicely at the Spear God. Also, because he was one that left the tribe for another group.
The Head Elder was one of these people who didn’t like him.
The Spear God took a big breath to calm himself down. The Martial King was staring at him with a smile, but didn’t say anything. The Spear God realized the Martial King wasn’t going to help him.
A memory from the past came to his mind. Before they were brothers, he was the person that he respected the most in the entire world, but he always felt far from him. He never showed his real thoughts.
So he established Cheonghwado with the Sword God who appeased him.
He didn’t regret that decision even today. That was why the Spear God was able to organize his thoughts so quickly.
“Sorry I interrupted your conference. Then, as Cheonghwado’s Spear God. As the person in charge. I have something to ask the Martial King.”
His voice cracked at the end.
“The events that occurred on this stage. The Hoarder, Phante, and Edora’s conversion. Was the Martial King aware of this?”
The Martial King laughed as if he was amused.
“Well, of course. It would be bad if I didn’t know what my children and disciple were up to.”
The Spear God clenched his fists. His veins popped out.
“But how could you just watch….!”
“Because I wanted to.”
“You!”
“I said, because I wanted to.”
“…..!”
The Spear God felt like screaming. But he knew. No matter how much he complained, it wouldn’t work on this brother. Rather, he would try to do something through this opportunity.
The Martial King opened his eyes even wider as if he was proud that the Spear God was holding back his anger. His brother had matured over the years.
“What I do with my disciple and children is up to me. It’s unfortunate it affected Cheonghwado but…..it’s something we should take care of, not something for you to fix,”
“…..”
“Also, our tribe doesn’t interfere in individuals’ choices. Each person is responsible for their own actions, the tribe doesn’t need to be responsible.”
The Spear God was silent for a moment. The Martial King was saying that this was no different than when he left the tribe with the Sword God. But there was also another meaning behind his words. The Spear God narrowed his eyes.
“….So that means, if we meet the children during the war, we can kill them?”
“As I said, each person is responsible for their actions. We don’t interfere with that.”
“I’ll trust that you don’t take back what you just said.”
The Spear God glared at his brother and turned to leave.
Bang!
The building slightly shook at the strength of the door closing. The Martial King grinned.
“Well. I thought he had matured. But no one can do anything about that temper of his.”
The elders were silent. The Head Elder adjusted his glasses and asked the Martial King.
“So aside from Flanc. Tribe Leader, are you really planning on leaving Cain, Phante, and Edora alone?”
After Jang was pathetically destroyed, Phante was showing potential as the next King. He had also shown a lot of growth with the raid of Kuram.
But it was worrisome that he had gone over to the enemies. But the Martial King was the same as ever.
“The rule doesn’t change, old man.”
“Hm.”
The Head Elder narrowed his eyes at the Martial King and he chuckled.
“Becoming a vessel for a King after more struggles. That’s how you’re viewing the situation.”
The Martial King just smiled mysteriously. But the Head Elder was satisfied. Since he could tell how the Martial King was feeling even without words.
“Alright. As you wish, we won’t speak about this any longer. And moving onto the next item on the agenda. It’s about the….
Their conference continued.
***
“To the left. One step.”
“To the right. Sword.”
“Turn again.”
The mercenaries moved according to a cross-armed Phante.
Seeing the 250 of them move as one was a sight to behold. Even the other mercenaries paused to look.
Mercenaries were beings that moved as they preferred. Even if they were trapped in the frame of the Foreign Legion, they still seeked some freedom. But in the span of days, they had changed completely. Their eyes were sharper.
But Phante frowned like he didn’t like something.
“Aren’t you gonna do it properly? Do you want to roll again? In formation again. Strike.”
Ack!
Ack!
The scared mercenaries shouted. A strong force could be felt from their weapons that they thrusted.
And. In a place that could see everything, Yeon-woo and Edora were sitting together.
However, only Edora was watching the training. Yeon-woo was quietly reading a book.
“They’ve somewhat improved even if it’s only been three days.”
Yeon-woo raised his head from his book at what Edora said. He used Draconic Eyes to look at Phante training Team 2 and nodded his head.
“Definitely. They’ve become useful.”
What Phante was teaching the soldiers was a modified version of the Eight Battle Formations that the tribe used to teach lower warriors called Sword Formation. Sword Formation was a type of Jinbup that thought strategies like defense and offense. It was able to be learned quickly.
It was especially useful in a battle where various events happened. So he had specially requested Phante to teach it to Team 2. But it was much more effective than he expected.
‘That guy, he has the ability to teach people effectively without that dirty temper. No, it’s the skill to lead people’
He realized why Phante was a candidate for King. At first, he didn’t know how such a simple and violent person could be the king of a tribe. But he owned strong attributes that outshone those weaknesses. Leadership and charisma.
Yeon-woo had led a legion in Africa, so he knew talent when he saw it. It wasn’t something easily taught.
It was something Phante owned because he was born with confidence and pride as the Martial King’s son and studied rules and tasks of the royal family. Since one had to be sure of themselves to lead others.
‘I can relax and just leave it to him from now.’
He thought he would be able to hand over all his authority of Team 2 to Phante during his stay with Red Dragon. Although Phante would throw another tantrum if he found out. Of course, he was planning on kicking him back to Kuram if he rejected.
Yeon-woo continued watching their training for a while, and looked down at his book again. Edora approached him.
“But what are you looking at since earlier?”
“The second section of the Eight Extreme Fists.”
Edora’s eyes widened. She knew he completely memorized the first section, but she couldn’t have imagined he received the second and last sections from the Martial King. That was how much the Martial King trusted him. Edora felt proud for some reason.
“Is that so? But I guess the second section is hard for even you. Since 4 days have passed but you’re still peering at it.”
Edora slightly laughed at Yeon-woo’s human side.
The Eight Extreme Fists was one of the most superior Mugongs the Martial King made. It became harder as it went to learn it, and a considerable amount of time was needed for it. It took several years to just understand it.
A few of the elders breathed the Eight Extreme Fists day and night, but they still didn’t understand it. That seemed to be Yeon-woo’s case as well. He had shown rapid growth, but he had only begun Mugong. It was obvious it would take time. On the other hand, Edora was happy she could help with something.
She already knew all of the Eight Extreme Fists and she could freely help Yeon-woo since the Martial King hadn’t said she couldn’t help. She thought she could stay by his side to help him. Just the two of them. Cozily.
However.
“No. I memorized the form, and I’m learning the steps little by little. But I’m just trying to see if I understood it right. Checking if I didn’t miss anything.”
“….!”
Edora was shocked that her thoughts were completely wrong. Now, Yeon-woo seemed like a monster.
‘He…..finished memorizing that?’
The second and last sections of the Eight Extreme Fists were made up of 32 and 16 steps, respectively, and it became even more difficult as it went. But he had memorized it in 4 days?
Edora remembered that Yeon-woo had made a Mugong just like that in 4 days recently. She still couldn’t get used to this.
‘Phante is gonna pull his hair out again.’
Edora shook her head imagining Phante.
But there was something she was missing. Yeon-woo wasn’t memorizing Eight Extreme Fists, but incorporating into his Heaven Wing Mana Control.
‘Eight Extreme Fists in incredible as it is. But to use it with my Magic Circuit, a little adjustment is needed.’
This was only possible with the understanding of the Eight Extreme Fists, so it was surprising. But it was just something obvious to Yeon-woo.
He was receiving the help of the trait ‘Dragon’s Knowledge,’ and fixing it according to the flaws he saw with his Draconic Eyes.
But it was still a great feat that couldn’t be accomplished without motivation and tenacity.
So Yeon-woo was frequently seeing the same messages these days.
[The gods and demons of the 98th floor are observing you with interest.]
[A few gods and demons are discussing you with amusement.]
[Hermers is looking at you proudly.]
The fact that the gods and demons of the 98th floor were observing me. There was even a familiar name.
‘Hermes.’
He thought of Hermes, who he had met in the treasury, and shook his head. At first, the attention was cool, but now it was annoying.
Making the Eight Extreme Fists was even more important now. So as he was about to focus on his book.
“Oh. You seem to be getting on fine.”
Yeon-woo folded his book at someone’s presence, and turned his head in that direction.
It was familiar. Bahal smiled satisfactorily at Yeon-woo and the training of Team 2.
Everyone was flustered at the Supreme Commander’s sudden appearance. The mercenaries stood up straighter, and the team leaders quickly rushed over to greet him. But Bahal waved his hand as if saying it was unnecessary, and turned back to look at Yeon-woo.
“I heard you had a tight grasp on the mercenaries. You seem to be fitting in well.”
“Thank you.”
“Sure. how is it? Do you think you can jump in now?”
Yeon-woo’s eyes flashed in understanding. It was the order to start moving now that he had gotten the legion under his control.
‘That means it’s time to start.’
It was time to continue with his plan. Yeon-woo nodded his head without a trace of his thoughts on his face.
“We can move anytime.”
“Good. Then there’s a place you secretly…..”
“Before that, I actually have something to say.”
Instead of getting mad at Yeon-woo who dared to cut him off, Bahal showed curiosity. Yeon-woo was a lucky charm that brought interesting things his way. He was curious what he was going to pull out this time.
“Hm? What is it?”
Yeon-woo slowly opened his mouth.
“Did you know the Saber God’s son was staying on the 16th floor?”
“…..!”
Bahal’s eyes became bigger.