Chapter 39: Serial Runaway Event (2)
Around 1 in the afternoon, Baekdo, who had returned, looked somewhat sorrowful.
Her appearance was somewhat pitiable for some reason. So, I held back my words until Baekdo, who looked down, spoke to me first.
“Third disciple. First disciple.”
Sansuyu and I nodded our heads simultaneously.
“To be honest, I highly value both of your talents.”
Sansuyu faintly smiled at the generous praise. She may not know other emotions, but she did have a longing for skills; Baekdo caught this well.
Baekdo, twirling her snowy ponytail, continued.
“So, I am thinking of sending you into actual combat.”
“Suddenly?”
My words erupted as soon as Baekdo stopped talking.
Saying that she would do it when she came to visit after getting annoyed and leaving the mountain. It’s not that I disliked it, but it was unexpected.
“Especially, you, the third disciple, you shine in actual combat. Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong.”
I did have a combat-oriented body, after all.
“So, that’s why. There’s a chance to experience real combat, so try it.”
I delayed my response and snuck a glance at Sansuyu. Sansuyu’s yellow eyes were sparkling slightly.
Increase your skills! It was a good opportunity! It seemed like she was conveying such thoughts to me.
“Well, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“If you finish this task well, I will take you as my direct disciple.”
“I understand.”
The tight uniform controversy was not brought up this time, so I comfortably accepted the offer.
Relieved at my response, Baekdo coughed lightly and moved towards the hut, and we followed.
-Eek.
“You will probably have to spend more than 3 days in Seoul, so pack all your belongings.”
“Yes.”
Entering the hut to pack and carefully holding the flower pot, Shiba rubbed her face against my hand.
Sansuyu, who had finished packing before me, tapped Baekdo’s back lightly.
“Why are you doing this, first disciple?”
“Can’t I become a direct disciple?”
Baekdo made an awkward face at those regretful words.
It was natural. Having two disciples and only one become a direct disciple would be problematic.
Baekdo, resting her hand on her chin in thought, soon reached a conclusion.
“I am a martial artist, so I don’t know how to use a sword. I can’t teach swordsmanship. Lee Shiheon has the qualities of a martial artist. Right?”
It was a look asking for some help.
I thought of pretending not to hear but decided to help as she did not mention the tight uniform.
“Yes. I plan to put down the sword this time.”
“…Huh?!”
Sansuyu, surprised at my words, asked me.
“Why? Why are you giving up the sword?”
“I think being a martial artist suits my qualities.”
“Even though, even though you use sword techniques so well?”
Nodding my head, Sansuyu trembled in shock.
It didn’t make sense. Such mumbling was heard.
But what could be wrong? The world’s strongest woman guaranteed it.
But before that, was this woman really the world’s strongest, Baekdo? Byeol recommended her as a master, so she was definitely not weak, but she boasted too much about herself, so I couldn’t trust her.
“Yes.”
“…Really?”
It seemed like Sansuyu somewhat accepted it, so now there was another question to ask.
“So, what do we do in actual combat?”
“… It’s subjugating Ents.”
“Subjugating Ents?”
Ents?
Sansuyu and I tilted our heads.
“Why? Don’t you know?”
“No, we know, but why is that suddenly mentioned?”
We already knew about Ents through our classes.
It was said that tree people who couldn’t withstand the power of the World Tree turned into wooden monsters filled with evil.
They were substantial beings, to the point that there were theories that monsters like goblins appearing in dungeons originated from Ents.
“There have been a series of runaway incidents. It’s around Seoul. We probably have to investigate and root them out this time.”
A series of runaways, crazy terrorists who infused the power of the World Tree into the tree people and made them go crazy, did exist in history.
It was something I occasionally saw in textbooks, but it was really happening.
With a dazed expression, I watched Baekdo. She might have thought that I understood the situation, so she continued talking.
“You will probably have to participate in the investigation.”
“Not in combat? But if we start with the investigation, won’t it take too long? Our training period is short.”
“I’ve contacted the academy.”
That was good.
It was a legal excuse to skip the academy.
“Yes. Let’s just do it.”
“I’ll do it too.”
Hearing mine and Sansuyu’s responses, Baekdo faintly smiled.
“And there’s someone I want to introduce to you.”
“Who is it?”
“They are your colleagues who you’ll be with once you graduate from the academy. From the moment you became my disciple, it’s as if you were recruited.”
Colleagues?
Why was she trying to involve me there?
With a perplexed face, I questioned Baekdo.
“Who decided to include me in a prospective masters’ group?”
“It’s none other than our mercenary group. You’ll be treated decently if you join.”
“No matter how good the conditions are, it seems a bit crappy to be with prospective masters.”
“Shit. You really know how to talk trash. You’ll receive a monthly ten million won, guaranteed two days off a week, and regular bonuses. It won’t be a regretful choice.”
Ten million a month, two days off a week, and bonuses?
“Ohoho, you should have said that first.”
“You’re so materialistic.”
I followed Baekdo with soft steps, and she sighed heavily, looking at me with displeasure.
“Why do I have to take such a guy as my disciple.”
“You chose me as your disciple. Please accept it willingly.”
“I sincerely feel like shit.”
Seeing her genuine dislike, it seems it was not Baekdo’s will. Maybe Cheondo or Hwangdo influenced her. Was it because of my half-knowledge?
Exchanging profanities, we headed towards Seoul.
Sansuyu seemed dumbfounded, watching our low-level conversation.
Spring Peach Blossom.
It was a world-class organization mainly active in Korea, an elite mercenary group composed only of top-ranked hunters.
When big things happened in the Korean Association, they were always the elite group that was invited with utmost respect.
And Baekdo was the legendary leader who led Spring Peach Blossom.
There seemed to be many stories about the Undefeated Peach Tree in the world, but to me, Baekdo just seemed like a master of making a fuss.
Anyway, Baekdo was the head of a world-class organization, and I got scouted there.
Additionally, Baekdo invited Sansuyu on the way, but naturally, Sansuyu refused due to her family.
A four-person elite organization.
Honestly, I couldn’t help but be excited.
If it was a world-class elite mercenary group, it seemed like they would surely achieve something big somewhere.
With such feelings, following Baekdo, I entered the promised café, and three people, men, and women mixed, were sitting in the deepest sofa seat.
“Master, you’re here!”
The first one to stand up, a red-haired woman, waved her hands joyously.
“Please sit here.”
“Alright.”
“Are these people your disciples, master?”
“Hmm, yes.”
Baekdo, quite stern compared to when she was with us, sat down and cleared her throat.
I glanced at Baekdo with a perplexed look, then turned to observe the organization members.
A woman with red hair suited for pigtails.
A stylish woman with black hair and ripped jeans.
Just a giant muscle lump.
This organization consisted of 1 man and 3 women.
Turning my head towards the red-haired woman, she sneakily smirked.
My heart fluttered at her pretty look. She placed her hand on her chest over her fine dress and bowed her head.
“Hello, junior. I am Roshi.”
“Roshi? Did you come from a foreign country?”
Then, Baekdo looked at me and bluntly said.
“The family name is Ko.”
Ah… Ko Roshi. How could someone’s name be…
Glancing at Roshi, she was smiling threateningly as if she would kill me if teased.
Smiling would certainly put me at a disadvantage. I should conserve my words.
With such thoughts, I took a deep breath inwardly, and Sansuyu, who was pondering with her head wrapped next to me, exclaimed.
“Koroshi? I saw that on TreeInside.”
Sansuyu’s unabridged words made Koroshi’s face harden.
…….
Silence prevailed.
“Pfft! Puhahaha!”
The silence was broken by a woman in ripped jeans with black hair.
“P. Do you want to lose?”
“No, the little yellow one is bolder than she looks. Phu Phu. TreeInside. Yeah right…… How can a person’s name be Koroshi?”
“You really lost.”
Koroshi and the woman called P began to argue.
That P seemed pretty but not normal.
Baekdo, inwardly also having such thoughts, nodded at me. It was as if she knew my mind.
‘Is this organization really world-class?’
I couldn’t help but doubt it. Sansuyu was emotionlessly aiming a knife at Koroshi’s chest while tilting her head, and I sighed, looking at it.
P, who had reduced her words, extended her hand to us.
“Anyway, welcome. I am P. Just call me P. Paprika BJ.”
“Paprika BJ?”
“Do you know?”
P’s eyes sparkled at my reaction. It was like seeing a child discovering common ground for the first time.
“I am BJ Pine Tree. Do you know this? If you like pine-”
“Stop those vulgar acts. That girl who strips and broadcasts talks too much.”
“-not true? It’s game broadcasting?”
“If you broadcast with your chest bare, it’s stripping broadcasting, not game broadcasting.”
Watching the two start arguing again, I looked back at Baekdo. Baekdo just maintained her stern face with a sense of enlightenment.
P and Koroshi were still fighting. Let’s ignore them.
I stroked Shiba’s sprout as I held her and approached the muscular man.
“What’s your name?”
He took off his hat. The refreshing black-skinned bald head looked quite professional.
“Bob.”
“What?”
“My surname is Bao, call me Baobab. I come from Africa.”
Ah… the Baobab tree.
I approached Baekdo and whispered urgently.
“Damn, master, there’s no normal person here. No normal person.”
“Bob is quite diligent. Those two also have first-class abilities as mercenaries.”
“No, not that. As a person, they are messed up.”
“You’re the same.”
Was that so?
“Yeah… if that’s the case.”
I understood.
This was where I would lay my bones.
Half-giving up, I looked around, and Pine and Koroshi were still arguing.
“P, I never liked you from the start. What’s with the pine tree?”
“You, Koroshi girl who sells her next sap.”
“Ah! I told you not to talk about that in front of me! It’s an honorable thing for the Koroshi family!”
Bwuahahaha!
Bwuahahaha!
It’s noisy.
I vaguely got it, but what trees were those two?
Narrowing my eyes and focusing, trees sprouted behind the two people.
I could now freely use this strange ability.
[Pine Tree], [Koroshi Tree]
They were trees that could be inferred sufficiently by their names.
However, hearing it again, it was absurd. How could someone’s name be Koroshi? There were better names, like Dorothy.
While grumbling internally, Pine and Koroshi, who saw my mask, started to show interest in me.
“Hey, shouldn’t the junior show his properly arranged face?”
“You’re right. Junior, please take off your mask once.”
Suddenly, the target changed to me. It seemed like both had a mutual agreement to try something on me. I was stepping back, but soon realizing their intentions, I took off the mask.
“Wait a minute… okay. I’ll take it off.”
Soon, all eyes were focused on me.
“……What?”
“……Warm.”
Pine and Roshi, who both saw my face, had nothing more to mock and showed disappointed faces.
Baekdo opened her eyes wide in surprise.
Sansuyu, seeing my face, was startled.
“Siyeon.”
“What?”
“Did you use magic?”
She seemed genuinely shocked.
It seemed like my masked face looked very ugly.
I understood, but somehow, my mouth felt bitter.
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