Chapter 158

Episode 158

A thick cloud of dust rose.

I stepped back with an embroidery tree by my side, frowned, and waved my left hand.

Whoops!

An arrow flew through the dust and hit the back of my hand, making an unpleasant collision sound.

The experience loaded on arrows was considerable.

“.......”

I released my energy and looked around, but I could not detect any sign of humans.

It seemed like they withdrew immediately after shooting the arrow.

“this.”

Bangcheoksam muttered with a stern expression.

Two deaths and three minor injuries.

Except for the pilot who was initially hit by an arrow and the one who was unable to avoid the rock, everyone was safe.

It could be said that the casualties were not that great compared to the size of the ship.

The problem was that all the horses and carriages were buried.

Because the situation was so urgent, I did not have time to pack my luggage.

It was fortunate that I had kept the most important birthday present in my arms.

‘That’s a pain in the ass.’

I scratched the back of my head and cursed.

I suffered an unexpected change.

I never thought I would lose all my horses and carriages in the deserted mountains.

As I thought about walking to the next village, I already felt at a loss.

I wasn’t the only one who was confused.

The delegates argued over what to do next.

“Shouldn’t we first dig up the wreckage and take what we can?”

“What if the bandits attack again in the meantime?”

“At least we need to secure water and food. “Isn’t it impossible to move while starving?”

“How about finding a living vegetable and taking revenge?”

“plural?”

“There are several experts here. “I don’t think it would be difficult to take down at least one living creature.”

I sat down on a nearby rock and watched their conversation for a while.

I felt a figure approaching the seat next to me and turned my head.

“Something is strange.”

Damun spoke to me with a stern expression.

I tilted my head and asked back.

“What do you mean, strange?”

“I don’t understand the principle of action.”

“......?”

“Those who showed up just now are probably not bandits. “If they were bandits, they wouldn’t have attacked us willingly.”

“Tell me a little more detail.”

“What kind of bandit in the world would bury the entire load that was supposed to be taken away? “What is the benefit of doing something like that?”

“...!”

I felt like I knew what Damun was trying to say.

In the end, there was only one reason why bandits blocked the path of passers-by.

plunder.

Either kill the target and take everything they have, or collect the toll.

The reason they committed illegal acts was to gain financial gain.

In that sense, there were many things I didn’t understand about the bandits’ appearance just now.

‘It’s the same for using tactics that would only be used in a power dispute between bandits against the bandit group, and for attacking them without prior negotiation through a question-and-answer dance.’

Moreover, the skill of the person who shot the arrow last was extraordinary.

I thought he was an expert belonging to Green Forest, but then I realized that maybe that wasn’t the case.

“...Maybe demons sent from the Demonic Cult are secretly working here.”

I crossed my arms and clicked my tongue.

If the opponent’s goal was annihilation rather than plunder, the identity of the person behind the order was obvious.

“Sacheon, especially Chengdu, is not a good area for demonic cultists to operate.”

“So, you’re saying that you were waiting for the moment when the branch leader went on a trip to a foreign land.”

At the time, when I was just a young chick, I was greatly shocked when I saw the members of the film corps.

Even the lowest level operators had similar skills to me.

I was able to guess how much effort the religious leader put into raising them.

“The total number of people is sixty. There are five groups of twelve people each. “Probably one or two groups were sent here.”

“Wouldn’t at least two groups have been dispatched? “I don’t think they can do anything with us with just twelve people.”

“I said it just now, but you shouldn’t look down on the Young Music University. “Each one is an expert who has reached at least the peak of his or her peak, and among the five captains, there are also two experts in the art of fireworks.”

“Are you saying that a single assassination organization includes a master of the Flower Guard?”

“It’s not that surprising. “If we don’t reach that level, we cannot function as an inspection organization within the school.”

“.......”

“It’s not just that the members are of a high standard. Their true fear lies in their willingness to use any means possible. “You’ve experienced it yourself, so you probably know it.”

Damun’s expression hardened.

I felt like I finally understood the seriousness of the situation.

“What would you like to do?”

“I think we need to discuss it with the rest of the group first.”

“The problem starts tonight. “I don’t know when and how they might attack...”

I nodded and sighed.

It seemed that the smooth trip was wrong.

* * *

Crack! Crash!

A blazing bonfire in the middle of a large open space.

My group and I sat around the bonfire and discussed our future plans.

“Are you saying that the assassins sent by the Demon Cult Lord are aiming for your head?”

“At least that’s how I see it.”

“What is the basis for that judgment?”

“We confirmed that the bandits we encountered during the day were massacred. “In all likelihood, they moved away after erasing their traces.”

“The bandits were massacred?”

“yes. “From the beginning, they were probably just bait to get our attention.”

A furrow was carved between Bangcheoksam’s eyebrows.

The other party members also all had serious expressions.

The assassination group dispatched by the Demon Cultist was behind manipulating the bandits.

It was not an issue that could be taken lightly.

“For now, I think the contract with Haeulpyo will have to end here.”

The eyes of Zhang Liang-guk, the leader of the group, rose sharply.

He placed his hands on the floor and asked me harshly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it literally. Those of you who are leaders of Haeulpyoguk, please return to Seongdo. “You can rest assured that we have no intention of getting your request money back.”

“That can’t be possible. “Where in the world is there a group of criminals who abandon their clients and run away?”

“I am grateful, but it is better for both parties if we break up at this point.”

“It is common for life-threatening situations to arise while traveling. “I am fully prepared.”

“It’s not something that can be done through determination alone. “What do you guys plan to do?”

“.......”

“We have lost our horses and carriages, so we must move forward with a light attack. You need to move as quickly as possible to minimize the number of times you are attacked by assassins. “There is no time to move in sync with skilled fighters whose martial arts skills are relatively inferior.”

“.......”

I feel sorry for Zhang Liang-guk, who dreams of revenge, but now the number of people has to be reduced.

In order not to hurt his pride, he only singled out the skilled practitioners, but in fact, the poor masters were also the same.

“We ask for your understanding.”

“......All right.”

Zhang Liangguo reluctantly nodded.

I sighed softly and looked to the side.

Damun, who had gone to set up a camp under the escort of Yeo So-ok, made his way through the grass and appeared in a clearing.

“Has the installation of Jinbeop been completed?”

“yes. “I lost most of the castings I had, so I could only make crude ones...”

“But it’s better than nothing.”

After inviting Damun and Yeo So-ok to sit down.

I looked around the group and spoke as if making a declaration.

“I plan to use this opportunity to wipe out the swarm of assassins.”