Chapter 13
“Leader... what should we do?”
“...”
Dongryong, holding his sword, asked me with a tense expression. I casually swept aside the broken glass shards and looked around.
“Bring the alcohol! *ALCOHOL!!*”
“Hehehe... delicious...”
“Hmmph...”
All the other subordinates, except Dongryong and me, were completely drunk and out of their minds.
“Ugh... useless bastards...”
After clicking my tongue once, I shouted towards where the arrow had come from.
“Well, I don’t know who you are, but how about we talk?”
“...”
“There’s no need to be tense. After all, there are only five drunkards here.”
At this, a presence was felt after a short while.
“Greetings.”
What emerged from the dark bushes was a rugged-looking man with an unkempt beard.
He didn’t appear alone; several figures were visible around him.
“*From the sounds, it seems there are a few more behind them... Roughly twelve people?*”
Whether they were tense from seeing us or not, each of them had trembling hands, holding a sword and a saber.
The man at the very front asked me with a wary gaze.
“This place is the territory of our Muak Mountain Brotherhood. Who exactly are you Sirs to be making such a ruckus on the mountain at this late hour? The arrow was shot as a warning, so please understand.”
There was a certain degree of politeness in his words, as if he were trying to gauge if we were Righteous Martial Artists.
No, to be precise, they were...
Gulp.
They were looking at the luggage we each had at our feet.
The items we possessed from the Shanxi Yu Clan were clearly no ordinary goods at first glance.
They must have thought that those carrying such things were not ordinary people.
At this, I could have pretended to be a Righteous Martial Artist and acted with solemnity, thereby escaping this situation...
“...Pfft.”
...?
“Ahahahahaha-!! Ah, I can’t hold it in. Hey, buddy! What kind of name is Muak Mountain Brotherhood? Your naming sense is truly *terrible*. Ahahaha-!!”
“...”
The name Muak Mountain Brotherhood made me burst out laughing.
I don’t know who came up with it, but it’s a truly *shitty* name.
“You... what are you?”
As I started laughing boisterously, he dropped all pretense of politeness from his tone and pointed his saber at me.
It seemed he realized from my reaction that I wasn’t a Righteous Martial Artist. Those Righteous Faction types who value etiquette and demeanor wouldn’t laugh so carelessly.
I confidently extended my hand and asked him.
“I am so-and-so from the Hyeongak Mountain Green Forest Stronghold, and what is your name, my friend?”
“...I am Eungchil, Deputy Leader of the Muak Mountain Brotherhood.”
Eungchil didn’t take my extended hand; he stared at it for a moment, then asked me. He still hadn’t lowered the saber he had pointed at me.
“Hyeongak Mountain, you say... That’s clearly a mountain in the Shanxi Region. What brings you all the way out here?”
“Ah, why are you so stiff with a fellow professional? Wouldn’t it be better if we sat down and talked over a drink? Oof...”
I sat down again and poured alcohol into another gourd dipper.
“...”
Naturally, Eungchil neither accepted my drink nor sat down; instead...
*Shing-*.
“Stop trying to be clever, and tell me why you’ve come here first.”
“...”
He thrust his saber close to my neck, threatening me.
Seeing this, Dongryong flinched, but I stopped him with a glance before he opened his mouth.
“Actually, the Shanxi Region isn’t very good for banditry right now. Do you know why?”
“...”
“One of the Prestigious families there, the Shanxi Yu Clan, is currently cleaning up the nearby mountains. They say they’re wiping out all the Remnants of the Unorthodox Faction.”
Of course, it was a complete lie, but it was actually common for Righteous Faction members to suppress local Bandits or Water Bandits.
As if he accepted this, he nodded and asked.
“So?”
“Ah, but those guys are so relentless. They’re chasing us to the death, determined to uproot us completely. What choice did we have? We had no choice but to swallow our tears and leave our homeland. But while fleeing... we heard a rumor.”
A rumor? What rumor?
Dongryong next to me seemed unable to follow the current pace of conversation, only rolling his eyes. However, I continued speaking without changing my expression.
“Ah, well, isn’t it said that powerful and valiant people live on Muak Mountain? So, *that’s it!*—we thought, and rushed right over.”
“Why...?”
Unfortunately, Eungchil, like most other Bandits, didn’t seem to be particularly bright. So, I turned to him, who still wore a bewildered expression, and clearly stated my intention.
“Why else? Because we want to join the Strong Expert. All five of us, including me, wish to join the Muak Mountain Brotherhood.”
**
The dark, rugged Mountain Path.
My subordinates and I, all tied with ropes, were led by the Muak Mountain Brothers along the path.
All our luggage was carried by them.
“Uh-oh... where are we going...?”
“Hey, Mr. Grim Reaper... let’s have one more drink before we go to the afterlife...”
Leaving behind the subordinates who were still completely drunk and out of their minds, Dongryong secretly approached me and spoke.
“Leader...!”
“What’s wrong, Dongryong?”
“No, what are you planning to do...!”
“What do you mean, “what am I planning to do”? Didn’t you hear what I said earlier?”
Dongryong was appalled by my answer.
“S-surely you’re not really... joining these idiotic Bandits?”
“Hey, Dongryong. We decided to live here, didn’t we? When are we ever going to build a house and settle down? It’s just easier to move into a place that’s already established.”
“Ah, even so...”
Even with my persuasion, Dongryong wore a reluctant expression and was about to continue speaking.
“Hey, you there! No chattering!”
Some guy who looked like a minion saw us talking and immediately stopped us, so we couldn’t say anything more.
Instead, I gave Dongryong a wink, then quietly followed them.
“*They”ve really made this path complicated.*’
It seemed they were experienced bandits, as the path to their mountain stronghold was extremely rugged.
It was so complex, winding this way and that, that it would be almost impossible for a newcomer to find.
After walking for some time longer.
“Oh...”
Finally, we reached their Mountain Stronghold.
And I couldn’t help but be surprised by the sight of the Mountain Stronghold.
“*They”ve done a *damn* good job, haven’t they...?*’
*Inside the Mountain Stronghold, surrounded by sturdy Outer Walls, there were just under ten buildings, and they all looked sturdy and well-built at first glance.*
Judging by the brightly lit fires, it seemed they had plenty of daily necessities like oil...
Most importantly, there were many people. As soon as we arrived, others came out to watch, and there seemed to be about forty of them.
At this size, it was less a Mountain Stronghold and more like a small village.
After Eungchil led us to the front of the house in the very center of the Mountain Stronghold, he spoke.
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go bring the Leader.”
Eungchil had already grown accustomed to speaking informally to us.
If it were the old me, I would have given such a disrespectful fellow who spoke informally a fitting consequence...
“Yep.”
I just smiled brightly and nodded. Dongryong next to me, seeing me like this, wore an expression of utter bewilderment.
After a short while...
“Ahem.”
*Swoosh-*.
The door of the house opened, and someone stepped out.
“Who is this greenhorn who wants to join our Muak Mountain Brotherhood?”
*Thump.*
As soon as he took a step forward, a thud echoed, and the ground trembled.
At first, I thought he had deliberately stomped his foot forward...
“Whoa...”
...it wasn’t.
Because he possessed such an enormous physique, the sound was caused unintentionally by his weight.
“*Is he two meters tall...?*”
I couldn’t help but gape at his enormous stature.
Since being reborn into this world, I had never seen such a large person.
And besides his great height and massive build, there was something else that surprised me...
“This is Jeokyeombu, the Leader of the Muak Mountain Brotherhood.”
“Ahem.”
True to his title Jeokyeombu (Red Beard Axe), he had a red beard.
“*If ‘Bu” (axe) means “axe”, does he use an axe?*’
That seemed to be correct, as a massive axe, fitting his size, was strapped to his back.
“So... are you the young one who wants to join our Muak Mountain Brotherhood?”
“Ah, yes! That’s us! It’s us-!”
As Jeokyeombu’s gaze turned towards us, I raised my hand and shouted to him.
“Though I am unworthy, wishing to join Leader Jeokyeombu, the hero of Muak Mountain, whose fame for boundless valor is widespread, I have come all the way from the Shanxi Region.”
“Hahaha, has my fame spread even to the Shanxi Region?”
As I bowed so low my body almost touched the ground, thereby flattering him, Jeokyeombu laughed heartily, seemingly pleased. It was clear at a glance that he was susceptible to flattery.
“Of course! To see Leader Jeokyeombu’s imposing presence with my own eyes like this is truly an overwhelming experience.”
“What? Ahaha-! That fellow’s words are truly to my liking!”
“It is fortunate that this unworthy one has found favor with Leader Jeokyeombu. Ah! I have also prepared a small gift for the great Leader Jeokyeombu. Might you perhaps loosen these bonds?”
“What? Indeed! Hey, lads, what are you doing? Quickly, release their bonds.”
Jeokyeombu, seemingly in a good mood, coolly released our bonds.
As soon as my bonds were released, I went to the back and showed him the items we had stolen from the Shanxi Yu Clan.
“Look, these are what we stole while fleeing.”
“Th-these are...”
Just like a Bandit.
As if he recognized the value of the items at a glance, Jeokyeombu’s eyes widened.
That wasn’t all.
“Haha, besides those, would you like to see these too? Those jars are what we took from Merchants on our way here... and what’s packed full inside those jars is all...”
“All...?”
“First-grade Dugangju.”
“W-what...?”
As soon as he heard the words First-grade Dugangju, Jeokyeombu’s eyes widened even more than before.
He seemed more excited by the First-grade Dugangju than by the treasures of the Shanxi Yu Clan, so he must really love alcohol.
I approached him as he swallowed, and whispered.
“All of these are gifts for Leader Jeokyeombu. With this much, perhaps...”
“...”
“Dare we hope to join the Muak Mountain Brotherhood?”
“What? Wahahaha-!!”
As I acted so humbly, Jeokyeombu began to laugh boisterously.
Then, patting my shoulder vigorously, he shouted in a booming voice.
“Of course! How could I refuse such a charming young fellow? From now on, all of you are members of the Muak Mountain Brotherhood!”
“As expected of Leader Jeokyeombu! You are as generous as your reputation suggests! Ahahaha-!!”
“This fellow always speaks so nicely. Good! I like you! You shall call me Elder Brother-!”
“Oh my! Thank you, Elder Brother!”
“Wahahaha-!!”
And so, things proceeded smoothly.
Since the Leader had given his permission, the other members of the Muak Mountain Brotherhood also accepted us. Dongryong looked awkward in the sudden situation, but the other subordinates, completely drunk and unaware of what was happening, danced merrily.
Jeokyeombu, celebrating the arrival of new members, threw a feast.
The food consisted of a giant roasted wild boar, and the alcohol was the First-grade Dugangju we had brought.
For me, who had been eating tasteless jerky as a side dish, the fresh, greasy roasted wild boar was an incredibly welcome sight.
As I tore off a large leg of the wild boar and bit into it, Jeokyeombu approached me.
“Little Brother, since you brought the alcohol, pour me a drink!”
“Ah, yes, Elder Brother! Of course, I’ll pour you a drink.”
Jeokyeombu’s face, as he drank the alcohol I poured, looked truly happy.
Hmm... it’s a bit early, but is this the right timing?
“Elder Brother, please have another drink.”
“Alright! The alcohol is so delicious; it goes down wonderfully!”
As I filled Jeokyeombu’s cup to the brim, I subtly said,
“But Elder Brother. We’ve just joined the Muak Mountain Brotherhood, shouldn’t we do *that*?”
“Hmm? *That*? Haha! Of course, my Little Brother should do whatever he wants! What is it you wish to do?”
Jeokyeombu, in a good mood, readily accepted my suggestion. However...
“Rank Adjustment.”
“...What?”
“Since new members have joined, shouldn’t we have a Rank Adjustment, as Bandits?”
“...”
At my words, not only Jeokyeombu but also the others around us fell silent, and the atmosphere grew tense.
Seeing their expressions, I took a sip of alcohol.
A very enjoyable time was about to begin.