Chapter 56
“Ughhh…”
I looked at Dokgoyeong, who no longer resembled a human, and thought.
It was completely over now. Honestly, it was a miracle he had held on this long.
If the guy were indeed human… he would die very soon.
The Subordinates must have sensed it too, as they all stopped beating him and stepped back.
And Jeokyeom stepped forward. It seemed he intended to deliver the finale.
Jeokyeom asked Dokgoyeong, who was already crushed beyond recognition.
“Do you want to live?”
“Ugh…”
Nod.
“Wow, what an unbelievable bastard.”
I couldn’t help but marvel.
It was possible to nod in the midst of all that. Dokgoyeong’s obsession with life was truly on a level everyone should learn from.
Not that I’m actually telling anyone to learn it.
Anyway, seeing Dokgoyeong nod, Jeokyeom seemed to ponder for a moment before opening his mouth.
“If you apologize to all of us who suffered because of you, I will forgive you.”
“…”
Was this a deception?
Even if we stopped everything right now and tried to treat him, we wouldn’t be able to save him.
Despite clearly knowing that, Jeokyeom spoke to Dokgoyeong with a serious expression.
And what was even funnier was…
“Ughh…”
Dokgoyeong looked around, turning his head as if trying to count how many people were nearby.
“Wow…”
It made me think that with that level of tenacity, he’d eat well and live well even in Hell.
Eventually, after surveying his surroundings, Dokgoyeong slowly let out a voice through his completely busted and broken mouth.
“S-sorry… I apologize…”
“…”
“Everyone…, sorry…”
Dokgoyeong didn’t just apologize to Jeokyeom; he turned his body around and forcefully bowed his head to the surroundings. Jeokyeom glared at the sight before speaking.
“I have received your apology well.”
“T-then…”
“But aren’t there others you need to apologize to besides us?”
“…Eh?”
As Dokgoyeong made a foolish expression, Jeokyeom brought up his axe and continued.
“Our families who died by your hands! The villagers-!! And the other people who died unjustly because of you-!!! …If you truly want to be forgiven, shouldn’t you rightfully receive their forgiveness as well?”
“…Ah.”
Receive forgiveness from the dead. Even the half-delirious Dokgoyeong could understand what those words meant.
Srrng-.
Jeokyeom’s bloodstained Great Axe was raised high.
“You will not be forgiven until the very end. Unlike the people who died unjustly, you will rot in Hell for all eternity.”
“…Uuuh.”
“Let’s never see each other again.”
With those final words, Jeokyeom swung the axe down.
And just like that…
CRUNCH-!
…he blew Dokgoyeong’s head off.
Having lived his whole life in luxury as the Second Son of the Dokgo Noble Family… and having lived his whole life to satisfy his despicable murderous intent, he met his end in a form that didn’t even look human.
“…”
“…”
Everyone watched the sight in silence until…
Step-
…Jeokyeom walked toward me.
And then…
Thud.
…just like the day he swore loyalty to me, he knelt and bowed down before me.
“…Thank you, Leader. Thanks to your grace, Leader, I was able to safely avenge my grudge.”
“…What did I even do?”
At this, I naturally couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, because I hadn’t done anything.
I had merely said a word to Jeokyeom when he was hesitating in front of Dokgoyeong. I had no involvement in Dokgoyeong’s death, and in the end, the one who cut off Dokgoyeong’s head was Jeokyeom.
I looked down at Jeokyeom, who was prostrating before me. When he raised his head, I saw his face, which now looked much more at peace.
“You look…, at peace now.”
“…Yes. I think I am.”
Now that the emotional burden restricting Jeokyeom’s movements was gone, I thought he might finally see the light in his Martial Arts as well.
We had gained something in our own way, but we had lost too much.
I looked around the Scene of Carnage, sighed, and opened my mouth.
“Hey, it’s all over now, so gather the bodies of the dead kids. And hold their funerals right away tomorrow.”
“…Yes.”
At the mention of the dead, a gloomy reply returned.
“When you gather the bodies, take care of the Merchant Ajaes’s too. The road is a mess, so let’s clean it up a bit. Ah, move the injured kids and treat them.”
“What should we do with the bodies of the Murim Alliance Martial Artists?”
“Just toss them roughly into the bushes. Let the wildcats have a free meal.”
After speaking so casually, I also walked over to gather the bodies of my dead Subordinates.
“Phew…”
He lay dead with his eyes wide open, having likely been stabbed in the neck.
I didn’t know his name. Still…, he was a guy I felt like I had seen somewhere.
I stared blankly at him before taking out some silver and roughly slipping it into the inner pocket of his clothes.
In the past, I really couldn’t understand giving travel money to the dead. I used to think, why waste money when the dead can’t even use it?
But now, I think I might understand.
It’s because you feel so sorry for not doing anything for them while they were alive that you can’t bear to just stand still.
So you do something like this, at least.
Feeling that sentiment to the bone, I slipped silver into the clothes of the rest of the guys as well.
It was then.
“Um, Leader. What should we do with those guys?”
“Hmm?”
Where a Subordinate pointed, there were a few Murim Alliance Martial Artists still subdued with blades held to their necks.
They seemed to be the ones who had surrendered when Dokgoyeong was subdued.
“You still haven’t killed them? Should I do it?”
As I drew my blade and approached, I saw the Murim Alliance guys freak out, and…
Grab.
There was a hand stopping me.
Without even turning my head at that now-familiar touch, I spoke.
“What, again.”
“…They’re already Disarmed prisoners. There’s no need to go out of your way to kill them, is there?”
“Did my Subordinates commit any sins?”
I turned my body and continued speaking to Yoo Somyung, who was bowing her head as if she had no face to show.
“Well…, my Subordinates weren’t exactly guys who lived good lives, either. Still, I was having them pave roads and work as Attendants to make them act like proper human beings, but the Murim Alliance just went and killed them all, huh? You saw us too. Were we doing anything that deserved death like that?”
“No, not at all. From what I saw, you guys at least weren’t doing anything to warrant being subjugated. Still…”
I was planning to immediately ignore Yoo Somyung if she spouted some emotional nonsense about showing mercy. However…
“…If you kill all those people, you’ll no longer have any justification to talk with the Murim Alliance. Are you going to kill them all and go to war with the Murim Alliance?”
Surprisingly, what came out of her mouth were realistic words.
“If you let those people live and send them to the Murim Alliance, I’ll make sure they pay their rightful price. And…, I’ll testify to everything: Dokgoyeong’s evil deeds, and the fact that you guys are innocent.”
“…”
Even if she was a Young Lady of a Prestigious family, Yoo Somyung was at best a Rising Star. Her testimony wouldn’t have that much of an impact. Even so, it was better than nothing.
At this, I had to think.
Even though I had told Jeokyeom that a Bandit doesn’t think about the aftermath, a Superior has to think about the aftermath to plan for the future.
The conclusion I reached after such deliberation was…
“Hey, tie those bastards up for now and lock them up somewhere.”
“Yes.”
For now, it was to secure hostages.
“…Thank you.”
“…”
I didn’t reply to Yoo Somyung’s words of gratitude and continued slipping silver into the bodies of the other Subordinates.
* * *
The next day, everything was sorted out, and a simplified funeral was held.
The funeral was officiated by Jeokyeom, who was in relatively decent condition, and Leader Muyeon only showed his face before leaving.
The same went for Dongryong, who had severe injuries all over his body.
Although he could move, Dongryong was in a state where he shouldn’t overexert himself, so he left after watching his Subordinates off for the last time.
In truth, the Subordinates who died this time were all guys Dongryong had absorbed when he was making a name for himself as the Bandit King, so Dongryong couldn’t help but feel even heavier at heart.
[Still, the Leader must be having a harder time than I.]
Defeating the Dragon Slaying Squad guys and holding funerals for the Subordinates didn’t mean the matter was over.
The guys they fought yesterday were only a fraction of the Murim Alliance’s Armed Force. If the Murim Alliance made up its mind to subjugate the Green Forest, it wouldn’t even be able to resist.
[The Leader must be agonizing over how to solve the problem even now.]
It would be difficult, but Dongryong still believed in his Leader.
Even if he seemed lackadaisical, the Leader was actually a smart person. The Leader knew a lot and had an extraordinary mind.
On top of that, he had an unyielding will, so he would definitely be able to solve this matter as well.
[If there’s anything I can do to help, I should help.]
Thinking so, Dongryong directed his steps toward the Leader’s Quarters, located in the very center of the Mountain Stronghold.
“Leader.”
Creaaak-.
When Dongryong opened the door, the first thing he saw was the Leader’s back, muttering something while facing the wall.
[Is he coming up with some profound stratagem?]
What was he muttering about to be so focused that he didn’t even notice someone coming in?
Curious about that, Dongryong approached the Leader and soon found out the contents.
“…Buddha, I pray to you like this, so please let me be born in a fantasy world in my Next Life.”
“…Leader.”
…The Leader was praying with incomprehensible words.
Sometimes, when the Leader lost his mind like this, he would spout incomprehensible words.
At this, Dongryong sighed and grabbed the Leader’s shoulder, and only then did the Leader look back at Dongryong.
“Ah, Dongryong. You’re here. I was praying. In our Next Life, let’s be born as elves and live under the World Tree…”
“…Leader! Please snap out of it! We need to come up with countermeasures quickly!”
As Dongryong shook his shoulders, Muyeon stared into the air with a blank expression.
“…Fuck, I don’t know. What do we do? I can’t think of anything… What if the Murim Alliance invades at this rate? We can’t even run away. I think we’re just fucked…”
“Still, you have to think of a way quickly. Or at least ram into them head-on!”
“A way…, a way… Ah, right, the answer is a nuclear missile. We just launch a nuclear missile at the Murim Alliance Headquarters. Then we can live…”
“What on earth are you talking about… You have to speak so I can understand…”
Dongryong, who had served Muyeon the longest, knew that when he got into this state, he would lose his mind for a while, so he gave up and let go of the shoulder he was holding.
Thud.
When he let go of his shoulder, Muyeon collapsed onto the floor with a thud, like a kite with a snapped string. Even as he collapsed on the floor, he continued his nonsense.
“Doraemon…, help me… Save me with your four-dimensional pocket…”
“Leader…, please snap out of it…! What is Doraemon…! Is it someone who can help us…? If so, we should at least go meet him…!”
“We can’t meet Doraemon… But forever in our hearts… Ah.”
At that moment, Muyeon raised his body as if he suddenly remembered something.
“Even if I don’t have Doraemon…, I have something like a budget Doraemon in my hands. Yeah, fuck, rather than just lying here and taking it, I have to do something.”
Muyeon’s eyes were shining with a gleam, as if his brain was finally working again.
“Dongryong, I’m going down the mountain for a bit.”
“…Where are you going all of a sudden?”
“I’m going to meet Doraemon.”
“…No, I mean, what is that? Seriously.”
Dongryong asked Muyeon, but Muyeon, whose eyes had already gone crazy, didn’t answer him until the very end.