Episode 30: Neither Grace nor Grudges are Forgotten (2)
Light Novel: Volume 2 Episode 30
Manhwa: Chapter 29
Chapter 2 Episode 30. Neither Grace nor Grudges are Forgotten (2)
The young man’s legs trembled.
Anyone could see that the young man was in no condition to fight.
Bang Jin-bo’s eyes filled with tears as he looked at the young man. The young man was someone Bang Jin-bo knew well.
So Cha-myeong—that was the young man’s name, and he was one of the few who had always treated Bang Jin-bo kindly.
“Brother!”
Bang Jin-bo called out to So Cha-myeong. But So Cha-myeong, as if he hadn’t heard his voice, was staring at Jang Han.
Jang Han’s real name was Geum Ju-sang. He and So Cha-myeong had personally called each other brother. But now, in Geum Ju-sang’s eyes as he looked at So Cha-myeong, there was no trace of the warmth or affection from the past.
He had to kill So Cha-myeong in order to survive.
Right now, that was the only thought in Geum Ju-sang’s mind.
“I’m sorry.”
Geum Ju-sang charged at So Cha-myeong, swinging his sword.
“Ugh!”
Though seized by fear, So Cha-myeong instinctively raised his sword to block Geum Ju-sang’s attack.
Claang!
The sound of clashing swords rang out in the air.
“Wahaha!”
“I’m betting on the older guy.”
“Eh! Then it’s not even a real bet. That young one looks way too weak.”
“Fine! I’ll bet one silver nyang on the young guy.”
The marauders of the Blood Wolf Battalion laughed and joked as they made their bets.
Just like that, the lives of Geum Ju-sang and So Cha-myeong had become nothing more than someone else’s entertainment.
“Those cruel bastards!”
“Brother!”
The people locked in the cage and Bang Jin-bo shed tears as they watched the hellish scene unfold.
The sight of two, who had called each other brothers and looked out for one another with care just half a day go, now fighting for their lives was no different from hell.
“This can’t be happening. How could something like this—!”
Thick tears streamed down Bang Jin-bo’s cheeks.
The world he had known was collapsing.
The world he belonged to, the world that had been his shelter.
His father was dead, and the people he knew were now risking their lives fighting each other.
“This is a dream. It has to be a dream…”
Bang Jin-bo lowered his head and muttered.
Unable to endure the sight with a sound mind, Bang Jin-bo was escaping reality.
Claang!
“Aaagh!”
As Geum Ju-sang’s sword sliced past his wrist, So Cha-myeong let out a loud scream. Blood poured from his arm. But before he could even stop the bleeding, Geum Ju-sang attacked again.
“Die! Please just die! Cha-myeong.”
Geum Ju-sang said so, eyes bloodshot and burning red.
So Cha-myeong shouted,
“Brother Ju-sang! How could you do this to me?”
“I’m sorry. But I have a family.”
“I also have a wife and child back home.”
“That’s why I said I’m sorry—!”
Geum Ju-sang screamed at the top of his lungs as he swung his sword. He looked no different from a demon.
The bandits burst into laughter as they watched the two.
“See? The older guy’s better, isn’t he?”
“Damn it!”
So Cha-myeong was already no different from a bloodied corpse.
He had deep cuts on his shoulders and abdomen, and his staggering figure looked precarious.
Geum Ju-sang delivered the final blow toward So Cha-myeong.
“Uaaaargh!”
His scream rang through the night sky, and So Cha-myeong moved no more.
Geum Ju-sang collapsed to the ground and burst into tears.
“Goddammit! Goddammit!”
His hands trembled.
The reality that he had just killed the one he had called his younger brother sank in. Only then did Geum Ju-sang realize what he had done. He fell flat on the ground and wailed.
“I’m sorry, Cha-myeong. I’m so sorry. Uuhuhuh!”
He scrubbed his bloodstained hands against the ground. Still, the smell of blood wouldn’t go away.
“Tch. How boring.”
Dong Ja-chu clicked his tongue.
His face was full of irritation. He had wanted a more entertaining and interesting fight, but this was too one-sided in Geum Ju-sang’s favor.
He looked over at Cho Bok. In response, Cho Bok nodded and approached the cage where the people were imprisoned once again.
The prisoners all avoided his gaze. No one here wanted to kill someone they loved with their own hands.
Geum Ju-sang’s sorrowful sobs were so heartbreaking it felt as though their own chests were being torn apart.
‘Shit! I don’t want to end up like that.’
‘I’m not going to go that far just to survive.’
None of them wanted to be chosen by Cho Bok. But fate, cruel as ever, ignored their pleas.
“Drag this one and that one out.”
This time, the ones Cho Bok called out were two merchants in their early forties. Both of them belonged to the Silver Lotus Merchant Group and were known to share a deep and close friendship even outside business.
As before, Cho Bok tossed a sword to each of them.
“Heh heh! Fight.”
“You wicked bastard! I will never become entertainment for the likes of you.”
Among the two, Yeom Pyeong, who had a particularly upright personality, glared at Cho Bok. At that, Cho Bok clicked his tongue and looked toward the other man.
Merchant Ju Seol-cheon shook his head.
“I would rather die. I could never do something this inhuman.”
As the two men responded with unexpected firmness, Cho Bok glanced awkwardly at Dong Ja-chu.
Dong Ja-chu chuckled.
“Heh heh heh! You’re quite manly, aren’t you? Well, I suppose now and then, such men do exist in the world.”
He suddenly sprang to his feet. The bandits looked at Dong Ja-chu with eyes full of interest.
A strange excitement glimmered on their faces. They raised their voices, imagining what was about to happen.
“Those bastards dare to refuse our entertainment?”
“Heh heh! Let’s see how the boss kills them.”
“I’ll bet you a piece of silver he’ll slit their throats in one fell swoop.”
“Then I’ll bet a silver nyang he beats them to death.”
A gambling match broke out on the spot.
The loud, raucous voices of the bandits echoed through the clearing, and the people locked in the cage grew even more terrified.
Bang Jin-bo, roused by the loud voices, raised his head.
He could see Dong Ja-chu walking towards the merchants. Dong Ja-chu’s face was twisted like that of a demon.
“Hmph! How dare you lowlifes disobey me?”
“Is this something a human would do? Forcing blood kin to wield blades against each other?”
“So, you’re saying you won’t do it?”
“I can’t do it even if I die.”
Yeom Pyeong stood his ground firmly.
Even among the merchants of the Silver Lotus Merchant Group, Yeom Pyeong was known to be particularly resolute. He showed no signs of backing down, even before Dong Ja-chu.
A normal man would have flinched at the fierce glint in Yeom Pyeong’s eyes. But his opponent was none other than Dong Ja-chu.
As the leader of the Blood Wolf Battalion, he had led marauding raids in this region for years. There was no reason for him to be daunted by a mere glare.
“Quite the spine you’ve got. So, you really won’t fight?”
“That’s right!”
“Then you’ll have to die.”
Dong Ja-chu grinned wickedly.
Bang!
“Keugh!”
In an instant, Yeom Pyeong was struck in the temple by Dong Ja-chu’s large fist and collapsed.
Foam frothed from Yeom Pyeong’s mouth as he convulsed.
Dong Ja-chu grabbed Yeom Pyeong by the throat and lifted him up.
“Having a backbone is good, but you should know who you’re standing up to. Heh heh!”
Dong Ja-chu locked eyes with Yeom Pyeong.
But Yeom Pyeong was already unconscious, so he couldn’t make eye contact with Dong Ja-chu. Still, Dong Ja-chu forcibly lifted Yeom Pyeong’s chin.
“Not knowing your place and acting out—that’s why you have to die.”
“I…”
Puk!
Dong Ja-chu’s fist slammed into Yeom Pyeong’s face, twisting his head. But he couldn’t even fall. Dong Ja-chu still held his throat firmly with his other hand.
Dong Ja-chu struck again.
It wasn’t just any punch—it was the fist of someone trained in martial arts. It was no different from a deadly weapon.
Puk! Puk!
Dong Ja-chu’s punches relentlessly pounded Yeom Pyeong’s face.
Flesh tore and blood splattered. His face swelled rapidly, becoming unrecognizable.
Yeom Pyeong had long since lost consciousness, but Dong Ja-chu didn’t stop punching.
“You dare! A bastard like you…!”
Dong Ja-chu’s eyes were glowing with madness even in the darkness.
His appearance, which was like a rabid dog, caused people to hold their breath. Even the bandits who had been gambling earlier were no exception.
They sensed instantly that Dong Ja-chu had snapped. They knew all too well the disaster that could follow if they dared interfere now.
“Please, stop! I beg you!”
Unable to take any more, Ju Seol-cheon pleaded with Dong Ja-chu. But Dong Ja-chu didn’t budge and continued his ruthless assault.
His merciless beating only ended when Yeom Pyeong could no longer react at all.
Thud!
Yeom Pyeong collapsed, mangled beyond recognition like a lump of beaten meat. The faint rise and fall of his chest was the only sign he was still alive and breathing, but no other trace of life remained.
Dong Ja-chu glared toward the people trapped in the cage, eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
“Is there anyone else who dares defy me?”
“……”
Everyone held their breath.
No one had the guts to defy him now.
“Heh heh heh!”
Dong Ja-chu’s laughter pierced through their hearts, and the people shrank back even further.
Dong Ja-chu’s gaze swept over the people trapped in the cages one by one. It finally stopped at the cage where Bang Jin-bo was held.
“Drag that fat one out.”
“Yes, sir!”
His subordinates pulled Bang Jin-bo out of the cage and brought him in front of Dong Ja-chu.
Dong Ja-chu grinned as he looked at Bang Jin-bo.
“Hey, fatty, do you want to live?”
“Yes! I want to live!”
Bang Jin-bo nodded. Then, Dong Ja-chu handed him a sword.
“Then kill that guy over there.”
The person Dong Ja-chu pointed to was Yeom Pyeong who was barely clinging to life.
“I, I can’t–!”
“If you can’t then you’ll die.”
“How could I possibly kill someone—?”
“Heh heh! Are you saying that piece of meat is more important than your life? Kill him. Then you’ll get to live.”
Dong Ja-chu laughed hysterically.
Bang Jin-bo thought he was looking at a demon in human form.
Dong Ja-chu tightly gripped Bang Jin-bo’s hand, the one holding the sword, and extended it toward Yeom Pyeong.
“N-No!”
Bang Jin-bo desperately shook his head and tried to resist. But he was still just a child. There was no way he could withstand the strength of Dong Ja-chu, a martial artist trained in internal energy.
Tremble!
The hand gripping the sword shook. But slowly, it inched closer toward Yeom Pyeong.
“Please…”
Bang Jin-bo clenched his teeth and shook his head violently. But Dong Ja-chu paid no mind and only applied more force to his hand.
“Waahahaha!”
“Do it! Kill him, fatty!”
“Looks like the fat one’s in for quite an experience today.”
The bandits burst into laughter at the sight.
The suffocating madness that dominated the place left the merchants in the cage with nothing but tears.
“This place is hell.”
Everyone silently prayed for this hellish moment to end soon.
Swoosh!
The sword in Bang Jin-bo’s hand touched Yeom Pyeong’s throat.
If he just pushed a little more, Yeom Pyeong’s life would be over.
At the sensation of human flesh at the tip of the blade, Bang Jin-bo shuddered and shut his eyes.
Thud!
Suddenly, an unfamiliar sound echoed through the air.
The sound was very low, yet it strangely set everyone’s nerves on edge.
Dong Ja-chu’s expression stiffened slightly.
At that moment, he turned his gaze toward the darkness.
Thud! Srrrk! Thud! Srrrk!
The sound grew clearer.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
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