Chapter 6
*Murmur, murmur, murmur.*
"Oh! Over there! Look!"
"It's the warrior! The warrior is coming!"
"Waaaah!!"
People were gathered at the edge of the village.
At first, I wondered why they were all standing there, but hearing the commotion, I realized they were waiting for me.
"Oh! You've arrived! Warrior!"
The village chief’s eyes widened as he ran toward me.
I casually tossed the corpse I had been carrying on my shoulder onto the ground.
"Eek!"
"Gasp! Wh-what is that!"
"A corpse!"
The villagers recoiled in horror.
Just then, a woman staggered toward the body. It was the mother of the woman who had been victimized by the Lecherous Demon.
"Warrior. Is this... by any chance, him?"
With rough skin and deeply etched wrinkles, the woman looked far older than her years. She looked at me with eyes that seemed on the verge of collapse, desperate for an answer.
I nodded simply, my voice filled with conviction.
"That is correct."
"Ah!"
The woman collapsed to her knees in front of the corpse.
"You! You wicked wretch! Bring back our Cho-hyang! Waaaah! Bring back our Cho-hyang!!!"
"Oh, heavens! Ji-seon!"
"Waaaah! Waaaah!"
An elderly couple rushed out from behind, running toward the body. They must have been the parents of another woman who had fallen victim to the Lecherous Demon.
"You wretch who deserves to be torn to pieces! Our Ji-seon! Our poor Ji-seon!!!"
The father picked up heavy stones in both hands and began to smash them into the corpse.
Blood splattered. The dark faces of the villagers were stained red. Sticky blood mixed with tears and dripped onto the ground.
No one stopped them.
No, they couldn't have stopped them.
I, too, felt a heaviness in the pit of my chest, the raw emotions of parents who had lost their children piercing through me.
"Excuse me... Warrior."
Someone approached me then. A familiar face.
"I am the owner of the inn."
"Ah."
Now that I looked, it was the man who had briefly shown his face in the inn's kitchen. I also saw the waiter frozen in place some distance away.
"I heard you came from the Murim Alliance."
"Well, that is so."
"On behalf of the village, I thank you."
"Don't worry about it. It was just a job."
"Even so."
The inn owner watched the wailing people in silence for a moment. I had nothing much to say, and just as I was about to turn away, he called out to me.
"Warrior."
Perhaps he was concerned because I had planned to stay for a day but was leaving early.
"I will pay for the lodging."
"Oh, heavens! No! You’ve done such a great service for us, how could we take money for lodging? We should be the ones rewarding you, but as you can see, we are all just people scraping by..."
"The reward is unnecessary."
It wasn't that my sense of justice was burning or that I was particularly moved by the grieving parents. It was simply that I had already secured enough of a reward, so nothing else caught my eye.
"Then, please... at least take this. I don't know if it’s of any use, but..."
The inn owner, seemingly reluctant to send me away empty-handed, held out something made of leather.
I took it and asked, "What is this?"
"Our inn doesn't get many guests, but occasionally, martial artists stay here. When they do, fights often break out."
An inn in the world of Murim. I suppose it wouldn't be right if things were too quiet.
"And this is?"
"It’s a keepsake from a martial artist who died while staying at the inn. After the village chief told me about you, I looked to see if there was anything useful, and this was in the best condition."
I unfolded the leather. It was well-worn, with loops at the ends so it could be strapped somewhere. Inside were five well-sharpened throwing knives.
"That person used to wear it on his forearm."
"Hmm."
As the owner suggested, I wrapped the leather around my forearm. It fit perfectly with a *click*.
I pulled out one of the throwing knives. It was the perfect size for my hand. The balance was good; while it wasn't a divine weapon, it was a practical tool.
"Oh! They say a divine object finds its master! It looks like it was meant for you from the start, Warrior!"
A divine object, indeed. Still, I thanked him, touched by the inn owner's thoughtfulness.
"Thank you. But why are you giving this to me?"
"Actually... one of the children who suffered was my niece."
"...I see."
"...Yes."
With that, our conversation ceased. Tears seemed contagious, as all the villagers were now gathered around the corpse, wailing. It wasn't the right atmosphere for a proper farewell, so I turned away quietly.
Just then, the village chief came running toward me, stumbling as if he might fall.
"Oh! Warrior! Are you leaving already?"
"I've finished the job, so I must go."
"Can't you stay a few more days? We will serve you with all our hearts."
The chief’s wrinkled face was a mess of tears and snot. Other villagers swarmed toward me, bowing and expressing their gratitude.
I felt a strange sensation; I hadn't caught the Lecherous Demon for this kind of treatment.
"No. I have much to do and must leave immediately. I will accept your gratitude in spirit."
"Thank you! Thank you! Warrior!"
"Farewell."
I turned my body toward the inn to retrieve my horse.
"If you ever pass through again, please stop by! You must!"
The chief shouted loudly from behind. I didn't look back, just gave a light wave of my hand.
* * *
A few days later, Dream Pavilion.
-Ah! Ah! Aah! Aaaaah! Aaaaaaaah!!
"Whew. Incredible. Truly incredible. How many is he finishing off in one night?"
"Is that Mi-hyang who just went in? Wasn't there a rumor that she was a 'stone woman'?"
"To think he could melt even her... I'm envious. Truly envious."
"Did the Iron Sword have a knack for this, too?"
The night of debauchery had ended, and the sun was high in the sky. Yet, from one of the rooms in the Dream Pavilion, the cries of a woman continued incessantly.
"At this rate, there won't be any courtesans left."
"You don't know what you're talking about! The girls who spend time with the Iron Sword look even more radiant and energetic afterward."
"Hey! What kind of nonsense is that?"
"It's true! The faces of the girls who sleep with the Iron Sword glow! It’s gotten to the point where they’re fighting over who gets to go in next!"
"Hah... what kind of situation is this?"
For the past few days, the workers at the Dream Pavilion hadn't been able to sleep a wink because of the Iron Sword. It was as if he had become a stud horse after finishing his mission, holding the courtesans in his arms endlessly for days.
Usually, a courtesan would avoid such a thing, but they were actually fighting over who would sleep with him next. It was a rare sight that even those who had worked at the Dream Pavilion their whole lives had never seen before.
*Step. Step. Step.*
"Gasp! Ow, Owner!"
"You're out already!"
The two workers whispering in the hallway were startled and bowed their heads.
The Owner of the Dream Pavilion acknowledged them with a light nod and stood before the door where the Iron Sword was staying.
-Aaaaaah! Aah! Aaaaah!
"Huuu..."
The Owner of the Dream Pavilion sighed and shook her head. The moans, which seemed like they would end soon, continued endlessly. She stood outside the door and waited quietly.
The passing workers, on the other hand, were restless, nervously watching the Owner.
"Um... Owner. Should I go in and check?"
"No."
"Yes..."
*Creak!*
Only after much more time had passed did the door swing wide open.
"Oh!"
The courtesan who had just stepped out was startled, her eyes widening. The Owner of the Dream Pavilion stared intently at the courtesan's face. Just as the rumors said, she looked even fairer and prettier than usual.
"O-older sister..."
"Did you serve him well?"
"...Yes. If I had known you were waiting, I would have finished sooner... I'm sorry."
The Owner of the Dream Pavilion chuckled.
"It's fine, go and rest. You have to work again tonight, don't you?"
"...Yes."
The courtesan scurried down the hallway as if fleeing. The Owner watched her back for a moment before stepping into the room.
"You're here."
The Iron Sword, who had risen from the bed, was gulping down tea placed on the tea table. The Owner watched the naked Iron Sword with curious eyes. Muscles densely packed like a sculpture, countless scars. It was the body of a strong man.
"Did you take some kind of aphrodisiac?"
"Aphrodisiac? What are you talking about?"
"You did that all night without any aphrodisiac?"
"Yeah."
"..."
The Owner suspected there was 'something' to it, but she had no way of knowing what. As always, the Iron Sword had completed his mission perfectly. But no matter how she looked at it, something was different from usual.
The Iron Sword looked at the Owner, his eyes gleaming. She couldn't fathom how his eyes could shine so brightly after doing that all night.
"Why are you staring from the morning?"
"It's broad daylight."
"Hmm. Is it already? What is your business?"
"Something urgent has come up."
"Urgent?"
The Owner took out a letter and approached the Iron Sword. Even though she was in front of a man wearing nothing, her steps were unwavering. The Iron Sword didn't seem to care, taking the letter she handed him.
"What is this?"
"A letter that just arrived from Sichuan."
"Sichuan?"
"Yes."
The Iron Sword tore open the envelope.
"Hmm."
A shallow furrow appeared on the Iron Sword's previously relaxed brow.
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