A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 11

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
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“Sect Leader!”

“Mujin! Why did you return alone?!”

“We must immediately lead everyone to the west port! They set up a camp at the port!”

“What? A camp?”

“Yes! We must hurry! I heard the sound of swords clashing before I left, so they must be in the midst of battle!”

The martial artist named Mujin finished what he had to say and caught his breath.

He seemed to have run here using all his energy.

As expected, it wasn’t a simple raid.

It was strange from the beginning that the pirates, who should have lacked proper discipline and skills, looted the village so quickly.

Usually, bandits would miss the timing to escape, resulting in their deaths.

These movements meant that either the leader leading them had experience as a commander in the military, or a group disguised as Japanese pirates had invaded Haenam Island with some purpose.

“Mujin, go straight to the main sect and report this news.”

“Yes, sir!”

The figure of the martial artist called Mujin blurred in an instant. The Sect Leader stared at the spot where Mujin had left for a moment, then turned his head to me.

“You said you were in the military before?”

“Yes.”

“Have you experienced a situation like this?”

“It was a common occurrence.”

When it came to guerrilla warfare, I had experienced it until I was sick of it. It was when we set out to recapture the holy land.

I remembered losing quite a few comrades to the guerrilla tactics of the Middle Eastern bastards.

“What do you think about this situation?”

What do I think…?

The Sect Leader seemed to be asking for my opinion as a soldier on this situation. Asking for someone else’s opinion, huh? He’s more open-minded than I thought.

“These guys are not ordinary pirates. Pirates are similar to bandits. They can’t cut people this cleanly. They must be a group disguised as Japanese pirates or cooperating with another force.”

The most likely possibility was the demon cult… but I had to hold off on that for now, just in case.

It would be strange if I knew about the existence of the demon cult.

It would be weird if I only knew about the demon cult while being ignorant of everything else.

I could make an excuse that I heard it from Hye-ryeong, but the moment he asked Hye-ryeong, my lie would be exposed.

For now, it was better to leave them as an ‘unknown force’.

In fact, that possibility couldn’t be ruled out either.

“I think so too.”

“Therefore, we should support the advance party as quickly as possible. Also, it would be best to try and split into two units, with skilled martial artists leading the way and those with relatively lacking skills forming a separate rear unit to prepare for an ambush.”

“Two units, you say?”

“Yes. We don’t know what tricks the enemy has prepared, so that’s the only way to minimize casualties.”

“It is not shameful to ask questions. I did well to ask for your opinion.”

The Sect Leader gave a bitter smile and turned his head, shouting.

“Disciples of the Haenam Sword Sect! Everyone, stop what you’re doing and line up!”

At his shout, the martial artists who had been working hard to deal with the village’s tragedy gathered one by one.

They lined up in an orderly manner like well-trained soldiers and looked at the Sect Leader.

“Bad news has arrived from the advance party. Let’s go and help them right away.”

“Yes!”

Although the disciples of the Haenam Sword Sect were in a shabby state with blood and soot all over their bodies, their eyes were lively.

“You don’t seem to be able to use movement techniques… What will you do?”

“Just assign one person to me. I will catch up quickly.”

“I will assign Hye-ryeong to you. Hye-ryeong!”

“M-Master! I’m here!”

Hye-ryeong, who raised her hand and answered in a somewhat subdued voice unlike her usual self, ran out in front of the Sect Leader in a hurry.

The Sect Leader looked at Hye-ryeong with sad eyes and ordered while tapping her shoulder.

“Hye-ryeong, you come with William.”

“I, I also…”

“Hye-ryeong.”

“…Yes.”

Did Hye-ryeong also have a history with the Japanese pirates?

In the original work, only the events after Hye-ryeong turned evil were revealed, so it wouldn’t be strange if she had a past I didn’t know about.

In the first place, she wasn’t even the main heroine, just a trophy heroine among the sub-heroines who was used for an episode and then discarded.

“First-grade disciples, take the lead with me! Second-grade and third-grade disciples, keep a distance and follow us! Understood?”

“Yes!”

“Then let’s depart!”

The martial artists of the Haenam Sword Sect started running towards the west port like wolves chasing their prey.

After watching them for a moment, Hye-ryeong and I began to follow at a slightly slower pace.

—

‘Damn it…’

“Is this the end? How boring.”

The man in armor swung his sword around to shake off the blood on it.

The sword glinted in the light coming down from the sky where the sunlight had not yet faded.

‘Why is there such a master on the Japanese pirates’ side…’

At least a supreme expert.

Moreover, a swordsman who had trained for a considerable time after becoming a supreme expert.

For Hajin, who had just entered the supreme realm, he was a difficult opponent to face.

“A master like you… why are you with the Japanese pirates…”

“Does one need a reason to stain a sword with blood?”

Surprised by his answer, Hajin looked up at him while clutching his blood-soaked shoulder.

“How can a person…!”

“A sword is originally meant to cut people. I’m just fulfilling its purpose, am I not?”

‘Crazy bastard…’

“Ugh…”

“Senior Brother…”

Hajin gritted his teeth at the voices of his comrades coming from behind.

Although the Japanese pirates had not escaped unscathed, the advance party’s casualties were catastrophic.

Half were dead. Most had large and small injuries.

Some managed to escape, but their safety couldn’t be guaranteed against such an opponent.

‘How do they know the terrain of Haenam Island so well?’

To think they would take advantage of Haenam Island’s terrain.

Arrows flew from all over the forest, and the disciples couldn’t focus well on arrows amidst their escape, resulting in frequent hits.

Even the disciples who were relatively unharmed due to their higher realm were either killed or injured by the swordsman in armor.

It was truly a desperate situation.

‘Master… I don’t think I will survive.’

Hajin gripped the sword that had fallen to the ground again.

Rather than enduring the humiliation of kneeling before the Japanese pirates, he was determined to fight to the very end.

“Despicable Japanese pirates… come. I will show you… Haenam’s… sword.”

“A defeated dog that just barks a lot.”

As he staggered to his feet, the swordsman in armor sneered at Hajin.

Even if a defeated person stood up again, nothing would change.

Still, one couldn’t completely ignore someone who had resolved to die with a sword in hand.

He slowly raised his sword upward.

Like an executioner, he looked down at Hajin, preparing to mete out his judgment.

A blow that Hajin in his current state couldn’t possibly block.

Nevertheless, Hajin began to coat his blade with a blue energy by squeezing out all the internal energy he had left.

“Sword energy release…”

A realm that even a first-rate expert could barely reach, and only those who reached the supreme level could skillfully handle.

Its power is said to be able to cut through steel like a hot knife through butter, making mince meat out of even the most sturdy armors.

Naturally, it is extremely difficult to control.

With Hajin’s current physical condition, even coating a faint glow on the sword was enough to make him cough up blood.

“Senior Brother!”

“Guhwan. I’m sorry.”

‘If only I had been a little stronger…’

More than the fact that he had been defeated, what he regretted in his heart was that he couldn’t protect his juniors.

“Sorry, but we don’t have that much time. So-”

The moment the sword of the blood-crazed swordsman was about to fall like a guillotine,

“Damn it…!”

The swordsman twisted his sword trajectory to deflect the sword energy flying from afar.

Despite properly deflecting it, the force of the impact was so strong that it pushed him back about 10 feet.

The swordsman spat out the blood that had pooled in his mouth and glared at the old man running from afar.

‘With sword energy of this level, is it the Sect Leader? It’s time to go back.’

There was no need to unnecessarily fight against a master above his level. The swordsman in armor sheathed his sword and shouted.

“Everyone, retreat!”

As soon as his words ended, the pirates began to withdraw.

The Sect Leader wanted to pursue them immediately, but he couldn’t leave the advance party behind, so he refrained.

“Sect Leader… I’m… fine… pursue…”

“Hajin! No matter how important revenge is, will you be able to do it alone? Stay still!”

The Sect Leader laid Hajin down and immediately began to stop the bleeding.

The disciples who followed the Sect Leader did the same, so the forest was soon filled with the smell of blood and medicine.

“Senior Brother!”

“Hye-ryeong… you came.”

“Senior Brother! You can’t die!”

Tears fell from Hye-ryeong’s eyes, soaking Hajin’s clothes.

Hajin tried to reassure her with a forced smile, but there was no vitality in his expression.

“I won’t die… don’t worry.”

“Hye-ryeong. You go back first.”

“B-But I also…”

“I told you to go back.”

“That’s right. Hye-ryeong. You should also go back.”

“Uncle…?”

“Sect Leader.”

William, who arrived late, called out to the Sect Leader who had just finished stopping the bleeding.

The Sect Leader looked up at him upon hearing his voice.

William spoke to the Sect Leader with an expressionless face.

“Please assign me 10 martial artists. If possible, I’d like martial artists who are well-versed in the geography of the west port.”

“Can I trust you?”

His eyes were filled with worry.

William met his gaze and declared.

“I have survived situations worse than this. I have a method, so please entrust it to me. Those kinds of bastards… are my specialty.”

“…Alright. Everyone, listen up! I will accept 10 disciples to pursue the Japanese pirates!”

“I will go!”

“No, I will-”

“I want to avenge my senior brother!”

The martial artists began to shout one by one, volunteering to take revenge.

The Sect Leader, who watched the commotion, began to call out the names of the disciples.

They were the disciples he had been keeping an eye on.

“From now on, you will follow the words of Sir William. Understood?”

“Yes!”

The ten disciples, including Mu-guang, answered in unison.

William, who watched them, finally declared to the Sect Leader.

“I will return with the bastard’s head before the morning sun rises.”

“…If it’s dangerous, run away immediately.”

“It’s alright.”

“Uncle…”

“You stay here. The battlefield is too dangerous.”

William and the ten martial artists began to follow the traces left behind.

Hye-ryeong, who watched them from behind, muttered in a weak voice.

“Uncle, stay strong…”

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