A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 29

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
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“Accompanying the merchant group seems to have been a good decision.”

“Right?”

“It’s definitely… more comfortable.”

Hye-ryeong and Mu-guang, who were sitting next to me, nodded in response to the comment I made while sitting on the wagon. It seemed they also didn’t expect the journey to the Wulin Alliance to become this comfortable.

“No bandits appeared, nor do the evil sects bother us. It’s so comfortable that I wonder if it can always be this pleasant.”

Mu-guang seemed a bit awkward in this situation. Indeed, Mu-guang had the most tense face when we first departed for the trade journey.

Fighting against the Japanese pirates was somewhat familiar, but bandits, evil sects, and the demon cult would be a different story.

In terms of cruelty, few surpass the Japanese pirates… those bastards mercilessly kill even young children. It’s not for nothing that the people of Haenam Island get fired up at the mere mention of the Japanese pirates.

“By the way, I wonder what we’ll have today.”

“The rabbit meat we had yesterday was delicious!”

“At this rate, I might gain weight.”

“Hehe… but if you diligently do breathing exercises and swing a sword, you won’t gain weight.”

If they gain weight… hmm.

What would happen if someone grew bigger over there?

I unconsciously turned my gaze, which was about to fall on Hye-ryeong, and looked up at the sky.

It was now the fourth day of us traveling through the mountain path.

I think they said it would take about half a day to reach the next village. When we enter the village, we’ll have a late dinner and fall asleep.

And then we were scheduled to continue our journey toward Wuchang County early in the morning.

At this rate, we might really arrive at our destination without encountering a single bandit.

For me, who was somewhat looking forward to the bandits, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

After all, bandits are the steriotype of martial arts novels.

They pop out with an ax, roughly claiming to be Kaeryongbu’s Gaedong, boast about their strength, then get beaten up by the protagonist and either reform or become fertilizer on the roadside.

It’s a situation that everyone goes through at least once in martial arts novels, but it seems we weren’t granted that event.

Of course, it’s best if they don’t pop out… but as someone who wanted to see the bandits at least once, I wished we could have encountered them at least once. Continuing to receive meals and lodging like this while being idle was making me feel a bit uneasy.

At least swinging a sword once would save face.

Although it’s not a good thing to wish for…

“Uncle, by the way, what are you going to do when you go to the Wulin Alliance?”

“For now, I want to look around.”

First, I planned to check if the protagonist had arrived at the Wulin Alliance and meet as many characters from the original work as possible. Since all the main characters in the original work had grudges against the demon cult, building friendships with them would be helpful in the war.

And when I see a suitable opportunity to withdraw, I’ll hide behind the protagonist and reap the benefits. As a Westerner, I’m an outsider anyway, so even if I just pretend to fight and withdraw, few people will say anything.

…I also want to steal some of the protagonist’s opportunities.

I know that all the opportunities need to be concentrated on the protagonist for a smooth progression until the final battle, but as a martial artist myself, I couldn’t help but be tempted by the opportunities.

Before transmigrating, I thought those who rushed in, saying they would obtain opportunities they shouldn’t even get, like the Zhang Bao blade or something, were so stupid, but now that I’m in that position, I could understand that they had no choice.

In the end, empathy is important.

Anyone can only truly understand everything once they are in a similar position.

“I want to make friends at the Yongbong Assembly! And I also want to join the Wulin Alliance’s Phoenix Corps… Ah! The Phoenix Corps is a unit of female martial artists! Miss Baek So-yeon, the Plum Blossom Sword Phoenix, the deputy commander, is famous!”

“As you said, I heard she’s one of the top female experts among the younger generation.”

Baek So-yeon.

I know her too.

Because she’s the heroine of the original work.

A beauty with pride in her skills and a silly side, was it?

She was one of the young geniuses of the Hwasan Sect, so she was one of the outstanding female masters with both background and skills.

Then she suddenly got involved with the protagonist and became a fool who only knew love.

By the way,

“The Phoenix Corps…”

I looked at Hye-ryeong at the words that came out of her mouth.

Does this mean that even if the past has changed… the overall flow doesn’t change?

In a way, it was only natural.

Even in the original work, the Wulin Alliance’s Phoenix Corps was often mentioned as the object of admiration for female martial artists from the orthodox sects.

Among the protagonist’s heroines, three of them, including Hye-ryeong, belonged to the Phoenix Corps…

It wasn’t strange for Hye-ryeong to want to join the Phoenix Corps.

“If you join the Phoenix Corps, you’ll have to fight against the demon cult. Are you okay with that?”

“I didn’t learn the sword just to look cool, you know? I’m going to cut down all the demon cult bastards!”

“I feel the same way. How can a martial artist be called a martial artist if they don’t practice chivalry?”

Chivalry…

I pondered the word ‘chivalry’ that Mu-guang brought up.

It was a word that was too distant from me.

At least, it was a word that someone like me, who repeated meaningless killings in war, had no right to utter.

“Even here, it’s ultimately war, huh?”

“Pardon?”

“No. It’s just my groundless worry for now.”

Phew.

I almost let slip a spoiler.

From my perspective as a transmigrator, I know that the War of Orthodox and Demonic Sects will break out again in a few years, but the people here probably don’t know that yet.

By the way, speaking of which…

Why is the Haenam Sword Sect a part of the Nine Great Sects?

“Hye-ryeong.”

“Yes?”

“The Haenam Sword Sect was not a ‘ great sect’ originally, so why is it included in the Nine Great Sects?”

“That’s because we took the place of the annihilated Jeomchang Sect. The Haenam Sword Sect was acknowledged as one of the Nine Great Sects right after the end of the Second War of Orthodox and Demonic Sects. Although it doesn’t seem to have much meaning…”

The ‘Eight Sects and One Clan’ doesn’t roll off the tongue, so they just went with the Nine Great Sects?

A behind-the-scenes story that wasn’t revealed in the original work is popping up like this.

“I see…”

“Many sects were annihilated in each War of Orthodox and Demonic Sects. If it weren’t for you, Uncle, we might have also walked that path.”

“That’s right. If it weren’t for Sir William, perhaps…”

“Don’t flatter me too much. It’s awkward.”

“Hehe, you’re weak to compliments~”

Hye-ryeong looked at me with a playful smile. It was as if she had found something to tease me about.

This mischievous girl.

And so, we spent the inevitably boring time chatting. At this rate, we would probably arrive at the next village without any incidents and have a delicious meal.

I wonder what will be served this time.

Anticipating the next meal, I drew my longsword for the first time in a while.

When the well-maintained longsword was touched by the sunlight, it sparkled so brightly that it hurt my eyes.

“Guys. Enemy raid.”

“Who is it?!”

As soon as I spoke, Elder Baek’s shout was heard. As expected of a master, he seemed to have noticed the surprise attack.

I stood in my designated position, watching the merchants and porters quickly gather in one place, and Hajin, Hagyeong, and Elder Baek at the front drawing their swords.

Who could be targeting this merchant group?

Mr. Ming said it was a suddenly scheduled trade and didn’t even show us the contents, but in the martial arts world, where there’s never a quiet day, things couldn’t possibly be this simple.

There must be something wrong with the goods Mr. Ming is transporting.

Something that attracts flies like honey.

“Whoever you are, reveal yourself!”

“Ha! Ming Yunjin! Did you involve the Haenam Sword Sect in the grudge between us?”

A rough voice of a middle-aged man rebuked Mr. Ming. Slightly leaning my body to check the front, I saw a man with a large physique and a bristly beard.

Judging by the large saber he was holding at a glance, he seemed to be a martial artist.

The man was glaring at Mr. Ming as if he wanted to tear him apart and kill him right away.

“How can you repay a favor with a grudge?!”

His tone was as if blaming Mr. Ming for committing a grave mistake. What the hell did he do to make him act like this?

I quietly fiddled with my sword and listened attentively. Since the killing intent wasn’t that intense yet, it seemed those surrounding us had no intention of attacking immediately.

“One must live well in order to repay favours, musn’t they?”

“Your mouth is good at spouting nonsense even though it’s full of shit!”

Hey, can you kindly explain what’s going on?

You’re just spewing out things only you know without getting to the core of the problem.

Why are you still beating around the bush after coming all the way here?

Perhaps because everyone had that look in their eyes.

The name of the much-desired cargo spilled out of the man’s mouth.

“Martial artists of the Haenam Sword Sect! Do you know that the item you are protecting is the secret manual of the ‘Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light’?!”

What?

“The Eighteen Swords of Scattering Light?!”

“How can it be that secret manual?! It was said to have been lost…”

Secret manual?

“…Hye-ryeong. What is that?”

What is it?

Let me act surprised too.

I felt a sense of alienation at the name of the swordsmanship manual I had never heard of before.

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