A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 3

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
‘I became the savior of the martial arts world.’

A run of the mill mass-produced martial arts novel.

It was a novel I had stumbled upon while trying to pass the time.

If my hazy memory was correct, it was such a boring novel that I could immediately tell why it ended at 200 chapters.

Basically, the protagonist, who transmigrated into a commoner, became the disciple of a hermit sage, learned martial arts, had stereotypical adventures and eventually defeated the final boss, the Heavenly Demon.

Since there were less than 5 active readers, the Heavenly Demon died rather anticlimactically at the end.

A legendary rushed ending.

The final battle with the Heavenly Demon lasted only 2 chapters, and then the ‘completed’ tag was slapped on.

I mean, it might be a bit cliche, but I never expected that I would be transmigrated into such a trashy novel, I couldn’t even be bothered to finish the angry review I was writing.

Moreover, I just had to be saved by the Haenam Sword Sect, the first sect to be annihilated.

My luck couldn’t be worse even if I tried.

If I don’t recover quickly and leave, I’ll be burned to death along with the Haenam Sword Sect.

Life’s misfortunes should have a limit.

If it was going to be like this, they should have at least let me be the protagonist.

I dwelled on my unfortunate circumstances while trying to bend my fingers.

Perhaps because I had used up all my mana, or because I had swallowed too much seawater, even moving my fingers required quite a bit of effort.

It seemed my body had become a complete wreck.

I might have to lie in the sick bed for a week or two at this rate.

Meditation, or rather, breathing exercises, would make it a bit better, but even using those wasn’t exactly feasible in my current state.

Although it’s a basic skill for knights to do breathing exercises, even while riding a horse, that only applies when you can sit up.

For now, let’s focus on recovery until I can do breathing exercises.

In the meantime, I should try to recall the original story’s content.

I quickly devised a simple plan that I could carry out in the current situation and put it into action.

In the end, all I could do was struggle.

Just like on the battlefield.

—

“They even said ‘Junior Martial Sister, how long are you going to act recklessly’…”

“Why are you complaining to me?”

“If I complain to my Senior Martial Brothers, they say ‘it’s because you lack maturity!’ They just keep treating me like a child…”

Ah… I see.

So that’s why she came to me, who had no choice but to listen to her story.

While contemplating how I could get rid of this tactless girl, I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fists.

After trying for two days, at least I can move my fists.

If a few more days pass, I should be able to do breathing exercises.

Although I’m in a miserable state right now, unable to even control my bowel movements properly and needing others’ help, I should soon be able to go to the outhouse by myself.

Swallowing my tears at the days of 100% pure humiliation play, I asked Hye-ryeong again.

“By any chance, are there still no other foreigners found besides me?”

“They searched thoroughly, but there weren’t any. It seems you were the only one who drifted ashore.”

It seems I was the only one who survived from the slave ship.

I had developed a bond with my subordinates while going through hardships together.

I silently mourned for them, who had become fish food.

I could only hope that idiot Hans had succeeded in becoming a ghost.

I guess Hye-ryeong managed to scrounge up some tact, as she shut her mouth when I closed my eyes and became lost in thought for a moment.

After a moment, Hye-ryeong asked a question as I opened my eyes.

“Were you very close?”

“When you ride the same boat, you can’t help but develop camaraderie.”

They were damn stupid, but they weren’t bad guys.

“That’s the friendship between men! I heard about it from my Senior Martial Brothers!”

“Yeah.”

“Your comrades must have been proud to have an uncle like you.”

Ah…I appreciate the consolation, but.

“I told you, I’m not an uncle.”

Why does she keep calling me uncle?

Of course, it’s inevitable that Westerners look a bit more rugged compared to Asians, but it still hurts to be called a senior

This body is only twenty years old now.

I might have aged a bit faster from toiling around on the battlefield, but not to the extent of being called a senior.

“But my Senior Martial Brother said any man older than me is an uncle…”

“We’re only a year apart.”

“Hey, don’t lie.”

It’s true, though.

“My Senior Martial Brother said most of what men say to women are lies to seduce them…”

Based on Hye-yeong’s complaints, it seemed the martial brother she referred to as ‘Senior Martial Brother’ quite adored the youngest disciple.

Whenever Hye-ryeong spoke of his words, his worry for the youngest disciple oozed out.

He didn’t seem to like the youngest disciple taking care of me, but I guess he let it slide for now due to her stubbornness.

“It’s not entirely wrong, so take it to heart.”

“What? Don’t tell me you too…?”

“Would I do that when I could die if you so much as lift a finger against me?”

“Ah? That’s right.”

…That martial uncle and the martial brothers that I haven’t even seen yet must be having a really hard time.

“Ah, then I’ll get going since it’s training time!”

“Alright. Take care.”

As soon as the room finally quieted down, I sighed.

Why is she interested in me instead of playing with friends her age? As the youngest disciple of the sect leader, there should be tons of people lining up to befriend her.

Still, it’s better than her being corrupted.

After she turned evil, that bright personality of hers completely disappeared, and she became a vengeful ghost.

That was one of the reasons she was criticized for becoming a trophy heroine who only clung to the protagonist, forgetting about revenge or anything else due to her character collapse midway through the story.

Regardless, it was a very lacking novel.

The settings were shoddy, consistency was nonexistent, and the heroines weren’t even charming.

I could see why it was an infamous trashy novel.

But I ended up inside that novel?

Recalling my miserable reality, I sighed and repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fists. It was part of my rehabilitation exercise to recover my body as quickly as possible.

I had to at least recover enough to escape before things went down.

…By the way, are there really no other people who will interact with me besides Hye-ryeong and the physician?

If possible, I wanted to meet the sect leader or other martial artists.

Not only did I have something to discuss, but as someone who had enjoyed martial arts novels, I also wanted to see the masters of the martial arts world.

I wanted to compare how the martial arts of the knights I had experienced for 2 years differed from the martial arts of murim.

The martial arts of the knights were very different from those of murim, having a completely different system.

Since the original work claimed to be a martial arts novel but had terrible descriptions of martial arts, I would only be able to confirm the differences by actually seeing them.

Identifying the differences and exploiting those gaps.

That would be my weapon.

Then-

“Are you awake, young man?”

The rough voice of an elderly man reached my ears while I was lost in thought.

Fortunately, they contacted me sooner rather than later. I answered the unknown old man.

“I’m awake.”

“I’m coming in.”

With the sound of wood scraping, the door opened, and a muscular old man with a beard that had grown down to his chest entered the room.

The old man exuded a rather menacing aura even at a quick glance.

“Young man, are you alright?”

“Thanks to your help, I’m recovering little by little.”

“That’s a relief.”

The old man sat down in front of me, stroking his beard. Then, he grabbed my wrist and checked my pulse, saying

“Your meridians are damaged.”

“I’m lucky it ended with just damage.”

“Yes, life is the most important. What’s the use of anything if you’re dead?”

“Exactly.”

“As I heard, you’re proficient in the language of the Central Plains. I am Lin Ha-bong. Although I am lacking, I am the sect leader of the Haenam Sword Sect.”

“William…is my name.”

“It’s a difficult name.”

“It seems I need to get a new Chinese-style name now.”

“…Then you must have nowhere to return to.”

“That’s right.”

I honestly agreed with his words.

There was nothing to gain in lying to my benefactor, much less someone stronger than me.

He carefully put down my hand and spoke.

“An expert of your level will recover quickly. I’ll tell my physician to prescribe medicine that’s good for the meridians.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“Since my youngest disciple brought you here, isn’t this all fate? Haenam is not a sect that ignores those who face difficulties.”

When was the last time I received such unconditional goodwill?

I swear a halo seemed to shine behind the sect leader’s head.

Does a sect like this really have to be annihilated just to serve as an alarm for the appearance of the evil cult? Author, is this right?

I cursed the author inwardly as I responded.

“I am truly grateful.”

“It’s nothing. For now, just focus on recovering. And… it seems my youngest disciple is bothering you a bit. Please indulge her to some extent. She’s doing that because she’s very curious by nature.”

“If she’s the youngest disciple of the sect leader, wouldn’t she have many friends? Why me…”

“The Haenam Sword Sect has a small number of female disciples. Even among them, there are no female disciples around Hye-ryeong’s age, and once that child becomes interested in something, she clings to it until her curiosity is satisfied. Please pay a little attention to her.”

In other words, she’s coming to chatter at me because she’s fixated on me, a rare Westerner?

Of course I could grant such a small request, especially considering they were treating me for free.

When I nodded in agreement, the sect leader smiled kindly and stood up.

“Then, rest well. I’ll come to check on your condition occasionally.”

“Please, go ahead.”

The sect leader quietly left the room.

Staring at the door the sect leader had closed, I shut my eyes and muttered.

“I need to recover quickly.”

I resolved myself.

Since I don’t know when the evil cult will invade, I have to recover as soon as possible to be prepared.

That’s the only way both the Haenam Sword Sect and I can survive.

I began to flex and extend my feet, which were slowly regaining mobility.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇