Chapter 598 – 598. Map of Ascension to Gwangmyeong
598. Gwangmyeong Ascension Map
In this world, being a ticket customer can be said to be an extreme job.
The main job is to transport goods or escort people. It’s not just about protecting against bandits or thieves.
Monster.
In a way, it is the most annoying opponent from the point of view of the audience. Because bandits and thieves can at least talk. Among youkai, there are very few people who can communicate with you. Even if there are youkai who can understand words, they will not listen to people on purpose.
“Togwida! Keep an eye on the ground!”
Seok Ji-don exclaimed.
Earth demon.
It is a monster that moves underground. In terms of level, they are roughly 6th level youkai. It’s annoying to move around in the ground, but it’s not a strong youkai.
I drew my sword and glared at the ground. I can feel Togwi’s presence in the ground. There are two of them near me.
“Aaaaagh! Buy, save me!”
One of the priests was grabbed by Togwi’s leg. Togwi’s long arms squeezed his body. A colleague next to him hurriedly started helping him. Togwi crawled into the ground and escaped. Fortunately, the number of farmers did not die.
‘Come.’
I drove my sword into the ground.
The sword was mercilessly driven into Togwi’s head as he rose to the ground. Even if he was a youkai, his head was pierced and he died instantly.
Having reached the stage of emergence, I was able to easily kill them while recognizing Togwi’s presence.
I looked to the side.
Seongjigon also swung his sword in time for the Togwi to come up and hunted without difficulty. It seems that Seong Ji-gon’s senses have become sharper since he became a standing 8th dan.
After Togwi’s attack, Seok Ji-don looked around and said,
“There are no dead. Those who are injured do not hide their wounds and report them to the messengers. And make sure the wagon’s luggage is safe. Those who can afford it should take out Togwi’s heart. Togwi’s heart is a good medicine that increases bone recovery.”
Seok Ji-don quickly sorted out the situation. He seemed accustomed to being attacked by monsters. It’s not just a vote.
I looked at Sung Ji-gon. Seongji Gon was trembling slightly. Seongjigon’s battle was a real battle.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Uh? Yes. Are you okay. I’m just a little sorry.”
“What?”
“Because I haven’t been able to use the martial arts I’ve learned so far. This time, it’s just a slash with the sword down without any martial arts or anything.”
“Don’t be too obsessed with martial arts. Kill while you can.”
“Uh. Okay.”
Seong Ji-gon held a dry cloth with trembling hands and wiped the blood-stained sword.
•••
After repelling the monster’s attack several times, he encountered a bandit.
A total of over 100 bandits surrounded the transport group. It was a bit large, but Seok Ji-don was calm.
It’s not that they’re just looking down on bandits, they’re bluffing. If you are looked down upon by bandits, you will only be plundered from that moment on.
“The behavior of the guests is very shabby. Did you fight monsters? These days, Togwi is at its peak.”
The head of the bandits with a carelessly grown beard chuckled.
It was a large, muscular physique. In his hand, he holds a sword large enough to sever a man in half with a single stroke.
I don’t know exactly where his skills are, but I feel like he’s similar to Seok Ji-don or a little stronger.
“I am Seok Ji-don, the leader of the direct ticketing country.”
“I am Oh Son-mo, the boss of Oh Yeong-chae.”
I looked around. Except for the leader, Oh Son-mo, all the other bandits are goofballs. But numbers over 100 could never be ignored. More than 30 of them are holding bows.
‘If we fight, this side will be annihilated.’
If I don’t use the skills I saw, that will be the case.
“We are currently conducting trial shipments. I didn’t know that this was Oh Young-chae’s territory. I will pay the toll, so let me pass.”
Even if later the armed forces of the direct target country were brought in to wipe out the bandits, it was prudent to avoid battle for now.
There is a possibility. Because the bandits showed up without attacking right away.
“It’s a direct ticket country. That’s a name I’ve never heard of.”
“This time, we decided to expand the scope of our activities in direct ticketing countries. The trial transport is also to find the way. Our Direct Ticketing Bureau is putting off a life-and-death decision with the Green Forest Islands for the last time. Direct price tag country can coexist with Oh Young-chae.”
Haha. People have different laws when they go into the bathroom and when they come out. I’m not an idiot, do you think I’ll believe what you say?”
“Are you going to fight? Let me tell you in advance. Our direct ticket office is not easy going. If you have something to pay back, the place where you pay it back is the direct ticketing country.”
“… As long as it’s a flag country, it must have some level of power. Turning it into an enemy is awkward, so I’ll just take the toll. 10 silver coins per person. There are 13 people, so a total of 130 hermits.”
“It’s too much money for tolls. We don’t have that much money.”
“Is the direct price tag country a group of beggars?”
“Don’t insult the direct ticketing country. You’re the one making the ridiculous demands.”
The air got cold. The bandits’ lives are mixed in the air, making the hearts of the ticket holders feel stuffy.
10 silver coins. In terms of Korean currency, it is roughly worth more than 1 million won. It was too expensive for the toll.
Oh Son-mo, who was serious, soon painted a distorted smile on his lips.
“I made a joke once.”
“…… It wasn’t even fun to joke about.”
“Is it? I was having fun The toll is one hermit per person. A total of 13 Nyang. If you don’t want to bet, tell me now. I’ll take it myself.”
The bandits raised their weapons in unison. Pyogaek also raises a weapon and takes a stance.
“Who said no? 13 here.”
Seok Ji-don took out the money and gave it to Son-mo Oh. Oh Son Mo confirmed the 13 hermits and nodded his head. The bandits lowered their weapons and grinned.
“A satisfactory transaction. You can use the mountain.”
“Thank you.”
“See you againhaha.”
Oh Son-mo burst into a roaring laugh and took his men and disappeared into the mountains.
The ticket holders managed to relax when the bandits disappeared. However, the faces of some contributors were dissatisfied. They were soldiers from the Meteor Checkpoint.
“… After. Looking at your faces, it seems that you are dissatisfied with not fighting.”
“Pyo-chief Seok! They were only bandits! If we had fought, we would have won!”
“Stupid. Don’t ignore the bandits. Bandits are people too. I know how to come up with cunning tricks. Do you know that you can’t learn martial arts just because you’re a bandit? Oh Son-mo, who was the boss of them right now, is a talented person on the same level as me.”
“…… !!”
“And didn’t you see it? Bandits were armed with bows. Can you perfectly block or dodge the arrows flying from all directions with your skills?”
“…….”
“Let me advise you. Don’t be too overconfident in yourself. Martial arts are not your exclusive property.”
Seokjidon sighed and checked his pockets. 13 Nyang. It was never a small amount of money.
“Move fast. You never know when the bandits will change their mind and come ambush you.”
The convoy started moving again. However, six hours later, in the evening, they encountered the bandits again.
They were Oh Young-chae’s bandits he had seen during the day.
Haha! Nice to see you again!”
Oh Son-mo, the boss of Oh Young-chae, laughed out loud. I frowned. In my heart, I want to drop the thunderbolt, but I can’t openly reveal my power here.
“…… Sonmo Oh. What is this? We paid the toll during the day.”
“You sound stupid. It’s a different place during the day and here in the evening. Of course, it’s our area as well, but we have to calculate the toll separately. I won’t talk too much. It’s one hermit per person.”
“That is absurd…. Where did the Dori of Green Forest go?”
Haha! I don’t know what the way of green forest you know! As far as I know, what I do as a bandit is the duty of greening! If you do not obey our duty, draw your sword! I’ll make you a hedgehog!”
Bandits with bows pulled a protest at once.
Seokjidon bit his lip. Instead of drawing his sword, he opened his pockets.
“…… 13 cats.”
“Received. I will allow you to cross this road. Guys! Let’s go back!”
“Yes! Boss!”
Oh Young-chae The bandits left.
The faces of the audience, including Seok Ji-don, could not be brightened.
Seok Ji-don let out a helpless sigh and gave the order.
“Let’s go. After moving a little more, we camp in a suitable place. Move even when it’s hard It will arrive in Payang City tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”
But the ordeal did not end here.
In the morning, when I was about to leave after eating a simple meal, Oh Young-chae’s bandits came again.
Haha! Did you sleep well? The spirit of the mountain must have been good, so you should have slept well!”
“Why are you here again?!”
“I’m here to collect the toll.”
“I paid the toll yesterday! It wasn’t even far from where I gave it to you yesterday!”
“Yesterday’s toll is different from today’s toll!”
“You’re pure nonsense! Do you know that you will be safe even then?!”
“Why do you even want to pounce? Good. If you want to run, run. I’ll kill you guys and loot all your underwear!”
“…… Kut.”
Life is more valuable than money.
It was a fact everyone knew.
Seokji took out 13 nyang from his pocket.
“For a moment. It’s 2 nyang per person.”
“Why has the price suddenly doubled?!”
“Because yesterday and today are different. If you don’t want to pay the toll, draw your sword.”
“…… I’m short on money. All I have now is 17 cats.”
“I guess the pockets the other guys are wearing aren’t pockets? Or is it that my eyes are dumb and I’m looking at the scraps of cloth in my pocket?”
Seokjidon turned around and looked at his men.
“…… You guys should spend some money. I will pay you back as soon as the money is returned to the target country.”
“Everyone, of course, I have to help Chief Seok.”
“Here it is!”
The envoys immediately opened their pockets. He has a relationship with Seok Ji-don, and bandits are glaring at him, but he can’t stand it.
“24 Nyang…. Two kittens are not enough.”
“Don’t keep freezing. There are also henchmen over there.”
Oh Son-mo pointed to the farmers. Feeling humiliated, Seok Ji-don twisted his face and approached the merchants and borrowed money.
“…… 26 cats.”
Haha! After all, money is the best!”
The bandits left.
But around noon, Oh Young-chae’s bandits surrounded us again.
“This is our fourth meeting. I’ll settle for this.”
“… Why are you doing this to us?”
“Our Green Forest does not neglect its guests.”
“Dogs….”
“It’s 2 nyang per person. Give it to me if you don’t want to die.”
They reaped the money the plunderers had. It wasn’t even 10 hermits.
“I have no money. That’s all.”
“Isn’t there something loaded on the wagon? Words will become money…. The clothes and weapons you wear are also money.”
“… These are different from money. I can’t hand over the shipment. Although it is a test transport, the pride of the direct ticketing country is at stake. If word gets out that you gave in to the bandits and handed over the shipment, who would leave the goods at the direct ticket office?”
“Then hand over your weapons and clothes.”
“If you don’t have clothes, you’ll freeze to death at night, and if you don’t have weapons, you’ll die from monsters. Rather than die one way or another, it is better to die fighting. Even if we look like this, we are unmanned soldiers who have officially learned martial arts. They are from the meteor inspection. Even if we are annihilated, half of you will be taken with you to the underworld.”
Sonmo Oh narrowed her eyes. Then she burst into laughter again.
Haha! You’d be so resistant I can’t help it. If you don’t have money, you have to pay it back with your body. Follow me don’t do what’s right for you If you do not follow me, I will fight.”
Seokjidon kept his mouth shut and pondered. He pondered for about 10 minutes or more.
The bandits surrounding us from all sides flash their eyes.
“How long are you going to keep your mouth shut? Answer me.”
“…… Got it. I will do as you please.”
Haha! Well thought out! Follow me! I’ll show you our wild vegetables!”
We were taken alive and had to do intense labor. They did laundry piled up like a mountain, or cut trees to make firewood. I had to move heavy logs, make wooden fences, and carry rocks in the mountains.
Their intentions were obvious.
To drain our stamina as much as possible. And they’re going to attack us in the middle of the night and kill us all.
It’s a ploy to minimize their damage as much as possible.
The transport team was able to get out of the living room only after working until evening.
•••
They made a mistake.
That’s what he showed us wild vegetables.
There were women in Oh Young-chae’s wild house. They are the families of bandits. Among them was a beautiful woman with a pretty smooth face. Of course, there were also old women who had a taste for holy land.
Seong Ji-gon and I were excited to see the women. I haven’t even seen the woman’s back for the past few days. The effect of forced abstinence was great. Our balls were swollen.
Late night.
We sneaked out of the barracks and put on bast face masks.
“Are you ready, Jin?”
“Ah…. Of course, Gon.”
