661 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"It's reckless!" Yukiko immediately grabbed Cheon Sohee's sleeve upon hearing her intention to charge into Baekhochae. "It's not Baekhochae anymore; it's just remnants. We can do it." "No, we can't. Even if those left in the village are just remnants, their leader is still one of the chieftains of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds." The Green Forest Strongholds are strategically located in areas with high traffic. Only those who can survive dealings with countless guards and martial artists can secure a position among the Seventy-Two Strongholds. And their opponent was the former leader of Baekhochae. In the world of the Green Forest where the law of the strong prevails, he surely didn’t rank by reputation alone. Yukiko had to sincerely dissuade Cheon Sohee from engaging in such a reckless act. "I'm not thinking of a direct confrontation." Cheon Sohee wasn't devoid of thought. Wasn't she an assassin, after all? She could infiltrate using her stealth skills and finish the task decisively. "Do you think I don't know?! Your stealth skills as a Fifth Rank are ordinary, aren't they?" The problem was, Cheon Sohee’s stealth skills were lacking compared to other first-class assassins. "I might have been caught before, but I've never failed." "In this line of work, getting caught usually means the end...” Assassinations are meant to leave no witnesses. Yukiko, contemplating Cheon Sohee's confident words, helplessly grabbed her forehead. "You’re not going?" "We are first-class assassins of the guild. We don’t move without payment! Surely that's basic.” "The payment. I received it." Cheon Sohee had no intention to ignore the guild’s principles. She nodded expressionlessly and handed something to Yukiko. “You’re even lying now… What is it?” “A macaron.” It was a snack given to them by the tavern owner’s daughter. What Cheon Sohee handed over was a macaron with a tiny bite mark. “What kind of ridiculous logic is this?” “But it was delicious, wasn’t it?” “It was delicious, indeed, but…” Yukiko dejectedly slumped her shoulders. “Is it a no?” Seolja alternated her gaze between Cheon Sohee and the macaron, letting out a deep sigh. *Sigh.* "A good leader listens to their companion’s opinion! Let’s hear the reasoning first.” Seolja urged Yukiko to be open-minded. The typically indifferent Cheon Sohee was unexpectedly taking the initiative; there must be a reason. Seolja was determined to oppose if proper explanation wasn't provided. “It’s enough.” “What's enough?” "Just me being separated from my brother is enough." "Oh..." A childhood friend and brother. Separated by invaders for ten years. Yukiko realized why Cheon Sohee was taking the initiative. "If you're against it, I’ll go alone." Cheon Sohee's eyes conveyed that she would go alone if opposed. Yukiko gazed silently at Cheon Sohee for a moment. There was no definite reason to join her. Cheon Sohee’s move was purely independent. Yet. In the past, Cheon Sohee would have left without a word. This time, she remained, awaiting Yukiko’s decision without turning away. 'In the past, she wouldn't have even asked me to join!' Is it because she promised to lead, or perhaps because the tightly shut doors of her heart were beginning to open slightly? Moreover. 一 I hope you can offer your assistance. If Cheon Sohee is learning to control her lethal instincts, this could be a chance for personal growth as suggested by Dan Seowoel. “Fine! Enough with the nonsense. We'll accompany you to the end at Liadong Fortress.” Yukiko relented, speaking to Cheon Sohee. "And then...?" “From now on, the person moving is not the Sixth Rank of the guild!” “Huh?” Guild assassins would not usually partake in mere bandit hunting. However, there were special circumstances. Determined, Yukiko pointed at herself. "Cheon Sohee's friend. Seolja. Understood?" "...Thank you." A pleasant curve formed at the corner of Cheon Sohee’s lips. "Save the thanks for later! Let’s begin with some reconnaissance first!" *** Such thoughts occasionally crossed her mind. A winter mountain where even animals crouched from the cold, hiding from the darkness. Her red eyes silently gazed at distant prey before closing them again. 一 The neighbor's brother brought firewood because it's cold in my room lately. He told me not to save the firewood as my hands and feet were always cold. Did she have similar memories herself? What kind of memories did she have with Yunho? Trying hard to recall, any memories before she was eight were blurry and fragmented, barely remembered. A poor fishing village. The fishy smell flickering her nose stayed in memory. However, visualizing other memories was as foggy as the mist-laden fishing village. In her imagination, she stood as a lost child in that place. 一 Sohee, are you hungry? Let’s go eat with your brother. Was it a recent memory? From last year? Or a memory shrouded in mist? Perhaps her brother had said similar words a decade ago. She couldn't be sure. Yet. Recently, she felt a taller boy next to her. A small but reassuring hand reaching out from the fog seemed real. “The bandit's stronghold is in sight!” Cheon Sohee slowly opened her eyes, responding to Seolja’s voice. “Rundown.” The prey's nest looked makeshift. “They're fugitives, after all. Likely didn't have time to build a proper stronghold.” “Two watchtowers. Six guards.” "Are you truly sure about this? If your lethal instincts act up, things could get dangerous!" Excessive killing inevitably provokes the lethal instincts within Cheon Sohee. Yukiko worriedly inquired, seeking reassurance. “It’s fine.” Tranquil. The lethal instincts didn't whisper. Cheon Sohee cherished the opportunity her brother gave her. “Alright! Now that we’re here, let’s do this right.” “Let’s start.” Another night as silent as any other. The woman, understanding the value of ordinary life more than anyone, unsheathed her sword to protect someone else's everyday world today. —— “Struck out again today.” At the watchtower of the bandit's stronghold. A senior guard spoke to a subordinate. “Business is slow with the winter cold.” "This never happened when we were in Baekhochae." The senior officer lamented, reminiscing about the days when they lived with a constant supply of meat and alcohol. "They say the secretary knows where we are. What do we do now?" "What can we do? We'll raid all the nearby villages and then take off." "As expected, it's a clean approach, but it'll take a while to set up elsewhere." The senior officer pointed to the distant village with disdain. "So we need to get a large sum for our moving costs! If they resist, kill them all and grab everything before we flee." "Heh, heh. I noticed some pretty young girls in the nearby village. I might just sample a taste." "Go ahead. I'm going to take a nap in the corner. Wake me when it's time for the shift change." Damn it, he's at it again. The subordinate cursed the senior officer descending from the watchtower but couldn't voice it, knowing he'd resort to violence at the slightest provocation. As he turned his head to resume his guard duties. "Damn it, stuck on guard duty again... Ugh..." Red eyes. That was the last sight the bandit saw in this world. The winter mountain, silent as always, grew even quieter with the arrival of the guild assassins. [Yukiko. The inside of the tent is all cleared.] It was Seolja’s telepathic message. [I've taken out the guards.] [I'm moving into the eastern tent.] [I'm going to the western side.] The shadows stealthily slipped into the tents. As no cries of alarm sounded, Cheon Sohee calmly thought of Seolja. 'The Sixth Rank. A first-class assassin.' By nature, assassins are expendable. Even from Yukiko and Cheon Sohee's cohort, few remain, serving as evidence of their line of work. Seolja, who survived to potentially step into the shoes of Cheon Sohee, held a talent in the guild that was nothing short of chilling, aside from Cheon Sohee’s own abilities. “Who’s... Ugh!” Clearing the bandits from the eastern tent, Cheon Sohee encountered a man returning after hastily stepping out to relieve himself. 'Drat.' Her execution was less than pristine. In the deathly quiet of the hideout, his startling cry echoed loudly. "What was that noise...?" Impatience breeds careless steps. On the snow-covered hideout, as she attempted to eliminate someone drawn out by the sound from a tent, she unfortunately stepped on a dry twig. 一 Crack! Creating an even bigger noise. “Who’s there?” "Blood?! No way! Intruders!" "Intruder alert!" “How many of them got taken out already?!” “Oh no.” Within an instant, the remaining bandits poured out. [Were we discovered?!] [Sorry.] [Apologizing right away is commendable. Proceed to the next phase immediately.] We never planned on staying unnoticed until everyone was dead. Yukiko quickly shifted to the next stage of the plan. “What in the world is happening?!” "Chief! Over half are dead!" "What lunatics have dared to attack our stronghold!!!" “Sigh.” A dark silhouette confidently strode into the midst of the startled bandits. "A woman? Just one?!" "She's alone? Is she insane?!" "Who are you?!" [Say it exactly as I instructed!] Cheon Sohee, facing the bewildered bandits, unsheathed her sword in silence. Under the moonlight, the bloodied blade gleamed. "I'm the one who will send you to the afterlife." eS82cEF3M2JnbHlDcjVodFVtUDBmL0Z5ZGRXVXdyR2o2VENocEtBVE9vdFRtTlJ4Nmh6eFowWEpZRW5tcVp6cA Releasing the hidden murderous aura in an instant, the sticky intent of Cheon Sohee's lethal spirit mercilessly ensnared the bandits' faces. “What kind of killing intent is this?!” “No way! Damn it!!! Everyone, retreat!” The former leader of Baekhochae seemed to realize something, pulling his subordinates back with a panicked expression. “Why, Chief?!” "I should have realized when they claimed they arrived a full month late…!" A grave mistake. The ex-leader of Baekhochae, Bae Il Eung, gazed at the martial artist before him with a resigned voice. “Could it be...?” “Wait a minute! Is it possible?!” The expressions of the bandits began to change one by one. It was natural. Midwinter, when no one typically roamed. The audacity to attack the stronghold alone. The overflowing madness. And the ruthless skill to boot. No matter how much one tries to hide their identity, they can't fool their own eyes. The former leader of Baekhochae, with a voice full of certainty, yelled at the Grim Reaper who had come for them. "You! You're from the Extermination Squad under Secretary Sutalin, aren't you?!" "What an absurd excuse." "But it was delicious." "It was, indeed." Yukiko slumped her shoulders helplessly. "Is it a no?" Seolja sighed, alternating her gaze between Cheon Sohee and the macaron. *Sigh.* "A good leader listens to their companion’s opinion! Let's hear the reasoning." Yukiko played the role of the guide, trying to be open-minded. Cheon Sohee, who was usually indifferent, was suddenly taking the lead, which meant there must be a reason. Seolja, prepared to oppose if no proper explanation was provided, asked: "That's enough." "Enough of what?" "It's enough that I have to be separated from my brother." "Oh..." A childhood friend and brother. Separated for ten years because of the invaders. Yukiko immediately understood why Cheon Sohee was stepping up. "If you don't want to, I can go alone." She looked determined enough to go alone if necessary. Yukiko silently gazed at Cheon Sohee for a moment. Indeed, there was no compelling reason they had to move together. Since it was an independent decision by Cheon Sohee. However. In the past, Cheon Sohee used to leave without a word. But now, she didn't turn her back as the Fifth Rank. Though she didn't outwardly express it, she seemed to be waiting for Yukiko's decision. 'In the past, she wouldn't have even asked me to join!' Was it because she promised to lead, or perhaps because her heart, which used to be tightly shut, was now slowly opening? Furthermore. 一 I hope you can assist. If Cheon Sohee was learning to control her lethal instincts, offering her an opportunity for growth could be valuable. Dan Seowol certainly would have encouraged this. "Argh! Enough of this nonsense. We will accompany you to Liadong Fortress to the very end." Yukiko, with a resigned expression, spoke to Cheon Sohee. "So then...?" "From now on, the person moving is not the Sixth Rank of the guild!" "Eh?" Guild's assassins don't usually engage in bandit suppression. However, when there's another cause, things change. Yukiko, steeling herself, pointed to herself as she spoke. "Cheon Sohee's friend. Seolja. Got it?" "...Thank you." A pleasant curve appeared at the corner of Cheon Sohee’s lips. "We’ll save the gratitude for later! First, we need to start the reconnaissance!" *** Sometimes, She imagines. In the winter mountains, where even animals shrink from the cold and hide from the darkness. She closed her eyes as her crimson gaze caught sight of distant prey. The memories of when a neighbor's brother brought firewood, advising not to save it because her hands and feet were cold. Did Cheon Sohee have similar memories with Yunho? However much she tried to recall, her memories before she was eight years old were fragmented and incomplete, barely surfacing. A poor fishing village. She could remember the fishy smell lingering on her nose. But every time she tried to recall anything else, it was like looking at a village shrouded in mist — everything was hazy. She felt like a lost child standing there. 一 Sohee, are you hungry? Let's go eat with your brother. Was it a memory from last year? Or perhaps one buried in the fog? Maybe her brother had said something similar a decade ago. She couldn't be sure. Yet. Somehow, these days, she felt as though there was a slightly taller boy beside her. A small but reassuring hand reaching out from the fog seemed all too real. "The hideout is in sight!" Cheon Sohee opened her eyes quietly at Seolja's voice. "It's shabby." The nest harboring their prey looked poorly maintained. "They’re fugitives, after all. Seems like they didn't have time to construct a proper hideout." "Two watchtowers. Six guards." "Are you sure about this? If your lethal instincts get the better of you, it could get dangerous!" Too much killing inevitably stirred the lethal instincts within Cheon Sohee's heart. She nodded, reassuring the worried Yukiko. "It's fine." Calm. There were no whispers from her lethal instincts. Cheon Sohee hadn't wasted the chances her brother had given her. "Alright! Now that we're here, let's do this properly." "Let's begin." It was another quiet night, just like any other. The woman, who understood better than anyone the value of an ordinary life, unsheathed her sword to protect someone else’s world today. —— "Nothing today again." A senior guard up in the bandit's watchtower spoke to his subordinate. "It's because of winter; business is slow." "This never happened when we were in Baekhochae." The senior officer lamented, reminiscing about the days when they lived with a constant supply of meat and alcohol. "They say the secretary found out where we are. What do we do now?" "What can we do? We'll raid all the nearby villages and then take off." "As expected, it's a clean approach, but it'll take a while to set up elsewhere." The senior officer pointed to the distant village with disdain. "So we need to get a large sum for our moving costs! If they resist, kill them all and grab everything before we flee." "Heh, heh. I noticed some pretty young girls in the nearby village. Might just sample a taste." "Go ahead. I'm going to take a nap in the corner. Wake me when it's time for the shift change." Damn it, he's at it again. The subordinate cursed the senior officer descending from the watchtower but couldn't voice it, knowing he'd resort to violence at the slightest provocation. As he turned his head to resume his guard duties. "Damn it, stuck on guard duty again... Ugh..." Red eyes. That was the last sight the bandit saw in this world. The winter mountain, silent as always, grew even quieter with the arrival of the guild's assassins. [Yukiko. The inside of the tent is all cleared.] It was Seolja’s telepathic message. [I've taken out the guards.] [I'm moving into the eastern tent.] [I'm going to the western side.] The shadows stealthily slipped into the tents. As no cries of alarm sounded, Cheon Sohee calmly thought of Seolja. 'The Sixth Rank. A first-class assassin.' By nature, assassins are expendable. Even from Yukiko and Cheon Sohee's cohort, few remain, serving as evidence of their line of work. Seolja, who survived to potentially step into the shoes of Cheon Sohee, held a talent in the guild that was nothing short of chilling, aside from Cheon Sohee’s own abilities. Aside from Cheon Sohee’s talents, Seolja's abilities also inspired awe within the guild. “Who...?” The bandit let out a sharp cry before he could finish his sentence. As Cheon Sohee cut through the bandits in the eastern tent and moved towards the next one, she suddenly encountered someone leaving in haste. 'Damn.' The execution wasn’t clean. A loud scream cut through the quiet of the bandit hideout. "What was that noise...?" A rushed heart leads to careless steps. On the snow-covered hideout, as Cheon Sohee tried to eliminate a figure who rushed out from the tent upon hearing a noise, she accidentally stepped on a dry branch. 一 Snap! The sound was even louder. "Who’s there?!" "Blood?! It can't be! An intruder!" "There’s an intruder!" "How many have been taken out already?!" "Oh." The remaining bandits burst out in an instant. [Have we been discovered?!] [Sorry.] [Immediate apology? That's commendable. Move on to the next phase right away.] Yukiko didn't expect to avoid being detected until they killed everyone. She quickly shifted to the next part of the plan. “What in the world is going on here?!” "Chief! More than half of us are dead!" "What kind of lunatics have the guts to attack our hideout!!!" *Sigh.* A shadowy figure confidently emerged among the startled bandits. "A woman? By herself?!" "She's alone? Is she crazy?!" "Who are you?!" [Say the line as I instructed!] Cheon Sohee silently drew her sword as the bewildered bandits looked on. The blood-stained blade gleamed in the moonlight. "I'm the one who will send you to the afterlife." eS82cEF3M2JnbHlDcjVodFVtUDBmL0Z5ZGRXVXdyR2o2VENocEtBVE9vdFRtTlJ4Nmh6eFowWEpZRW5tcVp6cA In an instant, she unleashed her concealed energy. The sticky killing intent of Cheon Sohee's lethal spirit relentlessly gripped the bandits' faces. "What is this chilling intent?!" "No way! Damn it!!! Everyone, fall back!" The former leader of Baekhochae seemed to realize something as he pulled his subordinates back with a panicked expression. "Why are you doing this, Chief?!" "I should have realized when they said they arrived half a month late...!" A grave mistake had been made. The former leader of Baekhochae, Bae Il Eung, looked at the martial artist before him with a voice filled with bitter regret. "Could it be...?" "Wait a minute! Could it be?!" The bandits' expressions began to change one by one. Understandable. No one ventured out in the dead of winter. The audacity to attack a hideout alone. The overflowing madness. And an unmatched ruthlessness. No matter how they tried to disguise their identity, they couldn't deceive their own eyes. With a voice full of certainty, the former leader of Baekhochae called out to the reaper who had come for them. "You! You're from Secretary Sutalin’s assassination squad, aren't you?!"