“What the!”
Yoon Daehyeop belatedly sensed a presence and drew his sword, swinging it behind him, but it was too late.
The Heavenly Death Star effortlessly dodged Yoon Daehyeop’s sword, kicked his legs out from under him, destabilizing his balance, and swiftly overpowered him.
“Argh! Ack! Please!”
The subjugation occurred in an instant.
Yoon Daehyeop swung his sword blindly, but he was no match for the Heavenly Death Star. The latter grabbed Yoon Daehyeop’s wrist, forcing him to drop the sword, and then flung it to the end of the alley.
In short order, the Heavenly Death Star neutralized Yoon Daehyeop and pressed down on his staggering shoulder, forcing him to kneel. The Heavenly Death Star then moved behind the dazed Yoon Daehyeop and held a sword to his neck.
‘What an incredible master!’
Any resistance was futile. Kneeling, Yoon Daehyeop was greatly startled by the sword blade at his neck.
‘I didn’t sense anything in this narrow alley.’
How long had she been there? Yoon Daehyeop had been cautious about the entrance of the alley, fearing soone might see him threatening the storyteller, but not sensing anything was astonishing.
Despite being caught off guard, he couldn’t mount any resistance. The ability to hide one’s presence and the close combat skills were beyond comparison.
He hadn’t even drawn his sword to use his swordsmanship; he had simply drawn it to immobilize Yoon Daehyeop. Yoon Daehyeop was overwheld by the vast skill difference.
“Who… who are you, esteed master?”
A master of this level in Chilgok County? Who could it be?
Could this be a master hired by another faction to target the marketplace? Hiring such a master would cost a fortune in gold. Was it all to gain control over the marketplace?
Was this barbarian’s trickery part of the plan? Yoon Daehyeop couldn’t make sense of the situation.
“What do you think?”
Kang Yun-ho spoke with a relaxed smile.
“Everything was a… a trap!”
He had simply thought the storyteller held a grudge and had lured him into the alley, but the appearance of such a master was unexpected.
Yoon Daehyeop felt that everything had been orchestrated by the storyteller.
“A trap? I’ve never set a trap. You’ve co to your own demise by your own doing, Yoon Daehyeop.”
“What are you going to do to ?”
“You attempted to swing your sword at when you thought you had the upper hand. Now, the tables have turned. What do you think I will do?”
Until that mont, Yoon Daehyeop could have decided Kang Yun-ho’s fate. But now, it was Kang Yun-ho’s turn.
Kang Yun-ho asked him calmly, as though he were a judge.
“I’ll just kill him now.”
The Heavenly Death Star spoke as if wondering why Kang Yun-ho would even bother asking such a question.
“I was wrong! Please, spare my life!”
An intense murderous aura overwheld Yoon Daehyeop. Death seed imminent, and the fear of it engulfed him.
To survive, he had to beg for his life from the storyteller in front, not the master behind.
“You were going to swing your sword at the storyteller for legitimately earning money. That beca a grudge against . Do you understand?”
“I’m sorry! I never intended to kill you. I was just so angry that I wanted to rob you. I too belong to the righteous faction! People saw dragging you; would I really kill you? Please show rcy!”
It was true.
Although Yoon Daehyeop, enraged from being outsmarted and losing a substantial amount of money, had no intention of killing the barbarian storyteller. He, as soone from the righteous faction, at least maintained a certain standard of decency.
Kang Yun-ho looked at Yoon Daehyeop for a long ti. It was a mont that divided life and death. The mont Kang Yun-ho’s lips parted, Yoon Daehyeop’s fate would be sealed.
In that brief mont, Yoon Daehyeop regretted the foolish act he had committed in his blind rage that had led him to this life-threatening situation.
As the monts of life and death ticked by,
Kang Yun-ho made his decision.
“I will spare your life.”
Kang Yun-ho raised his hand, halting the Heavenly Death Star’s advance.
“Really?”
Yoon Daehyeop’s face lit up with relief.
“You tried to swing your sword at because you hold a grudge against the strong. However, I choose to repay your grudge with the rcy of the strong. So, let’s not harbor any ill will over this incident.”
“Thank you! I’ll make sure not to cause you any trouble again!”
“If you seek revenge for this incident…”
Kang Yun-ho picked up a stone the size of a child’s fist from the ground and handed it to the Heavenly Death Star, nodding his head slightly. The Heavenly Death Star imdiately grasped the aning and demonstrated the stone’s fragility to Yoon Daehyeop.
The stone crumbled easily in his grasp and scattered on the ground.
Gulp. Yoon Daehyeop swallowed with unease.
“I swear on my honor, my na, and Changgeomun, I will not seek revenge!”
He knew he was no match for a master who was beyond the reach of a minor faction that rely collected protection fees in the marketplace.
Such a master would be invincible, even against the entirety of Changgeomun. Yoon Daehyeop trembled with this realization.
“Then leave without looking back.”
Kang Yun-ho motioned towards the alley’s exit.
“I’m sorry. Truly sorry!”
As the Heavenly Death Star eased the pressure on the sword, Yoon Daehyeop bowed repeatedly, feeling as though he had just narrowly escaped a tiger’s jaws.
For the sake of his life, Yoon Daehyeop decided to keep the day’s events to himself and hastened out of the alley.
‘That was a close call.’
Hey, Heavenly Death Star. You said you wouldn’t kill anyone, so why did you draw the sword?
“I’ll just kill him now.”
That thought made my heart sink.
What if she killed soone and lost her mind? Who’s going to be responsible? Certainly not , but my own neck might be on the line.
“Why did you spare him?”
The Heavenly Death Star inquired after Yoon Daehyeop had vanished.
Would I really make you stab him in a ga of Russian roulette?
Yoon Daehyeop might have acted cowardly in front of , but in Chilgok County, he was a respected man. He would realize how shaful today’s event had been once he was back.
And even if he wanted revenge, would he say, “I got angry because I paid the storyteller too much. I tried to swing a sword and almost got killed, help out”? Especially when the opponent had such an incredible master.
From Yoon Daehyeop’s perspective, both socially and physically, this situation was unmatchable.
“How foolish it is for humans to wash blood with blood.”
“That guy was going to harm you.”
I could feel a subtle anger in her voice.
“Sohee, are you angry because I almost got hit?”
I asked the Heavenly Death Star with a sly smile, trying to lighten the mood, though it probably wasn’t the case.
“…. I said that because it’s the law here.”
The Heavenly Death Star briefly avoided my gaze before responding.
“Ha-ha. So that’s why I’m treated like a barbarian here.”
“….”
The Heavenly Death Star looked at again, her eyes slightly wider.
“And you see, we’ve also made so extra inco without having to repay in blood.”
The Heavenly Death Star picked up a money pouch that had fallen when Yoon Daehyeop was subdued.
I had wanted to rob Yoon Daehyeop’s pouch, but now it was all mine. Sweet.
“If you keep relying on your words like today, you’ll face great danger.”
Oh. Are you worried about ?
“I didn’t trust my words. I trusted you, Sohee. I believed you would protect when I was in danger.”
I smiled contentedly and looked at the Heavenly Death Star. Honestly, it was really reassuring.
Thanks to her, I could be confident in that situation. It would have been better if she hadn’t drawn the sword.
“You always talk too much.”
The Heavenly Death Star suddenly lowered her head and walked out of the alley, covering her face with her hat.
What’s with her?
“Let’s go together, Sohee!”
I must protect her to the end!
“Where did you go?”
After dinner, the Heavenly Death Star said she would be back soon, but she had not returned.
I hoped the food was not to her dislike. After all, I had bought expensive food. Of course, I purchased different items since what she liked was not suitable for dinner.
“When are you coming back?”
I could not let her sleep on the floor for two nights in a row, so I planned to rent a four-person room or move to another guesthouse.
Sitting on the guest room bed, I waited endlessly for the Heavenly Death Star.
“I’m back.”
The Heavenly Death Star, wearing her hat, opened the door and entered the guest room.
“Sohee, you’re back. I have sothing to talk about regarding our sleeping arrangents…”
“I also have sothing to say about that.”
The Heavenly Death Star interrupted .
You want a room with separate beds, right? If the Heavenly Death Star suggested changing rooms, I should go down and change it right away.
But after saying she had sothing to tell , the Heavenly Death Star remained silent.
What’s going on?
Looking closely, the Heavenly Death Star seed a bit odd. Ever since she entered the room, she kept her head down, concealing her gaze with her hat, and her arms were hidden behind her.
Her shoulders twitched continuously as if she had sothing to say but was hesitating.
“Sohee?”
Was she embarrassed to suggest changing rooms? When I called her, the Heavenly Death Star t my gaze. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she nodded slightly.
Why this unease?
The Heavenly Death Star strode up to , sitting on the bed, and presented sothing she had been hiding behind her.
“What’s with this rope?”
The object the Heavenly Death Star handed over was a very sturdy-looking black rope at first glance. Perhaps it was made of leather. It did not seem like an ordinary rope.
As I pondered the rope, the Heavenly Death Star made an unexpected request.
“Can you tie up with this?”
Oh… SM?
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