Chapter 64 : Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Martial Arts Alliance (1)

So.

The moment I saw Ms. Chang Meirin, my face was covered in tea.

“...”

“...”

Leaving the completely frozen Ms. Meirin aside, I wiped my face with a handkerchief.

Objectively, it was a rather rude act, but since I also had the fault of suddenly appearing and startling her, it was hard to complain.

Well, it couldn't be helped.

The security was so tight that I had no choice but to sneak in using Shadow Secret Arts.

This person was to play an essential role in the next main quest, so I had to make contact with her somehow.

“S-Sor...”

But unlike me, Ms. Meirin seemed to be taking this situation very seriously.

Her face was so pale it was like a blank sheet of paper. On top of that, she was trembling so much she couldn't even finish her sentence.

‘Hmm.’

Come to think of it.

This person was set up to have been rigorously educated from a young age to be sold as the face of the Martial Arts Alliance.

‘...That's education in name only.’

According to the fragmented settings revealed in the game, it was at a level close to abuse.

It was amazing that this person took responsibility and did her best in her position.

The Martial Arts Alliance and the Martial Arts Alliance Leader were shameless bastards who didn't fit their grand names.

At least from my point of view.

Because I despise those who push their own stance without listening to others' opinions.

“It's okay.”

So, I did my best to reassure her.

“It's no big deal. It's okay.”

“Yes... Yes?”

“Everyone makes mistakes. It's normal for ordinary people.”

I emphasized the words ‘ordinary person’.

Because that was what I thought this person would want to hear most right now.

“It's okay.”

As I said so calmly once more, Ms. Meirin's breathing, which was about to become rapid, seemed to calm down.

Her pale complexion also returned to its original...

“...”

Correction.

It didn't return to its original state, but it felt a little flushed.

Seeing her complexion change so drastically, she might not be feeling well. I wonder if she has a cold.

“...I have committed a rudeness. I apologize.”

Ms. Meirin, who soon swallowed a few dry coughs, said so in her usual voice.

It was the graceful appearance of a young lady from a good family that she always wore.

“No. Well.”

It was rude, but there would probably be quite a few guys who would want to be hit by the water this person spits out, saying it was a reward from the industry.

I thought Seo Ah-in's words about there being something like a religion that worships this woman were a joke, but from the atmosphere I felt on-site, it was probably true.

I saw a statue of this person on the way here.

“There! Who goes there!”

And if I suddenly appeared in a place where someone who was treated better than a celebrity was, it would be a natural course of events for such a shout to fly out.

People who looked like bodyguards carrying swords ran out with hostile expressions.

“Stop.”

But, before I could react, Ms. Meirin spoke first in a stern voice.

“He is my guest. He is not an intruder.”

“...Pardon? But, my lady.”

The bodyguard protested with a look of incomprehension.

Considering who this person was, she would normally be managed in every detail of who she meets and what she has to do.

It seemed quite tiring.

“A secret meeting alone with an outside man, if the Martial Arts Alliance Leader finds out, he will by no means overlook it.”

“...”

So that was the problem.

It wasn't just a matter of showing up without an appointment, but it seemed they disliked scoundrels hanging around trying to snatch this person away.

To this, Ms. Meirin replied with a sigh, as if she had heard something very strange.

“It is a misunderstanding. Mr. Kim Gyu-sik is not that kind of person... I don't even know if he's interested in me in the first place.”

I couldn't hear what she mumbled in the latter part, but the bodyguard seemed to have lowered his guard to some extent after seeing this person shield me.

I could tell from his slightly softened expression as he asked me a question.

“Is that so. If he is someone the young lady trusts to that extent, it should be alright to trust him to some degree. For what purpose have you come?”

Um.

But you know.

I'm sorry, but the reason I came here has something to do with what you're worried about.

How should I explain this.

“...”

Come to think of it, no matter what I say, it will all sound similar.

So I just go for it.

“I came to take this person.”

“?”

“Please relay this to the Martial Arts Alliance Leader. I'll be taking your granddaughter. I will take good care of her.”

“...?”

Ms. Meirin looked back at me with a dazed expression.

It was a look that said, what on earth are you thinking.

Well, it's okay.

I have a method that is guaranteed to work on him.

***

“Even so, is there really a need to tie me up?”

“Shut up, you damn bastard.”

“That's too harsh.”

No, honestly, you're the one being too harsh.

Meirin thought as she looked down at the ropes that were tightly binding Mr. Kim Gyu-sik.

It wasn't just a prop to set the mood, but an object made of mana vacuum material designed to suppress Climbers.

While in contact with this, even a B-grade Climber would probably be moderately neutralized.

It was a bit of an excessive item to use against a Climber who was officially F-grade.

“...This is too excessive a measure.”

She protested, mumbling to herself, but even she thought it was hard to say her voice had much force in it.

That was because even she couldn't figure out this person's exact intentions right now.

The way he suddenly appeared and approached her, and the way he said things that strangely poked at her heart.

“...What on earth were you thinking, doing that?”

So, she first grumbled at Mr. Kim Gyu-sik.

But Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, who heard those words, shrugged his shoulders as if it were nothing.

“It just seemed like you were having a hard time. I came to save you.”

No, you did, but.

How do you know that when you've never even had a proper conversation with me? What are you going to do, and why do you keep saying things that are bad for the heart?

“Why are you doing such a thing for me, who you've only met a few times? Convincing the Martial Arts Alliance Leader won't be an easy task.”

There was probably not a single wrong word in what she said.

Though the other party didn't seem to agree.

“No, it's not.”

“Pardon?”

“I do it because I can, and because I must. That's all.”

“...”

I had no idea what he was talking about.

What I could be sure of was that it was getting harder to maintain my composure every time I saw this person.

The reason I couldn't defend him very enthusiastically even when I saw him being tied up in ropes and taken away was that just looking at this man made the atmosphere I usually wore try to crumble.

What was with those words just now, anyway?

Saying he'll take responsibility, saying he'll take me away.

Saying he can do it, saying he has to do it.

It was excessively unhealthy for the heart to hear at a time when my heart was on fire thinking about a prince on a white horse.

‘Just what kind of person is he...’

I had a feeling he was elusive before, but now I couldn't even guess what kind of person he was.

But, it was clear that the Martial Arts Alliance Leader had a much more definite opinion about this person.

“Off with his head.”

“?”

What on earth was this fiery decision speed? To suddenly order his head to be cut off without hearing any story.

“W-Wait a minute! What on earth is that...!”

“He is a man who dares to lay a hand on the talent who will become the next generation's representative of the Martial Arts Alliance. There is no need to treat him lightly.”

The Martial Arts Alliance Leader, who cut off Meirin's panicked voice, said so with a stern attitude.

And this was a sight Meirin had seen countless times. In this state, he would often show a stubborn side where no words could get through.

“T-This person is the one who holds the traces of the martial arts I mentioned before! Such a person...!”

“...Hmm.”

The Martial Arts Alliance Leader, who flinched at those words, slightly turned his head and looked down at the man.

His expression was full of disbelief, but he seemed more interested than before.

“Then what nonsense is this about taking you away? A man who knows his place would not utter such words so easily.”

“...”

No, I'm curious about that too.

What on earth was that person thinking when he said that?

“I say it because I know my place, old boomer.”

And just as I was thinking that.

Such words flowed from the mouth of the man who had been silent until now.

His tone was light, but beneath it was a tingling chill that made everyone present turn their heads.

“If you've gone so senile you can't tell a stone from a gem, why don't you just pack up your Alliance Leader title and step down? Aren't you ashamed of yourself in front of others?”

A shocked silence fell upon the place at the sudden outburst of profanity.

This was the Martial Arts Alliance, and the person listening was the Martial Arts Alliance Leader who supervised this place.

To say such things in front of a person who would be hard to find more powerful even in all of China could only be described as having guts that had popped out of his belly.

“...Just because you have a mouth, you speak so carelessly. Do you wish to hasten your death so much?”

“Let's be blunt, Martial Arts Alliance Leader. I don't like you.”

The man, who didn't even blink at the Martial Arts Alliance Leader's sharp words, continued.

“That bastard to the end...! What are you doing, not beheading him at once!”

As the Martial Arts Alliance Leader commanded so, enraged to the point his beard trembled, one of the attendants present quickly drew his sword.

But, that motion was bound to be blocked.

The man, who had somehow untied the ropes, shot up from his spot and struck the attendant's jaw with a lightning-fast blow.

And at that sight, everyone present couldn't help but widen their eyes.

“H-How...!”

“He was definitely bound with mana-blocking material...!”

“That's right.”

The man said with a smirk.

“But if you can use something other than mana, anyone can do this much.”

“What does that mean!”

“Hey, old-timers.”

The man sneered with a smirk.

“Are you guys really the Martial Arts Alliance?”

But, this time, no one could properly refute those words.

Because everyone could feel the energy rising from the man's body.

“Th-That is...!”

“There's no mistake...!”

An energy that everyone was certain had been completely lost for hundreds of years.

The driving force that allowed all of China to rise as one of the world's leading powers.

The source of the forgotten Martial Arts.

Qi.

A human who could actually wield it had now appeared before their eyes.

“Ugh...!”

As if he hadn't expected this, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader let out a groan and looked down at the man.

His wide-open eyes were full of bewilderment.

“I've always been annoyed by guys who treat people however they want, but if you're also stubborn, it reminds me of the old days and I hate it even more. Why do I want to take your granddaughter? Because I can't stand seeing her suffer under someone like you.”

“...!”

Oh.

What is this.

Meirin clamped her mouth shut.

She felt like she could hear the pounding of her throbbing heart.

She had been constantly imagining her prince on a white horse.

But so quickly.

So abruptly.

So intensely.

“Hand that person over, senile old man. She's too good to be under you.”

She didn't expect him to appear before her.

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