Chapter 37: The Bet (4)
‘…Just how long do I have to stay trapped in this cramped place?’
Daereon.
A Fixer and assassin formerly employed by the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild.
But now, a prisoner confined in the delinquents' underground prison, spending miserable day after day.
He had endured for a long five months and was driven to the brink of madness.
It wasn't like this at first.
Although he was caught after committing the grave crime of an assassination attempt, he thought he had a solid bargaining chip.
That chip was… the ‘Jeten Swordsmanship Guild’.
‘Just a minor power clinging to the back alleys of Marzen… one that can't even handle the Travion Gang properly, they'll surely tremble at the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild's reputation.’
That's right.
Although he himself had failed, the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild never missed a target once set.
Since they had decided to covet the Marzen commercial district, it was clear they would make contact with the Eddy Family in some way.
That was precisely the part Eddy was aiming for.
To act as a bridge so that they could reach an amicable agreement with the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild, who would surely approach with a high-handed attitude, or at least secure better terms for going under them!
Daereon had intended to preserve his own life in exchange for that.
However…
‘Why, why haven't they sent any word to me?’
It was strange.
Too much time had passed.
Not one month, not two months, but a whole five months.
By now, a conclusion should have been reached one way or another.
He knew better than anyone that the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild's patience wasn't that great.
He also knew all too well that the Eddy Family lacked the power to oppose them.
And yet, they still hadn't sought him out?
What on earth could have happened…
Kkiiik-
“Come out, you filthy assassin scum.”
‘That’s right. This is how it should be. There’s no way things could proceed properly without me!’
Was the ancient proverb about mentioning the tiger true?
Just as he was harboring doubts, a delinquent opened the door and gestured for him to come out.
A triumphant smile spread across Daereon’s face.
Of course. How could scum like them withstand the pressure from the Jeten Guild?
Thinking this inwardly, he walked out of the underground prison with a confident stride, unbecoming of a failed assassin prisoner.
The shackles on his feet were extremely bothersome, but it was fine.
Various thoughts about the ‘mediation with the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild’ and ‘the benefits he could gain through it’ were swirling in his head.
‘Just being released isn’t enough. I’ll demand more than that!’
‘For example, money, or money, or money…’
‘Jewels or land would be fine too. Marzen is a decent commercial area, so they must have saved up a lot of money!’
With such inflated dreams, Daereon arrived at the clearing behind Eddy's hideout.
On a bench at one edge sat a young man; although he hadn't seen him in a long time, he recognized him immediately.
It was Harang.
The target he had aimed for, and the one who had reduced him to this miserable state.
‘How on earth does someone that young possess such skill…’
Just thinking about that time still made his body tremble.
Beyond merely having incredible skill, he possessed a strange aura that intimidated opponents.
Of course, he couldn't show any sign of that now.
Daereon took a deep breath in, and then exhaled deeply.
Composure was crucial.
To proceed with the negotiations smoothly, he needed to show an equal footing rather than bowing down.
With that thought, as soon as he stood before Harang, he flashed a vile smile and spoke the words he had prepared.
“Looks like you’re having a hard time because of the Jeten Guild. Enough to drag me out after forgetting about me.”
“That’s not it?”
“What?”
“Yes?”
“…?”
“…? I don’t know why you thought that, but I didn’t call you because of that problem. The matter with the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild was resolved smoothly.”
“Th-… That can’t be, that can’t possibly be…”
Daereon stuttered.
It couldn't be helped.
Mediating with the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild was the extremely powerful, and only, bargaining chip he had thought of.
For him, who intended to secure not only his freedom but also a hefty profit through it, he couldn't help but feel a shock like the sky was falling.
‘Strange, there’s no place as persistent as the Jeten Swordsmanship Guild… He must be mistaken…’
Of course, that was just Daereon's thought.
Even if his thoughts were correct and problems arose later, it wasn't an immediate issue.
Realizing this, he drooped like a squid pulled from the water.
Of course, Harang didn't pity Daereon.
He was someone who always repaid those who tried to kill him with death.
He considered sparing his life an immense act of mercy, so he was prepared to do anything to him without feeling a prick of conscience.
He spoke.
“First, take this.”
“…What is this?”
“It’s poison.”
“…!”
“Ah, don’t worry too much. It’s not a poison that takes effect immediately. If a year passes, you’ll die spewing blood from your eyes, nose, and mouth, but you’ll be fine if you take the antidote before then. Probably.”
“Probably…”
“Are you not going to take it? Isn’t it better to take this and move freely than to walk around with shackles?”
“That’s true. Keuk…”
What a heartless bastard!
Daereon screamed inwardly, but he couldn't dare voice this thought.
Just imagining what that monstrous fellow might do if he did made his legs tremble.
Of course, he didn't swallow the poison immediately.
Wasn't there always a 'what if'?
Daereon recalled all the sad events of his life and put on the expression of a pathetic puppy.
And asked.
“Do I really have to take it?”
“…”
It seemed like he'd get hit if he pushed further.
He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed the poison, then lowered his head with a sullen expression like a rain-soaked puppy.
However, a moment later, an unexpected proposal flowed from his lips.
He was being given a chance to completely escape his current miserable situation.
Startled, Daereon asked back.
“You want me to… spar with two members of the Eddy Family?”
“Yes. With wooden swords, against both at the same time. As I said, if you win against them, I will give you the antidote and let you go…”
“I will do my best!”
Shouting loudly, Daereon bowed 90 degrees.
It was an incomprehensible offer.
But for him, it was an offer that couldn't be better.
‘Win a spar against two members of the Eddy Family? That’s way too easy, isn’t it?’
He couldn't help but think that.
Although Daereon hadn't formally learned swordsmanship at a guild or academy, thanks to long experience and luck, he was a skilled fighter who had reached the mid-level Expert rank.
On the other hand, what about the Eddy Family?
They weren't even worth comparing.
Even the boss, Eddy, was barely scraping by at the Expert level, so he was confident he could easily handle him and the underboss even if they attacked simultaneously.
“Alright. Shall we do it right away?”
“No. You don’t seem to be in good condition right now… First, wash up and eat properly. Come out to the clearing by this time tomorrow.”
Jjalang-!
“…”
Seeing Harang toss him a coin as soon as he finished speaking, Daereon looked puzzled.
It wasn't a bad offer.
No, it was actually too good an offer.
That's why he had a bad feeling about it.
Of course, since he had no other choice, he washed himself properly for the first time in a while, ate heartily, and recovered his body in a comfortable bed, but… strangely, his mind wasn't at ease.
‘Perhaps, they say Eddy Family, but maybe they’re bringing in outsiders?’
He had such thoughts, but they were merely groundless fears.
The next afternoon, facing the familiar faces of Eddy and Pale, Daereon looked at Harang and asked.
“Really, if I beat these two, you’ll give me the antidote?”
“That’s right.”
“Ha, ha…!”
Pu-hwaaak-!
The moment Harang finished speaking.
Along with a hollow laugh, a powerful presence erupted from Daereon’s body.
His eyes were as cold as a midwinter gale, and a faint smile, half confidence and half self-deprecation, spread across his lips.
“It seems I’ve been greatly underestimated…!”
Who was he?
A mid-level Expert swordsman, no less.
Meaning he was a proper Aura User who would receive generous treatment at any Mercenary Brokerage and be considered a valuable asset at any Swordsmanship Guild.
And yet, he was being told to face two delinquent scums like these?
This was like…
‘A humiliation worse than being openly insulted!’
Hu-hwaaaaaak-!
His presence intensified further.
In the stance of raising his wooden sword, in his confident forward stride, immense pride and self-assurance could be felt.
A presence denser than the killing intent he had radiated against Harang five months ago pressed down on Eddy and Pale.
However, they paid no heed.
They weren't flustered, nor were they intimidated.
With the nonchalant attitude of meeting some neighborhood uncle, the two walked forward step by step and similarly raised their swords into stance.
And…
Thwack!
Crack!
Craaaack-!
They began to beat Daereon black and blue, enough to raise dust on a rainy day, so to speak.
“Ugh!”
“Keuk!”
“Oop”
“Puhok!”
“Kkheol! Kkeueok!”
“W-wait, this, this is fraud… Keok!”
“Fraud? As I said earlier, if you had won against the two, Mr. Daereon, I intended to give you the antidote immediately.”
Harang said with a blank face.
Of course, he knew.
The fact that Daereon wouldn't be able to gain the upper hand not only against Eddy and Pale but also against the fist brothers.
‘But… even if the outcome is obvious, I have to do what needs to be done. Iron Fist and Bloody Fist also need their confidence boosted.’
Harang nodded.
Seeing the eyes of Eddy and Pale, who were always intimidated after being beaten by him, fill with exhilaration and pleasure, he felt confident that he had indeed found a proper punching bag.
It was an excellent choice.
Behind him, the Iron Fist and Bloody Fist brothers, their eyes craving prey, were inspecting their wooden swords.
Only Glen managed to maintain his sanity amidst the scene of crazed violence.
* * *
Fifteen days passed.
During that time, the Eddy Family steadily built up their confidence and skills.
Now, instead of the unnecessary 2-on-1 spars, they were sparring 1-on-1 with Daereon.
Of course, no one could overwhelm him alone just yet.
But the crucial point was ‘just yet’.
Thanks to the constant advice Harang offered while watching the spars, the Eddy Family's swordsmanship skills were improving at a truly terrifying speed.
“There, it would have been better to close in rather than step back. It can be scary, of course, but not giving them the angle to swing at all is often more effective.”
“Don’t get too excited just because an opportunity came. Your movements became too large, and your balance collapsed.”
“Don’t watch the tip of the sword. Watch the hand, watch the shoulder, watch the waist, watch the feet… Eventually, just by looking at the eyes, you’ll be able to instantly grasp which way the opponent will thrust their attack. Don’t obsess over localized parts. Try to see the bigger picture.”
“Yep!”
“Yes!”
“Understood, Boss!”
Honey-like advice that stuck perfectly to each regrettable situation!
This was greatly helpful not only to the participants in the spar but also to those watching.
The effect was so significant that even Daereon, who had been accepting the spars feeling like he was being dragged to a slaughterhouse, was now pricking up his ears and listening intently to Harang’s words.
However, there was something even more surprising.
Harang, who was in the position of teaching everyone, was also improving his skills just the same.
‘It’s strange. I’ve only switched from the position of learning to teaching, merely treading the same path I’ve already passed…’
Just that, and yet, new paths became visible.
If he initially thought there were two efficient ways to respond to an attack Daereon launched, now, after fifteen days of teaching, one more has been added, making it three.
The methods to react to those three fighting paths also came to mind much more diversely now than a week ago, and more than fifteen days ago.
The important point here was.
“Aish, what was that! You should have thrust to the right!”
“Faster! Faster! To the left! Down to the right! Aigoo! You could have rolled back! How could you not dodge that!”
“Uh oh? You should have attacked then, not blocked!”
“…”
The words of the beggar old man, who had somehow sidled up next to him and was giving unsolicited advice left and right… were acting as ingenious moves (妙手) that he hadn't even considered.