Chapter 014 : Assignment
Elder Gwak Tae-san stared at me, the scoundrel of the Demonic Cult scheduled to become the live-in son-in-law of the North Sea Ice Palace.
'Talking back like a true scoundrel.'
To think a mere scoundrel dared to throw down a gauntlet to him.
Even if I had the Extreme Yang Body, I was a guy who had barely reached the age of twenty.
With what confidence was such a guy challenging him?
He thought he needed to show me the bitter taste of the North Sea.
"I don't know what you're trusting to blabber like that, but come at me. Let's remove our ranks and have a go!"
"You definitely agreed to remove ranks?"
A thick smile hung on my lips.
-Hoho, the descendants have grown up without manners.
If it were before meeting the Sword Venerable, I wouldn't have thrown such a gamble.
No matter how outstanding my martial arts were.
They wouldn't be superior to an Elder of the Ice Palace.
However.
'It's a different story with the Sword Venerable.'
I drew the Extreme Snow.
-Do you remember the sword forms of the Snow Wind Sword?
The soul of the Sword Venerable asked while floating in the air.
As long as I was with the Extreme Snow, the Sword Venerable was always with me too.
'I can't show the Sword Venerable's sword here.'
Whoosh!
Flames soared up.
The Fire Art Sword flew toward Gwak Tae-san.
"I already know you use fire!"
Gwak Tae-san pulled out short spears from his waist.
Soon, several short spears combined to become a long spear.
"Snow Wind Spear Art Second Form, Strong Wind Snow Explosion."
Whirrr!
As Elder Gwak Tae-san spun the spear, a tremendous snow wind arose.
The flames were blocked by the snow wind.
"Is a senior not even going to yield three moves to a junior?"
"Where is the senior and junior when we removed ranks!"
A smile was hanging on the lips of Gwak Tae-san who shouted that before anyone knew it.
I raised the Extreme Yang Qi again to counter him and swung the sword.
Flame wind began to blow against the snow wind.
'He was an Elder who liked dueling.'
At first, he seemed to have come to establish discipline, but the more we exchanged moves, the more visible it was that Elder Gwak Tae-san was enjoying himself.
It was like the feeling of unfolding martial arts after a long time.
-It's the distance. If you can pierce through that long spear and dig inside, it is your victory.
I knew even without the Sword Venerable telling me.
Thinking about it now, I possess various talents.
The batting eye and patience cultivated while playing baseball in my first life.
A batter needs the patience to wait until the ball enters the strike zone.
The prediction ability I could obtain because I always conducted research through imagination as I couldn't handle mana in my second life.
The observational skill to observe how the opponent would move was also one of the talents I possessed.
The spear shoots forward.
'Wait.'
Not yet, not yet.
Swish!
Having dodged Elder Gwak Tae-san's spear strike by a hair's breadth, I dug into Elder Gwak Tae-san's embrace following the retrieving spear shaft.
"How dare you!"
Elder Gwak Tae-san is not someone who wouldn't have predicted this.
Clang!
In an instant, the long spear separated and the short spears wrapped around me like chains.
'I predicted it.'
From the moment he made a long spear with short spears at first, I predicted he might operate the spear in this manner.
-I will borrow this for a bit.
I put Extreme Yang Qi into the sword form of the Snow Wind Sword Venerable, Baek Un-han.
"Flame Wind Explosive Flash."
The flames that bloomed from the Extreme Snow soared into the sky like a storm.
"What?!"
The moment the short spears soared into the sky!
Swish!
The Extreme Snow stopped right at Elder Gwak Tae-san's Adam's apple.
"If this was Our Cult... you would be dead, Elder."
***
Gulp-
Elder Gwak Tae-san couldn't move.
It was because it felt like that blazing red sword would pounce on him if he moved even a little.
It was then.
"Third Young Master?"
The voice of the Ice Palace's Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, was heard.
I retrieved the sword.
"With this, I hope you won't interfere in the matters of us two, Elder Gwak Tae-San. I would appreciate it if you conveyed my thoughts to the Council of Elders as well."
Since I won in a bout where we removed ranks, Gwak Tae-san had no choice but to listen to my words.
"...What is this situation right now? Did the Elder persecute the Third Young Master?"
Flinch-
A cold chill began to cover Gwak Tae-san.
It might be different for others, but the weight of the Young Palace Head's single word was different.
Because there was no one in the Ice Palace who didn't know the Palace Lord was a daughter-fool.
"He just came to find me because he was curious. Since he said he would convey good stories about me to the Council of Elders, you don't have to worry too much."
"Ah, is that so? Then the duel just now..."
"The Elder gave me a teaching."
"Ah, yes, that is correct."
At my words, the chill disappeared as if washed away.
Gwak Tae-san looked back for a moment at me, who made the Young Palace Head smile with a single word, then turned around and disappeared.
"Did you use honorifics because it was in front of the Elder?"
As soon as Elder Gwak Tae-san disappeared, Seol Ye-rin asked as if fascinated.
"Well, yes. Since I need to care about my reputation here and there to be acknowledged as a live-in son-in-law."
"Hmm, that's unexpected."
"What is?"
"I thought the Third Young Master wouldn't care about such things."
I looked back at Seol Ye-rin.
There was something that had been bothering me since earlier.
"You called me Gaga confidently in front of my father-in-law, but have you decided to call me Third Young Master again?"
"T-That is!"
At the sight of Seol Ye-rin's face turning red, I smirked.
"Well, we can improve the title gradually, but are you okay right now?"
It was about the Sword Venerable.
At my words, Seol Ye-rin asked me carefully.
"I-Is he still nearby?"
-Kukuku, to be afraid of me while possessing such energy in her body. A descendant with a weak gall.
I couldn't possibly say that the Sword Venerable was chattering right next to Seol Ye-rin.
I grabbed Seol Ye-rin's wrist to deliberately change the topic.
"Ah!"
"In that time, it seems a lot of Yang energy has been depleted again."
"Eh?"
"Since I have to go outside the Ice Palace to sweep the horse bandits, I think there is a need to replenish some Yang energy before that?"
At my remark, Seol Ye-rin began to panic, flustering about.
"I-I think it is still sufficient!"
Clatter clatter!
Watching Seol Ye-rin dash back to her room, I turned around.
It was because Baek Mu-yong, who was waiting in front of the accommodation as if monitoring me, was staring at me with eyes saying he saw an unbelievable scene.
"Don't look like that and tell the Vice Captain and Ji-yeong to prepare to go out tomorrow too."
"Where do you intend to go again?"
"I have to handle the horse bandits who attacked the Ice Palace and return."
I hadn't solved the assignment the Palace Lord gave me yet.
Since I confirmed the horse bandits had the guts to attack the Ice Palace.
It was my turn to return the favor this time.
"...Just the four of us?"
"It's enough."
To the horse bandits living in the grasslands, I would be no different from a disaster.
"I just have to burn them all."
***
"General Manager."
North Sea Ice Palace, General Manager's Office.
General Manager Seol Su-hyeok looked back at the subordinate who visited late at night.
"What is the matter?"
"Just a while ago, it is said that Elder Gwak Tae-san of the Council of Elders and Young Master Hyeokryeon had a duel at the Young Palace Head's Hall."
"A duel? Who won?"
He was thinking the Elders would step up, but they moved faster than expected.
If it's Elder Gwak Tae-san, he is a martial artist who achieved complete mastery with the spear in the North Sea.
If such a person moved, no matter if it's Hyeokryeon Yeom...
"They say Young Master Hyeokryeon won."
"What?"
When he heard he subdued Eun Bin, he thought he was quite capable, but.
He didn't know he was Elder-class.
"Did he have an enlightenment or something while treating the Young Palace Head?"
He did feel that something seemed to have changed after Hyeokryeon Yeom, who was full of hot Yang energy all over his body, treated the Young Palace Head.
If the two people complemented each other the more they were together.
'The Palace Lord's choice might have been excellent.'
Seol Su-hyeok asked the subordinate.
"The condition of Elder Gwak?"
"They say both were not injured."
"Really?"
It is a strange thing.
Considering Elder Gwak's martial arts handling the spear, the duel should have ended only when someone was definitely injured.
"And after that?"
"Perhaps because the Young Palace Head mediated, Elder Gwak Tae-san returned to the Council of Elders, and Young Master Hyeokryeon seems to intend to go outside the Ice Palace again tomorrow."
"He said he went to the north today, right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
It is a mystery why he went to the north when sweeping horse bandits.
"I wonder when he intends to do the horse bandit sweep?"
"For now, the personnel of the Small Snow Squad is only four including the maid Young Master Hyeokryeon brought."
He wouldn't be able to move to sweep horse bandits with only four.
"Should I replenish more personnel?"
The Ice Palace Lord didn't say it, but he viewed Hyeokryeon Yeom, who treated the Young Palace Head, very favorably.
Perhaps, even if he didn't know for sure, the order to sweep the horse bandits was likely an order given in anticipation that his position in the North Sea would rise if Hyeokryeon Yeom really swept the horse bandits.
'Since he needs some achievements to be acknowledged as a live-in son-in-law.'
There were still many forces in the North Sea just watching Hyeokryeon Yeom's movements.
"I hope friction doesn't arise with the Snow Tiger Squad due to this matter."
"Um... General Manager. How about this method?"
"What method?"
"Sending the problem children of the Snow Tiger Squad to Young Master Hyeokryeon."
The Snow Tiger Squad was a squad with many problems.
The Captain, Danmok Ho, only took care of his own people and ostracized those unnecessary to the group.
People called those guys ostracized like that, the problem children of the Snow Tiger Squad.
"Do you think Hyeokryeon Yeom can bring those guys to heel?"
"I do not know. But if he does bring them to heel, we solve the Snow Tiger Squad's problem, and replenish the Small Snow Squad's manpower, so wouldn't it be killing two birds with one stone? And Vice Captain Eun Bin or Squad Leader Baek of the Small Snow Squad also need guys to command, don't they?"
Certainly, the subordinate's words were right.
"Tomorrow morning. Before Young Master Hyeokryeon leaves, convey this story to Captain Danmok and Young Master Hyeokryeon."
"Yes, General Manager!"
Watching the adjutant running out hurriedly, General Manager Seol Su-hyeok realized once again the necessity of a capable adjutant who would become his hands and feet.
***
The next day.
Baek Mu-yong looked back at me, the Captain of the Snow Tiger Squad, Danmok Ho, and Elder Gwak Tae-san with an expression of not knowing what the situation was.
"Squad Leader Baek. Just what happened yesterday?"
Beside him, Eun Bin was also asking Baek Mu-yong as if it was difficult to understand this situation.
"Weren't we departing early in the morning?"
Even Wi Ji-yeong, who packed a bundle full as if she even packed meals, added a word.
Furthermore,
"What is this situation right now?"
A situation where even the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, appeared with an expression that she would definitely follow along today.
In the midst of confusion.
"So, you mean the members of the Snow Tiger Squad were transferred to the Small Snow Squad from above?"
"It is the General Manager's order."
Danmok Ho spoke while looking at Gwak Tae-san's reaction.
Showing an attitude different from usual seemed to be because of Gwak Tae-san.
"Captain Danmok is a concerned party so let's leave it at that, but for what matter did the Elder come?"
"Whether an old man in the back room goes somewhere or not is my freedom."
"...It sounds like you mean to follow me right now?"
"Why is that not allowed?"
Did this old man eat something wrong?
-Kuhaha! I remembered. That guy is a descendant of the Gwak clan.
At that moment, the Sword Venerable's laughter was heard.
'Who is the Gwak clan?'
-A guy who kept acting up saying the spear is superior to the sword. So I smashed him once, and he was a guy who chased me around acting annoyingly after that and he looks just like that guy.
No, you are a person from three hundred years ago, aren't you?
I looked at Gwak Tae-san again.
If he survived in the Ice Palace with just a spear for three hundred years, that was impressive in its own way.
"It seems we keep sidetracking. So are you going to accept it or not?"
"What happens if I don't accept?"
"Well, since they were stripped of their Snow Tiger Squad status, they would be kicked out of the Ice Palace."
In a situation where his own subordinates might be kicked out of the Ice Palace, I felt strange at Danmok Ho's nonchalant appearance.
"It seems Captain Danmok doesn't care much?"
"Words like that won't come out when you meet those guys."
"...?"
Replenishing troops was something to welcome from my standpoint.
"Vice Captain, Squad Leader Baek. What do you think?"
Eun Bin and Baek Mu-yong contemplated for a moment at my question.
The two people roughly guessed who the members to be assigned from the Snow Tiger Squad to the Small Snow Squad were.
For a moment, the two people's gazes entangled with each other.
"I approve!!"
It's decided.
"They say so. Where are they, those people?"
The accommodation of the Snow Tiger Squad arrived under Danmok Ho's guidance.
"Assignment... has been issued?"
I could meet a dangerous-looking man holding a kitchen knife.