Chapter 143 – Fateful Encounter (8)

A man with a towering height of about six feet, bulging muscles, rough tiger skin, thorny beard, a massive axe, and a savage and fierce look that was more animalistic than human.

He laughed heartily, a man who looked anything but harmless, and spoke in a voice that was both familiar and welcoming.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Witch of Nohom!”

“…Nokrim Chongchaeju. What are you doing here?”

Samamong’s voice was guarded as she recognized him.

Nokrim Chongchaeju. In other words, the Surahyeolbu Shura Blood Axe, who could easily create an atmosphere like this.

He was also a guy who had the ability to buy time even if it meant sacrificing lives.

The only thing that didn’t make sense was why this bastard was showing up here.

What the hell? Why is he coming out here?

The guy who had recently picked a fight with Pungga head-on from the northern border was now aiming for Samamong and standing here?

It was getting ridiculous.

Samamong also couldn’t understand and asked, raising her inner strength.

“Answer me. Isn’t Nokrim currently at war with Pungga? Why are you here? And with Salgok, no less.”

“Oh, that. There’s no need to answer, but… no, there’s no need to hide it either.”

The Surahyeolbu nodded his head nonchalantly at Samamong’s questioning.

“It’s a simple matter. Nokrim and Salgok have joined forces under Samaryeon’s command, and this whole thing was a play to capture the Witch of Nohom. By now, my brothers should have already left the northern border. Well, I didn’t know the target would pop out before I could even lure her.”

“What…?”

“Why, did you really think Nokrim would actually start a war? If he was once a soldier under Samaryeon, he would know Nokrim’s rules.”

“Of course I know. Both Salgok and Nokrim. Weren’t they the ones who couldn’t follow Samaryeon’s rules and left? Of course, I know why they left. So… did you want to become a dog from a wolf because you were tired of mountain life?”

Samamong tried to sound firm, but her tightly clenched hand was shaking slightly due to her inability to hide her tension.

There was no way a high-level expert like Surahyeolbu wouldn’t notice it. The guy who pulled up his lips to show his teeth spoke.

“Becoming a dog… that’s not entirely wrong. Actually, I don’t care about that kind of thing at all. As long as I can kill safely, do whatever I want to do, and take whatever I want to take, it doesn’t matter what it is.”

“Then…!”

“That’s why I decided to join Samaryeon.”

The corner of Surahyeolbu’s mouth on the opposite side lifted up as he interrupted Samamong’s words. He laughed foolishly, as if he had thought of an interesting story.

“This Samaryeonju is different from the cowards we’ve had so far. There are only two things to keep in mind. Don’t touch your brothers. Respect the authority of the Ryeonju. Other than that, you can do whatever you want. Hahaha! He’s really crazy!”

That’s right. Unless he’s really crazy, he wouldn’t turn the entire central region into an enemy.

…The problem is that based on the movements of the Blood Red Horse so far, he is indeed crazy.

Even when he was in the lower realm and was swayed by Simma, he killed people without hesitation, and he did the same when he left Simma with a higher realm.

No, with his obsession with Samamong added, it could be said that he became even more insane.

If he needed Nokrim’s power to kidnap Samamong, he would have gladly made that promise. Whether he would actually keep it is another matter.

“That’s ridiculous…!”

“It is ridiculous. Salgok and those guys don’t know exactly what’s going on, but they got the necessary compensation.”

The Surahyeolbu, who had said that much, suddenly stopped laughing and pulled out a huge axe from his back, pointing it towards Samamong.

“Now, do you know why I’m telling you all this nonsense?”

“…Are you telling me to surrender?”

“You know it well. The new Ryeonju said to bring you back in one piece if possible. Surrender gracefully.”

“……”

Instead of answering, Samamong sent me a telepathic message.

-Sohyeop. To be honest, it’s difficult for me to face the Chongchaeju.

I know. Both of their realms are at the same pinnacle, but if they fought, Samamong would definitely lose even if it was a hundred to one.

It’s because not being able to see is a disadvantage in itself, but in Samamong’s case, her martial arts and tactics are sealed, making the blow even greater.

If she fought with all her might, Samamong would never be able to defeat the Surahyeolbu.

However, what followed was a little unexpected.

-So just stay put.

-What?

Samamong nodded her head and pointed towards me.

“Okay. I’ll go along quietly. But please leave Sohyeop here. He’s not related to any of this.”

“Brain Witch?!”

I didn’t expect this. When I tried to step forward in surprise, Samamong blocked me with her arm.

-Their goal is me. Sohyeop doesn’t need to get involved.

-What are you going to do, Brain Witch?

“Well, I won’t die.”

Samamong smiled awkwardly, as if trying to reassure me. But I couldn’t smile.

“Oh? Don’t make that face. We promised to help each other and get to know each other for a long time.”

“But still…!”

“There are people waiting for you. You should go back.”

“Isn’t that the same for the Brain Witch?”

“I told you. Their goal is me. Even if Sohyeop fights with me, we won’t have a chance against them.”

Samamong stopped talking as if she had nothing more to say, and inflated her aura as if she was ready to fight to the death if they didn’t release me.

“Heh…what is it? Is that brat going to be my new husband?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s just someone we received as compensation.”

“Hmm…what should I do?”

What should I do? As Samamong said, there was no point in fighting alongside her. I could hold out a little longer and kill a few more enemies, but I wouldn’t be able to surpass the Surahyeolbu.

Should I try to escape with Samamong’s help and wait for her in Pangga until the next day when the sun sets?

Samamong suggested that I repay my debt to Samaryeonju, but how could I do that? If I asked for Hongyeonhwa’s help, I could easily catch up to the Surahyeolbu’s movements.

But what if it was all part of a trap? What if someone attacked the empty Pangga while I was waiting for the Surahyeolbu to return as Samaryeonju’s captive? Or what if something happened to Samamong during that time?

My head was spinning. There must be a better way, but I didn’t know what it was.

The Surahyeolbu chuckled, one step ahead of me in making a decision.

“If you come quietly, it’ll be easier for me. Hey! Send him away!”

Nokrim and Salgok, who were in a cooperative relationship, stepped back at the Surahyeolbu’s gesture, clearing the way.

“Sohyeop, go ahead.”

“But…”

“The Chongchaeju is capricious. You should leave before he changes his mind.”

“….”

I hesitated to leave, and Samamong covered her mouth and started to laugh.

“If you’re really worried, just remember. Remember that I sacrificed myself for Sohyeop. Remember that Sohyeop owes me a debt of gratitude.”

Samamong patted my shoulder like she was comforting me or pushing me away. Her voice and gestures were always warm and comforting.

But I saw it. A different, poignant smile on her lips than usual, visible between her fingers.

Samamong pushed me away with a firm attitude, as if saying that was the end of it. And then, at the moment she turned her back on me…

Whooong!

A sharp sound of a flying axe.

Startled, Samamong hurriedly reached out to deflect it, but was it because it was an attack from a spearman?

She couldn’t block it properly. In the end, she was injured, with a trickle of blood flowing from her tightly closed lips.

“What the hell are you doing, Chongchaeju!”

“Oops. My hand slipped. I was getting angry just looking at her. I should have thrown it a little later…hehehe!”

The Surahyeolbu laughed, finding it amusing.

Silence.

Samamong glared at her with a fierce look.

“Didn’t we promise to send away anyone who wasn’t involved?”

“Well, well. It seems like your mind has deteriorated, Brain Witch. Did you really think we wouldn’t know who this brat is, even after we’ve prepared this much? Or did you think we’d go blind in the spring? Oh, we’ve been blind for a long time. Hehe!”

A completely different, vicious tone from the calm one until now.

The Surahyeolbu, who had received the large axe from the surrounding Salsoo, swung it with all her might.

The reddish energy flowing from the axe was aimed at me.

“I know that this brat is a man of absolute skill who suddenly appeared. And I also know that he is the only one who can interfere with Samaryeonju’s plan.”

“Then shouldn’t we leave him alone even more?”

“No. Let’s take him as a hostage now. If we can’t do it with force, we’ll find a weakness through the people around him. Isn’t that basic?”

“This crazy bastard…!”

Perhaps realizing that there was no point in talking, Samamong didn’t try to persuade her anymore. She just urged me with an impatient voice.

“Sohyeop! Please go now! Escape from here while I’m dealing with them! With Sohyeop’s skills, you can easily get away from these Salsoos!”

That was the last thing she said before colliding with the Surahyeolbu, who ran towards me.

Kwaaang!

The sound of an explosive collision between the axe that seemed to cut anything and Samamong’s yellow hand trying to deflect it.

Against this backdrop, Salsoos surrounded me. Countless Illyu-class and a few top-class ones.

Compared to the beginning, the number had decreased quite a bit, so I might be able to get away on my own.

But I didn’t have that intention.

It took me too long to make up my mind. It was understandable since I had gotten closer to Samamong, but I wasn’t willing to risk my life without hesitation.

However, Samamong did.

She gave up resistance to send me away alive. Even now, she was fighting fiercely, biting and stretching to buy time.

I don’t know why Samamong is going to such lengths for me. I don’t know, but…

That’s enough reason for me to fight.

Ssring.

The sword reflected in the moonlit night shone palely.