Chapter 48 (1/2)
Chapter 48 – Depth of the Abyss (2)
My head was in a mess. How could it not be? The Black Yaksha's seal, the ability to grow stronger through fighting with Yaksha and Rakshasa. The person who held this power in the past had committed a ma.s.s slaughtering. That person must have decided to do so because rather than winning a fight, killing would reap more benefits. So strong that person must have been to have even killed a Rakshasa, but that person also died in the end.
'Among the Rakshasa there are those who have lived for a good several thousand years or so.'
The Twelve Heavenly Generals. There is no way they didn't know. They had a.s.sumed indifference and left me alone, even though they knew I had the Black Yaksha's seal.
Why? Shouldn't I be a potential dangerous element? Was it because I had pa.s.sed the Warrior's Ritual and the Ritual of Ascension?
Perhaps it is because I am a promising talent not seen for several thousand years. I had no way of knowing, since the specifics of their tradition was unclear to me, but what's certain is that the moment I spill blood with my hands is the moment an absolutely unavoidable arrow comes flying my way.
'Jörmungandr might have been able to give a refres.h.i.+ng answer to this.'
Jörmungandr was being quiet. As if she were dead, she didn't show so much as a twitch from the moment I entered Rakshasa Mountain. She merely curled up her body, further shrunk in size, and hung about my neck like a necklace. The thought did cross my mind that if it's her, she may know about about this Rakshasa Mountain and Rakshasa Citadel, but I couldn't even seek a clear answer seeing as she wasn't moving.
'Nothing has changed, except that I have to aim higher.'
It was good news as long as I thought positively. In any case, it was the Rakshasa who had brought me into Rakshasa Citadel. They would have killed me long ago if they had that intention. Sparing my life and bringing me in meant that they had some 'expectation' of me. It would be fine just as long as I don't get greedy.
Balance. Everything needed to be balanced. Taking action after becoming drunk on power and blood would only be hastening myself along the road to death.
'Impatience is a poison that kills one's self.'
I want becoming stronger. I could feel that I was growing stronger with each pa.s.sing day. It was a faster rate of growth than I had antic.i.p.ated, in fact.
Further impatience at this point? Eating too fast would only result in a sore stomach. Just like how, in the past, I had developed faster than anyone after obtaining the Magic Swordsman cla.s.s…but got into the wrong habits, became convinced it was impossible to reach the 'apex', and decided on my own limit.
I calmly sat down and began meditating. Clearing away the noise in my head, I reviewed today's fight, because now was the time to think only about myself growing stronger.
..
..
-Mubaek
The Yaksha who had the Black Yaksha's seal learnt the Hundred-step Ghost Fist!
The rumour had spread in a matter of moments. Talk of the black seal s.h.i.+ning was exaggerated and falsified to the point that there was now stories going around that 'you'll be cursed if you get touched'.
“Mubaek. Did you hear? They say it's the Hundred-step Ghost Fist.”
I am one of the Five Dragons, War Dragon Mubaek. I had an entire huge palace to myself, and I was the junior head of the prestigious 'Warring Mountain Folk clan'. I had gathered 99 Yaksha into the same group and it was widely rumoured that in terms of pure martial prowess I was the strongest among the Yaksha partic.i.p.ating in the tournament.
In front of me was a Yaksha with orange hair who was laughing playfully.
“I believe I have told you that this isn't your living room at home, Honjae Yeon.”
“Between us there's nothing wrong with coming over to play, why be so stingy?”
Sword Dragon Honjae Yeon! A Yaksha crazy for the sword. He was also one among the Five Dragon.
“Anyhow wasn't Sleeping Dragon Garam Ju the only one who'd learnt Hundred-step Ghost Fist? I'd never dreamed someone else apart from that monstrous fellow would learn Hundred-step Ghost Fist.”
“You say that but aren't you a monster yourself. A monster of the sword.”
Honjae Yeon grinned. He didn't seem to deny it in particular.
“Mubaek. That guy, is it fine for me to take him?”
“Have you come here just to say that?”
“You gotta understand. I want to fight with you in the tournament after all. There's nothing to gain from us clas.h.i.+ng in this kind of place, no?”
“If that's the case then don't worry. It's something not of my concern.”
I turned my head away, and at that Honjae Yeon's smile grew deeper.
“Sleeping Dragon should be sleeping on a roof again, and Dark Dragon shouldn't be interested in anything apart from his own training, so the only one left is Crimson Dragon Hwarin Gu.”
“Nothing good will come of getting involved with the Black Yaksha, Honjae Yeon.”
“Why? Isn't it fun? He killed one of those who seemed almost immortal, the Twelve Heavenly Generals. Ilcheon(Heavenly Day). The Yaksha named after none other than the Sun G.o.d!”
I could even feel insanity from his gaze. I didn't reply at all, instead turning my head to signal to the surrounding Yaksha with my eyes, 'the words you have heard here, forget them', because the words he had spoken were blasphemous here in Rakshasa Citadale.
“Back at my clan, I'm also praised as a talent born once in ten thousand years or whatnot, but aren't you curious? About who would be the one to win, if the guy who killed a Rakshasa and I were to fight.”
“Didn't you say you were going to bring him in? Also, he is not the originator of that story made tradition.”
“I know. That's why I mean to raise him up under my wings myself. If tradition is telling the truth then that guy will definitely end up craving for blood anyhow. That's when, snikt!”
Honjae Yon made a motion of slitting his throat. Even among the Five Dragons, Sword Dragon Honjae Yon was truly insane. Maybe it was because he was crazy for the sword, but it seemed that he was nutters in other aspects as well.
'Getting involved will be wearisome.'
I shook my head. It wasn't right to stick my head into these kinds of matters. I knew from past experience that I would stand to gain by simply observing.
..
..
In the past I was the target of countless scoutings. Every nation held their hands out to me in hopes of recruiting me, who was powerful and a hero. There was a nation offering me their biggest city, and there were even some who said they would receive me as their king. Simply put, there were many who went frantic, saving no effort in order to recruit me. But an absurd scouting like this was a first.
“Crimson Dragon Hwarin Gu-nim wants you. Consider it an honor.”
It was when I was struggling against a rank 1 white monkey. Out of the blues, a certain muscular Yaks.h.i.+ had approached me to say something.
Crimson Dragon Hwarin Gu. I also knew that she was one of the Five Dragons. So this meant that she had elected me to be recruited into her group, but…
“Let her know to come in person if she has something to say.”
To recruit someone, it was only natural for the person with intention to recruit to personally come and negotiate. Few people, if told in this manner to 'come here!', would reply 'Yes, gladly'.
I didn't want to belong anywhere in particular either, because the closer I became to the Yaksha, the more likely for them to realize I was different from them. More than anything, I preferred being alone.
'It is surprising though.'
I had expected them to only fear and be vigilant against me. The Black Yaksha's seal. Proof of a predator. It wasn't strange for hostilities to arise from this. As a matter of fact, the most of the Yaksha had stared at me strangely when I had entered the sparring hall. But to think I'd be scouted. Did that signify how important victory was in the Stigma Tournament?
Hearing my words, the Yaks.h.i.+'s expression became even fiercer.
“Insolent fellow!”
“Does your master have no feet? Or is she perhaps mute? If it happens that her body is crippled to the point that each and every matter need be taken care of by others, then I would apologise.”