#24 Battle Axe
Having a weapon, or not, plays a huge role in your combat power. Weapons determine how you fight and how much damage you do, even deciding your combat class, so, like, what more is there to say?
Cheol-du could already beat orcs to death with his bare hands, so what happens when you actually give him a weapon?
Shhhrrack!
The wound, starting from the orc's shoulder, stretched diagonally down to its side. Cheol-du grinned as he watched the orc keel over, its upper and lower body splitting apart.
"Hehehehehe."
"Uh, Cheol-du?"
Jin-tae gulped, staring at the crazy scene.
Cheol-du, now armed, was exuding a different aura than before. He was giving off this vibe that made it hard to just go up and talk to him.
"Jin-tae."
"Y-yeah?"
"Heh, I feel like I could take on an ogre and win."
"Yeah, you look like it. Whoa. You're seriously badass."
The axe Cheol-du held was over a meter long, and the thick axe blade was as big as a human head. It was double-edged, so any way he swung it was a threat. It seemed like it had endless uses.
"Heh heh, I'm kinda itching to find the orc hunters' hideout, too."
Those guys used spears, so if we find their camp, maybe there'll be another orc warrior like that one. And maybe he'd drop a spear.
"I don't think it's a guaranteed drop, though."
"Heh heh, Jin-tae. If it doesn't drop the first time, we just keep killing them until it does."
"Yeah, I guess so."
It's all about the grind, really.
"Heh heh heh heh."
Cheol-du gripped the two-handed axe and swung it around. It felt totally different from the practice axes he used to swing at the Sibpalgi Academy.
The sharp, stinging whoosh of the blade sliced through the air with Cheol-du's movements.
Whee-ack, Whoo-oong!
The glint of the blade in the moonlight was seriously creepy.
Jin-tae stared, mesmerized, as Cheol-du swung the axe like he was in another world.
<You have learned the skill 'Axe Proficiency'.>
"Hahahahahaha!"
Cheol-du laughed loudly. It was so loud and full of confidence that even Jin-tae, just listening, felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I just got a skill. Axe Proficiency."
"Oh, so it's like a weapon mastery skill."
Jin-tae had a similar experience gaining crafting skills.
"Seems like in Nova, if you do something well enough, it turns into a skill."
"Heh heh heh, I guess so."
"But, Cheol-du."
"Heh, go ahead."
Cheol-du was so happy right now that he only half-heard his friend. All his attention was focused on the axe that fit so perfectly in his hand.
"When you kill a monster, it disappears in a flash of light, right? And so does its stuff."
"Heh heh, that's why this axe is so rare, don't you think?"
"Cheol-du, look at this."
Cheol-du tore his gaze from the axe blade and looked at Jin-tae. He was holding a nasty-looking blade, but on closer inspection, it was a two-handed saw.
"Huh? Who dropped that?"
"It was just lying here."
He tried to sound casual, but Jin-tae was practically buzzing with excitement.
"Holy shit, Cheol-du, we hit the jackpot!"
"Heh heh."
Cheol-du looked around. There were a few axes stuck in tree stumps here and there, and another saw like the one Jin-tae had.
"These aren't the orcs' personal items... I get it."
So, they're like...map-bound items?
"Heh heh, time to gather the spoils."
"Fuck yeah, let's grab everything!"
Cheol-du and Jin-tae scoured the area around the woodcutter's camp, collecting all the blades. They even barged into the hut and gathered up the stuff inside – there was a surprising amount of useful stuff.
There were two saws and six hand axes.
There were several wooden bowls, and two carving knives, three chisels, and a hammer that looked like they were used to make the bowls.
There was also a pot that looked exactly like a gamasot (Korean cauldron). It even had a lid, a real gamasot.
"What's inside?"
"Looks like something the orcs were eating."
"Ugh."
"Hmm."
Cheol-du and Jin-tae stared at the unidentified stew in the cauldron, debating.
'Should we eat it?'
'What if Cheol-du says we should?'
After a long debate, the two friends decided to just take the cauldron. It looked like they'd thrown in every bit of protein they could find in the forest – a stew of grass and bugs that they definitely didn't want to taste.
"We could grill some samgyeopsal (pork belly) on this lid, it'd be amazing!"
"Heh, I hope pigs aren't monsters here."
There are probably different kinds of cows, too, so maybe we'll find some animals that aren't monsters someday.
Jin-tae looked over the looted items and got a bit greedy.
"Hey, is it okay if I take these?"
"Why not, Jin-tae? Heh."
"Th-thanks!"
Jin-tae carefully packed the looted carving knives, hammer, and saws into a backpack he'd made by cutting up a bojagi (wrapping cloth).
He stored the backpack with all the tools and materials in one inventory slot, and a single orc hand axe in another, so he could pull it out whenever he needed it.
"Heh, these are perfect for throwing."
Cheol-du grabbed all the other hand axes that seemed to have belonged to the orc woodcutters.
He put the heavy cauldron in one inventory slot, the two-handed axe in another, and a hand axe in each of the remaining three slots.
All five inventory slots were full, but Cheol-du was still holding two hand axes.
"Where are you going to put those?"
"I'll just carry them."
"Hold on."
Jin-tae took some unidentified leather he'd looted from the hut wall and quickly whipped up a leather belt.
"Hands up."
Cheol-du raised his hands, and Jin-tae wrapped the belt around his waist, securing it with a cord. He didn't have the tools to make a buckle, so this was the best he could do.
"Try sticking them in here."
"Oh."
The hand axes fit perfectly into the pockets on either side of the leather belt. They'd probably clatter around if he moved violently, but they'd stay put for walking or jogging. If he was running that hard, he'd either be holding the axes or he'd have already thrown them at the enemy.
"Heh, I like it, Jin-tae."
"Ah, it was nothing."
Jin-tae, embarrassed by Cheol-du's sincere gratitude, changed the subject.
"Are we heading back now?"
"No, let's spend the night here."
Between the fight and gathering all the loot, it was already the middle of the night. They decided to head out early the next morning, and Cheol-du and Jin-tae crashed for the night in the now-ownerless hut.
"These aren't gonna disappear when we leave the map, are they?"
"Heh, who knows."
"Nah, if they go in the inventory, I doubt it."
"Jin-tae. We'll just find out tomorrow."
If they disappear, they disappear. If not, then not.
"I'm just worried, that's all."
"Worrying about it won't do any good."
"I guess not."
"Need some help falling asleep?"
Jin-tae was lying there, staring at the ceiling, when he glanced over and saw Cheol-du holding up a hand the size of a cauldron lid.
"N-no! I'll just go to sleep."
"Heh, you sure you don't need me to put you to sleep?"
"Yeah, I'm sleepy. Fuck. I'm going to sleep. Snore." (Fake snoring sound)
He squeezed his eyes shut, putting on his best acting performance.
"Heh, must be really tired."
Cheol-du looked at his sleeping friend and lay back down.
Pop.
He pulled the battle axe out of his inventory.
"Heh heh heh."
They say a warrior's weapon is like his lover, and now I kinda get it.
Cheol-du felt like he was going to have good dreams for the first time in a while.
Tomorrow was the last day before they returned to Earth.
The final night in Nova was fading away.
Seo Jong-du was facing the man he'd once followed with all his loyalty, his keunhyeongnim (big brother/boss).
No, only he was facing him. His opponent's eyes were already dead, staring blankly.
Shhhck.
Seo Jong-du shook the blood from the bone knife in his hand and turned around.
"Gahk!"
The remaining gang members were all desperately avoiding eye contact.
Inside the tent lay the bodies of Jeon Yong-gu, Yang Mun-sik, and Lee Jung-ho, the former top dogs of the organization.
Seo Jong-du, covered in their blood, spoke in a low voice.
"Wooyoung hyeongnim."
"Uh? Uh?"
Wooyoung flinched and looked at Seo Jong-du.
"It's time for you to retire."
"Y-yeah, of course! When I get back, I'll lay low."
Seo Jong-du strode over and stood in front of Wooyoung. He couldn't even meet his gaze.
Bullshit.
Seo Jong-du stared at Wooyoung, whose eyes darted around nervously.
Swish, Thunk!
"Argh! You son of a bitch!"
"Retire in peace."
"You fucking bastard! How could you do this?!"
"I'll take care of your family."
"Y-you!"
"You've worked hard, hyeongnim."
Seo Jong-du twisted the knife and pulled it out.
Wooyoung, stabbed in the heart, tried to cover the wound with his hands, but it was useless. His body crumpled, collapsing in a heap and gushing blood.
Seo Jong-du glanced around at the remaining gang members. There was no one above him now, no more hyeongnim.
There were a few guys on his level, but...
Cheol-hyeon.
Seo Jong-du looked at Lee Cheol-hyeon, who was two years younger but held the same rank.
Thud.
As soon as their eyes met, he dropped to his knees.
"I'll serve you as my hyeongnim."
Thud, thud.
Taking the hint from Lee Cheol-hyeon, the rest of the gang members all knelt, bowing their heads low.
"W-we'll serve you as our hyeongnim."
The youngest, Oh Doong-yi, who'd been surrounding the gang members to prevent them from escaping, saw what was happening and instinctively knelt, caught up in the moment.
The end of the Jeon Yong-gu gang, and the beginning of the Cheol-du gang.
"Haaaah."
Seo Jong-du exhaled deeply and stood before Lee Cheol-hyeon.
"Lee Cheol-hyeon."
"Yes, keunhyeongnim."
"The one we serve is Kang Cheol-du, our daejangnim (leader)."
"Ah."
Lee Cheol-hyeon nodded deeply.
"I understand."
"Haaaah."
Seo Jong-du let out a long sigh. His mental energy was severely depleted.
"From today, we're the Cheol-du gang. Our daejangnim doesn't like gangster titles. From now on, we call him daejangnim."
"Yes, hyeongnim."
And no more hyeongnim.
I want to be second-in-command, but...
That position still belongs to his friend, Jin-tae.
Someday, I'll earn his respect and rise to that number two spot.
"I'm the jojang (squad leader)."
"Yes, jojangnim!"
"Good. Bury the retired hyeongnims."
"Yes!"
It was the moment the Yong-gu gang was reborn as the Cheol-du gang.
Seo Jong-du got the gang under control and returned to their base with Oh Doong-yi.
Tomorrow was the day they returned to Earth.
Things would be even busier once they got back to Earth. The gang's foundations were all on Earth. It would take a long time to sort everything out and take control.
Will this be enough to earn his respect?
Seo Jong-du had eliminated any future threats. So that the daejangnim wouldn't have to worry.
While Seo Jong-du had his own worries, the Oh Doong-yi's were also caught up in their own anxieties.
Fuck, I'm really screwed.
From now on, I'm stuck living as Sam-ho.
There's no point in trying to disappear when we get back to Earth. I'm fucked.
Quit? Shit, if I don't want to get buried, I'll have to be loyal forever.
They'd seen firsthand the ruthlessness and bloodlust in Seo Jong-du's eyes as he took down his seniors one by one.
Maybe Seo Jong-du was even scarier than Cheol-du. Cheol-du was just a high school jock, but Seo Jong-du was a real gangster. Someone who wouldn't blink an eye at killing a person or two...
Seo Jong-du and the Ohdol-yi's spent a restless final night in Nova.
Early the next day, Seo Jong-du and the Ohdol-yi's got up and waited, looking out across the river.
"Huh? There!"
Two figures could be seen approaching in the distance.
"It's the daejangnim!"
" Daejangnim!"
Cheol-du and Jin-tae returned, greeted by the enthusiastic cheers of their long-missed subordinates.
