Chapter 38: Subjugation
Whoosh.
Cheoldu drew his sword and stepped forward.
"Whoa, look at his size."
"Man, with that build, he could be a general."
"Damn. Kid, you sure you can handle that?"
"See how he swings that thing?"
"Look at those roid muscles. Total gym rat."
"Pfft, quit yappin' and just drown him already. Those triangle-shaped eyes mean trouble."
If you couldn't enslave someone, killing them saved future headaches.
Seven bandits charged at Cheoldu.
The lead bandit roared as he swung:
"HYAAAAAH!"
A cleaving strike.
Despite his trash talk, the bandit moved swiftly and purposefully.
Every ounce of strength poured into one blow.
If it missed?
His comrades would clean up.
Their coordinated assault shattered instantly.
CLANG!
Cheoldu deflected the blade upward.
The bandit kept his grip, but his raised hands exposed his hairy chest.
SWISH-CLINK!
Cheoldu's slash tore through the exposed flesh - only to reveal an iron breastplate beneath shredded clothes.
"Oh!"
Cheoldu instantly bent backward, redirecting the downward slash past his spine. Without glancing at the stumbling bandit, he blocked a waist-cut from the second attacker.
CLANG! CHA-CHANG!
As three rushed him simultaneously, he deflected a third blade from the opposite flank.
"Fuckstick!"
The fallen bandit recovered, stabbing at Cheoldu's back. Suddenly facing three attackers:
CLANGCLANGCLANG!
A relentless metallic chorus.
"I'll help," Giyongsu stepped forward.
Choi Junseop held him back. "Wait."
"But it's dangerous!"
"He's smiling."
"Ah!"
Cheoldu's grin during this 3v1 duel was... unique.
"Not like he's been a lifelong swordsman," Junseop muttered.
An Earthling. A modern man from an era where cold weapons were obsolete. How often would he hold a sword?
Not freezing up was miracle enough. Yet here he was, casually handling three blades while grinning. No - buzzing with excitement.
"Did Cheoldu study swordsmanship?"
"Our Cheol did some kendo."
"..."
Sport kendo versus real blades were entirely different realms...
"Why's he using informal speech?"
"...You're not using honorifics either, hyung."
Kim Jintae flushed at Junseop's retort.
"Just watch, Junseop-ah."
"...Yes, hyung."
These teenagers!
CLANG-CRASH!
But bandits lack patience.
"Quit fucking around! Rush him!"
Two more joined the fray.
SHINK!
Their blades interwove awkwardly -
Momentarily out of sync with the original four.
SCHLICK!
Cheoldu's sword found unprotected flesh.
Even with scattered iron armor, necks and arms remained vulnerable.
THUD!
SLASH!
SPURT!
"GYAAAAH!"
"Ghk!"
"Ggrk!"
Cheoldu pivoted, his blade dancing. One bandit's throat geysered blood. Another's wrist flew off. The third took a sword through the neck.
SHLUCK!
Cheoldu drove the blade deeper, embracing his impaled opponent. The corpse's sword stuck uselessly in his armpit.
THUNK!
Latecomers stabbed their comrade's back, blades skidding off armor.
SCHWING!
Cheoldu ripped his sword sideways, flinging the corpse.
"Eeek!"
The dodging bandit couldn't evade Cheoldu's follow-up.
CRUNCH!
His breastplate crumpled under a kick, chest caving as he rolled gasping.
CLANG-SHINK!
Cheoldu deflected the last blade and decapitated its wielder.
THUD.
Five bandits dead in moments.
"Ugh... huff... huff..."
The breastplate-flattened bandit struggled to breathe until Cheoldu stomped his head.
CRACK!
Mercy.
"You two."
"Eep!"
"Sp-spare us!"
"Sure."
The bandits gaped.
"R-really?!"
"Why kill needlessly?"
"..."
Cheoldu shook blood off his blade, sheathing it.
"Drop weapons. Come."
"..."
Their eyes darted nervously.
"RUN!"
PFFT!
They bolted.
'I'm faster.'
Shim Bongdu trusted his speed.
WHOOSH!
His comrade shot past him.
'That bastard?!'
The thought died as-
"Guh!"
A spear impaled the fleeing man, skidding him across dirt.
Bongdu froze mid-step.
"Come before I kill you."
"Y-yes!"
He scrambled back.
"Strip the bodies. Bury them."
"Y-yessir."
Cheoldu turned to his wide-mouthed companions.
"Jintae."
"Y-yeah?"
"Watch me."
He sat cross-legged away from the carnage.
"Hurt?"
"My heart."
"Wha?"
Before questions, Cheoldu closed his eyes - Barbarian meditation. Jintae stood guard, face stiff.
"Fuck."
Jintae's hands shook.
He'd seen death, but never killing. Even witnessing his friend do it made his heart race.
Giyongsu whispered to Junseop:
"Holy shit, he's OP!"
"Watch your mouth."
"Sorry hyung, but c'mon!"
"Fuck if I know. This... doesn't compute."
Junseop eyed Cheoldu.
No hesitation. No mercy.
Not beginner's luck - this reeked of seasoned killer.
"Help him clean up. Keep watch."
"Yes."
Approaching Cheoldu:
"Don't disturb him!"
"Why?"
"He's meditating!"
"Meditating?!"
Junseop stared incredulously.
Massacre six men then zen out?
"He's centering himself."
"Centering- Oh!"
Junseop's eyes lit faintly.
"First kill?"
"Yeah."
Relief and suspicion clashed.
How could a first-timer be so composed?
Zero hesitation.
Cough!
Cheoldu spat blood, eyes snapping open.
"You hurt?!"
Ptui
"Nah."
"That's blood!"
"My heart's guilt."
"Huh?!"
"Still green."
"..."
"Feeling remorse on first kill?"
"Shouldn't spare killers."
"Was rough. Overcame it."
"Good job."
Jintae patted his back.
"..."
Junseop's head spun at their exchange.
"I'll hesitate no more."
"Attaboy."
"I've grown~"
"Guys..."
Junseop interjected. Cheoldu glared.
"Eavesdropping?"
"..."
This punk?!
"Kidding. What?"
"We need to move."
"Right."
Approaching Bongdu:
"Eep!"
"Done?"
"N-not yet."
"Get your sword too."
"Yessir!"
"He'll flee!"
"Then die."
Bongdu screamed:
"WON'T RUN!"
Where would he go?
"Good loot."
Cheoldu smiled at the iron pile.
"No helmets?"
"..."
"Bandits don't wear helmets?"
"..."
Whack!
"Eek!"
"Answer."
"Only wartime! Balding issues!"
"..."
Fair enough.
Cheoldu stuffed gear into his inventory cauldron.
"Ranker?" Bongdu dared ask.
"What's that?"
"N-nevermind!"
"Move out."
"Where?"
"Your village. To avenge Mother."
"..."
Whose mother?!
Bongdu led the way, grimacing.
Cheoldu eyed the quiet Junseop and Giyongsu.
"Cheer up."
"Huh?"
"I'll behead their chief for Mother's altar."
"Wha?!"
"Monster or human - I won't falter."
"..."
What fucking monster…
