Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 328: Extra. The Great Escape of Yuri! (4)

Chapter 328: Extra. The Great Escape of Yuri! (4)

The⁠⁠⁠ Green Forest Band‌ Nokrimdo.

According‌ to what Cheongun‌‍⁠ had once told⁠⁠ him, Eastern martial‍ artists who were‍ left without a way to make‍⁠ a living ended up as ronin⁠ or bandits, and‍‌ the bandits would⁠‌ gather in organizations⁠‌ called Nokrim.

They‍⁠ were even considered‍ another sect, known‍‍ as the Seventy-Two⁠ Strongholds of the⁠⁠ Green Forest (Nokrim 72 Chae).

“The⁠ Green Forest Band?‌ Don’t tell me…”‌⁠

Yuri⁠‍‌ focused on a man with his‍‍ arms crossed standing‍ further back. At⁠‍ first glance, he‌‌⁠ was Eastern.

“Could⁠ it be the⁠ Eastern bandits have⁠‍ opened a branch‍‌ in the West?”‌

“Well,‌‍‍ it seems you‌ know our venerable‌‍ elders of the⁠ Nokrim.”

“Brother,⁠ the name of‌‍ the Nokrim has‍‍ already spread across‍‌ the continent!”

Just‍⁠‍ as Yuri suspected,⁠⁠‌ the man in‍ the back spoke.‌⁠

“If‌‌ you know of‌ the East, could‍ it be your⁠ trade is that‍ of a merchant?”‍‌

“No,⁠ my trade is⁠ being an excellent husband.”

The other ignored the‌⁠ answer.

“I⁠‍‍ am the sub-chief‍ of the Blood‌‌⁠ and Vengeance Fortress,⁠‍ famous among the‌⁠⁠ 72 for my‍‍ quick and merciless⁠ hand. I have⁠‌ come to teach⁠⁠ the people of‌ the West the‍ doctrine of the⁠⁠ Nokrim.”

“And‌ what is that doctrine?”

“The‌‍ value of the⁠‍⁠ mountain.”

“What?”‌‌

“The mountain is like a mother who⁠‌‌ gives to us‍ without asking for⁠ anything. Have you‍ ever seriously reflected on the value⁠ of the mountain?”‌

“…”

“No,‌‌‌ right? That’s why⁠‍‍ the Nokrim charges‍ you a toll.”‍

“And‌ why is that?”

“So‍‌ you may learn the value of⁠ the mountain. The‍⁠‌ mountain is never⁠⁠ free, just like⁠‍ freedom.”

“And⁠⁠⁠ still, why do‌ you receive that money?”

“Because‌‍ we will use⁠⁠ it for something⁠‌ good.”

“…”‍⁠⁠

“For‌ the good of⁠ the mountain.”

It‍ seemed that, as⁠‌ a group, they‍⁠ had developed their‍ own absurd philosophy.⁠

“Well,‌⁠‍ it’s perfect for‌ me to find⁠‌ you.”

In‍⁠ any case, Yuri needed an Easterner‍ to discover the⁠ origin of the⁠⁠ objects Cory had⁠⁠ given him. Maybe he wouldn’t even‌‍ need to reach‍ Liberta—if he captured⁠‍⁠ this man, it‍⁠‍ might be enough.‌⁠

“Let’s go.”

“Heh…”‌‍

One‌ of the burly‍⁠‌ men at the⁠ front, showing off‌‌‍ his muscles, approached‍‌‍ Yuri. He seemed‌ to have received⁠‌ martial training from‍ that sub-chief, because⁠ his presence was noticeable.

“Hey,⁠ you. From the⁠‍ way you talk, it seems you know how to⁠‌ fight. Don’t you‍ use a weapon?‌ Want me to‍‌ lend you a sword?”

“No.”⁠

“Ha,‌ from the way‌ your eyes are‌ trembling, you’re scared‍⁠ to death…”

“Does this look like⁠ trembling to you?”‍‌

“I’ll‌ give you one⁠ last chance.”

The‌ man twisted his smile. A scar‌⁠⁠ on his face‍ contorted.

“Take a weapon. I’ll‌‌ wait for you.”⁠

“Are‍ you really going‌ to wait for‌ me?”

“Yes.”⁠‌‍

“Wow,‌⁠ waiting for me‌ to take a weapon—you really are‌ different from common‌ bandits.”

“Of‌‍ course, we follow‍ the teaching of‌⁠ the mountain…”

At‍ that moment—

Bang!‌‌

A gunshot thundered. The⁠ man fell to‌⁠ the ground, bleeding.‌

“I⁠⁠ don’t bother with⁠⁠⁠ those things.”

In‍ Yuri’s hand shone‍‍‌ a small silver‌‍⁠ metallic object. The⁠‍‌ bandits stepped back,⁠ terrified.

“W-what‍‌ just happened?”

“Magic!‌ That guy’s a mage!”

“A‍‌ mage can’t attack like that out‍‌‍ of nowhere!”

“W-what‌ is that? A weapon?”

Yuri⁠ spun the object‍⁠ on his index⁠ finger and, with⁠⁠ a metallic click,⁠⁠⁠ pointed forward again. He grinned shamelessly⁠ at the cowering‍⁠ bandits.

“This‌‌ is a firearm.‌ Scum.”

“Firearm?‍ That sounds familiar…”

“If⁠‌⁠ you want to⁠⁠‌ live, drop your‍⁠ weapons. I won’t‌‍ kill you.”

“Damn‌‌ it…”

The‌‍ standoff grew tense.‌

“Die,‍ bastard!”

A bandit who had‌‌‍ hidden attacked from‍ behind, but Yuri‍‍‌ turned and pulled‌⁠ the trigger. The⁠⁠ shot hit the⁠ man’s thigh, and‌ he fell to‌‌⁠ the ground screaming.‌‍

“Aaaahhh!”‌

Two‌ down in the‌⁠ blink of an⁠‌ eye. The group⁠‍‌ murmured uneasily.

“By‍ the gods…”

“I’ve‍‌ never seen a weapon like that.”

The‍⁠ sub-chief shouted.

“All‍⁠ at once! Whatever‌‌ that weapon is,⁠‌ he can’t use‌‍ it continuously. Don’t‍ give him time!”‌‌

Yuri‍‌ whistled.

“Quick⁠‍ to analyze the⁠⁠ situation, huh?”

At⁠ the sub-chief’s order,‌ the bandits charged.‌‌ Yuri fired and‌⁠ took down the first one who‍ lunged at him.⁠

“Argh!”‍‌‌

But‍ the others didn’t‌ stop.

“No⁠ helping it.”

He‍ drew the sword‌‍ from his belt.⁠⁠‌ In one hand,‍‍ the sword; in‍⁠ the other, the‍ firearm.

His⁠ own style had‍ been born, combining‌‌⁠ the new weapon⁠‌‍ developed in Briol‌‌ with swordsmanship—pistol swordsmanship.‍‍ It was the⁠ birth of a new lethal technique.‍

“This is the first‌‍‌ time I’ve used‌‍ it in real‍‍ combat.”

He‍‌ analyzed the attackers’⁠ formation and aimed‍‍ at two giving⁠ orders at the‌‌ front.

Since‌‍‌ the weapon was⁠ still in development,‌ its accuracy was‍‌ low; so he‍ used mana to‌ stabilize the barrel and guide the‌ bullets’ trajectory.

Bang!‍ Bang! Bang!

The‍‌ shots landed squarely‌ on their thighs.‍⁠ Three bandits fell‌‌ bleeding. They weren’t dangerous enough to‌ warrant killing them.⁠⁠

“What‌‍ the hell!”

“Aaagh!”

“Damn‍‍‍ it!”

Those‍ coming from behind‌⁠ tripped over the⁠‌ first ones who‌‍ fell. One, more‍‍ skilled, managed to⁠⁠ reach Yuri.

“Take⁠ this!”

“Uh-huh.”‍

Yuri blocked his thrust⁠⁠ and shot at his thigh. But‍ the enemy, who⁠ had already figured⁠‌‍ out how to⁠‌‍ avoid the shot,⁠ pulled back his⁠ leg just in‌⁠‍ time. The bullet‌‌ lodged in the‍‍ ground.

That⁠‌‍ sudden movement threw him off balance, and Yuri’s sword⁠‌ came down on‍ his shoulder.

“If‍‍ you move, you’ll⁠ get hurt.”

“Agh!”‌‌

The‌‌ slash made him‌ drop his weapon,⁠⁠ and a shot‍ to the leg‌ took him down.⁠‌

The‍‌ rest kept advancing,⁠ refusing to give up. Yuri retreated‍ while shooting.

Bang!‌⁠ Bang! Bang! Bang!‌‍

The‌‌ bullets were running out. With a motion, he ejected⁠ the magazine and‌ loaded another from‍ his belt.

“We’ve‍ got you now!”⁠

Several‍ surrounded him, but Yuri’s sword was⁠‌ even deadlier than⁠‌ the gun. All ended up with‍‌ cuts on their‍ legs, down on‍ the ground.

Finally,⁠ they understood they‌ couldn’t beat him.

“He’s too strong…”

“We’re⁠⁠ going to lose…”

“He’s‍ stronger than the‍ Nokrim!”

Yuri‍ let out a dry laugh.

“You’re⁠‍ only realizing that‍‌ now?”

The⁠⁠ bandits began to‌ flee.

The sub-chief, who claimed‌⁠ to come from⁠‌ the East, was the first to⁠ turn his back‌‌ and run.

“How‍ shameless.”

He‍ could let the‌‌ others go, but‍ not that one.‌⁠‌ Yuri assessed the‌ terrain—he was at‌‍ a certain distance,‍⁠⁠ and obstacles blocked the line of fire. In such‍ a situation, a single shot wouldn’t‍ be enough.

He sheathed his sword at his waist⁠ and drew another‌‍ pistol hanging from‌ his side.

Two‍ guns.

Pistol‍ swordsmanship style: dual-shot⁠‍‌ mode with concentrated‍ fire.

With‍ a pistol in⁠ each hand, Yuri⁠ ran after the⁠ bandits, but suddenly⁠‌ leapt to the‍ side in a perfect arc.

At‌‍ the highest point,‍ through trunks and leaves, he saw⁠ the sub-chief’s legs and unleashed a rapid barrage with‌ both pistols.

Bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang!‍

The⁠ bullets, reinforced with‍⁠ the Soul and‍⁠‌ Heart Slash technique,‌‌ flew tracing spirals in the air.⁠⁠

“Aaargh!”‌‌

The⁠ sub-chief collapsed in⁠‍ a mess. Seeing‍ him, the others‍ stopped in terror.‌

“I‌‍ surrender!”

“Please‍ spare our lives,‍ sir!”

“I‌‌ only ask that⁠‌ you let me‍⁠⁠ live!”

“We⁠ won’t resist.”

Yuri⁠‌‌ landed gracefully, spun‌ the two pistols⁠‌ around his fingers,‍ and blew the‌‍ smoke from the‍ barrels.

“Too‍ easy.”

He‍⁠ holstered the weapons and calmly walked‌‍ over to the‍ sub-chief, while the‍‌ rest lay face‍ down on the‍⁠ ground.

“What⁠ do you think?”‌

“Huh?”‍‌⁠

“I’m‍‍ asking what you‍‍ think of my‍ sword-and-gun combat technique.”⁠‍

“I-it⁠ was incredible.”

“Of⁠‍⁠ course it was.”‍‌⁠

Giving‌ a bandit a few pats on‍⁠ his bald head, Yuri stopped in‍ front of the‍‌ sub-chief.

“Sub-chief,‍‍ what’s your name?”

“Ghh…”

“If‌‍⁠ you answer, I’ll⁠ heal you. If⁠ not, you’ll never⁠‍ walk again.”

“I…”‌‌‌

“You?”‌

After hesitating, the man⁠ spoke.

“My‍ name is Hwang‌ Bo-cheol.”

“H-Hwang‍‌‌ Bo-cheol?”

Yuri‍‍⁠ was surprised, and‍‍ the other man⁠⁠‌ smiled faintly.

“Even in the West, there are those⁠ who recognize the‍‍ name…?”

“What‌ is a descendant⁠ of the Hwangbo‌⁠ House doing as⁠ a bandit?!”

Yuri‍‍ knew a bit‌‌ about the Eastern⁠ martial hierarchy—among the‍ great houses, one‌‍ of the most‍ prominent was Hwangbo.⁠‍‌ It was said‍⁠ that everyone with⁠ that surname was‍‍ strong and used‍ dominant techniques.

“You…!”⁠‍

For‍ an heir of‍‌ such a house⁠‌ to be a bandit was like‌ Laurent turning to‌‌ looting.

But⁠ Hwang Bo-cheol let‌ out a chuckle.⁠

“Listen‍‍ closely. My name‌ is Bo-cheol.”

“Huh?”‌⁠

“That means my surname‌ is Hwang, not⁠ Hwangbo.”

“…”‍⁠

“I⁠‌ have nothing to do with the‌ Hwangbo House.”

“This⁠‌ bastard…”

When‍ Yuri lifted his‌ foot, Bo-cheol shouted,⁠‌⁠

“I-it’s‌ a misunderstanding! I never said that!”⁠⁠‍

“Could‍ be…”

“Everyone‍‌⁠ mistakes me for⁠ Hwangbo, and I’m‍⁠ tired of explaining.‍ Do you know‌ what that’s like?”⁠

“Pfff…”⁠

Yuri‌ lowered his foot.

“I⁠‍ get it, Bo-cheol.”‌‌

There⁠ was no point‌⁠ in beating on‍‍‍ an already subdued⁠⁠ enemy. There was⁠ something he needed‍‍⁠ to do.

He knelt beside him.‍⁠

“Bo-cheol,‌‌ does it hurt‌ a lot?”

“Yes.‌‍ Heal me quickly.”‍

“First,⁠‍‍ look at this.”‌⁠‍

He‍ took out the‌‌ mysterious book Cory⁠⁠ had given him⁠⁠ and showed him‍⁠ the cover.

“What‌‌ does it say⁠⁠ here?”

Even⁠ without knowing how‌‍‍ to read Eastern‌ script, Yuri sensed‍‌ it wasn’t just‌⁠ any book. Just knowing the title‍⁠‌ would give him‌‌ a lead.

Bo-cheol‍ frowned, and upon⁠‍ focusing on the‌‍ cover, his eyes‌ widened.

“Wait…⁠ this…”

“You can see it’s⁠ not something common.”⁠⁠

Yuri‌‌ pressed the pistol to his forehead.‌

“Don’t‌ ask questions, just⁠⁠ read it. But‍ if you go telling people what you saw, I’ll‌ come for you⁠‌ and kill you.”⁠

“I…”⁠‌‍

Fear‍ appeared in Bo-cheol’s⁠ eyes.

“I‍‍⁠ can’t tell you.”⁠⁠

“What?”‌

“I⁠‍ don’t know anything.”‌

“What‌‍ do you mean⁠⁠ you don’t know?”‌‌

“I‍ can’t read!”

“What?”‌‍⁠

Bo-cheol⁠⁠ clenched his teeth⁠ and closed his‍ eyes.

“I’m‍ illiterate.”

Yuri‌‍ stared at him⁠⁠ in shock, and the other bandits‌⁠⁠ also seemed surprised.

“T-the‍ sub-chief can’t read?”‍⁠

“That⁠ can’t be…”

Bo-cheol‍ spoke in a trembling voice.

“Sorry, everyone… I guess‍ I’ve disappointed you…”‍⁠

“That’s⁠‌‌ not it…”

One⁠ of the bandits⁠⁠ shouted,

“But‍‍ boss, you can‌ read and write‍⁠ the common language‍ of the continent⁠ without a problem!”‌

“That’s…!”‌

Bo-cheol‌ roared,

“The‌‌‌ Eastern language uses‌⁠ ideographic characters. That’s‌ why common people‌ like me have‍⁠ a hard time.⁠‌‌ Only the children⁠⁠ of wealthy families‍⁠ can learn; most⁠‌‍ Easterners live and⁠⁠ die without knowing⁠‍ a single letter. That’s how cruel‌⁠ the East is!‌ With money, there’s‌ education—without money, there’s⁠⁠ nothing! To hell⁠ with the whole⁠ Eastern martial world!”⁠

His⁠ voice rose higher‌‌‍ and higher.

“In⁠‍‍ the East, learning‌ the language is⁠⁠ so hard that‍ even if the‍ people want to‍‍‌ express themselves, they‌ can’t! And when⁠ I arrived in‌ the West and‍ discovered a phonetic alphabet, I was‍⁠ in shock! Such‍‌‍ an easy-to-learn, scientific‍ writing system!”

Yuri nodded with a faint smile—it was⁠⁠⁠ true, the continental⁠⁠ script was excellent.⁠‍

“So‍‌ that’s your story…”‌

“And‌‍ also, Western food‌ is delicious! A revolution for my‍ palate! I’ve gained‍‍‌ weight since I arrived!”

“Wow…”‍‌

“And Western music is‌‍⁠ so fresh and‌⁠ beautiful! It changed‌ my life! I want to learn‍‍ an instrument from‌‌ here!”

“Hmm…”⁠

“And‌⁠ Western dogs are⁠‍ adorable! Loyal, smart, and with soft‍ fur! If I take one to⁠‌ the East, everyone‍ will go crazy‍ from the cuteness!”‌

“Oh…”⁠

“And‍⁠ Western people are⁠‍ so kind—!”

“That’s‌ enough, damn it!”

Yuri gave Bo-cheol a knock on the⁠ head.