Chapter 12 Hell’s Difficulty Mission

Chapter 12: Hell’s Difficulty Mission

There are sixteen senior squad leaders, and I get singled out?!

This is wrong.

This is seriously, deeply wrong.

The moment the meeting ended, I headed straight for North Palace White’s office.

“Um… Master? I have something to tell you.”

“Why? Did you come to cancel?”

“My abilities are still lacking…”

“Oh?”

Bukgung Baek took a sip from the flask of liquor sitting on his desk and tossed it to me.

“Try it.”

“…Yes.”

Gulp.

After drinking, I saw North Palace Baek wearing a peculiar smile.

“Where have you tasted this liquor before?”

“Huh?”

Racking my brain for his question, I soon found the answer.

“It’s the Bamboo Leaf Clear Liquor sold at the brewery near your house.”

“Exactly. Ever since I tried it at your place the other day, I’ve been buying it often. It’s cheap and tastes good—I’m quite satisfied.”

“I’m glad you found a liquor that suits your taste.”

I hadn’t realized it before, but tasting it again, it was actually quite decent.

If this matter gets resolved, I should buy some occasionally.

“That day, I stopped by Heuksaro to buy liquor.”

” Huh? What on earth are you suddenly talking about…“

”But then, a group of black-clad men suddenly swarmed off. As the Outer Hall Master responsible for the outer city’s security, I followed them.“

An instant, ominous feeling. Baek had a look in his eyes as if he knew something.

And I soon heard the reason why.

”No way?”

“My sword technique was quite impressive. Enough to pierce a dam with a single strike.”

“Gasp!”

Tap tap.

Bukgung Baek, who had approached unnoticed, tapped my shoulder.

“I pray you return safely.”

It was all my own karma.

***

Returning in seventeen pieces, I clutched my head.

‘Why did I choose the Outer Guard!’

The salary was less than half of what the main sect’s forces earned.

And considering the main sect warriors were provided with food, clothing, and shelter, the gap widened even further.

Yet I chose the outer sect to secure at least some safety in this martial world where you never knew when a blade might strike.

The pocket money I slipped away was just a bonus.

But when it came to human-grade missions, that changed everything. Because it was a job where he could die, making all his efforts for safety meaningless.

This was the first time he’d felt this unlucky since spending a million won on Lee●ji Mobile and getting nothing in return.

‘What do I do?’

He couldn’t do it alone.

Human-grade missions were so difficult that at least three peak masters had to be deployed to ensure stable success.

The problem was.

“Take this! Meteor Shower!”

“Shush! Shush! That’s not the sound coming from my mouth, it’s the sound coming from the Pan-gwan-pil!”

“……”

With those guys, there was absolutely no way we could succeed.

‘Yang-gang and Jin-hyeong are one thing, but So-pyeong is hopeless. And I have no idea what Tang Ba is thinking.‘

Ultimately, there was only one solution.

If the internal forces were inadequate, the only option was to scout from outside.

And I had some confidence in that.

‘Is it time to pull out my hidden connections?’

After all, one of the things I focused on most after reincarnating into the martial arts world was guanxi.

So I headed to my hometown to recruit external talent.

The first place I visited was the Black Dragon Sect.

Though it ranked at the bottom of the Nine Dragons Fortress hierarchy, its predecessor, the Pointed Spear Sect, had once been a major sect among the Eight Great Sects. The quality of its masters was on par with other sects.

Plus, it felt like home, making it easier to ask for favors.

“Support us with people? Are you out of your mind?”

“…No, last time you called us family?”

“You called us outsiders. And where would Moolyongdang have people to spare for an Oedang mission? You want to see me expelled?”

“Oh ho! Brother Weeji, your thinking is truly short-sighted. Moolyongdang and Oedang are family under the Nine Dragons Fortress.”

“Cut the crap and get lost.”

“Ah, Brother!”

“Not leaving?”

“Ah, just! You wanna see your only brother die?”

“We’re already short on people, get out, you bastard!”

Chased out of the Black Dragon Hall by Wei Zifeng, I gritted my teeth.

‘I’ll never donate again!’

If I could, I’d even take back the donation I made last time.

But I didn’t give up.

I still had plenty of ‘guanxi’ left.

***

“Damn this world.”

Everything failed.

I was sure I’d managed it properly…

After being turned away at every door I knocked on, I curled up in a corner of my true nature, shrinking into a ball.

What now…

Just take the Seventeen Trillion with me?

After briefly entertaining that extreme thought, I shook my head.

If I did that, the five of us might really end up having a friendly interview with King Yama.

Just as I was agonizing over this dilemma.

“Long time no see, Jinmujun.”

A face I was anything but glad to see approached.

“Good heavens! For the peerless Blue Dragon Sword, Danun the Great Hero, to remember such a lowly one as me—it is the honor of three lifetimes!”

I stood up straight and bowed deeply, but the man just shook his head expressionlessly.

“…You haven’t changed.”

“I remain the same as ever. But how have you fared, Great Hero Danun?”

“I’ve been training relentlessly to break you.”

“…I-is that so?”

“Though I fell to your feints and counterfeints last time, next time will be different.”

“No, when did I ever…”

He tried to say something to change the mood, but Danun spoke faster.

“And when that day comes, I will finally become the strongest in Nine Dragons City.”

You. Do it. A lot.

And even if you beat me, you can’t become the strongest in Nine Dragons City.

You have to beat the City Lord.

‘Talking to this madman any longer is just a waste of my time.’

If I stayed any longer, I felt like my mind would break, so I hurriedly offered my farewell.

“Oh my, it’s already this late! Then I’ll see you next time. Great Hero Dan!”

Danun reached out his hand to block my path.

“Wait a moment!”

“…Huh?”

“Still, you came all this way. I can’t just send you off like that. Have some tea before you go. ”

“If I just leave···.”

“I’ll take that as you’re ready to end things right here.”

“Alright, let’s go. Go.”

A short while later.

Following Danun’s lead, they entered the reception room attached to the main hall of the Blue Dragon Hall.

Unlike other halls where he knew people, this was his first time at the Blue Dragon Hall, so he looked around here and there.

‘They’re all fierce warriors, aren’t they?’

The aura emanating from the wandering warriors was anything but ordinary.

If Moolryongdang felt like a small elite force, Cheongryongdang felt like a large elite force, perhaps?

Indeed, the ace faction of Guryongseong is different in every way.

“Drink.”

Danun himself brought over the tea and handed it to me.

The aroma was pleasant; it didn’t seem like cheap stuff.

“It’s delicious.”

“That’s a relief.”

Slurp.

I blew on the tea to cool it.

The goal was to drink it as fast as possible and get out of there.

After a moment.

I downed it in one gulp and stood up.

“Since I’ve finished my tea, I’ll be on my way. I wish you smooth sailing in your future as a warrior.”

“I hear you’re looking for someone to join you on a human-level mission?”

“How did you… ? Don’t tell me you were watching me?”

“You spent the whole day clinging to your classmates’ coats, begging them. Wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t know?”

“Hmm. I see.”

Just as I cleared my throat awkwardly, Danun spoke with a serious expression.

“I’ll help you.”

“…?!”

“But there’s a condition.”

“Wh-what is it?”

“After the job is done, you must formally duel me.”

“If it’s a mock sword duel…”

Danun straightened his expression and proposed a decisive showdown.

“I’m talking about a life-or-death duel with real blades.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Since today might be your last day, we’ll have to settle it right here.”

“Damn it, you lunatic.”

***

After recruiting Danun as a party member, I headed straight home.

Young With the young ace joining, the quest success rate had skyrocketed—a reason to celebrate.

‘He’s just not in his right mind.’

That was it. His mental state had reached a realm I couldn’t begin to comprehend.

It definitely wasn’t like this at first.

Handsome looks, genius-level talent like a gift from heaven, a body blessed with one of the best starter packs—the Bee Moseseu physique.

Born with perfect conditions like a wuxia protagonist, he was the bright and kind-hearted rising star of the Blue Dragon Sect and the pre-ace of Nine Dragon City.

‘So you’re the one with the wireless. Let’s work hard together.’

‘Put in a little more effort! You can do it!’

‘Your movements aren’t quite right? I don’t know if I can help, but I’ll take a look.’

Thanks to him, I received a lot of help from this guy a year older than me.

The problem arose in my eighth year at the Ascension Pavilion.

‘That’s probably when he turned dark, right?’

During our usual rotation of sparring matches, I ended up winning.

He, an honest seventeen-year-old, couldn’t counter my improvisation.

‘The sand-throwing technique was key, wasn’t it.’

From that moment, his attitude changed completely.

He didn’t bully me using his status, but he kept challenging me to fights.

‘Let’s settle this once and for all!’

‘I won’t lose today, no matter what!’

‘Let’s fight.’

Ultimately, under the rule that you couldn’t avoid a duel request, I fought him constantly during my last two years at the Ascension Pavilion.

Thanks to that, I earned extra points from the instructors and made the mistake of graduating at the top of my class.

‘That nearly cost me my chance to join the Outer Sect…’

Honor Guard duty, practically military service.

The very thought is dreadful.

Still, Dan Yun of the Blue Dragon Sword is a formidable fighter, easily capable of handling a couple of old peak masters.

‘Ah, my connections…’

This was all possible because I never neglected my connections.

Yeah, exactly.

Even though he says let’s have a showdown after I return, I can just let him win easily.

And my headhunting didn’t end there.

While eating the dinner Myaohyang had prepared, I saw Yongmasan enter, his hair gleaming.

“Come with me somewhere.”

” Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?“

I explained to him the rough circumstances of how I ended up with this mission.

”…Isn’t this all because you did something stupid? Seems like it has nothing to do with me.“

”Damn it, if you guys hadn’t fought that day, this wouldn’t have happened, right?“

”I never asked for your help. You just butted in unilaterally.”

“Huh, I’ve never seen such an ungrateful friend. If we fought shoulder to shoulder, we’re comrades…”

“It doesn’t work.”

Faced with Yongmasan’s stubborn attitude, I considered snatching his rice spoon, but I barely restrained myself, thinking of the food expenses he covered.

‘I can’t kick out a sucker who pays two nyang a month just to get two meals a day.’

But then, someone came along who changed Yongmasan’s heart in an instant…

Clang.

It was Myohyang.

‘You heard everything, yet you’re pretending to be surprised?’

I had explained my mission before entering the house, but she acted as if hearing it for the first time, dropping her bowl in shock.

‘But why are your eyes blinking?’

Then, she blinked at me, and soon, with a trembling voice, she grabbed Yongmasan’s hand.

“Huh!”

“Sir, please, couldn’t you protect Captain Jin?”

“Th-that is…”

“I beg you like this.”

“Huh…”

Myohyang looked up at Yongmasan with a heartrending expression.

Then, not just her face but her scalp flushed crimson.

“Very well. Since I’m in a position where I eat the meals you prepare, this once I’ll help Team Leader Jin and go on the mission.”

He agreed without hesitation.

‘Wait, this actually worked?’

I upgraded Yongmasan’s protection tier from Grade 1 to Special Grade.