A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel

“Young man, what do you mean? It has only been half an hour!”

“Has it been that long?”

“Shouldn’t we be able to continue for at least another half an hour?”

“I’m sorry, but my inner energy is running low.”

“Disappointing. I was just getting the feeling of being young again after a long time.”

Because of my concentration on the martial arts exchange.

Who would’ve thought so much time had passed. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve and looked around at the audience. People were cheering and clapping.

People were looking at me with shining eyes.

And…

“…there’s no one younger than you.”

When I waved back to Hye-ryeong who was enthusiastically waving at me, I turned back to the Alliance Leader. With a still smiling face, he said to me.

“You’re about to get really busy.”

“I should have secretly sent in a complaint letter.”

“Then the letter wouldn’t have reached me as you said it would. What you said was right though.”

“You can read it over and decide for yourself. Considering it’s something I got from raiding a few Demon Sect branches, it probably won’t be wrong unless there’s something extraordinary.”

If the Alliance Leader gets assassinated despite this, it would be his fault.

I’ve done my best.

…Well, seeing the general who’s pacing nervously behind him, it probably won’t happen.

“You should move quickly.”

“I am aware. However, wouldn’t you like to work with the Martial Alliance? I could establish a troop for you.”

“Though I appreciate the offer… I can’t right now. I have work to do.”

“Hmm, I can give you a position.”

“…Would that be acceptable?”

Even though I haven’t really been active in the Martial Alliance, should that be given out so freely? As I stared at him confused, the Alliance Leader chuckles.

“Don’t worry about it. To catch someone like you is a good deal. Anyways, you…you’re against the Demon Sect, aren’t you? That’s reason enough for you to receive support from the Martial Alliance.”

From the Martial Alliance’s perspective, it’s better to have more experts against the Demon Sect. Since the Hainan Sword Sect was attacked and Demon Sect branches around the Martial Alliance have been uncovered, the Martial Alliance will surely start to prepare.

If I can get support from the Martial Alliance, things will go much more smoothly. Given the situation, the Demon Sect’s forces have weakened.

Our situation is already turning in our favor. Thus, as we carefully prepare for the war, we can further reduce the weakened Demon Sect forces.

Ideally, it would be best to annihilate the Demon Sect’s main force before it even enters the Central Plains… but that seems unlikely.

Given how they’re not easy to encounter.

“I will accept it then.”

“Come to my office in four days.”

“Understood.”

“Then, it’s a bit of a regret, but…I have to leave to work. If I have time later, let’s have another exchange.”

The Alliance Leader turned around with a face full of regret. I also turned around and left the Martial Arena.

—

“Young man! That was amazing! To fight on par with the Alliance Leader!”

“On par? The Alliance Leader was holding back.”

Even with their best effort, I feel like only about 70% of their strength was shown.

Because the amount of aura differs so much fundamentally, aggressive rushes relying on an aura armor don’t work well, and with the many martial arts they’ve learned, unconventional attacks can be easily countered.

I personally experienced how the Alliance Leader is no ordinary Alliance Leader.

And thus, I felt the need to become even stronger.

“That was truly an amazing exchange of martial prowess. In my entire life, I’m unsure if I’ll see such an exchange again…”

“It’s not that serious.”

The martial exchange is merely practice mimicking real combat.

Of course, the fact that you can cross swords with various people under the guise of a martial exchange is a truly excellent system.

Thinking about it, this is also an advantage of the righteous sects.

Needless to say, the unrighteous sects lack a central power structure, and the Demon Sect members routinely jump into life-and-death duels.

The ability to advance in martial arts without shedding blood is a reason why the righteous sects maintain their strength.

“Young man, what do you plan to do now?”

“First, I’ll rest since I’m tired. Then, in four days, I’ll have a brief discussion with the Alliance Leader and… I need to go to Yunnam.”

“Yunnam?”

“The hometown of that kid. It’s time…to start finding clues.”

Rather than clues, it’s about visiting the tomb of uncle Mokgyeong, and escorting to the Yunnam Dan family’s secret cave.

And…beating up the apparent culprits who killed the Yunnam Dan family to uncover the real clues.

Considering the original storyline, since the Demon Sect wiped out the Yunnam Dan family for some reason, we should verify if that reason remains the same as in the original.

If it is, the flow will follow similarly,

“You don’t have to rush. There’s a saying that a gentleman’s revenge is not late even if it takes ten years, isn’t there?”

“No. On the contrary, I must hurry. If more time passes…all clues might evaporate.”

If I relax too much and all evidence gets washed away by blood, the case of the Yunnam Dan family might become unsolvable.

From the standpoint of having promised this to Miss Mokgyeong, it’s impossible to do nothing when I already foresee such an outcome.

“…Eungong…”

Miss Mokgyeong rarely looked at me with a moved expression. She’s so attractive already, but that look makes it a bit hard to face her.

With Eungong’s gaze piercing my cheeks, I slightly turned my eyes toward Hye-ryeong, who was looking back and forth between me and Mokgyeong with a complicated expression.

It’s kind of bothersome, but this situation doesn’t invite any action.

“Therefore, Mokgyeong and Hye-ryeong, both of you should prepare to leave in advance.”

And let me find some appropriate words.

We are no longer at the stage where we can skimp on purchasing horses, and long-distance travel is ultimately more favorable with a horse than with light martial arts.

I must also find somewhere to acquire good horses.

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

“Then let’s head back to the Hainan compound.”

Since I’ve sweated, I need to cleanse myself.

As we headed towards the Hainan compound, we received countless stares, but no one actually spoke to me.

Is it because they feel burdened to start a conversation, or maybe because of the children at my sides? I looked down at Hye-ryeong who was holding my hand.

Hye-ryeong, with a curiously youthful but violent figure, looked at me after sensing my gaze, and smiled.

“Hehe. Did you want to look at my face, mister?”

“Well…yeah.”

As soon as I finished my sentence, the distance between Hye-ryeong and me decreased. Her chest pressed against my arm. I don’t know why she had to do that in such a crowded place, but from my perspective, it isn’t a bad thing.

Emotionally and practically.

At the very least, the hands of women lusting after me for various reasons will likely reach less often.

Doesn’t Hye-ryeong have some inferior status?

She’s somewhat lacking compared to the daughters of the five great families.

“You’re really likable, mister.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Are you embarrassed now, mister?”

“No.”

“Aww, you are.”

While chatting like this, we returned to the Hainan compound, where Elder Baek came to greet us.

“Welcome back. I saw a great exchange of martial skills. You…truly are extraordinary.”

“Your praise is too generous.”

“If this is too generous, then I suppose we need to see a complete transformation in you before it’s appropriate. There’s no need for modesty. To reach the level of an ultimate master at your age is a very rare event in the history of the martial world.”

“To think we could say that you’ve surpassed the younger generation and possess the potential of a grand master. You’re like the founding patriarch of our Hainan Sword Sect.”

“Like a founding patriarch…”

If I gather some people here and teach them combat, it’s basically the same as establishing a sect. Imagining myself as the leader of such a sect, it felt very troublesome and bothersome.

I just want to live a simple life so there is no need for such complications. Even if I teach combat, it’s better to either raise my own offspring or cultivate a promising disciple.

“I don’t have any intention to establish a sect.”

“Just something I said casually, don’t worry about it.”

“By the way, where have the others gone?”

The Hainan compound is strangely quiet today. Usually, it’s filled with the sounds of people living and practicing, but now, it’s unexpectedly quiet.

“Did they all go to the main hall to apply for martial arena usage after being impressed by your display?”

“Ah.”

That makes sense.

“At this age, with such high achievements, how could they possibly rest peacefully?”

“That’s true.”

“Ah, I’ve kept you standing too long when you’re tired. Go ahead and rest.”

“Then, please excuse me.”

“See you tomorrow.”

We headed straight to our rooms.

—

“Great Hero Wi?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“That, a guest has arrived.”

“Guest?”

Lately, the idea of “guest” hasn’t carried any good connotations for me.

There hasn’t been a single pleasant guest over the past few days.

It’s also uncomfortable engaging in silent battles with women.

…The biggest problem is Hye-ryeong’s unnecessarily shaken feelings.

I already told them to go away, but why are there so many annoying visitors?

“Who is it this time?”

“It’s…Miss Seo-ryeon.”

Huh?

Unexpectedly surprised at the name, I tilted my head in puzzlement.

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