Episode 5


    The elder of the Murim League that I saw in my past life was like this.


    A hotbed of corruption.


    A pest that eats away at white peach trees.


    A vested interest that divides the power of the Murim Alliance.


    Old monsters who will do anything for their own gain.


    It turns out I wasn’t the only one who thought that.


    Suddenly, a conversation I had with my first brother-inw in my past life shed through my mind.


    [Elders of the Alliance? If it’s them, there’s nothing to worry about.]


    [But ording to the report….]


    [Do you really think those cowards will show up on such a dangerous battlefield?]


    […….]


    [I assure you, All of the fatty food that those old people eat every day is probably umting in their buttocks.] [


    What does that mean?]


    [Otherwise, their buttocks couldn’t be so heavy.]


    That day, Marang Dae sessfully defeated the Murim leader Lanju. (蘭州) branch was destroyed.


    Meng elders who were said to be visiting the branch for an audit did not show up until the fight was over.


    Old monsters who enjoy so many benefits and rights but never appear on the battlefield.


    It goes without saying how the Demonic Cult, with its banner of strong self-respect, viewed them.


    The majority of believersughed at and despised their existence.


    ‘I used to be like that too.’


    I think about it now, but what I felt at the time may not have been contempt, but envy and jealousy.


    No, it definitely will.


    You may say this is a tant rationalization, but as your original position changes, your perspective also changes.


    If someone else does it, it’s adultery, but if I do it, isn’t it passionate love?


    ‘Well, it’s nice to have other people’s opinions.’


    The corners of my mouth, which were so curled up, didn’t even bother toe down.


    Pleasant thoughts kept running through my mind.


    ‘The problem is, how can I be an elder of the tribe?’


    The exact conditions for entering the Senate are not known.


    However, it was possible to infer to some extent.


    First, it must be an unmanned soldier belonging to Maeng who has retired from active duty.


    Second, he must be a talented person who is fully supported by the old school or the five generations.


    There may be other conditions, but it was clear that these two were the key.


    The Murim League was not an organization to protect justice as people thought.


    It was correct to see it as an alliance to protect the interests and authority of the Old Daemun faction and the Five Great Families.


    Except for Meng Zhou, most of the major figures of Meng are from the Nine Great Gates faction and the Five Generations.


    Needless to say, the Senate is the center of power.


    ‘You won’t be able to be an elder through ordinary means.’


    It is never easy to push out vested interests and take their ce.


    I knew that fact better than anyone else.


    ‘The reason he died in his past life in the first ce was because of his secret struggle for power.’


    So, what should a person who is not from the Nine Generations School or the Five Generations do to be recognized as an elder of the Meng?


    Of course, you have to give high credit.


    Achievements umted during active military service and recognition from people around him.


    If all three elements are not met, it is impossible to ovee the wall of vested interests.


    Even this is the minimum condition.


    It is impossible to predict what kind of variables will arise if elements such as political power struggles and intrigues get involved.


    ‘But as difficult as it is, it is worth the challenge.’


    In my past life, I wandered because I couldn’t set a clear goal in life.


    But this life is different.


    You do not have to be deprived of your free will due to the coercion and coercion of others.


    If you use memories from your past life, you can gain an advantage over others.


    Crash! Crack!


    I stared at the burning bonfire with my intense gaze for a long time.


    I sat cross-legged again and devoted myself to meditation.


    My heart was beating violently.


    Although the situation we were in was insignificant, it was a night where expectations for tomorrow burned wildly.


    * * *


    I fell asleepte in the morning and didn’t open my eyes until noon the next day.


    As I put my hands on the ground and raised myself up, a sound of pain escaped me.


    My stomach ached.


    I sighed as I looked down at the bruised and swollen body, turned my head to check the condition of the bonfire, but froze.


    A woman wearing a purple bow was ring at me with wide eyes.


    Lying on the floor without saying a word.


    ‘I thought it was a ghost.’


    It seemed that the blood pressure had lessened and he could not move freely.


    I walked closer to her and spoke to her.


    “You’re awake. What a relief.”


    I pretended to have a bright voice and facial expression to reassure the other person.


    As a bonus, he even speaks in a childlike tone.


    You can talk slowly after the blood pressure haspletely subsided, but now would be the right time to let him know that ‘I have no hostility towards you.’


    “……”


    The woman’s brow furrowed slightly.


    It seemed like I couldn’t understand the current situation.


    “You still can’t move or talk? Then can you answer by blinking your eyes? If you blink once, yes, if you blink twice, no. “Like this.”


    The woman blinked once.


    Perhaps because of his fierce eyes, he looked like he was angry.


    “First of all, to briefly exin the current situation, you two are safe. ves were wiped out after drinking poisoned alcohol. Unfortunately, everyone else who was with me passed away…”


    The woman’s eyelids fluttered.


    He seemed quite shocked.


    Still, he must have expected it to some extent, and his expression soon returned to its original state.


    I flopped down in front of her and continued talking.


    It wasn’t a very nutritious conversation, but it was necessary work to ease the other person’s guard.


    After chatting for a while alone, I asked for the woman’s understanding and left the safe house.


    ‘It would be a good idea to replenish firewood from time to time.’


    It seemed like it would take quite some time for the spotting topletely resolve.


    Unlike the woman in the purple pce who had at least regained consciousness, the woman in the white dress still had not woken up.


    It might be okay right now, but if I don’t work hard, I’ll soon have problems eating and sleeping.


    Fortunately, it didn’t rain, so it was easy to find dry branches.


    As I repeated the act of picking up a bunch of tree branches and piling them next to the bonfire several times, my whole body soon became drenched in sweat.


    Every time sweat seeped into the wound, I felt a sharp pain.


    As the sun set and the pot was ced on the bonfire, the woman in white regained consciousness.


    Unlike the woman in the pce, as soon as she woke up, her blood pressure was relieved and she was able to speak.


    She quietly watched me whining and making porridge, then opened her mouth.


    “Could you please give me some water?”


    “yes.”


    I rested her head on my knees and held the water bottle to her mouth.


    He carefully tilted the bottle and let the water flow into her mouth little by little.


    She asked me after struggling to clear her throat.


    “What is your name?”


    “It’s Yeonsoun.”


    “Yeonsoun. “That’s a good name.”


    A kind smile appeared on the white-robed woman’s lips.


    Unlike the pce women, her slightly drooping eyes gave a soft impression.


    “Looking at you, it looks like you’ve been through a lot of hardship. “How did you happen to be captured by those people?”


    “I was kidnapped. “When I came to my senses, I realized I was inside a convoy carriage.”


    “I see.”


    Although it was a bit of a lie, the woman didn’t seem to feel any difort.


    I had no intention of telling you straight away that I was the child of a sh-and-burn farmer who was sold to a ve trader.


    If you make a fuss and say that you will take the child to your parents, things will get difficult.


    I changed the subject by throwing tree branches into the bonfire.


    “Come to think of it, I heard those words while I was in the convoy carriage.”


    “What?”


    “We need to hurry to deliver the goods to the church on time.”


    “……what?”


    Thest question came from the mouth of the woman in the purple pce.


    It seemed like the blood pressure had been relieved.


    “They said they were warriors of the Demonic Cult.”


    The two women’s eyes became ssy.


    Anyone who thought they were nothing more than ve traders would be surprised if they were told that they were actually devils.


    When we think of a magician, we often think of monsters who radiate magical energy, but among the warriors belonging to outer circles, there are many who have not learned magic.


    It had to be considered virtually impossible for an outsider to identify them as devils.


    “Is that story true?”


    “yes. “I heard it clearly.”


    Of course it’s a lie.


    The demon cultists who were sent outside on missions had no reason to reveal their true identities.


    “You’re not making this up to deceive us, are you?”


    “Why would I deceive you two? “What is the benefit?”


    The two women looked at each other with shocked expressions.


    I couldn’t help but feel annoyed by their reaction.


    ‘It’s not that surprising.’


    It was not a big secret that the Demonic Cult bought and gathered children from all over the central ins to supply young blood.


    It was almost like an open secret that only those who knew knew.


    It may be a bit of a stimting story for thete followers of Moorim Sega, which is located in remote rural areas.


    “This is not a matter to be taken lightly. Could you please go to Manjangsega with me? I want you to testify next to me when I report to my father. “I’ll give you enough examples.”


    “…I will do that.”


    I pretended to think for a moment and then nodded.


    There was no reason to refuse.


    The reason they made up words that did not exist in the first ce and made it known that the ve traders were devils was because they expected this kind of reaction.


    The woman in white said with a warm smile on her lips.


    “thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would have been dead. Thanks to you, my life was saved and I obtained important information.”


    If you are so thankful, I would like you to let me live in your family.


    Surely he doesn’t have that level of ability?


    * * *


    The two women did not regain freedom of movement untilte dawn the next day.


    After checking my physical condition through luck training, they took me with them and headed straight to a nearby vige.


    Although she is a woman, she is a martial arts warrior.


    When I was carried on my back, it took less than half a day to reach the vige.


    “Let’s stop by the guest house and have a meal first. “I’d like to change my clothes as well.”


    “I will do so, miss.”


    I managed to stop by arge guest house, wash my body, change my clothes, and have a sumptuous meal.


    Meanwhile, Jeomsoi, who had gone on an errand after receiving wages, whispered something to the woman at the pce.


    “…Okay, good job.”


    The pce woman’s brow furrowed slightly.


    It seemed like something unpleasant had happened.


    About an hourter, a group of people appeared at the guest house.


    A middle-aged man standing at the head of a group of men wearing uniform military uniforms bowed to the woman at the head of the pce.


    “I came to pick you up. miss.”


    “Wee. “One week.”


    A powerful voice and disciplined movements.


    He was an impressive figure with a stocky physique, thick eyebrows, and a scar on the nape of his neck.


    ‘Anyway…’


    With a strange expression, I looked back and forth between the middle-aged man called Daeju Han and the men behind him.


    Unlike Daeju Han, who was expressionless, the men seemed clearly dissatisfied.


    ‘I feel a bit uneasy about something?’


    Isn’t it normal to be happy when a missing girl returns safely alive?