Chapter 46 – LV.Fourteen Warrior Oh Haengbok – [Five]

Gaeulbi, perhaps feeling embarrassed after crying, said she wanted to be alone for a while.

Leaving her in the tent as she wished, Seo Yun stepped outside with Han Siwoo to talk separately.

“So her aunt was captured?”

At Seo Yun’s question, Han Siwoo nodded.

“That’s what I heard.”

“She mentioned seeing a woman in her forties being taken away before. That must have been her aunt.”

“You remember that?”

“I’m not a chimpanzee, why would I forget? Anyway, I get why she hates soldiers so much. But what’s her reason for not wanting to live in this village?”

“Well…”

“A reason you can’t tell?”

Han Siwoo hesitated before answering.

“I shouldn’t just go around spreading it.”

“Then I won’t force you to explain. But, hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you tell Gaeulbi what I did there?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

Seo Yun’s lips curled up slightly.

“Tell me what you said.”

“What?”

“Tell me how you described my exploits. Her reaction was intense—what exactly did you say?”

Han Siwoo seemed flustered by the demand.

“Why does that matter…”

“Just tell me. What, are you embarrassed?”

Seo Yun poked his side repeatedly, demanding an answer, but Han Siwoo ultimately gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Seo Yun felt satisfied seeing his pained expression. The fact that he couldn’t answer suggested he had described her actions there in quite an impressive manner.

‘I must have been really damn cool.’

Seo Yun had never had many hobbies, but she always enjoyed being recognized by others. The reason she became a firefighter—a job she knew would be tough—was because it was a respected profession in society, not due to any special sense of mission.

Yeah, after all that hardship, she deserved some praise. Without even that small reward, how could she endure, whether her Spirit was 8 or 9 points…?

Seo Yun giggled before speaking again.

“Anyway, tell Gaeulbi to think it over carefully. About settling here. I don’t know if she has somewhere else to go, but it seems impossible for her to keep wandering around now.”

Perhaps relieved by the change of topic, Han Siwoo quickly nodded.

“Got it.”

While they continued chatting, Seo Yun made eye contact with Oh Haengun.

After sending Han Siwoo back, she approached the Mage.

“Did you have something to say?”

Oh Haengun nodded and asked.

“Are they your friends?”

“Yes. I tried to persuade them to stay here. It didn’t go well, but I plan to try again.”

Oh Haengun smiled.

“Persuasion? Good job.”

“Good job?”

“Why? Isn’t it beneficial for the village to have more Players? We’re also trying to recruit Players from other villages who are staying here now.”

No wonder the feast was so lavish—it seemed part of the purpose was to showcase Happy Village’s prosperity to those from other villages.

“So, is it going well?”

“Some are persuaded, some aren’t. For example, there’s that Level 4 Warrior, right? At that level, he’s somewhat of a veteran, so we tried to recruit him, but it didn’t work out.”

Seo Yun grumbled.

“He’s relatively high-level, so he probably feels undervalued here. There are many people here with higher Levels than him.”

“I guess he doesn’t see us favorably, even though we’ve been through hardships together?”

“He started picking fights from the moment we met.”

“But that guy seems to regard you as his benefactor.”

“Well, I did save him.”

“It’s not just gratitude for being helped. He seemed to really respect you.”

“Is that so.”

Seo Yun nodded expressionlessly, thinking to herself. He was a good guy after all.

Oh Haengun continued.

“Still, the kids from the neighboring village we met last time seem persuadable. We’re in the middle of convincing them now. Want to join? I’d like them to stay here if only so those kids can eat three proper meals of potatoes a day.”

When Seo Yun nodded, Oh Haengun grinned.

Seo Yun followed Oh Haengun into the Chief’s private tent. The gruff voice of an Orc could be heard.

“So, if you stay here, you might not get chicken every day, but you can have it once a month. Huh? Is there any reason to go back?”

Oh Haengbok was alone, trying to persuade six boys from the neighboring village. The Orc seemed to have brewed warm tea himself to appear friendly, but the boys still seemed overwhelmed by him.

Seo Yun felt that was perfectly understandable. That Orc’s face was intimidating enough, and lately, even during trivial daily conversations, a low growl seemed to rumble from him.

To offer a little reassurance, Seo Yun waved, but the boys only tensed up more and shrank back. Seo Yun shrugged and watched Oh Haengbok’s persuasion attempt.

“Don’t be so scared, okay? If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you. Just tell me whether this place is better or that place…”

After various conversations with Oh Haengbok, the boys from the neighboring village finally gave the answer he had been hoping for.

“We want to stay here.”

At the boy’s words, Oh Haengbok smiled and said.

“Then stay. What’s the problem?”

“But our moms and dads are all there.”

“We’ll bring them here.”

The boy from the neighboring village spoke in an uneasy voice.

“They won’t let us go.”

“Why?”

“Because if we leave, the village will suffer losses…”

The boy flinched mid-sentence. Oh Haengbok laughed heartily. With the eerie laugh unique to an Orc-Vampire, he said.

“Then they’ll just have to suffer the losses.”

Beside him, Oh Haengun also laughed.

“Exactly.”

Oh Haengbok stood up. His massive shadow loomed large enough to envelop all the boys present.

“Let’s go get your moms and dads.”

Oh Haengbok picked up the Horn Trumpet from the table and stepped out of the tent. In front of the tent, he blew the Horn Trumpet loudly.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

The conch-like sound echoed long and loud, resonating throughout the entire village. Seo Yun recognized it as the signal for the Players of Happy Village to assemble.

Responding to the Chief’s call, the village Players gathered before him. Oh Haengbok declared to them.

“You know the neighboring village? We’re going there for ‘diplomacy.’”

A burly Warrior Player grinned.

“Diplomacy.”

“Yeah, diplomacy. If you understand, get the experienced ones ready. No need for everyone; just those who can handle some strength.”

As the village Players dispersed to gather their Equipment, Oh Haengbok continued issuing various instructions.”Bring the military grunts too! We should release them on the way. Honestly, I’d like to just bury them somewhere, but since some soldiers helped the kids escape, I guess we can’t do that…”

Following Oh Haengbok’s instructions, the soldiers who had been held captive somewhere in the village were brought out.

Seo Yun was surprised to see there were about fifty of them. Seeing the soldiers’ pale complexions, she was surprised again.

“They all look sickly, don’t they? Those soldiers didn’t look like they had great nutrition to begin with, but not to this extent.”

Oh Haengun answered Seo Yun’s remark.

“Ah, the Chief sucked their blood, so that’s why.”

“Their blood?”

“Yeah. He’s a vampire, so he needs to suck blood, right? Normally, he draws blood from several villagers to drink, but since the kidnappers are captured, he said there’s no need to drain the villagers’ blood…”

The village Players loaded the soldiers onto the two-and-a-half-ton trucks they had arrived in. The soldiers didn’t seem to have the energy to resist, but the villagers tied them up tightly anyway. Seeing them trussed up like dried fish, Seo Yun felt absurd.

Are they planning to visit the neighboring village like that? Even if they tied up refugees and dragged them around, they’d look like a terrifyingly dangerous group of looters, but dragging soldiers around would make them look dozens of times more dangerous and like a monstrous group.

“I’ll bring my sword too.”

At Seo Yun’s words, Oh Haengun asked.

“Why a sword?”

“I need to go there too, right? I’m Level 5, which is pretty high level.”

Oh Haengun waved his hand.

“No, kid. Right now, rough-looking uncles are going to have some not-so-pretty words with gangster-like bastards. Where do you fit in…”

“It’s fine, I’m a tough guy too.”

As Seo Yun spoke, the expressions of the Players around her became strange. That damn kid?

As Seo Yun bristled, Oh Haengun, true to being a Mage with 7 Intelligence, said, ‘The kids who went through hardship and returned should rest, but if you go, Kim Ak and Seong Juri will feel awkward,’ and finally convinced Seo Yun.

In the end, Seo Yun stayed in the village and watched the Players leaving.

Certainly, they did look formidable.

Since the road conditions weren’t good, everyone boarded trucks with large wheels. The sight of Players armed with armor and bladed weapons in the cargo beds was threatening.

‘Medieval-equipped gentlemen dragging around soldiers in modern military uniforms… it almost looks like a barbaric victory over modern civilization…’

Among them, Oh Haengbok, wearing heavy armor and riding a monstrous bike, stood out. If this were an apocalypse movie, that man would be a mutated boss who underwent modification surgery; if it were a fantasy movie, he’d be a Demon Lord setting out to conquer the righteous forces.

With a roar of massive exhaust, they drove away.

Seong Juri was also watching them leave from beside her. She muttered.

“The Chief is personally going out, and he’s really enthusiastic about recruitment.”

Seo Yun responded.

“Well, it’s summer. If we’re going on another hunting expedition soon, we need to decide clearly who stays and who leaves the village, right?”

“Yeah, now that you mention it, I should join the village hunt again soon too… Seo Yun, did you say you were joining a party?”

Seo Yun nodded.

“Of course. There’s a level difference with those guys and all.”

Seong Juri remained in her existing party. During the bloody battle with the Centaurs, Seong Juri also gained Experience Points, but since she assisted from too far away and didn’t land many arrows, she didn’t receive as much experience as Seo Yun, so her level was 3.

And the next moment, Seong Juri wrapped her arms around Seo Yun’s shoulders. It was clear it was a kind of farewell. This girl didn’t cry her eyes out like a chimpanzee earlier, expressing emotions intensely, but Seo Yun was surprised. Who knew this stoic girl would do this?

Seong Juri whispered while hugging.

“Thanks for looking out for me all this time.”

“Looking out for you? What did I do?”

“No, I’m perceptive enough to know. I’m really grateful. I couldn’t express it in words…”

At Seong Juri’s words, Seo Yun smiled faintly.

“Me too.”

Seong Juri’s face flushed red. After a brief, awkward silence, Seong Juri asked.

“So, Seo Yun, are you going to hunt with those wandering friends now? With Han Siwoo…”

She seemed to be referring to that guy and the chimpanzee. Seo Yun slightly furrowed her brows.

“It seems like it would be good to form a party with them, but surprisingly, persuading them to stay in the village isn’t going well. I think they’re going to leave.”

“Why? They all saw how well we live in this village. There’s probably nowhere in Korea better than here…”

“Exactly. I don’t know why they’d want to leave.”

As Seo Yun grumbled, Seong Juri asked.

“Well, putting that aside, what are their classes? Are they both Warriors?”

“Warrior and Martial Artist.”

Seo Yun spoke in as flat a tone as possible to sound natural, but Seong Juri’s eyes widened and she asked.

“Mar… what?”

“Martial Artist.”

When Seo Yun confirmed it, Seong Juri finally looked utterly flabbergasted.

“Martial Artist? What on earth…?”

Seong Juri trailed off as if unsure what to say. Seo Yun asked.

“What’s wrong with being a Martial Artist?”

“No, a Martial Artist is honestly…”

Seo Yun scolded sternly.

“You shouldn’t discriminate against people based on their class.”

Oh Haengbok and the Players who had headed to the neighboring village returned in less than half a day. Watching their triumphant return like conquering generals, Seo Yun clapped along with the villagers.

“Welcome back!” “Welcome!”

Amid the villagers’ enthusiastic welcome, eight boys entered the village. Their families were with them.

Pointing at each one, Oh Haengbok shouted.

“Now, let me introduce them! These are the kids who will live with us from today. First, this friend’s name is Lee Han-eum, and his father, Mr. Lee Hyeong-taek…”

The boys from the neighboring village wore expressions so dazed they were recognizable even from a distance. Looking at them, Seo Yun thought.

‘They didn’t want to join a party with me and want to stay in this village because of that, did they? There’s a level difference now, so we can’t hunt together anymore.’

Worrying like that, Seo Yun still waved her hand, smiling, expressing a welcome. Whatever reason they had for deciding to live here, it was a good thing for them. Here, at least, they wouldn’t be asked to fight monsters without even a set of armor.