Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 75 - Team Leader (1)
Chapter 75 – Team Leader (1)
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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‘Could it be?’
Yeom Ga of Crimson Kill Valley furrowed his brow and felt inwardly uneasy.
The reaction shown after hearing Mok Gyeong-un say that it was a sword formation was not ordinary.
If that had not been the case, then there would have been no reason for such a reaction from the start.
‘That cannot be.’
Yeom Ga denied it inwardly.
A sword formation was, literally, a battle formation unfolded with swords.
A battle formation naturally required fixed rules and precise changes in form so that each part could interlock with the others, and that would be difficult to achieve with sword formulas alone.
That meant one had to apply the forms of the formulas, but that was something one could not ordinarily visualize in one’s head from the formulas alone.
‘Is that bastard really such a master of sword intent?’
At the very least, to perceive that from the formulas alone would require a master of sword arts at the level of his own father, the Valley Master of Crimson Kill Valley.
That was why Yeom Ga desperately hoped it was not so.
But contrary to that hope,
“Why do you think it is a sword formation?”
the evil ghost mask asked Mok Gyeong-un in a serious tone.
At that, Mok Gyeong-un answered as if it were nothing,
“If you look at how the forms of the sword art are faithful to the basics and how each one is arranged so that their movement paths do not overlap, then wouldn’t it be possible to unfold it as a sword formation?”
“The movement paths do not overlap…”
The evil ghost mask’s eyes narrowed.
Even if one had repeatedly performed the sword art in person, or could sketch the sword in mental imagery, tracing out the combined paths of a sword formation was still quite difficult.
That was because it required something beyond simply contemplating one’s own movements.
“Hm.”
The evil ghost mask stroked his chin.
To be frank, it was hard to believe so easily.
That a brat of no more than seventeen or eighteen years could possess discernment on par with one who had reached a realm in the sword?
Of course, if he truly possessed heaven-given talent, such a thing could happen.
But,
‘That hand…’
The palm of Mok Gyeong-un’s hand that the evil ghost mask was looking at was nothing of the sort.
That was not the hand of an outstanding swordsman.
The shape of the thumb, index finger, and little finger of a swordsman naturally changed over long years of holding the sword.
Yet looking at Mok Gyeong-un’s hand, he did not even have calluses on his thumb.
‘That is not the hand of one who has practiced the sword.’
And yet such discernment had come from him.
If instead it were said that some master of sword intent had pointed it out to him, that would be understandable.
But there was no chance such a person existed here in Corpse Blood Valley.
That was why it was even more puzzling.
Did this brat truly possess eyes regarding the sword equal to those of one who had reached a realm in it?
After staring hard at Mok Gyeong-un, the evil ghost mask said,
“If one were to unfold a sword formation with this formula, how many people would make it the most efficient?”
To have even discerned that it was a sword formation was already remarkable.
But could he really work out even this much?
If he got this right as well, then one could truly say that his discernment concerning the sword rivaled that of a master.
At that question, Mok Gyeong-un remained silent for a moment, then answered,
“Eight.”
At that answer, an odd light appeared in the eyes of the evil ghost mask.
He had correctly stated even the minimum number required to form the sword formation.
And then Mok Gyeong-un added,
“I think sixteen or thirty-two would also be possible.”
“………”
At those words, a small exclamation escaped the evil ghost mask.
It would already have been impressive if he had said only eight, yet he had even correctly identified the numbers by which the sword formation could be expanded.
“Would it be difficult beyond that?”
“Once the formation is fully unfolded, from that point on the arrangements begin to overlap.”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the evil ghost mask clicked his tongue in genuine amazement.
The Heaven and Earth Eight Inscription Formation.
That was the name of this formation.
It was a battle formation created by the former Society Leader of the Heaven and Earth Society using the changes of the Eight Trigrams as its foundation, and it was an absolute formation that allowed sixteen or thirty-two swordsmen to combine their attacks.
‘Now look at this brat.’
To think he had even gotten that right.
Did he truly possess eyes and discernment equal to those of a swordsman who had reached a realm?
If that was the case, then he truly was desirable.
‘……..’
The fact that he came from an orthodox martial family did not matter at all.
After staring at Mok Gyeong-un, the evil ghost mask smacked his lips.
He wanted to satisfy that greed at once, but now, with the gate still in progress, was not the time.
-Pak!
The evil ghost mask tossed something at Mok Gyeong-un.
When Mok Gyeong-un caught it and opened his palm, there was a silver token with the number two written on it.
The evil ghost mask said,
“The second top ranker is also you.”
-Murmur, murmur!
At those words, the boys watching this stirred noisily.
After first place in the iron-ball struggle, even the second top rank of this gate had gone to Mok Gyeong-un, so naturally it could not help but become a topic.
Just what in the world was that bastard?
What kind of background did he have to seize the second top rank already?
-Grit!
Yeom Ga of Crimson Kill Valley ground his teeth.
He had naturally believed that the second top rank would be his, and had not imagined even that would be taken from him like this.
He was one of the three most highly regarded participants from notable factions in this year’s Corpse Blood Valley.
Yet now he had ended up looking ridiculous.
‘……..Mok Gyeong-un.’
That bastard’s name was engraved completely into his mind.
He felt that his mood would not ease unless he somehow repaid this humiliation.
‘Just wait.’
Once the Forbidden Gate Lock sealing his qi gates was removed, that bastard would have to prepare himself.
As he was thinking that, the evil ghost mask said,
“I sincerely congratulate the eighty of you who have passed the second gate in full. You have earned the qualification to become intermediate-rank warriors of the Heaven and Earth Society.”
‘Intermediate-rank warriors!’
At those words, delight filled the eyes of several boys.
Naturally so.
From the rank of intermediate warrior onward, treatment within the Heaven and Earth Society changed.
Among intermediate-rank warriors, those who possessed ability could be said to gain the qualification to become squad leaders who led units made up of lower-ranked warriors.
To those whose exhausted eyes had nonetheless brightened, the evil ghost mask continued,
“An intermediate-rank warrior must possess the ability to lead a unit and must also be able to digest a sword formation. As you heard just now, the formulas on the flags were the sword formulas of a sword formation that required at least eight people to unfold.”
At those words, an odd light appeared in everyone’s eyes.
The gate had not consisted merely of extreme trials.
From the start, the reason they had no choice but to be organized into eight-man teams had been precisely because of this.
“Now then. If any of you have a little sense, you should already be able to guess what the third gate will be.”
“………”
“You there.”
At the gesture of the evil ghost mask, one boy sprang to his feet.
“Yes!”
“What do you think the third gate is?”
“That would be…”
“Speak clearly.”
“It is that an eight-person team that passed must unfold the sword formation!”
At those words, most of the others also nodded slightly, as if they had thought the same.
After all, that was the only thing one could reasonably infer here.
As this continued, the evil ghost mask gestured for the boy to sit and opened his mouth.
“Correct. The third gate is for an eight-man team to perfectly unfold the sword formation and eliminate a designated target.”
At these words, the boys felt a measure of relief inwardly.
The first and second gates had forced them to harm one another and had left them mentally and physically exhausted.
If they were told to do such things again, it would be an experience they never wished to repeat.
“However, there are conditions and restrictions here as well.”
‘Conditions and restrictions?’
“First, a day of rest will be given, so within that time decide on a team leader. Naturally, you must also form an eight-person team including that team leader.”
‘Huh?’
At those words from the evil ghost mask, the boys furrowed their brows.
What he was saying now meant that the eight who had defended a flag did not necessarily have to remain the same team.
If that was the case, then they could reorganize the teams all over again.
‘Good!’
At that, several openly rejoiced.
Among those were Yeom Ga of Crimson Kill Valley and Mok Yu-cheon as well.
No, in truth, most of them reacted similarly, because they had inwardly been tormented by the thought, “Do we have to be on the same team as Mok Gyeong-un again?”
“For reference, the one who becomes team leader will naturally pass the third gate regardless of whether the sword formation test is successful or not…”
-Sseuk!
The evil ghost mask drew from within his robes a square wooden plaque that looked like a badge of status.
Written on it were the words squad leader.
‘Huh? Surely not?’
‘A squad leader plaque?’
The boys’ eyes all focused on the wooden plaque.
Then the evil ghost mask gave a short laugh and continued,
“And will be given the qualification of squad leader as well.”
‘!!!!!!’
Though the boys’ mouths remained shut at those words from the evil ghost mask, they could not hide their excitement.
Among intermediate-rank warriors, only a select few with the qualifications of a senior become squad leaders.
And now he was saying they would decide the squad leaders on the spot?
Yet amid that excitement, a certain question arose in everyone’s mind.
‘Then all of us will want to become team leader, won’t we?’
Among those who had come this far, who would not want to become team leader?
Once they realized that, sighs of anguish naturally mixed into the boys’ breaths.
They had thought this gate might finally be better, but it now seemed they would have to fight yet again.
‘Damn it.’
‘There are eighty of us, so only eight can qualify.’
‘Even that is not certain.’
‘If someone dies while fighting over the team leader spot, then that whole team just fails, doesn’t it?’
If even one accident occurred, then all seven with him would fail together.
There was no way one could say this was easier than the second gate.
As they thought that, the evil ghost mask said,
“Now I will state the restriction.”
“……….”
“The restriction is no killing.”
‘!?’
At that, everyone looked bewildered.
If the restriction said killing was forbidden, did that literally mean they were not to kill one another?
Everyone looked at the evil ghost mask in puzzlement.
They expected he would explain why.
But then,
“That is all.”
‘That’s it?’
‘Then are we supposed to decide the team leaders without killing?’
The condition was simple, yet unlike before, and everyone was left confused.
Mok Gyeong-un, on the other hand, smacked his lips as if something was lacking.
He had thought this might be something enjoyable like the second gate, but because killing was restricted, the source of amusement had vanished.
‘…….This bastard. Why is he disappointed?’
At his behavior, the boys beside him clicked their tongues inwardly.
Should he not rather be relieved?
At least in this gate, no one would have to lose their life.
-Rattle!
At that moment, the red-belted warriors began taking pieces of metal of a strange shape out of wooden boxes.
The evil ghost mask pointed at them with his hand and said,
“Before heading to the lodgings beyond the mountain, we will recover the Forbidden Gate Locks.”
‘Ah!’
At those words, everyone’s expressions brightened.
They had been wondering how long they would have to endure with the Forbidden Gate Locks embedded in them, and now they were finally to be freed of them.
The restriction of not being able to use internal power had made them far more uncomfortable than expected.
‘At last.’
Yeom Ga of Crimson Kill Valley’s lips twitched.
He had waited so long for this, and at last the restraint on his internal power would be lifted.
Yeom Ga stared fixedly at the back of Mok Gyeong-un’s head, standing in front of him.
With his internal power restricted, he had been unable to respond to that strange occult art, but once the seal was removed, things would be different.
‘I will make you crawl between my legs.’
The restriction forbade killing, but that did not matter.
So long as he did not kill him, that was enough.
At that thought, he felt so good that the corner of his mouth rose in a sinister curl.
* * *
Beyond the mountain there stood lodging buildings where they could rest.
Each room was structured so that two people could rest together, so the boys each found people who suited them and chose their rooms.
That did not take long.
During the one day of rest that had thus been granted,
the boys’ behavioral tendencies split into two groups.
The boys of the first group filled their stomachs with the snacks prepared in the rooms, and after that every one of them entered breathing and meditative regulation.
After fighting a slaughterous struggle through the whole night, their minds and bodies were exhausted, so they intended to restore themselves to normal as much as possible through regulated breathing.
The boys of the second group differed from them.
These too wished strongly to rest, but judged that it would be better to move first and secure teammates.
That was why they tried to make contact either with boys who had originally been on the same team or with those they had had their eyes on.
Before long, competition would intensify, and so they intended to move in advance.
And here, there even existed a third tendency.
-Crack!
Having filled his hunger, Yeom Ga of Crimson Kill Valley loosened up his body.
Though he strongly wished to perform regulated breathing like that bastard sitting on the bed from exhaustion, he judged that now was the opportune moment, and so he had to hurry.
‘Now is the chance.’
The target was that bastard Mok Gyeong-un.
So long as he did not kill him, it would be enough, so if he turned him into a half-cripple, he would no longer need to worry from this gate onward.
The other bastards were not his equals anyway.
But this one bothered him strangely, not least because of that bizarre occult art.
‘That is why I strike first.’
Now that the seal had been removed, he was confident.
Even if that bastard had learned some bizarre occult art, Yeom Ga himself had reached peak state and had also learned the secret techniques of Crimson Kill Valley.
‘Shall we begin the hunt, then?’
Having loosened up his body, Yeom Ga took hold of the room door and opened it.
Yet then,
‘!?’
Mok Gyeong-un was standing before the door with a smiling face.
“You…”
“Well, well. It seems you had the same thought as I did.”
Malice filled to the brim within that smile.
At that instant, the confidence with which Yeom Ga had been about to stride out was replaced by a cold chill down his spine.