Chapter 1

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The Sima Family I was born into was a wealthy family, but not one related to the Martial Arts World, so I lived without knowing I had been reincarnated into a martial arts world until I grew older and experienced the world.

Actually, it was only recently that I realized this world was a martial arts world.

But if I was going to be reincarnated, wouldn’t it have been better to be reincarnated in a fantasy world? I could have tried dating an elf.

Whether or not I could date an elf, aren’t you curious about what they look like? Personally, ever since I was a kid, one of my biggest interests was wondering what it would taste like to suck on an elf’s ear. And most of the web novels and comics I enjoyed were set in fantasy worlds.

As for martial arts stories, the only ones I’ve seen are Kung Fu Hustle, Kung Fu Panda, Dragon Ball, Rurouni Kenshin, and recently…? Can I even call that recent? Well, right before I died, I watched Assassin 567 on Netflix.

I don’t enjoy martial arts stories, so I don’t even know what kind of martial arts exist or what I should learn. Plus, I was born with a lame leg, so there’s not much I can do.

Yeah, that’s the most important thing. There’s not much I can do. There’s nothing to do.

Based on my past life memories, I’ve made board games like Yut, Mahjong, cards, and chess, and I’ve tricked my family, servants, and kids into playing a few rounds, but since the skill gap is so big, the boredom doesn’t go away.

Honestly, whether it’s martial arts or whatever, I’m bored to death.

“Ah~ If I had been born in a fantasy world, I could have learned magic. Fireball! Chain Lightning!”

“Young Master, stop talking nonsense and study. You’ll get scolded by Madam again.”

As I threw down the boring scripture I was reading and stretched while shouting, Jang Sam-i, our family’s servant, interrupted me. That cheeky brat.

“Whatever. Let’s just chat. Young Master is bored to death.”

“What’s chatting?”

“Just having a friendly chat. Don’t worry about the details.”

Even though Jang Sam-i (he doesn’t like being called by his full name) and I have our differences, we’re pretty close. Even though there’s a big age gap, since I’m a reincarnated person, I know more than my actual age, and Jang Sam-i knows a lot about the Martial Arts World that I don’t, so we’ve become friends through various conversations.

“Young Master, you don’t know anything about the Martial Arts World. Let me explain it to you today.”

Jang Sam-i, who also finds it more comfortable to chat with the youngest Young Master than to be dragged around by the head servant, loosened his neck and started unpacking his story.

“Continuing from last time, the factions in the Martial Arts World are largely divided into the Righteous Faction and the Evil Faction.”

‘Righteous Faction? Evil Faction? What’s that? Like the right-wing and left-wing? Political differences?’

The terms Righteous Faction and Evil Faction made my head tilt in confusion.

“Jang Sam-i, what’s the Righteous Faction and the Evil Faction?”

“The Righteous Faction uses the character for ‘righteous’ (正) and represents the virtuous martial arts forces, while the Evil Faction uses the character for ‘evil’ (邪) and represents the wicked martial arts forces.”

“Hmm~ I see. So who decides if someone is in the Righteous Faction or the Evil Faction? Does the government office give out Righteous Faction certification exams?”

“What nonsense! There’s a law of non-interference between the government and the martial world! How could the government office judge the Righteous Faction?!”

I immediately crumpled my face and whacked Jang Sam-i’s head with my cane as he shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Ugh?!”

“Why are you suddenly shouting and freaking out? Hey, I’m the master’s son, and you’re the servant. Even though we’re friends, let’s keep some boundaries.”

Jang Sam-i is fine, but when it comes to martial arts stories, he gets way too into it. Anyway, the shock therapy seemed to work. Jang Sam-i rubbed the bump on his head and came back to his senses.

“Ahem~ There are many factors that divide the Righteous Faction and the Evil Faction, but one of them is whether they belong to the Martial Alliance or not.”

The Martial Alliance~ So, in terms of my past life, it’s like the EU? But if you’re in the Martial Alliance, you’re in the Righteous Faction, and if not, you’re in the Evil Faction. That seems like a weird standard. Is it even a proper organization?

“The Martial Alliance is a collective of Righteous Faction groups, mainly consisting of martial artists from the Nine Great Clans and the Five Great Families. The Nine Great Clans are…”

“No. No. Explain that later. Tell me more about the Evil Faction. Does the Evil Faction have any organizations like the Martial Alliance? Do they have reunions? Do they hold dinners?”

“Ah~ Young Master, the ‘evil’ in Evil Faction is there for a reason. Those guys don’t know the meaning of cooperation. Since they can’t cooperate, there’s no alliance. They all do their own thing.”

Hmm~ So, simply put, the Righteous Faction is like a mountain climbing club where like-minded people gather and bond, while the Evil Faction is, in a good way, free individualism, and in a bad way, extreme selfishness with no social skills?

So the difference between the Righteous Faction and the Evil Faction is just whether they have social skills or not?

Of course, social skills are important, but labeling those without them as evil is a bit much, don’t you think? Everyone has their own personality… Seriously…

“The Evil Faction is called a martial arts force, but they’re just a bunch of bandits who settle in rural areas, exploit farmers, and rob passing merchants. They’re really bad guys.”

“They’re just organized crime thugs!? Give me back my sympathy!!”

I thought the Evil Faction was just a bunch of introverted, shy, socially awkward, and inarticulate outcasts who were bullied by the popular Righteous Faction (gloomy, timid, introverted, bad at talking, but if they dressed up, they’d be the prettiest girl in town, a virgin). Turns out they’re just plain bad guys.

“Why doesn’t the government office clean up those Evil Faction thugs? Those tax-stealing brats.”

“The Evil Faction has some powerful experts too. They could root them out if they wanted to, but it would be like poking a hornet’s nest, so they avoid it.”

That much? The authorities are so scared of martial arts experts that they hold back? In fantasy terms, that’s like a Sword Master or an 8th Circle Archmage, right? That’s really strong.

Suddenly, the house I thought was safe doesn’t feel safe at all. What if some crazy Evil Faction expert goes on a rampage? Can we stop them?

Imagining an Evil Faction expert shooting energy blasts, blowing up people’s guts, and destroying villages just because they’re in a bad mood made my legs go weak.

I didn’t know. The Martial Arts World is a really scary place.

Seeing my frightened face, Jang Sam-i patted my shoulder as if to say not to worry and spoke in a bright voice.

“Young Master, don’t worry. That’s why the Righteous Faction exists.”

“Oh~ I knew I could trust the Righteous Faction! Damn it~!!”

Well, they’re the ones who proudly put the character for ‘righteous’ (正) in front of their name. They can’t be bad guys. They must be good at volunteering and have good manners.

“The Righteous Faction protects the weak by taking charge of their respective areas, maintaining public order, and cooperating with small business owners to prevent the Evil Faction from gaining power.”

Taking charge of their respective areas? Cooperating with small business owners? Something felt off, so I asked Jang Sam-i.

“Hey… Jang Sam-i, what’s the Righteous Faction’s main source of income?”

“Huh? Of course, it’s the protection fees they collect from the merchants and wealthy in their areas.”

“That, that’s included in the taxes paid to the government, right? Like a subcontractor sharing the government’s role…”

“No~ Of course, taxes are separate~ Protection fees are separate.”

I immediately whacked Jang Sam-i’s head with my cane.

“The Righteous Faction is just organized crime thugs too!? What are you selling here!?”

***

…I was so dumbfounded. I went out for a walk to clear my head.

It’s not like they’re good yakuza protecting their country’s territory from foreign mafia. It’s just a bunch of thugs fighting over their rice bowls, calling themselves the Righteous Faction and the Evil Faction. I was speechless.

I almost thought, ‘Since I’ve been reborn in a world where martial arts exist, maybe I should learn some martial arts?’ and almost became a thug myself.

I will never, ever become a thug. I swore it. It’s a memory from my past life.

When I was a kid, I was deeply impressed by the first part of “The Age of Wild Men” and, without feeling any shame, shouted in front of my parents like Luffy from One Piece, raising my arms high—

“I’ll work hard and become a thug like Kim Du-han!!”

—and got scolded badly. Since then, whenever I see thugs, my teeth chatter and my body shakes.

Step~ Step~

With each step, I looked down at my aching right leg. Even if my limbs were fine, I wouldn’t become a thug… Well, even if they were fine, I wouldn’t become a thug.

I’m not stupid, and I’ll study hard to get a government position or learn the family business and live a stable life. Living by the sword and dying a stranger’s death is no way to live.

“Hey! Mantian! I was just about to call you.”

While I was pondering what to do with my life, Unrok came running up with a big smile.

“Jeomsoon and Gapdol are having a cockfight! This time, Gapdol prepared thoroughly. He even fed his chicken chili powder!”

“Wow… If the animal protection association heard about this, they’d be furious. Sounds fun. Let’s go.”

Hehe— Real Animal Fist. How can I resist? There’s a reason people still enjoy this illegally even in modern times.

“Mantian, it might have already started. Let’s take the shortcut.”

The shortcut Unrok mentioned probably passes by Uncle Cheol-Woong’s house. They have a huge dog there that barks like crazy every time we pass, so I don’t really want to go, but it’s too late to back out now, and I’m worried about sending him alone, so I just took the shortcut.

Why is it that bad premonitions never fail? As soon as we entered the shortcut, I saw the dog. And it was a huge, unleashed large breed. We’re screwed.

Seeing a caged beast and seeing a loose beast right in front of you are on completely different levels of intimidation. The air is different.

“Grr~ Grrrrrr!”

If it wasn’t interested in us, that would be one thing, but it’s baring its teeth, drooling, and fully focused on us. We’re really screwed.

I glanced to the side. Unrok was already trembling and ready to scream.

…Crybaby coward. If he starts crying next to me, it’ll be really noisy. I hate it when kids start wailing.

“Hey, run quickly and call some adults.”

“W-what about you, Mantian?!”

“I can’t run with this lame leg anyway. I’ll buy some time. Go call the adults now.”

Unrok looked back and forth between me and the fierce dog, and when the dog barked loudly once, he ran off crying.

“Grrr~ Woof! Grrr~ Bang bang!!”

As the prey turned its back and ran, the dog charged, drooling and barking, and I pointed my cane at it.

Do you think I’m an idiot who would throw away my second life for a kid? I agree. I think so too. But what can I do?

Men are creatures that can’t help but show off in front of women and children. Truly pitiful creatures.

“Come at me. I’ll show you what happens when you mess with a human.”

—But I was the one who got wrecked.

The dog was faster and smarter than I thought. Before I could do anything, it bit my cane, then used its jaw and body to knock me down.

“Ahhh~ Help me! I’ll never show off again! Save me! Mom! Dad! Jang Sam-i!!”

I really thought I was going to die from a dog bite… Just as I thought that, the sky was blocked. The dog suddenly let go of the cane it was biting and backed off, seemingly scared.

“Kid, that’s not how you swing a cane.”

Hearing a kind voice from above, I looked up. There stood a giant who had somehow appeared.

He was definitely over 180 cm, maybe even close to 2 meters. In any case, combining my past and present lives, this was the first time I’d seen such a huge person in person.

The mysterious giant, wearing a tattered gray cloak, stood there, and I could only ask in a dazed voice.

“W-who are you?”

In response to my question, the giant smiled kindly and spoke softly.

“I’m no one special. Just a passing ordinary man.”