140 – Martial Realm Nymph #10
The elders were engulfed in immense grief.
A foreigner winning at the martial arts tournament was a great embarrassment for the Martial Realm.
“The remaining competitors have dropped out citing stomach pain! It must be Tang So-hae’s doing!”
“What should we do? Is it right to let them win by default like this?”
The prize, “Gongcheongseokyu,” was a precious item. To hand it over to Haildo, an awakened from Korea, was a significant loss for the Martial Alliance.
In that moment, while everyone was exchanging glances, someone clapped loudly.
“It was a marvelous fight! I would even like to thank the elders of the Martial Alliance for ensuring such a splendid matchup.”
Achilles, ranked 5th in S-rank, was watching the screen with great delight.
Bron, an S-rank ranked player from America who had been observing Achilles’s every move since his appearance, knew that Achilles was highly focused on Haildo’s match.
‘Especially when Squirrel Beasts or Honey Ants appeared, he was incredibly concentrated.’
Bron thought.
‘Achilles must like small creatures like Squirrel Beasts or Honey Ants.’
It wasn’t surprising, considering how popular the Squirrel Beasts brought over by his sister Casey had been in America.
‘Everyone loves Squirrel Beasts and Honey Ants. But that big owl… Is it related to the noisy hoot of the owl flock in Illinois?’
Bron squinted as he looked at the Bongbong Kalilnoi on the screen. The recent wild “witch” incident in America came to mind, and as he was lost in thought, someone laughed.
It was Yagami Orochi, the ruler of the dark world from Japan.
Dressed in traditional Japanese attire, he addressed the elders of the Martial Alliance.
“Elders, it must sting to not have the desired outcome. To fall for one’s own schemes, that’s what this situation could be described as. It was a good show.”
Unlike the flushed-faced elders, Yagami Orochi felt at ease.
He recognized that the level of the recently rising “Martial Alliance” was not so threatening after all.
While Haildo’s animal skills were exceptional, the A-rank players from China were noticeably lacking in experience and skill compared to those from other countries.
What if Japan’s A-ranker “A. Ninja” had participated in this martial arts tournament?
Even if the opponent was Haildo, he wouldn’t have easily lost like Liu Hua or Tang So-hae.
‘China, lagging in the 5th industrial age, will require at least a century to reclaim hegemony in Asia… But…’
Yagami Orochi gazed at the buzzing bees fluttering on the screen. They were round like bumblebees and about the size of a soccer ball, yet they had a very adorable aspect.
‘Is that a bee found only in China? I’m a bit envious of those.’
Yagami recalled how crowds flocked to see the pandas brought from China long ago. The arrogant attitude of China, which monopolized such pandas, also vividly came to mind.
“Cute animals can become a country’s competitive edge. Perhaps that bee could be the future of China.”
Pop.
Yagami flicked his traditional attire like a cape and began to leave.
“Cyborg Ninja. Let’s return to Japan now.”
Having adequately witnessed the face and skills of the man his daughter Tsukki fell for, he deemed his purpose for visiting China fulfilled. He had no desire to linger longer.
There was a mysterious “poison” scent in the air of China.
# # #
“Now, I will announce the winner. The winner is Haildo, the awakened from Korea!”
The leader of the Chinese Awakeners’ Union, Maeng Joo-cheon, stepped onto the stage and shouted into the microphone.
He had a powerful voice, resembling someone with a beard like Guan Yu.
Maeng Joo-cheon handed over the prize plaque and a small bottle resembling a tiny flask.
“Congratulations! This is the ‘Gongcheongseokyu’ that everyone desires. Consuming this will elevate your level-. However, the side effects could be significant, so the choice is yours.”
The bottle felt cool, as if just taken out of the refrigerator. The energy of the “Gongcheongseokyu” seemed to ooze out beyond the glass.
Could drinking this make me even stronger?
In my sight, I saw Inoi.
“I’ve acquired the legendary ditch water…! With this legendary ditch water, it’s assured that I can foster storm clouds!”
Inoi looked extremely joyful from the VIP seating area.
I recalled that Inoi had come to China to obtain “storm flowers” or the corresponding “legendary ditch water” to cultivate storm clouds.
Can I just swallow this down? I was lost in various thoughts.
Inoi was also visible over there, focused on treating injuries.
“I didn’t win…”
It seemed Tang So-hae also coveted this “Gongcheongseokyu.”
What should I do here? Is purely accepting this default victory truly the right thing?
As I was lost in thought, Maeng Joo-cheon spoke.
“Young man. As I’ve felt, reaching seventy, luck is ultimately skill. You may rejoice a bit more in your achievement.”
Suddenly, Maeng Joo-cheon lifted my hand high, and at the same time, a huge cheer erupted.
“Long live the Owl! Long live Bongbong Kalilnoi!”
“Wasn’t the honey ant and squirrel beast more enjoyable?”
“I found the singing spider fascinating. A spider that sings while playing an instrument. Wow, it’s so amazing!”
Amid the thunderous applause, Maeng Joo-cheon spoke.
“Il Do Gongja. You entered this realm to take Xiao Xiao back to Korea. You must have heard that the winner of this tournament can marry Xiao Xiao─.”
I was taken aback.
My plans and strategies weren’t as discreet as I thought.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Maeng Joo-cheon let out a great laugh.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of saying anything about it. I won’t specifically discourage or interfere with you. But it won’t be easy. That ‘beautiful woman’ is lurking beyond the Tang Clan in Sichuan.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s a disappointing habit of young folks wanting easy answers for everything.”
With that, my award ceremony concluded.
I returned to the hotel I had reserved and was greeted exuberantly by Inoi.
“Master…! Congratulations on winning…! You’ve also obtained the legendary ditch water…!”
“Inoi, you wanted this ditch water, didn’t you? How about it? Do you want to have it?”
“Hmm, that’s something mastered by the efforts of the master…! For this Inoi to receive it for free would be overly selfish…!”
Inoi naturally rejected my kind offer.
It seemed that she believed it inappropriate to use something she hadn’t earned herself.
Seo Ye-rim, witnessing this, frowned and looked at Illinois.
Illinois seemed very angry for some reason.
“That Illinois is extremely angry right now…! The betting prize I received was in Zimbabwe dollars…! I’ll sue…! Please call a lawyer…!”
Illinois appeared to have been conned.
Excited at the idea of becoming rich, she must have been furious when her dreams were dashed.
Amidst this, Inoi spoke to Illinois.
“Then I’ll process the legendary ditch water so that the master can safely consume it…! I’m asking for your help, Illinois…!”
“Of course…! Drinking the legendary ditch water as is may lead to issues…! That’s because the energy of the nymphs is strongly condensed in it…!”
The legendary ditch water was said to arise from land where the energy of nymphs was strongly condensed. The nymphs themselves did not know the principles behind its emergence or where it would manifest.
Pop.
Illinois opened the lid of the flask.
Suddenly, she frowned.
“What is this disgusting smell…? Is the legendary ditch water somehow off…? It’s truly made in China…! Now that I look closer, it seems contaminated…!”
What?
Is my prize contaminated?
While I was panicking, Illinois poured the contents of the flask into a nearby bowl.
Drip drip.
The droplets falling from the flask were rainbow-colored and extremely lustrous.
Inoi trembled as she saw this.
“It really is contaminated…! This is almost like a poison…! We nymphs are fine, but if someone like the master drinks this, it could be very dangerous…!”
Dududung.
It was a shocking revelation.
Soon after, Seo Ye-rim also frowned.
“Did we just get the winner’s prize swapped out? Or is this just something similar to a prank? Would someone do such a thing in a tournament with people watching? I’m going to have a word about this!”
The temperature around rose rapidly.
Seo Ye-rim was ready to explode at any moment.
Just then, someone appeared in our hotel room.
It was Tang So-hae.
“It’s not a swap or anything like that. That contaminated poison-like thing is the truth of the ‘Gongcheongseokyu.’ I was planning to acquire it, research it, and create an antidote.”
Create an antidote?
Swish.
Tang So-hae poured the “Gongcheongseokyu” that Illinois had poured into the bowl back into the flask.
She sighed heavily.
“If you drink this, you can become a superhuman. Your energy pathways will open and your levels will increase. But there are drawbacks. If you don’t continuously drink something similar, you’ll fall seriously ill.”
It makes a person stronger, but also has side effects?
I had often heard about how people in China would go to great lengths for strength, but this seemed too risky.
“This is poison. Right now, the Tang Clan in Sichuan is detoxifying people with this poison and using the antidote to manipulate people. It’s a horrific act.”
Controlling people under the guise of medicine.
I had heard this somewhere before.
Wasn’t this the same situation as So So-hee and her mother, Tang Yeong-yeong?
“Our proud Tang Clan is now being swayed and controlled by that ‘beautiful woman.’ That woman uses unknown poisons and martial arts we’ve never seen. Everyone is her hostage…!”
‘Beautiful woman.’
Memories of Maeng Joo-cheon, the previous leader of the Martial Alliance, came to mind.
Soon, Tang So-hae crumpled and collapsed.
“I too… have been poisoned by these various toxins… Speaking the truth… makes my heart hurt… the poison… gnawing at my body… cough… a curse…”
Suddenly, Tang So-hae vomited black blood.
Seeing this, I felt something strange.
Within Tang So-hae’s body was a powerful life force and a magical response similar to that.
“Tang So-hae, are you perhaps pregnant?”
“W-what…! I’m… a pure lady…! To ask such things in this situation! Haildo, you…!”
So that’s how it is.
I laid Tang So-hae down and asked Seo Ye-rim.
“Seo Ye-rim! Hold Tang So-hae tight so she doesn’t squirm or wriggle!”
“Like this?”
Swish.
As Seo Ye-rim held onto Tang So-hae’s arms, I pressed my palm, charged with magical energy, against her chest, sending my will to the life residing within.
“Come out!”
“G-gah! Gah…”
Tang So-hae’s body writhed in pain.
Soon, she coughed something small out of her lips.
It was a tiny centipede.
With many legs and the size of a thumb, it made a horrifying screeching sound.
Just then, Inoi exclaimed.
“Ah…! That’s the dreadful ‘Shadow Centipede!’ It likes to hide in the shadows and bite the arms or legs of nymphs who are sleeping…! Let’s hit it…!”
“Hmm, what a good idea…! Let’s do it…!”
Dududududududududududud.
The nymphs swarmed to strike the centipede, which couldn’t resist much at all before collapsing.
In the midst of this brutal scene of violence, Inoi quickly captured the unconscious centipede in a glass jar.
“I’ve caught it…! The ‘Shadow Centipede’ is a nasty creature that wicked nymphs would often keep in the pockets of other nymphs…! It’s clear that nymphs are certainly involved in this incident…!”
“That Illinois also thinks the same…! It’s certain that Illinois’s sister is here in this land…! Let’s meet her and deal with her…!”
It was said that Illinois had a sister.
Upon hearing this, Seo Ye-rim was taken aback.
“If Illinois has a sister, is there another person who spends money like Illinois? Oh my!”
