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Chapter 38
Shadow (3)
“Release the villagers. If you want to live.”
“You’re funny. Who the hell are you?”
A rough-looking man with a bear tattoo covering his entire face sneered at Ian as he asked.
He was the leader of the slave hunters on-site, acting in Chrome’s stead, waiting for comrades who hadn’t yet come out of the village.
“The one holding your lives in his hands.”
“Kuha-ha-ha! You’re insane. You don’t look like someone who could do that. Go catch him. If he resists, kill him.”
Flash!
Two men charged across the sandy beach, swinging axes and swords at Ian. But both fell to the ground at the same time.
Their chests had been slashed wide open.
“Still think I’m joking?”
The surroundings went silent in an instant.
The man with the bear tattoo stood, picking up the iron mace he had set down on the sand.
“So, you know how to fight a little.”
He turned and smashed the nearest village elder’s head with the mace.
Crack!
Like a watermelon bursting, the head shattered, blood spraying everywhere.
Ian’s eyebrows twitched at the sight.
“But that won’t work on me. You want to play the hero, huh? Go ahead, try. Do you really think you can take on all of us alone?”
The tattooed man swung again, killing another villager.
“Everyone, kill that bastard!”
Over a hundred men raised their weapons and charged forward.
Ian’s expression turned cold as he tightened his grip. His sword gleamed brilliantly, burning through the darkness.
Kwaang!
The man struck by the Force Blade exploded like fireworks, his bones and flesh scattering across the beach.
That single blow overwhelmed the crowd. Ian fixed his gaze on the tattooed man, visible through the trembling hunters.
“I’ll chew you to pieces.”
Chrome, the slave trader, stood on the beach with a heavy face.
It wasn’t because he was worried about his subordinates.
In a small village with only a few hundred residents, two hundred of his men were more than enough to seize it and drag away plenty of slaves without issue.
What worried him was his stubborn daughter, Tage.
Did she really go to Albern Castle to fight Jaleng?
Her silent departure had left him uneasy. He kicked sand in irritation.
“Damn girl…”
“Boss, look over there.”
Chrome, venting on the sand, lifted his head at his subordinate’s words.
Someone was slowly walking down toward the beach.
“Tage!”
It was too dark to see clearly, but Chrome assumed the figure could only be his daughter who had left without a word.
“You’re back! There’ll be more chances later!”
But as he shouted joyfully, his expression stiffened.
The one approaching wasn’t his daughter at all, but a hooded stranger.
“Who are you?”
“Chrome the Bat, slave trader who roams the continent raiding coastal villages. That’s what they call you, isn’t it?”
“I asked who you are!”
“You still don’t get the situation, do you?”
Ian dodged the strikes of the two guards protecting Chrome and casually plunged his daggers into their chests.
Blood spurted from their hearts as terror of death consumed them.
“I counted the villagers killed… about forty.”
Wiping the blood from his dagger onto the dying men’s collars, Ian stepped closer to Chrome with a cold smile.
Chrome staggered back, drawing his sword and pointing it at Ian.
“Where are my men?”
“Dead. They won’t regret it—they knew they risked their lives in this business.”
“That can’t be…”
“See for yourself! The blood on me? All of it belongs to the men you hired!”
With a kick to Chrome’s wrist, Ian sent his sword flying. Then he smeared the blood-soaked fabric of Chrome’s clothes onto his hand and slapped him across the face.
As Chrome stumbled back, Ian grabbed his collar and yanked him upright.
“That’s one hit. Clench your teeth, bastard!”
Ian pummeled Chrome’s face with rapid blows.
His lips split, his teeth shattered.
Chrome, more of a merchant than a fighter, couldn’t even resist. He just groaned under Ian’s relentless fists.
“You just had to live, huh? Huh?! You filthy bastard, barging into other people’s lands to pull this shit! Die! Die, you son of a bitch!”
“S-stop…”
“Stop? I haven’t even started yet.”
“You… you’ve hit me plenty already…”
“Bullshit!”
Ian’s old militia instincts surged up as he flipped Chrome over his shoulder and slammed him into the sand.
Thud!
Chrome’s face sank into the wet beach as the tide rolled in. He lifted his head, gasping for air.
“Keep it down, bastard!”
Ian kicked his face mercilessly.
Chrome reeled backward, tumbling into the ankle-deep seawater.
He almost wished to faint and escape the pain, but the icy water kept him conscious.
“Uaaaagh!”
As sensation returned to his face, unbearable agony like a lion mauling him tore through him.
And again Ian’s fist smashed into his face.
“Don’t think you’ll die easily. Even that would be a luxury for you.”
Ian was truly furious.
This beautiful night had been ruined by filthy pirates or slave traders, whatever they were.
The village was still burning. The villagers, instead of putting out the fire, were venting their rage on the corpses of slave hunters.
A man who could turn good people into demons desecrating corpses—Ian wouldn’t grant him an easy death.
Dragging Chrome out of the seawater onto dry sand, Ian glanced to the right.
Several small boats were lined up. He grabbed a long oar from one.
Seeing him approach, Chrome weakly begged:
“Spare me… just my life…”
Without a word, Ian swung the oar down on Chrome’s back.
His clothes tore, flesh and blood flying.
“Ghhhk!”
As Chrome writhed, curling up like a shrimp in agony, Ian struck him again.
For a long time, Ian whipped him silently, until finally Chrome fainted.
“Damn it. Damn it all!”
Even beating him didn’t ease Ian’s rage.
Standing on the beach with the waves crashing, his eyes caught sight of a massive slave ship, its lights blocked by reefs.
A vessel large enough to carry hundreds—strong and sturdy.
Guess I’ll have to take that.
Killing the enemy wasn’t enough. Rebuilding the devastated village would require money. That was reality. He would sell the slave ship to cover the cost.
Though exhausted, Ian focused and leapt straight onto the distant deck.
“Wha—!”
The men lazing around, waiting for their comrades, jumped up in shock at the sight of Ian appearing like a mirage.
“Who are you?!”
“Die by my hand, or jump into the sea.”
“Crazy bastard!”
Around ten men rushed him.
Moments later, every single one was thrown overboard.
“Up close, it’s even bigger.”
After surveying the ship, Ian went below deck, checking the storage and cabins. Silent. Empty.
Back on deck, he entered the captain’s cabin.
Clearly Chrome’s quarters. Inside, Ian found a small chest with gold coins.
But fewer than thirty.
His wealth must be hidden elsewhere.
“Maybe a little persuasion will bring it out.”
Returning to shore, Ian slung the unconscious Chrome over his shoulder and headed for the village.
Using Warp, he arrived in the smoldering village where the flames were finally dying down.
“Chief.”
At Ian’s quiet call, the middle-aged village chief approached. He had gathered the people to extinguish the fire.
The man’s ear had been cut off resisting, and his face was wrapped in cloth.
“The truth is, I serve the Lord.”
“Wh-what?”
The chief looked shocked.
“The Lord?”
“Yes. I am like his shadow.”
Ian dropped Chrome to the ground.
“If you follow the coast, you’ll find the slave ship they came on. It’s empty now. Send people to guard it well. The Lord will sell that ship to help restore your village.”
It wasn’t enough to cover all the damage, but better than nothing.
“Thank you.”
Tears welled in the chief’s eyes as he bowed deeply.
Unlike other chiefs, he was poor, with little wealth of his own. All he could hope for was support from the capital.
“May I at least know your name?”
On behalf of the villagers, he asked politely.
Ian hesitated, then answered in a low voice:
“Hyunseong. Just call me Hyunseong.”
“Ah, Lord Hyunseong…”
Hearing that name spoken again, Ian’s heart skipped a beat.
He thought it was a name long forgotten. He never expected to use it again.
After a moment of silence, Ian gestured at the unconscious Chrome.
“Keep him bound and under watch until the Lord’s men arrive.”
“Who is he?”
“The slave trader Chrome.”
The chief glared down with rage.
Because of this man, his village lay in ruins. He wanted to kill him on the spot.
Guessing his thoughts, Ian shook his head.
“A quick death would be too light a punishment. Beat him all you want, but keep him alive. The Lord will pass judgment himself. Understood?”
“…Yes. As long as he stays alive, right?”
The chief’s eyes glimmered with a cold light.
“That’s right.”
Ian watched the smoke rise from the village, then slowly turned away.
He couldn’t Warp all the way back to the castle carrying Chrome in his condition.
Even if he could, he couldn’t reveal his ability so openly.
Warp was his survival skill, his secret weapon.
—You’re bleeding.
Blanzor’s voice came from behind him.
Blood flowed down Ian’s back and side. The wounds weren’t minor.
“I know. I’ll get treatment.”
—And what excuse will you give?
“I won’t say anything. I’m the Lord, aren’t I? No one’s going to pry too much.”
