Invitation to the Chatroom of the Gods - Chapter 12



Only Krnovel

Episode 12 – Missing (2)

At Horonggwan, they are capturing children without families and turning them into salt pans.

‘Does this make sense?’

I couldn’t believe this at all.

It became a topic of conversation that no one else but Horonggwan was doing such a thing.

Horonggwan was a military office operated by Namgung Se-ga.

Namgung Se-ga was one of the five great families, standing shoulder to shoulder with Gupa Il-bang.

Unlike the old file room, it had a strong interest group character.

Most of the actions were clearly intended to increase the family’s power.

However, he is a Baekdo from the Jeongpa faction that belongs to the Murim Alliance.

He is a righteous martial artist who pursues justice and righteousness.

It is by no means a vicious black magician tainted with evil.

Although Horonggwan is a military office run by a distant collateral branch of the Namgung family, it is nonetheless part of the Namgung family.

Anyway, this is Namgung Se-ga.

‘What the…’

I was very confused as to how to take this.

But apart from that, I was clear about what I had to do.

‘You must report this to the authorities immediately.’

This is something that should never be overlooked.

Also, this isn’t something I can solve alone.

The salt trade is a serious and urgent matter that even the royal family, let alone the Murim Alliance, is taking action.

I carefully pulled my body out.

And it was at that very moment that I was heading out of Horonggwan.

“How far has the salt sales progressed so far?”

“We just started having kids fainting.”

“···There’s nothing we can do about it. It’s regrettable, but we’ll clean up the scene. After we destroy the evidence, we’ll start over once the commotion dies down.”

A voice came from inside the building.

Fortunately, it seemed like the salt sales hadn’t progressed completely.

The creation of Horonggwan is relatively recent.

It seemed like the salt sales were just about to start.

But they intended to destroy it all.

···If you do this, it will be late.

The government office was quite a distance from here.

If I go to the government office to report it and wait for the government office to take action, it will be too late.

By then they would have already completely destroyed the steam.

Children will also be sacrificed.

So, we need to do it right now.

We had to move right now to save Byuksam and the other children.

…But who is it?

And how?

“······.”

Deep contemplation followed.

And the worry didn’t last long.

‘I brought a sword just in case.’

I don’t want to repeat the same mistake I made during the Yuk Yun-yeon era.

That was a really good idea.

After steeling my resolve, I just waited for them to come out.

···But there was no news.

No matter how long I waited, they showed no sign of coming out.

I was curious so I took a quick look, but there was no sign of life inside the building.

Did he notice that I was eavesdropping?

‘That’s not it.’

Rather, it felt like it wasn’t even inside the building.

While I was thinking about it, he went out of the building.

‘Then how could I not know?’

There was no way I wouldn’t be seen from where I was hiding.

Go out the front door or sneak out the window.

It had to be visible to me in some way.

And yet they were nowhere to be seen.

That means,

‘Was there a secret passage inside the building?’

It seemed like that was the case.

I wondered why there was a secret passage in the village office, but if they were the ones who were so sneaky, they would have made at least one secret passage.

If they were the kind of people who would do anything to sell salt, it would be even more likely that they would have a secret passage.

To chase after them, I too must use the secret passage.

I entered the building cautiously.

As expected, there was no one inside the building.

We were able to search the inside of the building rather generously.

“···doesn’t exist.”

And I couldn’t find anything.

I searched the entire building but couldn’t find anything that looked like a secret passage or organ.

It wasn’t called a ‘secret’ passage for nothing.

I have to chase after them as quickly as possible, but there’s no way.

If things continue like this, I won’t be able to eat or sleep.

“What should I do?”

It was the exact moment I was worrying about.

Squeak-!

The sound of birds chirping could be heard outside the building.

As we went outside, there was none other than Eungseon flying around and around above Horonggwan.

···It seems like he followed me from the mission office without telling me.

“When did he follow me?”

So the dark night sky.

The two eyes of the flying Eungseon flashed like luminescence.

Among birds, falcons boast the best eyesight.

Even eagles, which are known for their excellent eyesight, cannot compare.

The eyesight of each bird is absolutely overwhelming.

It is not for nothing that it is said that it has the eyes of an eagle, not the eyes of a hawk.

Even an ordinary falcon would be like that, but Eungseon is not an ordinary falcon.

Every fresh bird is a hawk immortal.

Eungseon was looking somewhere with a sharp gaze.

It was a pitch-black night, but Eungseon was seeing something clearly.

And then suddenly he looked at me and nodded.

That appearance is exactly······.

“Follow me?”

It was as if he was telling me to trust him and follow him.

* * *

A cave deep in the mountains about half an hour away from Horyonggwan.

“Your Majesty? What are you doing here at this hour?”

“Have you come to check the salt supply?”

The head of Horonggwan, Namgung Hyuk, spoke to his gathered subordinates.

“Stop all plans right now.”

“···yes?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

For a moment, all the subordinates had dumbfounded expressions on their faces.

“A report has been filed with the government office.”

Everyone kept their mouths shut at Namgung Hyuk’s subsequent words.

“If we hurry, the government office will storm Horonggwan tomorrow. So let’s clean up the scene right now.”

“Then what about the children?”

“There are also children who can be sold soon.”

At his subordinates’ words, Namgung Hyuk looked around.

A lot of children are locked in a dark place where they can barely lie down.

These were children who could soon be sold.

So it was really unfortunate, but…

“After killing everyone, burn every bone without leaving a single piece.”

No evidence should be left behind.

It must never be known that you are engaged in salt trading.

If it becomes known that bribery is taking place, it is only natural for the Murim Alliance to send out a pursuit team.

Maybe it can move even in the royal family.

Then it’s all over.

“Stop dawdling and get moving.”

Although it is disappointing that work is progressing poorly, you must also know when to give up boldly.

Doesn’t the name Namgung Se-ga still have value?

When the investigation comes out from the government office and the uproar dies down, then we can start anew.

“Oh, I understand.”

At Namgung Hyuk’s words, his subordinates moved busily.

All the children trapped inside were dragged out and gathered in one place.

The children were so skinny that their ribs were clearly visible.

Most of the children fainted because they had no energy at all.

Among those children, one who looked relatively normal caught Namgung Hyuk’s eye.

I was barely maintaining my sanity.

It means the most recently caught child.

“Ugh, ugh …

That bastard was a kid named Byuksam.

Namgung Hyuk took a step forward and approached Byeok Sam-i.

“Ah, ah. Ahhh···.”

The frightened Byuksami sat down and hesitated, then stepped back.

A long water mark was left on the floor along the receding wall.

“Looks like you have the energy to pee yourself.”

This means that I haven’t starved for even a single day.

Namgung Hyuk turned his head and spoke to the subordinate next to him.

“Bring me the salt shaker.”

Then one of his men brought a bamboo tube just big enough to fit a child.

Namgung Hyuk put it down in front of Byeok Sam.

“Come in, and I will spare your life.”

Namgung Hyuk pulled out his sword and held it to Byeok Sam-i’s neck.

Byuksami was so scared that he didn’t know what to do and slowly moved his body.

And then he put his head into the bamboo tube.

Right then.

“Use the wall!! Don’t go in!!!”

A loud voice was heard from the cave entrance.

* * *

A scream that came out without me knowing.

All eyes were on him in an instant, and his plan to sneak a peek at the opportunity was quickly dashed.

Even if I counted roughly, there were dozens of people looking at me.

Judging by the fierce aura, everyone is a martial artist who has learned martial arts.

It looked like they were unmanned personnel from Horonggwan.

Somehow, I felt like there weren’t many people inside Horonggwan.

I was wondering where everyone had gone, but it looks like they were all gathered here.

“Who are you? How did you find out where I am and come here?”

A sharp-looking man among dozens of drones asked.

Of all those gathered here, he was the most energetic.

It seemed that this person was none other than Namgung Hyuk, the head of Horonggwan and a distant collateral member of the Namgung family.

“That guy is that guy.”

The answer came from someone other than me.

He was one of the two men I had encountered at the gate of Horonggwan earlier.

“That guy?”

“I’m talking about the missionary named Cheongun who came to see me today.”

Namgung Hyuk’s eyebrows twitched for a moment.

“They were following us.”

Namgung Hyuk quickly grasped the situation.

I also looked around to get a sense of the current situation.

A group of skinny children, their ribs exposed, were huddled together, shivering.

Most of the children fainted and fell down, not even moving.

The children’s bodies were quite dirty.

The stench that stung my nose was so strong that it was almost unbearable.

He was trapped in a small space and covered in feces and urine.

···That’s not something a human would do.

How can one be so cruel to children?

They are no different from evil spirits wearing masks.

Fortunately, all the children were alive.

Even the fainted children were breathing with their chests heaving slightly.

The salt sale has not yet taken place.

I turned my gaze back and spoke to Namgung Hyuk.

“How could the Namgung family do such a heinous thing?”

“Is there a reason I should tell you that?”

Namgung Hyuk continued speaking with a snort.

“What would someone who is going to die soon do?”

At the same time, Namgung Hyuk’s vicious aura burst out.

···different.

It was incomparable to the rioters and thugs I fought with at the night market.

There is no comparison.

Even if it is a collateral line of the Namgung family, it is still the Namgung family.

Sega, who stands shoulder to shoulder with Gupa Ibang with only one sword.

And here, there are not only Namgung Hyuk, but also many other unmanned people.

After all, wasn’t that too reckless?

···I had to report it to the government from the beginning.

It was the right decision a hundred, a thousand times over to leave it to them.

But it wasn’t too late. I could have escaped even now.

And running away like this is the right choice.

The country also had to save its life. In doing so, it had to make this fact known to the world.

That is the wisest decision.

Reason made the best judgment possible in the current situation.

It’s a decision that goes against your will, but that’s why it’s a ‘wise’ decision.

…But what about the children?

If I run away, what will happen to those kids?

Fear and hesitation come to mind, tangled and confusing.

I really don’t know what to do.

Right then.

As if he was yelling at me.

Taesang Laojun’s voice rang in my ears like an auditory hallucination.

[Hey, you punk!

There is no being that survives in this world!

You are already a dead body, so why don’t you follow your heart?

The Taesangnogun’s scolding, like a roar, continues.

Anger like an angry tiger grips me.

···But it’s strange.

The body that was trembling like an aspen tree calmly settles down.

My head, which had been filled with fear, has cooled down.

Before I knew it, I was not running away, but drawing my sword.

“What are you guys doing? Kill them.”

Namgung Hyuk’s cool voice is heard. The warriors of Horonggwan are rushing in like waves.

Each and every one of them is unusual.

Everyone is a martial artist who controls their internal energy.

Dozens of unmanned personnel, comparable to or perhaps even greater than the number of Yuk Yun-yeon, rush at me to kill me.

I don’t see any gaps.

All I can see is the path to my death.

Still, I had to fight.

I have to fight against dozens of those drones.

···But how on earth?

As if to answer my question.

Suddenly, the teachings of the Nine Heavenly Women and their voices, as beautiful as jade beads, are heard.

[Youngest, don’t think that hegemony is difficult.

If you have no shame in your heart, you have nothing to fear, so you won’t be afraid even if ten million people gather around you!

It is a power of the utmost greatness and strength, and it is a spirit that can stand against anything.

It is the energy that fills the entire heaven and earth.

Kwaaaaaaaah!

The internal energy of the Dantian surges and soars.

The internal energy is shaped like a beast of death and roars harshly at the approaching warriors.

So it adds strength to me and my sword.

Boom!

My footsteps roughly crush the ground.

Wedge!

My swinging sword extends forward, overwhelming the momentum of the approaching warriors.

Kwaaaaang!

The drones that were rushing towards me are pushed back.

It was a single sword strike that overwhelmed the spirit of dozens of warriors.

“What is this···?”

“Wow, that’s ridiculous…!”

The guys are very confused.

So the faces of those who look at me change from moment to moment.

“Oh, how could this be···!”

“Clearly third-rate··· unmanned···.”

horror.

A look of fear rose across their faces.