Into the Creations 1505

Chapter 1505 – 1505. The Ascent Of Light

I arrived in Naeyu City, located within the Heavenly Demon Church’s territory, with Oh Bong.

Even though it was within the territory, it certainly wasn’t close. It took Oh Bong and me a week of travel to reach Naeyu City. The land was disgustingly vast. Though I’m not sure, the Heavenly Demon Church’s territory must be at least three times the size of South Korea.

I ended up traveling with another guy. Honestly, I wanted to run away.

‘If it weren’t for the auto-progress, I would have escaped.’

Naeyu City was visible in the distance. It was quite a developed city. Judging by the population, it must have at least tens of thousands of people. Just because the city was visible didn’t mean we’d arrive right away. My eyesight was just so good that I could see the city. In reality, it was quite far away.

Before arriving at the city, I asked Oh Bong.

“Team Leader, could you tell me about the mission again?”

“Why? Did you forget already? I told you on the way.”

I didn’t know because I had skipped it with auto-progress.

“I want to hear it again for confirmation. There’s something else I’m wondering about.”

“Hmm? Is that so? I’m bored anyway, so I’ll tell you. It’ll take another half-hour to arrive. Naeyu City is where the Ice Blade Sect is located. The Ice Blade Sect is in charge of the city’s security and administration. The Ice Blade Sect’s power is so-so… but they’re obedient to the Church. They haven’t caused any problems for the past few hundred years.”

“It sounds like a peaceful place.”

“That’s right. Since it’s within the Church’s territory, there’s no worry about external invasions, and there’s nothing particularly outstanding about it, so the Church doesn’t pay much attention to it either. But, two weeks ago, an incident occurred in that peaceful Naeyu City.”

An incident. Something bad.

Oh Bong calmly spoke about the tragedy that had occurred in Naeyu City.

“The Ice Blade Sect’s combat unit, which was training on the outskirts of Naeyu City, was annihilated, and all the citizens living nearby also died.”

“Was it an attack?”

“I don’t know. According to the Ice Blade Sect’s report, some of the bodies disappeared. Strangely, they left behind the weapons and armor.”

“They didn’t take any money either? It might not be the work of humans.”

In this world, there were monsters and spirits. Both were beings that ordinary humans couldn’t handle. They weren’t friendly to humans either. If an ordinary human encountered a monster or spirit, they would likely die.

And in cases like this, it was highly likely to be the work of a vicious monster.

“We can’t be sure. Our job is to investigate the incident and find the culprit.”

“What happens if we can’t find the culprit?”

“We’ll get an earful from the Great Lord.”

Oh Bong said, picking his ear.

The Heavenly Demon Church didn’t consider this matter to be a big deal. It wasn’t an external invasion. In reality, they must have thought it was the work of a monster.

‘Sending the Annihilation Squad… is it just for show? They’re telling the Ice Blade Sect, ‘We sent the Annihilation Squad for you.’’

The Annihilation Squad.

A notorious unit within the Heavenly Demon Church. Just by sending someone from that unit, the Church could save face.

‘The average cultivation level of the Annihilation Squad is Five Qi. Five Qi is equivalent to the sect leader level of a medium-sized sect.’

Five Qi was a level that could be respected anywhere in this world. In the martial world, just revealing your cultivation level could earn you the title of a great hero.

“It’s a more boring mission than I thought.”

“……”

“Hehehe. Gu Seok, don’t make such a serious face. I’ll teach you how to enjoy missions like this.”

The city was getting closer. I could feel the wickedness in the smile on Oh Bong’s face.

I could feel the meaning of that smile from the entrance of the city.

***

Wearing the black uniform that signified the Annihilation Squad, we walked proudly through the city entrance.

People’s gazes were fixed on us. The crowd parted, creating a path. Oh Bong walked confidently through the parted crowd as if it were natural.

The martial artists of the Ice Blade Sect guarding the entrance stood stiffly with frozen expressions. As we approached, they bowed respectfully, clasping their hands in front of them.

“It is an honor for Hae Su-jik of the Ice Blade Sect to meet the Annihilation Squad of the Church!”

Oh Bong stopped walking. He didn’t clasp his hands. He looked at the martial artist with half-closed eyes and remained silent. The longer the silence continued, the colder the atmosphere became.

“So, you knew we were coming.”

Oh Bong said in a low voice.

“…Y-yes, we did.”

“But is this how you treat us? Ice Blade Sect, I was looking at you favorably… but I guess not.”

“…We are ignorant and do not know what disrespect we have committed. If you would tell us, we will correct our mistake immediately. Please, have mercy.”

The martial artist of the Ice Blade Sect took a low stance. He was sweating profusely. It wasn’t just because he was afraid of the Annihilation Squad’s reputation. Oh Bong was using an invisible force to pressure the martial artist.

“You ignorant bastard.”

Oh Bong spat out a curse.

“……”

The martial artist couldn’t respond. He just lowered his eyes.

The Annihilation Squad. Powerful individuals who had reached the Five Qi realm. The strong are respected.

“Our Annihilation Squad has come here to help the Ice Blade Sect on the Church’s mission. But you didn’t welcome us at all. We don’t even expect a flower path. Not controlling the crowd… well, that’s understandable. But isn’t it a bit much for the likes of you to greet us? Even if the sect leader is busy, shouldn’t the elders or the young sect leader greet us? Isn’t that the way of the martial world?”

From the martial artist’s perspective, it would be unfair.

This wasn’t the entrance to the Ice Blade Sect. It was the entrance to Naeyu City, where the Ice Blade Sect was located. Was it reasonable for the young sect leader or elders to greet guests at the city entrance, not the sect entrance?

Logically, it didn’t make sense. But the martial artist bowed deeply.

“I will send someone to the main sect immediately. The main sect will greet the great heroes to their satisfaction, so please, let go of your anger.”

“Give us an hour. Bring someone worthy of us.”

“…Thank you, great hero.”

The martial artists moved.

Oh Bong beckoned me with his finger. I approached him.

“Did you see that?”

Looking at his grinning face, it was clear that he wasn’t really angry and had deliberately acted like a bully.

“…Yes. I saw it well. Is this okay?”

“Rookie, we’re the Annihilation Squad. The Church’s combat unit. We have the right to be treated well.”

“Ohh.”

I was impressed.

The Annihilation Squad was famous for many things.

The most notable was their combat power. There was a rumor that if the Annihilation Squad got involved, they could destroy any medium-sized sect in a day. That rumor was by no means an exaggeration.

And another famous thing was the Annihilation Squad’s misdeeds. The Annihilation Squad committed as many misdeeds as they had outstanding martial prowess. The Annihilation Squad’s cruelty and wickedness were second to none within the Church.

“We are demons. And demons must act like demons. Don’t worry about the weak. The Annihilation Squad will take care of most things. Well, don’t cross the line too much. There are things that the Annihilation Squad can’t handle.”

Not even an hour passed before the young sect leader of the Ice Blade Sect appeared. He had used his lightness skill to rush over.

“I am Bing Seon-ok, the young sect leader of the Ice Blade Sect, and I greet the great heroes of the Annihilation Squad!”

The young sect leader, who appeared to be middle-aged, bowed, clasping his hands.

“Finally, someone who can understand us has appeared. Before going to the Ice Blade Sect… I heard there’s a famous courtesan house here? I’d like to wet my whistle there. Young sect leader, please guide us.”

“Leave it to me. You won’t be disappointed.”

We went to the most famous courtesan house in the city. Expensive and extravagant dishes and drinks were brought to the table one after another. Oh Bong drank and laughed, holding a courtesan in his arms.

I also drank, holding a courtesan.

“Rookie! How is it! Isn’t it great!”

“Yes. It’s great.”

“I thought you were a naive guy, but you know how to touch women. But why aren’t you eating?”

“It’s not to my taste.”

I suppressed my desires while fondling the courtesan’s breasts. I wanted to take the courtesan that Oh Bong was holding and go to bed.

Oh Bong kept drinking the alcohol that the courtesan poured for him. Oh Bong was more interested in the alcohol than the courtesan. Women were fleeting, but alcohol was eternal, that was Oh Bong’s motto.

‘Damn it. I can’t go to bed because of Oh Bong….’

Above all, it wasn’t even dusk yet. When you think about it, Oh Bong and I were slacking off at a courtesan house while we were supposed to be working.

“Hic! Ugh…. I feel good…. Rookie! Get up! We have to go to work!”

Oh Bong staggered to his feet. A master of Oh Bong’s level could easily dispel the intoxication, but Oh Bong didn’t.

He entered the Ice Blade Sect while drunk.

The sect leader of the Ice Blade Sect greeted us as if he had been waiting.

“I’ve been waiting. We have prepared guest rooms. Please rest there.”

“Sect leader, we didn’t come here to rest. We want to investigate the incident. Have you organized the bodies?”

Oh Bong, who had been resting and enjoying himself more than anyone else just now, said to the sect leader with a hiccup. Still, he used polite language to the sect leader.

“We have had a sorcerer preserve the bodies.”

“I want to see them right away. After that, we’ll have to look around the scene of the incident.”

Oh Bong moved as if he were walking around his own house.

We arrived at the body storage. It was a warehouse with little sunlight. Coffins were lined up. Oh Bong opened the coffins and checked the bodies without any consideration for the dead.

“Rookie.”

There was no sign of drunkenness in the voice that called me.

“Look at these bodies. What do you think?”

I checked the bodies placed in the coffins.

“The cut surfaces are clean. It’s quite a good skill.”

“What kind of weapon do you think was used to cut them?”

“I don’t know.”

I answered honestly.

I didn’t have the talent to deduce whether it was a sword, spear, or knife just by looking at the cut surfaces. I wasn’t interested in it either.

“It’s likely that it wasn’t a weapon.”

“Can you tell just by looking at the cut surfaces?”

“No. I’m deducing it by looking at the state of the bodies. This body has its left arm and lower body cut off. But if you use a knife or sword, you don’t cut like this. Unless you do it on purpose.”

“They could have cut it like that on purpose, couldn’t they?”

“Dozens of people died at the same time at that scene. There wouldn’t have been time to cut each person carefully.”

“…The enemy might not have been just one person.”

My voice was filled with annoyance. I was still not interested in this matter.

“If that were the case, there would have been more commotion. In my opinion, it seems that a single powerful individual appeared and slaughtered them. He’s likely to be a sorcerer or a monster. Sect leader, we need to go to the scene of the incident, so please guide us.”

“…I will have the young sect leader accompany you.”

“No, the sect leader should guide us himself. Surely you don’t mean to say that you don’t want to guide the likes of us?”

“Absolutely not! I will guide you!”

The sect leader of the Ice Blade Sect said hastily. His face was smiling, but he was clearly cursing Oh Bong in his heart.