Urban Vagabond: Reload

“Argh! I told you not to shoot my face! My skin’s fine, but all my hair’s going to burn off!”

Pyaak! Pyaak-pyaak-pyaak!

Just as the scuffle between Shin Kangheon, whose face had cooked bright red, and Apricot, whose feathers had puffed up to twice their size, was about to begin—

The door to the underground training hall opened, and two people trudged inside.

“......That bastard crew leader. He’s not even answering his phone. Where the hell is he?”

“Guys, we’re back......”

Hwang Suksu, his hair a total mess, and Han Jaechun, dark circles hanging heavily beneath his eyes.

The former-and-current wandering martial artist duo had returned looking filthy and exhausted, as if they had spent several days sleeping on the street.

Thud! Thud!

The two of them set down the heavy bags they had carried on their backs. They were all items Kim Muhyuk had asked them to get from the black market.

“Do you know how damn hard it was to get these? The crew leader had better pay us a bonus even if it comes out of his own pocket!”

It did not seem to be mere boasting, either. Scrapes and grazes could be seen all over both of them.

However, instead of being impressed, Kim Bokja and Shin Kangheon pinched their noses. Apricot flapped away and fled far from them.

“Ugh...... What is that smell?”

“Did you two crawl through a sewer or something?”

The reason was the unbearable stench coming off their bodies.

When no one recognized their suffering, Hwang Suksu’s resentment exploded.

“You little brats! Do you have any idea how hard we worked to get these things back on time? I swear, you people don’t know how to be properly grateful to the ones who handle all the dirty work for you! I’m so upset I can’t do this anymore. Seriously!”

Hwang Suksu sprayed spit as he fired off his complaints, and behind him, Han Jaechun nodded while glaring at the two of them.

At the grudge-filled cry of their elder, Kim Bokja and Shin Kangheon flinched.

“No, it’s not that we’re not grateful...... So, did you get hurt badly?”

“We know you had a hard time. There are sandwiches here. Do you want some?”

Only then did Hwang Suksu’s expression soften a little. He snorted, then picked up a sandwich with his dirty hand.

“Bokja, you’ve never been all the way into the deepest part of the black market either, right? Listen, that place is so dangerous that scams are everywhere you go and plots are running wild. If Jaechun here had gone in alone without me, he wouldn’t have come back with all his limbs intact.”

“I really almost got into huge trouble while I was spacing out......”

Apparently, they had run straight here because they wanted to brag about their exploits to the crew.

Seeing his chance, Hwang Suksu tried to launch into a long, elaborate account of what they had suffered while getting the items from the black market, what dangerous moments they had faced, and how the two of them had handled it all.

“So me and Jaechun got to the transaction site, and at one glance, those bastards looked suspicious as hell! So I used my quick thinking and......”

But the former-and-current wandering martial artist duo would have to wait a good while longer before getting the chance to tell the story of their exploits.

Srrrk.

“Tch. You went to the black market once, and now you’re making a fuss like the sky fell.”

Because Choi Geon, who had appeared at some point like a ghost, cut Hwang Suksu off.

“S-sir?”

“Take it.”

Choi Geon casually tossed something to Hwang Suksu, who flinched like a mouse meeting a cat.

When he caught it and checked, it was wound ointment.

Hwang Suksu’s face brightened, and he turned shamelessly friendly.

“Oh, isn’t this expensive? I was stinging all over anyway. I’ll use it well!”

However, the moment Hwang Suksu tried to open the lid of the wound ointment with his filthy hand, Choi Geon stepped over and smacked the back of his hand with his scabbard.

“You were going to smear wound ointment straight onto that filthy body?”

“Ah, it’s just a few scratches, so it’s fine......”

Seeing him try to gloss over it, Choi Geon’s eyes flashed fiercely. He drew his sword with a SHIIING and pointed toward the shower room.

“My nose is about to rot. Go wash properly this instant!”

As the two of them rushed to the shower room in a panic after that thunderous scolding, Choi Geon clicked his tongue.

“Tch. As expected of men from wandering martial artist stock. You have no idea how to treasure your own bodies.”

“When I watch closely, Teacher, you really do take care of Mr. Hwang the most.”

Shin Kangheon and Kim Bokja watched the scene while giggling.

Then, as something suddenly occurred to her, Kim Bokja asked with a wondering look.

“......But, Teacher. How long have you been here?”

Choi Geon’s stealth technique, which was approaching a realm beyond supreme master.

There was no one in Blue Wolves besides Kim Muhyuk who could notice him.

If he had been here since she and Shin Kangheon had been talking......

Seeing Kim Bokja’s embarrassed expression, Choi Geon smiled mischievously.

“Who knows? Was it when you were conspiring to smash Muhyuk? Or when you vowed to protect your precious everyday life together?”

Kim Bokja’s face reddened, and Shin Kangheon exploded with frustration at a different point.

“Argh! I didn’t notice again! If it were Kim Muhyuk, he would’ve known you were here, right?”

“Keul-keul. Even Muhyuk can’t guarantee that anymore. My stealth technique is improving too, you see.”

Choi Geon laughed with a confident look, then reached out and stroked Kim Bokja’s head.

“I will also try to help protect this place. So you do not need °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° to be too anxious.”

“......Yes.”

To Choi Geon as well, Blue Wolves was a name that bound the people precious to him into one.

Kim Muhyuk, who had dragged him back out into the world when he had been growing old alone as a solitary old man.

Kim Chanho and Park Jiyeon, who were quite far apart in age from him, but now felt almost like drinking friends.

Shin Kangheon and Kim Bokja, who felt like unruly grandchildren.

Hwang Suksu, for whom his resentment was gradually turning into affection, and Han Jaechun, who was admirable because he did his best in everything.

“But Kim Bokja is the only one who got scared. I’m not that worried.”

“Ah, stop ruining the mood, idiot!”

Pyaak!

Apricot, who had returned at some point, climbed on top of Shin Kangheon’s head and pecked at his crown.

After the two of them bickered for a while like grandchildren squabbling in front of their grandfather, they stood up.

“We’re going up to the hideout. Are you coming too, Teacher?”

Choi Geon shook his head.

“You go up first. I have something to do here.”

And so Kim Bokja, Shin Kangheon, and Apricot went upstairs, leaving Choi Geon alone in the underground training hall.

“......Those children should have no problem.”

Shin Kangheon might be young, but he was a pinnacle expert fully capable of doing his part anywhere, and Kim Bokja was the same.

Choi Geon could clearly feel how sharply her bearing had changed after awakening to Pilcheon Style.

“The problem is the ones who are not.”

A little while later, Choi Geon’s eyes turned extremely cold as he looked back at the wandering martial artist duo coming out after washing themselves clean.

“You two.”

The two of them flinched at the same time when they saw Choi Geon waiting alone for them after thinking he had already left.

“......Sir. Did I do something wrong again?”

“I’m sorry...... If you tell me, I’ll correct it right away!”

In a few days, the members of Blue Wolves would be going to hunt a Great Anomaly.

Choi Geon did not plan to go with them this time, so Hwang Suksu and Han Jaechun, whose skills were lacking, weighed even more on his mind.

“Tch. I only called you to talk for a bit. If you start by getting scared, how are we supposed to attempt anything important together?”

“......Uh, maybe you could reflect for a moment on how you usually treat us?”

“You little—?”

Even if they did not fight the Great Anomaly directly, dangerous moments could come at any time.

Choi Geon wanted Hwang Suksu and Han Jaechun to be able to escape safely if they were placed in such a situation.

“You pathetic fools. I feel uneasy thinking you might go somewhere and die by the roadside. Then my sleep would only become needlessly restless, would it not?”

“You’re openly cursing us......?”

Choi Geon stood and walked toward the two bewildered men.

“Listen carefully. No matter how skilled you are at miscellaneous tricks, if your martial arts are poor, you will eventually put even your comrades in danger.”

At the lecture that seemed unlikely to end anytime soon, Hwang Suksu’s expression turned dissatisfied.

Although he had now retired and become an underworld information broker, he had once been an active wandering martial artist.

“Sir! I was a pretty big deal once too. If you keep devaluing me like this, that’s a problem, you know?”

“Oh? So you want to try me?”

When Choi Geon glared, Hwang Suksu immediately whimpered and avoided his gaze. Beside him, Han Jaechun poked him in the ribs and scolded him.

“See, why did you talk back? You told me a wandering martial artist has to read the room well to survive long.”

“You little brat. Whose side are you on?”

“Mine is obviously the side of the sir with stronger martial arts......”

“After learning all your techniques from me? I really raised a tiger cub!”

Watching the two of them bicker like brothers despite their large age gap, Choi Geon eventually let out a faint laugh.

“At any rate, now Blue Wolves cannot afford to lose a single person.”

“Pardon? Obviously......”

“Did someone say they were leaving?”

Choi Geon stared quietly at them for a moment, then nodded.

“That is why I should teach you enough that you at least do not drag everyone down.”

After murmuring as if to himself, Choi Geon walked straight to the center of the training ground and beckoned to the two of them.

“I will make you both good enough not to get beaten up anywhere you go.”

“......No way.”

“Uh, uhhh?”

In other words, he was saying he would teach them martial arts.

It was something the two of them had never even imagined, having watched Choi Geon’s terrifying skill from beside him several times already.

“Thank you! I’ll learn with everything I have!”

However, unlike Han Jaechun, who was extremely happy because he thirsted for learning, Hwang Suksu wore a subtly reluctant expression.

“Uh, sir? It’s been more than ten years since I retired from active work. I’m old now, so my knees hurt and my back isn’t great either......”

When Hwang Suksu exaggerated his complaints, Choi Geon snorted.

“You dare discuss age in front of me?”

“No, that’s......”

“And do you think I do not know your level? I am not saying I will teach you the sword in the first place.”

Choi Geon’s expression was so serious that the two of them realized he was not joking and listened closely.

“I will teach you how to dodge, run, hide, and launch surprise attacks. So that wherever you are, you can survive without dying and help your comrades.”

“......!”

Sword Demon Choi Geon was a supreme master of the sword, and at the same time, an assassin who had polished stealth and infiltration techniques to their limits.

However, he had taught his disciple Kim Muhyuk only the sword and how to deal with assassins. He had not gone out of his way to teach him assassin techniques.

For Muhyuk, they’re nothing but miscellaneous tricks he doesn’t need.

But if he taught assassin techniques to Hwang Suksu and Han Jaechun, it would be a great help not only to them but to everyone from now on.

“And from what I have seen...... neither of you is half bad.”

At Choi Geon’s unexpected praise, both men’s eyes flew wide open.

Hwang Suksu in particular looked startled.

“Really? In your eyes, sir, I have talent for martial arts?”

Choi Geon calmly nodded. Since he was normally stingy with praise, the recognition felt all the better.

“Hehehehe......”

Hwang Suksu, who had been lukewarm at first, felt his chest gradually heat.

It had been a long time since he had quit working as a wandering martial artist, but he too was a martial artist.

His belly had gotten a little bigger with age, but he was confident he could lose weight if he made up his mind.

He was not learning new swordsmanship, and if it was only survival skills, surely it was worth trying.

Having made up his mind, Hwang Suksu joked to Choi Geon.

“Sir. Then should I call you master from now on?”

“Do not say ridiculous things. Just keep that wound ointment I gave you safe.”

“Why the wound ointment......”

“I knew it.”

The moment Hwang Suksu belatedly asked with an uneasy look, and Han Jaechun nodded solemnly as if he had already braced himself—

SHIIING.

Choi Geon drew his sword and smiled fiercely.

“If you are learning martial arts from me, is it not obvious you will have many occasions to use it?”

“W-wait, stop! Come to think of it, there’s a chronic illness I forgot to mention......!”

“It is too late to start slacking off, you bastard!”

Hwang Suksu’s screams rang through the underground training hall for quite a long time.

And time passed, until only one day remained before the Giant Tree Ghost hunt.