The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

I was a bit worried, but I managed to reach the shanty I called home without any problems.

The traumatic encounter with the Cheongsapa had left me reluctant to return, but normally, it was just a poor neighborhood tinged with a musty odor.

In fact, I had been living there for nearly two months without any issues.

“It’s been a while.”

It had been some time since I’d visited this shack. I didn’t miss the place, especially because I couldn’t just push the computer power button with my toe as I walked in. So, I opened the door casually.

The door, which was half-broken as though someone had forced their way in, creaked as I opened it. The sole window was ajar, letting the outside air flow through.

“Why would someone do this to a door that doesn’t even have a lock?”

“It’s been cleaned out.”

The interior, once bearing the appearance of habitation, now lay bare, stripped of everything.

I didn’t store anything of value here, but the place had been emptied to the point that even a dry towel would have seemed drenched by comparison.

“No, not even the dry straw.”

The pile of straw I used as a bed had also been taken.

It had been vacant for some time, but they had cleared it out with surprising thoroughness.

“It should be around here.”

I picked up a branch from outside and began to dig at the spot where I had hidden my brush pen, hoping they hadn’t taken that as well.

Fortunately, the brush pen was still there, concealed by weeds and buried in the earth.

I brushed off the dirt and slipped the brush pen into my pocket.

It was fortunate that I had come.

Even if I were to purchase better tools later for writing a book, this would be useful for practice. It would surely aid in crafting a manuscript.

I should pack up quickly and leave…

Just then, the door burst open behind me.

“What! Who is this! Isn’t this our money pouch? Just back in Chilgok County and there you are! Long time no see!”

Damn it. Why were these thugs here?

I turned to see the Cheongsapa gang members who had assaulted me on a rainy day.

“I told you, this guy lives here.”

“I heard he was gone. But look, he’s here!”

Hearing the gang members behind me, I knew they had come looking for me.

“Nice to see you after a long time.”

Was there any way to escape?

The entrance was blocked.

Even if I threw a bread punch at the guy in front and a barbarian roundhouse kick at another, the remaining two would subdue me.

“Listen to the sound of his brain ticking. Just come along quietly, and you won’t get hurt.”

The Cheongsapa guys gestured at me with smug expressions.

There seemed to be no way out at that moment.

I decided to just follow them for now.

The things you least want to encounter always show up at the worst possible times.

Like escaping from night self-study only to run into a famously strict teacher. Or having your early all-in strategy in a game fail due to enemy scouting. Or feeling the urge in your stomach just when you’re barely avoiding being late.

But why now of all times?

As I followed the Cheongsapa guys, other members started to recognize me.

“What! Look who it is! Still in business, I see!”

“Kid, I heard your business is doing well. Making good money.”

“Right? The young barbarian is working hard!”

Just listening to their conversation, it sounded as if 30-year regulars were encouraging a second-generation young shop owner.

“It’s been a while, Cheongsapa members. Nothing much happening lately?”

I spoke to them like a young store owner dealing with annoying customers who order just one meal but give life advice for over 30 minutes, without ordering any profitable drinks.

Those damn brats. Where on earth did they pop up from?

The news I was most curious about was about these Cheongsapa guys. They had disappeared suddenly one day.

“Any trouble? Of course.”

A warrior, looking like a thug who was bad at fighting but good at talking, spoke up. He was among the group, blending in like a delinquent.

“No, was there a problem?”

“Our boss, you see, he lost his mother.”

The thug gestured toward the boss, who tried to command the atmosphere, his shoulders tense with effort. The Cheongsapa boss looked at a scene where his underlings were extorting innocent people, paying no attention to us.

“Taking this money means we won’t have anything to eat this month!”

“Shut up!”

“It’s for my wife’s medicine! Please don’t take it!”

“Those who live will find a way, and those who die, die! Spit it all out!”

“How could a street vendor like me have any money!”

“Don’t have it? Then you’ll have to pay with your body! Boys!”

“Yes! We’ll handle it.”

It was a scene of unilateral violence and extortion.

The people who were brought in before me found themselves surrounded by the Cheongsapa guys, getting robbed of their money and belongings.

Filthy bastards.

If they were gangsters, they should have acted like gangsters, controlling a pub or something to collect protection money. What did they expect to find in the shanties where people barely scraped by?

Why had their numbers increased so much?

There used to be around ten of them, but now there seemed to be more than thirty.

Had they gone for a hostile takeover of other gangs on their way to the funeral?

“You see? We had to spend a lot of money for our boss’s mother’s funeral. You should go over there and pay your respects…”

“No! How embarrassing for me, who earns a living in Chilgok County, to not know about the Cheongsapa boss’s mother’s passing! It’s just too much! I’m so ashamed!”

I feigned deep remorse, hitting my chest as if genuinely lamenting, to take the initiative.

It looked like they were going to drag me into that crowd of Cheongsapa guys to get beaten and robbed, but I couldn’t let that happen.

“Uh, uh.”

The thug seemed flustered by my sincere lament.

“I truly regret not being able to help. Please, honor me by allowing me to contribute condolence money.”

I deliberately moved closer to the thug, showing a sincere expression of wanting to give money.

“Uh, yeah, okay!”

“Here, I’ll give you everything I have on me!”

After all, the only things in my pocket were today’s earnings and some emergency money.

The thug rifled through my pockets, examining their contents.

“Ha! Look at this guy. He really seems to be doing well in Chilgok County.”

The thug’s laugh reminded me of a crab meat burger shop owner obsessed with money as he looked at the few silver coins I had set aside for emergencies.

“Haha! This is all thanks to the Cheongsapa members who have been protecting Chilgok County while I work!”

“Kid, you know something? You don’t need to be hit.”

The man chuckled, clearly susceptible to flattery.

Idiot. What I meant was that I’ve been doing well because you guys haven’t been around.

“Please convey my regards and condolence money to the boss. I must be going now!”

“Hold on! You. From today, you’ll be living with us, so stay put.”

“What?”

“We’ve grown in numbers and are short on operational funds. That’s why we’re recruiting members with steady incomes like you. From now on, live with us and hand over 80% of your daily income. Then we’ll let you continue your business safely.”

Were these guys trying to turn me into some kind of indentured servant?

This was absurd.

“I’m sorry, I’m not interested.”

I turned around, tensed my toes, and tried to make a quick getaway.

Bang!

Out of nowhere, a sound like a drum exploding echoed in my head.

“Uh?”

My legs buckled instantly.

As my knees hit the ground, my face ‘kissed’ the floor. My cheek scraped against it mercilessly, and dirt filled my mouth.

Blood?

Blood started to trickle from the back of my head, across my cheek. The dull pain set in slower than the noise had. In my blurred vision, I caught sight of a Cheongsapa thug holding a club.

Ah, I had been hit in the head with a club.

“Damn it. I talk nicely to this barbarian, and he thinks it’s an invitation. Hey, do you think Cheongsapa is easy to mess with?”

The incredulous voice of the thug came from behind me.

“Here! This barbarian! He wants to keep getting beaten until he understands his place!”

“Cough!”

Someone kicked me hard in the ribs as I lay there. It was a kick even a retired punch-drunk boxer would admire.

“Ugh!”

The pain surged up through my throat, bringing up everything I had eaten. But this was just the beginning.

“Isn’t it right for a barbarian crawling into Chilgok County, extorting money from innocent people, to pay taxes?”

“Why doesn’t this guy, who was beaten before, understand his place?”

“Hey! Beat him up!”

The one-sided violence, reminiscent of that rainy day, came flooding back. I couldn’t muster any strength in my body but had to curl up to avoid death.

It hurts.

“Stop!!!”

Just when the pain was about to drive me insane, the boss of Cheongsapa stopped his men.

“Pant, pant! Is there something you don’t like?”

The thug, tired from beating me, caught his breath and spoke to the boss.

“If he’s too damaged, he can’t make money. Stop beating him. Just cripple his legs and be done with it.”

The boss pointed to the knife tied to the thug’s waist.

“Ah! Just cut the tendons in the back of the legs so he can’t run away and use him for performances, right?”

“You catch on fast.”

“Understood!”

“Ah, no.”

Not my legs.

In a daze, I gasped for air and desperately tried to wriggle away from the thug.

“Whoa, whoa! It’s okay. It’s okay. You won’t die. We are kind-hearted gangsters. We’ll just cut the tendons in your legs. Then, when you get up, you’ll work hard for us. Got it?”

The thug grabbed my legs and dragged them toward him.

No, I can’t become crippled.

Please.

Just as the thug drew his knife, thinking it was the end for me, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

It was a chilling sensation, like a viper targeting the back of my neck. A bone-chilling murderous intent made me forget even the pain in my body.

“Ugh! What, what’s this?”

The thug who was about to cut my legs started and looked in one direction.

“You guys.”

A low voice seemed to envelop the entire shanty town. The whole Cheongsapa group turned their heads toward the source of the voice, which hissed like a viper targeting its prey.

I, too, struggled to turn my head in the direction of that murderous intent.

“What are you doing right now?”

There stood the Heavenly Death Star, wearing an expression I had never seen before.

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