I didn’t think everyone at the Outcast Inn would welcome me.
“Miss Black Cat! Have you reached the Peak Stage?”
“Oh! Revealing your eyes makes your beauty shine even more!”
“Seems like you had a rather grim expression when you were exuding that dark Qi… Congratulations on your elevation!”
“Thanks everyone.”
I didn’t expect everyone to focus solely on Black Cat, who had revealed her eyes after reaching a higher realm.
As I took a seat in front of Yu Sa-yeon, I watched the outcasts surround Black Cat, bombarding her with questions.
Yu Sa-yeon chuckled. “Come on, don’t make that face like a troubled man.”
“Hey, I’m a man.”
“Right, I’ve heard the rumors about money from Nangyang. You’re the intermediary, Ho Cheon-an~”
“Ugh.”
Although an unknown outcast became the Golden Guards’ Intermediary, it was no challenge to guess the identity of the rumor’s owner among the outcasts.
“You should’ve done well. If you’d done a good job, you’d be living lavishly as the Intermediary of the Golden Guards.”
Yu Sa-yeon seems to think I can’t enlighten others, considering I’m just a seven-year veteran outcast.
Actually, with the New Year, it’s already my eighth year.
“Did you just train quietly like a mouse all winter?”
“Heh, can you feel my Qi?”
“Seriously with the flattery…! Can’t you give some genuine compliments? But your growth really is impressive.”
That’s true.
After consuming all sorts of spiritual medicine, following the Poison Doctor’s prescriptions, and enduring the Jeomchang Faction’s teachings, my realm advanced dramatically within just a year from the tail end of Iryu to First-rate Expert, I now had to take the Peak level seriously.
“Since the blocked veins have opened up, I should be able to do this much.”
“That’s hilarious.”
Though I literally meant my veins had cleared of the impurities, Yu Sa-yeon, unaware of the details, took it metaphorically and chuckled.
“So, are you planning to return to being an outcast?”
“For a while.”
Originally, the plan was to visit Sacheon City, greet the Outcast Inn and Samayeom, then head straight to the Tang Clan… but somehow, the ranked competition loomed over me.
“Hey, you’re the head of the ranked competition’s organizing committee, aren’t you?”
“Guess it happened that way.”
Yu Sa-yeon turned her gaze back to the outcasts surrounding Black Cat.
“You might not know, but before the current ranked competition came about, when ranks were divided solely by contributions to bandit extermination, the Sacheon Outcasts nearly vanished into history.”
“Really?”
“That shows how your idea for the bandit extermination competition hugely influenced Sacheon. Even after being attacked by outcasts, the status of the Golden Faction’s martial artists remained unchanged. No matter what the outcasts did, public perception kept intact.”
“…Is that so.”
With Tiers regarded as the absolute standard, even the Sacheon Outcasts, who relied on vague public perceptions to earn a living, had to face the music.
“Well, thanks to that, I’m surviving, and the outcasts as well. We brainstormed ideas to find a way forward and ended up proposing the ranked competition with Governor Samayeom, and somehow got recognized for fairness and contributions, leading to the formation of the organizing committee.”
Could the ranked competition be a lifeline for the Sacheon Outcasts and Yu Sa-yeon? No, it must be more than just that. If the entire Sacheon hadn’t been looking forward to the introduction of the ranked matches, it wouldn’t have solidified like this.
The ranked competition.
Of course, I was burning with the desire to showcase my skills after mastering the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword. I wanted to test just how far I could rise with my current skills.
Yu Sa-yeon, noticing my expression, smirked slightly.
“You’d better not underestimate the Sacheon ranked competition. The world of rankings is far more intense than you think. Just what is it about the mineral passes that is so captivating for everyone?”
“Hmph. You better tighten up. I’m going to inject some tension into this relaxed ranked competition.”
I, Ho Cheon-an, resolved to participate in the ranked competition.
* *
“Wow… it’s changed so much here.”
“Right?”
The Hwang Gold Clan’s grounds had completely transformed. The once tall, thick walls that rejected people were entirely demolished, and the paths and landscaping inside were preserved as much as possible, turning it into a modern park.
What stood out the most was the competition area, which housed over ten official battle arenas.
Even though it was morning, several matches were vigorously taking place in various arenas.
It was a scene that felt like a different Sacheon compared to the time of the monument.
How should I describe it? As if it formed an independent ecosystem?
Ordinary people enjoying the matches unfolding in various arenas. Martial artists carefully observing the competition. Sect members cheering for their fellow sect members. Merchants selling snacks and busy people involved with the ranked competition all around.
“That battle area over there has an unusually high crowd.”
“Yeah.”
Unlike other arenas, there was a luxurious arena with exquisite facilities. Unlike other arenas where you just stand and watch, this one had proper seating arranged.
The number of spectators was also incomparably higher than in other arenas.
But what caught the eye the most was…
“Why are all those guys over there?”
There was a considerable number of Black Ribs gathered there. After exchanging glances with Black Cat, I approached the special battle area. I spotted two familiar figures from behind.
“Hey, you all.”
“Oh, you came too.”
It was Jeong Sam and Yeo Jin-sang.
“What’s with all these people here? And what are you two doing?”
“Well… this is a special battle area. Fights of the platinum rank are only held here, while gold and bronze rank fights can happen anywhere.”
“Platinum rank fights are dominated by those at the Peak level, so for us First-rate Experts, just watching these matches is a great learning opportunity. You should watch a few too.”
Indeed.
Staying here, I could easily watch matches between peak martial artists. It was hard to tell whether this was foolishness or cleverness.
“No, I actually came to fight…”
“Oh, are you challenging in a solo match?”
Now that I think about it, both of them were veterans of solo matches.
“If that’s the case, just go to that registration desk over there to pay the entry fee and wait.”
“…Entry fee?”
“You have to pay the entry fee to challenge someone of a higher rank than yourself. Otherwise, the opponent has no obligation to accept your challenge.”
Their explanations were straightforward.
Those without a mineral pass register their info for solo matches and must achieve three wins against those with passes to be awarded a pass. Likewise, those who have a pass are demoted if they suffer three losses.
“Accepting challenges in exchange for the entry fee is up to the individual, but everyone must defend at least once a month as per the rules.”
“I see.”
“Yesterday, a new pass distribution took place for the New Year, so it won’t be hard to find someone to challenge once you pay the fee.”
“Hmm. Since the records have been reset, there must be a ton of eager challengers since even losing once won’t matter.”
“You just arrived and might not know, but martial artists without passes are now looked down upon. You better hurry and get yourself a pass.”
Pushed by the two, I arrived at the registration desk…
Where familiar intermediaries were seated.
“Hahaha.”
“You’re back too?”
“I was wondering where all the intermediaries went… so you all transferred to the organizing committee.”
“Well, yes. I’m helping Yu Sa-yeon with the organizing now. So you’re thinking of joining the solo matches?”
“That’s right.”
“Naturally, it’ll be anonymous… so you’re now Sacheon Outcast number 28.”
“Ugh.”
Suddenly feeling a bit down, it seems there was a reason I was getting weirdly picky about being the 28th outcast. The intermediary, seeing my mood, chuckled.
“From now on, you’ll be Sacheon Outcast number 28. So are you applying for a match right away?”
“I plan to, if possible.”
“Of course. Right now, potential challengers are lined up waiting. If you pay the entry fee of 10 nyang, you can immediately fight.”
“That’s pricey.”
Considering that I usually earn in the hundreds of nyang these days, 10 nyang is still a significant amount.
“There are challenges that don’t require an entry fee. However, the issue is that you have to wait until an obligatory defense candidate shows up.”
“Meh. Fine, I’ll just pay and challenge.”
“Great! There are quite a few challengers waiting in the waiting room, so please go wait at battle arena number ten.”
Once I paid and found myself alone in battle arena number ten, a few people started moving my way with interest.
“That’s the arena for those with mineral passes… but why is a Sacheon Outcast up there?”
“Is he a rookie outcast?”
“Isn’t that the outcast lady who faced off against the Fighting Dog Tang Do-gyeong and the Miss Yeo Il-ye of Red Bamboo Swordswoman in the past?”
It seems my presence, along with the attention drawn by Black Cat, was catching eyes. While the crowd was fewer than a tenth of those in the special battle area… getting an audience for my match warmed my heart.
The glances weren’t out of hostile intent wishing for my downfall but rather curious stares wanting to see my skills.
Could there come a day when I, wearing a Black Rib, would receive such treatment in Sacheon?
The changes in Sacheon hit me hard.
Despite still facing negative stares towards the Sacheon Outcasts, just yesterday I endured unkind looks all the way to the Outcast Inn in Sacheon.
But that gaze would gradually transform. In this battle arena, where the most intense changes were happening in Sacheon, even the Sacheon Outcasts were treated with respect as martial artists.
A Sacheon where the outcasts are recognized as martial artists.
I can hardly imagine it.
