All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 196

◈ Chapter 196

98. Don’t Fight in Someone Else’s Neighborhood – 2

Ian gazed down the hillside.

A city as vast as Red City unfolded before him.

Beyond the castle walls, numerous houses resembled ordinary homes.

This was the gathering place for those who sought power on the continent.

It was the Forest of Warriors.

‘What determines the division?’ Ian wondered.

Even within the Forest of Warriors, not everyone possessed great strength.

Organizations resided in the inner district.

Within the Forest of Warriors, disciples who trained under these organizations, often called clans, established new clans in the outer district.

The Forest of Warriors operated in a cycle where clans grew and eventually earned their place in the inner district.

Ian listened to Kirke’s explanation as he descended the hill.

The Forest of Warriors, like Fredon Academy, was a neutral zone on the continent.

No country could issue orders to the Forest of Warriors, and no knights or armies could be dispatched there.

They only followed the directives of the Forest Keeper, who had proven to be the strongest within the Forest of Warriors.

The primary rule within the Forest of Warriors was survival of the fittest.

Those affiliated with the Forest of Warriors were generally expected to heed the Forest Keeper’s commands.

Maintaining the position of Forest Keeper was challenging, commensurate with the immense authority it wielded.

The Forest Keeper could not refuse any challenges.

The Forest Keeper could not object to ambushes.

Only proven strength mattered.

That was the sole criterion for becoming the Forest Keeper.

Due to this standard, powerful warriors and clans within the Forest of Warriors were constantly vying for an opportunity to challenge the Forest Keeper.

‘I might consider it sometime, depending on the circumstances,’ Ian thought.

Dismissing Kirke’s suggestion with a chuckle, Ian headed directly toward the outer district.

Upon reaching the edge of the outer district, marked by the absence of even a simple wooden fence, an old man sitting in a dilapidated building greeted Ian with a smile.

“A body blessed by the heavens! You possess great talent!”

He slowly rose from his seat, approaching with a noticeable limp.

He produced several books from his arms.

“I offer my finest works at reasonable prices to those aspiring to become warriors in the Forest of Warriors. Here, take a look at these.”

They appeared to be martial arts manuals.

Ian chuckled upon examining the books the old man presented.

“Sword Dance, Three Counter Sword, God Blow…”

“And there’s more where that came from! What do you say? Only 10,000 gold per book. A very reasonable price, indeed.”

Ian casually glanced at the book offered to him.

In essence, they were mere scribbles.

He recognized some techniques, allowing him to imitate them, but the crucial aura [internal energy] manipulation was incorrect.

Learning from these without proper guidance would be a waste of time at best, and at worst, could lead to internal organ damage, paralysis, or even death.

“Of course, if you can’t pay now, I’m open to bartering. I’d gladly trade these two books for that cat and sword of yours. How about it? Consider it a stroke of luck. You’ve stumbled upon a lucky encounter… Keok!!”

Ian seized the old man by the neck.

As Ian effortlessly lifted and tossed him aside, the old man, now rolling on the ground, yelled.

“You son of a bitch!! Hey, you guys!!”

At his call, burly men emerged from the alley.

Grinning and brandishing clubs and knives, the old man barked.

“Beat that bastard up and take everything he has!! Especially that sword and cat! They look valuable!”

“Hehe. Looks like old man Simon has found another sucker.”

“Let’s teach him the consequences of resisting the Jackal Clan.”

“Only the strong take everything in the Forest of Warriors. In other words, you, who are weak…”

-Seogeok!

The speaker’s head tumbled to the ground.

The assembled men stared in disbelief at Ian.

A sword materialized in his hand, which had been empty moments before.

A sword strike, too swift to be seen, sliced through the air with deadly precision.

The men who had intended to attack Ian swallowed hard.

They all recognized the truth with that single move.

The boy before them was an extraordinary master.

-Seogeok!! Seogeok!! Seogeok!

Again, an invisible, rapid sword strike continued its deadly work.

As the heads of those struck fell, the old man trembled.

“G, G, G, G, Your, Your, Your Honor, I didn’t recognize…”

His words were cut short.

For the old man’s neck also met the floor.

Ian, having simply cleared the obstacles in his path, resumed walking, causing onlookers to recoil in horror.

“Mo, Monster…”

“He, he dared to touch the Jackal Clan.”

“But that guy’s swordsmanship is at the level of an inner district warrior…”

Even if it was the Jackal Clan, which dominated the outer district, could they handle him?

As he garnered the attention of the outer district’s inhabitants, Ian strode onward.

“Kyaaaaak!!”

“P, Please don’t do this! Please! Please!”

“Hey! If you’re going to do business in the outer district, you have to pay tribute to the Jackal Clan!!”

“B, But I paid the tribute last week…”

“That’s what you paid to the Night Owl Clan!”

“Now the Jackal is the owner of the outer district!”

Following the Night Owl Clan’s ascent to the inner district last week, the Jackal Clan had seized control of the outer district.

Therefore, tribute was now due again.

As they gleefully ransacked the store, the owner desperately appealed to the surrounding warriors.

“P, Please help me! Please!”

Some warriors who heard his pleas stepped forward.

But were they weaker than the warriors of the Jackal Clan?

They were quickly overwhelmed and defeated.

Observing the chaos that had engulfed the street, Ian inquired of Kirke.

‘Where did the Forest Keeper say he found that orc?’

‘It’s not that far; let’s walk.’

He had to pass through the area where the Jackal Clan was causing havoc.

Ian addressed them calmly.

“Move.”

The Jackal Clan members, engrossed in destroying the store and assaulting the employees, glanced at Ian.

Their eyes scanned his attire, the sword he carried, and Myae [the cat] in the bag, and they erupted in laughter.

“Hahaha! Are you a young master from a noble family?”

“I’m Ian Brandon.”

“What? What kind of lame name is that?”

“I guess he’s a noble? Haha. We get a few of those sometimes. A guy who announces he’s a noble while coming to the Forest of Warriors to hire a warrior.”

They grinned as they approached Ian, saying.

“Hey. Little young master. This is the Forest of Warriors.”

Ian, staring at the men with their bulging muscles and menacing expressions, tilted his head.

“It’s been a while since I’ve encountered guys who react like this upon hearing my name.”

“First, hand over those fine clothes, sword, and expensive-looking cat!”

“I bet you’re a child from a pretty noble family. Ha. You should know that the power you wield outside holds no sway here!”

-Wooddeuk!! Udeuk!! [sound of bones breaking]

Ian casually waved his hand at the person who approached him.

The necks of the two individuals struck by his hand bent at unnatural angles.

Everyone present was rendered speechless by the shocking sight.

“It works just fine.”

“You crazy bastard!!”

All the Jackal Clan warriors in the vicinity charged at him.

There were ten in total.

Even the weakest among them seemed to be at the user level [referring to skill level].

“Daring to touch the Jackal Clan…”

Cheonma Shingong [Heavenly Demon Divine Art], Pacheon’s Palm [Dominating Heaven Palm].

Blood Sky Palm.

Ian casually raised his hand and waved it powerfully.

Simultaneously, a red energy, resembling a spear, erupted from his hand.

“Heok!!”

That scream became a death knell.

The surging red energy pierced their hearts instantly.

Ian, having eliminated ten people in a flash, addressed the stunned onlookers nonchalantly.

“Don’t mind me; continue what you were doing. Ah, and if those guys are looking for me, tell them it’s Ian Brandon and that he went east from here.”

And he walked on as leisurely as before.

Aside from the Jackal Clan, no one else attempted to pick a fight with him.

Without any significant issues, Ian reached his destination and surveyed the area.

Perhaps due to the Forest Keeper’s previous sweep, the surroundings were barren.

“Myaaaa…”

Just then.

Myae, who had been quietly nestled in Ian’s bag, cried softly and leaped out.

He began running swiftly toward the forest.

Ian quickly pursued Myae.

Crossing through the forest and venturing deeper, they came upon a forest path.

There, they encountered some boys and girls wearing similar attire, accompanied by two warriors who appeared to be leading them.

“Damn it!! Yaga [monster] bastards!! You’ve chased us all the way here!!”

“Krrr…!!”

“Kaeuek…! Keuk!”

These people were surrounded by dozens of monsters.

Yaga.

The two warriors were aiming their staffs at the monsters, who were targeting the children, but they were severely outnumbered.

“Kaeuk! Kakakakaka!!”

With a bizarre cry, one of the Yaga leaped forward.

As a middle-aged male warrior swung his staff to deflect it, another Yaga pounced from a different direction.

“Iyaap!!”

One of the children swung the sword he was holding.

The Yaga, startled by the attack, recoiled, its yellow eyes flashing.

A female warrior, urgently blocking two more Yaga who charged in, shouted.

“F, Father!”

“I’ll be back soon! Don’t worry! Instructor Dreja! Take your disciples and flee quickly!!”

“But Father!”

“Hurry!!”

He seemed prepared to sacrifice himself to draw the Yaga away.

As blue aura gathered on his staff, the young female instructor named Dreja gripped her staff tightly to protect the children.

Just then.

“Myaaaaa!!”

Myae sprang forward and smashed one of the Yaga’s heads.

Following that, Ian emerged from the bushes, his sword in hand.

As the sword, moving autonomously, severed the necks of all the Yaga and returned to its scabbard, Ian asked those who were staring at him in astonishment.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh… Yes? Ah. Yes.”

The cat that had slain the Yaga in a single blow.

Unable to discern the identity of the boy who wielded the sword so effortlessly, they regarded him with caution.

“Is there a monster habitat nearby?”

“Uh… further up from here. Yaga have taken over our Silver Moon Clan’s old training ground. Ah, I’m late with the introductions. I’m Marlon Boris, the clan leader of the Silver Moon Clan.”

“Was there a pattern like this where they were?”

Ian displayed the horn he had received from Bakbare earlier.

The clan leader was surprised to see it and nodded.

“Yes! It was there!”

“Why did Yaga take over there? And the Silver Moon’s old training ground. Isn’t there something related?”

“W, Well.”

“Anyway, I understand. If anything troubles me, I’ll come back to you.”

Ian nodded curtly and walked away.

As he departed, the clan leader of Silver Moon looked around.

“…What on earth…”

Was he a warrior from the inner district?

Regardless, it was a relief that they had survived thanks to him.

He led his disciples and Instructor Dreja back to the Forest of Warriors.

As they reached the outskirts of the outer district.

A group of warriors came running.

It was the Jackal Clan, who had seized control of the outer district just moments ago.

“Damn it!! Find him!!”

“We have to find that guy!!”

“Hey!! Hey!! Have you seen this person?”

The faces of the Jackal Clan members, who were usually arrogant, haughty, and self-assured, were now haggard.

Their complexions were also pale.

A Jackal Clan member showed him a piece of paper he pulled from his pocket, seeking information about the person’s appearance.

“Uh? This person.”

“Did you see him?!”

“I heard he went to the old training ground of Silver Moon… in the forest over there.”

“Damn it! Go quickly! Quickly!!”

He inquired, curious about the Jackal Clan members’ actions.

“But who is he…”

“Damn it!! It’s Ian Brandon!!”

Ian Brandon.

One of the strongest individuals, known as the Demon Slaughterer.

He had heard that he was young, but he hadn’t realized that the boy was Ian.

The surprised Silver Moon clan leader sighed in relief.

“Heaven helped us. Thank goodness. Okay, okay. Let’s go, kids.”

Who would have imagined that Ian would appear there and save them.

Relieved, he arrived at the Silver Moon Clan with his disciples and his daughter, Dreja, who served as an instructor.

And he froze in his tracks.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Standing there was the boy he had met earlier, Ian Brandon.

And he posed his question in an even calmer tone.

“What is your relationship with Blue Moon?”