Ubermensch – Chapter 129

Chapter 129

Ma Useok turned to look at Mason.

“Thanks to your help, I was able to escape that predicament. I, Ma Useok, may break the law, but I never break my word. I will definitely repay this kindness!”

Mason made a perplexed expression.

“I helped you?”

He had no intention of getting involved. He didn’t like people fighting amongst themselves, and he didn’t like criminals either.

“…Well, can I ask you something?”

But Mason had a mission.

Since he had made this connection, he had to use him as an informant for his mission.

“Ask away. I will answer what I know.”

“How can I learn internal energy cultivation methods?”

At that moment, Ma Useok made a subtle expression. It was as if he was trying to hold back a sneer. However, unlike Ma Useok, the waiter didn’t have to worry about Mason’s reaction.

“Sir, what internal energy cultivation methods are you talking about in this day and age?”

“Huh?”

“In the Forbidden Zone, you can easily accumulate decades worth of internal energy just by obtaining a few spirit beast cores. Why bother sitting around and wasting time?”

Something seemed strange. When Mason looked at Ma Useok, he coughed awkwardly and said,

“Well, internal energy cultivation methods have become obsolete ever since the Forbidden Zone opened 100 years ago.”

“100 years?”

The 21st century. In other words, it had only been 10 years since monsters appeared in the 21st century where Mason was from. But here, it had been 100 years?

‘Is that why the world has changed?’

Mason sighed.

To Nodens, the transcendent being who governs all dimensions, 10 or 100 years would be but a fleeting moment.

The problem was that 100 years was enough time for several human generations to pass. It was an environment where skills could easily be lost.

“Then, is there nowhere I can obtain internal energy cultivation methods?”

“You might find some manuals if you search, but… half of the books on internal energy cultivation are forgeries, and the other half are traps. They’re often slightly altered so that outsiders, not from their own sect, will run into trouble if they try to learn them. So…”

“…You’re saying it’s unlikely.”

If it was something that Mason could learn and use on his own, it would be one thing, but this was a feature that would be implemented into the Space Whales. Internal energy cultivation methods already lacked stability, and if they weren’t even fully deciphered, they would be more trouble than they’re worth.

“But, how come you don’t even know about the Forbidden Zone or spirit beast cores?”

“I, I’ve been secluded from the world…”

“Even if you were secluded, you would have heard rumors about the Forbidden Zone…”

Ma Useok, who was looking at him suspiciously, finally spoke as if he understood.

“Ah! Could it be that you were in closed-door training?”

“Closed-door training?”

“Yes. It’s when you lock yourself away and focus solely on training. I heard some dedicated individuals even go into caves with only enough food to survive and seal the entrance, could it be that you were diligently training like that and just came out?”

“Th, that’s right.”

At that moment, the waiter interjected.

“But even so, it’s strange that you don’t know about the Forbidden Zone. You couldn’t have gone into closed-door training 100 years ago.”

“Maybe he did go in 100 years ago?”

When Ma Useok said that, the waiter looked Mason up and down.

“No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t seem like someone with profound internal energy…”

“Look at his physique. He must have undergone a transformation of bones and flesh.”

Mason flexed his biceps.

“Transformation of bones and flesh. Transformation of bones and flesh.”

“…”

The waiter finally nodded.

“Well, I guess. There are many strange things in the martial world. If he’s from the old days, he might have achieved a transformation of bones and flesh through external martial arts.”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

Mason desperately nodded.

“Oh dear. Then you must be unaware of the current situation in the martial world.”

“Closed-door training. Closed-door training.”

Mason repeated the words”closed-door training”as if it were a magic spell.

Ma Useok ordered the waiter,

“Waiter, prepare a month’s worth of meal kits.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ma Useok tossed him some silver coins.

While the waiter went into the kitchen, he said to Mason,

“First of all, the most important thing you need to know is… the South Korean government has collapsed.”

“Is that so?”

“…You don’t seem very surprised?”

“Uh, huh? I’m surprised. I’m very surprised.”

Mason pretended to touch his chest and made a surprised expression.

“But how did it collapse?”

Ma Useok continued speaking, despite his suspicious expression.

“It was because of the Murim Alliance’s coup. They abolished the presidential system and established the position of Supreme Master of Murim as the head of state.”

“How did that happen?”

“The government and the Murim are supposed to be separate. The old government trusted that unwritten rule too much.”

Ma Useok made a bitter expression.

“Well, no matter what efforts the government made, it might have been inevitable from the moment the Forbidden Zone opened.”

Mason had a rough idea.

“So those who gained power from the Forbidden Zone overthrew the government?”

“That’s right.”

Outside the window, rickshaws and carts were coming and going along the street.

The problem was that the speed at which people were pulling and pushing these carts was comparable to that of an average car.

If Mason’s dimension was the world of science and Nodens’ dimension was the world of faith and magic, then this world would be the world of martial arts.

In the world of science, an individual could not overcome the system, but in the world of martial arts, only another martial artist could stop a martial arts master.

That’s why the Supreme Master of Murim was able to seize power.

“And so, Seo Yeonhee, the Blood Sword Witch, who took control of the Korean peninsula…”

“…What? Who?”

“Seo Yeonhee, the Blood Sword Witch. You might have heard of her, even if you were in closed-door training. She was also the Supreme Master of Murim 100 years ago.”

“…”

Mason was perplexed and at the same time, understanding.

‘Right. Seo Yeonhee would do something like that.’

It was something she was capable of.

“Anyway, Seo Yeonhee, after taking control of the Korean peninsula, started purging everyone who didn’t submit to her, labeling them as evil sects. I, Ma Useok, am the chairman of the Construction Workers’ Union, one of the 12 Korean Labor Unions, and I’m being pursued by the Murim Alliance.”

“…Union chairman?”

“That’s right.”

Well, if martial arts developed instead of science, then construction would also be done manually instead of with machines. If machines couldn’t replace them, skilled workers would be as valuable as the companies themselves.

Naturally, unions would be powerful, and naturally, the government would do its best to break them up.

It made sense. It made sense, but…

‘This is a mess.’

Is this what they call culture shock?

Mason tried to simplify the situation as much as possible.

“So… you’re saying you’re not a bad person?”

“I, Ma Useok, have lived a rough life, so I haven’t always lived a righteous life. But there’s no reason to blindly follow a government that wasn’t established through the votes of the people. I will not acknowledge the charges against me for anti-government activities. Therefore, no one can call me a criminal!”

“…So you’re saying you committed minor offenses, but not major ones?”

“Ah, I do occasionally get into property damage…”

“…”

Mason looked at the floorboards.

“I’m guilty of that too…”

“Innocent?”

“Innocent.”

The two men fist-bumped each other in solidarity.

As he naturally fist-bumped, Mason thought of someone and felt a pang in his chest.

‘Chong Daolong…’

If only the martial arts master was here, how much help would he have been?

“So what are you going to do now?”

“I’m going back into the Forbidden Zone. It’s the safest place from those Murim Alliance bastards.”

“Is that so?”

“How about you come with us?”

Ma Useok glanced at the waiter.

“This waiter is a member of the Beggars’ Sect, so he can’t be trusted. The Beggars’ Sect are like bats, so you’ll be hunted down soon enough. Come with us instead.”

“Well…”

When Mason made an ambiguous expression, Ma Useok said,

“I’ll introduce you to the Korean Provisional Government and the Korean Labor Unions. There might be someone among them who knows about internal energy cultivation methods.”

It sounded worth checking out. But…

“No, I’m sorry, but I’ll stay here.”

Mason said,

“Like I said, I have to find internal energy cultivation methods. There are more people outside the Forbidden Zone than inside, so it’s better to search outside first.”

“You have no choice.”

“…Why?”

Ma Useok pointed at the prosecutors in red.

“You fought with prosecutors from the Prosecutor’s Office. You’ll be arrested for obstruction of justice. The judges and prosecutors seem to be in cahoots, and they’re very harsh with their sentences when it comes to their own colleagues getting hurt. You might even be dragged off to Cheongsong Prison.”

“I’ll just run away then.”

“Do you have a way to do that?”

“Yes.”

Mason said quietly,

“I didn’t come alone.”

“Alright, then there’s nothing we can do.”

Ma Useok bowed his fist.

“Let’s meet again. In a better world.”

“Yes, let’s meet again. In a better world.”

Ma Useok walked away with his shackles still on. It was the dignified back of a bold man who never broke his word, even if he broke the law, standing alone against the harsh world.

Then the waiter said,

“Sir! Your meal kits!”

“…Ah, right.”

Ma Useok turned around with an awkward expression.

…He looked less bold and less dignified carrying a bundle of meal kits. But it was still a decent sight.

And a moment later.

Ma Useok returned to the inn, his face pale.

“…Weren’t we going to meet again in a better world?”

“…That’s not the problem right now.”

Ma Useok fumbled and picked up toothpicks and chopsticks. He desperately tried to unlock his handcuffs and shackles.

As Mason looked at him with a puzzled expression, he saw a group of warriors running towards them from afar.

“Catch him! It’s Ma Useok!”

The Murim warriors who had been chasing Armstrong, who had been drawing their attention. They had finally lost Armstrong and ended up like dogs chasing chickens, but they found their original target, Ma Useok, and were running towards him.

“Protect Comrade Ma Useok!”

“Huh? So this guy was the enemy?”

…They even started fighting amongst themselves as they ran.

Looking at Ma Useok struggling, Mason sighed.

“Come here.”

“Do you also have the skill of lockpicking?”

“I have a better skill.”

Mason squeezed the handcuffs and shackles, crushing them.

“To crush iron with your bare hands without using internal energy…!”

Looking at the astonished Ma Useok, Mason felt a pang of guilt.

He flexed his biceps and said,

“Transformation of bones and flesh. Transformation of bones and flesh.”

“Oh, oh. Transformation of bones and flesh. Oh, oh.”

Ma Useok shook his hands and feet and got into position.

“My specialty is fist techniques and the body hardening technique of Copper Skin and Iron Bones. What is your specialty?”

“Violence.”

“Violence…?”

As Ma Useok looked puzzled, the crowd surged in.

Ma Useok, with his hands and feet free, unleashed heavy and powerful punches. As befitting the leader of the Construction Workers’ Union, known for their robust physique, each of his strikes was powerful enough to send people flying.

However, the martial prowess displayed by Ma Useok was nothing.

“Waaaaah!”

Compared to the overwhelming destruction unleashed by Mason!