766 – 9. There is not a single day when I don’t do this (15)
There was only one condition to climb Cheongeomsan Mountain.
Throwing away all worldly ties.
In other words, most of the initiates of the ‘sword circle’ followed the rules and came to this remote mountain. Because someone who has been hurt so much would rather forget everything.
Seria Yurdina must have been like that too.
The conversation we had a while ago was still vivid. She wears the mask of someone else, but her midnight words are probably no different from confessions.
Deep down, I probably didn’t want to leave.
Nevertheless, I had no choice but to leave.
I couldn’t figure out a clear causal relationship that would connect the two sentences. However, since it was such a painful decision for her, Ceria must have thought about it for a long time.
So I think.
Do I have the right to shake that decision now?
“Pfft!”
The sound of empty space exploding hit my eardrums. A blonde woman frowned softly while moaning softly.
She was a Delphine senior.
In contrast to her embarrassed expression, the girl standing across from her had a calm expression. Depending on the person looking at her, it would not be surprising if she even exuded a coldness.
I call myself Master Gong (空).
Befitting a Northern beauty, she was a girl who boasted a slender figure from birth. Nevertheless, compared to Yurdina’s ancestor Delphine, there was a feeling that her height was somewhat lacking.
That became the decisive factor in deciding victory or defeat.
Seria lowered her posture and dug into Senior Delphine’s arms, and the wooden sword rose up at once. A flowing, natural blow aimed at her wrist.
Of course, Delphine was not an easy opponent for her. At least she was able to block her untimely blow with her body where her magic was sealed.
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But it was already too late.
Even if it was struck with a sword, it was infinitely close to the hand. If she receives a blow that makes a noise like a drum exploding in the air, her grip will inevitably tremble.
Even after Seria had already burrowed into her arms.
In most battles, it is advantageous to be tall, but the story of Jinggeun was different. Once she got deep inside, it would be difficult to properly apply her force unless she held her sword backwards.
So the outcome of the ensuing battle was obvious.
“…… That’s it.”
Tap.
Senior Delphine’s grip opened as she struck her wrist with a series of wooden swords. If the prosecutor dropped the weapon, she would have nothing to say about the whereabouts of victory or defeat.
It was not a pleasant feeling.
Losing the sword is a shame worse than death for a swordsman. Therefore, it was also a way to clearly reveal the difference in level.
Nevertheless, Seria chose this method.
If there was a more intense attack and defense, it would have been possible to aim for her neck or kick her in the stomach for an over-the-counter hand.
It was a puzzling response. Even though she clearly declared that she would forget all worldly relationships, is there a reason to treat only senior Delphine so special?
What was even more surprising was senior Delphine’s reaction.
“Hmm… ….”
The woman’s stern expression did not last long. Instead, she just asked with an alluring smile, along with her strange nasal voice.
“Seria.”
“The instructor is empty.”
“You’ve been like that since you were little… When she decided to do something, she gritted her teeth and did it. “No matter how harsh the storm is.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Despite Ceria’s cold tone, Delphine did not give in at all. As if her bright blonde hair contrasted vividly with her cold gray hair.
“I was sure every time. Seeing your venom rising every time you get hit or trampled… After all, you are Yurdina.”
The girl didn’t even respond anymore. She sighed and only widened the distance between her and the woman.
Is that Seria’s answer?
At one time, she struggled to become a true member of Yurdina, and tried to fulfill her family’s duties even when her relationship with senior Delphine reached its lowest point.
It was immediately after that that Delphine uttered another word.
“On the other hand, she had no choice but to retreat.”
She still didn’t get an answer. She didn’t seem to want to talk to Delphine any more anyway.
“In order to win, you must use any means possible… That’s Yurdina’s way. Remember it well, Seria.”
Seria’s steps finally stopped.
I glance behind her and remain silent for a while. Red and blue gazes became entangled.
“…… “You said that after you won?”
I could feel Delphine, who had been relaxed the whole time, gritting her teeth. She somehow managed to maintain a smile, perhaps out of her last pride.
Every time this happened, I felt like I was falling deeper into the labyrinth. Even though I still have memories of the past, I keep seeing myself unable to thoroughly separate them.
What choice should I make?
“So, who’s next?”
The worries did not last long.
Shien still couldn’t bear the weight of her restraints, so she felt like she was pressed to the ground. Sir Irene was also not at the level to deal with Ceria.
If Senior Delphine uses her magic, would she be worth joining?
No, her condition was the same as that of Seria, so she had to see that there was no one in the group who could defeat Seria.
Except for only one person.
“…… Okay. “Let’s get ready.”
It didn’t take long for me to confront Ceria, raising her hand. Because it was enough to get up on stage.
On the contrary, there was someone else who became noisy.
As soon as I stood in the training hall, the eyes of the trainees who were doing their jobs began to turn to me one by one. Words such as ‘master’ and ‘iron-blooded baller’ were occasionally heard in whispering voices.
Well, it has to be like this.
Is there a warrior in the world who wouldn’t be curious about the new master who appeared decades after the sword attack? Am I not even a swordsman like them?
Sien, who was in deep connection with the ground, also raised his voice for the first time in a long time.
“Sir Ian! “Please avenge me!”
‘Revenge’, even though you didn’t even stand on the training ground in the first place.
I swallowed a laugh and looked at Seria who was standing across from her. After that night, Seria seemed to be avoiding me, as if she had some kind of change of heart.
But that won’t be possible until a day like today.
She was silently avoiding eye contact, but for the first time in a long time, she spoke a word.
“They seem to be getting along well.”
“Unlike others, he is a cute junior.”
Seria’s pupils narrowed slightly. She may have tried to hide it in her own way, but it was almost impossible to avoid my feeling that I had reached mastery.
In reality, the girl’s tone as she continued was a bit cold.
“Do you need sparring? As I said before, your achievement will be in mental elevation, not physical mastery.”
“Master Gong.”
The girl’s body suddenly stiffened at my one word.
This is probably because she has always been called ‘Seria’. Although there were occasional corrections due to counter-arguments, this was the first time that he was referred to as ‘Instructor Gong’ from the beginning.
I didn’t bother to face that puzzled gaze. Instead, he just looked down at the wooden sword in his hand.
“A long time ago, a junior with whom I had never even spoken to asked for a sparring match. “At that time, I thought he was going to kill me.”
“That’s because I was beaten to dust in the last lecture…… !”
Did he immediately realize that it was my story?
Ceria tried to protest as if something had been wronged, but she soon had no choice but to suppress her anger. Because she had her eyes and ears turned towards this place.
You can’t just be an ‘instructor’ and ignore the rules of Heavenly Sword Mountain.
Anyway, I was just going to reveal my true feelings.
“If the beginning was like that, the end should be like that too.”
The doubt in the girl’s eyes became deeper. It’s as if he doesn’t know why I’m suddenly expressing my feelings like this.
There was no need to know. I guess I don’t know my own feelings anyway.
Just what I thought. There is no moment when a swordsman becomes more honest than when they clash swords.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to check the girl’s sincerity at that time. If she truly wanted to end her relationship, she would respect her decision.
If not, ‘pushing’ will suffice.
I aimed my sword and said one word.
“Shall we try it soon?”
And silence.
The girl said nothing for a while. She just looked at me and her sword alternately, with her expression set in a knowing tone.
“…… “It hasn’t changed.”
Her voice touched my ear as she kissed her lips, and it was very delicate. If it weren’t for me, it would be hard to even distinguish the syllables.
Now it was my turn to make a puzzled expression.
“It’s always been like that. He arbitrarily meddles in my life, then moves ahead as if it’s natural, and at some point, he starts caring about us alone…….”
At the same time, the girl slowly relaxed her arms and legs. Originally, this would have meant surrender, but this is Cheongeomsan Mountain.
The meaning was clear. Because it was a preparatory posture for ‘Jeongjungdong (停中movement)’ that was demonstrated several times.
“For me, so. Really……..”
Okay, I said.
The teeth ground together and bright blue sparks flew out. The girl’s pupils scattered powerful traces like the wick of a flame.
Right after that.
“…… “I hate you.”
The space is instantly shortened. It was a miracle that made me wonder if such a feat was possible without magic, as if time had been cut and reconnected.
The fierce speed is incomparable to when dealing with senior Delphine.
Is this his true skill as an instructor? Even a few months ago, the speed was unbearable.
I suddenly remembered a man.
A man with golden eyes that were always tired. He was one of the swordsmen who mastered the five principles of the ‘Sword Circle’, and it should be said that he was rewarded with being buried in the unconscious.
Suddenly, sparks fly.
It was a sound that could not have been made between wood. A strange phenomenon that is impossible through simple contact, and is only possible when the processed blade emits heat due to excessive friction.
So I laughed.
For this brief moment, I was glad to see the fighting spirit burning fiercely in the girl’s eyes as she looked at me.
“Of course it should be…… !”
It was indeed a couplet that brought back memories from a long time ago.