“I’m sorry, you must have been busy organizing and preparing your things too.”
Choi Hyun-woo, who was standing next to me, laughed and muttered like that.
When I removed the veil, I saw a familiar handle inside.
It was the very sword I gave him.
“No, what… Because it is true that I always said that I would fight with you and always put it off until later. In a way, I think it went well this time.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“But as you said, why now? Did something happen?”
“… … .”
Hyunwoo Choi was silent.
It wasn’t his way of dragging people in this way, almost forcibly, no matter how you think about it.
Instead of answering right away, he stood up and began to look at the condition of the sword as if to check it.
“… I took it from Master and officially inherited everything from him. Swimming and me. I’ve been working all my life just for that… .”
With the sound of staggering footsteps, he started walking to the other side of the dungeon.
“You did. To prepare thoroughly until a fortnight later. That’s why. Not now.”
Now one step.
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Only one step left.
he muttered quietly.
“You can’t swim.”
After a while, he stopped walking a little further.
“Not even Dohoon. Neither Yeseul nor Yuna.”
He paused for a moment and added.
“… I’m not ignoring those kids. But, no. Not with those kids.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Sooyoung is a wizard, not a swordsman. Ahn Do-hoon, that guy, technically, walks a different path than me. Everything is different, starting with the weapons the two use and the fighting style. Yeseul is the type who sees weapons only as consumables in the first place and trains her own body. Likewise, you walk a different path than me. And Yuna… Yes, out of the three, Yuna is probably more similar to me. But to the extent that they are similar, that child is also different from me. He’s not even in a state where he can fight right now.”
He said so and looked at me.
His eyes were filled with a strange longing he had never seen before.
He was banging at me without hiding what he was holding.
“Above all, you are there.”
He pulled the sword out of its scabbard silently.
She was so unshakable that she was so beautiful whenever she looked at it.
“There is someone right in front of me who I consider a rival and want to surpass. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that he’s walking the path most similar to me. But what are you going to ask someone else for?”
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Okay.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Choi Hyun-woo fight properly.
Perhaps I was subtly underestimating his level.
As I was stroking my arm, which got goosebumps for a moment, he took a stance and looked at me.
“If I compete with you, and if I defeat you… Maybe when that time comes, I will be able to take a step beyond this wall.”
At his words, I silently pulled out the weapons I had put in Henir’s shadow.
Sword, spear, dagger, bow… .
Each time the weapons came out one after another, Hyun-woo Choi’s eyes began to sink.
“As I said before, I am not saying that I am underestimating you.”
And I am only one of them.
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Only one sword was raised.
The power of Margo, the other side.
The skill of accepting and acquiring another own experience of living in a different world as mine.
However, only one experience at a time is acceptable.
In the process of changing it, gaps are inevitably created.
The thought that this time should not be given such an opportunity naturally dominated my mind.
“Please, thank you for accepting it.”
Choi Hyun-woo said so and smiled softly.
With those words, his body instantly melted like a mirage on the spot.
As soon as he saw it, he quickly put rotation into his footwork and flew away.
A terrifying sound resounds.
It was the sound of Choi Hyun-woo’s sword cutting through the place I had been before.
It was blatant, delicate, and extremely effective swordsmanship.
As if chasing my body out of place, his sword slammed down once more.
However, just before the blade touched my body, I turned around and swung my sword as hard as I could to spit it out.
posture is not shaken
It was said that his physical abilities were superior to my expectations.
“Ugh!”
He let out an aura as if he was pulling it up from the depths of the inside, and bounced back as if pushing his sword away.
Strictly speaking, the skill and delicacy of swordsmanship is far superior to that one.
There was no need to fight in a way that had an advantage over the other side with swords.
It was time to widen the distance.
In an instant, mana showed a strange flow and could be seen condensing on his blade.
Before he could even think of what it was, Choi Hyun-woo swung his sword as hard as he could.
As if the sword had a will, it flew through the air towards this side.
It was definitely Nam Hyeon-hwa’s technique.
No, I don’t think so… .
“… What?”
The response to block it was too simple.
It was simply swung over the blade with mana.
With that alone, his sword was out of trajectory and passed by a place that deviated from my body for a long time.
Choi Hyun-woo showed a very bewildered expression at the sight.
Considering his personality, it was a very unexpected reaction.
[That technique is obviously… .]
So mumbled Sbangali.
Come to think of it, there must have been a time when the sword that Nam Hyeon-hwa blew torn apart from his body.
Without responding to his words, I quickly sprinted at him.
“Wow!”
Even at that moment, Hyeonu Choi was once again putting mana into the blade.
The sword that flew again soon afterward was embarrassingly poor compared to the previous one.
I looked up for something, and I could hear him clenching his teeth and muttering a little.
[Why, until yesterday’s practice, it worked fine… are saying.]
At first glance, you can tell that something is wrong.
Nevertheless, he began to put mana into the sword once more.
Why did he keep insisting on meaningless things?
“no… !”
Choi Hyun-woo clenched his teeth and muttered.
It was a voice that had so much power that it could be clearly heard even by this sensitive person.
“If you don’t win with Master’s skill and his skill, there’s no point… ! I… !”
[You’re my uncle.]
Sbangali said so.
But I couldn’t agree with him.
I see
I felt like I finally figured out why he was acting so badly.
The moment of awakening of Hyun-woo Choi.
He had originally learned swordsmanship, Nam Hyeon-hwa’s technique, and battle experiences with opponents he had faced over and over… .
All these things are mixed and wandering, shaking and eventually attaining enlightenment and reaching a higher state.
So, is he wandering now?
An unworthy attack, an unfavorable soft swordsmanship.
Everything is explained.
‘then… .’
There was only one thing I could do.
“nice… !”
Without hesitation, he swept away the flying sword and went to his closest range.
Embarrassed, he quickly regained his composure, but the brief moment of that moment created a huge gap.
So, the action I took when I got right in front of him was nothing but a simple stab.
A simple yet effective attack that, if you step back, digs deeper and aims.
Choi Hyun-woo swung his body obliquely and swung his sword so that the blade passed by him as it was.
It was such a meticulous and skillful hand movement that I was amazed by it.
In terms of swordsmanship, Choi Hyun-woo was slightly ahead of me.
Anyway, if you look at just one swordsmanship.
As soon as I let go of the sword, I grabbed Choi Hyun-woo’s wrist tightly.
In another world that I had overlaid and polished my sword, I had the ability to not be pushed back even if I had to fight in close combat with none other than that Jin Ye-seul.
“Ugh… !”
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Of course, Hyun-Woo Choi is also quite skilled in close combat.
However, it is only to the extent of deep knowledge.
His arm cleverly interrupted his reach to shake my wrist, weaving it out, and with the other hand he grabbed his collar tightly.
A wrist in one hand, a collar in the other.
Noticing that, before he could do anything, his body was thrown into the air with all his might.
Meanwhile, Choi Hyun-woo was twisting in the air to get his posture right.
However, the attempt was thwarted by my kick that kicked him in the side.
His body is violently thrown to the ground.
He ran straight up and trampled his wrist with one foot, knelt down on one knee and pressed the other wrist tightly.
Even in the midst of this, I did not let go of the sword, just like him who did not let go of the sword.
He swings his sword with the force to cut his neck as it is.
It pierced the ground with a black roar and stopped right next to his neck.
“… … .”
He breathed in silently and looked at the sword that was right next to his neck.
Ha ha, he let out a deep sigh, pulled his strength out of his body, and released the sword he was holding tightly in his hand.
“I lost.”
he muttered quietly.
Many words came to mind in my mind.
Why did you try to use an unusual technique, why did you lose in such a vain, not like you? .
But only one word came out.
“… Are you okay?”
“Ah, yes. My side is a little sore, but that’s okay.”
As soon as I got off of him, I reached out and lifted him up.
He mumbled as he brushed the dust off his body.
“At some point, even chess… .”
Hyeonu Choi, who was muttering like that, looked at my sword, which had dug deep into the ground, once, picked up his sword, and put it in its sheath.
Then he looked at me and said with a smile.
“As expected, Jihyuk, you are amazing… But thanks to you, I think a lot of my frustrations have been resolved.”
[That’s a lie.]
Sbengali asserted.
“Thank you for keeping your promise. Thanks to… I think I gained some enlightenment.”
[This is also a lie.]
“After all, I am still far away… Still, I think I’ve gotten pretty strong, but all of a sudden, everyone was moving further than me.”
[This… Seriously.]
Choi Hyun-woo said that and walked past me saying he was going to the bathroom for a while.
It was time to call his name because his back looked so difficult for some reason.
[Don’t do that.]
Sbangali carefully restrained me.
[He said You were his rival, his rival, his friend, and the object he wanted to surpass.]
You know what it feels like to be defeated by such an opponent and even receive sympathy.
“… … .”
It was as Sbangali said.
I just stared blankly at the door that Hyeonu Choi opened and went out, which had disappeared at some point.
There is nothing I can do to help.
Now he was wandering and thinking, so he became weaker than usual and his sword became dull.
The realization was his own, so I just hoped I could be his chance.
However… .
“… … .”
Looking at it, I was spitting out the questions I had been asked for a long time without realizing it.
“Sometimes… I wonder if Hyeonu and other kids are suffering because of me.”
[What else does that mean?]
“That’s right. Most of the abilities I’ve acquired aren’t something I’ve acquired through hard work or training like other people. In a way, it’s like a foul. With that kind of thing, I just gave them to them… .”
[It is also an ability.]
He said.
[If I tell you that I didn’t acquire all of your abilities on my own, and that I am cowardly, will people insult you or will they laugh at me?]
“… … .”
[How you got the power, of course it doesn’t matter. But handling it is entirely up to the person’s abilities. And you’re dealing with it much better than you think. Above all, as you say, in order to be scrutinized and heard, we have to go back to the stories of those who are born with talent and those who do not, and those who are born with physical conditions and those who do not.]
Sbengali murmured like a murmur.
[You still don’t know that those words were nonsense in the first place? If you go now and say, ‘My ability was acquired by killing Margo, it’s like a foul.’ and do you think you’ll like it? Or would you say that he is also your strength, strength, and ability?]
Stop worrying about unnecessary things.
[…] You and I are already on the same boat. Ahriman, you better stop worrying about such useless things until you beat him. This is what I felt while watching you up to this point, but you seem to be stubborn in a very strange place because you lack self-confidence.]
“… Yes, you are right.”
I muttered like that.
I know, I’m very frustrated.
But what to do?
“… You’re right.”
Saying so, I nodded my head.
Hyunwoo Choi.
Along with Han Soo-young, she is the main character.
Literally, a typical, in a way, a good-natured, hard-working hero with a sense of justice.
However, for that reason, he will endure more bravely than anyone else and walk a path worthy of the name of a hero.
I don’t know the details of what he is thinking and suffering right now.
But he knew all too well that he, too, would persevere and get over it.
I just hoped that I too would be able to endure the things I had to go through.
Heartily.
* * *
“So, where are you guys planning to live?”
At Han Soo-young’s words, all eyes gathered in the cafe focused on her.
In just two days, more than half of the academy’s students left.
“I can’t go home right away.”
Jin Ye-seul muttered quietly.
“I’ve been dishonored. I had no intention of going back in the first place.”
Jin Ye-seul casually spit out a heavy story, but surprisingly few people were surprised.
Lee Yoo-na, who was sitting in the same seat with them, suddenly realized that Hyun-woo Choi and Su-yeong Han were orphans, including herself.
Even then, Ye-seul Jin had the worst relationship with her parents as I just said, and Ivan’s mother… .
“Should I save money and stay in a motel or something like that?”
Han Soo-young muttered like that, and Choi Hyun-woo answered.
“I have to spend at least a full month… It would be quite expensive to get two rooms.”
“Then let’s just take one. What are you trying to catch two of?”
At the sight of her answering insignificantly, Hyun-woo Choi made a surprised expression for a moment.
“… Here, swimming. Jihyuk and I are men.”
“know. Then I guess I thought you were a woman?”
“No, not that word.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
Jin Ye-seul nodded her head.
“I agree.”
“No, what if you agree to it? Are you my man?”
“I know well. Jihyuk is a man.”
Jin Ye-seul looked at Choi Hyeon-woo with her chin clenched.
“So you agreed?”
Choi Hyun-woo, who was speechless for a moment at the calm reaction, shut his mouth.
“… Yes, let’s say Jihyuk is like that. Then what about me?”
At those words, Jin Ye-seul and Han Soo-young looked at Choi Hyun-woo almost at the same time.
“Hyun-woo, are you doing such a thing?”
Han Soo-young snorted and muttered as if she had heard a funny joke.
“If you were that kind of guy, you would have done tricks on me earlier. I didn’t say this in the first place. In the beginning, I lived with you for several years… .”
“right.”
Jin Ye-seul nodded and muttered.
“I don’t think you would do such nonsense either.”
If you do, I’ll blow it up.
Ivan and Lee Yuna trembled for nothing at the words she muttered in a bloody voice.
“No, that’s not the only problem… .”
Choi Hyun-woo pressed his forehead with his hand as if he had a headache.
Ivan, who was sitting still at that scene, quietly coughed.
He was the one who had set up an apartment while attending the academy, just in case.
Even if it collapsed, Ivan was also a wealthy man as he was the head of an aristocratic family.
That was when he opened his mouth to say what it would be like to come and live in his apartment.
“Hey, will you guys come over to my house then?”
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One step earlier, Lee Yu-na opened her mouth.
She continued speaking in a quiet voice.
“Oh, it’s not really a house… Well, the orphanage where I used to live was converted into a building that was used as a warehouse. This is the place where the head nun made me come to see me every vacation and stay… .”
When everyone’s attention was focused, Lee Yu-na blushed a little, perhaps a little embarrassed.
“It was a car, a warehouse, but it wasn’t dirty. I did all the cleaning with the kids.”
“Won’t it be a waste if we go?”
At Han Soo-young’s question, she shook her head as if she was absolutely not.
“Nope. Everyone will like it when they come. Most of all, it’s only children or volunteers… .”
Here she waved her hand and added.
“I didn’t ask you to come and work or anything like that. just… I don’t think it’s worth spending money or anything like that. Even though it’s an older building, it’s quite spacious, so it’ll be enough for six people.”
When Lee Yu-na finished speaking, Ivan, who had half-opened her mouth, shut her mouth.
He asked her without thinking.
“Can I go too?”
“uh? Yes, but… Didn’t you say you had a house?”
“There was a problem, so I had to go back. Hey, that’s good. Can you hang out with your friends?”
Ivan said so and naturally placed his arm around Choi Hyun-woo’s shoulder.
He had good sociability, and he became quite close with Choi Hyun-woo.
Choi Hyun-woo was smiling while shaking his head slightly.
“How about the room?”
“I’m thinking of painting a partition for now, but… Even though it’s a small room, there are separate rooms for men and women. and… There is a toilet, but it’s a little cramped, so you’ll probably have to take turns.”
“I don’t complain about the subject of living on top of that.”
At Jin Ye-seul’s words, Han Soo-young nodded her head.
“So do I. Until a few months ago, I was homeless, but what?”
“No, homeless?!”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. Just here on the way to the academy… .”
It was while we were talking.
Ivan, who was looking around, slowly opened his mouth as he turned his arms around.
“By the way, does anyone know where Jihyuk went?”
“Oh, I know.”
Hyunwoo Choi raised his hand quietly.
He had not forgotten the words Yoo Ji-hyuk had uttered just a few days ago, as if the bitter match was over and while we were cleaning up together.
“What did you say… certainly.”
He nodded and muttered.
“I said that I was going to the house where I used to live for a while.”
* * *
And at the same time, in another place.
Yoo Ji-hyuk stood blankly and muttered quietly.
“… What is this?”
He was looking at the empty vacant lot with nothing.
It was originally the house where he lived.