All of the swordsmanship Choi Hyun-woo learned began with the wooden sword Nam Hyun-hwa gave him when he was young.
Hyeon-Hwa Nam’s teachings, Hyeon-Hwa Nam’s steps, Hyeon-Hwa Nam’s breath, Hyeon-Hwa Nam’s fingers… .
Everything about her was his swordsmanship and his life itself.
Why did I pick up a sword?
Yes, obviously when holding a sword and holding a pose.
And it was because of that face that was proud and happy when he wielded it clumsily.
… No, it wasn’t just that.
Seeing Han Soo-young, who was next to him, feeling mana, and Nam Hyun-hwa’s attention focused on him, he was caught up in fear that he might be thrown away again.
And what started as a simple childish stroke and earnestness gradually came to have a clear purpose: ‘I want to protect my loved ones and even others.’
There were only two people who took this story seriously without laughing.
Hyun-Hwa Nam.
And Han Soo-young.
That number increased to three after meeting Yoo Ji-hyuk, and gradually the number was called out.
… I knew myself well.
I want to protect the people I love and even protect others.
What a childish thought that is, and vaguely… He knew very well that the vulgar words were nothing more than the nonsense of the idealists.
In fact, there were many times when I didn’t say anything at the ridicule that said, “If you’re old enough, please come to your senses.”
However, believing in Nam Hyeon-hwa that being blunt to unreasonable things is not necessarily evidence of a grown-up person, he continued to carry out his will, relying on Han Soo-young’s words to support him by saying that people need a reason to save people.
So, now… ?
At the end of the day, who remains by your side now?
“What the hell did this mean!”
Choi Hyeon-woo passed over her disrespectful orders as skillfully as the sword strikes that had been flying without a break until just a moment ago.
“A lot of things change.”
At those words, Nam Hyeon-hwa had no choice but to clench his teeth.
“What would Sooyoung and that kid Jihyuk think when they see you doing this now? Hyunwoo, it’s not too late yet. Even now… !”
“Master.”
Choi Hyun-woo called her in a low voice.
“You don’t have to worry.”
“… what?”
“It’s not something that Master is worried about.”
Choi Hyun-woo said so and once swung his sword into the air.
Seeing him not shed a single sweat, Nam Hyun-hwa gave strength to his hand without realizing it.
‘How the hell… .’
Choi Hyun-woo’s abilities, talents, and hard-working character were the ones she knew best.
Therefore, he was a proud child and disciple.
But apart from them, the appearance he showed was clearly outside the acceptable range.
In fact, she never doubted that he would surpass her, but that wasn’t the case today, at least.
“Master.”
Hyunwoo Choi let out a small laugh.
“Did you know how to say that I will be angry at the world and take revenge on the two of them?”
“… … .”
Namjoon didn’t say anything.
Choi Hyun-woo smiled shyly at Nam Hyun-hwa’s appearance.
“Why would I do such a thing? Above all else, they… It was just an accident.”
There were times when I wished that there was a clear black screen.
If that was the case, it would have ended by just cutting off that person.
“Yes, it was an accident. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, it was just an accident.”
“Then why, why the hell did you do that, Hyeonu?”
To Nam Hyeon-hwa’s question, he answered as if he had nothing to hide.
“Because that’s what they both wanted.”
“what… ?”
“Ji-hyuk, that guy said he was going to defeat the Seven Evil Bells. And in less than half a year, he has already killed four of the Seven Seven Demons. Sooyoung said she wanted to help Jihyuk like that.”
Hyeonu Choi slowly put the sword into the sheath.
“Is it so wrong to want to fulfill the wishes of family and friends who have already died, Master?”
“… okay.”
She said.
“It was wrong. Been wrong for a while At least in this way, in a way the kids would never have done!”
In response to Nam Hyun-hwa’s answer, Choi Hyun-woo looked down at her.
He smiled as he looked at her, who, unlike himself, had become a mess and even had her sword cut in two.
“I thought your teacher would say that.”
After saying that, he bowed his head deeply.
“… Thank you for that.”
“Wait, Hyeonu…ね!”
Nam Hyeon-hwa, who was trying to get up somehow, vomited a painful moan and fell over.
Choi Hyun-woo, who was about to return to that appearance, paused for a moment,
“I’m sorry.”
With that said, he left the place.
In his head, only the technique Nam Hyeon-hwa had shown for the first time and the wound he had sustained on his forearm came to mind.
With the thought of having to ‘repeat’ a little more.
* * *
“You know that Hyeonu is wanted, right?”
While moving with the help of Belluna, Ivan opened his mouth without warning.
At his words, Lee Yu-na looked at Han Soo-young with a gasp and startled sound.
“… What happened?”
she asked in a weak voice.
“I just stole one thing. No, it would be more appropriate to say that it was robbed rather than stolen.”
Clearly, his wanted letter was written as ‘unauthorized invasion of important national facilities, civil war, and seizure of military materials for the purpose of disobeying the national flag’.
“They said it was a national treasure. I heard it’s something related to time, but I’ve heard that it’s not about controlling time or being able to move to another time zone or anything like that.”
“Then why would Hyeonu steal something like that?”
“I don’t know that either. Still, there are a few things I know for sure… .”
He said as if trying to reassure Sooyoung.
“First of all, Hyeonu has not committed any other crime other than robbing it. Did you hurt someone or something like that… .”
“He can’t do that!”
At her sharp cry, Ivan made a gesture as if to calm down.
“I know that well. No, we all know that. Still, I said it because I thought it would be better to say it clearly and move on.”
Sooyoung immediately bowed her head and apologized, perhaps wanting to miss Ivan’s cold attitude.
“… Sorry, I was too sensitive.”
“It’s okay, I understand.”
After saying that, Ivan let out a small sigh.
“And since this is still a secret, I don’t think any of you know… .”
What he said next was quite shocking.
“What? Defeat one of the ten?!”
“Uh, it’s not a surprise or anything like that, it’s fair and fair. I heard that Hyeonu won overwhelmingly.”
He nodded to Lee Yu-na, who was surprised, and frowned.
“Ose Evans, I had a fight with him too. It’s the same swordsman, and he even owns four magic swords, so he didn’t say things like that the opponent was good or the weapons were different. It was just crushed by pure skill.”
“… I think I can see why you hid it without telling the public.”
“Yeah, if it’s a criminal who can beat one of the ten, there will definitely be a big commotion. The reason why Hyeonu was given such a large bounty is that the stolen item is a national treasure, but it may also be because he suppressed the Sipgang from the front.”
Yuna shook her head at Ivan’s words.
“But I still don’t understand. How on earth could Hyeonu be able to take such a thing by himself?”
“The association is noisy internally right now.”
Afterwards, he said, except for Yoon Seul-hye, all of the characters died or disappeared, and all the corruption and crimes in the past were exposed to the public.
Yoon Seul-hye left the training as it is, and temporarily retired, and the association is struggling day by day due to angry public opinion and the media.
“It is said that the military and the association protect together, but in fact, the association managed most of them, so now, where is the time to worry about such things? In fact, you even publicly begged Sipgang for help.”
“… But even those ten rivers have been repelled.”
Silence fell for a moment at Sooyoung’s words.
I gently patted her on the shoulder.
“Let’s find Hyeonu first. I don’t know if it’s fortunate or not, but if I was able to win alone until the finals, at least I wouldn’t have been arrested by anyone else.”
“… and?”
Sooyoung gently leaned over to me and asked.
Unlike usual, I felt really depressed.
“After that, Sooyoung has to scold you. As always.”
At that, she smiled a little and asked what it was.
I thought I was getting a little bit stronger, so I patted her on the shoulder a few more times and looked around.
“First, let’s meet with Yesul. Then there are people I need to meet first before I find Hyeonu.”
“who? Teenagers like Lee Myung-jun?”
“no. Helpers who will be more helpful than those people.”
Gina’s companions, including Leto, a half ogre.
They must be waiting for me in Gina’s grave to this day.
The fact that they were Shadow Walker’s companions alone would certainly be of great help… .
“Are there any such people?”
Yuna tilted her head as if it was cryptic, and Ivan also had an expression that she didn’t know.
In the meantime, Belluna shouted with a smiley voice.
“Yes, we have arrived!”
“… I’ll tell you more about it later.”
At Sooyoung’s words, we all got out of the car we borrowed from Wooseok Shin.
It’s a flying car, it would have been better if it wasn’t for the current situation.
Thinking like that, I made eye contact with the person who was waiting for us.
That person was exactly what he was meant to be.
* * *
“… Yoo Ji-hyuk.”
Jin-jeong, who noticed Yoo Ji-hyuk’s appearance, blinked as if surprised.
As if in surprise, she turned her head slightly and looked at Ivan.
“It was true. You are really alive.”
As everyone’s attention was focused, Ivan quickly rolled his eyes.
“… Oh, I told you. That’s because we keep in touch with Jin Jeong-jeong because of the condition of his arm and medicine.”
Then he waved his hand as if not to misunderstand.
Yoo Ji-hyuk saw Belluna’s low twinkling eyes, but pretended not to know and turned to Jin-jeong.
“What about Yesul? Is Yesul okay?”
“… … .”
Jinjeong shook her head slightly instead of answering.
She looked at him and mumbled in a pleading voice.
“It is not something I can say. Yoo Ji-hyuk, if it’s okay with you, would you like to meet Ye-seul?”
“That’s what I came here for.”
“thank you. really… .”
She bowed her head deeply.
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Originally, she was an adult, but now she looks like a middle school to high school student, so Yoo Ji-hyuk was very embarrassed by her attitude.
“then… .”
Jin-jeong moved quickly as if to run as if to follow him immediately.
They followed her into the seemingly ordinary but strictly guarded building.
“… Yesul was trying to run away.”
She explained in a quiet voice to those who looked around.
“Fortunately, this is not the case these days, but just in case, it is still in this state.”
Jinjeong said so and stopped in front of the firmly closed door.
“I think it would be better for you to go somewhere other than Yoo Ji-hyuk. Right now, Yesul is in a very sensitive state.”
She looked at Yoo Ji-hyuk and bowed her head slightly.
“Also, be careful when opening the door.”
“Yes?”
“It’s throwing a dagger.”
She tapped and pointed her finger at her neck.
There were minor cuts there.
“Thanks to you, we have disposed of six homunculus. At the end of the day, I almost had my throat blown.”
“… … .”
“Please take care of me, Yoo Ji-hyuk. I don’t know if you’ve heard the story, but the kid originally followed you… .”
“Hey, what’s your name? yes?”
In the meantime, Belluna, who suddenly jumped out from the side, grabbed Jin Jeong-jeong’s arm and smiled softly.
Jin-jeong was slightly embarrassed, but bowed her head and was polite.
“It is said to be true, high spirit of the wind.”
“Hey, don’t be so tight. I am Belluna Did you say it was planned? I’m bored, so let’s go and talk. It would be better if there were snacks or drinks there.”
She said, pulling Jin-jeong’s arm once more.
“I don’t need anyone other than Yoo Ji-hyuk in this position anyway. Yes? So, I think it’s better to get out of the seat as soon as possible.”
“… okay.”
After hearing Belluna’s words, Jeongjeong Jin quietly nodded and agreed.
And before leaving the place, he said that he had one last thing to say and approached Yoo Ji-hyuk and asked him to lend his ear.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Jin Jeong-eun briefly apologized to the party and whispered to Yoo Ji-hyuk.
As he quietly listened to her story, his expression gradually became strangely distorted, but her expression was unpretentious.
“… Wait, are you really saying that?”
“yes.”
Jinyoung nodded her head.
“The reason Yeeun Lee and I were able to stop Yeseul was because we told a story similar to that. It will definitely work.”
“Yes… I will keep that in mind.”
Even as Yoo Ji-hyuk said that, he had a puzzling expression on his face.
Jeong-jeong Jin bowed her head once more deeply and left the seat following Belluna, who was constantly talking next to him.
The rest of the party also gave Yoo Ji-hyuk a look that seemed to give him strength and avoided the seat.
“after.”
He took a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob.
Contrary to what I was prepared for, the door opened easily and there was no dagger coming from inside.
“… … .”
There was a bed in the innermost part of the room, with a man lying on his back.
He walked slowly into the dark room.
The door closed immediately with a loud thump, but Jin Ye-seul was still lying there.
“… Get off when you say nice things.”
She said in a hoarse voice, still lying on her back.
“Before you rip off your eyebrows.”
Despite her threats, Yoo Ji-hyuk approached her without hesitation.
Yoo Ji-hyeok, who felt that her breathing was getting worse and worse, opened his mouth quickly before she shouted anything.
“Yesul.”
Jin Ye-seul’s body trembled greatly at his call.
Then she turned her head and made eye contact with him.
“… Jihyuk?”
With those words, tears flowed from her eyes.