〈Episode 615〉 The Outside Army.
It’s a memory that comes to mind occasionally, very occasionally.
Just when the terms were about to expire.
Yeah, exactly the same age as now.
It was a memory from when I was living and breathing in a magical realm.
[I told you, you’re slow to follow?]
As I was taking deep breaths, the bastard looked down and said:
Shit.
[Student… You have to be able to follow… Student… . Haa… Follow me. You crazy bastard.]
I can’t even speak properly.
To that extent, I was completely out of stamina.
Looking at that, Woohyuk smiles and says.
[You just died to me three times.]
Once the neck is cut in the first combination.
In the third sum, it gets caught twice by an imaginary number.
The last one was a third time failure because I kept trying.
It meant that everything I tried had failed.
[Just kill me in one go. Why did you do it three times? Damn it.] [I told you to think before you fight, didn’t I?] [That’s what I did, you punk.] [Don’t you remember that last time you tried to scream like that and almost got eaten?]
I can’t even remember. I remember it so clearly.
It was Sogeomseong and Woohyuk who saved it from being chewed up and torn apart.
[… I’m so pissed off. Why didn’t you just kill me there?]
As I was spitting out my lament, Woohyuk immediately hit me on the head with a hammer.
thud-!
My head is spinning as if I got hit a little too hard.
[This crazy…!] [Life isn’t something you can throw away so carelessly.]
I was about to snap, but I had to stop myself when I heard Woohyuk’s words and frowned.
Because Woohyuk’s eyes were unnecessarily serious.
[I keep saying this, but you need to fix the habit of throwing things away because they don’t taste good.]
I didn’t understand.
If the means and methods don’t work, what else is there but to force it in at the end?
Plus.
‘My life is not precious.’
Why should I save this life that is so precious?
Lives that seemed more precious than mine also died in great numbers on this land.
It’s not a proper life to live while valuing someone like me.
It was something that I couldn’t understand.
Could it be that such feelings are revealed in his facial expression?
Woohyuk looks at me and says with a sigh.
[Calm down a bit.] [This is what it means to kill and live.]
I said it with sincerity, but Woohyuk’s expression instantly turned sour.
Look at this kid…?
[Look at me now. I was trying to get angry.] [You made a shitty expression.] [People can have shitty expressions. But you don’t want to get angry first?] [If you hold it in, you’ll get angry and die from it?] [Your very existence is like an illness, so it’s not okay… I’m sorry. Put your hands down. I apologized in three seconds.]
I gritted my teeth and endured it for a long time.
I wasn’t the kind of guy who would get hit if you hit him. If I had attacked him wrongly, I would have gotten beaten up.
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[Please, no matter what happens, just endure it three times. Then you will be able to live.]
I can’t stand it even once, but now I have to stand it three times.
At that time, there was no such thing as crazy talk.
In fact, there were hardly any days when I could hold back even after hearing those words.
Until the day that Woohyuk, who said those words, died.
Now, I am trying to live by those words from back then.
Sometimes, doubts just follow.
They say that life should be treasured. Life should not be thrown away carelessly.
That’s what I’m saying.
‘at least.’
I thought that wasn’t something Woohyuk should say.
I could know this because I lived giving up on life.
Woohyuk’s eyes, which advised me to live, were actually dead.
The person who risked his life just as much as I did was Woohyuk.
If there’s anything else.
‘I just threw it away. That guy burned himself to save others and lived.’
My life is not precious.
Honey, I’ll live and die however I want.
That was me.
My life is not precious.
So I will use it to save others.
That was Woohyuk.
It seems like a lot of things are similar.
We were different in many ways.
So the question is.
Even though I was like a worm, I would have lived like that.
You lived under the protection of a shaman and the attention of the world.
Why do you have such empty eyes?
also.
‘Why do you feel a kinship with me?’
Why did you reach out to me, who was like an ignorant worm, and be my friend?
These were things I couldn’t know because he was dead.
So, what I feel while living up to this point is.
‘In the end, you were right.’
I was wrong.
Woohyuk was right.
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Cherish your life.
You shouldn’t throw life away carelessly.
That’s probably not what he meant.
I now know that my life has its own value.
Even though it is.
thud-!
‘Even if it’s not a life for me.’
Whirlyrick-!
Shaman’s pottery.
The unique clear and pure energy mixes with the flow, adding intensity.
The shaman’s defense is not impenetrable.
Whatever happens, just let it flow away calmly.
Movements that seem leisurely but are quick.
Bam-!
Then, weight is placed on the tip of the foot that trampled the snow.
The sword flows. I think that would be an appropriate way to put it.
It’s clear. And it’s beautiful.
At least much better than the elder’s sword I encountered at the shaman’s house.
To let go of thoughts, to be thoughtless, and to just flow.
Woohyuk’s sword contains the meaning of a shaman.
Fit-!
The tip of the sword grazed my cheek.
Blood spurts.
I felt that and laughed.
‘This crazy guy.’
This guy and that guy.
They’re all turning into monsters just because we haven’t seen each other in a few years.
Woohyuk has already climbed over the wall.
It was a climax when I first saw it.
By the time we broke up, we were at a ripe peak.
It was now over the flower market.
I hadn’t fully crossed over yet, but it wouldn’t be long before I did.
‘This is ridiculous.’
I feel empty.
I’m sure I wasn’t this fast in my past life.
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It’s the same with Dangsoyeol and Yeongpung.
Somehow, it feels like the growth rates of the later indices are on different tracks.
‘Some people are barely hanging on while eating up all the luck they can.’
I don’t know where I keep getting my enlightenment from.
hook-!
The law has been changed.
He took a half step back. At that moment, the sword grazed the tip of his neck.
When you look at it, it is already dark and invisible.
As it failed, the sword was retrieved early.
Whew! My eyes are getting hot and my heart is beating faster.
The mind’s eye has been opened.
Hwaaaaak-!
Numerous diagonal lines emanate from Woohyuk’s body.
At the same time, stars poured down from the tip of the flowing sword.
The stars are the marks left by the sword.
There were so many of them that they resembled the night sky.
You’ve gotten stronger.
I realized it when I saw that.
but.
Luckily, I was still stronger.
‘With flaming teeth.’
Hwaaaaak–!!
The blue flames that were emanating from the body quickly engulf the surroundings. They swirled around in flames, engulfing everything.
“…!”
Woohyuk sees this and hesitates, putting some distance between them.
It was a gaze that tried to measure the distance of the flame.
Looking at it changed the movement of energy.
‘Improvement.’
There were also cases where I improved the martial arts to suit my taste.
That’s the power now.
Inflammatory cycle.
Hooooooooo—!!
A huge ring of flame flows through the body, gradually changing its shape.
Chop it into dozens. Chop it into hundreds.
A torn and tattered ball of fire, gradually taking on a sharp shape.
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Yes, it ends up changing into something that looks like an arrowhead.
Woohyuk widens his eyes as he sees this.
The fireworks were so massive that they obscured the view.
I looked at the bastard and lowered my fingertips.
Immediately.
Kwaaaa …
Countless fireballs floating in the sky rain down on Woohyuk.
Kugugugugugugu—!!
A huge explosion occurs in the snow field.
Fireworks exploded and energy spread out in all directions.
Every time that happens, my heart starts pounding faster.
‘Tsk…’
I’m lacking energy.
The bet that went down last time has not fully recovered.
That’s the fault.
Choaaaak-!
This is why Woohyuk can endure it like that.
Shhhhh—!!
Choaaaaaaaaaaaaah—!!!
A sword of incredible speed.
Countless branches containing strong energy are blocking all the flames.
It’s drawn over and over again in the air.
The traces left behind were shaped like a circular curtain.
Kwagagang-!!
As if not wanting to miss a single one, he shoots out all the sparks.
The speed and accuracy were terrifying.
‘Hey.’
As I look at it, I suddenly have a premonition.
If the world becomes truly peaceful.
If only we could prevent a bloody disaster from happening.
‘This battle for the Sword King will be fierce.’
It is said that the Sword King who will be leaving Namgung Jin now and receiving a nickname will be particularly strong.
Whether it was Youngpoong, Seongyul, or Woohyuk, it seemed like anyone else would be worth watching.
Thinking about that.
Phew-!
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He leaped and dove into Woohyuk.
“…!”
While I was blocking the flames, Woohyuk looked at me as I ran towards him.
Wham-!
The speed of the swing of the sword has increased.
This causes the curtain to thicken.
Is it to make it less accessible?
Not a bad choice.
We’ll also have to stop the fire.
‘but.’
-There must be gaps even among those fast swordsmen.
The mind’s eye that I learned from the master was saying this.
My eyes are burning hot.
A faint light shines through the gap in the distant sword.
That was the place.
In a feast of chaotic blades.
I reached out my hand without hesitation.
Okay then.
Kwak-!
“Ugh!!”
My hand broke through the barrier and grabbed Woohyuk’s neck.
Just pulled it out.
Kwaaaaaaaah—!!
The pouring flames sweep across the floor.
Kwagagagagak-!!!
Only the surroundings, excluding ‘us’.
The fireworks that had been pouring down for a long time stopped.
Amidst thick smoke billowing out.
I lifted Woohyuk, who I was holding, up.
“hey.”
“Cough… .”
Woohyuk lets out a gasp.
His physical condition didn’t look that good either.
It doesn’t seem like it was a fatal wound. It seems like he was hit several times without being able to block all the flames.
“Are you sick?”
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When I asked casually, Woohyuk spoke in a rough voice.
“… Phew… Phew… . It… hurts a lot…”
“You just killed me three times in that fight.”
It was funny even as I said it.
Because it was something I heard from Woohyuk one day.
“… I know. I know very well.”
Woohyuk laughed when he heard what I said.
I couldn’t laugh at that time.
“… As expected, you’re strong. You seem to have become much stronger than before.”
“Hearing that from you, I feel quite guilty.”
This guy is a real genius.
Every time I heard those kinds of words from those guys, my remaining conscience ached.
Well, by the way.
“Why did you do that?”
“…”
“It’s all good. As you live, you may even commit treason. That’s how it is, right?”
If you don’t like it, you can overthrow the country.
Everything was fine up to that point. But.
“You shouldn’t stop me.”
Woohyuk took up his sword and tried to fight me with all his heart.
“Then you die. Understand?”
Did you think you could beat me?
No, Woohyuk couldn’t have done that.
So you thought I couldn’t kill Woohyuk?
‘That’s half right.’
right.
I can’t kill Woohyuk.
I also think of them as friends.
Woohyuk was a person too precious to kill.
but.
‘That’s true.’
This is a story about when Woohyuk was ‘Woohyuk’ to me.
The guy who tried to protect me despite my shortcomings.
A man who maintained an unknown belief even in the midst of numerous difficulties.
At least someone who won’t block my path.
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That’s what I thought Woohyuk was.
But.
‘Are you Woohyuk now?’
Or is he just some ignorant guy called Bi-o-gun?
Even though their existences were the same, they were not the same person to me.
“Tell me. Why are you doing this?”
So I asked.
I asked while looking into Woohyuk’s eyes.
“…”
This time, Woohyuk didn’t answer.
He just stares at me quietly.
‘hmm.’
I was about to say something but had to keep my mouth shut.
Woohyuk’s eyes are open right now.
It’s a look that’s all too familiar.
Those eyes were so familiar, I felt like I had seen them somewhere.
Where have I seen such eyes?
I thought about it for a moment, and soon realized it.
‘ah.’
Yeah, those eyes. I was wondering where I’d seen them before.
‘It’s like my eyes.’
It was the same as the eyes I had open in my previous life.
It still looks clear though.
That means.
‘Should I kill him?’
It means that the condition is not very good.
I was barely holding on to my senses as I gave up everything.
Is that really a meaningful act?
Isn’t it too late for Woohyuk now?
As that thought crossed my mind.
Kuk-!
Strength came into my hands.
at that time.
[Just endure it three times.]
“…”
A damn word came to my ear.
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“Tsk.”
Whoosh-!
He threw Woohyuk, who he was holding.
Boom! Roll.
“Ugh…!”
Woohyuk rolls helplessly through the snow.
The floor was covered in marks because the bet wasn’t made properly.
He said while looking at it.
“Get out of here. I’ll just let this slide this time.”
At that moment, as he was about to tell Woohyuk to disappear and walk towards Namgungbia.
Passssss.
I turned around at the sound of someone’s presence.
There, Woohyuk was getting up again.
I wish that were the end of it.
Sigh.
The guy pointed his sword at me again.
I had to frown when I saw that.
I have no intention of letting this slide. Is that what you’re saying?
“… You’re really going to die. Stop it now.”
I spit out words as a warning.
“I’d rather kill you.”
Woohyuk looks at me and speaks firmly.
“I can’t send you there. I’d rather kill you.”
“under.”
I gathered my energy by spitting out curses.
“This shit.”
I see.
This means that there is no way out.
then.
“Okay then. Just die.”
There seemed to be only one way.
Moved my body.
Woohyuk also jumps towards me at the same time.
The tip of the sword was sharp. It meant that I would not hesitate to use it.
I felt sincerity.
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Looking at it, I felt flames swirling around my palm.
Flame jade.
The blue jewels gather in the palm of your hand.
Shhh! A significant amount of the bet is gone.
This meant that he was going to finish it all at once.
I grabbed the salt shaker and ran towards Woohyuk.
The guy rushed at me, forcing his staggering sword to stand.
The tip of the sword is wrapped in life energy.
Looking at that, he waved his hand and extended the salty water towards Woohyuk.
Just before they touch each other.
I could see.
Woohyuk’s sword extended towards me.
Ugh…
That means you’re losing strength just before you touch it.
Looking at this, I thought.
‘okay.’
I wasn’t surprised.
‘I knew it.’
I knew it from the beginning.
Seeing that, just before the salt touches Woohyuk’s body.
Hwaruk-!
He collected and collected the energy of the hell.
“What…?”
The moment when Woohyuk saw it and was shocked.
Bam-!
He grabbed the sword and plunged it into my body.
Phew-!
A creepy sound came from my stomach.
“…!!”
The blade digs into the skin.
Blood flowed from his skin and dripped down the blade.
“ah…!!”
Woohyuk opens his eyes wide, seemingly bewildered by the situation.
Because the guy was trying to pull out his sword in a hurry.
Kwak-!!
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I grabbed it and couldn’t get it out.
“you…!”
“thrice.”
I cut off Woohyuk’s words.
“I told you to hold it in three times, but this time I held it in about four times. Did I do well?”
Woohyuk’s eyes were filled with confusion and doubt as he did not understand the words.
He said while looking at it.
“I’ve experienced it myself… .”
Blood continues to flow from the corner of his mouth.
Feeling that, he smiled at Woohyuk instead.
“This is the real deal when it comes to bringing you to your senses.”
This was in a previous life.
It was an experience I personally had with my father.
