Ch.67Chapter 67 – Completing All Preparations (2)

Several days later, thanks to the help of others, my sect had become fortified enough to truly be called a fortress.

‘A formation that makes people lose their way, defensive walls to prevent surprise attacks, various traps… and even means to trigger an avalanche if necessary—everything is prepared.’

Zhuge Hong from the Zhuge Family, famous for their formations and tactics, was particularly excited as she helped reinforce the weak points in my defensive plans.

“Master, could it be that you find such a frail young lady appealing?”

Seemingly displeased by this sight, Bi-wol approached me in the middle of her training, showing signs of jealousy.

“It’s just a collaborative relationship.”

Above all, we’re just friends. If she clearly liked me the way Bi-wol and my disciples do, she would have shown more affection.

“Please don’t lie to me. Women have intuition about these things.”

Despite my explanation, Bi-wol firmly linked her arm with mine, making it clear she wouldn’t let this go.

Even in this urgent situation where Shub-Niggurath could attack at any moment, she maintained her consistent attitude.

“So, how is your training progressing?”

I finally chose to change the subject. It was a waste to argue about such trivial matters.

“…Truthfully, I’m not sure if I’m doing well.”

Bi-wol sighed deeply as she gazed at the training ground—the place where she and other disciples like Verdandi and Azazel were sparring and training together.

“No matter how much I train, I keep feeling that I cannot advance to a higher realm.”

As she spoke, her hands trembled slightly. It seemed she wanted to reach the Transformation Realm quickly to save me.

“You don’t need to force yourself to reach the Transformation Realm. Your well-being is more important to me than anything else.”

I gently stroked her head as I spoke. From the beginning, I never thought about loving someone or forming emotional bonds while living on borrowed time.

I knew all too well from my previous life how miserable and sad it is for those left behind. I tried my best not to give my affection.

“…Master, you’re always such a coward. When you speak like that, it only makes me more determined.”

Somehow, Bi-wol and my other disciples had become an important part of my life. They were traces of Seol-hwa’s life and like daughters to me.

“In that case, I’ll observe everyone’s training and point out what’s lacking. Perhaps we might discover something.”

I gave them a gentle smile. I thought this might be the best sight a story creator could witness.

“…Master, just in case, would you please keep the Ultimate Blood Treasure with you?”

Seemingly pleased with my words, Bi-wol smiled and handed me a box containing the medicinal elixir.

“Why so suddenly?”

“If any of us reach the Transformation Realm, I want you to personally choose who will help you absorb yin to supplement yang.”

“……”

Anyone who heard this would curse me as a madman—what kind of master would lay hands on disciples who are like his children?

“…If you don’t accept this now, there might be an unfortunate incident where we force you to take the elixir and share intimacy.”

I remained silent, and seeing this, Bi-wol smiled slyly and deliberately lowered her voice, whispering in my ear.

“Do you really have to do this…?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You test me almost every day. You bring in other women and ignore my affections.”

I listened to Bi-wol’s words and hid the box containing the elixir in my sleeve. If it could save Seol-hwa, it was better to accept her proposal for now.

There was also the possibility that if a disciple reached the Transformation Realm first, they might pounce on me like a hungry beast.

“Then I’ll accept it gratefully.”

It was for the slightest possibility.

The fact that Bi-wol, who had the highest probability of success, made such a proposal meant she was quite confident.

* * *

“I still don’t get it. Why do we need the mysteries of the Six Harmonies Fist to fight an Outer God?”

Kim Hyul was the first to speak when I hurried to the training ground.

“His attacks won’t work on me anyway. In a war of attrition, wouldn’t the advantage be with me and that blonde woman?”

Having mastered the Diamond Invincibility, he couldn’t understand why we needed this kind of training.

“The frightening thing about Outer Gods isn’t their strength or size.”

I shook my head as I corrected Kim Hyul’s striking posture. Fear originally comes from ignorance.

What makes Shub-Niggurath terrifying is that it thinks and moves in ways we humans cannot predict.

Even in my case—how could it make an author incarnate into a world mixed with those things just for stopping a serialization?

“It could put tentacles in your ears and nose and eat your brain—that’s the enemy we have to face, Shub-Niggurath.”

I explained it as simply as possible so Kim Hyul would remain vigilant.

If I told him mental attacks couldn’t be blocked, he would probably say he could overcome them with willpower.

“That’s quite chilling.”

Realizing my words weren’t false, Kim Hyul swallowed hard and clenched his fists.

Even with his Diamond Invincibility body, he had learned from sparring with Bi-wol that he couldn’t protect his internal organs.

“The mystery of the Six Harmonies Fist lies in the unity of heaven, earth, and the four directions. It’s good to always keep three pairs of opposing forces in mind.”

“Was that what that strangely dressed woman used when she punched toward the sky?”

Kim Hyul pointed at Azazel and asked me. The strike she used at the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament was impressive to anyone who saw it.

“Yes, but it won’t be easy to apply right away. Enlightenment in martial arts comes from countless repetitions.”

“I’ll try my best.”

With those words, Kim Hyul resumed his stance, preparing to spar with Bi-wol.

“…You seem quite popular.”

Sieg-hardt made his presence known in that situation. He was sitting quietly on the ground, meditating.

It was a method I recommended to help him better perceive the flow of time and space.

In the original “I Need To Kill The Hero,” he only realized this at the brink of death, but with every fighter being precious now, I couldn’t let him experience near-death.

“All the glances and footsteps coming your way are from women. At this rate, you could have established a harem instead of a training sect.”

“……”

“Both Lady Verdandi and Lady Azazel are training while stealing glances at you.”

He seemed to have noticed everything—my inspection of traps and formations with Zhuge Hong, and my recent conversation with Bi-wol.

Sieg-hardt’s meditation appeared to have sharpened his senses beyond their usual acuity, allowing him to perceive everything around him.

“That’s none of your business.”

Feeling exposed by his observations, I couldn’t help but respond curtly.

“Hahaha! I have no right to scold you for your actions, but I can hear even the beating of your heart, so I offered advice out of concern.”

At that, Sieg-hardt laughed heartily and began talking about the results of his meditation. He definitely felt his other senses awakening through meditation.

“At first, I didn’t think I could meditate so peacefully in the breeze like this.”

“Your family was kidnapped, so that’s understandable.”

“Well, yes. It was such an urgent situation that every moment felt critical. Who wouldn’t think that way when facing something so terrible?”

Sieg-hardt shuddered slightly as if recalling when he first learned of Shub-Niggurath’s true form. Even if he had been blind, that presence would have struck him directly.

“I truly thought I should die then. All I felt before that overwhelming terror was helplessness.”

“Is that why you tested me and my disciples? Did you think if we couldn’t defeat you, we’d have no chance against Shub-Niggurath?”

“That’s right. I placed my hope in you as a last lifeline.”

Sieg-hardt nodded slowly. He must have thought that if he lost at the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, his family might lose their lives.

“…Sieg-hardt.”

“Why do you call me?”

“…People forget as they live that time flows, and there are spaces they can never return to.”

To comfort him, I shared the insight he gained in the original story when he made time and space his sword.

“Is that really true? I don’t know about time, but can’t we revisit spaces?”

“Human memories are special. If you went alone now to the hometown where you lived with your sister, could you call it the same place?”

“……”

Sieg-hardt fell silent upon hearing my words. It was as if he realized something he had been missing all along.

“Time flows, and space changes. But if there’s one thing that doesn’t change…”

I added one more thought to give him enlightenment. As the original author of “I Need To Kill The Hero,” this was the source of Sieg-hardt’s ability that I had envisioned.

“It’s the feelings deeply embedded in people’s hearts. Like a sword.”

After all, I never gave up writing to leave traces of Seol-hwa in this world.