Justice 4

Han Seoyeon struck first.

The sword is drawn from the scabbard without unnecessary movement.

─Lightning Flash.

A drawing technique executed with speed.

The Falling Star Sword strikes Lee Yeon’s neck like lightning.

“Is this your specialty technique? It’s as sharp as ever to see.”

Only the sound of steel clashing rings out.

Lee Yeon effortlessly blocked the sword with her spear.

“However.”

The Spear was not cut.

Even by the sword that cuts through everything.

The reason was simple.

The same principle as when it first clashed with the Sword of Winter.

Cold energy.

It envelops the Spear, blocking the heat of the Falling Star Sword.

“Did you think I wouldn’t have this much preparation!”

Lee Yeon swung the Spear.

Overwhelming strength from physical modifications.

“Ugh…!”

While holding the Falling Star Sword, her body is pushed back as if thrown.

In response, countless spears appear in the air in front of her.

Like hunting dogs eyeing their prey.

Dozens of spears shoot fiercely and directly at Han Seoyeon.

─Giant Horizontal Flash.

Han Seoyeon adjusted her grip on the sword handle.

Then a massive horizontal slash, close to a chopping attack, shatters the spears in an instant.

“Your back is open.”

“…!”

In a flash, spears are created and shot not from the front, but from behind.

Each spear, moving at storm-like speed, contains missile-like power.

An explosion sounds.

The aftermath creates thick smoke, which then clears.

What scatters is not flesh.

But white, fine hair, the color of winter.

“Michaela…”

“I told you. I won’t leave you alone.”

Wielding the Sword of Winter.

Michaela stood side by side with Han Seoyeon.

“I don’t know which side of this story is right. Nor do I care to know. I just swing my sword for you. That’s all there is to it.”

She’s not that smart.

She knows nothing about ideology.

What she wants to practice is her free will.

Just the thought of protecting her precious person.

“…Yes. Thank you.”

Han Seoyeon didn’t refuse that help.

Even if it had been her, if she were in the same situation, she wouldn’t have stayed still.

Spears form again.

Those spears are intercepted by ice spears before they can be shot.

“Good. Come to think of it, our settlement was still unfinished too.”

With eyes flickering golden, Lee Yeon glared at the two girls.

Her charisma was still there, but fear is not felt.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes…!”

At Michaela’s command, Han Seoyeon kicked off the ground and leaped.

Michaela’s ice spears shatter each of the spears flying from all directions.

─Omnidirectional Swordsmanship.

The best swordsmanship she can wield.

Sword energy that flows like water, matching the opponent’s skill.

─Baekbeom.

As vulgar as a butcher.

And therefore unpredictable spear technique counters this.

Evenly matched.

Neither side is pushed back.

Michaela’s sword flashes between the two.

Matching that movement, like one body, Han Seoyeon switches with Michaela and.

─The Milky Way can be grasped.

The universe.

The vast sea of the galaxy reveals itself.

A strike that crushes space heads towards Lee Yeon.

─Halla ja i un han ga ra in ya.

The sea of the galaxy is offset by an even vaster ocean.

There’s no difference in will.

There’s no difference in mana.

In pure skill and technique, Michaela’s sword energy crumbles.

“This is.”

“The same technique?”

Suddenly, Michaela recalled the end of the nameless delusion she saw in her dream.

“Why? You look perplexed.”

“…What would you do if I knew?”

“Knew what?”

“If I had seen a future where you perish, what would you do?”

The dream she saw in the Sword of Winter.

Similar combat techniques.

Though there’s a difference of sword and spear, weapons with similar designs.

Pointing in one direction.

The owner of that dream was Lee Yeon.

Perhaps Lee Yeon from a parallel world.

“How trivial.”

Lee Yeon didn’t even snort.

“There is no predetermined future. Overcoming trials and seizing the future is what makes humans human!”

That was the great spirit she possessed.

An iron will that bends but doesn’t break.

“I won’t be swayed by such words!”

With all her might, Lee Yeon thrust her spear at Michaela.

─Yaksan.

A strike as heavy as a mountain.

The spear carries all of Lee Yeon’s skill.

She’s pushed back.

Michaela’s body.

Being the same level was meaningless.

After all, that was just an evaluation by the Constellations.

Lee Yeon’s combat ability isn’t evaluated by such things.

In overall skill, Lee Yeon surpassed Michaela.

The spear rushed towards Michaela’s chest.

“Michaela!”

Lotus petals fluttered.

Pink lotus petals.

─Eight Cold Hells · Endless Red Lotus Hell.

A storm of lotus petals separates Lee Yeon and Michaela.

Soon, the petals envelop Lee Yeon.

“That’s the technique that defeated that monster, but.”

Lee Yeon reaches out her hand, embroidering mana in the air.

The storm is cleared away by a rain of countless spears.

“With a technique that killed such a bug, you can’t defeat me.”

The difference in power is overwhelming.

Even with two people attacking together, they’re barely equal, just a hair short.

Moreover, knowing the knowledge of the original work.

It’s impossible to win with a frontal approach.

But there’s no being pushed back either.

Lee Yeon is also one step short of finishing it.

“This farce ends here.”

She creates distance.

Lee Yeon raised the Spear.

In an instant, space begins to shake with a roar.

The Spear was emitting a rainbow-colored light.

The moment you see it, you can be certain.

Even without looking at the status window, you can tell.

If hit by that, you die.

For the first time in her life, Han Seoyeon felt the Falling Star Sword in her hand was meaningless.

“Become the cornerstone for advancing to a new world!”

Light is shot.

From the Spear, that brilliantly colorful light.

─Baeksan.

It’s massive violence.

A flash that even the rulers beyond the starry sky can’t avoid.

For a moment, Han Seoyeon sensed death.

“I won’t let you…!”

From the light of the Spear, Michaela volunteered to be the girl’s shield.

“…I will protect this child!”

No matter how powerful the Sword of Winter is, it can’t match the original that has power equal to or greater than it.

Nevertheless, Michaela didn’t back down.

“I swore to myself!”

She didn’t have any special means of defense.

Just raising her sword and standing in the way was all.

The light hit silently, sweeping everything away in that place.

And.

“─Aaaaaargh!”

Behind the collapsing Michaela.

Han Seoyeon sprinted, squeezing out all her remaining strength.

─Power Doesn’t Last Ten Years, Flowers Don’t Bloom Ten Days.

She swings ten streams of flame.

To behead the oppressor.

“Unfortunate, I was reading it.”

She blocks it.

All those trajectories, without leaving a single one.

The single moment at the end of a fierce battle.

With that technique, Lee Yeon originally loses.

But that’s only in the original story.

Because this world is not just a novel.

“It’s over!”

It was a series of lightning.

Movement transcending human limits.

That was the movement of Lee Yeon’s spear tip.

It was an almost simultaneous attack.

So it couldn’t even be seen and blocked.

“…As you say.”

So, there was no other way but to counterattack.

─When things reach an extreme, they reverse.

Like the waxing moon, the sword’s trajectory rises.

A counterattack technique that reacts to the opponent’s pure martial art.

“What…!”

Lee Yeon was confident in responding to all variables she could think of.

She endlessly recalled and remembered not only the techniques Han Seoyeon frequently used, but even techniques that didn’t exist in the original work.

It was a technique used only briefly against small fry, and once briefly against Han Suho.

One that didn’t have much significance even in the original work.

A technique that was blocked even by Kim Il-soo, one that Han Seoyeon had never used at a critical moment.

“With this, it’s over…!”

Slash.

Han Seoyeon’s sword cut through Lee Yeon’s heart.

Drip.

Drops of blood fall.

It’s been a really long time.

Falling to one’s knees on the ground.

“…Was I the one who lost in the mind game?”

The space disappears.

Lee Yeon’s body collapsed onto the floor.

“No…”

Han Seoyeon also sat down powerlessly beside her.

“It wasn’t a mind game or anything like that. It was just struggling. Because I didn’t want to die, because I had to defeat you, I was just lucky.”

Han Seoyeon spoke, straining her exhausted voice.

“…I see.”

Then that wasn’t about knowledge of the original work or anything.

It was a splendid human victory.

“It’s my defeat.”

Lee Yeon acknowledged her defeat.

She was defeated by a fellow human.

“…Why?”

It was strange.

The victor smiles.

That should be the iron rule of competition.

“Why are you making that expression?”

“Because I liked you.”

Yet the girl looked like she was about to cry.

Looking at the fallen Lee Yeon, she was choking up.

“…You were the person I admired most in this world.”

Lee Yeon is the only hero in this dystopia who praises the human anthem.

As a reader, Han Seoyeon loved that golden shining spirit.

The final boss in the novel.

Lee Yeon was her favorite character.

“You were, the person I liked the most…!”

Ironically, the reason she could kill Lee Yeon was because she knew that Lee Yeon herself had created contingency plans for the country’s core, herself.

“I…”

“Don’t cry. That’s not the face of a victor.”

Because she knew that peace in this country would be maintained even if Lee Yeon disappeared.

Because Han Seoyeon trusted Lee Yeon’s contingency plans.

“Go. To carry out the justice you believe in.”

“…”

Han Seoyeon didn’t exchange any more words after that.

She headed towards the Star Queen.

Finally, the experimental container opens.

Han Seoyeon handed the Falling Star Sword to the Star Queen with her tattered hands.

All the mana that the Falling Star Sword had been consuming from Han Seoyeon until now is released.

It provides enough breath for the Star Queen to return to her homeland.

This is the original role of the Falling Star Sword.

It constantly saves mana, allowing the Star Queen to breathe for a moment in a world without mana.

Vitality returns to the dried husk.

[The Star Queen, ‘Vritra’ opens her eyes.]

Han Seoyeon witnessed the sight of the broken and torn wings blooming again, spreading out with golden feathers like vast wings, as if an angel had descended.

[System: Service Closing]

At the same time, the status window disappears from Han Seoyeon’s eyes.

With a somewhat bittersweet feeling, she gazed at Vritra.

[I’m sorry.]

The first thing that came from her mouth was an apology.

[I’ve caused you all too much trouble, and placed too heavy a burden on you.]

She entrusted the fate of the world to a single child.

She took away a girl’s entire life.

[You may resent me. I feel sorry for you all. Not empty words, but sincerely. I didn’t know it would be like this. So, I too must take revenge on them. For the crime of breaking their promise with me.]

Behind her, a massive gate opens.

[Please don’t forgive me for finally returning the world I took from you.]

With those words, time stops.

The world is enveloped in blue light for a moment.

Baekhwa Orphanage.

The foreign girl was playing with her friends when she suddenly saw something and dropped her ball in surprise.

“Mom…?”

“I’m sorry. I ended up being late.”

“Mom!”

With the same appearance as the girl.

The fallen princess reunited with the queen.

“Let’s go home, Aria.”

“…Yes!”

Holding hands.

They head home.

The door closes.

It will never again be opened by the hands of invaders, not humans.

The floor shakes.

Dust falls from the ceiling.

“…Leave, this place will collapse soon.”

Lee Yeon was defeated.

But that wasn’t the failure of South Korea.

It had to be buried for now.

Even if the truth became known, it had to be revealed slowly.

That was also the reason for building the laboratory underground.

Because it could be easily buried and eliminated at any time.

Although it was a process for a purpose, her love for South Korea was sincere.

If not, she wouldn’t have bothered to make the neighboring countries kneel at South Korea’s feet.

The girls leave.

Eventually, only the body of the loser remains lonely in the ruins.

“What a trivial end. …No, perhaps a fitting end for a criminal.”

Lonely, dying alone and desolately.

That was surely the right treatment for a sinner.

“Even in death, I probably won’t be able to go to Lily’s side.”

Lee Yeon doesn’t believe in the afterlife.

But when it comes time to die, she can’t help but think about it.

That’s right.

She committed many sins.

She’s different from Lily.

If there’s a heaven and hell after death, she surely won’t meet Lily─.

“Fool.”

A voice rings out.

A soft voice she knows well.

“Fool, idiot, sea cucumber, sea squirt, sea anemone. …Lee Yeon.”

“…The last one doesn’t quite fit, I think.”

A small build that makes her suit look like a school uniform.

Red straight hair reaching her shoulders.

“Why are you here, Yuseol?”

“Who knows? I won’t tell someone who always tries to shoulder everything alone.”

“…Was it that Kim Wan-seung fellow? How petty.”

Golden eyes like Lee Yeon’s.

Han Yuseol is there.

“Leave quickly. As you can see, I’ve lost. Or do you intend to tell me to atone while living?”

“No.”

If she survives, Lee Yeon won’t atone.

She will struggle for victory again.

“You’ve committed sins. Sins worthy of dying several times over. And the same goes for me. Because I neglected my friend.”

“That’s sophistry.”

“Sophistry is fine.”

Han Yuseol knew that too.

So she doesn’t try to save her.

“So this time, I won’t run away. This time, I’ll stay by your side, by your side, even if hell awaits, I…!”

However, she doesn’t leave.

“This time, I’ll truly stay by my friend’s side! Always, forever!”

She will stay by her side.

Even if they fall into hell.

“…That’s troublesome talk.”

Lee Yeon gave a bitter smile.

Double suicide is inefficient.

It’s right to forcibly separate.

“Why…”

She can’t separate.

She didn’t want to separate from that warmth.

“It’s not bad.”

The life disappears from Lee Yeon’s eyes.

Han Yuseol closed her friend’s eyes with her small hands.