Chapter 1237: Scorched World

“Kuh-uh-uh-uhk!”

Spreading blood everywhere, the Flying Dragon Unit Leader soared into the sky. Spinning round and round, it was quite a colorful sight.

As the airtime continued, feeling like quite a long while.

KUNG-!!

The powerless body plummeted to the ground.

D-d-d-d-d-d.

Perhaps the shock hadn’t subsided, the Unit Leader trembled. And then.

“Huh?”

“……Huh?”

People stared blankly at the Flying Dragon Unit Leader, their reactions stunned.

“What… what… Huh? What the…”

“What was that just now….”

“The Flying Dragon Unit Leader… why…”

Drip.

Blood flowing from the Flying Dragon Unit Leader’s mouth and nose stained the martial arts arena.

The amount flowing was quite substantial. His consciousness was already gone, and his body seemed barely conscious, but.

That wouldn’t last much longer either.

“……”

Everyone stared at the Flying Dragon Unit Leader in shock.

“Hey, crazy.”

I was no different.

“……Why is this.”

I looked down at my fist. It was clear. I had just used my energy. Ki wrapped around it, generating power beyond my control.

The Flying Dragon Unit Leader, hit by that, ended up in this state.

“……How?”

So how did I do that? Where did this energy, which hadn’t appeared suddenly, surge from?

‘Where did it go again.’

Where had the energy that was flowing just moments ago disappeared to?

I couldn’t figure it out. Because the energy that had burst forth right before had vanished again.

What kind of situation is this? As I was wondering.

“That treacherous bastard…”

“To lure them into complacency and use power at the most crucial moment-!”

Noisy voices could be heard. I lightly ignored the noise. It wasn’t the time to pay attention to such bullshit.

As I was rolling my eyes around.

‘Yapp!’

“……!”

I recalled the sound I heard. My head immediately turned. The storehouse where the Alliance’s warriors were gathered. I saw someone amidst them.

‘No way.’

Mi hyoran, narrowing her eyes as she looked at me. And next to her, another woman wearing a veil was visible. My mother, waving at me.

‘……That energy just now.’

Was it Mother’s doing?

I looked at Mother with surprised eyes.

Mother, paying no mind to my gaze, just kept waving. And waving very enthusiastically at that.

---

The martial arts tournament between the Sword Unit members was in full swing, but a short break had arrived.

There was a need to cool down the heated atmosphere. Because continuing required some time to rest.

During that brief rest period.

“……Kuh-uhk!”

The unconscious Flying Dragon Unit Leader regained consciousness.

“Huk… Huk…”

He gasped for breath, clutching his chest. He looked quite pained.

“Just what…”

“Unit Leader-nim……! Are you alright!?”

The Flying Dragon Unit members approached him. The Unit Leader saw them and widened his eyes.

“I….”

Lost? The Flying Dragon Unit Leader, realizing he had lost, his face changed.

“This bastard…!”

The Flying Dragon Unit Leader, flushing red in an instant, suddenly looked at me. I felt a gaze while resting and looked back.

“How dare you launch a surprise attack!?”

“……Huh?”

What bullshit is this? I looked at him, puzzled. The Flying Dragon Unit Leader ground his teeth and approached me. What is it? Is he trying to pick a fight?

At that moment.

“Ahem.”

Someone blocked my path.

“Why is this happening.”

“……”

Fluttering white robes with golden patterns. It was the Divine Dragon Unit’s martial attire. Blocking the way between me and the Flying Dragon Unit Leader was, surprisingly, Tae-hoan.

“The match is already decided, acting disgracefully like this looks bad.”

“……Divine Dragon Unit Leader……”

The Flying Dragon Unit Leader glared at Tae-hoan with an angry expression.

“This guy cowardly launched a surprise attack…”

“Cowardly?”

“……!”

The Flying Dragon Unit Leader couldn’t continue his sentence. Because a sword was already pointed at his neck.

“What exactly is cowardly? You already know, don’t you? It’s just that your pride is so high you can’t bend it. Snap out of it.”

Beyond his smiling face, killing intent surged from his back.

“You lost. You did.”

“……”

“Did you see my sword? You probably didn’t. Was that a surprise attack too? I don’t think so.”

The gently swaying sword. Seeing it, the Flying Dragon Unit Leader bit his lip. It seemed like he was biting hard enough to draw blood.

“The way to protect a warrior’s pride, as I know it, isn’t like this… Why don’t you try to regain your senses a bit.”

“……Grrrind.”

“Go back.”

At those words, the Flying Dragon Unit Leader glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, then turned his back. As I quietly watched him go.

“I hope that wasn’t unnecessary meddling.”

Tae-hoan said, looking at me. Seeing that, I shook my head.

“No. It was timely help.”

“Oh? If so, that’s fortunate…”

As Tae-hoan spoke, his gaze drifted somewhere.

“It seems I might have stolen the spotlight.”

I shifted my gaze to where he was looking, finding my father. Father was looking this way with distinct red eyes. As if ready to move if necessary.

Could it be that he was trying to stop the Flying Dragon Unit Leader from approaching? That’s how it looked.

“Well, the swift one gets the prize, as they say.”

“Hmm.”

At his words, I shifted my gaze back to Tae-hoan.

“Do you need something from me?”

“A little?”

“What is it?”

“Ahahaha.”

Tae-hoan laughed at my simple question.

“As expected. It’s still fascinating even seeing it again. I’m asking just in case, but will I have a chance to apologize?”

“A chance?”

“I misjudged you.

“……Huh?”

I didn’t know you were hiding something like that.”

Ah. Now I understood what he meant.

‘Is it because he ignored me at first.’

Because there was that moment when Tae-hoan dismissed me the moment he saw me. Is he trying to apologize for that?

‘Rather than that…’

I could sense other emotions. He didn’t even seem to be trying to hide them. That’s why it was funny.

“Haha.”

“Hmm?”

Tae-hoan looked puzzled as I suddenly burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, no. It couldn’t be…”

I said, looking at him.

“I didn’t expect you to openly covet me like this. Are you interested in me?”

“……”

Tae-hoan paused. Moreover, the surrounding atmosphere turned somewhat cold.

“I’m not particularly interested in men, though.”

“That’s fortunate. Me neither.”

“Really? That’s surprising.”

“……What?”

What’s surprising?

“I’ve heard rumors about you being involved with many women… but you don’t give off that vibe, so I wondered.”

“I like women.”

“Oh, I see. But what did you mean by coveting?”

“Just as I said. Isn’t that what you meant?”

“……”

Tae-hoan stared intently at me. Then the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

“Are you quick-witted?”

“I hear that sometimes.”

“Ah, darn. I didn’t expect to be found out.”

Bullshit. His eyes showed no intention of hiding anything. What was he talking about, covered head-to-toe in greed?

“Actually, it’s convenient that you noticed.”

Tae-hoan asked me with a smile.

“I’ll ask you this. Perhaps.

“Yes.”

“Are you interested in the Divine Dragon Unit?”

WHOOSH-!!

The surroundings erupted.

“The Divine Dragon Unit?”

“……Is Tae-hoan offering that brat a position right now?”

Do you want to join the Divine Dragon Unit? Everyone looked surprised at his words. Confirming their reactions, I asked.

“If I want to go, can I?”

“If you wish, absolutely.”

“Without taking any tests or anything?”

“Why would tests be necessary? You just showed us something.”

The fact that I defeated the Flying Dragon Unit Leader. That alone was enough to pass.

“Hmm.”

The Divine Dragon Unit. It was somewhat interesting. The elite and direct unit of the Martial Arts Alliance. It was also a place where immense fame and honor could be gained.

‘Could I go there.’

I wondered if there was anything I, as I am now, could gain by going.

“Um……”

Just as I was about to consider it for a moment and reply.

Fwoooosh.

Something appeared before me. Flames flickered.

“You’re playing foolish games.”

It was Father. Father stood before Tae-hoan, emitting intense heat.

“Are you trying to snatch him away right before my eyes?”

The clear hostility sent a surprising shiver down my spine. It was the sensation I felt from Father, who had blocked Tae-hoan.

“Hey, what are you talking about?”

Tae-hoan smoothly brushed off even that hostility and spoke to Father.

“This is something the Azure Dragon Unit did first. And to you, no less.”

“……”

“Don’t you remember? The Azure Dragon Unit Leader made a move towards us with you right there.”

My ears perked up. Because it was an unintelligible statement.

“Originally, a Divine Dragon should belong to the Divine Dragon Unit. That is history and the rule… But that wasn’t the case this time.”

Did something like that happen? I obviously didn’t know about it. It seemed to imply that Father should have originally gone to the Divine Dragon Unit, and there was a reason he went to the Azure Dragon Unit now.

However.

“So?”

Father’s reaction upon hearing this was simple.

“What about it?”

He was nonchalant. Yet intense at the same time.

“Rather than ‘what about it,’ we also have our own justification.”

“So, you’re going to take him?”

“Hey, snatch him away?

Tae-hoan said, looking at me behind Father.

“We merely made an offer. Just like the Azure Dragon Unit Leader did to you. We just want to give this kid several good options.”

At those words, Father also looked at me. The gaze was quite burdensome.

“Baek Yangcheon.”

“Yes?”

He called me, then continued.

“If you wish, not only can you transfer into the Divine Dragon Unit….

His eyes curved like crescent moons. His expression seemed somewhat uncomfortable. And furthermore.

“I’ll give you my position as my successor later on. How about that?”

Despite being said naturally, it was an incredibly groundbreaking offer.