Confusion 6

Han Seoyeon had been pondering many things before confronting Kim Il-soo.

Pondering the differences between the original story and reality.

Kim Il-soo.

In the original story, a villain she would first meet during the preliminary survey.

But in reality, a villain she had already encountered.

So there’s no way the story would flow as in the original.

It was necessary to assume the worst possible situations.

For example, the early appearance of Lee Si-woo, who would later form an alliance with him.

Or the use of the Sword Discussion Book.

The Sword Discussion Book, in particular, was a troublesome item.

After all, Kim Il-soo had specs that could be called the natural enemy of the Falling Star Swordsman.

In terms of pure martial arts, he was a skilled fighter comparable to Lee Yeon.

If such a skilled person were to reveal all her cards and engage in battle, the outcome was obvious.

However.

Despite that.

The protagonist in the original story ultimately won against Kim Il-soo.

Even against Kim Il-soo using the Sword Discussion Book.

In a moment of crisis, realizing the ultimate technique.

Defeating him with ten flames that even the Sword Discussion Book couldn’t foresee.

So what was needed was emulation.

A reference to recreate the original story.

The necessary prerequisites were three:

One.

It must be a one-on-one duel.

Two.

The ‘1UP’ skill must have been consumed.

Three.

The use of the Sword Discussion Book must be confirmed.

When all three of these were met.

Only then could Han Seoyeon seize her opportunity.

The battle is one-on-one, with no interference.

‘1UP’ was not visible in the status window, so it must have been consumed when she faced Michaela earlier.

And now Han Seoyeon had confirmed that Kim Il-soo used the Sword Discussion Book.

That was it.

He doesn’t know anything beyond that.

Han Seoyeon raised her sword.

Lotus petals descended on her sword.

Colors reverse.

The dreary ruins and cloudy sky disappear.

“…What’s happening?”

The color enveloping Kim Il-soo’s surroundings was pink.

Lotus petals with a subtle fragrance embraced his field of vision.

“There was no such technique in the Sword Discussion Book.”

“That’s right. As you say.”

“…!”

A voice echoes.

The girl’s clear voice.

Outside the pink storm.

The girl’s afterimage is visible.

Kim Il-soo struck that spot with his fist.

He didn’t feel the touch of a person.

Only endless lotus petals enveloped his fist.

“I just learned this technique. This one.”

“Impossible. To say you just learned such a technique. There’s no way that’s possible…”

“It is possible.”

The girl declared.

“After all, I’m the protagonist.”

It was resolution.

It was belief.

“If it’s to protect, I can do anything.”

It was the determination of a girl who no longer wanted to see anyone’s sadness in any form.

Her voice carried an irresistible magic.

It was imbued with charisma.

As if she were a real soldier.

As if the spirits of national heroes were on the girl’s side.

“…Nonsense.”

Kim Il-soo instinctively rejected that sensation.

“You think such petty words will deceive me, Kim Il-soo!”

He clenched his fist.

Blue mana, rivaling the lotus fragrance, visibly blazed in his eyes.

“In the end, it’s just a technique you just learned, and with a body on the verge of death! Such desperate struggles can’t stop Kim Il-soo’s patriotism for the freedom of our people and nation!”

Kim Il-soo’s words were an objective statement of facts.

A technique just learned for the first time.

Moreover, a last-ditch effort performed with a battered body.

“No. This is the end.”

But there was something Kim Il-soo overlooked.

“You are strong. Perhaps no one can match you in pure martial arts. But because you’re like that, you have a huge weakness.”

The strongest martial artist.

His weakness is clear.

“You have no techniques to counter attacks other than pure martial arts.”

Strongest in pure martial arts.

In other words, Kim Il-soo is not the strongest when it comes to anything but pure martial arts.

Of course, he could probably defeat average opponents with pure martial arts.

But there are always limits.

That’s why Kim Il-soo can’t win against Lee Yeon alone.

One of the reasons for gathering forces lies in that.

That’s why he chose a skill that applies mana.

Striking the enemy from a distance.

It was a true martial art that might exist somewhere in this world.

The technique Han Seoyeon just unleashed was a secret skill that existed only in the background settings of the original story.

An absolute technique declared by the author to be capable of defeating Kim Il-soo.

“…Not yet, not yet.”

Kim Il-soo’s entire body blazed blue.

“With all my mana, this kind of trick…!”

“Remember what you just said?”

Han Seoyeon spoke softly.

“You clearly said not to be stubborn.”

Calmly.

As if it were nothing.

“Let me teach you.”

Nonchalantly.

As if stating common sense.

“What you’re trying to do now.”

Without any feelings of hatred.

The words flowing from her mouth were.

“No, all of your actions up until now.”

The one and only truth that he could never accept.

“This is what we call being stubborn.”

“…Ugh, aaaaaah!”

The man’s actions were simply desperate struggles.

They might have many lesser meanings, but no greater meaning.

─Ultimate Technique.

Eventually, the lotus petals became blades.

To judge the sinner, they embraced his body.

─Eight Cold Hells · Endless Red Lotus Hell.

The color of the lotus petals turned into red lotuses.

Then scattered with a gentle breeze.

Breathing a sigh of relief.

Only then did the tension leave Han Seoyeon’s body.

The girl collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.

“…Haa.”

She won.

Against that Kim Il-soo.

With her own hands.

There’s no time to feel a sense of achievement.

Her exhausted body could only manage to breathe.

“Han Seoyeon!”

“…Ah. Senior.”

“Get a hold of yourself, Han Seoyeon!”

“I am holding myself. So don’t shake me. I’m getting dizzy…”

Lee Ha-yul immediately rushed to the girl’s side.

The girl was in tatters, with no part of her body unscathed.

“Why did you push yourself so hard alone? Until you ended up like this!”

“But I didn’t die.”

“That’s not what I meant. You…!”

Why does she go this far?

This girl.

Lee Ha-yul hadn’t done anything for her.

She had only insulted and bullied her.

Just why.

Where is there any value for such a kind person to risk her life?

“You don’t have any injuries… right?”

“Who’s asking whom?”

Even with her entire body in a mess.

The girl was worried about none other than Lee Ha-yul herself.

It’s not right for a person to be this good.

There was so much she wanted to say.

So many words she wanted to tell her.

To take better care of herself.

To live for herself.

But Lee Ha-yul had no right to say such things.

The only person in the world who could say such things to the girl was one.

Only the person who could make the girl happy.

“You fool…”

“That’s rude.”

There’s nothing as ugly as an outsider like her telling the girl what to do.

“Can you walk?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Then do you want me to carry you? For now, we should regroup with Michaela…”

“─It’s not over yet!”

A thunderous roar echoes.

It was Kim Il-soo’s voice.

“It’s not over yet…!”

His appearance was so disheveled that it would be rude to compare him to the ragged Han Seoyeon.

His blood-covered body was hard to find a spot that wasn’t red.

Every time he exhaled, a spray of blood poured out.

The limit was clear.

Moreover, now he had lost his connection to the Constellation.

“I can’t back down here…”

A dying old man.

A mere old man who would soon run out of strength even if left alone was there.

“…Why.”

The old man asked.

“Why does a young person like you support Lee Yeon…!”

“You’re wrong.”

Han Seoyeon answered easily.

“I don’t support Lee Yeon or anything like that.”

It was a sentence that required no deliberation.

“…You tried to take the life of an innocent person.”

Something anyone could shout easily.

But something no one could practice.

“That’s the only reason I stopped you.”

It was literal goodwill.

A shining act of kindness that was almost blinding.

“…It’s not over yet.”

Even faced with that brilliance, Kim Il-soo couldn’t back down.

“…I still.”

Everyone has their personal circumstances.

Kim Il-soo is no exception.

That personal pride.

Honor as a soldier.

Patriotism towards the country.

Deep-rooted hatred towards the dictator who conducts human experiments behind closed doors and deceives the people with bread and circuses.

“I…!”

He can’t fall here.

Who else could do it if not him?

That’s when it happened.

Something no one present could have anticipated.

“Ah…?”

Kim Il-soo slowly lowered his gaze.

His body had been pierced through.

His weak flesh, having exhausted his ability and lost the Constellation’s protection.

Was vainly penetrated by the hand of an unknown person.

“Yeah. No.”

Just as he was about to say something.

His head separated from his body.

“Die faster. Damn old geezer.”

The man’s appearance was too sudden.

Even Han Seoyeon didn’t know of his existence.

“Well…”

It was natural not to know.

The man was originally an outsider who didn’t appear in the original story she knew.

[You have gained 300000 Exp.]

[Level Up!]

[Lv. 84 → Lv. 90]

At least two things were certain.

Kim Il-soo had died.

“Hello?”

And the fact that the man before her eyes had casually killed someone.