episode_0186

“Let’s play for a while.”

While Cheonharang and the warriors clash.

* * *

The imperial palace was quiet, but a shiver of tension filled the space.

“Are you the emperor?”

The reason is because of a man sitting across from the Emperor Duke, leisurely sipping tea.

“… That’s right.”

The emperor, who was acting calm in a low voice, looked at the man with narrowed eyes.

Red hair that reminds one of blood and thin, open eyes that give no clue as to what is going on.

His attire was also unusual. His robe had letters that had never been seen in the empire emblazoned all over it, reminding us that he was a warrior from a distant foreign land.

However, Duke knows where those doubles came from.

‘… You are wearing similar clothing to the Cheon family.’

Cheonharang and Cheonmumyung.

Those who have met face to face once.

And, the people that his soldiers went to under his command to subdue.

Someone who appeared to be an acquaintance or subordinate of those people came to see him.

‘This is the worst… .’

Duke, who intuitively felt that things were not going well, secretly sighed.

“Then you know why I came.”

At the same time, the man added with a small smile.

“… Tsk.”

Duke frowned without answering the man’s question and continued his thoughts.

‘I know.’

As the man said, there was definitely something to his search for.

First, his own life. Second, to overcome the disease and persuade him to surrender.

‘… Or, I could put my life on the negotiating table and aim for the Empire itself.’

Either way, it wasn’t good news for the Duke or the Empire.

Of course, if it were my own life at stake, I would not accept the request even if it meant dying.

If there is no successor, then there is the crown prince.

He is a strong child, so I’m sure he will be able to do well in the future.

‘…but.’

Things are a little different now.

First, the aspect of the Cheonharang subjugation operation itself, as seen through the real-time correction sphere, was disadvantageous to the Empire.

But what if you end up dying?

Of course, the chaos that will come to the empire.

A new religion that follows Cheonharang could, in turn, overwhelm the empire.

And the Empire is powerless to stop him.

‘They said that 80% of the soldiers are already missing.’

There are still troops remaining in the empire, but they are not very numerous, and their level is not very high, as only elite soldiers participated in the suppression.

It was complicated.

The future of the empire is determined by the words that man utters.

“Well, you don’t have to answer.”

The man shrugged slightly, rummaged through my bag, and handed me a piece of paper.

“Because you have no choice but to accept it anyway.”

And the Duke couldn’t help but be astonished at what was written.

“… This is.”

* * *

“Sigh!”

The battle continues until the moon sets and begins to appear over the hills.

-thud!

“Coolook!”

Camilla, the Iron Blood, who was pinned to the wall by Cheonharang.

“Are you okay?!”

Elijah, who was reciting a prayer to cure her, approached her.

Camilla’s eyes were filled with worry, and she answered with an exaggerated smile to reassure her.

“Do I look like someone who’ll get hurt? I’m done for. Hurry up and help that sloppy warrior.”

For a moment, Elia looked as if she was hurt, but she soon seemed to realize Camilla’s intentions and nodded with a determined expression.

“… Yes!”

“… Go quickly. It hurts.”

Camilla frowned as she saw Elia leave completely.

‘… Something feels strange.’

It’s strange that he’s still alive, and not stuck in a wall.

No. It’s strange that a battle that should have ended long ago has continued until now.

In that vein, Cheonharang’s attitude is strange.

If you happen to be subjugated, would you like to have Cheonmu-myeong included in the warrior’s party in the records?

What the hell is that?

How dare you ask such a favor of an enemy with whom you are fighting for your life.

‘… Well, if you please, Grandma.’

Actually, there was nothing strange about that request.

Considering the affection I have for her, it is not a request I cannot grant, and I also know well how much she cares for her disciples.

When there is no one to look after a disciple, isn’t it natural to leave it to someone else?

But, what is strange is that now she seems to be moving as if she has decided that she will be subjugated.

As proof, he is alive.

The battle that was too embarrassing to even call a battle became a real battle after her words.

Additionally, although she was pinned to the wall, there were no injuries to speak of, including Camilla herself.

As if she wanted to subdue him.

‘…why?’

While recovering, Camilla tried to think about why.

-Phew!

It never ended.

“Keuheup… !”

A faint groan is heard.

Camilla’s head rises reflexively.

What was in sight was a woman who had collapsed.

Camilla, no. Those here were like nothing I’d ever seen before.

“… Grandma?”

The first thing you notice is her complexion.

“… Sigh.”

She was looking at my abdomen, frowning as if in pain.

The heads of the group naturally move to follow her gaze.

“What the… .”

And then I saw.

There is a holy sword embedded in Cheonharang’s abdomen.

The Holy Sword was covered in crimson paint as if it were a brush, and was painting Cheonharang’s clothes.

A thud. Camilla’s heart sank.

Clearly, it was a plan to subdue Cheonharang as a last resort.

‘Are you really going to die?’

It was really strange to see Cheonharang, his friend, collapse to the ground, gasping for breath as if he was going to die.

To use a metaphor, it’s like the saying, ‘The crow is white.’ It feels like two words that don’t go together are connected.

Seriously, Cheonharang is about to die.

Meanwhile, the owner of the holy sword that pierced the abdomen.

“Fuck…Fuck… .”

Lucius was also spewing out inappropriate curses.

Slap. Lucius sank to the floor as if his legs had given out.

Perhaps, not only Lucius, but everyone else is thinking similarly.

“Ah… .”

The last enemy, the Heavenly Horse, who replaced the Demon King, has disappeared. This is something to be happy about.

Sure, we won the battle, but I feel like we lost somewhere.

A heavy silence falls.

No one could say anything.

Instead of joy, my heart was weighed down by inexplicable sadness and guilt.

A feeling of pressure that makes you dizzy.

The first one to move was the bell.

“Ha, Harangnim… !”

Watery eyes, trembling shoulders.

Her emotions were palpable even though she wasn’t involved.

“Block the abdomen! You can still save her!”

“Chi, prayer for healing…!”

Starting with Bell’s voice, the voice flows like a dam that was blocking the flow of a river collapses.

But it couldn’t last forever.

“Stop it… .”

Among them, Anna and Lucius, who had been silent, spoke in complicated voices.

“… It’s already too late.”

I could tell because they were warriors, because they were warriors.

It’s already too late.

The wound caused by the Holy Sword could not be healed by any miracle. There was no way to save her, since her abdomen had already been pierced.

“Where is that!”

Camilla, who was one of the most desperate ones, looked at Lucius and Anna, gritting her teeth.

But she had no choice but to keep her mouth shut.

Lucius and Anna also seemed very sad, as they could not look Cheonharang straight in the eye.

At that moment, Camilla realized.

It’s not working.

It’s too late, my friend is really dying.

I’m going to be alone again.

“… Grandma.”

Camilla staggered and approached the slumped Cheon Ha-rang.

“Grandma… You could have just said you would stop. You could have lived happily together with us. But why on earth did you do that… .”

And then, he poured out his resentment.

“No… You should have just won. Didn’t you succeed? Why did you come back?”

Cheon Ha-rang, who had been listening to him quietly, simply smiled instead of answering.

“… Is this the time to laugh?! Say something-”

Soon, Cheonharang’s body began to become blurry.

Instead of falling down, I literally just started to blur.

As if under some kind of magic.

“Don’t go…!”

But no one found him strange.

Cheonharang is a being that spans half the sky, no. Maybe it is a being that surpasses the sky… my god.

Rather, it was strange that when she left, she died like an ordinary person.

“… Rest in peace.”

The sky gradually fades like a mirage.

The unspeakable sounds of those looking at him spread.

Before I knew it, the moon had completely set, and only the bright, ignorant sun rose in the sky.

Soon, Cheonharang’s presence completely disappeared.

“Aaak… !”

* * *

At that moment, the top of the Cheonmasingyo.

Unlike those who remained on the mountaintop, screaming, she was smiling brightly as if she had realized something and found light.

“Coolook…! Don’t let anyone in.”

“… Yes.”

Cheon Ha-rang, who had been forcibly stopping the blood flowing from his abdomen, headed to a small room in the corner.

A place where I usually sit cross-legged while having breakfast.

“… Before it’s too late… You have to remember your senses.”

Cheonharang sat down on the floor and began to eat breakfast.

Soon after, her body floats up.

A room without any lights is illuminated by five-colored lights.

Before she knew it, the wound on her abdomen had completely disappeared.

‘Ah… So that’s what it was.’

Cheonharang thought.

After a long time, I felt the sensations that I had lacked, such as pain, for the first time after reaching a certain level. And for the first time in my life, I decided to sacrifice myself for someone.

That’s why it seemed so.

I’ve been so stupid up until now.

I never thought of it that way before.

Besides, I wasn’t sure about myself.

I was swayed by other people’s words and saw the path as narrow.

The God-Slaying Sword Technique was a completed sword technique from the beginning. It couldn’t be otherwise. Didn’t he prove that he could kill a god himself?

Besides, accumulating karma isn’t even funny.

The only way to reach a state like Wuhua Deungseon is to train yourself.

I just remembered that.

I only saw it after I stopped.

I began to see clearly beyond the wall that had blocked me.