episode_0248

“Son, wisdom passes us by like time.”

A giant bell tower connecting the earth and the sky.

The man rang the bell to signal the beginning and end of the day.

only,

That should have been it.

… … .

Daaengㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

The time when the sun rises.

The man who shaved off his long beard climbed the bell tower again today.

Daaengㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

The ringing of bells.

The ‘sunset mana’ contained in the bell sound spread out in all directions.

Then people woke up, opened their windows, and started their day.

This is a world where time passes.

A city where the solemn sound of a bell resonates through the heavens and earth.

“Learn something.”

As time passed, the foolish man grew up.

But today too, I ran to the bell tower and rang the bell.

“Go outside and see how other people live.”

“Why?”

Parents’ words.

But is it really necessary to learn it?

The man had such thoughts.

A life where the bell rings twice a day, at dawn and dusk.

Is it necessary to study hard?

The man threw the book his father had given him onto the sofa and ran to the bell tower.

“Son.”

“Wisdom is time.”

Daaengㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

The words of the mother and father, whose foreheads are full of wrinkles,

I was swept away by the sound of the bell that shook the heavens and earth.

That wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

… … .

“Hey, let me teach you how to play chess.”

The city where the bell tower was built.

There were only old people here.

The back of my hands and face are covered with wrinkles,

Old people who give off a musty, musty smell when you get close to them.

The man hated them.

Because you keep trying to teach me something.

“Edible wild vegetables look like this. To avoid stomach upset later…”

“Get out of here. There’s dirt on the floor.”

“Hey, I’ll teach you how to make a fire with stones and wood.”

“Use a match.”

“Aren’t you interested in swordsmanship? You can cut up wild animals with just one pair of chopsticks.”

“What can someone with a bad back teach?”

Old people who are willing to teach something.

Parents who bring one thick book a day.

Because I thought it was useless to learn,

The man ignored their words and returned to the bell tower.

Daengㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

So the sun set, and twilight ended.

The bell rang to end the day, and the wrinkled old men returned to their homes and locked their windows.

“Tsk. Useless…”

Rough rough.

The man muttered, stroking the beard growing on his chin.

Old people wake up to the sound of a bell and fall asleep to the sound of a bell.

The city seen from the top of the bell tower is shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

‘What can old people who don’t know the time without me teach?’

As rice ripens, it bows its head,

Because as people get older, they seek higher places.

Because I couldn’t stand the eye level getting lower as my back got bent.

The top of the huge bell tower,

The man looked down on the dark city from a higher place than anyone else.

… …

… … .

Ring the bell.

When the man rang the bell, morning dawned, people opened their windows and began their own lives.

When the man rang the bell, it was night, people locked their windows and went to bed.

His job is to ring the bell when the time comes,

The man thought that by ringing the bell he was giving time to the world.

Time was on his side,

It was something he could control at will.

“… … Huh. The bell won’t ring tomorrow morning. You all have to have some trouble. ”

Unwise,

It was the thought of an extremely foolish person.

… … .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s mixed up.

These are painful memories.

Kwak…

Eunha escapes from [Hope School] where monsters are obsessed with their studies and returns to [Euncheon Academy].

As the ‘memory’ entered her head along with a faint dizziness, she unconsciously hugged Kim Sa-rang, who was next to her.

– Joo… Joo, are you dead? Really?

– Are you guys crazy? [Changcheon Sword Song]!

– I didn’t know you’d really fool me!!

( 『Here’s the latest news. [Changcheon Sword Master] Kim Ha-yang’s only daughter, D-class hunter Kim Sa-rang, is found dead in the [Euncheon Academy] gymnasium.』)

What comes to mind is Kim Sa-rang collapsed in the gym storage room.

Three people in [Euncheon Academy] uniforms run away, making a fuss while looking down at her who has stopped breathing.

Kim Sa-rang’s death wasn’t due to a monster.

That’s all there is to it.

– I just did what the old man told me to do… Since it was called a surprise box, I thought it was just a surprise…

– … … It’s okay. It’s not our fault. You guys had a hard time trying to please Kim Sarang all the time.

The ‘memory’ that came to my mind came back so vividly,

[Grandpa Park] I couldn’t tell if it was something from the future or something that had already happened in the past… so I hugged Kim Sa-rang like this.

This is because I couldn’t tell whether Kim Sa-rang in front of me was a person about to die or a dead person.

“Whew…”

Fortunately, Kim Sa-rang in his arms is warm.

That alone may not give us certainty, but it does give us hope.

Eun-ha thought that Kim Sa-rang, who was here, was ‘still’ alive.

“Beep!?”

Kim Sa-rang, the only daughter of [Changcheon Swordsman], was suddenly embraced by Eunha.

She was so shocked that she forgot what people were saying and froze like a stone.

Because if you make a mistake, the soft D-class hunter Eunha might get hurt.

Although Galaxy and himself are of the same D-class, they differ in minor areas.

If the other side has weak physical ability, then this side has weak brains.

Soft brain and soft fist.

Because of that, Kim Sa-rang received Eunha’s hug while standing stiffly at attention, and she tightly closed her eyes at the softness of her chest being pressed against hers.

Got eaten.

I had no choice but to express it that way.

‘I feel like I’m going to bounce off the pressure… This is bulletproof qigong…!’

It is clear that Eunha was taught martial arts by a ghost, as she was previously teased in an indoor martial arts studio.

If I am the successor to the previous swordsman, will I become a death row inmate with her?

Kim Sa-rang’s eyes sparkle as she exclaims in admiration at the galaxy’s gigantic internal energy pocket.

Fortunately, class is in session right now, so there is no noise passing by in the hallways.

I calm my pounding heart, thinking that the professor’s voice coming from inside the classroom is the sound of Buddhist chanting.

“… … Ah. I’m sorry.”

How long did we hold each other like that?

Eunha, who came to her senses with a start, released her arms from around Kim Sa-rang’s neck.

Kim Sa-rang, who barely managed to break free, bounces gently and takes a step back.

“Ugh… I got pushed out…?”

“Fortunately, you look fine. I don’t feel anything strange.”

“Of course…… Thank you.”

Kim Sa-rang, wearing a stylish black dobok, took the prize.

I can’t help but be impressed by his restrained posture and gestures, like those of a martial arts master.

When Eunha, who followed the lottery ticket with a smiling face, asked what she was thankful for, Kim Sa-rang covered her reddened face with the hand she had taken the ticket from, recalling the soft feeling just now.

‘You only covered your own eyes. Are you an ostrich?’

Galaxy looked around the Academy hallway with a complicated smile.

After fiddling with the handle of the carrier containing the [Black Book] and making sure no one is listening, he pats Kim Sa-rang on the shoulder.

‘I realized one day that in order to share wisdom, you need to get on the same level as others.’

He looked at Kim Sa-rang with kind eyes.

Eyes of unknown depth.

Kim Sa-rang, who trembles in surprise, unconsciously grabs the sword on her waist.

“Don’t worry.”

“… … Wouldn’t it be normal to ask why there?”

“I think I know.”

“I suddenly got goosebumps… Are you a Milky Way? Are you possessed by an evil spirit?”

“It’s me.”

After much thought, he puts the sword away.

Eunha lowered her eyes with a kind smile.

“Kim Sa-rang. Listen carefully… You must never mention the ‘demons’ we just met.”

“… … Hmm. I know. Since ancient times, evil spirits have been known to come to those who boast about their existence with murderous intent. It was the same in the horror movie I saw last time. ”

“Ah. Yes.”

“But in the end, the movie’s main character, Haomen’s Heavenly Horse Namgung Jin, used Tai Chi to summon an evil spirit into his body. Then, he himself became possessed by the demon and became one with the evil spirit in front of his lover. Even thinking about it now gives me goosebumps.”

“Ah… Yes?”

Is this a horror movie?

I don’t know about that.

It won’t be a proper movie.

“To cut down the evil spirits’ thoughts and prevent innocent people from falling into misery… From the moment I inherited the name of the Sword Demon, my lonely fight has already begun.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Hmm. I don’t know. It’s probably just a person’s words.

Even though you have wisdom, there are many things you don’t know.

Eunha, who had learned new wisdom, looked at Kim Sa-rang with interest.

Then, she blushed and covered her eyes with the hand she had used to grab the lottery ticket.

‘Anyway, you’re saying you won’t tell anyone. Then that’s okay.’

Although we couldn’t communicate verbally, we understood the meaning.

Eunha smiled softly at Kim Sa-rang’s confident attitude.

… … .

The most urgent thing right now is emergency treatment for Kim Sa-rang, who has become ‘awake’.

And the ‘murder’ that will happen in the next few hours.

A life-threatening situation from both monsters and humans.

Only by blocking both of them can Kim Sa-rang’s life be saved.

“Okay, Mr. Kim Sa-rang. What did I say?”

“Don’t tell anyone. Stay with other people.”

“Okay. Just remember that.”

“I feel like I have another mom.”

Galaxy, who had warned her several times, saw her off while caressing the smooth back of her hand ‘out of habit’.

For some reason, the back of my hand, which is clean and wrinkle-free, feels awkward.

Kim Sa-rang’s fingertips are still trembling from the fear of facing ‘those things’,

He quickly shakes off the fact that the nickname “stone head” was not a lie and confidently enters the classroom where class is taking place.

Click-.

“The next question is… Cadet Kim Sa-rang…? When did you leave the classroom?”

“Well, um… I couldn’t concentrate, so I went out for a walk.”

“Cadet Kim Sa-rang is awake during the written test… and even tries to concentrate… She is really great. I support the cadet’s desirable growth.”

I mean this sincerely.

The young female professor, who had her blue hair brushed up, gave a few words of encouragement to Kim Sa-rang, who had taken off her school uniform and was now wearing a black dobok, and then continued her lecture where she had stopped.

“Where did you go, love? Everyone was worried because you suddenly disappeared~.”

“Hmm.”

When Kim Sa-rang returned, the student sitting next to her greeted her warmly.

‘… Kang Na-ri’s third older sister said she was the youngest professor at [Euncheon Academy].’

Thud.

Kim Sa-rang’s head falls down after sitting down and opening her textbook for less than 5 minutes.

I’m tired of being entangled with monsters.

Eunha, who happily watched her depart for dreamland while receiving the attention of the other cadets, strolled down the quiet hallway.

A hallway without a speck of dust.

A pair of black slippers turned upside down in the corner, kicked around by people as a prank.

Someone runs their fingertips over the wall, leaving a knife-slashed mark.

– Oh my! I’m going to the gym for a bit! My friend said he found a box containing martial arts secrets, so I’ll show it to you guys without telling anyone else!

Close your eyes and think.

One day today.

A stream of water that must have flowed without fail.

Gather little bits of wisdom in a hole,

It infers a ‘what if’ that is infinitely close to the future.

– … … I’m sorry to say this, but is that kid really your friend? I’m worried.

– … … .

– I wish I could bring my friends over to my house once in a while. I’ve never brought any over before.

A voice on the other end of the phone.

Kim Sa-rang has no friends.

A slightly different future.

– … … Yes, that’s right, Mom! I’m going to the gym!

She hung up the phone with her mother and confidently headed to the gym.

That was just the story.

“… … Seriously, my head hurts.”

Pass…

I swept the wrinkles off the back of my hand.

Her skin, which had aged over time, quickly recovered thanks to the ‘self-healing’ skill.

Thump… thump…

At that moment, ‘something’ approached from the side.

The hem of a pure white dress comes into view.

Po-ok…

Was it because you were bored? Did you teach them as many nursery rhymes as you wanted?

A sullen expression passed by,

Hands still full of hesitation shyly grabbed the hem of her clothes… and then suddenly grabbed Galaxy’s inner energy pouch with both hands and held it up like a pedestal.

“Oh, what is this? Don’t skip the middle step because you’re shy.”

“It’s heavy.”

Fat voice.

Still, my body feels light because someone is carrying the heavy things for me.

Galaxy, who thought positively, pretended that nothing happened and focused on her thoughts.

‘In the end, the problem is on the people side…’

The monster side is not the problem.

Because at the right time, the two of them can be left alone and their memories can be erased with the power of the [Forgetfulness Saintess].

Unless you want to get the ‘Cross Decoration’ from [the Black Man] like Banharin, that’s the best option for now.

So there is only one question left.

Ugh…

I lean against the wall, my head aching from the headache that is coming on.

It’s okay. It’s just because I suddenly started using my brain that I hadn’t used before.

– I just did what the old man told me to do… Since it was called a surprise box, I thought it was just a surprise…

I looked inside through the classroom window.

Kim Sa-rang, who is sitting in the back corner, is surrounded by three familiar cadets.

They don’t seem like friends.

He was looking down at Kim Sa-rang, who was sleeping soundly, with an insignificant gaze.

A relationship that is physically close but lacks goodwill.

So, the guy called ‘Mister’ must have given them a ‘surprise box’.

– Hey. Isn’t this box dangerous? Take a look with your [Close Encounter] skill.

– … … … … It’s okay. Let’s give it to Kim Sa-rang.

– So what if it’s dangerous? Even if it becomes X, it’s his life, right?

– That’s right.

Someone once said, forgetting is a blessing.

That might certainly be the case.

‘Then… what I have to do is…’

I don’t know.

Will her presence change the future and make everyone happy?

Eunha waited for class to end while stroking the smooth back of her hand.

… … .

… … .

“Hey, you’re a person with a bad temper. If you go around the academy with that body, the cadets will have a hard time.”

After a while, class ended and the students left the classroom.

Eunha was leaning against the hallway wall, intending to wait until Kim Sa-rang, who was sleeping face down on the classroom desk, woke up.

She made her usual smiling face as she looked at the blue-haired female professor approaching her.

A robber.

The name engraved on the professor’s name tag.

A beautiful blue dragon is engraved along the edge of the nameplate.

“Hello. Are you Kang Na-ri?”

“… … Do you know my brother?”

“Working at our store.”

“Are you working?”

“It’s a cafe.”

The older sister’s credit rating toward former debt collector Kang Na-ri is as bad as Kang Na-ri’s credit card.

Eunha shrugged her shoulders at the professor’s sharp gaze as he pushed up his glasses.

… … .

Galaxy leaning against the wall with a languid gesture.

Professor Kang Do-na looks at her with displeasure at her mere presence, but greets her with a friendly attitude.

“What are you doing?”

“They’re sticky.”

Hiding behind the galaxy, he gently intertwined his little finger with hers,

The woman in the ‘pure white dress’ is stopped by Eun-ha as she picks up the glue she found in the music room’s dresser.

“Hey. Some guy handed me this and asked for you. Is that you? ”

“Don’t know? Let’s go first. Hello, teacher.”

Next to them,

Three familiar cadets pass by.