episode_0324

Is it really necessary to be smart in life?

I had a stupid thought.

“Kim Sa-rang is last in writing again.”

“That would be nice. Even if my grades are like that, when I graduate from the academy, my mom will put me in [Changcheon Swordsman]. Who studies because they have nothing else to do?”

[Euncheon Academy] 3rd year. Kim Sa-rang.

I know that I am not smart.

I may not know much, but I have some insight.

But, I hate studying.

It’s more fun to swing a sword than to read.

Even though I studied hard, I was born with a slow learning ability.

I felt anxious because no matter how hard I tried, I felt like I was standing still.

I was afraid of the Academy, which laughed at it as a useless effort.

(I’m sorry… I’m sorry. My love… I only passed on bad things to you.)

The day I first received my report card,

The day my mother hugged me and cried quietly.

I didn’t even know why I was crying, but I was happy that my mother, who had returned home after a long time, hugged me warmly.

Kim Ha-yang, the mother who leads a large guild despite being blind.

A sword that protects people by cutting down both monsters and enemies with a single stroke.

I wanted to be like my mother.

“Wow…”

Since when did it start?

I lost interest in studying, and I would get sleepy just by looking at difficult texts.

I fell in love with a martial arts comic about commanding the world with just force.

After finishing training, I spent the remaining time playing with Jong-rang.

That was enough.

Because I’m happy.

… … .

Thud…

And then, Jong-i collapsed.

A puppy that has been with me since I was little.

A precious family that stayed by his side in place of his busy mother who worked at the guild.

Is it because I keep whining and acting spoiled to you?

I am now an adult, and the passing years have taken Jong-i away.

“Jjongi… Our Jjongi…”

The Daecheongmaru after finishing the discus throwing.

Jong-i in her arms looks very comfortable.

As if sound asleep. As if he would wake up at any moment.

But that’s not the case.

You will fall asleep like this.

I haven’t done anything yet.

I should have told you more about how much I love you.

“I’m sorry for being a spoiled brat… I’m sorry for stealing your snack. It looked delicious because it looked like jerky…”

I’ll apologize as much as I want, so can you please come back?

I held you and cried.

Thud… Thud…

I felt resentful.

There was nothing I could do.

I didn’t even know how to do simple first aid and I didn’t know what to do.

You who don’t move.

Me who can’t move.

A body frozen in place due to lack of knowledge.

Ignorance is the bliss, but perceived ignorance robs a person of confidence.

Even now, holding the still, unmoving Jong-i in his arms was the best course of action.

‘Is this the mind of a demon? My heart aches so much, but how do the protagonists of martial arts novels overcome the mind of a demon so easily?’

I’ll learn something.

If I were a little smarter, if I were a little wiser,

Before Jong-i left… I wish I had made him a little happier.

Acrid resentment runs down my cheeks.

– I found Jongi!

and,

To the stupid ‘me’,

To the fool who can’t do anything,

‘You’ made the call.

– But Jong-i hates me now. Is it because I’m a stray dog? I need Ms. Kim Sa-rang.

– Woof…

I hear a wise voice on the other end of the phone.

It sounded like a bell.

It is the sound of a bell that shows the way to a lost fool.

“We will protect you.”

Sarak…

Banharin, who came up to me without me noticing, takes over Jongi.

Your ears are very sharp. It seems you came here after hearing the phone call just now.

– Woof…

The sound of Jong-i crying can be heard on the phone.

Of course. How could I not know the dog that has been with me my whole life?

I jumped up from the living room and focused all my senses on hearing.

Eunha just entered the main building of the guild building.

Did you find Jong-yi’s soul? Where? How?

Why do you do that?

To Eunha, Jong-i is just a puppy raised by someone she knows.

I can’t understand.

That’s why I stopped thinking.

Anything would be fine if I could meet Jong-i again.

After a while, he purses his lips and adjusts his black uniform.

Sarak…

Banharin bent down and quietly placed the Jongi she had received on the veranda.

“What should I do? I’ll do anything.”

– Take the shopping bag you brought as a gift.

Tick-tock!

The sound of a quick second hand.

The ‘mouse’ approaches in an instant and hands over a shopping bag containing a clay doll.

– Come in through the main entrance. Once you enter, you will see the road.

“Just follow the road? What about the evil spirits?”

– There’s no time. Before it blends into the Milky Way… Gulp…!

“Galaxy is gone?”

– It’s okay. So, Ms. Kim Sa-rang, don’t worry about weird things or rules… Just hold your shopping bag and run as fast as you can.

Before Jong-i leaves.

Pirolong.

The phone call was disconnected.

I guess that means no more words are needed.

“… … Please take care of Jongi.”

“The time to say that has already passed.”

Jong-yi’s body is left to Banharin.

He entrusts his life to the galaxy.

Right now, I just want to thank everyone.

Tick-tock!

The sound of the second hand ticking faster.

So, holding a shopping bag with a ‘clay doll’ in it,

Feeling your body slowly accelerating,

I kicked the ground with all my might.

‘Gear sword! 1 circle!’

Boom!

The body that was shot like a shell arrived at the main entrance in an instant.

I force open the main entrance door that Eunha entered.

Clap clap!

At that moment, applause was heard from the side.

A beautiful woman in a pure white dress.

A silver-gray ‘cross decoration’ is featured on the waist.

When ‘that thing’ who always sat in the corner of the cafe clapped his hands, a cold wind brushed the back of his neck,

Before my eyes, instead of the usual main building, a dark wooden hallway stretched on endlessly.

The world turns upside down at the gesture of that woman.

“Run.”

“… Who are you?”

“My woman, don’t make me sad.”

“You were my sister-in-law.”

『… … Oh my.』

The bloody ‘thing’ leaves behind a strange message and disappears into the darkness.

In an instant, you are drawn into a world of monsters and look around.

‘Bloodstains…’

The surrounding area is covered in blood.

The hallway lights flicker ominously, and there are still bloodstains on the floor that haven’t dried yet.

Judging by its appearance, it seems like it has been stabbed with a blade.

The blood that continued to the end of the dark hallway beckoned for me to follow.

When you come in, you will see the path. Galaxy’s words.

Are you talking about that bloodstain?

‘Galaxy Doryeo… who are you…’

Parsak!

One of the ‘clay dolls’ in the shopping bag breaks.

Intuition tells me.

The number of these ‘dolls’ is your life.

Tick, tick.

All I can hear is the sound of the second hand ticking down the time limit.

There is no time to hesitate.

I moved my stopped legs and ran down the endless hallway, following the scattered trails of blood.

Pass…

The sound of a clay doll breaking.

Kim Sa-rang ran.

With pent-up resentment.

Forget all the ‘rules’ you’ve memorized while thinking of the galaxy, and move forward.

Following someone’s blood trail, turning the corner, forward.

The stupid woman ran without thinking.

Deengㅡㅡㅡ.

I heard a bell ringing from somewhere. Could it be a hallucination?

The sound of the flowing bell contains resentment.

I’ll learn something.

Isn’t it too late to learn it now?

I wonder if Jong-i left because I was stupid.

Is it because I’m lacking and acting like an idiot… that I’m still wandering around here even after Jong-i died?

Deengㅡㅡㅡ.

Every time I think about it, my legs slow down.

Kim Sa-rang gritted her teeth and ran along the blood trail.

Because I miss Jongi.

Because I want to be with you a little longer.

I decided to run shamelessly.

Daengㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

The resonating bell sound is the color of sunset.

There is not a single window in the dark, endless hallway.

Kim Sa-rang’s back was pushed by the sunset extending from behind.

Daengㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ.

Twilight speaks.

It’s not too late, they say.

Don’t be late, says someone with similar grudge.

A coagulated vicarious satisfaction.

But, the sound of the bell ringing on my back was so desperate,

“Chooong!!!”

Following the endless trail of blood,

He shouted loudly.

“I like living with you!”

Crackle.

The clay doll breaks.

One, two.

Past the spider webs hanging in the dark hallway,

Passing by the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere,

Trusting the galaxy’s word, he runs at full speed, ignoring all rules.

“Not yet…! Not even goodbyes! Not even the words “I love you”! There’s still a lot left…!”

Crackle. Crackle.

So, the ‘clay dolls’ in the shopping bag broke one by one,

Now, when there’s only half left…

『… … Ugh…』

Beyond the darkness of the hallway,

A stray dog wagging its tail,

He came running with a powerful thud, accompanied by a pitiful cry.

… … .

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

“Instead of the useless mother, please protect our daughter.”

I have a dream.

It’s an old dream.

When I was only a few months old.

A tiny stray dog meets a newborn baby.

My master who has been with me since birth.

I smelled you.

You are like a warm sundial.

I feel warm when I’m with you.

If you were to compare me to an hourglass, we’d be a pretty good match.

The sand gets warm when exposed to sunlight.

Me too.

Dear Master.

When I think about it, all I have are memories of being loved by you.

“… Before it’s too late. I want to introduce my family. Oh my.”

“… … .”

“Jjong! You should stock up on your internal energy for the time being. When the Milky Way comes, Jjong will show you how to throw the discus, which you are best at.”

A new family member is coming.

Discus throwing, I don’t know if I’m good at it at this age, but I like being praised, so I’ll try hard.

“Wow…”

I went to the hospital.

My body ached. I was scared.

You’ve been living alone, so I’m worried that you might be lonely without me.

“Jjong-ah… Cheer up.”

The big master brought your clothes.

I could smell you in that black gi.

I wasn’t scared anymore.

A familiar smell.

Yeah, just a little bit, here, get healthy,

I will go back home and love my master.

“Wow…”

My beloved.

I haven’t done anything yet,

I wanted to do something,

My time is so short.

So, for this short time, I have lived loving you.

… at the last moment,

I am happy that I can look up at you smiling brightly.

So please smile.

Like the sun that shines brighter than anyone else.

Please continue to live happily even without me.

“Jjong is here!”

If only we had a little more time.

I wanted to be a little more affectionate with you and make you smile…

I send my pent-up resentment high into the sky as much as the warmth of the sunlight you shared with me.

… … .

『Wow…』

But why is that?

At one point, you find yourself wandering through a dark hallway.

I’m scared because it’s my first time here.

There are scary things out there.

I wander aimlessly through dark hallways.

Maybe it’s my mind that’s wandering.

Like a fool, I already received your full love,

I still don’t want to leave your side.

A half-hearted grudge.

I wandered through the dark hallways, following your scent.

“Whew…… Hello, Jong-ah.”

and,

I met a star.

A person who smells terrible.

No, it doesn’t seem to be a person.

『Wow……』

It’s warm, but you shouldn’t approach it.

Could this be the being that came to take me back after I died?

I still can’t even throw a disc properly.

I have to lick your face too, and I have to watch over your bed at night.

Still, I haven’t done anything,

I leave you with only love.

『Cough…… I have to call Kim Sa-rang. She won’t call me anymore.”

And after a while,

The ‘scary guy’ takes out a square object and mutters something.

I heard your voice from the square object.

Before long, your scent approached from somewhere in the dark hallway.

“Jjong-ah. What do you want to do? Are you just going to say goodbye? Or do you want to live more?”

The ‘scary man’ speaks.

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Ugh!

But soon after,

The ‘scary man’ was shattered into pieces like a clay doll.

I took a few steps back, scared by the sound of his pain.

『Wow…』

Dark hallway.

Stare at the ‘terrifying being’ in front of you.

A distance that can be reached with just a little bit of approach.

If I go this way, it will lead me to where I should go since my life has already ended.

『Wow…』

Glance.

Look back.

I see a dark hallway.

I see an endless corridor that is not easy to move through.

It was so dark, so cold, so scary,

I want to sit down and cry, but…

The direction your scent is coming from.

『… … Ugh…』

Long, long ago, when you were still a baby.

I stayed by your side when you were lonely,

I think I’d be lonely without you too.

Knock!

Turn your back on the ‘terrible being’,

I run down the dark hallway.

I’m glad you smile.

I am happy when I am with you.

So, I hope that even a little bit of the happiness I feel is conveyed to you.

『Wow…』

With a body that has become lighter once again.

I run after your scent.

… … .

… … .

“Jjong!!”

And finally,

At the end of the dark progress,

I met you.

Wow!

Kim Sa-rang hugged the dog that ran towards her, wagging its tail.

The ‘clay doll’ put down the half-broken shopping bag,

Hug your beloved family with all your might.

Saaak…

Jong-yi’s body became half transparent and seemed ready to disappear at any moment.

If I had been even a little late, I would never have been able to meet you.

“Jjong-ah! Don’t go! Don’t leave me…!”

『Wow…』

Although we can’t communicate,

It’s okay if you don’t know that I loved you.

Just a little more, love to you.

My loving heart.

… … .

The Blue Sky Sword!

The Blue Sky Sword!

Boom boom!!

At that moment, a loud alarm rang on Kim Sa-rang’s cell phone.

It’s an alarm that a text message has arrived.

Kim Sa-rang checked her phone while caressing Jong-i, who was licking her face.

[Ms. Kim Sa-rang. I’ll send you a potion. Give it to Jjong-i and then go back outside.]

[ Don’t look for me, I have work to do. I’ll go back alone later. ]

A message from the galaxy.

You were talking on the phone earlier, so why are you texting me now?

I called him because I thought something might have happened, but he didn’t answer.

Chae-Ang-!

Then, a sound of a blade falling is heard behind you.

Kim Sa-rang looks back in surprise, and sees a bloody knife lying in the dark hallway.

The sword that Eunha borrowed from herself.

Near the sword’s hilt, there was a potion tied to her hair that Eunha called ‘Original Potion’.

Gyaruruk~!

The laughter of children.

Snap… One of the ‘clay dolls’ breaks apart.

Tied to the handle was hair that glowed with the color of sunset.

The sword that came from the darkness brought a ‘potion’.

Could this be the Igi-eogeom I’ve only heard of?

Kim Sa-rang picked up the ‘original potion’ and frowned.

“Galaxy Doryeo… Is this okay?”

The act of reviving a life that has once died.

It’s scary to even imagine what the price will be.

But it’s already a choice.

Kim Sa-rang handed a ‘original potion’ to Jong-i, who was acting cute in her arms.

“Jong. Going back. To our home.”

I hope you, my love, are happy.

Looking out from the road covered in bloodstains.

May the happiness that has been brought back continue for a long time to come.

… … .

“… … haha.”

Crunch.

So, in the corner of a dark hallway,

The woman covered in blood,

It was a proud moment to watch the puppies leave.

‘This is a happy ending. It was good.’

I think this is a bargain for the price.

The galaxy was happy.

It’s a happy ending for everyone.