episode_0457

The ominous aura of the now hostile Angela pours forth.

“Ah…”

Beside her, Seoyeon’s face turns pale with fear.

Overwhelmed by the pouring aura, she seems crushed and unable to resist.

With one hand on my arm and the other lightly sweeping down the back of the person clutching their chest, I soothe them.

“Take deep breaths.”

“Uh, okay…”

By manipulating the surroundings to calm the aura, Seoyeon finally manages to breathe properly.

“I knew Angela was strong, but I didn’t expect this level…”

The ferocious aura, akin to a wild beast, clearly asserts her presence to everyone.

However, it merely conveys her superficial strength.

Only when one reaches a level where they can glimpse her true power can they truly understand her.

Or when they become her enemy and face her.

“That person is truly formidable.”

Even as fellow disciples, could such a vast gap lead to despair?

Seoyeon, with a gloomy expression, bites her lower lip tightly and bows her head.

I strike at her in that moment.

“If the skill gap between that person and our senior isn’t too wide, then that would be unfair, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

The person looks at me with narrow eyes and pursed lips.

Perhaps feeling upset because I’m not taking their side.

But in Korean culture, you must always listen until the end.

“Don’t be impatient. When Angela reaches your age, the seniors will be even stronger.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I don’t lie about having skills, at least.”

“Yeah, that’s true. That’s why Dojin is a wallflower.”

A smile spreads across their lips.

But it’s short-lived.

“But… what do we do now?”

“…I’m not sure.”

That’s my concern too.

How to navigate through this predicament.

I scrutinize Yoon Myungho hidden behind Angela’s back.

Despite regaining composure outwardly, his aura has significantly diminished.

Yes.

It must be so.

If Angela had to resort to brainwashing even with the headband, it means she’s used a trump card, but not exerting force further would be more dangerous.

I quickly envision the future in my mind.

As I try to share this with Seoyeon, the person makes the first move.

“No need for long explanations. Just tell me what to do.”

Such high trust, almost burdensome.

“As you experienced earlier, the senior’s power is extreme brainwashing.”

“Yeah, I felt it too.”

“So, face him again.”

Seoyeon, determined, asks with a heavy expression.

“Angela…”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Are you… sure?”

“No.”

I can’t even joke about being okay.

That’s how strong she is.

Comparable to the strongest opponent I’ve faced so far.

“Holding out for long is tough. So the senior must succeed.”

There’s only one way to counter this difficult situation.

“We have no choice but to hold a sword to Yoon Myungho’s neck and stop Angela.”

Her role is no different from the others.

As long as she holds the man’s life in her hands, Angela won’t act recklessly.

A heavy sense of responsibility.

Seoyeon, who had seemed burdened moments ago, now wears a resolute expression, nodding firmly.

“I understand.”

“I won’t be able to help this time.”

“I get it.”

“…Even if it means a high chance of death?”

Death.

Seoyeon doesn’t flinch at the chilling word, instead smiling confidently.

“I won’t die.”

“Huh?”

“If I die… Dojin, you’ll die too. So, I won’t die, I’ll win.”

Yes.

That’s right.

“Okay, got it.”

I feel it.

The distance between me, unable to shake off parental concerns, and the person has grown even further.

It’s bittersweet, watching your child grow up and leave, realizing they’ve outgrown your embrace.

With a smile that could be mistaken for joy or disappointment, she picks up the blood-stained black hilt lying on the ground, clutching it tightly in her hand.

“Sunbae.”

“Yeah.”

“If I charge at Angela, you go around immediately.”

“Got it.”

“And one more thing.”

“What…?”

Eyes wide open, she leaves one last word directed at Seoyeon who is looking this way.

“I will not ask about anything I show you from now on.”

It seems she can’t hide her strength against that woman.

—

Her heart races.

With each beat, a pleasant surge of energy runs through her body as if it might burst at any moment.

Pressure? Responsibility?

Those feelings aren’t really registering.

Despite the imminent danger, she felt good.

“Dohjin’s life depends on me.”

In other words, he entrusted his life to her.

What does that mean?

In her younger days, she asked her parents.

When did they feel loved by their mom and dad?

They both gave the same answer as if rehearsed.

-“Hmm, well. When did you feel like it was okay to entrust your life to someone?”

-“I thought, ‘I can entrust my life to this person.’”

She didn’t understand the significance back then.

Neither did her parents.

They just repeated that she would understand when she grew up.

“Now I get it. What that feels like.”

From then on, her parents’ love, which had been merely companionship, began to burn brightly.

Of course, being able to entrust your life to a companion doesn’t necessarily mean falling in love with them.

But she felt it.

“There seems to be no reason why I can’t do it.”

Gripping the handle of the sword even more lightly, she inwardly resolves, “Let’s save him. Yes, definitely.”

Even if there is a chance of dying, she won’t betray that trust.

As her heart starts to weigh heavier, in a fleeting moment,

Boom!

Kim Dojin next to her lets out a roar and lunges forward.

Seoyeon, astonished, follows his back with wide eyes.

Whether she likes it or not,

Kim Dojin closes the distance in an instant and aims the sword at Angela’s sturdy fortress.

Clang!

Her strike is easily blocked by the shield Angela raises.

Kim Dojin then turns his head towards Seoyeon, signaling her.

“Ah…!”

Seoyeon, snapping back to attention at his gaze, leaps forward.

“Brainwasher…!”

After briefly forgetting her goal, she fixes her eyes on it and charges ahead.

“Oh no…!”

Angela, delayed by the blame for the interference, tries to push her away but is met by Kim Dojin swiftly blocking her path.

“Move… Get out of the way!”

“Try breaking through.”

“You damn brat!”

Whoosh!

A fierce wind sound accompanies the swing of the cudgel.

“Eek.”

Dodging by swaying her waist backward, she quickly returns to her stance with a swift counterattack.

Thud!

“Stop bothering me!”

The large shield reacts swiftly to any attack, covering most of her upper body.

Through this, she calmly reassesses her opponent’s strength.

She realizes the flaw in the brainwashing.

Due to blindly following orders, her vision and thinking have significantly narrowed.

This means limited flexibility in thinking or movement.

“I might be able to endure a bit more than expected.”

However, that doesn’t mean she can win against her opponent with some clever move.

The gap isn’t narrow enough to bridge with just that.

“Huuyah-!”

With a beastly roar, Angela charges forward at a furious speed.

Clad in heavy armor, she moves with such force that her speed is hard to follow with the naked eye.

And it’s impossible to evade.

The only choice left for her here is clear.

“Bring it on.”

It’s absurd to think she can withstand such immense force with her frail body.

However, he was not a warrior now, but a wizard.

“A wizard has their own way of doing things.”

He utilizes a tightly controlled flow.

A fierce wind grips her ankles so strongly that even opening her eyes becomes difficult.

Whoosh!

Countless spikes and pillars rise like a silk road, blocking her path.

Thud!

Thump!

“Gah…!?”

Her speed diminished by various adversities.

Finally, she erects walls made thinly twisted with magic in front of her, directing some of the shockwaves emitted by her towards a different direction than where she stands.

Then, she positions her sword diagonally to face the impact.

Roaaar-!

“Ugh……!”

Breath nearly cut off.

Bones and muscles scream for mercy.

Crack!

The sword, unable to withstand part of the impact, vibrates before ultimately shattering.

Rumble!

Despite all this, being pushed back over 10 meters without fully absorbing the shock, she finally comes to a stop.

Only then does her previously severed breath return, inhaling sharply.

“Huff!”

The battlefield momentarily freezes.

Angela’s fierce charge, giving it her all, thwarted by just one man.

Yoon Myung-ho’s conviction that she would be the lifeline to rescue him from this battle shattered.

And Son Seo-yeon, engulfed in immense shock, remains frozen in the stance holding her sword.

Kim Do-jin’s swordsmanship displayed to block Angela.

It was his father, Son Si-woo’s swordsmanship.

Not merely imitation, but almost perfect.

“How did Do-jin learn Dad’s swordsmanship…?”

In a scene almost incomprehensible, her mind becomes muddled.