Episode 99 When I return from this journey.
After leaving Akingok, I went to Namdojong, where Hyeolcheondoma’s residence is located.
Seo Dae-ryong, who was training in the yard there, was startled when he saw the white mask hanging from my waist.
“omg! no way? “Did you kill Extreme Soma as well?”
Seo Dae-ryong must have been surprised at what I said, so he quickly covered his mouth.
“of course. “Would I have let such a villain live?”
When I spoke coldly, Seo Dae-ryong lowered his hand covering his mouth and seemed relieved.
“Fortunately, the. “I really thought he was dead.”
“I told you I killed him!”
“Mr. Gakju, you are not foolish enough to carry evidence of murder around your waist.”
“Are you asking if someone who knew it killed him?”
“I was so surprised the moment I saw it. But what is that mask? Are you planning on infiltrating Wicked Valley?”
“Why would I need this to infiltrate there? “You will need it when you infiltrate.”
Now my Pungshinsabo has risen to the point where no stranger can detect my presence.
“This is a gift given to me by Extreme Soma.”
Seo Dae-ryong was even more surprised than before.
“Geokaksoma gave it to you as a gift?”
“That is also a gift that Soma himself paid a lot of money to buy at Maga Village.”
“I’m more surprised that he carried money around. I think I’ll just kill him and take it. Anyway, Mr. Gakju will be the first and last person to receive a gift from Extreme Soma.”
“Investigator Seo.”
“yes.”
“What we don’t know as much as what we know about people is our future. “Could you have imagined on the day when we first met that you and I would have this conversation in the yard of the old man’s house in Hyeolcheondoma?”
“Well, that’s right. “When I was tricked by Mr. Gakju in a bar, I never knew that this hell of training would be waiting for me.”
I smiled as I saw him sighing.
“Someday you will say this again. “At that time, I really didn’t know that training in hell would save my life.”
Seo Dae-ryong looked at me and smiled. Seodaeryong itself is a being that proves that statement. Because I couldn’t see any crookedness or depression from him anymore. People don’t know what’s ahead of them.
I left him as he started training again and went into Hyeolcheondoma’s house.
Hyeolcheondoma was taking out books from the bookshelf.
“If you play around like that, you’ll end up flying.”
“Does a noble person who reads poetry and paintings say such degrading things?”
“That’s because you’re using something so unlucky.”
When entering the room, he wore a white mask as a joke.
I put the mask on my head like a hat, just like I did for Extreme Soma.
“Tomorrow, I will be excommunicated together with Extreme Soma. “He came to me to ask me to do some school work while I was away.”
Hyeolcheondoma continued to remove the book from the bookshelf and spoke without turning around.
“If you don’t worry, it will run on its own. “It goes on without me, and it goes on just fine without you.”
“Yes? It’s working so well that it’s a shame. “Please tell it to Geomjon-nim on my behalf.”
“I?”
“yes. “I’m busy so I can’t say hello.”
The reason I bothered to ask Hyeolcheon Doma was because I wanted to use this as an excuse for the two of them to meet one more time.
Hyeolcheon Doma also probably guessed my intention and didn’t bother to reject it. In times like this, it is clear that he also wishes to reconcile with Geomzon.
“Then I’ll be back.”
I was about to turn around and leave when Hyeolcheondoma asked from behind.
“Are you really planning to attract the evil Soma to us?”
“If not on our side, at least we won’t make them our enemies.”
“Is there really a need for that?”
“If Extreme Soma joins hands with his brother, things will become several times more difficult than they are now.”
“In any case, Extreme Evil Soma is not someone you can truly serve as a grand duke.”
“That’s the problem. The two will move on, exchanging tasks and rewards at an appropriate distance. Due to their personalities, there will be no emotional fights or hurting each other’s pride. So you will get along better than Mabul.”
Because that was actually the case. The two worked well together and ended up being closer than Mabul or Hyeolcheondoma.
“Then I’ll be back.”
“Wait a moment.”
He put the books that Hyeolcheon had taken out in a different place than where they were originally placed. The moment the last book is put into the book.
Slurp.
The bookshelf opened and a secret room appeared. It was an elaborate secret passage that opened when a specific book was placed in a specific spot.
Rather than the fact that there was a secret room here, I was more surprised that he opened it without hesitation in front of me.
Hyeolcheondoma entered the secret room and came out with something.
He casually threw what he took out on the table in front of me.
“Take it.”
“What is this?”
When I opened the well-packaged item, there was a thin top inside.
“It’s a ghost suit. “If you wear it, it will hurt less when you get hit.”
It wasn’t a little less painful. Guihoui was the highest level of treasure, the sword’s impenetrable sword.
“Are you really giving me something this precious?”
“I see.”
“Please wear your clothes.”
“What am I supposed to do when I’m old? “It’s ugly.”
“Then sell it out.”
“By selling?”
“It’s about making money.”
“What if you earn it?”
Come to think of it, he had no blood relatives to pass on his property to.
“Take a tour of Jungwon and eat delicacies from the mountains and the sea.”
“What about delicacies from the mountains and seas? “As I get older, I have trouble digesting the noodles I ate for lunch.”
It broke my heart because I knew it wasn’t just a joke. I know because I experienced it too. No matter how expert you are, getting older is inevitable.
“Don’t you want to wear it? “If you don’t like it, don’t.”
“That can’t be right.”
When he tried to take it back, I quickly snatched it away and wore it on the spot. Wouldn’t it be polite to wear this type of clothing on the spot?
“It’s perfect! “It’s really comfortable, isn’t it?”
It was thin and elastic, so it felt like I wasn’t wearing anything. If you wrap the Geukpum Cheonjamsa on top of this and exercise the Heavenly Demon Defense, your body will not be cut off even if you are hit by sword energy or sword energy.
Hyeolcheon Doma, who was far from condescending, went out to the yard where Seo Dae-ryong was and started nagging him, fearing that I might even say thank you.
After watching the two people practicing martial arts for a while, I quietly left his residence.
I do not intend to repay Hyeolcheon Doma with words.
* * *
“When does it leave?”
For some reason, Ian wasn’t more worried about me than he was about the chopping block.
“tomorrow morning.”
“Then I can’t have a farewell party. “Ah, I was wondering if we could all get together for a drink after a long time.”
“Ian! Now is that algebra? I’m going to the midfield now with Extreme Soma. Wouldn’t it be dangerous? I will escort you! Where did you go? My old Ian!”
“I miss you too, dear Ian.”
“This is all because of training. “I have to stop it.”
I walked over and looked at Ian’s hands. The layers of calluses on her palms told of her hard training.
“There’s something different about holding a sword these days.”
There was no further explanation, but I knew what she was saying.
The Bicheon Sword Technique, which has reached eight levels, must be constantly tempting and stimulating her. Let’s meet a strong opponent and fight.
Although he is still inferior to me and the Magons, his skill in Bicheon Sword Technique, which has reached eight levels, was truly a skill that would be difficult to find an opponent in the martial arts world.
“I will come back trembling with fear from that scary Soma.”
“I heard you personally went to Cheonmajeon and received permission to do that scary thing?”
“Who heard that from?”
“Investigator Seo has already gone.”
“He’s probably the cheapest right-hand man in the martial arts world.”
Ian didn’t laugh at my joke.
“I was always the first to know the news about you. “If you were to leave school like this, of course I would follow you.”
“Are you sad?”
Then she burst into tears and her true feelings came out.
“Yes, I’m sorry. “I am so, so sorry.”
With a long sigh, her suppressed emotions poured out.
“I’m worried! I want to follow you and protect you! Although I am no longer a bodyguard and have been undeservedly given the position of Lord Commander, what I still want is to be by your side and protect you. I am a person who wants to die next to you, even if I die. That’s my dream… If I become a better expert than I am now, I will be able to truly protect the master. I will have to endure and train until I become such a useful person…”
Then Ian burst into tears.
“…I know you’re very busy and having a hard time…so I wasn’t going to tell you this…I’m sorry. “I will be training hard.”
Eventually, the tears she had been holding back fell from her eyes.
“Pack your bags.”
For a moment, Ian was startled.
“I’m sorry, I was wrong. “Please don’t kick me out.”
“What are you talking about? Pack your bags. “Let’s go together tomorrow.”
For a moment she was startled.
“really?”
“You are right. If you don’t protect me, who will protect me? Come with me. “Go and protect me without any regrets.”
“great! really good!”
For the first time in a long time, I jumped up and down because I liked Ian so much.
“Thank you, Master. thank you so much.”
“It’s hard to leave home, so what’s the point of being thankful? “Even our companion is said to be a very evil soma.”
“I’m going, even if it’s not the extreme soma, but the leader of the cult! See you later. I have a lot to take care of. “Women have a lot to prepare for!”
Ian rushed out of the training center first, as if he was busy.
Looking at her excited look, I realized one thing.
Martial arts training is good and changes in life are good, but the feeling of jumping around because you are happy right now is the most important… This moment is the most important.
Perhaps, behind my desire for her to become stronger, there was a selfish desire to put my mind at ease?
Wasn’t there a cowardly unconscious thought that her suffering would soon become mine?
Her life is so vivid and ongoing, and I may have forced her into this retreat to hide my anxiety.
I finally realized that the real time to perform the new poison purification technique was the moment when I overcame my anxiety, regardless of her. So I was able to make a decision.
Yes, now is the real time.
When she returns from this journey, she will return as a different person.
* * *
The next morning, I went to Agingok with Ian.
When we arrived, Extreme Soma had already prepared to leave.
“I’m going to go quietly and take just one friend with me.”
The mask of the faceless guest introduced by Extreme Evil Soma had a cool blue line drawn on it.
“It’s blue cotton.”
He greeted me politely. As the right hand man of Extreme Soma, I knew him well.
His martial arts skills were excellent, and his loyalty was even greater. Even when he came to find the Great Law of Return, he was still the right hand man of Extreme Evil Soma.
And he was also an unfortunate person who could not become the next Extreme Soma because Extreme Soma lived too long.
I also introduced Ian to them.
“This is my escort.”
Ian politely greeted Extreme Soma.
“This is Ian. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
I added one thing.
“It is also my heart.”
Ian’s face turned slightly red, but since she was in her seat, she remained silent and lowered her head.
Extreme Soma laughed at my words and said.
“You gave your right arm and told me where your heart was.”
“I want to reveal all of your weaknesses so you don’t even know where your real weaknesses are.”
“Now then, shall we leave?”
“great.”
Geukaksoma and I got on the carriage, and Ian and Cheongmyeon sat in the driver’s seat. The two people greeted each other lightly with a nod from the coach seat. Although it was the first time they had seen each other, the two had a consensus that they were protecting their owner.
As the carriage departed, Extreme Soma did not hide his joy.
“feels good.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to Jungwon, so I’m also happy.”
I meant it. For a while, I was confined to the church and only visited Hwangcheongak, the training center, Cheonmajeon, and Pungryu bars.
Whenever I felt frustrated, it was a shame because I used space-time anomaly to rest in a new place. If it weren’t for that, it would have been really frustrating. So, there is no need to mention the frustration of the extremely evil Soma who has been locked up for two years.
“I see you brought that mask.”
Hanging around my waist was the white mask he gave me as a gift.
“Soma gave it to me, so of course I have to take it.”
“I’ll make it something better, not something cheap like that.”
What he meant was that he would create something that could not be seen from the outside, just like the one he was using.
“No, thanks. “I like this better.”
“You like that?”
“Didn’t Soma buy it for you himself? “That is enough.”
“Gongja Lee. I am a person who is suspicious of people when I see them. “The more pleasant things people say, the more suspicious they are.”
“Of course you should be suspicious. “You’re doing such a good job to someone whose nickname is the worst, but isn’t there an ulterior motive?”
“What is Lee Gongja’s intention?”
I grinned.
“You said it would be harder to make different facial expressions, right? I actually like it better. “In times like this, you can cover up the answer with such an ambiguous expression, right?”
He couldn’t ask any questions. I also didn’t urge him to keep his promise to take off his mask.
“Why don’t you ask me where I’m going?”
“I will go somewhere in the boring world.”
Extreme Soma laughed loudly at my joke.
Meanwhile, the carriage left the main school and began to speed up towards the central area.