Chapter 349
His heart was beating endlessly.
The breath that had built up in his chest was expelled roughly. Sweat that had flowed down his forehead kept streaming into his eyes.
"Huu-uk. Huu-uk."
The thick smell of blood piercing his nose was fading. No, he had grown accustomed to it. To this smell of blood that filled the world.
Chwaaat.
Wei Jeong-han shook off the blood that had gathered on his sword.
How long had he been fighting?
And how many people had fallen, spilling their blood on his sword?
Meaningless blood.
And meaningless death.
What on earth was this battle for?
There was no time to think.
Seeing three Ghost Head Blades flying toward him, Wei Jeong-han clenched his teeth tightly.
This place was a battlefield.
A place where life turned to death and humans turned to corpses.
A place where thinking was unnecessary.
Kaang! Kaang!
The Ghost Head Blades that had been flying were deflected by Wei Jeong-han's swinging sword. His sword, thrusting like lightning, sliced through the demon cultist's neck.
Seo-geok!
Along with a sound that never became familiar no matter how many times he heard it, the demon cultist's head bounced up into the sky. The headless body swayed and then collapsed to the ground, convulsing.
Blood spurting out.
The thickening smell of blood.
'If only it would rain.'
Then this smell of blood would fade a little.
The sight of the battlefield never became familiar no matter how many times he saw it. Each of them, before coming to this place, must have harbored their own thoughts and their own will.
But when battle began, humanity disappeared.
What remained were only those consumed by hatred, wanting to kill their opponents.
'I'm no different either.'
If it weren't for the battlefield, he wouldn't have even thought of taking the lives of those charging at him with a single strike.
A place where it became all too natural for each to kill the other. That was the battlefield.
There was no hesitation in killing people. Wei Jeong-han wasn't kind enough to think that the demon cultists needed mercy.
But if these weren't demons, would Wei Jeong-han have hesitated?
Probably not.
There was nothing here.
No righteousness, no meaning, and no great cause.
Whatever he thought he was vaguely pursuing didn't exist here. What existed here was just the smell of blood piercing his nose and humans struggling desperately to survive. Yes, only humans.
"Keuk!"
At the sudden pain he felt in his leg, Wei Jeong-han stopped his feet. Someone who had fallen to the ground had swung a blade, cutting his thigh.
It was something he always had to be careful of, but on a battlefield where corpses were scattered like weeds, it was impossible to confirm everyone's death.
Pu-uk!
Wei Jeong-han, who had cut the throat of the demon lying down, raised his head.
The sun was setting.
Looking at the red sunset gradually spreading from the western mountains where the sun was setting, Wei Jeong-han felt a strange emotion.
The earth was dyed red with blood, and the sky was being dyed with sunset. A world completely turned red.
Where was he going?
'Righteousness?'
What a joke.
What righteousness could he find on this battlefield where everyone was only bloodthirsty to kill and be killed?
"You've lost your reason."
At the voice heard from behind, Wei Jeong-han flinched.
'Here?'
He was already quite far from the main force. Had he been pushed back here already?
No. He hadn't been pushed back. He had failed to keep up with the main force's movement. Because he had been absorbed in killing and being killed.
Yet there wasn't a single person who called out to him.
Was it because everyone was distracted? Or was it because?
'How ugly.'
Wei Jeong-han curled up the corner of his mouth.
On the battlefield, one could only take care of their own life. Yet wasn't he trying to blame others? Self-loathing began to fill his body.
"Your face is familiar. Was it Wei Jeong-han? Yes. Righteous Hero Sword Wei Jeong-han."
"To think that demon soldiers know my name. What an honor."
"It means you've been causing quite a commotion. That too ends here."
The demons began to surround him.
Their number was ten.
If he judged coldly, even in his best physical condition, it would be difficult to handle three of them. Which meant.
'I'm going to die.'
Wei Jeong-han smiled bitterly.
Dying after being swept up in war.
It was a plain death, nothing special. The only regret was…
"A dog's death."
"You were brave. If you hadn't been an enemy, I would have given you praise. If you had known the will of the Sacred Fire…"
"We don't seem to be in a position to have a comfortable conversation."
"That's right. That's what makes you the Righteous Hero Sword."
Righteous Hero Sword.
Wei Jeong-han could only mock his own situation.
What was righteousness and what was heroism?
He had never once achieved the righteousness and heroism he himself wanted. Yet what were these people seeing in him to discuss righteousness and heroism?
The fact that those who acknowledged his bitter nickname weren't his allies but his enemies was making Wei Jeong-han feel empty.
'Be detached.'
Wei Jeong-han closed his eyes slightly.
If he had fallen into a swamp of death from which he could never escape no matter what he did, he shouldn't resist—it was better to face death head-on. Showing an unshaken appearance until the end was his last remaining pride.
"Let's make a bet."
Wei Jeong-han raised his sword with a bitter smile.
"How many of you can I take with me?"
A tense atmosphere settled between Wei Jeong-han and the demons.
But that tension wasn't long-lasting.
"Attack!"
As soon as the command fell, ten Ghost Head Blades flew toward Wei Jeong-han.
'Be detached.'
The moment Wei Jeong-han gritted his teeth and put strength into the hand holding his sword.
"There's no one who can be detached in the face of death."
Chwaaaaaaaak!
The sound of silk being torn rang in his ears.
But what was torn wasn't silk.
People.
To be precise, demon cultists.
All the demon cultists who had been charging at Wei Jeong-han crashed to the ground with their waists severed.
Rain.
A rain of blood falls.
Wei Jeong-han was hit by the rain of blood pouring down, a downpour that seemed to fill the entire world. With somewhat dazed eyes, he raised his head.
He saw a familiar back approaching the last remaining demon cultist.
And the sight of the demon cultist trembling like he had seen a ghost also entered his eyes.
"Why, why are you…"
Kwa-deuk.
The words couldn't continue.
There was no way someone with a pierced throat could speak. The demon cultist with eyes full of disbelief slowly collapsed to the ground.
"Should I have waited a bit longer? I wanted to see if you could really remain detached until the end."
Wei Jeong-han sighed lowly.
"There's no need to confirm such useless things. I probably would have pissed myself and begged for my life. That's the kind of person I am."
"Oh my. If you come out like that, I have nothing to say. You're good in every way, but the problem is you're really no fun."
"How did you know to come here? Hong-wol."
Hong-wol turned his head.
'Like a painting.'
Every time Wei Jeong-han saw that man, he couldn't shake the impression that he was looking at a painting. It wasn't just because his appearance was outstanding.
He always exuded an indescribable atmosphere. A deep atmosphere that seemed like it would draw people in just by looking at it.
"You seemed to have fallen away from the main force, so naturally I thought you'd be in crisis. You have unexpectedly foolish aspects."
"Ha…"
Main force?
A guy who was never seen in the main force sure talks well.
He's still a guy full of secrets.
Still.
"So you abandoned the main force and came? You're crazy."
"How does it feel to receive help from that crazy guy?"
"Very disgusting."
Wei Jeong-han chuckled and shook his sword.
'To take down demon cultists of this level in one strike.'
It was strength beyond common sense. He knew he was strong, but to this extent.
The Righteous Hero Sword was also famous for being strong among young martial artists, but compared to Hong-wol, he was nothing more than a firefly before the sun.
'No, is there anyone who could beat that guy?'
He was a man who made one think such thoughts with just the occasional glimpses he showed.
But why, despite having such skill, were there no rumors about him?
The more he knew, the more unknowable the man became.
Hong-wol scattered the blood on his hands and gestured with his chin.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
Hong-wol quietly raised his head to look at the setting sun.
Wei Jeong-han couldn't take his eyes off that sight.
That man's appearance always made him feel a deep emptiness. As if his heart was sympathizing with the emptiness that man was feeling. What kind of deep regret and emptiness must he be harboring for even him to be swept into that emotional whirlpool?
The expression had disappeared like a lie from Hong-wol's face as he lowered his head again to look at Wei Jeong-han.
"Well… The sun is setting, so the battle will end. Neither this side nor that side intends to go to the end."
"That's right."
"Then it's obvious. Let's go have a drink."
"I'll be treated as a casualty of war."
"Isn't that good too? Your next nickname will be the Righteous Hero Sword Who Returned from Hell."
"Bullshit."
Hong-wol giggled and walked ahead.
Wei Jeong-han shook his head and followed behind him. Strangely, he couldn't refuse what that guy said. No, perhaps the anxiety and dissatisfaction building up inside Wei Jeong-han only found release when he met that man.
Because the deviation he couldn't boldly commit alone became natural when he was with that man.
Even so, there was one thing. There was a doubt that wouldn't clear from his mind.
'Why does he look so lonely?'
That man's back, that is.
* * *
Wei Jeong-han was staring blankly at the ceiling.
'How terrible.'
It was something he had lived erasing for nearly twenty years. But why was he remembering it again now?
And as such a vivid dream that seemed within reach.
Wei Jeong-han rubbed his face.
After dreaming of Hong-wol, he always felt a sunken mood. A heavy feeling like his body was being endlessly sucked into water.
It was strange.
Looking back, the time spent with him was always enjoyable. But why did he feel this way when he thought of him?
'I must forget.'
Recalling those memories again was of no help. To him and also…
Wei Jeong-han suddenly got up from his seat and opened the window.
Clear sunlight gently shone through the window, tickling his body.
As if comforting him.
"Hong-wol."
Wei Jeong-han muttered quietly.
"The children will live in a bright world. Unlike us. I think that's what I should do."
It was enough for only them to walk the path of anguish, with fate entangled with fate. The children should live lives unrelated to such pain.
"Yan-ho is going to receive an award from His Majesty."
Wei Jeong-han smiled bitterly.
"Of course, you would congratulate him. Right?"
Beyond the blue sky, Hong-wol's voice seemed to be heard.
The voice of a friend he could no longer hear.
"I must prepare."
Wei Jeong-han turned around.
There are truths in the world that should not be revealed. For everyone's sake, he intended to keep the secret forever and take it to his grave.
"So watch over them. How the children live."
Wei Jeong-han's bitter voice slowly flowed out.