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I grasped Gwangyang’s hand and pulled him up.

“That’s not entirely wrong.”

“…How…”

I turned my head away from the question. I saw a member of the Jegeal Family aiming a sword at me.

Middle-aged. The sword he wielded was sharp. The lingering aura exuded a heavy atmosphere, intensifying the surroundings.

“Are you part of the Former Society?”

“I’m not part of the Former Society.”

Desire.

I anticipated the situation slightly extend, feeling that Gwangyang was standing on the brink of a breakthrough. Therefore, I thought he would leap up that staircase in this critical moment, but…

He became trapped by his own choice of sacrifice. Realization isn’t something that comes at your beck and call, so I will just have to leave the next chance for another time.

I elongated the Cheongeop with my fingertips.

“Hang in there, Gwangyang. If you don’t get emergency treatment, you might die any second. I will only treat you minimally.”

“Wha, what was that?!!!!!!”

A silent scream erupted. Gwangyang rolled on the ground, spitting blood.

Su-ryeon poked him in the back.

“Is he dead?”

“I did this to save him. There’s no way he’s dead. He might just be a little out of it mentally, so I would appreciate it if you could move back for now.”

“Leave it to me.”

I surveyed the surroundings. I could see the warriors from the Jegeal Family eyeing me warily, but they seemed perplexed as well.

“…Who are you?”

The responsible person for the sparring, Jegeal Munhyeon, who had been pushing Gwangyang moments ago, asked me.

“Are you a foe of the Former Society?”

“Not exactly.”

“…What? Then why did you…?”

Are they mistaking me for the one who killed him?

The dressed-up lady shouted at me, her trembling hands filled with malice.

“Y-you scum! I’ll kill Gwang Dae-hyup!!”

“Ah, miss! Don’t do that!”

So that’s…

Is that Jinju Family?

Il-ho stepped forward. The cold eyes exposed above his mask felt chilly.

“Should I kill them too?”

“…It seems there’s been a misunderstanding, so it’s fine.”

Let’s leave the misunderstanding for later.

I placed my hand on Gumang and then pulled it back. This battlefield doesn’t seem fit to draw this weapon anyway, so I let out a sigh.

He’s acting cocky, but he’s not truly a powerful warrior.

And ultimately, they end up using that power to belittle others.

I stretched out my hand. Slowly, I wrapped the blood thread around my hand.

I saw the opponent flinch.

“What…!”

Before his words could finish, the blood thread shot out.

The tip pierced Jegeal Munhyeon’s shoulder.

“Well, I suppose I need to make a statement.”

I pulled on the blood thread.

—Splat!

The severed arm flew into the air. Jegeal Munhyeon blinked in shock, trembling as he gazed at the spot where his arm used to be.

“Ah… ah…?”

I retrieved the severed arm with ease. If it were Ilma, he would’ve used the air to retrieve it, but…

I found this method more comfortable. After all, manipulating the tangible energy feels more natural.

“R-return it…”

“Weren’t you the one eager to take someone’s life first?”

I tossed the severed arm lightly upward.

The flickering blood transformed into a handful of blood clots.

“Take responsibility for your actions.”

“Ahhhh!!!”

With a delayed scream, blood gushed from Jegeal Munhyeon’s severed arm like a fountain. He desperately tried to staunch the wound, drooling as he yelled.

“Kill him!! No matter what, kill him!! Kill them all!!!”

They say it’s pointless to reason with the unreasonable.

I elongated the blood thread, weaving it between my fingers. There was a specific reason I was doing this without using the martial arts knowledge I’d acquired.

The method of utilizing energy. It seemed better to start small to harness the power contained within me.

Training.

This is also training. I slowly moved to master the extended blood thread.

One of Jegeal Family’s warriors shrieked, his face drained of color.

“Y-you fool! Turning the great Jegeal Family into an enemy…! Do you truly want to die?!”

“Quite the opposite.”

“What? What?”

The blood thread moved.

“The rotting Jegeal Family turned me into an enemy.”

…

The young head of Jinju Family, Han Hye-bin, trembled as she observed the dreadful scene unfold.

A sudden intruder. And with every gesture of his hand…

A head fell.

It appeared as if blood snow was dancing from his hand. But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t blood snow.

A multitude of slowly and lethargically moving threads.

All of them combined looked like blood threads. The wielding of them was undoubtedly formidable…

But it was strangely slow. As if he were testing his own strength against the warriors of the Jegeal Family.

With movements even someone with only basic martial arts could see.

More than twenty warriors were gruesomely torn apart, rolling on the ground.

Elite among elites. They were definitely prominent warriors of the Jegeal Family. Even the great Gwang Dae-hyup hadn’t been able to maintain his stance and merely tried to fend them off.

Yet, toying with such warriors?

What on earth…?

“S-save me! Please! I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

The wicked smile of Jegeal Munhyeon faded as he crawled on the ground. Faced with the numerous corpses, he acknowledged he was just another weakling, grasping at his trousers.

“Just… let me live! Whatever you want…!”

“You’re hoping to be spared. The same goes for them.”

“…Huh?”

“The situation is chaotic, so we’ll need at least one person to testify. You’ll take that role. And the one who orchestrated the puppet show will do the same. But until then…”

My hand swiftly lifted.

“Sleep.”

With that simple command, the consciousness of the one who had fainted slammed against the ground. Han Hye-bin stumbled back at the gruesome sight.

A monster.

He is a monster.

I don’t want to approach him. He’s a genuine embodiment of a monster.

If that person just flicks his hand, my head will roll on the ground. Then… everything will be over.

“Ah… ugh…”

He turned his head. Slowly approaching me.

The warriors of Jinju Family flinched, but witnessing the scene before them, they seemed unable to move, trembling in place.

His slow movements.

That hand that killed Gwang Dae-hyup.

“Misunderstandings…”

“Hik!”

Han Hye-bin fainted.

Going beyond the first sighting of such a scene…

She couldn’t withstand the approach of the death god.

…

“……?”

I gazed quietly at the woman who had collapsed without me doing a thing.

She fainted. Perhaps…

She was shocked mentally.

I wiped off the blood from my hands. I had no intention to harm, but now things have gotten a bit complicated.

For now, I should tend to those who have fallen.

“Over there…”

Everyone whose gaze met mine flinched. I could see them trembling and stepping back.

The warriors of Jinju Family were all of that mindset. None dared to leave, yet they weren’t fulfilling their duties either.

In an awkward position. An awkward stance.

For now… I at least realized one thing.

Unlike Jegeal Family, Jinju Family lacks proper martial strength.

“Let’s check on the young head over there.”

I raised my hands to show that I had no intention to fight. Only then did the leader of the warriors, trembling, ask me.

“Who… who is the great…?”

“Gwangyang’s master.”

“Gwang… Dae-hyup’s…?!”

“Let’s move to a different spot.”

I placed my hand on Gumang. The spirit of Black Pearl instantly boosted, drawing forth extreme heat.

—Whoosh!!!

The rampant flames enveloped the blood and corpses in an instant.

In the midst of the erupted sounds, the place where the bodies had been soon turned into white ash.

Of course, I set aside those two who were particularly necessary: Jegeal Munhyeon and Jong Cho-baek.

I had Su-ryeon request their identifications separately. I figured I might have to use them later.

“It wouldn’t be appropriate to converse here, would it?”

“Y-yes…!”

I was somewhat relieved by their obedient responses. Su-ryeon tugged at my sleeve.

“You haven’t heard a word of thanks. Would you like me to encourage her instead?”

“I didn’t do this to hear such a thing.”

“It’ll be a hassle later. Though they crossed the line, we have definitively severed ties with the Jegeal Family.”

“I have no problem severing ties with those who call such things justice.”

“Don’t worry. Even if the whole world turns against you, I’ll stay by your side until the end. Isn’t that what family is for?”

I gently lifted Su-ryeon and nudged her nose.

“…You’re a daughter I can rely on.”

“I want to check out other places.”

“Other places?”

“Um.”

Su-ryeon rested her head on my chest.

“I should ask Sua for permission first. That’s only right.”

“…….?”

We moved locations. During the shift, Gwangyang, who regained consciousness, was panting and gasping for breath before he turned his gaze away, trembling.

He was in a weakened state, unable to escape from the trauma he endured. Therefore, Cheongeop was indeed meant for emergencies. Recovery may be quick, but there’s a strong chance the mind couldn’t cope.

I lightly flicked my fingers. A startled Gwangyang rubbed his eyes.

“Am I… dreaming?”

“If it were a dream, you should’ve had it while lying down.”

After a long time, I touched his hair.

“It’s been a while, Gwangyang.”

“…….”

Gwangyang, trembling, asked me.

“Is it… really… Master?”

“If you didn’t have more than one master.”

“How…?”

“I died and came back.”

“…….”

Gwangyang smiled.

“Master… So, it really seems that way… Haha…!”

 

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