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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: cyno
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Despite not using any flashy techniques or high-level martial arts, not even drawing upon my middle or great dantian, I’ve become a hot topic.
Perhaps it’s because there were so many enemies. In the end, I’ve become the talk of the town.
I’ve been the subject of gossip for a long time, but it doesn’t feel welcome now.
At least people aren’t looking at me with negative eyes.
“Our sect is deeply indebted to you, Great Hero.”
The leader of the Hangshan Sword Sect, the Hidden Dragon Sword, is one of them.
“……Is that so.”
“If there’s anything you desire, please tell us. We will spare no effort to fulfill your wishes.”
“Anything…….”
His words are all too familiar to me.
I’ve heard them almost every day when I devoted myself to righteousness and justice.
Have I acted righteously after so long?
No, absolutely not.
I was merely acting as a bodyguard, protecting my master.
I cut down the swarming enemies and protected my master.
It’s different from the past, when I moved with genuine intent to help and protect the weak.
“There’s no need to go that far.”
“Yes, Great Master, just say the word. We will do anything.”
“Just prepare a carriage and some provisions. We’ll leave as soon as Geomhwa wakes up.”
“Ah, yes! We’ll do that!”
“And… when you make the official announcement later, don’t say anything unnecessary. That’s all I ask.”
“Huh? Unnecessary… talk?”
The Hidden Dragon Sword looked puzzled.
Does he really not know what I’m talking about?
Or is he, like others, turning a blind eye to inconvenient truths?
“The title of the Seven Flowers. Didn’t my lady defeat Bihwa in their duel?”
“……Huh?”
It seems he really didn’t know.
Perhaps Namgung Soso hasn’t told him yet.
The last time I saw her, her mental state didn’t look good, so that must be it.
“Soso… lost to Geomhwa……?”
But why is the Hidden Dragon Sword acting like this?
Crack-.
It’s not hard to understand.
The Hangshan Sword Sect is declining, and they no longer have a peak expert like they did before the war with the Blood Cult.
Their only hope, Bihwa Namgung Soso.
And now, Namgung Soso has lost to Geomhwa and lost her title as one of the Seven Flowers.
They might even be expelled from the Nine Great Sects.
Of course, he wouldn’t want that.
As the sect leader, it’s only natural he wouldn’t want that. His pride must be hurt too.
He might even vent his frustration on the situation itself.
But even so.
“Control your killing intent. If I wipe out the Hangshan Sword Sect today, will you finally understand reality?”
“…Ah! I’m sorry! I must have lost my mind for a moment…! I’ve been so stressed lately that I just snapped…!”
Right, it must be because of stress.
Because of stress, he even entertained the thought of mass murder against a peak expert who had just saved him.
……Does that even make sense?
No matter how stressed, no matter how out of his mind.
Is that how a human being thinks?
Even if it were the Blood Cult or the Demonic Cult, at least the righteous sects should have some sense of morality, right?
Unintentionally, I saved such people?
By slaughtering dozens?
“…I see.”
“Hehe… I’m sorry……. As expected of a Great Hero, your heart is truly broad…!”
But it’s strange to be surprised now.
Haven’t they always been like this?
Grateful for my help, vowing to repay me with their lives.
Just in this lifetime alone, thousands have said such things to me.
And how did those bastards treat me when I fell from grace?
I know there’s nothing they could have done.
Even I, who hold nothing but resentment, admit that Namgung Bin, the greatest strategist in the world, framed me.
If it were just rumors or suspicions, maybe they could have done something, but the charges were already solid. What could they have done?
In the martial world, I became a public enemy, and the authorities, using my status as the Sword Saint, postponed my execution and tacitly ignored me.
“Well, take care. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Yes…….”
Still, I can’t help but feel disappointed.
I gave everything for them.
My mind, my time, my life, and my death—I gave it all to save them.
And in the end, none of them truly considered me their savior.
“Haha.”
As I walked through the chilly, dark courtyard, a hollow laugh escaped me.
I’ve known this for a long time, so why am I feeling this way now?
Or is it because I’ve finally faced it directly that I feel this way?
Whatever it is, it’s not a pleasant feeling.
“Haha…….”
With that insincere laugh, I headed back to where Jin Gayeong was resting.
“Excuse me…….”
A woman wrapped in bandages, wearing a martial robe, blocked my path.
It was Namgung Soso.
Despite being more injured than Jin Gayeong, she had woken up first and was now standing before me. It’s clear that her martial arts are superior to Jin Gayeong’s.
But why is she doing this again?
Is she still unable to let go of her obsessive feelings for me?
“Bihwa.”
“Are you… leaving……?”
That’s right.
It’s a bit pathetic, and also pitiful.
Why is she like this with me… tsk.
“Yes.”
“Ugh…….”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“No… nothing…….”
She seems to have a lot to say.
Well, if she says she doesn’t, there’s no need for me to pry.
“Then, farewell…….”
As I bid her goodbye and tried to walk past her.
Rustle-.
Namgung Soso grabbed my sleeve.
Her grip was cautious, but there was a determination in it that said she wouldn’t let go.
Thud-.
It wasn’t strong enough to stop me, so I shook her off.
“What are you doing?”
“Can’t… you stay……?”
“Are you asking me to become your subordinate again?”
“No, it’s not about being a subordinate! Just… just stay by my side for a little while……!”
“Don’t say such things. You lost to my lady in a duel, yet you still can’t let go?”
“But still…….”
She’s about to lose her title as one of the Seven Flowers, and her sect might be expelled from the Nine Great Sects.
Doesn’t that matter to her?
Is it just because of me?
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry……. But… I can’t let you leave like this…….”
It’s not unfamiliar for Namgung Soso to act like this.
She did this often during Namgung Cheolbin’s time.
But now, it’s just tiresome.
I know she’s suffered a lot for me.
But that doesn’t erase the words she said to me.
That’s why I tried to ignore her, to pretend nothing happened.
I feel sorry, but there’s also a lot of anger left.
“This is uncomfortable. Do you understand?”
“Ugh…….”
“Then I’ll really be going now.”
Even if I leave now, the martial world is small, so we’ll meet again someday.
I hope by then, our relationship will be more normal…… sigh.
Swoosh.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry……! But… I can’t let you go……!”
There’s no excuse for this.
She even drew her sword against someone in the middle of a duel.
The anger I had suppressed earlier, after the Hidden Dragon Sword’s overbearing attitude, surged again.
“Do you think I can’t break through you?”
I had avoided drawing attention before, but now that I’ve already drawn it, no one will be surprised if I subdue the injured Namgung Soso.
“If I don’t do this… you’ll just leave……!”
“Even if you do this, I’ll still leave.”
“Sigh.”
I reached out, putting a bit of emotion into it.
Crack-.
Even as my hand gripped her blade, Namgung Soso made no move to resist.
What is she trying to do?
Whoosh-.
“…….”
“If you point your sword at me one more time, I won’t hold back.”
I don’t want to put emotion into it, but it seems my mood won’t be easily controlled.
It’s a sign that my mind and body are still not at peace.
I snatched the sword and threw it to the ground, then tried to leave.
Namgung Soso grabbed me again.
I turned my head sharply, and she was kneeling.
“I don’t care… if it’s a trick or whatever…….”
“Sigh.”
“I… I can’t even eat without you… When I try to regulate my energy, it just flows backward……!”
“How far.”
“I’m not asking for much…… just… stay by my side…….”
“How far do I have to go for you?”
“Ugh…….”
“I saved your life. Is this how you treat your savior? Holding me back with unreasonable demands?”
“That’s….”
My words growl like a dog warning that it will bite if touched again.
Perhaps sensing this, Namgung Soso began to sob.
“I… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable… sob!”
What right does she have to cry?
Just being near you makes me uncomfortable.
After saying those things to me, shamelessly asking me to stay by your side.
Click-.
Maybe it’s because of all the frustrating things that have happened.
Namgung Soso, who only thinks of herself, is disgusting.
“You trash, just cut off that dick of yours. It’s disgusting and filthy.”
“Huh……?”
Her head, which had been bowed, slowly rose at my words.
Her face was filled with shock.
The more she looked like that, the more miserable I felt.
“Didn’t you say that to me?”
Thud.
Something fell to the ground.
The pure white mask I had been wearing, hiding my face, was now gone.
“Brother……?”
Namgung Soso’s voice trembled.
Her pupils shook uncontrollably.
Does she even remember what she said to me?
“Brother… you were Byeok……?”
The corners of her mouth twisted grotesquely.
As if denying reality.
Why?
Can’t I be Byeok?
“I’m not your brother anymore.”
“No…….”
“Now, will you let me go?”
“Bro… brother…….”
“Don’t call me that. I’m no longer a member of the Namgung Family.”
“Ugh…….”
People easily forget the harsh words they’ve said to others.
No matter how close they were, or how wrong it was to say such things.
Swoosh-.
Her hand, which had been gripping my foot, slipped away.
Namgung Soso looked as if she had been struck by a hammer.
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