Episode 78
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Kyeonjio stared intently at Choi Da-wit.
“There are circumstances like this. If you tell me the gist of it, I might change my mind after hearing it.”
“… … Uh, what.”
“Judging by the way, it doesn’t seem like it’s usually urgent.”
Choi Da-wit, who has never brought up anything since their first meeting.
There were no indirect, primitive (and ignorant) ways to encourage someone to join a guild, such as offering to bring them food.
Honestly, I felt a bit… … stupid.
‘How on earth is this guy supposed to live?’
I felt frustrated while watching it.
I have seen countless people asking me for favors over the years.
Among them, there were some sages who confronted them head-on like Baek Do-hyeon, some politicians who approached them from the periphery like Jang Il-hyeon, and some weaklings who grabbed them by the hem of their pants like Yoon Kang-jae.
Choi David did not belong to either side.
On a subject that has eyes that are just as desperately in need of help as theirs.
Choi Da-wit answered with an awkward expression.
“What, you’re… … a reclusive master who likes to stay in the shadows?”
Naive and innocent.
“As a fellow martial artist, I wanted to respect you and understand you, but what can I do when things don’t go my way?”
It’s stuffy.
“I don’t want to forcefully break that stubborn guy, so I’m just waiting… … trying to persuade him in my own way.”
Honestly.
Choi Da-wit’s wild hair flutters in the rising mountain wind. Choi Da-wit smirks.
“And, you fucking bastard, you said, ‘Why do we need you in Hae-ta?’ How dare you cling to me after hearing that, you bitch!”
In the desert, on the streets, in hell.
Choi Da-wit, who barely managed to survive while rolling around at the bottom, had no pride.
Her pride began to grow after she began carrying the name “Hae-ta.”
It was from that moment that the name that had been passed down for a thousand years was added before my shabby and unattractive name.
The pride of 〈Hae-ta〉 is the pride of Choi Da-wit.
So, Choi David couldn’t ask for help from anyone or anywhere.
“Ah, okay, okay! Why do you keep talking like this? You’re just fucking ruining the mood, dammit.”
Percussion!
A hand that scratches Geo’s back.
Choi Da-wit grabs Geo, who staggers for a moment, and cries out, “Agugu.”
Sorry, sorry. I can’t control my strength.
“This ignorant… … .”
“I’m sorry. Hey Dojeon, is today your last day in Seorak?”
“How did you know?”
“I can tell just by looking at you, X. You’re not wearing any fancy monk’s clothes. Let’s go! I have a place to show you.”
Born a ‘stranger’.
Even within his own sect, he was considered a problem outlier, so Choi Da-wit’s only friends were the white bird and the young monk who followed him around.
Even though my heart is still complicated, I can’t deny that I’ve had fun these past few days.
Hands are intertwined.
Geo felt a rough and hard texture, completely different from my hand.
Choi David whispered. With a lot of laughter.
“Hold on tight, sister.”
WHEEK-!
Yaaho! Choi Da-wit, who had pulled Geo and Dongja Seung, turned around and threw himself into the clouds.
Fall, fall backwards.
Between the wind and the clouds, Choi Da-wit’s laughter rang out for a long time.
“Please, next time, go alone.”
“… … Shit. What I’m saying is.”
Ppakkaki, you said it perfectly.
Geo covered his mouth, turning pale. Ugh.
[Your Covenant, ‘Reader of Destiny’ is indignant that that little brat is forcing someone’s child to go skydiving and causing a ruckus. Is he crazy?]
[Is my baby okay? Are you really surprised? The ‘Fortune Reader’ is fidgeting and waving his handkerchief in a pitiful manner.]
“Oh, sorry! I’m just so excited!”
“Lord, kill me… … .”
“Hey, it’s better since you came quickly, right? Stop joking around and look around.”
Geo, who was about to shout out in anger, “Who are you kidding?” stopped.
As soon as I took my mouth off the covering, the scent of flowers hit me.
“… … .”
Shh …
Choi Da-wit muttered in an excited tone, stretching.
“Isn’t it just as good as Baekrokdam?”
A lake in the clouds, in the middle of a mountain ridge. A field of mist flowers surround him.
Every time the wind blew, the flower petals brushed across the surface of the water.
“This is my favorite place in Seorak. It’s so ironic… … that the horrible nightmare of March left behind such a magnificent view.”
“… …March of nightmare?”
“uh.”
Choi David raised his finger and pointed across the lake.
In the middle of the field of baby’s breath, there was a pure white stone monument. It was huge.
“The first-class Seoraksan gate that opened during the nightmare of March is right here.”
“… … .”
“Half of the lions are buried here. We collected the remaining bodies from Hae-ta and erected a monument to honor the patriotic spirits.”
There was no longer any trace of the horrific battlefield.
Snow fell and rain collected in the deep wounds of the earth, forming lakes. Millions of flowers bloomed in the land that had been soaked in blood.
Geo walked towards the tombstone.
When I looked closely, it wasn’t white.
“It’s silver.”
“Well, because he’s a ‘savior’.”
Beneath the monument were colorful wreaths. The colors stood out so vividly in the blue and white field of baby’s breath.
“How many people have already been there… … ?”
Choi David was shocked.
“It comes around April 1st every year. It’s the exact time when people visit Seoraksan.”
“That’s why I came too.”
“uh?”
“Dad. My dad died in March too.”
“……ah.”
Geo muttered, staring blankly up at the tombstone.
“There is a memorial tablet at Wolgye Temple. That’s why I came to this mountain.”
Names were densely engraved. At the very bottom, there were words carved with magical power by their fellow hunters.
Geo found familiar writing and magic there.
[Life, glory, death, sorrow]
While alive, you will be honored, and when dead, you will be mourned.
[Peace be with you]
It was Eunseokwon and Beom’s handwriting. Both phrases were in line with their personalities.
The image of a grieving old man and a man smoking a cigarette behind him is vividly depicted.
They also come here every year… … .
Jianjio realized it slowly.
Young Geo grew up mostly in Eunseokwon’s mansion after Gyeontaeseong’s death.
I spent most of my childhood there, so every March and April was the same.
All the members of that mansion are benefactors.
All of them, including Beom, were the lion’s closest associates who had spent a long time with Eun Seok-won. Now, they have retired from active duty…
So they too must have gone through this nightmare month of March. And they must have visited this place every year without ever letting on in front of a child.
The benefactors, Geo’s family, they’re all like that.
In the time that Gyeonjio carelessly threw away, countless sorrows were hidden along with consideration for the child.
I’ve been thinking a lot. Just a little bit.
Geo sitting on the lakeside.
Behind them, a little way away, two members of Hae-ta were whispering quietly.
“… … Oh, so why are you bringing me to this grave out of the blue and causing this trouble!”
“No, f*ck… … . Did you ever think that at this point I’d blurt out ‘My dad too’, you punk? I put a lot of thought into bringing you to the most eye-catching place, f*ck, f*ck.”
‘Hey… I can hear everything. Those guys aren’t giving me a chance to set the mood.’
“I don’t know. Your Excellency, you really can’t do anything properly! That’s why you get your nose cut off with your eyes open!”
“What, Inma?”
“Honestly, from the beginning! Everyone knows that the Third Elder hates the Elder. After being treated like that for years, how can you be so mean just because I acted friendly with you for a few days! Just hand over all your authority!”
“Hey, hellelelani! That newbie! That Baek Yeo-shi was really nice back then!”
‘fool…….’
“No, then when the elders and the senate come to question you, you should just say that it wasn’t you who did it! You’re admitting to things you didn’t even do and couldn’t say!”
“Huh, okay, anyway! It’s true that I gave you the authority, so what! That, that’s it!”
‘A fool who has been fooled by politics… ‘
“Everyone is angry, so you’re hot-tempered and you’re getting angry again! You’re saying that it’ll all work out if you just resolve it, so you accept all the ridiculous conditions!”
“Mom, that’s… … !”
“And that’s even with the resignation of the acting head of the clan! What kind of joke is the acting head of the clan?”
“… … .”
‘Yeah, you have nothing to say. You shouldn’t have anything to say. You’re a bit harsh.’
“The clan is already split because of factional strife! If they take away the acting position, the internal traitors will be thrilled and spread all the family secrets, skills, and everything outside!”
“… … .”
‘Sick… … But the more I listen to it, the more I wonder why the scale is like this… … .’
“Then, before the lord even returns, Hae-ta will really collapse!”
“… … .”
‘… … .’
……yes?
A guide to proper living for rankers.
