“Yul.”
There is something Master once said.
“Living on, there will come times when it feels like the world is being especially harsh to you alone.”
To him, he was a parent and a friend. A friend and his everything—words that man would often say while seating young him upon his knee.
Swoosh.
The hand stroking his hair was rough, yet tender.
“Each time, try to remember.”
The voice that told him this was parched, yet gentle.
“Though the world may make things difficult for you. It is to say that it is not your fault, Yul.”
Words said as if to comfort Seongyul, who had come back in tears after being terribly bullied.
Young Seongyul had nodded at those words, but even after much time had passed, he could not understand them.
Was it truly not his fault?
A world gradually scorched black.
Killing intent that threatened to burst forth at every moment.
Things he could not control no matter how much he recited or recalled the enlightenment learned from the Taoist sect.
I want to kill.
I want to kill everything I see.
He did not know why he had to.
He did not even know why he became like this.
But he felt he absolutely had to do it.
For it seemed as though that was the very reason he had been born.
Around the time when, unable to endure any longer, he had bitten down on his Master’s hand with all his strength—
The Master stroked Seongyul’s back with the same expression as always.
Saying it was alright.
Saying he could endure it.
Saying he could do it.
At those words, he had tried to endure.
He changed from biting his Master’s hand to biting his own.
On days when it was simply too hard to endure, he burrowed under his blanket and faced the darkness.
He lived like that.
A cursed life.
The Master who had accepted such a being.
Recalling only that, he had somehow endured until now.
The Master was his enclosure.
The enclosure that embraced and protected him. Because the Master was there, he could endure; because the Master was there, he could live.
But.
*What should I do now?*
With such a Master gone now, how was he supposed to live?
It was the thought that had come to him when he first killed another person.
Blood on the blade.
Seongyul looked at the one he had slain with his own sword.
Pierced all over, dead cruelly.
They had said the man was a criminal who had assaulted a woman from the neighboring village and fled.
“...”
What had he felt back then?
*Swoosh.*
That day, rain fell from the sky. A day when it poured like madness, so much that some regions had reportedly flooded.
He had been there, watching the blood flowing away in the deluge and the man dying coldly.
Guilt over having killed a person after living as a disciple of the Taoist gate.
Fear over having finally taken a human life.
It would be a lie to say such things were not there, but swallowing down all those heavy emotions, what had lain at the center was—
Ultimately, ecstasy.
“Huu... h-huk...”
He was moved.
So a dying human being is this splendid.
Even in the rainwater, the reeking blood was thick, and the scent brushing the tip of his nose was incomparably tantalizing.
How could it be this beautiful?
He was instantly addicted to killing.
The moment he realized that.
“U-ugh...!!”
Seongyul collapsed to his knees and vomited.
“Keuk...!”
He could not bear his hideous self.
Himself admiring a person’s death. He was hardly human.
He felt like a monster and could not endure it.
“Heu-eok... heuk...”
Swallowing his sobs, Seongyul picked up his sword.
The same sword that had madly slashed the man.
That sword now aimed for Seongyul’s neck.
If it must come to this, then let him die.
Rather, let him die and vanish.
The moment he resolved to cut his own throat—
“Yul.”
“...”
At the faintly heard voice of his Master, Seongyul had to freeze as he was.
“It’s alright.”
Recalling the words his Master had said to him.
Recalling the face of the old man who had smiled even with his end before him.
“So, you must live.”
Seongyul could not bring himself to place the sword.
“...Aah...”
Could a life prolonged like this truly have any meaning?
Could he, who would ultimately become a monster, truly have any worth as a human?
“Please...”
If anyone knew, he wished they would tell him the answer.
That Seongyul back then—
had prayed thus, in the rain.
“Jin Imseok.”
“...”
At the voice, Seongyul opened his eyes.
Beyond his brightened vision, he saw a spacious area.
A wide, flat place made in a square, and the countless spectators surrounding it.
*Thump—!*
Having confirmed this, Seongyul’s heart beat wildly.
Bugs.
The crowd filling the surroundings was like insects.
He wanted to trample them all to death and dye the world in blood.
The moment such a thought arose, he immediately clutched his chest.
*Huu.*
It was alright.
Calming his breath, he recalled:
He is behind me.
So it is alright.
Seongyul repeated this endlessly and cleared his head.
“Jin Imseok. Are you alright?”
At the referee’s words, he nodded.
“We shall begin now. Are you truly alright?”
Words asked to confirm his condition.
The answer to that had already been decided before it even came.
“Yes. There is no problem.”
“Very well.”
At this, the referee’s gaze turned to the opposite side. To the one standing before Seongyul.
A figure painted ink-black from head to toe.
*...I think he was called Biseongdo.*
The young leader of the Paeng family. Biseongdo Paeng Ujin.
He was definitely the young man called such.
“Paeng Ujin.”
“I am ready as well. As always.”
“...Very well. Then, prepare for the duel.”
At the referee’s words, Paeng Ujin smirked.
Seeing that smile, Seongyul felt a strange sensation.
*What is this?*
It was indescribable.
A bizarre sensation that could not be explained in words.
One might say wariness arose instinctively.
Seongyul slightly furrowed his brow at the unknown energy.
“You are called Young Master Jin?”
“Yes.”
Jin Imseok—a name he still was not used to.
But since he had told him to do so, Seongyul merely nodded.
“I see you are quite close with our Gu Gongja.”
“...Excuse me?”
*Our?*
Somehow the tone mixed in those words felt a bit strange, but Seongyul did not bother pointing it out.
“What do you say?”
“What are you speaking of?”
“They say a friend’s friend is also a friend. I too am on deep terms with Gu Gongja. So how about Young Master Jin also building friendly relations with me?”
“...”
What was this all of a sudden?
In this bewildering situation, Seongyul could not say much.
Of all times, saying this right before a duel—was he perhaps mocking him?
Such a thought flitted by, but Seongyul decided not to dig deeper.
*There is something important.*
He had something to gain from this duel.
He must not be shaken by pointless matters.
*Srrng.*
Before answering, Seongyul first drew his sword.
Seeing this, the smiling Paeng Ujin slightly stiffened.
“First, I apologize.”
“Oh...! A refusal? That is most regrettable.”
“Rather than a refusal—allow me to correct you. I am not a friend of Gu Gongja.”
“Hmm?”
He and Seongyul could not be tied together with the word friend.
“I am simply following behind him. It is not a relationship worthy of being called friendship.”
Following behind did not mean following the footsteps he had walked and would walk.
Literally, he was simply following behind him.
“Furthermore.”
Seongyul put strength into the hand holding his sword.
“I am grateful for Young Master Paeng’s words... but should a connection be formed, I would hesitate to point my blade. So I must decline, with apologies.”
He did not wish to hold back.
Because he somehow had to win this duel.
“Hmm.”
At those words, Paeng Ujin let out a sound of regret.
Even so, he did not erase the smile he wore.
“Truly regrettable. Though incomparable to Gu Gongja... Young Master Jin also possesses quite a decent color.”
*Color?*
Did he mean his martial uniform, his eyes, or his hair?
Seongyul briefly held a question, but Paeng Ujin merely continued his words.
“Young Master Jin’s words are perfectly understandable. That is why I find it all the more regrettable.”
Forming a bond would make it difficult to point a blade.
Paeng Ujin understood those words all too well.
“That is precisely why I wished to form a connection.”
“...?”
The moment Seongyul frowned upon hearing those words.
“Ready.”
A voice came from the referee.
At those words, Seongyul tensed his nerves sharply.
He must not let his guard down.
Seongyul absolutely did not want to let his guard down against Paeng Ujin.
Before ascending the stage. Gu Yangcheon had clearly said:
“Do everything you can. If you don’t, come down and I’ll kill you.”
A warning that sent chills down his spine just hearing it.
While cold sweat trickled down just from recalling it, Seongyul grasped the meaning within the words.
An opponent against whom he could use all his strength.
Gu Yangcheon had given Seongyul a heads-up in advance.
That Paeng Ujin was a strong man, so concentrate. Those words contained such a warning.
“Hu.”
Tension.
Wariness.
Focus.
Slowly, Seongyul’s ki perception awakened, and his body heated up.
Channeling energy into steady breathing, he focused all his nerves on Paeng Ujin.
He would not lose.
He would win somehow.
And so.
*I will hear of Master’s story.*
He steeled his resolve.
Within such hardened resolve, the referee slowly opened his mouth.
“Duel. Begin.”
*Swish—!*
The referee’s raised hand fell—
Seongyul tried to rush straight at Paeng Ujin—
“My apologies in advance.”
*Boom—!*
“Gurk!”
*Thud.*
*What?*
With a sudden impact, Seongyul’s knees buckled.
What was this situation? Within blurry vision, he barely touched the ground.
*Trickle. Drip!*
Flowing blood soaked the ground.
It was his own blood.
Seongyul hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand.
Beyond his fading vision, Seongyul realized.
*I lost consciousness for a moment...?*
A span no longer than a second at most.
Even if a brief instant. Seongyul had definitely fainted.
What had happened?
Seongyul raised his stiff head and looked at Paeng Ujin.
Paeng Ujin, who had been several steps away, was now standing before Seongyul.
What had he been hit with just now?
A fist? Or the flat of a blade?
Whatever it was, there was no doubt it had attacked him.
Then.
“Originally.”
A voice came from Paeng Ujin.
“I do not particularly like this sort of thing.”
“...What...?”
“After all, it is futile to try to show something to the incompetent. And since I have something I desire, it is difficult to show much, you see.”
Looking thoroughly displeased, Paeng Ujin scratched his cheek.
“However.”
“...!”
Seongyul hurriedly threw his body backward.
*Clang—!!*
Even as he spoke, Paeng Ujin swung his blade and slashed the place where Seongyul had been.
*Whoosh—!!* At the heavy blade energy, Seongyul swallowed a groan.
Had he not dodged, his chest would have been deeply cut.
“It is also something requested by the one who can grant my wish. And unlike other fools, you are not incompetent. So let us give it a try, shall we.”
*Boom—!*
Paeng Ujin’s blade struck the ground in a short blow.
A rebound erupted, and change followed.
The blade began to be dyed black.
“If there is one thing I wish of Young Master Jin here... I earnestly request,”
*Uuuuuuuung—!!*
An immense blade cry.
At that sound, Seongyul bit his lip.
What was this man saying?
The incomprehensible words threw Seongyul into confusion, but—
There was no time to ask.
“I hope you will make me a little happy.”
Because the moment Paeng Ujin finished speaking, he smiled deeply and rushed at Seongyul.
*Clang—!*
“Keu-euk!”
Blocking the blade with his sword, Seongyul let out a short groan.
Now he thought he understood.
The unknown sensation he had felt from Paeng Ujin.
He realized what it was.
Fear.
Seongyul’s instincts feared Paeng Ujin.
*Shiiing—!*
He hurriedly clad his sword in sword energy.
He could somehow block Paeng Ujin’s heavy onslaught, but just by clashing, it felt as though his mind would go blank.
*Boom! Boom boom! Boom!!*
It was like being bludgeoned with a blunt weapon.
Though he was clearly blocking everything, his arms felt as though they would fall off.
*Screech—!*
“...!”
The clashing sword twisted and its path changed.
*Boom!* Air pressure burst, and the arm holding the sword rebounded greatly.
This created a large opening in his upper body.
Seongyul hurriedly gathered his sword energy in one place to defend, but—
*Crack—!*
Paeng Ujin struck with the flat of the blade, not the edge.
Immediately, the sword energy shattered.
It was an immense force.
*Crack—!!*
“...Keuk!”
The flat of the blade struck Seongyul’s upper body directly.
He could distinctly feel his bones rattling.
*Whoosh—!!*
Flung by the impact, Seongyul rolled across the ground.
Every time he rolled, the blood he shed left traces on the stage.
“Keu....”
Barely stopping his body, Seongyul grabbed his chest and breathed roughly.
It pained him with every breath, as if his ribs were cracked.
Even feeling that, Seongyul had to move.
Paeng Ujin seemed to have no intention of leaving Seongyul alone, continuing to pour out his onslaught.
Barely dodging the flying blade aura, Seongyul thought:
*Strong...*
He is strong.
He realized this after just a few exchanges.
This man was stronger than imagined.
It was a different feeling from sparring with Gu Yangcheon, but the conclusion visible at the end was the same.
*...I cannot win.*
The end was clear. A level where he could not win no matter what trick he used.
Against the overwhelming gap, his will to fight crumbled on its own.
Perhaps, was that why?
The reason Gu Yangcheon had made such a bet.
Because he had known that he could absolutely never win?
If so, it was far too cruel.
*Booom—!*
An impact slammed into the face of his sword, and Seongyul’s lower body gave way.
His legs trembled.
Even blocking with both hands, this was the result.
It was like being struck by a boulder.
“I will do it once more.”
It was Paeng Ujin’s voice.
A quiet warning despite the fierce power, making Seongyul bite his lip.
He knew, yet he could not dodge.
The moment the words were heard, the blow was already descending.
*Boooom—!!!*
An even greater impact fell upon his sword face.
“Kkeuk...!!!”
*Thud!*
As before, one of Seongyul’s knees buckled.
The sword he held lowered as well.
*Ah...*
It was over.
Looking at the sword, Seongyul thought.
There was simply nothing to be done.
*Clatter—!*
Seongyul’s sword fell to the ground.
Seongyul lowered his head, still on his knees.
Strength had already left his arms and legs.
His muscles trembled uncontrollably, silently screaming in agony.
*...*
Looking down at the ground, his vision gradually faded.
It ate away at him that he would not hear of his Master, but it could not be helped.
*...I can’t win.*
He could not do it.
It was impossible from the start.
As Seongyul was about to finally surrender his body within his fading vision—
[Hey.]
*Start—!*
At the familiar voice, Seongyul’s eyes flashed.
[What are you doing?]
It was a voice transmission.
Seongyul immediately turned his head and looked back.
Beneath the packed crowd. Among the waiting contestants, he found a gaze fixed on him.
[What the hell are you doing right now, you bastard.]
A young man cursing crudely with savagely raised eyes.
His blue-tinged pupils instilled fear just by looking at them.
[What have you done that you’re trying to give up? Have you lost your mind?]
“...”
At the piercing scolding, Seongyul bit his lip.
Words he would normally have nodded quietly to, but—
[...What am I supposed to do?]
For the first time, Seongyul talked back to Gu Yangcheon like an act of rebellion.
It meant he too was that frustrated.
[How? Just do it properly, you bastard. Do it without giving up.]
[I cannot win.]
[You can’t win? What have you tried to be so sure of that?]
[...I have used all my strength. I cannot win against him...]
[Ha.]
Gu Yangcheon laughed as if Seongyul’s words were funny.
[Like hell you used everything. You seem to have plenty of strength left, what do you mean you used it all?]
[No...! I clearly...]
[A guy who says he used everything still has the strength left to send me a voice transmission. Is this really using everything?]
[...!]
At Gu Yangcheon’s point, Seongyul fell silent for a moment.
[Try everything? What have you tried. You haven’t done shit. You got hit a few times and just tucked tail and whined.]
He clenched his fist.
He wanted to retort but had no words.
[Don’t act like a brat. Don’t you dare try to convince yourself you did everything just because you were scared to do anything. That’s truly pathetic.]
[What do... what the hell do you know...]
[I don’t know, that’s why I’m telling you to show me, you fucking retard! You have plenty left to do. Pick up your sword instead of making excuses.]
A tone filled with annoyance, a manner of speaking that naturally made even himself angry. He just wanted to give up like this. When such thoughts kept arising—
[Hurry the fuck up and pick it up? If you come down like that, it’s not Paeng Ujin who’ll kill you, it’s me. Got it!?]
At the violent shout, Seongyul finally grabbed his sword again.
His muscles twitched at the action.
His body had truly reached its limit.
“Ke... ugh....”
He tried to move as if staggering, but it was not easy.
Paeng Ujin was waiting with a relaxed expression for such a Seongyul.
With eyes that seemed to say, *Try something more.*
[Giving up is something you do after you’ve really done everything.]
Even as he staggered and rose, Gu Yangcheon kept adding words.
[For someone like you to finish without trying anything like a fucking idiot isn’t giving up—it’s running away.]
What difference was there between those two?
Seongyul could not understand.
[Straighten up.]
“...”
[You know it too. That there’s still something you can do.]
Something he could do.
At those words, Seongyul’s eyes grew distant.
Yes, as Gu Yangcheon said, there was still something he had not done.
Something he had endured, fearing to do it.
When Seongyul calmly closed his eyes, beyond his darkness, a padlock came into view.
An old, cracked padlock.
Something that would shatter with just a tap.
The padlock was keeping a door locked behind it, and perhaps because of the shabby lock, a foul energy seeped out from beyond the door.
He must not open that.
If he did, the monster inside would burst out and devour him.
Knowing that, it was something he had endured wanting to open until the end.
“...”
Seongyul looked at that padlock and steadied his breath.
He did not know.
What did he know to speak like that?
He did not even know that himself.
To Seongyul, only the padlock was visible.
That which made him feel cursed.
The thought that he must not touch it still filled his mind, but—
[Don’t chicken out.]
Hearing those words Gu Yangcheon spat.
[It’ll be fine.]
“...”
Seongyul unknowingly touched the padlock.
*Tap.*
*Crack—!*
With the sensation of a light brush, the padlock broke.
*Screeeeeek—!*
The door locked by the padlock opened.
At that moment.
*Fwoooosh—!!!*
The energy within swallowed Seongyul whole.