Chapter 67

<Chapter 68> Salvation Descends from the Black Sky

When he was a kid, he thought the world was trash.

Otherwise, his parents wouldn’t have died like that.

The sight of his parents being killed by a monster left a deep trauma.

His sister’s screams still ring clearly in his ears.

And somehow, only he survived.

Why me of all people?

If only my parents had lived, or my younger sister…

If I had died instead…

Our family could’ve lived happily ever after.

“Let me die.” That’s what he resolved as he prepared to commit suicide.

He thought there was no reason to live in this world where he had no precious people.

At least the methods an elementary kid could think of were limited, which was probably fortunate.

Chul-soo threw himself into the river.

“Ah!”

As his body hit the water, a single scream was heard.

-Plop!

Someone else fell into the water.

It was obvious they were trying to save him.

“What a pointless effort.”

After all, he didn’t even want to live.

Even if saved, he’d just jump back in anyway.

With that thought, Chul-soo closed his eyes and let his body go limp.

Just wanting to die faster.

“Impf! Impf! Oh right! I can’t swim either!”

“Huh…”

Now it was awkward. The girl splashing around like an idiot was trying her best to reach him.

Her outstretched arms looked smaller than his own.

“Impf! Impf! Don’t worry! I’ll save you soon! Ow! Water went up my nose!”

“…”

Chul-soo sighed deeply.

He actually knew how to swim.

Originally, he wanted to die.

But now someone was dying because of him.

He couldn’t bear to see that again.

“Stay still. I’m pulling you up.”

“Sniff… Who… I can’t open my eyes. Am I gonna drown?”

“It’s the dirt!”

Pulling the similarly sized girl was tiring.

Hardly making it out, Chul-soo panted heavily.

Then he realized the girl was looking at him.

“Thanks aren’t necessary-”

-Crack!

Suddenly, she slapped his cheek.

What?

He forgot to get angry and just stared dumbly at the girl.

“You idiot! You shouldn’t throw your life away!”

“But you jumped in too!”

“That’s ’cause you fell in, dummy!”

Blushing while crossing her arms, she looked defiant.

As if she did nothing wrong.

Chul-soo stared at her for a moment before…

Pfft!

“HAHAHAHA!”

Suddenly burst into laughter.

He didn’t know why.

But once started, he couldn’t stop.

It felt like he hadn’t laughed like this in forever.

Tears streamed down his face,

and he rolled around on the ground before finally stopping.

Somehow, he felt a bit relieved.

Looking up at the sky, Chul-soo realized…

Ah, so that’s it.

My family must’ve wanted me to live.

That obvious fact hits him now.

Standing up, Chul-soo looked at the girl.

“What’s your name?”

“Young-hee!”

“Wanna be friends?”

At that question, Young-hee smiled brightly.

A smile filled with all the joy in the world,

so pure and innocent.

Maybe it started then.

The thought that he wanted to keep seeing that smile.

The vow to protect Young-hee.

“Yeah, nice to meet ya!!” Her smile etched deeply into Chul-soo’s heart.

…

The pitch-black sky without even a moon.

The lights went out from the shock of battle, leaving everything dark.

Yet everyone present could see the ominous black magic.

“What…the hell is that…?”

Even veteran heroes couldn’t comprehend the situation.

They’d just responded to a call about some creature emitting grotesque black magic.

And students supposedly holding their own against it.

Seemed like nonsense but turned out to be true.

In fact, it was way worse than reported.

“What the hell is that thing?”

The storm of magic power battered their skin like a hurricane.

Just standing against it was tough.

No idea where such a monster came from.

This wasn’t something they could handle.

At minimum, they needed a Scorpion Rank Hunter here.

“How can that guy stand there in the middle of it?”

In the eye of the black storm,

a man stood desperately fighting on.

Like he was protecting something.

“The monster…isn’t it already incapacitated?”

He clearly got hit in the side.

Not just that, his attacks pierced through the beast successfully.

Red blood splattered everywhere.

Yet it’s still unleashing this massive power?

What kind of monster has this much strength?

One hero couldn’t take it anymore and shouted at Chul-soo.

“What are you doing?! Get away! If you stay close…!”

“Get lost!”

Chul-soo swung his magic sword.

A blade of energy.

Huge amounts of magic power split the ground, creating a boundary.

The heroes ready to intervene froze in shock.

‘Wha… What is this? Is this young student really a Scorpion Rank Hunter?’

Intimidated by that power, none of the responding heroes dared approach.

Even if they weren’t, nobody would willingly step into that black magic.

Because entering that area meant death.

‘I can survive! I can survive! I can survive!’

Amidst it all, Chul-soo surrounded his body with every ounce of magic power he had.

Pressing down on Young-hee’s wound like trying to stop the bleeding.

The black magic ate away at his body, but he ignored it.

Somehow, he had to endure.

“It’s okay. We can survive! There’s no way we’re dying here!”

“Haha… Chul-soo… It hurts… I hate the pain… It keeps getting worse…”

Blood flowed from her mouth.

Every second, every bit of strength was precious.

Still, the black magic kept pouring out endlessly.

How could Young-hee possess such power?

“…”

“…”

“It’s okay. Young-hee! I’ll definitely save you.”

Chul-soo racked his brain desperately.

What should he do now?

How can he save Young-hee?

What can stop this damn magic?

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure it out.

All the knowledge from the Academy.

All the martial arts he trained so hard to master.

Even the magic power he diligently cultivated.

None of it mattered.

He gained all that power he desired.

The power to protect someone.

But now he can’t even save the most important person.

“Chu… Chul-soo…”

“Don’t talk, Young-hee! I’ll definitely help you!”

Young-hee slowly turned her head.

Despite the immense pain, her kind expression remained unchanged.

She was still smiling.

So beautifully.

With the most precious gaze in the world.

“Can… Can you kill me?” “What?”

Chul-soo stared at Young-hee again.

She’s beautiful.

Even in this situation, damnit, she’s so beautiful.

But the blood kept flowing.

An amount impossible to ignore.

Shaking uncontrollably, Young-hee continued.

“I’m… tired…”

“It’s okay, Young-hee.”

“I don’t… want to… hurt you… anymore… cough…”

“It’ll be fine! Everything will be fine! I’m completely fine! I don’t feel any pain!”

Something broke.

Not just his body.

Something supporting his mind began to crack.

A world without Young-hee was unimaginable.

He didn’t want to see such a world.

Why did he fight?

Why did he become stronger?

He couldn’t accept this ending.

After living in this world until now, he couldn’t let it end like this.

“Young-hee, I’m sorry. I’ll get stronger! I’ll do better at anything…”

Therefore, despite knowing it’s useless…

With the black magic threatening to overwhelm him…

“All we can do… is go home now.”

That’s all he could say.

At those words, Young-hee smiled.

Brightly.

Happily.

So happy it was almost unbearable.

“Thank… you.”

-BANG!!

An overwhelming magic storm erupted, far beyond anything seen before.

Beyond what sheer willpower could handle.

Caught in its force, Chul-soo flew dozens of meters and crashed.

Lying on the ground, Chul-soo twitched.

‘Stand… up…’

-Even if you do, what can you accomplish?

“Ha!”

Laughter escaped involuntarily.

What does it mean to be the genius of the century?

What does being number one in Academy swordsmanship matter?

When you can’t save the one you love?

What’s the point?

Chul-soo gritted his teeth.

No, he was screaming with all his might.

‘What’s this Sky Piercing Sword?! What’s this supposed Strong Hero candidate?!’

Pouring out all his emotions.

To the unchangeable reality.

To this despair.

What am I supposed to do?

I’m just a weak kid.

I became stronger because of Young-hee.

I worked hard for her sake.

What am I doing now?

Whatever’s in front of me…

While Young-hee is dying…

Why won’t this body move?!

“Please… save her…”

Chul-soo’s voice leaked out.

Ah, if only I were stronger…

If I could crush whatever’s in front of me…

If I had the power to defeat that ‘guy’ I always wanted to…

Would things be different?

Could I have protected you, Young-hee?

“Anyone… please… save Young-hee…”

Thinking about it, what a shitty life.

Lost his parents, sent to an orphanage, faced all kinds of discrimination.

There were only two people he could truly rely on.

Young-hee and himself. They struggled desperately together.

We shouldn’t be toyed with so easily.

So please, if there’s a god in this world…

Help us just once.

-Tap.

Footsteps sounded then.

Chul-soo slowly turned his head.

The enormous black magic storm continuing around here.

Few people could penetrate it,

stand calmly within it,

or even have a reason to be here.

“Hmph…”

Why is this guy here now?

What’s his purpose in coming?

The man standing there with his usual cold gaze,

was someone Chul-soo wanted to defeat more than anyone,

his definite rival,

an opponent he couldn’t surpass no matter what.

“Yu-jin Kim.”

Ah, how pathetic.

How pitiful.

To entrust the person he wanted to protect,

to another man…

But at the same time, he felt relief.

The successor of Hwagcheon (Black Heaven).

This guy would definitely…

be able to save Young-hee.

Because he’s that strong.

“Please… save Young-hee.”

A hoarse voice barely escaping his collapsing body.

Hearing that, Yu-jin simply nodded.

“Yeah.”

That was all he said.

Then he clenched his steel-like fist and walked straight into the black storm.

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