Ep487 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

Under the moonlight, a couple shares a kiss. One of them is Baek Woo-jin. Recognizing him, she immediately hides behind a pillar, clutching her chest. ‘Who was that…?’ She hadn’t seen the person. No, to be more precise, she chose not to see. For even a fleeting moment in a master’s perception like hers can never be forgotten once seen. She deliberately avoided looking. She feared that if she knew who the woman was, her eyes would sharpen with unintentional resentment. She couldn’t quite understand why. Was it because he was kissing a woman with the face of someone he once loved? Or… was there another reason? ‘I don’t know….’ All she knew was that the thought of him kissing someone made her heart pound unsettlingly hard. * * * It was a bright moonlit night. Baek Woo-jin looked up at the sky as he swung his sword and was struck by its brilliance. “She’s on her way.” He could feel it. She was flying under this night sky, approaching the volcanic mountain. Another meeting was imminent. He didn’t know why he could feel this. Was it just intuition? Or was it a tangled web of more complex emotions? ‘I’m not sure.’ It wasn’t an important concern. What mattered was what came after the meeting. “Volcano….” A significant battle was inevitable. To reach the summit of the fiery mountain, one had to inevitably pass through the sect that resided there. As one of the pillars of righteous martial arts, they would not simply let the Demonic Master pass unchallenged. “Many will die.” He wondered. Would she, for her own purposes, mercilessly kill the innocent members of the volcanic sect? The woman he once knew would never have done such a thing, but who knows now? Isn’t the one standing as the Heavenly Demon the same person who abandoned even her world for her vendetta against him? “Anje….” Every time he spoke the name buried deep within his heart, his chest ached. Their separation wasn’t by choice. It wasn’t a fleeting love that time could easily erase. She was his first love, the woman he had vowed to spend his life with. Now, he had to raise a sword against her. “Huu….” A heavy sigh escaped into the crisp air. No matter how many times he resolved himself, her name would unravel him as if nothing ever changed. If only he had thought a little more back then, understood her feelings a little deeper. If only he hadn't given up so easily and turned his back. Pointless regrets spilled out like murmurs, one by one. And it was at that moment. “Hero…?” There stood Seol Soo-yeon, who had wandered outside, unable to sleep. She approached and asked, “What are you doing out here?” “Just getting some fresh air before bed.” Baek Woo-jin answered with a seemingly carefree, cheerful smile. But she wasn’t deceived. “…Your mind is troubled, isn’t it?” Because. “I feel the same.” She, too, had been kept awake by similar thoughts. “How did it come to this?” She was a resolute woman. A woman of iron and blood who held onto her beliefs even with a blade at her throat. Strong against the strong, gentle with the weak. A woman with a steely exterior and a tender heart. A woman who was impossible not to love. “What does the Heavenly Demon… no, what does Anje truly wish for…?” She was curious. What was the reason Anje had crossed here? What did she hope to achieve? Was it solely for Baek Woo-jin’s destruction? That didn’t seem to be the case. If that were her goal, wouldn’t killing everyone close to him and finally him be enough? “I’m not sure….” Baek Woo-jin’s frustration was just as palpable. Why was the journey so roundabout? What did she hope to gain from dismantling the altar the gods had bestowed? “I plan to find out this time.” Their meeting at the volcanic mountain was destined. So he would ask her. What exactly does she seek to obtain? “Though I’m not certain she’ll answer me.” “Hero….” Seol Soo-yeon watched him lower his head with a bitter smile, filling her gaze with empathy. It was a familiar expression. One she wore in secret every time he grew weary on their journey. Each time, she wished to hold and comfort him, but she couldn’t. For by his side was the woman he had pledged to spend his life with. And there was one more reason she couldn't. In that moment, I couldn't comfort him because I lacked a nurturing presence.... A memory full of frustration. She knows. She knows that Baek Woo-jin is fond of well-endowed women. Those moments when his gaze would subtly drop from her face, leaving a silent sense of disappointment. He might think she never noticed, but he was wrong. 'He really doesn’t understand how sensitive a woman can be to such things…!' But now, it doesn’t matter. Unlike her past filled with insecurities, she now possesses an undeniable allure. With a compassionate smile, she grasped Baek Woo-jin’s hand firmly and spoke. “Hero.” “…Yes?” As he turned and met her gaze, she slightly pressed her chest forward and asked. “Do you… want to touch my chest?” “……” Baek Woo-jin was utterly bewildered. “Wha-what are you saying all of a sudden…?” She found it amusing. His face turned red as his eyes couldn’t help but dart downward, unlike before. Emboldened by his reaction, she stepped closer and continued. “You once said, didn’t you…? That men could relieve all their worldly worries by touching a woman’s chest.” “…How did Lady Seol hear that?” He distinctly remembered saying that. But it was meant to be a lighthearted joke among men, never something she was supposed to hear. How had she…? She smirked playfully and replied. “I heard it by accident, of course.” “……” It was clearly no accident. She must have deliberately eavesdropped on that conversation. She took a larger step towards him. “Why hesitate? Is it that you dislike my chest?” “N-no, that’s not it…” He couldn’t outright say anything negative about her chest, even as a meaningless remark. It was significant and perfect enough that it couldn’t go unnoticed during conversations. Seol Soo-yeon approached him once more. Her ample bosom gently brushed against Baek Woo-jin’s arm. “This is a chest for you alone, Hero.” “A chest… for me?” “Yes, I asked the Goddess for it just to please you.” And it was true. Because she wanted to cater to his taste. Because she wanted to momentarily lift the worries and burdens that weighed him down. “Will you allow my chest to serve its purpose?” Each heartfelt word pierced him. Like the Heavenly Demon, she had abandoned her world to follow him. In the previous world, she had silently supported him. Yet he felt only regret for not accepting her feelings. Not responding to her any longer would be rude. So, he steeled his resolve. “Lady Seol.” “Yes, Hero?” “Can you follow me to hell?” She replied without hesitation. “Of course.” That was the end of it. Baek Woo-jin silently leaned in, stealing a kiss before touching her chest. Her chest came next. “Ahn…♥” One moon in the sky. Two before his eyes. It was a night filled with round, beautiful moons—a romantic and poignant scene. * * * It was early morning. Having recovered from his travels, Baek Woo-jin and his companions gathered in front of the inn. Most looked rejuvenated from a good night’s rest, except for one person. “…Yehwa, did you not sleep well last night?” Shin Yehwa was the only one with dark shadows under her eyes. Caught off guard, she quickly waved her hands in denial. “N-no! I slept well.” “Hmm… Is that so?” “Yes, of course!” She looked like someone who barely slept, but nothing could be done about it. Not knowing when the Heavenly Demon would arrive, they needed to reach the volcanic sect soon to engage in negotiations. “Let’s go.” Baek Woo-jin and his companions climbed the mountain with lighter steps. Following silently behind them, Shin Yehwa discreetly glanced at her companions. ‘…Who could it have been?’ She was curious about the identity of the mysterious pair she had chosen not to look at the previous night. Was it Seol Soo-yeon? The Blood Witch? Or was it Song Hee-yeon, who always stayed in his shadow? If it wasn’t any of them… ‘It couldn't be Lady Yoo, could it?’ The thought crossed her mind fleetingly before she hastily dismissed it. She couldn’t imagine it being her, of all people. It couldn’t be her. Probably not. ‘…I should’ve just looked.’ Regret suddenly washed over her. If she were going to be this curious, she might as well have sneaked a glance at their faces. And then she found it ridiculous. What right did she have to be so curious about this? No matter how close you are as friends, a man and woman's relationship is a personal domain that should never be meddled with. 'Right, that's so true. Besides, now's not the time for this.' According to his expectations, they would finally face the Heavenly Demon here at the volcanic mountain. This meant they might have to battle against the greatest martial artist of the era. They needed to mentally prepare beforehand. Baek Woo-jin and the Blood Witch. Even with the two of them and their support, maintaining an evenly matched fight would still be tough—not something to be overly optimistic about. They had to prepare for the worst-case scenario as well. The possibility of losing one of their companions. Or even the moment when their leader, Baek Woo-jin, could be defeated and forced to kneel in the battle against the Heavenly Demon. While hoping it wouldn't come to that, if it ever did. 'I will throw myself to stop it from happening.' Resolute with this determination, they climbed the mountain and finally arrived. They stood before the gates of the volcanic sect situated at the summit of Yeonhwa Peak. But something seemed off. Beyond the gates, disciples of the volcanic sect were scattering in small groups here and there. “Seems like something's happened, doesn't it?” “…Indeed.” It couldn't be the Heavenly Demon. If she had arrived, such chaos would be far too trivial. This suggested that something must have happened within the sect itself. 'We'll know once we get inside.' Just as Baek Woo-jin moved to walk through the gates, he made eye contact with one of the sect's disciples, who had been roaming around the volcano. The disciple's eyes widened with terror, his body stiff with fear upon seeing Baek Woo-jin. He screamed. “It’s Baek Woo-jin—!” “……?” Baek Woo-jin tilted his head in confusion as the other disciples of the volcanic sect gathered at the entrance with loud, rumbling footsteps upon hearing the shout. An elder-looking member stepped forward, pointing his sword at Baek Woo-jin. “How dare you, after attempting to murder our sect leader, crawl back to our sacred ground?” “……?” “Are you shameless, or do you intend to mock our sect?” “No.” What on earth is this nonsense? Author's Note: I'll see you in the next chapter. Thank you, as always, for reading. Have a restful night. (_ _)