Ep499 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

After Baek Woo-jin fell, pierced by a sword, and the Heavenly Demon suddenly departed after shattering the altar, Mount Hua Sect promptly sent its disciples to the main headquarters of the Orthodox-Sect Alliance to report in detail the events of the day. Baek Woo-jin was gravely injured after losing to the Heavenly Demon, and she is now roaming the world, targeting the altars that exist above the heavens of the Five Peaks. Upon hearing this, the leadership of the alliance immediately convened an emergency meeting. "What should we do about this?" "Naturally, we must stop her." "I agree. The fact that the Heavenly Demon herself is involved indicates the matter is of great significance, doesn't it?" "Leaving things as they are will surely bring great chaos to the lands." "Amita Buddha…" Though unsure of her intentions, half believed that she must be stopped regardless. "Is it right to charge out blindly into a fight?" "I believe it's important first to discern what the Heavenly Demon desires and then prepare a countermeasure." "If it is indeed significant, the Heavenly Demon wouldn't be acting alone, would she?" "Right. She might even be a distraction." No, it is vital to clearly understand what her goal is. There's a possibility she is just baiting while planning other schemes, so half insisted on broad preparation. As opinions sharply divided in half, debate was inevitable. "They say the altar in Mount Hua has already been destroyed!" "What if disaster strikes the lands when all those altars are gone?" "Indeed!" The aggressive camp insisted on decisive action, challenging the moderates who raised their voices just as fiercely. "Didn't we only hear a sound of something being destroyed?" "Altars in the sky? Do you really think such things can exist?" "Moreover, the Heavenly Light Sword King has fallen, the Heavenly Light Sword King!" "If our response is wrong and alliance members fall, how will we justify their blood?" Remarks suggested the information from Mount Hua may have been exaggerated. And the devastating defeat of the Heavenly Light Sword King, one of the martial world's finest, lent credence to their views. The two camps were passionately engaged in their arguments. It was a relief, at least, that they weren't divided into orthodox and unorthodox factions, but rather by differing opinions, despite being intermingled. "Look, I'm saying we should first stand against the Heavenly Demon! If you're only scared, speak up! We can just proceed without those people!" "It's not fear, it's an emphasis on utmost caution!" "When caution turns excessive, it becomes fear!" "How dare you spout such nonsense!" Xiān Hú, the leader of the Martial Alliance, and Do Gwang, head of the Black Lotus, sat at the head of the table, observing the debate. They quickly understood. The two factions seemed to be fighting due to their differing opinions, but they were, in fact, battling for the same reason. "Everyone is terrified." "…It can't be helped. The opponent is the supreme under heaven." "Hmm." Indeed, the aggressive faction, insisting on immediately thwarting the Heavenly Demon's plans, and the moderates, demanding clear understanding of her goals as a priority, all were gripped by fear. Their response methods resulted in differing opinions. "Which side do you find valid?" "Both have their points." Both sides weren't wrong. It's correct to act before it's too late to regret, and it's also right to understand the opponent's goals and prepare accordingly. But if one had to choose between the two, "My son-in-law opposed the Heavenly Demon to prevent the altar's destruction." This implies that confronting the Heavenly Demon isn't avoidable due to the altar's importance. "I suppose at least putting up a defense might be necessary." "Indeed." Yet, easily suggesting marching out to confront the Heavenly Demon was not simple. Orthodox and unorthodox martial artists often imagine it. Imagining the killing and dying seen in the war with the Demonic Cult after long peace. Xiān Hú and Do Gwang additionally envision confronting the Heavenly Demon with a sword. However, none among the many scenarios they've imagined included such a sudden and swift confrontation with the Heavenly Demon. "Frankly, it's frightening." "Do you think it's different for me?" They too felt fear. The Heavenly Demon. The terror of confronting a being whose limits are unknown. The vague fear that everything they had built until now might be denied. "Yet we must do it." "Yes." They are warriors. They must overcome the wall by standing against and not fleeing from the engulfing fear and terror. Finally, they resolved to confront the Heavenly Demon. * * * He dreamt. Or rather, it was like glimpsing fleeting images. On the day he read that novel he shouldn't have laid eyes on. When he was sucked into the pitch-black void where not even a single ray of light could penetrate. His long journey began. He retraces his steps faithfully along the path he walked. And when he looked back, the memories that should have been there vanished without a trace. As if it were the last time he could reminisce about the past, they disappeared without a sign, leaving only darkness behind. "..." Lingering on the regret for a long time, he finally turned away. With each step he took, countless people perished. Though he had already known this truth, he realized anew how many had died during the time he needed to stand alone. Perhaps that is why she was all the more special to him. A love that bloomed amidst surviving together after stepping over countless lives—how could it not be poignant? “…I wonder how one continues to love even after stabbing their own body without hesitation.” Well, what does it matter? It's enough to love her after paying her back in kind. As he recalled the moment he was wronged by her, the fallen women came to mind naturally. Hyeolsu Witch, Shin Yehwa, Yoo Hwa-yeon, and Song Hee-yeon, who fell to protect him. And even Seol Soo-yeon, who held him in her embrace as he plummeted in the final moment. ‘They'll be okay.’ As long as Seol Soo-yeon was alive till the end, they would be fine. If she's with them, the wounds the four women suffered from the Heavenly Demon would have healed quickly. He understood this clearly in his mind, yet his heart could not be at ease with just that. ‘I miss them.’ He wanted to see for himself that they were safe and feel relieved. He longed to embrace them warmly, say he was sorry and thank them, and tap them on the back, and be tapped in return. To do that, he had to awaken from this instant that felt like an eternity. ‘...I don’t want to wake up.’ Ironically, he didn't want to awaken from this darkness. It was peaceful and comforting. So much so that he couldn't even recall when he last felt this way. He wanted to savor this feeling a little longer. The desire was as strong as his longing to see them with his own eyes. "Hoo." Baek Woo-jin exhaled lightly. Lying down flat, he gazed into the impenetrable pitch-black darkness. As he stared blankly, he felt as if he would be sucked into another world upon awakening. “……?” At that moment, an intense sense of déjà vu overwhelmed Baek Woo-jin’s mind. It was a feeling he had experienced before. His body, soul. The elements that constituted the ‘self’ felt as if they were sucked in, tangled, and then separated to be reconstructed. This strong pull was the same sensation he felt when he fell into that accursed third-rate writer’s trick and crossed dimensions. "…Oh." Slowly rising, he closed his eyes. He spread his senses to scan the entire surrounding area. “Yes, this feeling.” This was undoubtedly a part of his mental landscape. He didn’t know why this sensation remained intact in such a place, but it was a golden opportunity. To master the final arrangement left behind by the predecessor who arrived on this land before him, Baek Yoo-seong, the most crucial part was vividly engraving this sensation. “…Not bad.” Baek Woo-jin curled his lips into a grin. A reason to stay here had appeared. Gladly accepting that excuse, he envisioned a sword in his mind. The symbol of a hero that had been with him from the other world until now. “The Holy Sword.” Splat! The sparkling sensation settled into his palm. A sharp sword was now held in his hand. Though it had lost its consciousness and couldn’t converse after falling into this world, it was enough. Even without its other abilities, the sword’s toughness and sharpness were unmatched, fitting perfectly in his hand. “Let's finish this quickly.” Facing the Heavenly Demon this time made him realize vividly. To face her There is no way he could confront the Heavenly Demon effectively even if he were to awaken right now. Though he might narrowly exchange blows, there wasn’t a definite technique that could reach her. Facing her without acquiring such a skill would only lead to death. “Just wait a little longer, I’ll master it quickly and come back.” These words were meant for those worrying over his fallen self. And also to the Heavenly Demon, who was likely doing whatever she pleased in his absence. He intended to complete the technique in this place, that would strike her down. “Final Strike.” A technique likely to be his last move in life. Author’s Note: Sorry for being a bit late today. Working from home on a Sunday seems to make it even harder to focus. I'll be back with the next installment. Thank you all for reading as always. Have a restful night. (_ _)