Ep521 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

After days of a grand celebration had drawn to a close. Baek Woo-jin sat lost in thought in an office prepared exclusively for the head of the Baek household. Before him lay a worn-out book. "The Hero's Secret Record." This book detailed the life journey of a hero destined to save the world. It was also the task given to Seol Soo-yeon, the priestess of the Hyuncheon Sect, who remembered her past life. To meticulously record the deeds carried out by the hero's side and leave them for the world to witness. At the same time, it was also Baek Woo-jin's power. The detailed achievements inscribed were accompanied by the praises of those saved by him. The accumulated praises would seep into his body the moment the book was opened, transforming into power. This was a privilege granted solely to the protagonist of the world. "There lies a path in this, you say." He placed his hand on the book. But he did not open it. "Sigh." In his heart, he wanted to open the book immediately, to traverse the path and reach the divine. But he had to hold back. "Not yet, not yet..." His preparations were insufficient. He had not yet thought of a wish to ask of the gods, and he needed to rack his brain diligently. And there was another task that demanded attention first. "I need to marry first." Finally, peace had descended. Occasionally, through rumors, news would surface about remnants of the Blood Sect and the Demonic Cult, but nothing that warranted much concern. Even before Baek Woo-jin could make a move, they were swiftly eradicated. The ones responsible for the purging were also names he knew well. "Shin Yewha, Yoo Hwayeon..." After the war with the Demonic Cult had ended, He heard that they had begun moving apart from their comrades shortly after. Rumor had it that they roamed the central regions, not only dealing with the remnants of the Blood Sect and the Demonic Cult but also dispatching notorious bandits and villains in the vicinity. Perhaps because of this, or some other reason, They did not attend the celebration for the completion of Baek Household. Instead, each sent a letter of congratulations. "......" A throbbing chest. It was always like this whenever he thought of them. As if he had a knot in his chest, constantly feeling heavy and suffocated. "Is it guilt..." Ironically, Baek Woo-jin felt a sense of guilt toward them, and they toward him. A guilt neither could easily dismiss, even though it wasn't their fault. It pained him that there wasn't much he could do for them. "Sigh..., let's put this aside for now." Their roaming across the central regions was their way, or perhaps an expression of release. He couldn't recklessly interfere with their way of trying to forget a lover who kept resurfacing in their minds. Struggling to push thoughts of them aside, Baek Woo-jin stood up. "…First, let's resolve the most urgent matter." As he stepped outside the office, the bright full moon bathed the world in a gentle glow. He walked pleasantly under the moonlight to a pavilion built on the outskirts of the Baek estate. The pavilion was named 'Jeongwoong Pavilion.' Meaning 'Pavilion where the hero stays,' it was essentially constructed as a guest house. There was already someone staying there. "What brings you here at this hour?" The guest was none other than the Blood Witch. The Baek Household already had a pavilion named 'Hongyeon Pavilion,' exclusively for her. Yet, she refused to stay there, opting instead to stay in the guest house. As if declaring she might leave at any moment. Baek Woo-jin didn't like it. Thus, he intended to put an end to it today by standing before her. "Sister." "......" "Let's conclude the conversation we had before." "Wh-what...!" Her face flushed instantly. There was only one unresolved conversation between them. If Baek Woo-jin won the duel with all his strength, they would marry. "How boldly you bring up such an embarrassing story again!" The Blood Witch shouted, almost rebuking. "How can a man engaged to be married approach another woman, especially one multiple times older than you?" Her face, as red as an apple, continued to nag. Yet none of her words pierced Baek Woo-jin's ears properly. "That's why I'm saying let's end it quickly." "Wha-what...?" "In the few remaining days before the wedding, sister should also get married." "You-you rascal...!" Attempting to raise her voice, she instead inhaled deeply to calm herself and asked him. "Why do you keep doing this?" She simply couldn't understand. "Aren't the children enough for you?" Heroes were said to have their share of wives and concubines. Does your exceptional ability make you desire more women in your embrace? Yet, that alone didn't quite explain why he was so persistent with her. "If that were the case, you could propose to other women. Why choose an old woman like me?" On the grand day celebrating the completion of the Baek Household, She saw it. The swarm of women pushing their way towards him, undeterred by the many lovers already at his side. Those who thought being his concubine was better than any other man were relentless in their pursuit. Baek Woo-jin seemed momentarily swayed, but ultimately, he declined politely yet resolutely. Why was he so firm with others, yet so insistent with her? To which Baek Woo-jin replied, "It's not that I lack anything; in fact, I have more than enough." "Then why?" "Because you are my sister." He wasn't striving to create a connection that didn't exist. He simply wanted to carry the bond they already forged into the future. "In the future I envision, you're already there with me." Occasionally, he envisioned their lives years, even decades down the line. Children running around the vast courtyard. His women smiling softly, sharing laughter as they raised teacups, watching over them. And always, she was there among them. Smiling gently, so different from now. "So I must marry you, too." He announced as if it were a notification, drawing his sword with confidence. "If you dislike it, then defeat me with all your might." "……" Seeing his sincere expression, she pondered for a moment before speaking heavily. "Very well, let's have at it." The Blood Witch took her stance, her face fierce and intimidating. She extended her hands forward, red energy swirling around them. As a thick tension started to fill the air between them. A palpable sense of urgency suggested that a single step from either side could spark the duel. After a brief moment of mutual glaring in that suffocating atmosphere, "……" The energy surrounding her hands slowly faded and disappeared entirely. Her stance broke. As if she had lost the will to fight, she let out a sigh, exasperated. "I can't possibly be a match for you. You've surpassed me long ago!" It was merely an excuse. Even if Baek Woo-jin were weaker, she couldn't have brought herself to strike him. "Let me ask you one thing." After hesitating, her face tinged with embarrassment, she finally asked. "Do you truly want me to live as your wife?" Baek Woo-jin answered without hesitation. "I have never been anything but sincere with you, from the beginning to the end." "……" She knew it. Though he appeared endlessly carefree, his words carried a weight and value akin to gold. Yet, being a woman, she wanted confirmation to the very end. "I have torn apart and killed dozens, no, hundreds." It was her vengeance. Just retribution against those who had taken her family and clan from her. But it didn't change the fact that her hands were soaked in the blood of hundreds. "Even so, it means nothing to you?" Her voice trembled slightly. Baek Woo-jin raised his long, pale hand as he responded. "As you know, I've saved two worlds with these hands." She had killed hundreds out of a personal vendetta for her clan. Baek Woo-jin fought for worlds, on a scale beyond comparison. And he did it twice. "Can you imagine how much blood has flowed by these hands?" At that, she gave a bitter smile. "I have made a fool of myself in the presence of a master." The saying "displaying an axe in front of Lu Ban" captures it well. Her concerns were no concerns at all in front of Baek Woo-jin. It was a matter she had been brooding over alone. Realizing this, her expression became more at ease as she posed her final question. "Do you truly... believe you can love me... for life?" A short sentence accompanied by countless tremors. Baek Woo-jin approached her swiftly, pulling her into his embrace. "Wha, what...!" She was startled by his sudden action. But only for a moment. From where they were pressed together, she could hear his heart beating. Much faster and stronger than usual. "If the sound of my heart as we embrace becomes quieter or slower than it is now, you may take my head." "That's... huh...?!" Before she could even respond to his rather bold words, he leaned in and stole a kiss from her lips. It was a deep kiss, the first she'd ever experienced. The searing heat swept through her mind in an instant. "Hmm..." Her entire body seemed to melt away. And so, The wedding day finally approached. --- Author's Note (Epilogue) I'm terribly sorry for the delay. I have the final story figured out, but it took a considerable amount of time to organize the sequence in which to unfold it. In trying it this way and that, I found myself working until four or five in the morning, often with nothing substantial written, which has been a painful process. Yet, a delay is a delay. I will continue the serialization without the usual day off tomorrow. I will be back with the next episode. Thank you, as always, for reading. See you tomorrow. (__)