664

[Chapter 172]

[The Other Side of a Hero]

Before the regression, during Ye-gyeong's invasion of Gangbuk.

Mok Min-ho, who had graduated from the academy and independently created a party, was fighting desperately against the incoming army.

"Min, ho..."

"...Yeah."

"In my holster... there's a potion... That, that one... It's really good. You, drink it. I'm, done for now."

"..."

One person, then another.

Comrades died day by day.

As the academy's sentiment turned towards On Tae-yang instead of him, Choi Ga-in immediately discarded him.

And Cha Eun-woo, unable to defy Choi Ga-in, parted ways with him.

Afterwards, his standing in the academy greatly diminished.

"You... must live."

"...See you later."

Taking on everything for Choi Ga-in instead drove him to be seen as a villain.

Nevertheless, those who knew Mok Min-ho's character and had received his kindness never left him.

Including the man who just died.

The people who formed a party with him were all such people.

Fools who were led by sentiment and entrusted their futures to him.

"..."

Monsters killed them.

Mok Min-ho gritted his teeth at the death of a close friend who had been by his side for 6 years at the academy.

It felt like his heart would collapse.

But there were still many who followed him.

He couldn't lose his mind with them around.

"...Let's go."

After briefly holding their funerals.

Min-ho left again to face the monsters.

It was then.

─Whiiiieeeeeaaaaooooo!!

The sound of Ye-gyeong crying was heard.

Mok Min-ho raised his head.

""""──!!""""

Ye-gyeong was falling.

Of all places, towards where he was.

Dazed by the sudden situation, Mok Min-ho could only blankly look up at the falling Ye-gyeong.

Boom boom boom!

How on earth was he supposed to block this?

Is this how he would die here?

Buildings collapsed, the ground caved in.

Fallen buildings crashed down above his head.

Mok Min-ho closed his eyes.

At that moment─

"─Min-ho... are you okay?"

"You...!"

A Guardian stood in front of him.

He quickly deployed protective magic to block the falling building debris.

But though the Guardian protected him, he couldn't protect his own body.

Because rebar piercing through the barrier ultimately pierced his chest too.

Mok Min-ho opened his eyes wide.

The Guardian coughed blood and smiled.

"I'm glad... at least you survived. Shit, this f***ing hurts."

"You, you..."

"Don't just say you, you, hurry and get out. This won't hold much longer."

"..." "I said get out, you bastard!!"

"...I'm sorry."

Damn it.

Mok Min-ho gritted his teeth.

He turned away from the Guardian who saved him.

Thud

When he emerged from the debris.

The debris floating in the air collapsed with a rumble.

Min-ho who barely made it out collapsed, his legs giving out.

"..."

There were no survivors.

All party members died.

Mok Min-ho's body trembled.

"Ah..."

His voice wouldn't come out properly.

Tears wouldn't flow.

"Aagh..."

Only a cracked voice came out.

His body just trembled.

Min-ho who belatedly dug through the debris to confirm his party members' deaths with his own eyes cried silently.

The world felt so cruel.

He hated Ye-gyeong so much.

No─

"─Great! Thanks to Jin-woo hyung's help, we were able to bring down Ye-gyeong!" "As expected of Tae-yang!? How did you think of bringing that thing down?" "Haha, I didn't do much? It was just attacking after Kaede and Gu-rae drew its attention."

Mok Min-ho hated On Tae-yang.

Up there where the ground had collapsed.

The sound of On Tae-yang and Lee Cheon-seo appearing and saying that was heard.

"Aah, ah..."

Mok Min-ho understood the whole situation.

It was On Tae-yang.

His comrades died as a result of On Tae-yang facing Ye-gyeong.

"..."

Monsters invaded Gangbuk.

On Tae-yang was being revered as a hero by people.

They called him <Braver >.

What... hero?

But Mok Min-ho denied it.

How can this be called a hero?

If he's a hero, is it okay to ignore the sacrifice of a few to defeat the enemy?

Is it unavoidable that some are harmed in the process of this hero achieving feats?

Is that truly what a hero is?

If that's what a hero is─

─I'll kill him.

He didn't want this kind of world.

Now he had nothing left.

Min-ho's heart fell into an abyss with no visible bottom.

Trudge trudge

Eventually On Tae-yang took down Ye-gyeong together with the Twelve Seats.

They were celebrating.

Don't make me laugh.

Mok Min-ho gritted his teeth.

He climbed up from where the ground had collapsed and headed towards the people congratulating each other.

And─

"─Kyaaaah!!"

"Mok Min-ho!! What are you doing!?" "Shut up!"

In front of everyone watching.

Mok Min-ho rushed at On Tae-yang holding a sword.

On Tae-yang hurriedly blocked his sword.

I'll kill you. I'll definitely kill you at least.

The Twelve Seats shout to calm down.

On Tae-yang shouts asking why he's doing this.

Cha Eun-woo tries to stop him with tears.

But Mok Min-ho ignored them and simply swung his sword led by emotion.

Eventually On Tae-yang who was blocking Mok Min-ho's sword grunted and changed his stance.

On Tae-yang also showed killing intent.

And─

─Thud

To Mok Min-ho who was already exhausted.

On Tae-yang stabbed his sword.

That was the end.

Mok Min-ho fell to his knees.

"Kyaaaah!! Min-ho!! Mok Min-ho!!"

"No, don't go! Eun-woo! It's dangerous! Someone stop Eun-woo!" "Min-ho! Mok Min-ho!!"

Strength wouldn't enter his body.

Then On Tae-yang pulled out his sword.

Mok Min-ho collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Blood flowed profusely.

His vision gradually blurred.

"Ah..."

Behind On Tae-yang.

Cha Eun-woo came into view.

Cha Eun-woo held back by Jo A-ra and On Tae-yang's party members.

She was screaming loudly and trying to run to him.

"Move! I have to save him! I have to save him! He's still alive!"

Cha Eun-woo cries profusely.

Then party members stopped her saying it was dangerous.

Cha Eun-woo kept shouting to please let her go.

...Eun-woo.

It's useless.

Mok Min-ho shook his head inwardly.

He knew best what his condition was now.

His body that had fought desperately with monsters for days without proper treatment was now pushed to the limit.

From the start, Mok Min-ho didn't want to live.

He didn't want to shamelessly live on while his comrades who died protecting him were gone.

He just wanted to die like this.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of Eun-woo."

"Ah..."

"I don't know why you tried to kill me, but farewell anyway." "..."

"I'll pray for your soul."

He was just worried about Eun-woo.

Cha Eun-woo who had just been dragged along unable to defy Choi Ga-in's words until now.

Mok Min-ho couldn't hear On Tae-yang's words at all.

He was just constantly worried about Cha Eun-woo wearing a red choker on her neck, who kept reaching out towards him.

He worried that if he died, she might completely break down.

Please, let it be a needless worry.

Like that─

"─It's okay, Eun-woo. Don't cry. I'm not hurt anywhere." "Mi, Min-ho..."

"Maybe Min-ho... disliked me. Seeing how he tried to kill me taking advantage of monsters invading Gangbuk."

"Mi, Min-ho..."

"No, don't go. Stay by my side."

Mok Min-ho passed away.

☆

On Tae-yang joined Dangun Clan after graduating from the academy.

Joining as Dangun Clan's new talent, he received the unprecedented authority to recommend talent he wanted for his party along with the qualification of party sub-leader.

"Damn..."

But party life was much more arduous and difficult than he thought.

In a situation where the army invaded Gangbuk, On Tae-yang with little field experience couldn't help but keep making mistakes.

The party leader with some experience had led the party until now, but─

"─Tae-yang, I leave the rear to you." "Leader..."

"You... somehow lead the kids and return to Dangun Clan." "..."

"Damn that Clan Lord bastard... Why did he say he'd send reinforcements to Jongno-gu..."

The party leader finally died.

On Tae-yang who naturally inherited the leader's authority looked around at the party members.

""""...."""

The party members' faces were dark.

It was understandable as several had already died since monsters invaded Gangbuk.

Now there weren't many people left in the party.

Due to continuous battles, all party members were in an exhausted state.

It seemed like they would collapse right away if given any trigger.

Right then─

─Whiiiiieeeeaaaaaoooooo!!

Suddenly Ye-gyeong fell.

On Tae-yang who raised his head hearing the sound opened his eyes wide seeing the huge creature falling above his head.

Boom boom boom!!

Buildings collapsed.

The ground suddenly caved in from the impact of its fall.

On Tae-yang who barely avoided the attack fell down helplessly as the ground collapsed.

""""─...!!""""

Party members screamed.

Sand and dust thickly filled the air, making it impossible to secure visibility.

In that situation, building debris kept endlessly falling.

"Ugh... Guys! Where are you!?"

How much time had passed?

On Tae-yang who thought the impact had subsided pushed away the concrete protecting his head with some luck.

He trudged out stepping on piles of debris.

"...Urgh..."

"Cough!" "It hurts it hurts it hurts... Aaagh!!"

"..."

On Tae-yang doubted his eyes.

Hell was unfolding.

There wasn't a single person unharmed.

One party member coughed blood with every breath, his chest pierced by steel frame.

One party member seemed crushed under debris, only his face visible.

One party member was nowhere to be seen, only a severed foot visible.

On Tae-yang collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Why..."

Why did it turn out like this?

On Tae-yang couldn't believe reality.

Losing his mother.

Growing distant from his younger sister.

Cutting ties with his childhood friend.

Training with the sword filled with resentment, he tried to start a new life with friends who remained by his side to the end.

That completely crumbled.

"Ah..."

His voice wouldn't come out well.

It was hard to breathe.

On Tae-yang clutched his chest.

It was hard to hold onto consciousness.

Why, how.

Why was he so unfortunate?

Who was interfering with him?

The question was soon resolved.

Whoosh!!

On Tae-yang looked up at the sky.

Flames spreading in the night sky.

Noh Eun-ha wrapped in crimson wings was standing right there.

On Tae-yang understood the whole situation.

"Noh Eun-ha..."

It's Noh Eun-ha.

His comrades died in the process of Noh Eun-ha facing Ye-gyeong.

Grind

I hate you. I really hate you.

Why do you keep tormenting me like this?

On Tae-yang gritted his teeth.

Killing intent arose.

Hatred welled up.

Such feelings gradually consumed On Tae-yang's body.

If it weren't for you─

─I could have saved mother.

I wouldn't have grown awkward with Tae-hee.

I wouldn't have cut ties with A-ra.

On Tae-yang sank into the past.

He focused his consciousness on a past mixed with resentment, hatred, and killing intent.

If it weren't for you─

─My comrades wouldn't have died.

On Tae-yang wanted to deny the present.

But cruelly, reality forcibly made him witness, and.

On Tae-yang's consciousness sank deeper into the past.

He had meaningless thoughts.

If he had the power to change the past─

─He wouldn't have become so unhappy.

Something that could never come true.

Nevertheless, he recalled, reviewed, and reminisced about the past over and over.

He vowed never to do that again.

Thus he gripped his sword, giving himself over to killing intent.