Chapter 8: Claiming A High Price For A Life

Thud.

As his head hit the ground, silence enveloped the surroundings.

With eyes wide in disbelief, Heuksa stared at Nokgwi's severed head.

"Brother…"

"Hey."

I approached Heuksa, who was still in shock.

"Uh, ughhh… How, how could you take him down so easily?"

"Because you guys are amateurs."

His eyes flared with anger momentarily before returning to Nokgwi, then filled with fear once more.

He knew what was coming.

"Be careful of Heuksa! He can hide in shadows!"

"In the shadows?"

"Damn it!"

Heuksa quickly assumed a diving stance, trying to leap into the shadows. This guy must be out of his mind.

Whack!

I kicked Heuksa's face with all my might, his face deforming on impact.

'Hmm.'

His face, now even more disfigured, made him look grotesque.

I grabbed the dagger he had been holding.

With the dagger in a reverse grip, I drove it into his thigh.

Thunk!

"Aaaaargh!"

"You're so loud it hurts my ears. Be quiet, will you?"

"Yes, yes. Heup."

Heuksa covered his mouth.

I smiled at him, noting the improvement in his demeanor.

Everything's smoother when unnecessary complications are avoided. There's no need to involve innocents.

I moved past him toward the woman, who was illuminated by the twilight's crimson light.

She looked at me, bewildered.

"You killed Nokgwi… in one strike?"

"I'm sorry! I was too forward earlier; please accept my apologies! Feel free to ignore what I said. I won't be upset about you grabbing my hand without permission."

"…"

What's going on with her?

Could it be that the previous owner of this body was met with such disdain for merely touching her hand?

Absurd.

Yet, her apologetic stance suggests she's still somewhat charmed by men.

"What's your name?"

"Yoo, Yoo Eunchae."

Her prompt response to my question, despite her surprise, indicated she was adept at assessing the situation quickly.

Or perhaps she's just detached from reality.

"Do you have time?"

"I had plans later… but now that I think about it, I can cancel them! Yes, let's go to a café or somewhere to talk?"

Her words were tinged with a melancholic tone.

"And one more question."

"What is it?"

"That man, do they offer a larger reward for capturing him?"

"Yes, they'll likely parade him on broadcasts before executing him after extensive torment. I think?"

They broadcast the torment? The modern world I live in is harsher; how brutal.

"Ah, Heuksa ranks lower than Nokgwi, but he's a notorious criminal."

"What kind?"

"He's a rapist."

"Ah, so he's someone who deserves to die."

I moved towards Heuksa. As if snapping back to reality, he clenched his teeth and looked around.

"I will avenge Brother Nokgwi's death someday… Kaaaak!"

I silenced him with a kick to his knee before he could finish his threat.

This maneuver should prevent him from escaping.

"My, my leg!!"

"Let's have a conversation instead."

"Ugh!"

Why are these individuals so fragile?

In my era, numerous foes would confront me even after losing a limb, bearing their pain.

Many disregarded their own safety to launch an attack on me. Some even attempted suicide when captured.

Nevertheless, they all met the same fate in the end.

'Is it the influence of modern times?'

Or is it because he's a lowlife?

Their resilience is notably lacking.

I applied pressure to a critical point on his body. He writhed and struggled, but I paid him no mind and turned to Yoo Eunchae.

"What should we do with him?"

"The obvious choice would be to call the police, but it doesn't really matter."

"It doesn't matter?"

"Because they'll be arriving shortly."

Yoo Eunchae glanced towards the west.

However, she continued to speak in an overly familiar manner.

I brought my fingers together and flicked her forehead.

Snap!

"Ow! Why, why did you do that!"

"Mind your manners."

"…Aren't we the same age?"

"I am significantly older."

".........…Understood."

She nodded, clearly not thrilled.

I followed Yoo Eunchae's gaze.

An entity was approaching us rapidly.

Rumble!

The sound of thunder resonated throughout the area.

Flashes of yellow lightning approached from atop a building.

'Human?'

The lightning took on a human shape as it moved.

"What's this, all cleaned up?"

The sight of her sly smile was striking.

A woman appeared, her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, dressed in a black uniform beneath a white coat.

"Did you handle these troublemakers? Impressive…wait, Nokgwi and Heuksa are no ordinary opponents, are they?"

She then fell silent. Her gaze shifted between me and Yoo Eunchae.

"Did the two of you take these men down?"

"No, this individual handled it alone."

Her blue eyes focused on me with curiosity.

"You did all this by yourself? And without any sword clans to assist you?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No, not at all. In fact, it's something we should be grateful for. Lately, there are so many criminals that it's been hard to find peace. What's your name?"

"Han Seojin."

"Han Seojin, I see."

The woman's expression turned thoughtful.

"If you're recognized for this deed, the state will award you a subsidy."

"That sounds troublesome."

"If you find it bothersome, you're not obligated to pursue it. The reward isn't significant, anyway."

"When should I consider it?"

"…?"

She regarded me with a puzzled look.

"Why would the eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan be interested in such a small amount? It's not substantial, and going after it would only expose your hidden strengths. Besides, we're already under scrutiny."

What was this woman implying?

"Ah, my apologies. I wasn't thoughtful enough."

Clap.

The woman clapped her hands lightly. Then, pale yellow lightning began to envelop us, forming a barrier that concealed both sound and visuals.

"Regardless, I can't interfere with your matters, so I'm merely making a suggestion."

"Please inform me of the location, and I'll get in touch."

Yoo Eunchae stepped forward, offering her phone to the woman.

"Hmm, okay. Your name was Yoo Geumchae?"

"…It's Yoo Eunchae."

"…"

The woman gave an awkward smile.

"Sorry, I'm terrible with names. However, I do remember faces. I recall you as the most promising individual at this academy."

She then turned to me.

"And Han Seojin."

"She's a member of the Hero Association, Light Thunder, Heo Yoonji!"

"What's this? You went out of your way to introduce me to someone I'm meeting for the first time."

Heo Yoonji laughed off the introduction and focused on me.

"Anyway, Han Seojin. You're welcome to make an appearance at the association if you'd like to leave an impression. Of course, as you're probably aware, the Iron-Blood Sword Clan doesn't exactly get along with us, so don't expect a cordial reception."

Despite knowing this, she still extended the invitation?

"…What, you really weren't aware?"

Heo Yoonji looked at me with a mix of curiosity and surprise.

"There's no need for that look. I prioritize the well-being of citizens above all else."

"…That's commendable."

"Not as commendable as your actions."

She spoke as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Heo Yoonji chuckled, and I acknowledged her with a nod.

"Rumors suggest that the eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan wasn't chosen by the system nor blessed with mana, but as we know, rumors should not always be taken at face value."

Heo Yoonji gave me a look as if she found something amusing, then pulled her hat down firmly.

"Then, I'll be off now."

Rumble!

Yellow lightning enveloped her, and as her body shone with the lightning, she soared off in another direction.

'Fascinating.'

That technique wasn't something conjured through ordinary means. There was no magical formation involved, and it wasn't spirit magic or anything of the sort. It seemed as though she bent the laws of nature to her will, transforming them into her own power, a sort of authority.

This must be the unique ability of the one known as Heo Yoonji. Distinctly different in essence from those like Nokgwi or Heuksa, it was a truly unique and powerful trait.

"Light Thunder. Quite the appropriate moniker."

"It's actually Raging Thunder. She ascended the ranks too swiftly, and it went to her head. Her sporadic bouts of madness are why she often forgets names."

"…"

It's bold of her to correct me while I'm speaking. Catching the implied reproof in my look, Yoo Eunchae pretended not to understand.

"Though she tends to forget names, she never forgot yours. Perhaps it's due to your appearance…"

What is she implying now?

Regardless, I escorted Yoo Eunchae to the café.

"But why are we here? Is this a date?"

Hope shone in Yoo Eunchae's eyes.

"That's not the case."

"No need to be so direct about it."

"It isn't, so don't get ahead of yourself."

My extensive experience across many lifetimes has taught me to be cautious.

Due to my appearance, I must be mindful of my actions.

Most behave as if they've never interacted with a woman before.

It's tiresome how everything escalates to confessions and the like. That's why I'm setting the record straight from the start.

Many argue that popularity has its perks, but there's a threshold for everything.

"Are you seriously considering going?"

"I must. They're offering a hundred million."

"But, do you not foresee discussions like this arising if you attend?"

「The Iron-Blood Sword Clan's eldest intercepted a task meant for the Association?」

「After the report was issued, they mobilized immediately, but since the culprits were already apprehended, the Association is obliged to dispense the reward.」

「Ha, a reward for that accursed Sword Clan?」

Yoo Eunchae laid it out for me.

"So, should that concern me?"

"…No, not particularly. It's them, not us, who are overthinking."

At that moment, the bell chimed, and Yoo Eunchae returned with two cups of coffee.

"Here, an Americano for you."

Slurp.

The taste of the cold Americano was predictably bland and unappealing.

"What, Americano's not to your taste?"

Grin.

Yoo Eunchae flashed a grin at me, as if beholding a naive child.

Something didn't sit right.

I shook my head.

"No, it's simply been some time."

Given my past lives, it had been over 20 years, rendering the experience somewhat foreign.

"But why involve me?"

"I have two matters to discuss with you."

"Two matters?"

"Consider it the cost of your life."

"Well, when you frame it like that, it does sound like a deal…"

Yoo Eunchae's voice faded.

A spark of amusement flickered in my eyes. This youngster clearly lacked finesse in bargaining. Admitting you're getting a deal by saving your life is essentially conceding.

"Supply me with weapons and a variety of other items."

"Weapons and other items?"

"Yes. A sword, a dagger, and iron rings."

In my tenure as the Blue-Eyed Martial Emperor, I never once wielded a sword. My skills in striking, hand-to-hand combat, and staff were unparalleled, and my body was durable enough to resist most swords and their energies.

'The issue now is my current body's fragility.'

Though I could enhance my hand-to-hand combat skills with the Splitting Thunder Hand, it's not the most efficient method. Against multiple adversaries, regardless of one's prowess, weapons like swords become necessary.

"Will anything suffice?"

"As long as it's of high quality, it's suitable. Given your martial arts knowledge, you should have a discerning eye, correct?"

"…."

I noticed it.

Yoo Eunchae clenched her fist, then, sneaking a glance at me, she relaxed her hand.

"What should the iron rings weigh?"

"They should be wearable on my arms and legs. Around 30kg each would be appropriate."

"And the second request?"

"Information."

"Information? What sort? Like the covert manipulations rumored in countries worldwide? Or a new cult formed by villains?"

Yoo Eunchae chuckled and clasped her hands together.

What was that about?

"Not those, merely basic common sense."

"…Basic common sense, I see."

Exactly. Eunchae briefly closed her eyes, murmured something, then opened them to look at me.

"I'll share what I know. I've told many personal anecdotes, but my information is always accurate."

Hehe- Yoo Eunchae laughed peculiarly.

"Red. Have you heard of it?"

"Who's that?"

"You don't know?"

"I'm unaware."

Yoo Eunchae's eyes blazed with excitement.

This can't be happening. She repeated to herself.

"Cough!"

"Where do you think you're escaping to?"

I caught her by the nape as she attempted to flee and restrained her.

"But! But!"

"No excuses. Just the information."

"…Give me your phone number."

"Fine."

We exchanged numbers.

That marked our departure.