Chapter 73

Chapter 72. Life +4 (3)

As time resumed its flow, Seohui began to feel a sense of vitality in her field of vision.

At the same time, a tension as sharp as ice reached its peak.

This was due to the pressure of having to execute the simulation's exact method without a single error.

Swish.

As her body, which had been dormant, awoke, Seohui immediately turned to the right.

She extended her sword to shoulder height.

Although she could see the Taehwangakju leaping at her with incredible speed, she made a conscious effort to ignore it.

Afraid that if she were distracted by what she saw, she would forget what she needed to do.

'He's here!'

Churk.

Seohui's heart raced as she felt something touch the tip of her sword.

She immediately channeled the Soeun Gong, the heart method of the Ilwonsoma Gong, as the simulation had instructed.

'Ugh!'

Instantly, the intense heat of the Hwaonma Gong surged through her hand holding the hilt, but Seohui did not let go of her sword.

She knew very well that even the slightest deviation in movement or timing would mean her death.

Hwaaah-!

'Guh!'

Seohui, as soon as she gathered the heat from the Taehwangakju through Soeun Gong, executed the final move.

Twisting her body, she deflected the sword to the side.

She estimated the timing by feel.

The simulation had mentioned 4/100 of a second.

Though she didn't know the exact time, she understood it to be about half the time it takes to draw a breath.

'Success...?'

Seohui felt part of the Taehwangakju's Hwaonma Gong heading towards Heukbi as soon as she twisted her body.

However, she didn't see Heukbi getting hurt.

Because the Taehwangakju had grabbed her neck even more tightly.

"You damn brat!"

Kwak.

The Taehwangakju, who was glaring fiercely at her, was clearly filled with intense anger.

Hwaaaah-

Just then, she felt her mask melting away.

This was due to the residual heat of the Hwaonma Gong on the Taehwangakju's fingertips.

"You are...?"

As more than half of her mask melted away, the Taehwangakju's eyes widened.

He couldn't have expected that the person he was looking for would be here.

"Why... are you so surprised?"

Seohui did not avert her gaze, even as her chin was held by the Taehwangakju's hand.

Even if she were to die, she had to say what she needed to say.

Only then could she capture his enraged expression.

"But what can I do? This is reality. While your own subordinate was dying, you just watched, in reality."

Seohui sneered at the Taehwangakju, who was holding her.

"Looking back, the one who abandoned their subordinate wasn't me... but you, wasn't it?"

"Yeeaaah!"

As the Hwaonma Gong spread to its extreme, heat surged into Seohui's entire body.

But it didn't matter.

[State Summary, Status Summary]

Seohui [Commander of the Eunyoungdan]

...

...

Coin 6 [Six Chances]

The detailed information had changed.

It informed her that the number had changed from Coin 2 to Coin 6.

This meant the simulation had succeeded.

* * *

"Aaaah!"

Seohui screamed as soon as she opened her eyes.

The heat of the Hwaonma Gong, which had penetrated her entire body, brought terrifying pain even in the moment of her death.

This was the first time she had recalled such pain after rewinding time.

The moment before she died in the Taehwangakju's hands felt so long.

"I have to... see that bastard shudder with humiliation... at least once..."

Seohui vividly remembered.

Jungsong's attitude, which showed unwavering belief despite the Taehwangakju's mocking tone.

She had to make this choice to maintain the affection of the squad leaders she had built up so far.

<You have five chances left.>

<Loading 'Year 97, Chapter 4-5. Filling the Squad Leaders' Affection.'>

"How do I land a hit? With a combat power of 20 million..."

Seohui, who had trained diligently with Kiyeon, felt even more at a loss.

She believed that after crossing a few more lines of death, an opportunity would surely arise, but the current gap in combat power was too great.

"It's not time to fight him yet. I can't throw away my life so easily."

As she returned to the past, Seohui's mind became complicated.

She had avenged Heukbi, so half of her revenge was complete.

Moreover, seeing the Taehwangakju's angry face had somewhat alleviated the emotions she had felt initially.

What should she do now?

Should she prioritize saving Jungsong?

"Saving Jungsong comes first."

Seohui recalled the conversation she had with Jungsong.

The Taehwangakju's appearance was clearly after she had fully gained his trust.

If she could move Jungsong to a different location before the Taehwangakju appeared...

Then the same incident wouldn't happen, and Jungsong's affection for her would reach its peak.

The only problem was that she felt she couldn't sleep without punching the Taehwangakju's face.

'Wait, what about my sword?'

Just then, she remembered the sword she had during the fight with the Taehwangakju.

The Yeohu Sword.

The precious sword that increased destructive power according to martial arts.

"Damn!"

Seohui quickly looked around.

The sword, which was supposed to be placed next to her bed, was not there.

She had lost it during the fight.

"Oh, I didn't put it in the tool box."

Seohui felt a great sense of despair.

The precious Yeohu Sword she had received from Gonma.

Finding a sword that enhanced all abilities was not an easy task.

'But, could it still be where I lost it?'

Suddenly, she had a thought.

Initially, the sword wasn't something she had taken by force.

She had received it officially from Gonma and had been carrying it until just before the fight with the Taehwangakju.

If the cause and effect hadn't been altered...

Wouldn't the sword be at the place where she died, where Jungsong was?

'Yeah, I'll check it out anyway when I go to see Jungsong.'

Seohui got out of bed, half worried and half hopeful.

Today, time seemed to pass too slowly.

* * *

Morning arrived.

As if waiting for it, a notification to set the schedule appeared.

<Please set your schedule for March, Year 97. (19/36)>

There was no need to hesitate.

▶ The squad leaders' resting place

She chose the same as before.

A white light projected in front of her, and as expected, everything was the same.

"Welcome, when did you arrive?"

Just like before, Jungsong greeted her.

"Well, just now."

Seohui answered the same way she had before.

However, the emotions in her gaze were very different from before.

His loyalty to her, even in the moment of death.

It was the first time she had experienced such loyalty from a subordinate.

"Truly remarkable. I didn't even sense your presence."

This was also the same as before.

But then...

"Please don't misunderstand. This... isn't your sword, Commander?"

"..."

Seohui flinched and looked at him, and Jungsong extended a sword.

Surprisingly, it was the Yeohu Sword.

"Even if you find it hard to believe, it was lying around here."

Her guess was correct.

She had died here due to the Taehwangakju, and the sword had been left behind.

The fact that it was here meant that the items she had possessed were left at the place where she died, unless the cause and effect were altered.

"I was just coming to find this."

"Ah, yes..."

Jungsong looked puzzled, but it didn't matter.

He wouldn't understand even if she explained.

Churk.

Seohui quickly took the Yeohu Sword.

'Should I put this in the tool box?'

She briefly considered it but then strapped it to her waist again.

After all, she hadn't returned to fight the Taehwangakju.

'If I lose it in an unavoidable fight, I can find it again.'

While Seohui was thinking about various things...

"I have a question for you, Commander, if it's not too much trouble."

Jungsong initiated a conversation.

Indeed, everything was the same as before, except for the lost sword.

* * *

<You have convinced Jungsong. His affection has reached its maximum.>

The status windows appearing in front of her, as her trust filled up.

[Affection has reached the Trust level.]

[Unless a special situation occurs, affection will not decrease.]

[You can now assign tasks directly to Jungsong.]

This was all consistent with what she knew.

However, there was something else.

<There is nothing more to learn from Jungsong.>

When she approached the stiffly standing Jungsong, this message appeared.

Perhaps because she had already explained everything to him before.

"Jungmyeong."

From now on, it was important.

Her judgment would determine her future.

"..., Commander."

Jungsong answered, lifting his head, without her approaching him.

"Go back to the training ground now."

"Why the training ground...? Is there still something to learn?"

"There's another reason. Don't ask and just go there today."

"...Understood."

Though he looked a bit confused, Jungsong did not refuse Seohui's command.

Perhaps because his affection had turned to trust, making him less likely to disobey her.

Jungsong left the place, and Seohui quickly hid herself elsewhere.

After a while, an old man came into Seohui's view from a distance.

Though there was a distance, Seohui could easily guess it was the Taehwangakju.

'Fools.'

They lingered there for a moment.

Then, they turned back the way they came, and a message appeared in front of her.

[Where would you like to look?]

▶ The residence of the fourth disciple of Cheonma

▷ The back garden of Hyunmugwan

Had her relationship with Jungsong been completed?

Seohui briefly pondered where to go next, seeing the two options.

The back garden of Hyunmugwan drew her attention more than the residence of the fourth disciple of Cheonma.

She had a feeling that another incident would occur here.

<You have chosen 'The back garden of Hyunmugwan.'>

When she chose, this message appeared.

[One day and half a day have passed.]

A white light projected in front of her, along with a message indicating the passage of time.

* * *

The first thing Seohui saw was the darkness surrounding the moonlight.

Then, her gaze slowly moved downward.

Pa-pa-pat.

She saw a figure moving quickly.

Gradually, the figure's appearance became clearer.

'Yongjin.'

She recognized him immediately by his long hair.

For some reason, Yongjin looked like he was being chased.

Pa-pa-pat.

Yongjin was fleeing from Hyunmugwan with all his might.

His movements were swift and agile, indicating he was under significant pressure, enough to use his light body technique.

At that moment, Seohui realized someone was chasing Yongjin.

And soon, she recognized who it was.

'Heukbi?'

Despite the darkness and the figure's attire, Seohui was certain.

The self-sword (自劍) briefly visible on her wrist.

The deformed sword at her waist and her build—there was no doubt it was the woman she knew.

'Why? Why is she after Yongjin?'

The question immediately followed.

Why would they suddenly attack Yongjin, a squad leader?

'Could it be...'

Seohui's gaze shifted to the direction Yongjin was running.

Outside the Eunyoungdan.

Surprisingly, the Taehwangakju was standing at the boundary, known as the outer limit.

At that moment, a choice appeared in front of her.

<Would you like to intervene?>

▶ Help.

▷ Watch.

Seohui didn't hesitate this time.

An opportunity to increase Yongjin's affection.

And a chance to humiliate them again.

She couldn't let this opportunity slip by.