Chapter 98: The Reincarnated One Completes It

Two years ago, in the winter before Babel's enrollment.

The mountain valley was completely covered in snow, turning everything a pristine white. From the wooden platform in the courtyard of the workshop, the entire scene was visible.

A small figure stood silently, gazing at the view. Without realizing it, words slipped out of his mouth.

"Why did Master leave the 'Shari' here?"

During the chaotic times when there were no fences around the danger zones or pilgrimage paths to block the swamp of demons, this spear had pierced through countless monsters and miners. Why was it left to rot in this mountain valley, treated like his own body?

"Hmm..."

In response to his question, Master tilted the teacup in his hand slightly and then slowly answered.

"Because it has passed."

"...I don't understand what you mean."

"It means the strength and time to wield it have already passed from me."

Despite having taken a sip of tea, Master continued in a dry, calm voice.

"That's why I sent it back here. It's better to melt it down and make something new rather than let it rot."

"To melt Shari... that's impossible."

"Hahaha. Jin-hyeon also said that, and he ended up preserving it like this. Truly pitiful... cough, cough!"

"Master!"

As Master burst into laughter, he began to cough, and I hurriedly rushed to his side.

"It's fine..."

But before I could reach him, his wrinkled hand stopped me, and after calming his cough, Master stood up from the platform.

"It's about time to finish, let's go see."

Master walked past me as if nothing had happened, heading towards the workshop. Watching his back, my mind swirled with thoughts.

His back, growing shorter with each passing day. His hair, completely white. And the red mixed in his cough at night...

Clang!

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of metal, and Yan Chengha, who had been looking at the platform, turned his head.

Clang! Clang!

The sharp sound of metal from the workshop. Seeing the smoke from the chimney grow thicker, Yan Chengha frowned.

'Someone is making something.'

Since he hadn't received the spear yet, perhaps they were working on it. After a moment of hesitation, Yan Chengha headed towards the workshop.

'Anyway, I was planning to check the workshop and see Master's Shari...'

It's not because he was curious about the spear they were supposed to give him. With that thought, Yan Chengha looked inside the workshop.

"Ah!"

He saw Yi Sehoon, about to strike the red spear, Shari, with a hammer.

Bang!

Before he could fully understand the situation, his body moved, and he quickly closed the distance across the workshop.

Yi Sehoon, seemingly unaware, was about to strike with the long-handled hammer, and Yan Chengha's fist was already raised to strike his face.

"Sto—!"

A hurried cry came from the side, but it was too late as his body was already in motion.

With all his might, Yan Chengha's solid fist swung towards Yi Sehoon's head.

Whoosh!

The trajectory of the hammer, which was about to strike downward, was deflected.

Clang!

Yi Sehoon's body was thrown across the workshop, smashing a table and scattering materials and tools everywhere.

The workshop, now in chaos, and Yi Sehoon hanging from the ceiling. The bizarre scene made Yan Chengha's thoughts come to a halt.

"...What."

He realized he was rolling on the floor of the workshop.

"What are you doing?"

Yi Sehoon, holding the hammer on his shoulder, looked at him with a disdainful expression, and Yan Chengha quickly got up.

'What is he doing...'

How did he end up on the floor when he was the one who swung the fist first? His eyes fell on his pants, where the knees were particularly dirty with soot.

Seeing this, Yan Chengha understood what had just happened.

'He must have struck my knees with the hammer to throw off my balance.'

The slight twist was almost imperceptible, but it was enough to make his punch miss and lose his balance, causing him to fall to the floor.

Even though he had lost his mind, considering the gap between them, this should have been impossible.

Looking at Yi Sehoon, Yan Chengha's expression was one of disbelief.

'How much stronger has he become in such a short time...'

Not only his physical abilities but his techniques had been honed to a completely different level. As Yan Chengha struggled to find words, Yi Sehoon spoke.

"Ah, is it because of this?"

Yi Sehoon picked up Shari from the anvil.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding, but everything—"

Thud!

Before he could finish, Yan Chengha stepped forward and snatched Shari from him. Yi Sehoon narrowed his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"You have no right to handle this."

"But I had permission."

"I never gave you permission."

As a cold atmosphere enveloped the two, Park Jin-hwan, who had just regained his senses, grabbed Yan Chengha.

"I gave permission. I thought using Shari's blade to complete your spear would be good—"

"So what are you saying?"

Yan Chengha, turning his head, glared at Park Jin-hwan with anger.

"Are you saying I should be grateful because you wanted to use it for me?"

"That's not it—"

"When you said you would melt it, you were adamantly against it, but now you change your stance like turning your hand... It's ridiculous."

Since he was one of the few who remembered Master, Yan Chengha felt a deep sense of betrayal and vented his anger at Park Jin-hwan.

"Was leaving Shari here also because of your greed? Now that you can't make hero-grade weapons, are you trying to find comfort in past works?"

"..."

"That explains the current situation. If you remake it and give it to me, your name will also be known alongside Yi Sehoon. It's a good opportunity."

Park Jin-hwan, who did not deny it, made Yan Chengha's expression twist.

"What are you saying—"

"Hey."

A low voice filled the workshop. Yan Chengha, who had been berating Park Jin-hwan, flinched and turned his head.

"Get lost. I have nothing to give to a brat like you."

More calmly and deeply than before, Yi Sehoon's eyes. The inexplicable pressure from them made Yan Chengha involuntarily think of Master.

No matter how strong he became, he was always above him. With this thought, Yan Chengha's expression twisted, and he turned his head.

"Tsk..."

Yan Chengha left the workshop with Shari.

The tense atmosphere in the workshop eased, and Yi Sehoon, relaxing his eyes, sighed.

"That insolent brat..."

I understand why he lost his cool because of Yan Jin-hwan, but he should have chosen his words more carefully.

'At least he didn't swing his fist, which is a good thing compared to his wild days.'

While comparing his current behavior to his past, Yi Sehoon was unsure whether to be pleased or not.

"I'm sorry."

Park Jin-hwan, who had been silent, slowly spoke.

"I knew this would happen, but I didn't tell you because I thought you wouldn't be able to do it if you opposed it."

"You don't need to apologize. He was in the wrong."

"That's not entirely true. His words weren't completely wrong."

Looking at the mess in the workshop, Park Jin-hwan spoke with a bitter tone.

"I knew it too. When I looked at Shari, I wasn't thinking of the first Patriarch but of myself."

"..."

"I knew it was already gone, but I couldn't bear to get rid of it. When I thought of those memories, it felt like I was back in those times."

Park Jin-hwan, sitting weakly in a chair, looked at his hands.

His aged, wrinkled, and trembling hands. Closing his eyes tightly, he muttered.

"I didn't realize how pitiful that made me..."

Feeling deep regret, Park Jin-hwan's voice made Yi Sehoon look at him.

'Everyone's troubles are the same.'

Nostalgia for the past and the regret of not being able to change it.

These were problems anyone, not just heroes, could have, and Yi Sehoon was no exception.

'This is a difficult problem.'

Regret alone doesn't change anything, but it's not because they don't know this that they get stuck.

Lacking the strength to move forward, they can only stay in place, looking back at their past.

Without a clear solution, a moment everyone will eventually face. Reflecting on the problem he had postponed, Yi Sehoon slowly spoke.

"Don't push too hard."

"..."

With a puzzled look, Park Jin-hwan asked, and Yi Sehoon smiled bitterly.

"Whether by choice or not... standing still is also a difficult task."

"..."

"Even if you can't understand others, at least understand and embrace yourself."

No matter how much you hone yourself, if it all wears away, it's a futile effort.

"You..."

"I'll check the lower equipment alone. Take a rest for a while."

Yi Sehoon, picking up a subspace pocket with materials, left the workshop, and Park Jin-hwan, looking at his back, had a strange expression.

It seemed like he was trying to comfort him, but it also felt like he was talking to someone else.

"What is that guy..."

***

"Tsk..."

Outside the workshop, Yi Sehoon scratched his chin, feeling awkward.

He just wanted to use some materials, but why did this happen?

'Just thinking about the past... it's annoying.'

At first, he thought he was better than the wild days, but the more he thought about it, the more he found Yan Chengha's actions annoying.

Why was it such a problem to use it for his own spear?

'From what I heard, Yan Jin-hwan had already given permission, but he's making a fuss. Just take it.'

Muttering curses to himself, as Yi Sehoon entered the empty village from the hill.

Swoosh

Darkness enveloped the surroundings.

A magic that blocked the light around him rather than directly obstructing his vision. Since it only affected a certain area, he could easily escape, but...

Whoosh!

Experienced assassins didn't give him that chance.

Five shadows rushed towards Yi Sehoon inside the dark curtain. Their presence disappeared as if they had merged with the darkness, and a chilling sound echoed from inside.

Thud!

The sound of five blades piercing flesh.

The bold attack in broad daylight made the middle-aged man, who was watching from the hill, speak calmly.

"Not bad."

Even though he was at a distance and could see the movements, the presence was so faint.

The peculiar characteristic that could deceive even his A-rank eyes made the man turn to look at the shadow of a tree.

"Those 'Jieying Team' members. Their physical abilities are all around C-rank, right?"

"Yes."

"But their ability to hide their presence can easily deceive B-rank... The modification is truly remarkable."

While admiring it, the tone of his voice was uneasy. The gaze directed at him was also not friendly, but the shadow didn't care.

"They have many other abilities. It's a pity we couldn't show them if the target had resisted."

"Well, we'll see that in time. I'll tell the Patriarch, so don't worry."

Turning his gaze to the hill, the man asked the shadow again.

"The barrier?"

"It was activated as soon as I arrived."

"Good. Then leave the old man in the workshop to you."

Leaving those words, the man moved up the hill, and a moment later, a different voice echoed from the shadow.

"He doesn't even know who is trading with him."

"What can an expelled instructor know? They are usually disposable."

The old man, who had been sitting on a rock as if he had been there all along, looked at the shadow.

"Once the job is done, clean up the boy as planned. He had a protective charm, so a confirmation kill is necessary."

"Understood."

Hearing the shadow's response, the old man looked at the darkness below again.

"Just a wasted trip..."

Muttering briefly, the old man disappeared. The masked man, hiding in the shadow, turned his gaze to the village.

'The ambush was good, but the cleanup is poor...'

What are they doing that they haven't come out yet?

Feeling annoyed at showing his inadequacy to the elder, the leader of the Jieying Team immediately signaled to his subordinates.

Swoosh

The shadows hiding in the village revealed themselves and re-entered the dark curtain.

Rip!

A sharp sound, and something rolled out from the curtain.

A ball wrapped in black cloth. Realizing it was the head of the subordinate who had just entered, the leader of the Jieying Team's eyes widened.

'What...'

What is happening here?

In the sudden situation, the leader, though startled, instinctively signaled to the remaining subordinates.

Rumble

A black spear shot out from inside the curtain.

A sleek, entirely black spear, from the blade to the shaft. It seemed to fly towards him, but suddenly disappeared.

It was as if it had vanished from the world. The sudden disappearance of the black spear made the leader's thoughts freeze.

'Did it disappear because the magic power ran out?'

If so, wouldn't it be better to stay hidden and move secretly rather than try to dodge?

This thought made the leader's reaction slower.

Rustle

A thin line appeared in the air, and the black spear reappeared.

Thud!

"Ugh...!"

Even though he tried to dodge at the last moment, the spear pierced his thigh.

In shock from the pain, the leader of the Jieying Team quickly turned his gaze back to the village.

The dark curtain was gone. The bodies of his subordinates, with vital points pierced or heads missing, were scattered, and only one person stood in the center.

Swoosh

Yi Sehoon, who had not moved a single step from where he was initially surrounded, pointed a finger with small characters engraved on it at the leader.

"Seal of the Dark Eye."

Darkness erupted from the black spear, enveloping the leader of the Jieying Team.