31The second word overturns the game board (Episode 398)
A workshop in Hongyeon, the capital of Khan. Something secret was going on there..
“How are the preparations for Injung-ro going??”
“Ah, the final step. Just engrave it and you're done..”
In front of the men with a ferocious look, there was something huge made of iron..
“Tsk tsk… The masterpiece of a lifetime is about to be born..”
bizarre laughter.
Injungro is Yonghwa's ordeal, but these people are not Yonghwa, so why are they preparing for Injungro?.
“Blinding the eyes and blinding the ears with witchcraft... I wonder if I'm sane.”
“They may be eccentric, but when did those Dragon Palace guys ever come to their senses??”
“but… Because they are like that.”
The man touched the object and said.
“A decent cart wouldn't be enough to transport this..”
“I already airlifted it. It was specially made.”
“Well then you're lucky.”
The eyes of the two men crossed..
There was something, a dangerous look in his eyes..
“Tsk tsk… Let's do something grand..”
“…I think that day will be an unforgettable day..”
“Yes, for us and for her..”
“…We choose the dragon.”
* * *
It was a day just before Injung-ro..
Seolhong visited her sister-in-law, Cheonju..
It was her oldest sister-in-law. It was said to be a fight, but it is the same as a nanny..
No, she is the one who became my mother in place of the mother I never saw..
She was currently suffering from old age..
It's been a long time since I stepped away from work..
“What is the old man so worried about that you come here so early??”
“Older people say time passes quickly? I ask the children to take a step forward.….”
Hwaa, Hwia, Cheonga.
The children sent by Guo Sheng have now taken on the role of Heavenly Father..
Since the three of us were close friends, we were always treated with the utmost hospitality. After confirming this, the Lord said that he would step down from work..
“Those nasty things are doing useless things again….”
“It's not useless.”
“…….”
“Heaven is my precious person.”
“Are you here to say something like that at this important time? The most insignificant thing in the world is for young people to worry about the lives of old people..”
“hmm… is it.”
Seolhong lay down on Cheonju’s bed. Her neat clothes spread out..
“…You look a lot like Yuhwa..”
“That's what everyone says. They look so alike?”
After returning from the ghost world, Seolhong returned to his original form. However, as if her small appearance until now was a mirage, her body has grown in recent years..
Now, even if Yuhwa came back as a reincarnation, about two out of ten people would believe it..
“Yes, beauty is passed down from generation to generation..”
“…Next trial, I heard?”
“You're talking about people..”
Cheonju also lay down next to Seolhong..
The two looked at the ceiling and talked..
“I heard. It was a harsh ordeal..”
“It is said that the eyes, ears, and even nose are taken away through witchcraft. Relying on only one rope, you have to walk past the home of the people of the empire to the Dragon Palace..”
“I don't know who thought of it, but he must be a really nasty guy..”
“haha… I agree.”
“…The burden will be great..”
“If you don't, it's a lie. That's right….”
Seolhong trailed off..
“Because I might die.”
possibility of dying.
It was a huge burden for Yonghwa to cross the crowd without an escort, relying on a single rope..
“I'll stop you?”
“Why am I stopping you??”
“It's dangerous. You always stopped me from doing dangerous things..”
“that… That guy ruined everything. Because he broke my rigid way of thinking... I've come to think that if you want to do something big, you have to take some risks.?”
“That guy… It's him….”
“……That damn guy disappeared..”
eat…
Heaven is probably the only person with whom she can discuss sensitive topics so openly..
“If you want to become a dragon, this is the path you must walk..”
“There are people who hate me?”
“There must be a few people in the world.”
“Those people will also wait for the crowd to start..”
“Still, it's not like stabbing Seolhong's stomach with a knife on the street... Oh my, did I speak a little harshly??”
“…a little much.”
“Anyway, the Seolhong I know is a benevolent person, so I'm sure there won't be a big problem..”
Just being with God gave me great psychological comfort..
“Heaven, can I become a dragon??”
“If you really want it. But Seolhong….”
“Yeah, I lost confidence..”
“…This is serious. It's all because of that damn guy..”
Seolhong smiled..
“He made me think I had achieved everything with my own strength and made it easy for me to rely on it. And suddenly it disappeared.”
“Seolhong….”
“The big tree that provided shade has disappeared..”
Seolhong hesitated and said.
“I am a person with many shortcomings, and I know that I did not get to this point entirely on my own. I am worthy of a dragon….”
“Seolhong, the guy who was born a dragon is still trapped underground..”
“…huh?”
“Hwageumu. A scaly, fire-breathing guy..”
Seolhong laughed at Cheonju’s words..
“In order for a person to become a dragon, he must eventually collide with another person. And only those who have been hit and trained like that….”
Heaven's old hand stroked Seolhong's hair..
“You can challenge the dragon's seat..”
“…….”
“That man was also just the person who ended up bumping into Seolhong. Daughter of the dragon, please….”
a piece of an old smile.
“Be a dragon.”
* * *
The afternoon before Injung-ro.
By this time tomorrow, the 10 Yonghwas will be walking down the street separately..
Because he is a dragon, a lot of work can be done behind the scenes. In particular, as Yonghwa risked everything, there was a high chance of interfering with the opponent..
Safety measures for this have been devised..
10Yonghwa of human beings took an oath not to harm each other, and this was used as a spell to enforce force..
If you violate this, you will be stripped of your position regardless of the outcome of the match and your family's history will be burned..
Those who climb the Injung Road will be evaluated only by the people, and if a stronger person approaches the road, the recorder will control access..
In other words, only the powerless can get close to the Yonghwa walking down the street..
Of course, I couldn't hold his hand or give directions..
Everything is to wash away past mistakes in the river of humanity.
Anyone with a grudge should come closer. I will embrace everything. If you don't overcome it, you'll be swept away by the river..
This was the reason Injung-ro was chosen for the final ordeal..
“Then, please check the route assigned to each person..”
Sigh…
Yonghwas check the route of Injung-ro drawn on a palm-sized piece of paper..
At that moment, Seolhong’s expression was not bright..
everything is decided.
“Then, the final ordeal of the Battle of the Dragons will begin tomorrow at the designated location. good luck.”
Scattering dragon flowers.
Everyone was busy talking..
“…snow red.”
Chi-woo approached Seol-hong, who was left alone. For some reason she didn't leave her place.
“Path, confirmed.?”
nod…
“You can look?”
nod…
Chi-woo takes over Seol-hong’s paper. And after checking the route, I closed my eyes tightly like Seolhong..
“Nonsense… This… This… It's wrong.”
“Ehehe… Well, that's how it happened..”
“I'll fix it. This… You pass through the slums..”
ghetto.
The light of Yusin gathers and raises the children there, but it is still the lowest point of life..
No matter how great Yushin's influence there was, he could not control all the darkness..
Therefore, it is a place full of all kinds of problems and dangers. Among Yonghwa, Seolhong's route was the only one that passed through the slums..
“Seolhong, there’s still time.….”
widely…
Seolhong held Chiwoo’s hand..
“Chiwoo, don’t do it..”
“why! It's not fair! The other Yonghwas are walking along the main street just fine! Why do you have to cover yourself with filth??”
“It's not fair. They too... You weren't born there because you wanted to..”
“that…….”
That was correct.
People living in slums are probably not born to want to be in slums..
I couldn't tell them it was unfair. That was something that shouldn't have been done..
“Still, sections 1 and 3 are straight roads. are you okay. you can do it.”
“snow red….”
Grinning…
“I'll make it, I'm sure.”
Tomorrow, passing through the slums.
Without any protection or armament. We pass through what is considered the most dangerous area in the capital Hongyeon..
You can't choose trials.
Just like life in the slums, those walking along it also had no choice..
You will be given one day.
It's okay to give up.
The only thing that can be decided is now, and only those who walk in silence will win..
Whether it's shame or glory.
That night, three people, including Seolhong, were in one place..
Taeyul, Shinyo, and Seolhong gathered together. Those closest to the dragon.
“It's a gathering where it wouldn't be strange if at least one person disappeared tomorrow..”
“Brother, why do you say such harsh words??”
“It was a joke.”
“I guess your family members teach you jokes.….”
“…Learn if you need to.”
“That's Okay. Rather… Have you seen the route of Injung-ro??”
“saw.”
As I heard briefly, Taeyul was assigned a straight path. It was the same with Shinyo..
No, any path was better than Seolhong’s path. Seolhong chose the worst, so even if the others couldn't do it, they were at least the lesser evil..
“Brother and Seolhong... Your face is serious….”
It was then.
I received an unexpected proposal from Taeyul..
“Seolhong, should I change my path??”
“…yes?”
“I asked if you would change paths with me..”
“…Are you serious??”
“I'm serious.”
Why?.
Are there other hidden intentions?.
Seolhong thought for a moment about the true meaning behind Taeyul’s words and then shook his head..
Taeyul is not that kind of person. He was always confident and did his best. He will not be a man of tricks, he will be pure kindness..
Maybe he is the person most suited to being a dragon..
“it's okay.”
“hmm… Why? Considering how much you helped me, this much is worth it.….”
“There is no meaning if you don't walk the given path. Because it's important not to avoid it.”
It was an answer that made even the expressionless Shinyo laugh..
“That's the truth.”
nod…
Taeyul agreed with Seolhong..
“Really, the assigned route may not matter. What matters is the resentment.”
How much resentment have you accumulated throughout your life? Is it possible to break that chain of hatred in the human race? If there is one thing that cannot be changed, it is the past, and past mistakes will come with regret..
“I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. In particular, I made many mistakes.”
“My brother always did his best. I know that too.”
“Even if you do your best, regrets remain if the results are not good..”
Taeyul looked into the distance and said.
“Maybe it's me who won't be here tomorrow.”
I could die.
No, a lot of Yonghwa will die..
“Order your subordinates to preserve your life….”
Taeyul shakes his head.
“I'll bet everything. Because it's the final ordeal. At the end of the day, I want to check to what extent the person I am is truly capable of..”
Taeyul is that kind of person..
“Step by step, I will put my all into it and become a dragon against the river of people. Shinyo, how about you??”
“…Same for me too.”
upright man.
wise man.
And the benevolent but wandering one.
On the day of Injung-ro.
10The total number of people in Yonghwa was reduced to 8 people..
Two people gave up on the ordeal in one night..
Those two were dragons who had already committed too many harsh acts during the war, so they had built up a mountain of resentment..
No doubt, you will die soon after you start. Maybe it was a smart move.
the archivist said.
“Fire of death, see it in your eyes. It might be the last world you'll see.”
“…You're scaring me.”
“I said this out of concern for you. Now, let me put the blindfold on. Only the sensation transmitted through the skin will remain, taking away the eyes, ears, and nose. Oh, the situation of other Yonghwas will be communicated to you so that you can make wise decisions..”
If other Yonghwa gives up, there will be a lot of people who give up after him. Maybe they were aiming for that.
“A push on the back is a signal to walk down the street..”
“…yes.”
“finally… Never, ever miss a line. No matter what! If you miss the line, you may not be able to reach Yonggung in time..”
Sigh…
A blindfold was placed over the eyes..
“Wow!….”
“Seolhong! Get out of here….”
Bleep.…
At that moment, the whole world turned off and Seolhong was left alone..
The only thing you can rely on is the tug and force that moves you forward..
Tung…
I felt someone's hand from behind.
The human path has begun.
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