There’s been a lot of times that Bang Yoonseob promised himself that he’d change once he becomes a high school student.
But people don’t change easily.
There are many who put their mind to changing themselves, but only a few work hard enough to put that desire into action.
Looks like Bang Yoonseob is not one of them.
‘I really thought he’d change for good already…’
The moment he made up his mind, the motivation overflowed to the point that he put himself into hard training.
I thought that he’d really change when he entered Eungwang High, but I guess it didn’t.
I genuinely believed that he’d change for good when he became a disciple of Tak Geosan, but I guess that didn’t do it either.
Bang Yoonseob continues to be an amateur even after all the dramatic events he went through such as the crisis at the youth retreat, and becoming a disciple and training for close combat battle.
But then again, it takes a lot of time, effort, and patience to transform from an ordinary person into an extraordinary player.
He knew for sure that he’d become stronger if he’d undergo harsh training under Tak Geosan.
However, there’s a gap between just knowing and actually putting things into action.
‘How is this rat-like guy so thick-faced? How does he do it!?’
Aside from Bang Yoonseob, there was Maeng Hyodon who silently endured the training.
I knew he’s improved well.
He’s a genius, and he’s worked hard.
Even those born with natural talent aren’t all patient enough to bloom by undergoing painful training and process.
Compared to Maeng Hyodon who gritted his teeth throughout his life to get to where he is now, there’s the ordinary Bang Yoonseob.
‘…But they’d finally have time to rest! Because the previous typhoon went towards Gangwon-do.”
* * *
Just before the typhoon hit Hongcheon.
Tak Geosan planned for a training session despite being aware of that day’s weather forecast.
Bang Yoonseob, who was holding out believing that he’d be able to rest because of the typhoon, received a handful from the old man.
“There’s a typhoon and you still want us to train? You’re crazy!”
“You bastard! You’re calling your teacher crazy!?”
“Ouch!”
With a loud sound, a strong finger flick hit Bang Yoonseob’s forehead.
It seemed like Tak Geosan swung at him lightly, but it was too fast that Bang Yoonseob couldn’t dodge the attack.
His forehead was damaged to the point that it almost felt numb.
“Let’s go, my students!”
With the rain starting to fall progressively, Tak Geosan led his students with a cheerful voice.
Not long after they climbed the mountain, the typhoon got a lot worse.
They rushed to climb to the top of a hill in Hongcheon and that’s where they caught their breath.
Beeeep!
Even though their devices were in silent mode, an alarm went off on their device.
Only the alarm from the Association Satellite can override their device’s silent mode.
Tak Geosan quickly opened his device and popped up a hologram.
“…It’s an emergency call from the association.”
The scale of the typhoon was larger than expected.
A large amount of damage was anticipated, so players around the area were expected to cooperate in rescue activities.
‘Request for cooperation in rescue activities…?’
Natural calamities, invasion of enemies.
If both events happen at the same time, of course, players are to participate more in resolving the latter.
Players aren’t really obligated to respond to natural disasters.
However, it’s just right to help others on a humanitarian level and prepare for rescue when the damage caused by natural disasters can’t be avoided.
The association actively encouraged players to help in rescue activities.
Players won’t receive rewards unlike during enemy invasions, but the majority of players gladly respond to requests for cooperation.
Somewhat like a volunteer group, there were player organizations that respond professionally to natural disasters.
‘Don’t tell me he still wants us to train despite the typhoon?’
Bang Yoonseob looked at Tak Geosan with nervous eyes.
Fortunately, Tak Geosan seemed to want to join the rescue operations.
When they went to the Hongcheon County Office, they saw people in raincoats wandering around in the strong rain.
In front of the office were fire trucks and police cars going back and forth which made them realize the urgency of the situation.
However, it’s said that fewer than 50 players responded to the call.
With the situation during that day, it was difficult to ask for support from nearby areas as the typhoon hit all parts of the Korean Peninsula.
Bang Yoonseob felt tense when he saw the number of players.
‘Why aren’t there any players in this neighborhood? The population of Hongcheon is around 70,000. Even if just 1% of the population are players, there should at least be 700 players helping here…!’
It’s strange to conclude that all the players who didn’t respond are old players who aren’t skilled enough to move anymore.
Even considering that there aren’t many players residing in Hongcheon, the number of players who responded to the call for help was still too small.
While Bang Yoonseob was questioning things, a public official approached Tak Geosan and began explaining something as he held a map covered with plastic.
A tricky request fell on the side of Bang Yoonseob’s party, which consists of two Eungwang High students and Tak Geosan.
“This neighborhood is often vulnerable to flooding. The bridge here is currently cut off, so this station is isolated. We’re unable to send our own people because we don’t have enough firefighting personnel to deploy. First of all, I’m evacuating the people to the village head’s house at the foot of the mountain, but there are people there suffering from chronic diseases. I’m also worried about the possibility of a landslide…”
The request they received was to rescue the residents who were stranded by the heavy rain.
“I heard about your body condition from Geunhyung. Don’t be afraid.”
“…Yes!”
Before departure, Tak Geosan gave some words of comfort to Maeng Hyodon.
Bang Yoonseob was shocked to see such a thing.
‘That kid… He’s sick somewhere? He fights so well even though he has a sick body?’
During that time, they moved according to Tak Geosan’s orders.
However, come to think of it, it was strange for Maeng Hyodon to come to the octagon ring during the time of the bet match.
Perhaps he had some strange reluctance to get hurt.
‘Damn it, now’s not the time to worry about him!’
Bang Yoonseob’s thoughts didn’t last long.
They traveled around Hongcheon area to respond to calls for rescue.
In the meantime, the rain and wind became thicker and heavier.
Their wet clothes weighed on their bodies.
Bang Yoonseob’s physical strength gradually depleted, but the typhoon showed no signs of stopping.
Maeng Hyodon was still enduring well.
On the other hand, Tak Geosan surrounded himself with energy wave from the very beginning so not a single drop of rain hit his body.
Seeing Tak Geosan dry, Bang Yoonseob’s frustration and sense of defeat grew.
‘I’m losing to an old man way over 70 years old, who’s way shorter than me and seems to have some sort of illness…!’
He tried to endure as much as he could, but Bang Yoonseob eventually reached his limit.
Tak Geosan stopped Bang Yoonseob who was seen catching his breath.
“Hey, Bbang Shuttle, you go ahead and rest up first.”
“Ugh, really! I told you not to call me Bbang Shuttle!”
With that last shout, Bang Yoonseob’s energy was completely depleted.
He was no longer able to use his energy wave, and his body soon quickly cooled down.
Eventually, Bang Yoonseob had to rest in a temporary shelter at a school gymnasium near Hongcheon County Office.
He fell asleep in one corner of the gym, and when he woke up, everything was over.
The typhoon passed, and Tak Geosan and Maeng Hyodon rescued many people.
Seeing the two people who became yesterday’s heroes lay near him asleep, Bang Yoonseob became immersed in a complex mood that was difficult to describe.
‘…What in the world am I doing.’
Leaving the two people at the gym, Bang Yoonseob stepped outside.
The weather was pleasant due to yesterday’s typhoon.
However, streets were covered with fallen signs, overturned tents, twisted banners, and broken trees.
On the other hand, the sky was clear and people were already outside walking.
Bang Yoonseob took a stroll on his own and arrived at Oeum Mountain.
That was where his stamina depleted yesterday.
They were asked to search Oeum Mountain for a couple in their 60s who went to the mountain to harvest some mushrooms.
‘Seeing those two sleep comfortably, I’m sure they were able to rescue the couple safely.’
Bang Yoonseob concluded so, but he still felt frustrated.
What came to his mind now was that he needed a smoke.
‘…That jerk Jo Euishin isn’t here, and that ascetic and his disciple are asleep. I won’t get caught.’
Bang Yoonseob took out the cigarette that he’s been hiding and bit it in his mouth.
He felt good taking out the cigarette like that, but there was a problem.
‘I don’t have a lighter!’
Bang Yoonseob’s teeth ground in frustration and he had no choice but to go back to the gym.
That’s when…
Jo Euishin and Joo Soohyuk appeared in front of him.
* * *
The moment I saw Bang Yoonseob with a cigarette in his mouth, I fell into a dilemma.
‘Should I tell him to buy a potato bread or a corn bread?’
While I was thinking about it, Bang Yoonseob desperately tried to give an excuse.
“N-no, it’s not lit up!”
“Yoonseob-ah…”
Joo Soohyuk took the cigarette from Bang Yoonseob’s mouth as fast as he could.
Bang Yoonseob reflectively tried to take it back, but Soohyuk held his hand up high with a smirk.
Joo Soohyuk flicked the cigarette into the air.
Fwaa!
A flash appeared in the air.
In a short amount of time, Joo Soohyuk summoned his dual sword item card and quickly turned the cigarette into powder.
The obliterated cigarette blew away in the wind.
“Heol…”
“There’s a facility that runs a youth smoking cessation program during the vacation.”
“Ah, why would I go there?! I didn’t smoke that cigarette!”
Bang Yoonseob raised his voice.
However, his words didn’t last long.
Punch!
“Ouch!”
With the sound of wood splitting, Bang Yoonseob was put in his place.
Tak Geosan stood just beside Bang Yoonseob.
When Yoonseob saw the culprit, he saw his hands in a flicking position.
“You’re smoking again?! In a mountain of all places!”
“Aigoo, I told you I didn’t smoke it!”
With the two’s squabbling.
I heard a faint clatter sound behind me.
It sounded like a horse’s hooves hitting the ground.
“Wait, someone is here.”
When I said so, everyone, including Tak Geosan, looked behind me as if they felt something.
Someone with black hair and dark skin, along with three white horses, was coming our way.
It’s my first time seeing that black-haired woman at the front, but I remember seeing those three white horses somewhere.
‘That horse… could it be…?’
Before we went to Hongcheon, the day we visited Min Geurin, Hong Kyungbok, and Song Daesok.
When we passed the Sammachi of Oeum Mountain, there was a tie when the air taxi that we rode suddenly stopped.
Three white horses looked up at us before disappearing.
‘Are those the same horses that I saw?’
Tak Geosan quickly moved beside me and talked to the person who led the white horses.
“You are of royal lineage. What are you doing here?”
I had a vague guess, but it seems like she’s really of royal lineage.
“How fussy. I’m just here to give my thanks.”
When I heard the voice, I remembered who it was.
It was a voice I heard during the 12-way alliance talks.
“Hello, I’m the head of the Horse Clan. I don’t have a human name. Just call me Heukma (Black Horse).”
Nicknamed the ‘Sensitive Black Horse’ during the 12-way alliance talks, it was the head of the Horse Clan.
