<Four lives left> <Year 97, Chapter 4-5. Raising the members’ favorability>
Third try. This time, he wanted to raise every member’s favorability. Last time he did it for Jeok Seong and Yong Jin, but he didn’t get a chance for Yeorim and Seo Ryeong before he got killed. So he wasn’t going to repeat that mistake.
“For now, my sword…” Seol-Hwi went out to find his sword. He found it around where he died, and he was back in his room in short order.
“Good. I will succeed this time,” he promised himself.
He had four lives left. If he wanted to be strong, he had to make the best of them.
<You persuaded Jeok Seong. Favorability has risen to max> <You persuaded Yong Jin. Favorability has risen to max>
The next day, his confidence was buoyed by the knowledge that he’d already convinced Jeok Seong and Yong Jin, Seol-Hwi went to find Seo Ryeong and Yorim.
“You, where did you come from—?”
Yorim spoke, Seo Ryeong was shoved against the wall, and then the battle started. Same as before.
<What will you do?> ▶ Go fight ▷ Wait
“Hm.” This time, Seol-Hwi didn’t hesitate. He’d learned his lesson—he had to fight here, or die later.
<You have selected “Go fight.”>
He was placed on a branch of one of the large zelkova trees nearby, looking down on the fight.
Seol-Hwi jumped down without another thought. The enemies were definitely talented; they noticed him immediately, but it didn’t matter. Seol-Hwi already had the simulation ready.
<Which simulation would you like to use?>
“I want to kill all of them at once!”
<Analyzing…>
His vision was filled with countless illusions.
<Found it!> ▶ Take 60% damage and inflict a fatal blow to all enemies.
Damn, 60%? It was a high price to pay, but without the simulation he’d have no chance. Seol-Hwi decided to take it.
One of his opponents stepped back immediately and attacked with the Thousand-Pound Drop, a footwork technique that made you feel lighter. He didn’t expect Seol-Hwi to notice, and was already preparing to follow up with his sword.
Seol-Hwi leapt up as his opponent was committed to his attack and sent his own blade cutting straight through the enemy’s waist.
“Aghhhhh!”
Seol-Hwi landed on the ground and was immediately moving again according to the simulation’s instructions.
There was another enemy close by, and another a little further away. Behind those two were two more of them were handling Yorim and Seo Ryeong.
Seol-Hwi moved first, firing off techniques whenever the simulation told him too.
“Huh?!”
“Ugh!”
His opponents were enveloped in a deep cold, which had an obvious and immediate effect on their speed. Taking advantage of this, Seol-Hwi jumped forward and neatly decapitated one of them.
However, another one of them rushed in while Seol-Hwi was occupied and stabbed him.
Damn it!
“Gah!” Seol-Hwi groaned as the sword bit into his shoulder, but he didn’t relent. The next move the simulation had planned would take out all three of the remaining enemies.
“Wha—?”
“Ah!”
Seol-Hwi swung his sword in a wide arc, confusing his opponents and forcing them back. That was when he unleashed the 9th form of the White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts. Sword energy arose from the blade, dazzling the enemies. With their resistance in shambles, they died quickly.
Seol-Hwi didn’t get through unscathed, however; one of his opponents had landed a counterattack on his waist, leaving behind a gaping wound.
This is 60%.
[Status] Seol-Hwi [Vice-Commander of the Hidden Truth Corps] Health: 290k(↓420k)/710k Internal Energy: 1.01 million(↓200k)/1.21 million Grandmaster Combat Power: 5.91 million [Status] Jogwa [Supreme Minor Tasks Group No. 1] Health: 2.85 million/3.3 million Internal Energy: 2.05 million/2.2 million Grandmaster Combat Power: 4.4 million
Seol-Hwi certainly felt like he was at 40%. On top of that, he was back in turn-based mode and he still had one more person to deal with, who did not look like he was about to back down.
Let’s end this…
“Huh? Capt—!”
“Quiet!” Seol-Hwi cut off Yorim. He had to. The Supreme Pavilion Lord was coming—he might already be here. Seol-Hwi needed to deal with this and take Seo Ryeong and Yorim before his identity was revealed.
He managed to fend off one attack, but was unprepared to deal with the second—a dangerous mistake.
Ah—!
Suddenly, though, the opponent’s throat turned red—and then exploded.
W-What?!
Seol-Hwi looked around and met a new set of eyes. They looked at him with a veiled gaze.
Enormous power. Overwhelming movements.
It was the Supreme Pavilion Lord.
“Tch. They’re attacking the Hidden Truth…” He looked around. Then he glanced at the Hidden Truth members and raised his finger over his lips.
And then there were explosions everywhere, but only where the Pavilion Lord wanted. Seol-Hwi could guess that he was trying to erase the traces. It wouldn’t have been an issue if Sama Gwi had killed them, but the situation had changed since Seol-Hwi had interfered.
“You…” He gave Seol-Hwi a suspicious look. “You’re dressed quite strangely. Which unit do you belong to?”
Seol-Hwi couldn’t answer, lest his voice give his identity away. Fortunately, Yorim spoke up.
“…Why are you here?”
“Ahem.” The Pavilion Lord looked at him and stroked his beard, but then he turned back to Seol-Hwi. “Would you mind taking off that mask? I did save your life. I would like a proper thank-you.”
It wasn’t a wrong sentiment, but it made Seol-Hwi nervous nonetheless.
Damn it, what do I do?
Normally, Yorim would be spitting curses by now, but the Supreme Pavilion Lord seemed too suspicious.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Seol-Hwi shook his head.
The Supreme Pavilion Lord could always rip his mask off. Should Seol-Hwi divert his attention away? Should he flee?
“Look here. You ignored me—”
“You’ve come a long way.”
A young man interrupted, just in time.
Huh…? No, it was only natural that he would be here. He owned the place!
“Earth Demon…” The Supreme Pavilion Lord bowed.
Seol-Hwi’s eyes sparkled. The Fourth Disciple had appeared at his most desperate moment.
Part 3: The Essence of the Supreme Pavilion Lord
Seol-Hwi’s vision brightened; he found himself in a room, presumably the Fourth Disciples. The Fourth Disciple himself and the Supreme Pavilion Lord sat opposite of each other. A servant filled their cups with tea and slowly retreated.
The Earth Demon waited for the door to close before he finally spoke.
“There was a commotion right in front of my home. What was all that about?”
“It was nothing,” Sama Gwi casually answered. “It seems there were people hiding in the Hidden Truth Corps. Your people seemed to be in danger, so I jumped in.”
The Earth Demon smiled. “Is that so?”
“Yes.” The Supreme Pavilion Lord sat straight. “It was just a coincidence.”
“I see.” The Earth Demon nodded. After a moment, he looked up. “Quite a coincidence, like you said. It was quite clever of them to attack at exactly the same time you happened to be here.”
“Hmm. True.”
“Really, how clever. I ought to investigate them and find out who sent them, but there’s no traces left.”
“Ahahahah. I was a bit overenthusiastic when I was trying to save your people.”
“So you…?”
“Well… Defeated or not, they still could have used poison or daggers. I went a bit overboard.”
“Overboard.”
“Yes; you know I was already on edge because someone broke into my office. I apologize again if I offended you.” He bowed his head.
The Earth Demon stared at him for a long time. Sama Gwi’s head stayed bowed until the Fourth Disciple looked away.
“No. Why would such things matter between us?” He sipped his tea. “Right, why did you come to see me today?”
“The First Disciple had a message for you.”
“What?”
“I can’t say anything. It’s all written down.” The Pavilion Lord drew a parchment from his sleeves and laid it down on the table. The Earth Demon picked it up.
- Get your hands out.
“…My First Sahyung said this?”
“I wrote down the truth.”
“Is that so?”
The Supreme Pavilion Lord went stiff as the parchment bounced off his face.
“If this is my answer, what’re you going to do about it?”
