Chapter 355: Part 3 Afterword & Side Story - Isaac's Happy Christmas
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 355: Part 3 Afterword & Side Story - Isaac's Happy Christmas
Hello, this is Heuksujeo. First, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you who have followed the story up to the end of Part 3. Thank you! I know there were times when the story dragged or when you might have wanted to drop it, but I am so thankful that you’ve stayed aboard for Blood Dagger’s journey!
[ There’s a short story at the end of this afterword. Some of you always joke that I show up empty-handed for these, lol, so I prepared this as a little something in return. Please enjoy it. ]
As usual, I’d like to talk a little about Part 3 today! But before that, I think the question most of you are curious about is when Green Skin will end. Personally, I’m thinking it will conclude in Part 4 or Part 5.
For now, I’m planning to end it with Part 4, but… hmm… I’m not entirely sure myself! If ideas keep flowing and I feel I have the strength to continue Green Skin a bit longer, I plan to write up to Part 5… but for now, the plan is to finish with Part 4.
1\. When does Part 4 start?! What will it be about?!
It will likely start tomorrow! The main content of Part 4 will be… hmm… stories about the new Great Tribe Leader and the successor. The growth of the second generation, Kim Yoora and Nicole’s development and their coming-of-age ceremony, and a new enemy will probably appear!
2\. Wasn’t Part 3 ended too hastily?
To be honest, I think so too. Originally, I wanted to reveal the undead faction little by little to build more immersion, told from the perspective of the Fallen Prince! But I personally felt that telling the story that way could be incredibly boring for you all, so I moved the plot along a bit faster.
If my writing skills were phenomenal, it might have been different, but… I didn’t want to take that risk. There was also the fact that a balance issue popped up, which made me push the story forward a bit hastily. In many ways, I have more regrets about this part compared to Parts 1 and 2. The overall progression seemed fine, but the ending feels lacking. Sigh.
3\. Was Choi Eunju saved because of reader pressure?
From the beginning, Choi Eunju was a character who was not meant to die. The ability she possesses is just so convenient. From my perspective as the writer, she’s a character with an ability that can traverse in an instant what would otherwise take a long time!
The phrase “the one who remembers” was referring to her husband and the Fallen Prince! So please believe me when I say I didn’t waver! If Choi Eunju had died, I’m sure many of you would have been furious. She’s a character I’ve grown attached to as well, so it’s not easy for me to let her go.
4\. When will Isaac be freed from his suffering?
That… I’m not so sure about either….. lololololololololololololol. Personally, I don’t want to free him, but I plan to watch a little longer! Characters like Mev and Isaac are fun not just for the readers, but for me as well…. I feel like Mev has become too happy recently. I’m once again contemplating a “Plan to Make Mev Suffer.”
5\. Regarding the much-discussed balance issues!
I did feel that I pushed things a bit unreasonably. I’m sure opinions on whether this was a good or bad decision are divided, but [ personally ], I’m very satisfied. Strictly from my personal point of view.
I believe the conversation between the living and the dead was the highlight of Part 3. My favorite was the dialogue between Nicole and Najin. Some people might say it was cringey, but I quite like that heart-fluttering feeling. Of course, I’ll admit that it can be a bit much at times. Sigh…
I got chewed out for a similar reason with my other work, Matpan, so I’m always mindful of it. I will do my best to write in a way that doesn’t go overboard!
And of course, I will think more carefully about balance issues as I move forward.
6\. Laveua! Lapra! Ratga!
Part 4 will probably begin after a bit of a time skip. It’s not a huge one, but I have a greedy desire to tell the stories of Blood Dagger’s children.
Chapter 320, which many of you loved, is a chapter I’m incredibly fond of as well! Watching Laveua grow a little was an enjoyable time for me, too.
7\. Don’t the humans get pregnant?
I’m thinking hard about this as well. I feel that if he has too many children, it will become very difficult to manage, so I thought three was the most appropriate number. If all of Blood Dagger’s women have children, I think a situation might arise where I can’t even remember all the kids’ names.
This is just a plan for now, but I’m thinking of having about one more child in the future. Of course, this child will appear in the story and have a significant role! I’m currently deciding on the candidates!
8\. And what about Matpan?
I’m writing it now. If it goes well, you should be able to read it right after this post! I am always sorry to the readers of Matpan. The release schedule is getting longer and longer, and I imagine some of you are personally frustrated, but I’m just too absorbed in Green Skin right now. However, I will make sure to finish Matpan, even if it takes time. ㅜㅜ I am so sorry, and always grateful! Thank you… ㅜㅡ
Beyond that, thank you all so much for always supporting this lacking author. Your comments and encouragement are truly a source of strength! I honestly never thought I’d be able to come this far this quickly. Thank you, everyone. I will work hard to make Part 4 even more fun than Part 3! Thank you so, so much!
I hope you all have a happy Christmas! Thank you! And now, for the short story… It might not be fully satisfying, but I hope you enjoy it!
Part 4 begins tomorrow! Thank you!
*
[ Isaac's Happy Christmas ]
Isaac slowly began to look around. Some time had passed since the end of the war, but the settlement was strangely quiet. It wasn’t normally like this.
- Hmm…
He was sure he’d heard that today was a rather important day. He hadn’t heard the details, but Isaac, who loved to pick up snippets of conversation from here and there, had definitely overheard Blood Dagger talking.
- He said it was Christmas…
He didn’t know the specifics, but it seemed to be a human holiday. To be precise, Choi Seulgi had been the first to bring it up, but he also remembered the look of anticipation in the eyes of the other humans, like Choi Eunju and Baek Ahyeon.
He peeked inside a tent, but he could only see other Green Skins. There wasn’t even a shadow of Blood Dagger to be found.
- Did he go out hunting or something…
He muttered to himself, an unknown anxiety creeping in, but it did little to calm his heart. He didn’t want to believe it. The thought occurred to him that perhaps he had been abandoned.
- Th-That can’t be, right? Wilson? That’s impossible… right? I… I’m now…
He couldn’t be alone again. He was probably somewhere getting ready to go out. Swallowing hard, Isaac started toward another Green Skin’s tent—the tent of that rather polite little girl, Kim Yoora.
The kid, who got along quite well with Blood Dagger, also managed his schedule like a personal secretary. When he called her name in front of the tent, Kim Yoora immediately came out.
- Yoora!
“Ah… yes, Sir Isaac. What can I do for you?”
- Do you happen to know where Blood Dagger is?
The expression on Kim Yoora’s face clearly said she knew, that there was nothing to hide. Soon, her lips slowly began to part.
“Ah… The Chieftain said he was going to Garia. I believe he went to meet the Queen of the East, but… he left so suddenly that I’m not entirely sure of the details.”
- Hmm…
“I thought you would be going with him, Sir Isaac…”
- Uh… I… I had something to do for a moment… Wh-what about Mev and the other women…
“Yes. It seems they went with him. He said today was a day to be spent with family.”
- Ah… ahh… I see.
He suddenly felt like he was about to burst into tears. There was a reason the settlement was so quiet. The ever-boisterous fairy and her daughter, the plant that often went out with the daughter, the scary priestess who was always praying, and the human woman with white hair—all of them had gone to the eastern city of Garia to meet Jang Ye Ri.
His vision started to blur, and Isaac shook his head violently.
- I’m… I’m not lonely, Wilson. I’m not lonely, so…
“Excuse me? Sir Isaac?”
- N-No, it’s nothing, Yoora. Th-thank you.
“Sir Isaac!”
Before her voice could even reach him, Isaac wiped his tears and ran. They had left him behind. How could they do this? Mistilteinn, Levatain, Dainsleif, Gram, and Ridill were definitely not in their usual spots. They had surely been taken along.
Did that mean he was neither a weapon nor family? The wave of sorrow was unbearable. They had even spent nights together.
- I was just a fling… sob…
Come to think of it, Blood Dagger hadn’t sought him out much lately. He had to whine and beg before Blood Dagger would sigh and unite with him. He certainly wasn’t the same as before. Had the love faded? Or had he done something terribly wrong? Just as Isaac’s expression grew heavier, he heard a voice call his name from somewhere.
“Isaac?”
- Laveua? Y-you’re alone, too.
Unable to hold back the tears that burst forth, he hugged the young fairy, only to hear a bewildered voice.
“What the…”
- You don’t have to say anything… hiccup…
Just as he was holding Laveua in a long embrace, a familiar voice cut in.
“What are you doing?”
- Huh?
He turned his head to see Blood Dagger and his women staring at him with utterly dumbfounded expressions. It wasn’t just Jang Ye Ri, Choi Seulgi, Choi Eunju, Jung Hayeon, Baek Ahyeon, and Mev. Goff and Black Spear were there, too.
- Th-that is…
The one thing they all had in common was that their hands were full. The giant Ogre was holding a tree that looked three or four times bigger than his own body. Choi Eunju was levitating a large cut of monster meat with her magic, and Black Spear was carrying liquor brewed by the Trolls.
- Uh… uh…?
“……”
- You… didn’t leave me behind?
“You were in a weird spot. What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”
- B-but there was no one here… I thought… I thought you all went to have fun without me…
“As if… Didn’t I say today was a day to spend with family?”
Those were the most welcome words he had ever heard. Isaac nodded and smiled.
The giant Ogre began to set up the tree in the center of the Brother’s Land, and magical lights started to circle around it. Mev’s spirits could be seen playing among the branches. Watching the scene, Isaac activated his own magic.
Children circled the tree, and Green Skins began to sing an unidentifiable song… A festive atmosphere formed in an instant.
He couldn’t stop a little tune from escaping his lips. Some were even exchanging a strange greeting.
“Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!”
He didn’t know what it meant. But Isaac smiled brightly and slowly opened his mouth. This was probably the right thing to do.
- M-Merry Christ… mas.
“Well… have a happy Christmas.”
- Uh-huh! Hehehe…
Isaac's Happy Christmas - The End