Chapter 66
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: 64. Fragment of the War God (2)
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Let's sort out the situation.
For starters, Han Su-ji and I have entered a fragment of the War God—a shard of memory. But no sooner had we arrived than a burly medieval soldier showed up, called us the "Cheok Sisters," and ordered us to seize the fortress.
In short, this is a quest.
Seize the fortress alongside Han Su-ji.
I checked out that fortress, and sure enough, it's a proper castle—a massive stone structure. And they expect just the two of us, Han Su-ji and me, to take it down.
Well, to be precise, it seems the one originally meant to fill our roles boldly boasted about conquering it.
"Do you even know what's going on right now? This kinda stuff just gives me a headache—I've got no clue."
"Hm."
Truth be told, I don't know much myself.
From what I can piece together, the War God is Cheok Jun-kyung, so a fragment of him means a memory from his life. The era he lived in was the Goryeo Dynasty, and his big moment was during the Jurchen expeditions.
Damn. And Cheok Jun-kyung boasted he'd take a fortress single-handedly?
I'm no history buff—just picked up scraps in school—but still.
"Akashic Records. Tell me about the current situation."
In 1107, King Yejong of Goryeo honored his father King Sukjong's dying wish by appointing General Yun Gwan to lead 170,000 elite troops in the Second Jurchen Expedition. The Goryeo forces struggled against the stone fortress. It was then that Cheok Jun-kyung, seeking to repay Yun Gwan's favor, scaled the walls alone, slew the enemy soldiers, and rallied the Goryeo troops to seize the fortress.
What the hell. So this is that exact scenario?
The War God's fragment is based on that era, but it will be similar yet different. For one, instead of the War God himself, you and Han Su-ji have taken the role of the 'Cheok Sisters.' Even the great figures from historical records are merely inspired by real people from original history, shaped by the War God's lingering regrets—they're not the same individuals.
"So basically, 'Good luck surviving this knockoff world'?"
But Cheok Jun-kyung crushed it back then. So what's the lingering grudge? I want to dig deeper, but my head starts throbbing again.
Using the Akashic Records here is tough. Maybe because it's someone else's memory. No helping it. The best answer is to wrap this up fast. If Han Su-ji and I are playing characters modeled after the War God, we might as well play along.
"First things first, let's take the fortress."
"Are you nuts? You think just the two of us can pull that off? I scouted outside—they looked at us like we're idiots, saying it's a fortress that's holding strong."
Why even ask that?
Besides, that's because they're regular humans. No matter how elite their training, how could they compare to people with future powers?
Honestly, I could take the place solo. But strictly speaking, this trial is for Han Su-ji.
I grabbed her by both shoulders.
Then I stared deep into her eyes, with all the seductive intensity I could muster.
Under my gaze, her face flushed, and she swallowed hard.
"You're Han Su-ji, the Flame Bitch I personally approved."
"Uh... y-yeah, that's right."
"I'm the Sword Princess of White Flame. We just use our abilities, and done."
Park Jun-hyuk pulled it off. No way Han Su-ji can't.
"Wait. Even so, I've never killed anyone before."
"Time to get used to it."
I can't do all the killing myself. Han Su-ji needs to get comfortable with murder soon.
In the original story, she hesitates a bit the first time she kills. Better she does it here in this fragment.
Like I said before, Han Su-ji follows the one she loves. No matter what it is, if the person she trusts sees it as justice, she goes along.
Honestly, she's no saint herself—she'll kill if the situation demands it. The question is whose help she relies on for it.
I'm planning to make her dependent on me.
"They're the enemy, got it? Enemies who kill our allies. We're the Cheok Sisters, crushing foes. Think of them as villains. Or monsters."
"No, that's easier said than done."
True. Humans and monsters are different beasts.
You can tell at a glance: that's a human, that's a monster. From that angle, asking Han Su-ji to kill a human might freeze her up.
Maybe she needs a little push.
"While you were training, I slept with Yoo-jeong sunbae, right?"
"Eek."
Her face twisted beautifully.
"With Reina too. And Choi Si-woo."
"??? S-Si-woo too?"
Shock painted Han Su-ji's face.
Can't blame her. Not only did Si-woo, the guy, turn bitch, but he beat her to getting with me.
From Han Su-ji's view, it must feel like NTR. Her expression crumpled pathetically.
Time to clarify who's alpha and who's beta.
Wait, am I coming off a bit slutty? Whatever. Rubbing doesn't count as penetration.
And what I penetrated wasn't her pussy—it was her tail.
"Technically a different personality, but she's a bitch now. Fucked her like a dog. Meaning you're the only one I haven't advanced with."
Just treating her like one of the heroines. But Han Su-ji didn't seem too upset.
She needs someone to lean on right now, and surprisingly, she's straightforward. Given the original Choi Si-woo had a harem ending, the heroines in this story are pretty tolerant of that stuff.
"Still, that's no excuse."
"Look at their outfits. Just think of them as furry humanoid monsters."
I stepped out of the tent and pointed at the fur-clad men atop the distant walls.
"Hrm. I'll give it a shot."
The sooner we clear this fragment, the better.
Han Su-ji and I started scaling the fortress walls, just like in the original history.
The moment we reached the top, we spotted a grubby Jurchen man. Our eyes met.
This was fate. Destiny.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Not a guy—a girl."
By sheer luck, I swung the axe at my waist straight at the Jurchen's head.
Crack!
Yeah. That was his fate.
The satisfying split drew others rushing in. Not many yet, but if we made more noise, their numbers would swell.
A handful like this? Piece of cake. Han Su-ji didn't hesitate to fight them either.
"What're they wearing? Goryeo bitches! Kill them!"
"Talk too much, you die."
Splatter!
He yapped in his barbaric tongue, so I smashed his head with the axe to shut him up.
Before long, everyone around us was dead—except for one kid clutching an axe. Surprisingly, Han Su-ji killed easily.
The kid faced off with Han Su-ji. It was ridiculous watching her just stand there, so I asked.
"Hey, why're you just standing there?"
"Yah... even so, how do you kill a kid like this?"
He's no innocent child. Look at those venomous eyes—a savage barbarian itching to kill us with that axe the moment he gets a chance.
"Kid or not, he's the enemy. He's even drawn his weapon to kill you."
"Still..."
This won't do. Can she pull off villain work being this soft?
She'll have to kill kids eventually, like it or not. Real kids? Nah—these are kid-looking monsters or villains.
Time to make her face reality herself.
"Fine. If you're that squeamish, pretend you didn't see him."
I stepped back, feigning retreat. Too much pressure breeds rebellion.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. If he's truly harmless."
"Die!"
As expected, the cocky brat swung his axe from behind.
I deflected the blow aimed at Han Su-ji and drove my fist into the kid's solar plexus, dropping him.
"Guh!"
I held back on purpose. No growth if I do it all. She needs to finish him herself.
"Told you. Treat them as enemies that must die. This is the War God's fragment—these guys don't matter if they die. In the real world, this shit's everyday. You gonna wuss out then too? Now, pick up the sword."
At my command, Han Su-ji gripped the sword. She aimed it at the kid who'd just charged, gotten decked by me, and was now bleeding profusely.
"Ugh... p-please... spare me."
"Haa."
She sighed, hesitating again. Hate doing this, but...
In the original, Si-woo doted on Han Su-ji plenty. But this Choi Si-woo, before regressing, banged all the heroines nonstop to become a sage, only to regress solely to save the world. No interest in heroines, and he's fallen to lust as a bitch himself.
Han Su-ji's like a loose cannon without someone to rein her in. Lust-crazed Si-woo probably won't bother. He might eye her body, but emotionally? Nah. If he cared, he'd have handled her already.
So I'm picking her up.
With her pillar Kim Jae-su gone, she's mentally shaky. Perfect chance to mold her into my obedient bitch who trusts only me.
Make her submit to me.
Every bitch needs at least one loyal hound, right?
I whispered softly into her ear.
"If you can't kill him properly, I'll be really disappointed. Might even dump you."
Without me, it'd be hell for her right now. She followed me this far— if I ditch her, she'll just get finger-pointed as a villain's disciple, with nowhere to turn, dying alone and miserable.
"!! I-I can do it!"
Stab!
She finally plunged the blade into the kid's chest herself. Too late, she realized she'd killed, shaking her head.
It must hit hard. The kid's eyes glared like we were mortal foes. To him, we're just invaders.
"I... I killed him. Really killed a kid. Just a boy."
"No choice. This is how it is."
Hunters know this is normal; civilians don't. But Han Su-ji's gotta be freaking out now.
She needs something—someone—to cling to.
Time for some proper mind control. Indoctrination.
"Listen up, Han Su-ji. My words are always right. Got it?"
"Right...?"
"Yeah. I slaughtered your villain mentor and I'm already a notable hunter prospect in Korea, right?"
Choi Si-woo, Divine Sword user, is basically Korea-recognized off that alone. Me? I've proven I'm not just riding Yoo Jin-seok's coattails. They even say I'm better now as a white flame swordswoman than during academy days with my brother.
Reina of Spirit Arrows has her own buzz as a regressed otherworlder, though not as much as Si-woo or me. Han Su-ji's the only nobody.
She had the "Kim Jae-su's disciple" title, but with him outed as a villain and killed by me, her rep's in the gutter.
So, bottom line: you're rock bottom—stick with me.
"Y-Yeah."
"Even when I do villain shit, it's right. When I say kill, it's the right call. Just trust and follow me."
Foolish Si-woo never exploited this side of her. If he had like me, she'd be the perfect bitch.
"No, even if it's wrong..."
"Whatever I do, it's justice to you. Burn that into your head."
I swiped blood flowing from the kid's body onto my hand.
Then smeared it on Han Su-ji's cheek.
She'll do all sorts of dirty work following me—can't have her balking here.
"Justice?"
"Yeah. I'm all you've got to believe in. Understand?"
She doesn't fully get it yet, but emotions drive her. Filled with love for me, she'll trust and obey.
"Now, let's kill the rest. We're Goryeo folk here, so as the Cheok Sisters, we take this fortress. Right?"
I flashed a knowing smile as I said it.