The Right Choice
"Why are you hesitating?"
Cho Heun slowly walked over.
"Huh?" Bukjin looked at him.
"If your skill just now had been inferior to his, you would already be dead," Cho Heun said with a stern expression. "And if your skills had been lacking, what do you think would have happened to Baek Geum-un and Ak Hong-hyang?"
Bukjin pondered Cho Heun's words for a moment, a chill running down his spine. Judging by the opponent's behavior, if they hadn't been able to defeat them, the female students would undoubtedly have suffered a terrible fate.
Cho Heun spoke again. "Do you think if you let them go today, they'll change their ways and live righteously?"
'Will they regret their mistakes?'
Bukjin figured nine out of ten, they wouldn't. This much was certain. Especially someone like Ju Seong; committing evil acts had already become his way of life.
"You're a good kid," Cho Heun said, patting Bukjin's shoulder. "But you need to adapt to this world."
After finishing his words, Cho Heun looked at Ju Seong and his group. "Get lost."
Ju Seong prostrated himself on the ground, bowed, then finally got up and led his group away, fleeing. With that, the battle completely ended.
Bukjin still stood there, a dazed expression on his face.
"Don't overthink it. You'll get used to it gradually." Cho Heun had no intention of forcing Bukjin to kill. Instead, he smiled and said, "When the time comes, you too will be able to draw your sword and kill."
Bukjin nodded, his expression heavy. It wasn't that he couldn't bring himself to take a life. He was simply still accustomed to the values he'd developed over twenty years of living in a law-abiding society on Earth. Bukjin had subconsciously held onto these values, and deep down, he didn't want to return to Earth as a murderer. His decision to give his sword and the Ghost Rat leader Earth-related names stemmed from this very feeling.
Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu merely looked at each other, saying nothing. Both of them had taken a life in the recent battle. They hadn't had time to think much during the fight, and their opponents had launched vicious attacks to kill them. Moreover, they had grown accustomed to blood from hunting magical beasts over the past few days. Thus, even though it was their first time killing, they felt no compunction.
Ak Hong-hyang, however, fully understood Bukjin's feelings. This was because she hadn't taken a life in the battle. Ak Hong-hyang believed that everyone had their own standards. She didn't think Bukjin was weak-hearted or soft, as he had shown great resolve and daring in many situations. She simply knew that Bukjin didn't want to kill. It was a very simple reason.
The fierce battle ended, and the atmosphere settled.
"We sincerely thank the students and teachers who helped us."
Mu Hong brought her still-stunned companions, who were unaware of what had truly happened, and repeatedly expressed her gratitude. If not for the help of the 3rd Academy students today, they would have met a horrific end. In fact, even now that everything was over, the female swordswomen couldn't believe what they had witnessed. The strength of these seemingly young students felt utterly surreal. Moreover, the skill shown by Bukjin's group far surpassed what they typically knew of junior academy students. They considered it incredibly fortunate that they had given way to Bukjin's group without much conflict when they first arrived at the riverside.
Deep night. The sky was overcast with dark clouds, making it a starless, dark night.
Bukjin's group sat around a bonfire in their territory, enjoying the dinner meticulously prepared by the refugees. The gentle crackling of burning wood echoed softly by the quiet riverside, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The battle that had occurred that evening had further deepened the four students' friendship, making them comfortable discussing anything.
Bukjin, sitting, took out a Mystic Stone he had obtained from an ice wolf and casually tossed it aside. Agwang, who had been watching, leaped up with shining eyes and caught the Mystic Stone with both hands. He then began to crunch on it, making 'crisp, crisp' sounds as if eating an apple.
Just then, footsteps approached from the side. It was Mu Hong, the female swordswoman from the Fire Rose Adventurer Group. She approached Bukjin's group with a dignified young woman in dark red leather armor.
"Teachers, and students. This is the young lady of our family. She has come to offer you her special thanks," Mu Hong said.
The young woman who accompanied Mu Hong possessed a beautiful, peach-blossom-like appearance, exuding a mature feminine charm distinct from that of a young girl. Her graceful posture and upright bearing conveyed a gentle aura. She had fiery red hair. However, her extremely pale complexion suggested she was suffering from the after-effects of significant blood loss. Behind her followed a little girl, about four years old, who looked adorable in her frightened, nervous state.
"When our adventurer group was attacked today, I was at a critical juncture in recovering from my injuries and couldn't intervene in time. We are deeply grateful for your kindness in drawing your swords to help us and save our sisters today. This debt of gratitude is etched in our hearts and will never be forgotten. I take this opportunity to express my deepest thanks once again." The young lady of the Fire Rose Adventurer Group expressed her gratitude with great politeness and respect.
"So-ryeong, quickly offer your thanks to the teachers, sisters, and brothers here," Feng Sanang said to the little girl standing behind her.
"Th-thank you... sisters, brothers, and teachers," So-ryeong said softly and cautiously. She clutched Feng Sanang's clothes, half-hidden behind her, her round eyes looking incredibly cute. Her large eyes held a glimmer of anxiety and fear, making her both adorable and pitiful. It seemed clear that So-ryeong was undoubtedly Ju Seong's daughter, whom he had used as an excuse earlier today.
Ban Oemin asked, "Why did you bring a child on such a dangerous adventure?"
Feng Sanang replied with a sad expression. "Our squad's position within the city was completely destroyed by Ju Seong. Therefore, leaving So-ryeong alone in the city risked her being taken by him. Moreover, if we were to meet misfortune and die here in Bukhwang Mountain, there would be no one to care for So-ryeong, and her fate would become even harsher. So, I chose to keep So-ryeong by my side, to live together or die together."
Hearing her words, Bukjin's heart trembled slightly. Ban Oemin and Cho Heun also nodded. Their gazes toward So-ryeong had softened considerably.
Baek Geum-un shrugged and said, "It's alright, unnie. As swordswomen, it's only natural for us to draw our swords and help those in need when we see injustice."
"We have received such great kindness and favor that I don't know how to repay it. This is all the Mystic Stone we, the Fire Rose Adventurer Group, gathered during ten days of hunting in Bukhwang Mountain. It's the most valuable thing we currently possess. We hope you will accept it." Feng Sanang took out a red pouch and carefully offered it with both hands.
Ban Oemin and Cho Heun said nothing. They were waiting for the students' reactions. And as they expected, Han Bul-bu was the first to shake his head and reply, "As sword practitioners, upholding righteousness with our swords is a matter of course. You don't need to offer any reward for what the 3rd Academy students have done."
Ak Hong-hyang also smiled and declined. Even Baek Geum-un, usually a tomboy, politely refused this time.
Bukjin, however, coveted the Mystic Stone. But since the three others had already refused, he had no choice but to change his mind and decline as well. Bukjin restrained himself, thinking that he was truly a noble swordsman who did not covet others' possessions.
Feng Sanang repeatedly insisted on offering the Mystic Stone despite the students' refusal, but in the end, they did not accept it.
"Oppa, I-I'll give you this. Is that okay?" Suddenly, So-ryeong took out a small doll made of woven straw and carefully handed it to Bukjin. Then, with an adorable expression, she said, "Th-this is what my mommy made for me. I'll give it to you as a present, Oppa... I saw you hit my daddy. My daddy is a bad person. But please don't hit my mommy, okay? My mommy is a very, very good person. Ryeonga asks you."
'Hit her daddy?' Bukjin was flustered. He realized that So-ryeong had seen him attack Ju Seong. Bukjin was speechless. It seemed that the young girl, So-ryeong, carried a shadow in her heart. At that moment, Bukjin felt that even though he had been angry today, not taking Ju Seong's life had been the right choice.
'If this girl had seen me kill Ju Seong...'
That would have been a truly tragic story.
Baek Geum-un watched Bukjin and So-ryeong from the side, looking amused.
"Thank you, little lady," Bukjin said, accepting the doll from So-ryeong. "I'll do as you ask."
"Th-thank you! Oppa! Thank you!" So-ryeong bounced with joy.
Feng Sanang thanked the group once more, then took So-ryeong and returned to their territory.
A short while later, another person visited Bukjin's group's territory. It was a female swordswoman about seventeen years old, also with So-ryeong. They had come to give gifts. This time, they brought food: snacks, jerky, and dried fruits, all very clean. All of it had been personally gathered and made by the female swordswomen of the Fire Rose Adventurer Group.