Chapter 183
Chapter 183: Price of Salvation (1)
Bo Geon-hwi's face contorted as if he'd chewed on a shit fly.
"Crazy bitch. Boys, teach this half-baked bitch about the terrors of the world."
Following his command, the one among the Fire Bell Society warriors at the very front—a guy whose snout stuck out like a weasel—stepped forward and charged.
In response, Jeon Ra-hwa took the stance she'd observed and learned all day yesterday.
Snow Snow Yin Cold Art's basic form.
Though Snow Snow Yin Cold Art was fundamentally an Energy Art and Mental Cultivation Method, it also included basic techniques and movement patterns.
Bringing both hands together in front of her chest with both feet in horse stance, she gathered as much of the cold energy she'd accumulated that morning as she could.
Swooooosh-!
Weasel Snout swung his fist without deliberately drawing a weapon. Either way, keeping people alive doubled their value.
Nevertheless, red flames bloomed on his fist. Fire Bell Society's basic martial art, Red Fire Palm.
Jeon Ra-hwa instinctively thrust out her palm to meet his right fist.
Thud-
Though faint, a cold Yin wind arose and immediately collided with Red Fire Palm's Fire Energy.
Tsssss- Bang-!
In an instant, water vapor rapidly arose in the area and exploded violently.
"Ugh!"
The leading Fire Bell Society warrior was abruptly pushed backward. His hand covered in frost.
"Th-this bitch knows martial arts?"
"......!"
Bo Geon-hwi and all the Fire Bell Society warriors were startled.
Who would've thought a slave-born person would be learning martial arts.
Moreover, judging from the single exchange just now...... it appeared to be quite superior martial arts.
'She's not a slave?'
He'd heard about it before. Cases where hidden Spirit Roots or something similar manifested late, and they were freed from slavery while simultaneously becoming a Martial World person's disciple.
However, the attack had already commenced.
Anyway, if that bitch dies, all problems would be solved, wouldn't they?
Backing off now made no sense.
"Damn it! Everyone attack together! Execute Vermilion Fire Bell Formation!"
Bo Geon-hwi immediately commanded the attack activation as promised in advance.
All five Fire Bell Society members including him simultaneously scattered to appropriate positions around her.
The shape formed the character 'fire'.
It was the formation of Fire Bell Society's five-man coordinated attack formation, Vermilion Fire Bell Formation.
Spot-!
As soon as the formation was complete, Bo Geon-hwi swept his hand down. Immediately, all Fire Bell Society members extended their hands forward and concentrated Fire Energy on Jeon Ra-hwa all at once.
"Execute the fire punishment!"
Just as the large fire character-shaped Fire Energy gradually narrowed to engulf Jeon Ra-hwa.
"Then you all get decapitation punishment."
"......!?"
When had he appeared?
A man in black clothing stood beside Bo Geon-hwi like a ghost.
His eyes were cold as a midwinter lake. That alone made their fire flicker as if it would go out...... but the execution of punishment remained. The sentence was already decided.
Thwack!
Bo Geon-hwi's neck met the man's hand blade.
"Refusing the wine of courtesy—."
Whiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzz!—Sssshhhk—THWACK!
The remaining four—iron piece fragments lying haphazardly around flew up and severed all their heads in unison.
"It was you all who drank the wine of punishment."
Of course, the man was Dong Bong-soo.
And the lines he uttered were merely formalities.
Ding-
【Main】Salvation of Jeon Ra-hwa
【Relationship】Price of Salvation
: A helping hand may summon unintended connections. That too is your fate, and fate may place 'a new burden' upon you.
Now, the footprints your faith left in the world have returned to you as your destiny.
The choice is now yours.
․ Secure the safety of the children Jeon Ra-hwa saved.
․ After eliminating pursuers,
├─ Progress: 99%
└─ Reward: History +1, Trust Level slight increase
The essence was resolving a suddenly occurring quest.
***
Just a short while ago.
Eastern Road, Seven Star Immortal Assembly ruins.
『Hero's Aura Lv.1』
『Light of Faith Lv.1』
Was it a passive type?
Or an active type that could deal additional damage to Evil Demon types?
Dong Bong-soo made his decision before long.
Click.
The 'Y' of one of the two was pressed.
Chiiiiiiing-
『Light of Faith Lv.1』
This skill name slowly blinked on the Hero Path hologram before disappearing.
[Player has advanced ten steps as a hero.]
[Player has learned 'Hero's Aura Lv.1'.]
— I always respect your choice. However, always remember. Your choices accumulate to determine the world's fate and future.
The Hero Path hologram transformed like a swarm of fireflies and began writing letters in the [Skill] window.
Soon the phrase [Hero's Aura Lv.1] was completed.
Immediately.
Wooooong-
: Effect Range: 15m radius centered on hero
Starting from Dong Bong-soo, something like a transparent membrane expanded outward in dome shape. Exactly up to a 15-meter radius.
Simultaneously.
: All allies within range Attack Power +5% / Defense Power +5% / Status Ailment Resistance +10%
: All enemies within range Attack Power -5% / Defense Power -5% / Critical Hit Resistance -10%
He could also feel an unknown power being added.
'The expression "all allies within range" includes me too.'
However, the moment he recognized that, the transparent membrane rapidly reduced its radius before finally subsiding as if seeping into Dong Bong-soo's Dantian area.
※Always active, effects apply simultaneously with battle start.
Battle start.
In other words, [Hero's Aura] would actually activate only when What is Hero recognized that battle had started.
Combined well with [Spirit Eyes], I've secured another 'early warning system'......!?
Wooooong-
He stopped thinking. Because the aura that had just subsided emerged again and enveloped the surroundings.
Dong Bong-soo immediately spread his Super True Energy Field in all directions and scattered his Energy Sense. However, in this ruined area, he couldn't feel even the energy of a single baby ant.
Then why?
What is Hero hadn't shown anything like errors until now.
There'd be no reason to lie, nor would it be programmed that way.
Click.
He immediately searched through every part of the interface.
Before long, he could understand why [Hero's Aura] had activated.
【Main】Salvation of Jeon Ra-hwa
The choice is now yours.
"Heh heh heh."
Unstoppable laughter leaked out.
To think he hadn't anticipated something like this.
Evolution wasn't my exclusive possession alone.
In reality, everyone is constantly developing, changing, and advancing. It's just a matter of whether it's small or large, slow or fast.
Most importantly, that evolution could frequently come to my 'retainers' as well.
"The choice is mine."
Dong Bong-soo immediately opened [Mini-map] and checked the blue dot's location.
A point on Western Road was immediately identified.
At that moment, Dong Bong-soo's form had already disappeared from above the ruins.
***
After cleaning up the Fire Bell Society small fries like that, Dong Bong-soo wiped the blood on his hand blade and turned his head toward Jeon Ra-hwa.
"Let me ask again."
As if embarrassed, Jeon Ra-hwa lowered her head without meeting his eyes.
"I told you to quietly train martial arts, and you're here causing trouble?"
"......I came out to help find your memories."
"So did you learn anything?"
"Ah, yes."
Only then did she raise her head and look straight at Dong Bong-soo.
Her eyes were filled with sincerity. Though Dong Bong-soo fundamentally didn't know what sincerity was, he could tell it was 'some feeling or thought' she had about him.
Was this, in game terms, communion with something called retainers?
"Your name is famous, you know?"
"What are you talking about?"
"High School Student."
Unexpectedly, a familiar word came from her mouth.
But Dong Bong-soo could quickly deduce all the circumstances of how this happened.
Simultaneously, one puzzle piece from Kim Rae-won's shattered and broken memories fit together and revived within Dong Bong-soo's synapses.
『High School Student Kim Rae-won』
The epithet that bastard was called in this world.
When Dong Bong-soo showed a slight reaction, Jeon Ra-hwa moved close and suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Huh? You remember?"
"Yeah. It feels like I heard it somewhere."
"Then...... you really are that High School Student? One of the Three Eccentrics?"
"I don't know about that. It could just be knowledge I knew from hearing about it."
"True. No matter how I think about it, your age doesn't match that Kim Rae-won's. He should be close to forty at the very least."
"That's uncertain too. I could've achieved Rejuvenation."
"Hohoho. Rejuvenation is almost impossible to achieve through martial arts."
"How do you know?"
Jeon Ra-hwa hesitated for a moment.
Then she sighed and answered.
"I heard. From someone."
Someone.
Dong Bong-soo could narrow that someone down to six, or seven people, as soon as he heard.
"Knowledge you picked up from those bastards."
"Yes, that's right. The bastards. Except for being somewhat strong."
"Anyway, you can subtract one of those bastards now."
"Did Bukgung Ri really die?"
"I don't know. Whether he died or just disappeared."
"......I see."
He could read the deep emptiness flowing from Jeon Ra-hwa.
She really is an interesting woman. To emit all emotions this intensely.
"Well, just consider him dead. If you can't see him, he's dead."
"Pfft. How can that be?"
"How? It's here."
Yeah, that would be better for that bastard too.
If he appears again, he would've judged me as a 'place to lie down,' but I would recognize him again as 'prey.'
"Anyway, so High School Student's name is Kim Rae-won?"
"Yes, that's what they said."
"That's enough."
"What's enough?"
"Didn't I say? I have little attachment to my memories. If I lost them, either I deserved to lose them, or the loss itself is an extension of memory."
Jeon Ra-hwa stared at such Dong Bong-soo before pouting her lips.
"What do you mean 'that's enough'? You said I was your signpost."
"What's that?"
"I...... have now made you my signpost."
"......"
"No matter what you think, I'll work to find your memories. Don't think about stopping me."
"I won't stop you. That's something for you to decide."
"......This is your memory, not mine."
"Right, my memory. Not yours."
Having finished that conversation, Dong Bong-soo finally shifted his gaze from Jeon Ra-hwa to the ten pairs of pupils hiding behind her, peeking at him. He examined them one by one.
The essential reasons that led him to this place.
【Main】Salvation of Jeon Ra-hwa
└─ Reward: History +1, Trust Level slight increase
Holograms overlapping the children's faces. And choices.
[You have a fateful choice remaining regarding the 'Price of Salvation.']
[ 1 / 2 / 3 ]
If earlier was skill selection.
This time it was the children's fate.
Protection?
Guardianship?
Abandonment?