Chapter 88
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Back to the North (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"......You're even joking around. I must look pretty pathetic to you."
"It's not a joke."
Hwan applied force to wrest the spear from Ban. But the spear didn't budge an inch. He was outmatched in strength. Outmatched in qi. And above all, outmatched in sheer size. He had no choice but to accept it. Hwan was weaker than Ban. No matter how you looked at it.
"......You're strong."
"If you were really that strong, you wouldn't have even thought of thrusting that spear at me. I'm still weak."
"If the Guardian is weak, then what does that make me?"
"What else? Weaker than the weak guy."
Ban smirked as he set the spear down.
"Keep at it."
Hwan snatched the spear back with a frustrated glare. Could he thrust it again right now and reach him? No. His instincts told him otherwise. In any situation—even if Ban were asleep and he stabbed him—his spear would never reach the man.
He stood so far away that the spear's length felt meaningless.
How could someone like that possess such strength? A man who never properly swung a sword. A man who looked so light on his feet. Hwan clenched his fist and spoke.
"I've heard stories like that since I was young. Even if you hear the voice of the spear, no matter how strong you become, the position of Seonwoo Guardian can only be claimed by one who hears the Voice of the Sword."
Hwan looked up. Resentment welled in his eyes, threatening to overflow.
"Why? Why can't the spear reach the sword?"
"Asking me won't help. I don't know the answer. You've been with the Seonwoo Clan longer than I have."
"Why am I weaker than you?"
Hwan thrust his spear forward. Ban didn't dodge. But it wasn't aimed at Ban. The fierce thrust into empty air barely grazed the afterimage before being swiftly withdrawn into Hwan's embrace. A thrust that lingered on the tip rather than the line. Ban could tell how much time Hwan must have spent training for that single technique. Hearing the voice of their weapon didn't make them strong on its own.
They might wander a little less and find the path a bit faster than others, but they still had to take those steps themselves.
"You must have walked a long time."
Ban murmured. Hwan understood what he meant. Hwan gazed at Ban.
"Has the Guardian walked even longer than I have?"
"Probably not. We're about the same age, and more than that, I didn't pick up a sword until...... after I turned fifteen."
"Then why the difference? We both hear the voice, and the same—no, I've trained more, so why?"
"There's no point asking me, but if I had to point out a difference between us...... it's that I wandered more."
And he had met slightly better teachers.
Ban looked at Hwan's spear and asked.
"Hey, Hwan. Why do you wield a spear?"
"......Pardon?"
"I like swords."
Ban quietly stroked the swords at his waist. Even if they were tools for killing people. Even if they brought destruction, sorrow, and anger instead of peace.
He still couldn't let go of them.
"I don't know how it sounds to you, but the Guardian position means nothing compared to the importance of swords to me. It's not just because I'm not hung up on the honor. Swords are just that much better to me. What about you?"
Ban asked.
"Do you like spears?"
§
'I'm immature too.'
When he met Hwan, he had spilled all his thoughts, but looking back, was it really necessary? It started with grabbing that spear barehanded, claiming he wouldn't use a sword. Could that even be called not using a sword? His body was already honed to a sharp edge.
After his conversation with the shadow, Ban quietly wandered the Seonwoo Clan grounds. He spent a long time watching the potters shape clay as they fired ceramics, and he even obliged the children's requests to teach them swordsmanship by sparring with their wooden swords.
He no longer sought out Yujin. He didn't want to disturb her as she forged his swords, and above all, there was no longer any need for the hammer. He couldn't tend his field with just a hammer anymore.
'Time to go.'
A line of ants marched across the ground. Ban placed a piece of the apple he'd been eating near their path. Most ants ignored the apple right beside them and stuck to their steady trail. Did they even know what they marched for?
"Interesting, isn't it?"
He turned at the sudden voice. A young man with ashen hair under a black hat stood beside him. He didn't look like a Seonwoo clansman at all. Sensing Ban's wariness, the man sheepishly grinned and removed his hat.
"My apologies. Seeing those foolish ants got to me. First time meeting. I'm Ilak of the Drampo Clan."
"......What brings someone from the Drampo Clan here?"
"No need to worry. I was invited. And even then...... I heard about the joyous news in the Seonwoo Clan, and I couldn't just sit still."
"I didn't expect the Drampo Clan to be connected to the Seonwoo Clan."
"If you consider the Drampo Clan's lifelong wish, it shouldn't be that surprising."
"......'The Coordinate.'"
Ban nodded in understanding. The Drampo Clan devoted their lives to finding something called 'the Coordinate.' He didn't know where it pointed. Only that it was hidden beyond the north. And when they found it, they would all...... head to an eternal paradise.
"This damn kingdom. How far does it plan to tear itself apart?"
Ban shook his head with a bitter expression. Why was everyone so intent on ripping each other to shreds? Ilak's eyes sparkled as he looked at Ban.
"May I have your name?"
"......Ban."
"Ban. Ban......! Could you be that Ban from the Citadel?"
Ban didn't answer. But silence was answer enough. Ilak exclaimed in admiration.
"Wow, I was shocked to hear there was a commoner genius who surpassed all the nobles, but it turns out he's one of the Seonwoo. Wow, this is......"
"Do you need something from me?"
"I just wanted to say hello. Seems like we'll be seeing each other often."
Ilak left as abruptly as he had appeared. Ban looked back at the ants. Now a cluster had gathered around the apple. Satisfied with the sight, Ban smiled.
§
"......Perfect."
Ban gripped and swung the sword Yujin handed him. It was truly just a 'sword.' Not a longsword, curved sword, longsword, arming sword, or shortsword. Not too long, not too short. Not thick, not thin. Thus, it was no sword in particular, and every sword at once. Yujin said with a satisfied expression.
"I named it 'Guardian.'"
"Because it's the Guardian's sword?"
"I hoped this sword would guard you, Uncle."
Yujin said with a slightly embarrassed look.
"We ask you to guard us, but who guards you? So I wanted at least this sword to protect you."
"You're a good kid."
"......Don't act so grown-up. We're about the same age."
"But you said since I'm your uncle, I'm an adult?"
"You want a girl's heart to be that straightforward?"
Yujin replied in a haughty tone. She felt it. The moment she handed him this sword was almost like a farewell.
"Uncle. Did you like the Seonwoo Clan?"
"......Maybe not as much as you wanted, but to some extent."
"You can come back anytime."
Yujin looked straight at Ban.
"No matter what you think, this is your home."
"Isn't it just temporary lodging?"
"......Fine, temporary home then."
Yujin replied sulkily. Ban grinned and answered.
"I'll come back. Someday."
Yujin looked like she wanted to say more. But in the end, all she could say was that he had to return. In the now-empty forge after Ban left, Yujin gazed at the swords he had left behind.
"......You left a lot."
They were swords too flawed to hang in her forge. But still, Yujin couldn't bring herself to melt them down again. The forge felt chilly with the fire extinguished. That chill felt a bit cruel right now, so Yujin sat there for a long while.
§
"Yes. You're leaving."
"Thank you for everything."
"Don't talk like you're leaving for good."
Juwon smiled bitterly and handed Ban a wooden plaque engraved with the Seonwoo Clan's seal at the end.
"The Seonwoo Plaque. I doubt you'll welcome it, but I feel like I haven't given you enough during your stay, so I wanted to give you this."
"Thank you."
"I tried not to burden you, but it must have been a burden. Take it without worry. Fate is fate in the end. If you're truly the Guardian who will reclaim our homeland, whether we ask or not, what's meant to happen will."
"Do you believe in fate?"
"I don't, but I want to."
Juwon smiled warmly.
"Show that plaque, and the Revolutionary Corps will usually cooperate with you. The kingdom's favor is already secured, so now you can go anywhere and be welcomed."
"I've become a bat."
"A very scary bat. One that might hold the key to this world."
Juwon slowly placed his hand on Ban's shoulder.
"But I don't want to call you a bat. You're the Seonwoo Guardian, and...... my cousin."
"Come to think of it, I've never called you 'brother.' ......Brother."
At the word, Juwon seemed to stiffen for a moment. His grip on Ban's shoulder tightened. Juwon spoke with a faint smile.
"I haven't been much of a brother. Hearing 'brother' stings like this."
"I'm only good at slashing and stabbing."
"......Little brother. The Seonwoo will always have your back. Even if we're barely scraping by in this pathetic state, we'll rise again someday. So wherever you go, keep that plaque close to your heart...... and stand tall. You're the proud Seonwoo Guardian."
Ban smiled silently. Juwon realized he had been too serious. He lifted his hand from Ban's shoulder.
"Right. Where are you headed? The wandering life isn't easy."
"As long as I have a goal, wandering isn't so bad. First, home—Shionel Village. And then...... to see the previous Guardian."
"......Did you find where he is?"
"Luckily, he seems to like me."
"Where? Is he well?"
"He probably isn't. Given the place."
Ban answered quietly.
"The north."
"......The north?"
"Yes."
Ban nodded.
"He's in the realm of night—no, at the Kalsmori Library."