2
Ep 2
I fell into the Demonic Cult.
The sky roared like an enraged dragon, pouring down torrential rain.
Raindrops struck the ground like blades falling from above, and the heavy downpour obscured my vision.
I caught my breath and looked around.
An escape route…?
There was no such thing.
I stood in front, protecting Cheon Hyerin behind me.
Though I said it like that, in truth, we were surrounded.
“…Come.”
Then there was only one option.
Kill a few and carve a path.
I wasn’t their real objective anyway.
My black robe was soaked through, yet it seemed to gleam even more under the rain, its weight pressing down on my
shoulders.
From behind, a faint voice called out to me.
“…You… don’t…”
It was Cheon Hyerin.
With a blood-soaked body, she barely raised her arm, her lips trembling as she tried to speak.
My body was already tense, as if fully prepared to bear this storm just to protect her.
“…We have nothing to do with each other.”
It felt strange.
And infuriating.
My grip tightened on the sword.
How many times had I ever swung a blade in my life?
Not once.
Yet now, I held it as if it were familiar, taking a proper stance.
“!!”
The enemies revealed themselves through the rain.
Their blades glistened, their eyes sharp enough to terrify anyone.
They were clearly seasoned fighters.
“Kill him! Take that bastard down first!”
“Who knows what he’s done!”
I kicked off the ground and charged.
It was clumsy, unrefined movement.
But in that brief instant—
The first enemy’s blade came down toward my head.
“…!!!”
Instinctively, I lowered my body and dodged.
Water splashed, my sword cut through the rain, and the clash of metal rang out like a scream.
A cry followed, swallowed by the storm.
“Hah!”
I rushed the next enemy.
Their blade grazed my side, blood mixing with rain as it dripped down.
The pain dug in, but I ignored it.
My sword swung for his neck, and blood spilled into the downpour.
Steel collided and shattered.
Sparks flew, and the air tore with the sound of impact.
A massive opponent struck down with overwhelming force.
“…Damn.”
It was my first time killing someone.
The sensation of cutting flesh was something words couldn’t describe.
Yet my body moved without hesitation.
Cheon Hyerin was behind me.
Collapsed, but still breathing.
As if she were watching me, memorizing every moment.
I clenched my teeth.
All this… just to protect one person.
“You fool! Don’t lose focus in front of the enemy!”
In that moment of distraction, a blade stabbed into my side.
A burning pain spread.
I almost dropped to my knees.
But I endured.
Even as blood rose in my throat, I stood again.
I didn’t fall.
Because I had to protect her.
The rain poured endlessly, thunder roaring.
The ground beneath my feet, mixed with mud and blood, was unstable.
But I couldn’t fall now.
“…Come at me.”
I muttered.
I held the sword tightly, shielding her behind me.
As if I could never afford to lose her.
Enemies swarmed like insects.
My clothes were torn, my body cut and bleeding.
Still, I didn’t step back.
Or rather, I couldn’t.
“…I have to protect her.”
Lightning illuminated the battlefield.
My blade flashed.
I cut down the first enemy, then turned to block another attack.
Steel clashed.
I pushed forward, breaking their balance.
I blocked the path toward her and fought with everything I had left.
Another enemy rushed me.
I gritted my teeth and countered.
Even if I couldn’t crush them with martial arts, a real blade could still cut flesh.
The longer the fight dragged on, the worse my wounds became.
Still, I gave everything.
“Ha!”
Another attacker came from behind.
I sensed it, lowered my body, and cut into his legs.
Ignoring the fallen, I charged again.
My vision blurred.
Blood flowed with the rain.
The battle didn’t end.
My breathing grew ragged.
The storm intensified.
My heart pounded so loudly I couldn’t hear anything else.
My body had reached its limit.
And still, enemies remained.
Damn it.
Pain screamed through every part of me.
The fight showed no sign of ending.
Then—
“Behind—!”
“….”
In that instant—
A blade pierced through my abdomen.
And another, one I failed to block, flew toward her.
Everything slowed.
I turned instinctively and stood in front of Cheon Hyerin.
The blade pierced my chest.
Time seemed to stop.
Blood spread across my robe.
“…!!”
My lungs—
My breath wouldn’t come out properly.
Blood and rain flowed together.
My strength left me.
Cheon Hyerin’s eyes filled with shock.
“What… have you done…? You… wait…”
She tried to move toward me.
But I was already on my knees.
Blood pooled beneath me.
“…ugh…”
The pain burned.
Was this it?
My body collapsed forward.
Darkness crept in.
Then—
“Over here! The Sword Empress is here! Tear them all apart!”
Reinforcements had arrived.
///
Amid the clash of blades and roaring rain,
Cheon Hyerin searched for him.
From the moment he disappeared from her sight,
Her heart had been in turmoil.
She had never been shaken like this.
A soldier approached her.
“Sword Empress, this place is dangerous. We must move—”
“…There is someone… I must find.”
Her voice was quiet.
Her reflection in the water showed her trembling state.
Tears or rain streamed down her face.
Soon—
She found him.
Barely breathing.
Collapsed on the wet ground.
She rushed to him and fell to her knees, holding him.
His body was cold.
His life was fading.
“Yujin…! No…!!”
“…Still alive… damn…”
He spoke faintly.
She didn’t understand his words.
He gently brushed her hair aside.
Revealing a faint scar.
“…You…?”
Even now… he was worrying about her.
She cried.
“Why… why did you save me…?”
His earlier words echoed.
It’s something I have to do.
Her chest tightened.
She tried to stop the bleeding.
But the wounds were too deep.
“…It has to stop…”
Her hands trembled.
Blood kept flowing.
Still, he only looked at her quietly.
“…Stop… it hurts.”
Her heart broke.
She could do nothing.
“…Don’t leave.”
She stood there for a long time.
“…Sword Empress…”
“Wake up… please… don’t go…”
“…I… love…”
“…Yujin?”
No answer came.
His body had gone still.
“Yujin…! No…!”
She held him tightly.
“…Cruel man.”
He had taken her heart with him.
And left.
His actions—
Now she understood.
“…Was it because you loved me…”
A man who could shake even her, known for being cold-hearted.
“…Foolish man.”
There was so much she hadn’t said.
So much she would have done to repay him.
Now…
“…Don’t leave me.”
She held his hand tightly.
“Just… hold on a little longer.”
She removed her gloves and held his hand with her bare skin.
At that moment, Ma Noe arrived.
He knelt beside her.
“…Ma Noe.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Save him. No matter what it takes.”
“…Understood.”
“You must save him. Stake everything on it. Failure will not be forgiven.”
“…Yes.”
He did not question her.
Because this—
Was the first time he had ever seen her like this.
“…I will return.”
Her voice trembled.
Ma Noe lifted Yujin’s body carefully.
“Do not worry. I will save him.”
“Hurry.”
As he left, she bit her lip.
“I… love you.”
So—
At least that final wish…
“…I will love you forever.”
Stay by my side.