Absolute Return Episode 383
Episode 383: Having a drink with spring vegetables.
Seo Dae-ryong came out of the building and let out the breath he had been holding.
Falling asleep in the room of the evil Soma. It still didn’t feel real, like a dream.
I don’t even remember how I got out of that room and got here. Anyway.
‘I survived!’
Seo Dae-ryong looked up at the pouring sunlight. He looked like he had barely escaped from the battlefield.
‘No matter what, you still leave me behind.’
At that moment, the unseen man guarding the entrance to the building spoke to him.
“The young leader stopped by the residence and left a message for us to leave.”
“Thank you.”
Seo Dae-ryong quickened his steps towards Geommu-geuk’s residence.
‘I will go even if you tell me not to. I will challenge you to a duel. I think the Master anticipated this and opened up the Imdokyang vein!’
So, Seo Dae-ryong ran like the wind and shouted as he entered the Geommu Theater’s residence.
“Come and have a go!”
For a moment, Seo Dae-ryong flinched and stopped speaking.
When I saw someone looking back from the yard, I shouted without realizing it.
“Oh my!”
The person who turned around was none other than Ilhwageomjon. He was shouting at Ilhwageomjon to fight him.
“Seo footnote?”
“Your Majesty!”
Seo Dae-ryong respectfully bowed, and Ilhwa Geomjon also greeted him with courtesy as he would treat a footnote.
“You want to stick with me? I’d be happy to.”
She was so absorbed in martial arts training that she could run a thousand miles without any weapons.
“No, no. That is not what I said to you, Your Majesty.”
“Then is that what you said to the young cult leader?”
It was too embarrassing to even answer to the cult leader. I thought I had escaped the battlefield, but this was a different battlefield.
‘Ah! I fell into a double trap!’
Because of this state of mind, he did not notice that Ilhwageomjeon was looking at him with admiration.
There was no comparison between the prayer I had when I first saw Seo Dae-ryong and now.
‘Has there ever been a mine that grew this fast?’
Moreover, as I looked into those eyes that were somehow crooked yet alive, one person naturally came to mind. When I was young, Hyeolcheon Doma had exactly the same feeling. It was even more so when he was wearing a long sword.
At that moment, the swordsman came out holding a bowl filled with water.
“Our West has grown a lot. Now it’s time to take on the Sword Master.”
Seo Dae-ryong jumped up and waved his hands so that they couldn’t be seen.
“No, you misunderstood, why are you saying that!”
Seo Dae-ryong looked at the sword dance and cursed with his eyes.
‘Are you really going to do this?’
He gave the water that Geommugeuk had brought to Ilhwa Geomjon.
“We are on good terms with Seo Joo-ju, so we often joke around.”
Ilhwageomjeon smiled. Of course, he knew the relationship between the two well. So he also knew that the opponent that Seodaeryong had wanted to fight was Geommugeuk. It wasn’t strange at all. This Geommugeuk in front of him was someone who was on good terms with the owner of the Magachon tavern.
At that time, Ilhwageomjon said goodbye to Geommugeuk.
“Thank you for the rain today.”
“Don’t worry. I learned a lot.”
How nice it would be if that were the case. The sword dance grew faster than she had grown. She felt the same way Kwon-ma felt when he looked at the cliff every time he danced.
Ilhwageomjon also said goodbye to Seodaeryong.
“See you next time, Seo Kuk-ju.”
“Until then, take care, Your Majesty.”
He added as if he suddenly remembered the story of Ilhwageomjon who was about to leave.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that the flower pot that I gave to the younger sect leader as a gift is now being grown by the head sect leader.”
When the story about flower pots was suddenly brought up, Seo Dae-ryong flinched.
“Are you still alive?”
“Yes. It’s growing well.”
He’s taller than me in our office. He’s the boss!
Ilhwageomjon wasn’t saying that to joke. Her eyes deepened.
“Now, just as a flower blooms from a bud, the West Note will also bloom.”
It was a proverb that the respected Seo Dae-ryong was expected to become a famous person from now on. That was why he brought up the story about the flower pot.
When Ilhwageomjon left, Seodaeryong asked Geommugeuk with a bewildered mind.
“You just praised me and left?”
“It seemed like a warning not to kill the flowers?”
“Your Majesty!”
Only then did Geommugeuk smile and nod.
“His Majesty has properly acknowledged you.”
The emotion that passed through his eyes was fleeting, but Seo Dae-ryong continued to complain.
“Then what do I do? My life is over now. Do you know what it feels like to open your eyes and be stared at by the evil Soma? Have you ever been stared at even once in your life?”
“What are you talking about?”
“When on earth are you going to go?”
“I’ve never caused that much trouble.”
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“I heard those words from the evil soma-sama thanks to someone. Even to a normal person, they would be bothered and burdened. Ah! My life is now ruined. How could you do this to me! Leaving me behind?”
“I didn’t mean to do that.”
“You know what? I looked forward to the moment when I opened my eyes in the morning and my eyes met with the eyes of the evil soma-sama!”
“Then he must have hidden outside the window and watched.”
“Huh? That’s right.”
Seo Dae-ryong blinked. The cult leader he knew was definitely someone who had made fun of him on the spot.
“I received word this morning that Ilhwageomjon was visiting.”
“Then you should have woken him up and brought him out.”
Then a surprising story came out.
“The evil Soma stopped me.”
“yes?”
“He saw that you were sleeping so soundly that he told me to leave you behind.”
Seo Dae-ryong was surprised.
“Really? You’re lying!”
Seo Dae-ryong couldn’t believe it, but judging from Geommu-geuk’s expression, it didn’t seem like a lie.
“Why, the evil Soma?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I like you?”
“So why on earth?”
“I said I don’t know.”
Even though he said that, he could guess the sword dance. The life of Seo Dae-ryong, who was a mere investigator and became the head of the Hwangcheon Pavilion and the disciple of the Blood Heavenly Demon, would be to the extreme evil Soma’s liking. Of course, it would also be because he knew that he cared about them.
Seo Dae-ryong looked down at the white mask he was holding.
“Then, was this gift also given as a favor?”
“Ask him yourself next time.”
“Next time?”
Next time, I was about to wave my hand and say there was no next time. Was it because we spent the day together? Or was it because I heard what Geommu-geuk said? The evil soma didn’t seem as scary as yesterday.
“No way… … What did I say?”
Geommugeuk spoke to him in a calm tone, his head bowed deeply.
“He is a ruthless, power-oriented man who only loves one woman, a rebel who raises his hand when everyone else is silent, a pacifist who makes life-changing decisions over a drink at a guesthouse, a winner of a martial arts competition, and my right-hand man with a keen eye.”
The expression ‘good eye for detail’ at the end was a joke that Seo Dae-ryong had shared with Geommu-geuk when he discovered the hidden Mandokji Geukshindan.
“You still remember all this.”
“It’s a word to introduce you, of course.”
Seo Dae-ryong’s heart grew warm.
This person in front of me doesn’t give me a moment to rest. I’m telling him that our relationship isn’t over yet. If we go a little further, isn’t there something else waiting for us? He pushes my back and beats my heart. I’m telling him not to get tired of the relationship. I’m telling him not to fall into the swamp of boredom.
He’s always whining and making himself feel embarrassed, but his words and actions always have deep meaning.
Just yesterday, today, it was the same. In one night, he made himself deeply connected with the two demons. If it weren’t for the sword dance, how could he have naturally developed a relationship with them? Would he have had the opportunity to even talk to the two demons?
At a time like this, I would have acted coy and acted coquettish, but Geommugeuk washed up, changed his clothes, and hurried to go out, wondering where he was going.
“Where are you going next?”
“If our school was like Samajon, we wouldn’t be this busy.”
Meeting the Demon Lord was in itself a preparation for the three-way meeting, and at the same time, a training in martial arts. Now, he could gain new insight into martial arts from a single joke with the Demon Lord.
“Did you tell Ilhwageomjon everything about the incident where you left the sect?”
The sword dance nodded.
“You are really diligent.”
You have to be diligent. Haven’t you experienced it many times? It’s always the case that the one who defends is at a disadvantage. Those who plot will look for the opponent’s weak points and persistently dig into their weaknesses.
“You will truly be the busiest resident in the world.”
“You have a lot to do, don’t you?”
“Me?”
“When they come, we have to show them that our school has proper discipline. You are the one most responsible for that.”
As Seo Dae-ryong nodded with a serious expression, Jeon Seo-eung flew over the two people’s heads one after another.
I also saw Jeon Seo-eung flying in the opposite direction. There were definitely more wingbeats than usual.
“It’s started?”
Geommugeuk nodded at Seodaeryong’s question.
As the two men were talking on the ground, the military’s conversation for the three-party talks was busily going back and forth in the sky.
* * *
The horse’s reaction was different from what was expected.
Originally, the reaction would have been like this.
―You’re the last one here again. Yes, I’m the fish that was caught. No, I’m not even a fish. I’m just a rock that was put in the fish tank as decoration.
But today’s reaction was different.
“Are you here?”
What is this relaxed reaction? Are you sober? Does it smell like alcohol?
“What? If you want to use the last secret technique of Hyung Dokmunmu-gong, do you have to smile like this to use it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why aren’t you angry that I’m late?”
“Why are you angry when my favorite little brother is here?”
I took a step back.
“Who are you? Those guys weren’t just after the Soul Demon Lord.”
“Sit down. It’s nice to see you again after so long. Let’s drink all night tonight.”
“It’s strange? It’s really strange.”
At that time, Yeo-bin, a third-generation drunkard, brought food there.
At that moment, Geommu-geuk saw. The moment Chwima glanced at her, she could tell. Where Chwima’s change came from. There was a strange current flowing between the two.
‘There’s something between you two!’
As soon as Yeo-bin stepped aside, he asked Chwi-ma.
“What happened with the lady?”
“doesn’t exist.”
“You’re going to talk anyway, right? Then say what you want to say first! Say it as much as you want.”
“If I say that right away, won’t I seem too shallow?”
“Don’t worry. The most talkative man in the world is sitting in front of you. What’s going on?”
Then he told me what had happened.
“I was drinking alone in a boat on the lake, when he flew onto my boat and boarded me. He asked me to have a drink.”
“And then?”
“He said he wanted to have a drinking match with me.”
It was something I never expected.
“Oh! That’s cool. The girl who bets on a drunkard.”
The interesting story continued.
“I said so. Do you know who the person in front of you is and want to make a bet? I know. Then what are you going to bet? Let’s grant the winner’s wish. Why would you make such a childish bet? Are you not confident? No way! Okay. That’s how it turned out.”
He filled the empty glass with alcohol. He emptied his glass with a look in his eyes that had deepened as if he was thinking of that day.
“He was a good drinker. Of course, he was one of the top three drinkers among the guests, so it was natural for him to be a good drinker. But when he decided to drink, he drank even better than I expected. The two of them drank all the alcohol in the hall. When that wasn’t enough, they opened up the wine cellar and drank from there.”
When I think back on that scene, it must have been truly spectacular.
“What was the result?”
“What are you asking? I won.”
I shook my head with a look of disbelief.
“You won? You heartless man. I can’t live without you.”
“I don’t know about other bets, but can a drunkard lose a bet?”
“So? Did you make a wish?”
“I borrowed it.”
“what?”
Chwima looked down at his empty glass in silence.
I know he is not the type of person to give his heart to a woman easily. Please don’t do this to me again, don’t wish for this!
“I told him to bring a dish of spring vegetables that I made myself as a side dish for the next drinking party.”
“!”
A bright smile appeared on my lips.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because my brother is cool.”
He filled the drunkard’s glass to the brim.
“You’re the coolest since I met you, hyung. I used to feel like a jerk whenever I met you. Now you’re like a man.”
“Now you’re admitting that you ignored me.”
The drunk smiled and toasted my glass.
Yeo-bin, who had been fond of drinking for a long time, must have put everything on the line that day. How nervous must she have been?
She didn’t know how their relationship would develop in the future, but Chwima understood her feelings very well.
“These days, we just have a drink together every now and then, like friends.”
That drinking party must have created the leisure of drinking.
“It’s all your fault.”
“Why me?”
“They said that it was because of you and Ilhwageomjon that they had the courage. Ilhwageomjon was greatly influenced by you, right? In the end, it was because of you. It influenced me too.”
Yes, it must be because of me. I admit it. After I returned, a lot of things changed. Anyway, among all the changes, it was a really pleasant change.
“When you have a drink with some spring vegetables, invite me too.”
“Think about it.”
I laughed at his boastful and snobbish behavior and emptied my glass.
Brother, don’t blame me later on and say, ‘It’s your fault!’
* * *
While meeting the demons, he also became enthusiastic about practicing martial arts.
At the center of my efforts has always been painstaking cultivation. I cultivated even when I met the Demon Lord, and I cultivated even when I didn’t.
The jokes shared when meeting the Amazon provide a clue to awakening Muhak, which is something that is possible only when supported by the endless training that has been built up over time.
The moment when a single word becomes a great realization is the moment when the final decoration is placed on the tower that was built with difficulty. Because if there is no tower, there is no final decoration.
He continued to practice the Shicheon Secret Technique to gain more time, and within that time, he devoted all his energy to learning the Nine Flower Magic Technique.
After about twenty days, that day finally came.
The soldiers sent from Tongcheon Pavilion came to me and reported.
“The date for the meeting has been set.”
It was set for a date not too far away. Since the three leaders had a firm will to meet, things progressed faster than expected.
I headed straight to Magachon.
At that moment, Jo Chun-bae, who was stretching in front of the Pungryu tavern in the distance, greeted me happily.
“Your Majesty, welcome!”
I walked towards him, smiling brightly, not knowing what would happen next.
