It was a face I had expected, but seeing it in person gave me a new feeling.
I knew that Jang Tae-heon was from District 3.
However, I have never entered the snake’s room and talked to him.
The Jang Tae-heon of today is the Jang Tae-heon of the time I didn’t know.
After the Bihomun was founded, Jang Tae-heon joined the sect and that’s when they became acquainted.
“Hey, can you hear me?”
The Jang Tae-heon I knew was a friendly and cheerful person.
However, we could not find that kind of appearance in the current Jang Tae-heon.
His sinister expression was distorted to the max, and hostility was seeping from his entire body.
Even considering that I was his enemy, he was currently very sharp and rough.
While having a drink with Jang Tae-heon a while ago, I remembered a story he used to tell as a joke.
[Oh, I’m glad I didn’t meet my brother in the Demon Realm… … If I had met him then, I probably would’ve been embarrassed and not seen him.]
[How was it back then?]
[It was just… a little aggressive.]
[Aggressive? Tell me more.]
[It’s a secret. It’s a dark history, a dark history.]
I was curious, but I didn’t bother to ask.
Because I wasn’t the type of person who wanted to talk about my past either.
It was only after many years that I learned about Jang Tae-heon’s circumstances.
Jang Tae-heon was born into a good family with a good fortune.
All of my family members, including my parents, were in the legal profession, such as prosecutors, lawyers, and judges.
That’s why Jang Tae-heon also thought he would become a lawyer when he was young.
In fact, Jang Tae-heon’s fortune, as well as his family’s fortune, were well suited to the legal profession.
If a person born on the day of Byeong (丙) meets Gyeong (庚), a job related to law is suitable for him/her.
In addition, there was also a fortune of half-life in the four pillars, which meant success or promotion.
Clearly, he had talent.
The problem is that his parents were not satisfied with him.
[You were born with a good destiny. You will definitely do well.]
[Our name must not be tarnished.]
[They say you’re destined to become a great person, but why is this all you can do?]
Jang Tae-heon did his best to live up to their expectations.
But things didn’t go as planned.
I got into a top three university, but not the most prestigious one.
[It’s embarrassing to have someone like you as my child.]
[If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have given up from the beginning.]
[You are a failure.]
Anything less than perfect is a failure.
Jang Tae-heon said he gave up everything because he thought that whatever he did would be a failure.
Just spending each day fighting and debaucherous.
[At that time, everyone seemed like an enemy.]
[It seemed like everyone saw me as a failure.]
Now Jang Tae-heon was staring at me with a face I had never seen before.
Eyes stained with hostility and hatred towards others.
It was a face from a time I didn’t know.
“Get out of my way. I have to kill that thing.”
Unfortunately, there seemed to be no time for reminiscence or sadness.
I whispered softly to the snake.
“Run to the deepest part of the water right now. Never come out.”
The snake nodded with a bewildered expression and disappeared under the water.
Jang Tae-heon got angry when he saw that.
“Ah! He’s running away!”
I drew my sword and walked forward to prevent Jang Tae-heon from chasing me.
I felt like I was walking on thin ice.
I spoke to him.
“Why don’t you find another snake? That’s my snake.”
“What? Did you even write your name?”
“Yes. My name is written on the string around that snake’s neck.”
At those words, Jang Tae-heon furrowed his brow.
“It’s childish to tell a lie.”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. Anyway, my mission is to protect the snakes, so I will do my job… … .”
Before I could finish speaking, a huge body flew towards me like a bullet.
-Ugh!
Jang Tae-heon’s fist was aimed at the stomach, but I was one step faster.
He raised his sword and blocked the attack.
But immediately the next attack came.
-Wow!
I barely managed to ward off the second attack.
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But the third blow just grazed his left arm.
It wasn’t a direct hit, and my defense wasn’t low, but blood started flowing out where it had grazed.
After all, a monster is a monster.
═══════════════
[Name] Jang Tae-heon
[Rank] Ghostly Second Grade
[Attribute] Earth
[Shinmyeong] One before ten thousand
═══════════════
It seemed as if the shadow of God was visible behind his back.
Zhang Fei, the famous general of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, is praised as the enemy of ten thousand people and can fight ten thousand men.
Jang Tae-heon was an Awakened One with enough talent to be chosen by that equipment.
I received a lot of help from Jang Tae-heon while traveling around the magic world.
Powerful attack power, stamina, and speed to back it up.
Jang Tae-heon, who was both a strong defender and attacker of the party.
He was a very dependable person when he was on the side, but when we met as enemies, his abilities seemed even more amazing.
Who would have thought that Jang Tae-heon would look so great while getting beaten up?
When I snickered, Jang Tae-heon’s forehead turned red when he saw it.
He spoke with his teeth bared like an animal.
“Are you laughing? Do you find this situation funny?”
I think he misunderstood that I was laughing.
As Jang Tae-heon, who doesn’t know my circumstances, he can’t help but think that way.
I got up from my seat without explaining or making excuses.
“Yeah. It’s fun.”
What could be happier than a dead person coming back to life?
Even the current situation where we are fighting each other is a welcome thing to me.
I don’t think it’s Jang Tae-heon.
“You unlucky bastard!”
Jang Tae-heon ran towards me once again.
Wearing studded gloves, his fists flew at him with violent speed.
His attacks were very fast, but they were expected.
-Shoot!
【Seo Kang-rim, you avoided it again?!】
【No, not yet!】
As I dodged the attack, Jang Tae-heon turned his body sharply and threw a punch in the other direction.
I lightly deflected his attack with my sword.
-Whoa!
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Jang Tae-heon was preparing for the next attack even before the second attack was over.
“This kid… … !”
He tried to kick me with such force that it broke my bones.
But this time too, his attack was plain to my eyes.
When he prepared his sword in advance on the trajectory of the oncoming kick, Jang Tae-heon was taken aback and withdrew his attack.
Jang Tae-heon, your attack pattern is similar then and now.
【Seo Kang-rim, how on earth do you avoid that?】
【I don’t think his agility is particularly high.】
【Do you have good visual acuity?】
【Isn’t there something like vision of the future among your abilities? It seems like you’re reading attack patterns?】
As they said, I knew Jang Tae-heon’s pattern.
If there is a weakness for Jang Tae-heon, who is a powerful ability user, it is that his patterns are consistent.
Of course, it wasn’t a big problem when conquering the Demon Realm.
None of the demons were intelligent enough to memorize the patterns, and the battle was already over before they could get used to the patterns.
But if it becomes a one-on-one fight, it’s a different story.
Also, I have been watching Jang Tae-heon for a long time.
I knew Jang Tae-heon’s habits and patterns so well that it was mind-boggling.
“Damn, how about this!”
Jang Tae-heon shouted, drawing out all the magical power in his body.
This time, I’ll pretend to aim for the face, but then aim for the ribs on the other side.
-Quaquaquaqua!
As expected, Jang Tae-heon threw a punch to the face, but the actual attack came from below.
I knew what kind of attack was coming, so all I had to do was dodge it.
I let my guard down for a moment because I was happy to see you earlier, but I can’t let you hit me twice.
Jang Tae-heon looked quite upset as his attacks continued to miss.
【Wow, Seo Kang-rim is totally into it.】
【Kangrim-ah, stop playing with it.】
【Look at Taeheon being so cheeky.】
I’m talking about Jang Tae-heon. Even the gods seem to have slit eyes.
At first glance, it seemed like I had the upper hand, but in terms of ability, Jang Tae-heon was far superior.
Even if it was dragged into a physical fight, I was at a disadvantage, and if I got hit even once, it would be over.
If I delay any longer, I will be at a disadvantage.
I have no choice but to finish it as quickly as possible.
After avoiding Jang Tae-heon’s upper attack, I quickly lowered my body down.
At the same time, he thrust the tip of the sword handle into Jang Tae-heon’s forehead with all his might.
-Crash!
“Ugh… … !”
A groan burst out from Jang Tae-heon’s mouth as the attack landed on his vital spot.
But I didn’t stop attacking.
Because I know he is not a great man who will fall down just because he was hit in the vital spot.
-Snap!
I hit his chest with the force of breaking a bone.
It didn’t cut him because he struck him with the back of the sword, but it must have caused a lot of damage.
Eventually, Jang Tae-heon stumbled and fell to the floor.
I said, pointing the knife at Jang Tae-heon’s neck.
“I think the match is decided.”
Jang Tae-heon looked up at me, grumbling.
A look full of hostility, not kindness.
“You… … I’ll just wait and see.”
After saying that, he quickly stepped back and left the place.
I was staring at the back of Jang Tae-heon as he disappeared.
In the previous life, both areas had the same mission.
Because of this, Shin Soo-ah and Jang Tae-heon formed an alliance, and everyone was able to move on to the next room.
The main flow was that their relationship became intertwined and they even ended up going to Bihomun together… … .
Now their missions have changed and the two have become enemies.
If they fail to form an alliance and become enemies, Jang Tae-heon and Shin Soo-ah will become strangers.
I couldn’t figure out why my previous life and mission had been switched, but I couldn’t just leave it like that.
There’s no choice but to link them together somehow.
First, we need to figure out the exact situation.
I walked towards the container.
As I entered, I saw Choi Sang-won and Seo Jeong-min arguing.
“I should have told you in advance! The people in other districts say that their goal is to kill snakes!”
Choi Sang-won’s face turned red and he was shouting.
In comparison, Seo Jeong-min just looked calm.
“You said you had to protect me only from the devil!”
“Oh, I never said that. I said we need to protect ourselves from various things.”
“What? You’re saying that now… …!”
Choi Sang-won raised his voice as if he was incredulous.
Seo Jeong-min continued speaking calmly.
“Even if the personnel of District 3 become enemies, there is only one thing you have to do. Protect the snake for a week.”
“You say that… …!”
“Do you have the time to talk to me like this right now? I think it would be better for you to take care of the snake, Mr. Choi Sang-won.”
Choi Sang-won was so angry that he just kept opening his mouth, but eventually, unable to control his anger, he jumped out of the container.
Seo Jeong-min leisurely looked at the scene and our eyes met.
“Hello, Seo Kang-rim. I see you have a question, too.”
I nodded.
I had to know what had changed and how much had changed since my previous life.
“Is this mission a competition between Areas 2 and 3?”
“Yes, that’s what it is.”
“That’s a bit strange.”
At those words, Seo Jeong-min looked at me as if asking what I was talking about.
I observed his attitude carefully.
“Wasn’t the purpose of the Fate Protection Agency to raise as many Awakened as possible? But I don’t understand why they’re creating a confrontational structure like this.”
In other rooms, there were conflicts with other areas, but never to such an overt degree.
On the surface, it was a structure that allowed electricity to pass through.
Besides, in my previous life, it was definitely not a mission to confront the viper’s room.
Seo Jeong-min, who was listening to me, said as if he was a little surprised.
“Hmm, you’re quicker on the uptake than I thought.”
There was also a hint of admiration.
He continued speaking in a somewhat softened voice.
“Well, the Protectorate is trying to train as many Awakened as possible, but if they lack the skills, it’s no use. As of now, we’ve decided that there’s no discernible difference. There are also many cases of free riders.”
“Free riding?”
“Yes. In the case of District 2, there were a lot of successful candidates who came out of the room of revelation, right? It seemed like they came out after receiving the fruit given to them by others.”
Are these the people I gave the heavenly fragrance to and helped them pass?
At first glance, it may seem like he’s blaming me, but in reality, it’s more of an excuse.
It’s not strange for people in the same area to cooperate.
I had a bad feeling about this.
As much as I try to change my fate for the better, it feels like fate is twisting in the opposite direction.
It felt as if something was preventing Jang Tae-heon and my fate from becoming intertwined.
“There aren’t enough snakes. The structure is such that each time someone from Zone 2 enters, they release one.”
“… … .”
“So it would be nearly impossible for Zones 2 and 3 to cooperate.”
Somehow, there was a faint smile in Seo Jeong-min’s voice.
“We will have no choice but to fight against District 3, but I believe that Seo Kang-rim will do well.”
