Episode 395 < The time he waited, the time he walked. (8) >
7.
After his teacher died, he wandered the world for a while.
It was a solo effort.
He went alone. But people formed a line to block his path and followed him in a line.
[Stop, you evil madhu! How dare you watch someone like you call himself a disciple of Taeyangjinin and impersonate a political faction! ]
[ Son, the sword of the beginning! When will you come back to us? ]
[You are a strong person. I salute you. ]
[ lily. The small person is called Myohu-seong, and he wants to hold a lamp on the way to Nari… . ]
There were people brandishing weapons, people pulling at his sleeves, people shaking hands, and people bowing, but they all had one thing in common: they all surrounded him. Everyone he met was heavy enough to add to the depth of the footprints he left behind.
So wherever he passed, a wide road was created.
It was a major road trip.
[ Sword Demon. ]
[Sword Dragon. ]
[King of Swords. ]
[Geomcheon. ]
[Geomzone. ]
The numerous titles that had been used to call him were merged into one on the main road.
[ Geomje. ]
That was his new name.
The one that everyone blocks but no one can stop. He is the one whom no one can chase, but everyone follows. A person who is with no one but is with everyone.
The Geomje crossed this world of all swords like a comet.
However, the reason this period was named the fifth slash in the World of Ten Thousand Swords was not only because the Sword Emperor’s steps were engraved like sword marks. This is because it was also the time when [it] appeared.
People whispered together.
[What is that? ]
It was a huge tower.
But the tower was too big to just ignore it. It was high. It was also thick.
Anyone who has ever lived in a city would not dare to think of something bigger than the largest city as a tower. Anyone who has climbed a mountain would not dare to think of that tower as being taller than the main stem of any mountain they have climbed, and anyone who has been to the sea would not dare to think of that tower rising from the entire horizon as a tower.
[It’s like the handle of a sword that a giant drove into this world to split it into pieces. ]
People gathered their mouths and whispered like that.
The whispers spread to the following words:
[Who built it? ]
[What lives there? ]
[What kind of being is at the top? ]
And the process was concluded with the following words:
[Why can’t I see it wherever I go? ]
As the saying goes, the tower was visible everywhere.
It was a strange thing. Something couldn’t be in two places at the same moment.
But no matter where I turned, the tower was beyond.
Beyond the city, beyond the mountains, beyond the sea, beyond the road, it was looming across the horizon like an indelible background.
[Is it too big? ]
Someone who argued that the world is round, so if you walk away from it, you will inevitably return to where you came from, this is the reasoning.
[Is it a mirage? ]
Someone who found it strange that no matter how much I approached, it never got closer, and conversely, no matter how much I ran away, it never got far away, reasoned that way.
[ no. ]
It was Geomje who gave a clear answer to the heated debate.
[They are following us. ]
People couldn’t immediately understand Geomje’s words. The tower is following them? Does this mean the tower is alive?
Geomje said yes.
[I’m waiting. ]
[ Waiting? ]
[ okay. Can’t you feel this ‘waiting’? ]
People looked at each other.
Anger can be felt easily. Love and contempt can be easily detected. However, feeling ‘waiting’ was a somewhat unfamiliar word.
But Geomje naturally said those unfamiliar words. Even the words he said after that surprised the people gathered even more.
[I guess I should at least have a drink. ]
“Tsk,” Geomje stood up from his seat. He stretched out calmly.
he said
[I’ll be back for a moment. ]
[ yes? Where? ]
[Up there. ]
The tone of voice was that he would stop by the tavern in front for a while and then come back. His attitude was so carefree that people couldn’t understand the meaning of what they heard.
[Those who will follow, please follow. ]
And Geomje did not give them a chance to understand.
[I’ll be waiting. ]
On that day, a sword forged by people entered the sword stuck in the Mangeom World.
It happened more than 150 years ago.
8.
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The 98th floor where I entered after paying my respects to Master’s funeral.
[Enter on the 98th floor. ]
As soon as I set foot there, I was captivated by a strange sensation.
-……
A familiar feeling.
The sense of looking into something familiar.
– here is… … .
Aegim Empire.
The very world where I met Glitter and fought with Esther.
I was standing in the quiet throne room of the empire.
– It’s been a while since I’ve been to this place.
I muttered.
Bae Hu-ryeong, who was floating next to me, crossed his arms and grinned.
– You will meet people you haven’t seen in a long time.
– If it’s someone you haven’t seen in a while… .
– Do you remember what your family advisor said?
– yes? Esther?
– okay. Before becoming your home advisor.
– Uh, wait a minute. It’s a bit old… … ah. They said they would send me to the 99th floor… … iced coffee.
indeed.
As if to match the facial expression I understood, I heard a familiar sound: a clatter.
-……
It was a raindrop.
Thump, thud… Toad-duk-duk. Fighting…
rain. Drops of water dropped from the sky hit the throne room window. A blurry trail spread slowly, and before long, it was swept away by a new stream of water.
-……
Even in a world that had stopped, only rainwater was flowing.
So, a voice was heard.
“Matriarch?”
I raised my head.
Esther was walking from afar. The face I saw after such a long time had an expression as if I had seen a ghost.
“Matriarch? … … “Are you really the head of the family?”
hmm.
I put on a happy expression and raised one hand.
– Yes, advisor. It’s been a very long time—
The next moment, a terrible shock hit me.
– Ugh… … !!
I fell to the floor like a fly being swatted by a fly swatter. Once again, the Auror’s blow fell like a waterfall. It was almost extinct!
– Wait, why suddenly—Ugh!
“Why do you think that is!?”
hmm.
Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since I last saw you… no. wait for a sec.
– How can you see me—Ugh!
“That’s me! here! “It’s a test tube on the 98th floor!”
– The test tube on the 98th floor—Ugh!
“The pillar or something came and explained it! “You will be here soon, matriarch, so get ready!”
– Being able to contact me—sigh!
“Yeah! Oh my god, what the hell… “What is it, really!”
I closed my mouth. It was a rapid-fire explanation that made perfect sense to everything. It’s even a situation where a knife bread is added as a bonus. The shock that felt like my whole body was going to shatter every time I asked a question made me cautious about opening my mouth.
Esther huffed for a while, as if it was difficult to suppress her emotions, and then raised the great sword wrapped in red aura again.
“Anyway, please punish me some more!”
no.
Even if you keep your mouth shut, will you get stabbed anyway?
– Wait a minute, advisor. Replacing the joy of meeting after a long time with violence is—Gyaaaa!
The beating continued for a while. Only when the sound of the pouring rain and the tinnitus ringing in my ears from the shock were indistinguishable did Esther’s sword stop.
It was not by Esther’s will.
“Just stop there, advisor.”
It was Glitter’s voice.
I raised my head. In my blurred vision, I caught sight of glitter falling again and again.
Esther made a noise.
“Hwiya.”
“Yeah. I understand, but… Still.”
Do you understand?
I hope you don’t understand—When I thought about it that far, Hwiya added one word.
“Mr. Esther, the way she looks now is like a girl from a genre of novels that Doxa loves to read… .”
“Aaaahhh!”
Esther screamed. Hiya extended one of his wings and patted Esther’s head, then looked back at me.
hmm.
I said.
“Hello, twinkle. you—”
“I am also an examiner on the 98th floor.”
“ah. indeed. Like Esther—”
“I was also in charge of managing the 11th to 20th floors.”
“hmm. “The reason I’m interrupting you now is—”
“Do you want to ask a question?”
“no… … .”
I dropped my shoulders.
Both Hiya and Esther, who had finally recovered their shattered egos, glared at me with icy eyes.
It was Hwiya who opened her mouth first.
“Please come back quickly.”
“……hmm.”
I couldn’t bear to make an excuse for those sighing words. Anyway, I walked among people for a long time without revealing myself.
“Sorry.”
I had no choice but to sincerely lower my head.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“yes. …hmm.”
Hwiya spread her five pairs of wings. The sword goddess’ stretching spread a soft scent around her, like a blanket dried in the morning sunlight.
“My advisor and I will help you do that.”
After a while, a message window opened.
[The Guardian Goddess offers you a reward.]
[The Demon King of Autumn Rain offers you a reward.]
[Choose between two rewards.]
-uh.
I couldn’t help but blink without realizing it.
It has to be that way.
Because there were messages written there that I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
– you… … .
As if anticipating my reaction, a selection window appeared before my eyes.
+
[Guardian Goddess]
Description: The goddess who protects the Aegim Empire is moved by your devotion! The goddess has offered you the honor of preparing a meal…….
+
– Uh… … No wait. Does this mean I’m going to prepare food? You’re not saying you’re going to prepare it for me? Is that what you call an honor?
+
You can serve fried eggs and soy sauce rice, Sormwin-style Manjeonseok, or fried chicken. No matter what you choose, your dish will be judged and scored… … .
+
– hey!?
+
Hero of the goddess! Please come back soon.
And please beat up Sylvia!
※However, if I choose the Demon King’s reward, why can’t I receive the Goddess’ reward?
+
– no! That last phrase is a bit strange!? With the quest message, you sparkle… … .
I was looking at the glitter with a bewildered face, but was even more puzzled by the new message that immediately came to mind.
+
[Demon King of Autumn Rain]
Description: The Demon King is impressed by your performance. The Demon King offers you to secretly cooperate with him. He promises exactly the same reward as the goddess, but with one additional gift.
Finish it quickly, come back, read Esther’s 99 recommended novels, and leave a review of at least 1,200 words!
If you promise to do so, the Demon King will use his power to transport you to the 99th floor of the tower at once.
※ However, only one person will receive the devil’s reward. (You’re the only one anyway.)
※ If multiple people choose this reward, only one person will be selected at random. (That won’t happen.)
※ If no one chooses, the Demon King’s reward will be forcibly selected.
+
-Esthel, even you… Hey, you guys… … .
I was muttering with an absurd expression on my face, but then I looked at their faces and ended up laughing.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
– You guys… … .
A long ago.
There was a certain demon king who was reduced to an incarnation of revenge because everything he owned was burned. There was a certain goddess who had no choice but to watch as everything she had achieved was submerged in a flood due to the devil.
– Esther… … .
The Demon King did not want others to be even remotely happy. The future too. Obviously, your own happiness as well.
The Demon King just wanted those who brought him and his precious beings into misfortune, and everyone who stood by and stayed alive to fall into hell.
– twinkle… … . Hwiya.
The goddess tried to prevent it somehow.
Like scooping out water from an overflowing dam by hand. They desperately tried to ask for our help so that they wouldn’t fall into the devil’s trick, hoping that we could bring one more chance to their world, which had already been destroyed.
– you guys… .… .
So the two confronted each other, aiming at each other’s throats with each letter that appeared in the quest window. We tempted, pleaded, mocked, and lamented so that I could choose myself and not choose the other person.
There was a time like that.
-……
Then, these two were talking to me right now through that quest window.
Please come back quickly.
I’ll be waiting, he said.
that.
I feel that it is a very beautiful thing.
– ……huh.
I once again felt what I felt from the 91st to 97th floors.
What I experienced while climbing the tower was not meaningless.
– I will be back.
[Key sculpting completed. ]
I said while wiping my eyes. Really, barely, barely.
Esther and Hiya looked at each other and smiled slightly.
[ Administrators on the 98th floor—The other world administrators you first encountered allow your passage. ]
“yes.”
“Bye.”
[The 98th floor is cleared. ]
So they let me go.
[Enter on the 99th floor. ]
■.
As soon as the sandy wind dispersed, what hit me was a flowery scent that was downright violent.
The scent of flowers in my sanctuary, Huhwawon, feels like drooping curtains on a rainy day. The scent of those who are tired of life is faint and only permeates and does not wash away.
But what fills here is a completely different smell, full of vitality.
Those who live without hesitation. It was the scent of those who enjoyed life generously.
“… … Phew.”
I touched my dizzy forehead. And as soon as I did that, I noticed another strange thing.
There was a distinct feeling of touch in my palm.
I could feel the sound of breathing.
I felt the temperature.
“… … indeed.”
I clenched and unclenched my fists. I closed my eyes once and opened them. A feast of natural colors as brilliant as the scent unfolded as if to pierce the eyes.
Among living things, I was also alive.
“…….”
And there I saw him.
On the overflowing flower field, he was sitting cross-legged. It’s probably been like that for a very long time. Grass weathered alive in the changing seasons. flower. Beyond the tree, there was a mossy stone statue.
The wind blew.
It was so still that at first it seemed like only the hem of his coat was fluttering. The fluttering caught my eye and it took me some time to understand that he had stretched his arms out to the side.
His large hand grasped the handle of a huge sword with its blade down immersed in a flower field.
From the shoulders to the arms and hands, it wriggled like an independent creature.
The sword was drawn.
It was a powerful movement like a waterspout. There were no crushed flowers. There were no crushed blades of grass. The flower garden just waved violently, like the surface of a lake shaking.
He stood up with his feet wet in the flower field.
I turned around.
The rays of sunlight shattered into light and dark on the curves of the angular muscles. Pieces of broken sunlight sparkled as they swirled around the outside of the petals like beads. The shadow that fell down was swallowed by the shadow of the grass on the floor.
A huge cloud like a mountain floated in the open sky. In this vertically narrow world, he seemed like an isolated mountain range.
The wind blew.
Dandelion seeds were suddenly flying.
“Welcome.”
Geomje smiled with the blue sky on his head.
“It’s too late, you zombie.”
etc,
