Not long ago.
The Sword Saint was summoned to the inn to discuss how to confront the enemy.
Originally, the meeting should have been held at the government office, but Yu Wol suggested that since they were having a meeting anyway, they might as well eat some food.
Of course, the Sword Saint was not the only one invited.
Hongryeon, Chaejin, Chaeran, Gichajo, and Wiyeol all attended. Lastly, there was the Local Leader.
While they discussed the map, the Sword Saint had very little to add. Since she wasn’t well-versed in strategy, she decided to leave it to Hongryeon.
As the meeting ended and it was time to head back, Hongryeon mentioned she needed to talk with Chaejin and Chaeran for a moment. While waiting, the Sword Saint caught a bitter scent wafting from the inn’s backyard.
Drawn in by the aroma, she unconsciously moved towards the backyard and discreetly turned her head.
There stood Yu Wol and the Local Leader.
“You’ve had quite a hard time.”
“No, I haven’t.”
Their voices were full of fatigue. Both the Local Leader and Yu Wol were noticeably weaker in martial arts compared to the others present at the meeting. It felt like they had held up remarkably well until now.
Unlike the Local Leader, who had served in the military, Yu Wol hadn’t practiced martial arts for long. Yet, it seemed his powerful will was what allowed him to endure such strenuous conditions.
Just as the Sword Saint thought she might be eavesdropping and decided to leave, the Local Leader spoke up.
“I have something to say. A soldier must always be prepared for death.”
What does that mean? Puzzled, the Sword Saint strained to listen more closely.
“But if we can avoid death, that would be better.”
“The commander always considers death when planning an operation. In my plan for this battle, while we may face enemies, fatalities are inevitable. However, if that’s the case, it would still be a victory.”
“Then, is there no way to minimize the number of casualties?”
“It will be difficult.”
The Local Leader spoke firmly.
“Thanks to your and Hao-mun’s efforts, the battlefield has been minimized. If Hao-mun succeeds, there won’t be any additional attacks from the Sa-pa, and we’ll only have to deal with the main forces of Samagun.”
“That’s true.”
“Also, our defenses have improved and strengthened. What about the morale of the soldiers? Their training? With the soldiers you brought in, along with Gi Noya and Wi, our strength has only increased.”
“That seems right.”
“Even so, we must prepare for losses.”
“…In that case, should there be any deaths among the soldiers, I would like to share in their compensation.”
“Huh. Innkeeper. How frustrating. Why would the innkeeper worry about that?”
Yu Wol chuckled softly.
He then took a deep drag from his pipe and exhaled, calmly stating, “I was the one who set up this situation. And it was also me who brought them here.”
“It was I who brought them here.”
“That’s not true. It’s only natural for the Empire’s soldiers to protect the Empire’s citizens.”
“Even so, I can’t say I’m without responsibility. I’m just doing what I can to bear that responsibility.”
At Yu Wol’s words, Hyeonryeong clicked his tongue briefly. Then he nodded and said,
“…I’ll try to come up with more strategies. To minimize the depletion of our forces.”
“Thank you, Hyeonryeong. I’ll give you a grand treat once this battle is over.”
“A treat? That’s something I should do. I’ve received so much help already.”
With a sigh, Hyeonryeong left the backyard. The Sword Saint, leaning against a wall, closed her eyes.
That person also wants to protect.
Limiting the battlefield, strengthening the forces, increasing supplies, enhancing equipment,
building defensive facilities,
and supporting Hongseong.
They were trying to protect through many means.
The Sword Saint lightly bit her lip and quietly headed towards the backyard.
“…….”
For a moment, Yu Wol had his head bowed.
He had seemed quite tired during the earlier meeting.
Hearing the low sound of snoring, the Sword Saint squatted down and looked up at him.
How much hardship must he have gone through?
His skin is as rough as can be.
“…You are.”
What a stubborn person.
A person who doesn’t give up on efforts to achieve their goals.
You are,
even in this situation, trying to minimize the damages to our side.
It’s common knowledge that someone will get hurt in a fight.
Damage is bound to happen.
Yet, you’re dreaming of an ideal.
If that’s the case,
you’ve done everything you can.
“…Leave the rest to me.”
She spoke quietly, facing the sleeping Yu Wol’s face, so he wouldn’t wake up.
“Even you, despite your weakness, are trying so hard. How could the leader of Hongseong retreat, someone who must protect everyone? So, I will protect everyone and achieve a perfect victory.”
The Sword Saint gazed at Yu Wol’s sitting form and stood up, quietly exiting the backyard, softly yet surely declaring,
“I will bring it to you.”
She didn’t feel that she had made a foolish promise.
Even her declaration, which he wouldn’t hear, warmed her heart a little more.
And it wasn’t impossible.
If the battlefield had been wide, even a Sword Saint would find it impossible to protect everyone in a fight.
If the defenses were weak and enemies attacked from multiple directions, moving would only lead to greater damage.
It would have been difficult even for himself if he hadn’t provided support with arrows from the lookout and if the Hyeonryeong hadn’t used a defensive strategy to withdraw the wounded at Yu Wol’s request.
He had wanted all of this.
And then…
“Master!! I’m joining you!!”
His precious and proud disciples also decided to follow him into battle.
The disciples of Hongseongmun began to dig in, one by one, by his side.
Gradually, they found their composure.
The enemies led by Samagun started to falter against the forces of Wolgwangdae and Hongseongmun, as well as the soldiers.
The fight to protect everyone was rapidly nearing its conclusion.
In that case, it wouldn’t be so bad to push just a bit more.
“What about the casualties?”
“There are the injured, but no one has died.”
The visibly exhausted Hyeonryeong spoke a single word, and the Sword Saint nodded.
Then she turned her gaze to those who were staring in shock at this place.
Alright. It’s time for the Sword Saint to take action.
‘I can’t use the meteor shower.’
There were too many people, and they were all mixed together.
On top of that, she had exhausted too much internal energy while fighting to protect the soldiers earlier.
Even so, victory was on their side.
If Yu Wol hadn’t been able to give it his all, and had been low on internal energy while fighting to protect Seomhwa Village and his disciples, they might have ultimately faced defeat.
‘Hoo hoo. I still have a long way to go.’
Realizing her shortcomings brought a smile to her face for some reason.
She gently shook her head and lifted her great sword.
The internal energy of Hongseong Divine Art began to surge. Like an exploding volcano, the immense power started racing through her veins like a mad horse, causing Samagun and Yoo Hyo-jin, along with their subordinates, to sense an ominous feeling.
“Stop her!!”
They didn’t know what the Sword Saint was trying to do.
They didn’t understand what technique she was about to use.
All they knew was that the transcendent was gathering all her remaining strength to do something.
Caught up in that ominousness, they charged to stop the Sword Saint, but there were already the disciples of Hongseongmun around her.
And there were the members of Wolgwangdae, who were their formidable adversaries.
“Stop her!! Stop her!!”
Ominousness. Anxiety.
Dominated entirely by negative emotions, Samagun shouted.
Up to this point, he had been surveying the battlefield to protect everyone, but now it was different.
Hongseong is a sinister name.
While it was a power for protection, it was also a force of destruction.
Faced with pure destructive power, they could do nothing but be gripped by fear.
“You… damn it!!”
Yoo Hyo-jin charged in with fierce momentum, filled with taboo-like energy.
Faced with her tiger-like assault, the Sword Saint stepped forward.
Facing her tiger-like charge filled with taboos, the Sword Saint walked.
Yeah. She walked.
Just like she was going out for a stroll, she walked lightly and gracefully.
Her steps were as light and comfortable as a woman walking on a spring path.
However, no one could stop that stride, and even Yoo Hyo-jin, who swung her spear towards her while draped in taboos, merely felt a gentle breeze.
It wasn’t just her.
Samagun, everyone from the Thunder Clan, and even the Iron Blood Clan members.
All those facing the Sword Saint felt the soft breeze she created, and as the Sword Saint slowly plunged her great sword into the ground and exhaled deeply…
“Kurrrk…”
Everyone who felt her gentle breeze collapsed, spitting blood.
The Sword Saint, who had created an achievement that silenced everyone in the area, didn’t hide her exhaustion and smiled gently.
“The last form of the Hongseong Divine Art’s sword style. It’s called the Withering Wind. There’s something similar in the Moonlight Sword Technique, and even the Doje can use it.”
She patted Chaejin’s shoulder encouragingly.
“Keep practicing and learning.”
“Uh… Yes.”
“And you all. If you put in the effort, it’s definitely possible. Surely. I will guide you.”
At her calm words, the Hongseong disciples, Chaejin, and Chaeran could only nod.
“Now, is there anyone else who wants to fight?”
The Sword Saint spun her great sword around and aimed it at her enemies.
“D-Damn it!!”
The warriors of the opposing faction, completely losing their will to fight, began to flee one after another.
“Whooo…”
Pursuing enemies who couldn’t even form ranks was not difficult at all. Especially since the experienced Gichajo, Wiyeol, and Moonlight Sword were with her.
The Sword Saint, watching this, seemed to have her legs give out as she sat down on the ground.
Approaching her, Hongryeon discreetly gathered her disciples and built a wall around her before speaking.
“Ryuhyun, Sayoon, Hyunhwi. Protect the Master. I’ll go on the hunt. The rest will join us once the Master’s energy restoration is done.”
The disciples of Hongseong, whom the Sword Saint wished to protect, raised their weapons to guard her.
The Sword Saint smiled at them.
What truly reliable disciples they were.
“Master, aren’t you overdoing it?”
“Hoho.”
Struggling to sit cross-legged, the Sword Saint replied to Hongryeon.
“Sometimes you have to push yourself a bit.”
‘Because I can’t let his efforts to protect everyone go to waste.’
With that thought, she entered a state of trance.
Completing her energy restoration, the Sword Saint joined the pursuit, and the battle ended in victory.
Though there were some injuries, it was a major win with not a single casualty.
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