The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Episode 398:

A workshop in Hongyeon, the capital of Khan. Something secret was going on there.

“How are the preparations for Injung-ro going?”

“Ah, it’s the final stage. “Just engrave it and you’re done.”

In front of the men with a ferocious look, there was something huge made of iron.

“Hehehe… The masterpiece of a lifetime is about to be born.”

A bizarre laugh.

Injungro is a trial for Yonghwa, but these people are not Yonghwa, so why are they preparing for Injungro?

“Blocking your eyes and blinding your ears with magic… I wonder if you are sane.”

“It’s eccentric, but when did those Dragon Palace guys ever come to their senses?”

“Well… they are like that.”

The man said as he adjusted the item.

“If I were to transport this, I wouldn’t be able to use a standard cart.”

“It’s already been airlifted. “It was specially made.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

The two men’s eyes crossed.

There was something dangerous in his eyes.

“Hehehe… Let’s make something grand.”

“… I think the day of Injung-ro will be an unforgettable day.”

“Yes, for us and for her.”

“…we choose the dragon.”

* * *

It was a day just before Injung-ro.

Seolhong visited her sister-in-law, Cheonju.

It was her oldest sister-in-law. Although it was said to be a fight, she is like a nanny.

No, she is the person who became my mother in place of the mother whose face I have never seen.

She was currently suffering from old age.

It’s been a long time since I stepped away from work.

“What is the old man worried about that brings you here so early?”

“They say time passes quickly for older people? Seonghwa asks the children to take steps….”

Hwaa, Hwia, and Cheonga.

The children sent by Kwak Seong have now taken on the role of Heavenly Father.

Since the three of us were close friends, we were always treated with the utmost hospitality. After confirming this, Cheonju said that he would step down from his work.

“These nasty people are doing useless things again….”

“It’s not useless.”

“….”

“Cheonju is my precious person.”

“Are you here to say something like that at this important time? “The most insignificant thing in the world is for young people to worry about the lives of old people.”

“Um… I guess so.”

Seolhong lay down on Cheonju’s bed. Her neat clothes spread out.

“… You look a lot like Yuhwa.”

“That’s what everyone says. “Do we look that much alike?”

After returning from the ghost world, Seolhong returned to his original form. However, in recent years, his body has grown, as if his previous small appearance was a mirage.

Now, even if Yuhwa came back as a reincarnation, about two out of ten people would believe it.

“Your beauty is passed down from generation to generation.”

“… have you heard about the next trial?”

“You mean Injungro.”

Cheonju also lay down next to Seolhong.

The two looked at the ceiling and talked.

“I heard. “It was a harsh ordeal.”

“They say they take away your eyes, ears, and even nose through witchcraft. “You have to rely on only one rope to walk past the home of the people of the empire to the Dragon Palace.”

“I don’t know who thought of it, but he must be a really nasty guy.”

“Haha… I agree.”

“… The burden will be great.”

“It would be a lie if I said it wasn’t there. That’s right…”

Seolhong trailed off.

“Because you could die.”

The possibility of dying.

It was a huge burden for Yonghwa and others to cross the crowd without an escort, relying on a single rope.

“Are you going to stop me?”

“Why am I stopping you?”

“It’s dangerous. “You always stopped me from doing anything dangerous.”

“That… he ruined it all. “He broke my rigid way of thinking… I came to think that if you want to do something big, you have to take some risks.”

“That guy… that guy…”

“… the damn guy who disappeared.”

Cheesy…

Cheonju is probably the only person she can talk about sensitive topics with so candidly.

“This is the path you must walk to become a dragon.”

“There are people who hate me, right?”

“There must be at least a few people in the world.”

“Those people will also wait for Injung-ro to start.”

“Still, it’s not like stabbing Seolhong in the stomach with a knife on the street… Oh my, did I say that a little harshly?”

“… a little too much.”

“Anyway, the Seolhong I know is a benevolent person, so I’m sure there won’t be a big problem.”

Just being with Heavenly Father gave me great psychological comfort.

“Can I become a dragon?”

“If you really want it. But Seolhong…”

“Yes, I lost confidence.”

“… It’s serious. “It’s all because of that damn guy.”

Seolhong smiled.

“He made me think I had achieved everything with my own strength and made me rely on it easily. And then suddenly it disappeared.”

“Seolhong….”

“The big tree that provided shade has disappeared.”

Seolhong said hesitantly.

“I am a person with many shortcomings, and I know very well that I did not get to this point entirely on my own. “I am worthy of a dragon…”

“Seolhong, the guy who was a dragon from birth is still trapped underground.”

“… huh?”

“I mean Hwageumu. “A scaly, fire-breathing guy.”

Seolhong laughed at Cheonju’s words.

“For a person to become a dragon, he must eventually collide with another person. And only those who have been beaten and trained like that…”

Heaven’s old hand brushed Seolhong’s hair.

“You can challenge the position of dragon.”

“….”

“That man was also just the person who ended up bumping into Seolhong. Daughter of the dragon, please….”

A fragment of an old smile.

“Become a dragon.”

* * *

The afternoon one day before Injung-ro.

Around this time tomorrow, the 10 Yonghwas will be walking down the street separately.

Because he is a dragon, a lot of work can be done behind the scenes. In particular, as Yonghwa risked everything, there was a high chance of interfering with the opponent.

Safety measures for this were put in place.

The 10 dragons took an oath not to harm each other, and this was used as a spell to force them.

If you violate it, you will be stripped of your position regardless of the outcome of the match, and your family’s history will be burned.

Those who climb the Injung Road will be evaluated only by the people, and if a stronger person approaches the road, the recorder will control access.

In other words, only the powerless can get close to the Yonghwa walking down the street.

Of course, I couldn’t pull his hand or give directions.

Everything is to wash away past mistakes in the river of humanity.

Anyone with a grudge should come closer. I will embrace everything. If you don’t overcome it, you’ll be swept away by the river.

This was the reason Injung-ro was chosen for the final ordeal.

“Then, please check the route assigned to each person.”

Sigh…

Yonghwa and others check the route of Injung-ro drawn on a palm-sized piece of paper.

At that moment, Seolhong’s expression was not particularly bright.

Everything has been decided.

“Then, the final trial of the Dragon War will begin tomorrow at the designated location. “Good luck.”

Scattering dragon flowers.

Everyone was busy talking.

“…Seolhong.”

Chi-woo approached Seol-hong, who was left alone. For some reason she didn’t leave.

“Have you checked the route?”

Nod…

“Can I see it?”

Nod…

Chi-woo takes over Seol-hong’s paper. And after checking the route, he closed his eyes tightly, just like Seolhong.

“This doesn’t make sense… this… this… is wrong.”

“Ehehe… that’s how it happened.”

“I’ll make it right. “This… passes through the slums.”

ghetto.

Although the light of Yusin gathers and raises the children there, it is still a place where life is at the bottom.

No matter how great Yushin’s influence there was, he could not control all the darkness.

Therefore, it is a place full of all kinds of problems and dangers. Among Yonghwa, Seolhong’s route was the only one that passed through the slums.

“Seolhong still has time…”

Tak…

Seolhong grabbed Chiwoo’s hand.

“Don’t be rude.”

“why! It’s not fair! The other Yonghwas are walking along the main street just fine! “Why do you have to be covered in filth?”

“It’s not fair. “They… weren’t born there because they wanted to.”

“That…”

That was correct.

People living in slums are probably not born to want to be in slums.

I couldn’t tell them it was unfair. That was something that should not have been done.

“Still, sections 1 and 3 are straight roads. are you okay. you can do it.”

“Seolhong…”

wheezing…

“I’ll make it, I’m sure.”

I will pass through the slums tomorrow.

Without any protection or armament. We pass through what is considered the most dangerous area in the capital Hongyeon.

You can’t choose trials.

Just like life in the slums, those walking that path had no choice.

You will be given one day.

It’s okay to give up.

The only thing that can be decided is now, and only those who walk in silence will win.

Whether it is shame or glory.

That night, three people, including Seolhong, sat in one place.

Taeyul, Shinyo, and Seolhong gathered together. Those closest to dragons.

“It’s a gathering where it wouldn’t be strange if at least one person were to disappear tomorrow.”

“Brother, what are you saying so harshly?”

“It was a joke.”

“I guess my relatives teach me jokes…”

“… I’ll learn them if I need to.”

“That’s Okay. Rather… Have you seen the path of Injung-ro?”

“saw.”

The simple story is that Taeyul was assigned a straight path. It was the same with Shinyo.

No, any path was better than Seolhong’s path. Seolhong chose the worst, so even if the others couldn’t do it, they became the lesser evil.

“Onii-sama and Seolhong… their faces are serious…”

It was then.

I received an unexpected proposal from Taeyul.

“Shall I change Seolhong’s path?”

“… yes?”

“I asked if you would change paths with me.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I’m serious.”

Why?

Couldn’t there be other intentions hidden?

Seolhong thought for a moment about the true meaning behind Taeyul’s words and then shook his head.

Taeyul is not that kind of person. I was always confident and did my best. Since he is not one to play tricks, it must be pure kindness.

Perhaps he is truly the person most suited to being a dragon.

“it’s okay.”

“Um… why? Considering how much you helped me, this is just as much…”

“It’s meaningless if you don’t walk the given path. “The important thing is not to avoid it.”

It was an answer that would make even the expressionless Shinyo laugh.

“That’s the truth.”

Nod…

Taeyul agreed with Seolhong.

“It may not really matter what route you are assigned. “What matters is resentment.”

How much resentment have you accumulated throughout your life? Is it possible to break that chain of hatred in the human race? If there is something that cannot be changed, it is the past, and past mistakes will come with regret.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. “I especially made a lot of mistakes.”

“My brother always did his best. “I know that too.”

“Even if you do your best, if the results are not good, regrets remain.”

Taeyul said, looking into the distance.

“Maybe I could be the one who isn’t here tomorrow.”

You could die.

No, many Yonghwa will die.

“I command my subordinates to preserve their lives….”

Taeyul shakes his head.

“I’ll bet everything. Because it’s the final ordeal. “At the end of the day, I want to fully check the extent to which I am a person.”

Taeyul is that kind of person.

“Step by step, I will put my all into it and become a dragon against the river of men. “God, how are you?”

“… Me too.”

A strong person.

Wise man.

And the benevolent but wandering one.

On the same day as Injung-ro.

The 10-person Yonghwa group was reduced to 8 people.

Two people gave up on the ordeal in one night.

The two of them were Yonghwas who had already committed too many harsh acts during the war, so they had accumulated a mountain of resentment.

No doubt you will die soon after you start. Maybe it was a wise move.

said the archivist.

“Take the fire of death into your eyes. “It may be the last world you will see.”

“… You’re scaring me.”

“I said this out of concern for you. Now, let me put the blindfold on. Only the sensation transmitted through the skin will remain, taking away the eyes, ears, and nose. “Ah, the situation of other Yonghwas will be relayed to you so that you can make a wise decision.”

If other Yonghwa gives up, there will be a lot of people who give up after him. Maybe that was what they were aiming for.

“A push on the back is a signal to walk down the street.”

“… yes.”

“Finally… never miss a line. No matter what! If you miss the line, you may not be able to reach the Dragon Palace in time.”

Sigh…

An eyepatch was placed over my eyes.

“

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

…

?

The only thing you can rely on is the tug and force to move forward.

Tung…

I felt someone’s hand from behind.

The human journey has begun.