A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 395

395. The Decisive Battle

As soon as the iron-barred gate clanged shut, the cannons on the fortress walls fell silent in perfect unison.

The soldiers manning the cannons quickly gathered their gunpowder and retreated, some joining the ranks of the archers.

Boo-ooooo.

With the cannon fire ceased, the war elephants’ roars echoed from the distance.

The war elephants and ironclad cavalry weren’t stationed within the fortress. They had been strategically positioned in ambush, ready to strike the monsters from behind.

“The war elephants and ironclad cavalry have been deployed,” Hwang Bang-ju announced.

Noh Gun chuckled. “Seorin was just singing about wanting to ride an elephant; she must be ecstatic.”

Seorin was indeed leading the charge of the war elephants.

From the outset, all soldiers deemed less effective in combat were removed. The elephants were fitted with armor densely studded with sharp blades, a defense against monsters or magical beasts attempting to climb onto their backs.

“I saw those magical beasts breathing fire earlier; will Sword Heroine and Seorin be alright?”

“Sword Heroine, you say?”

“Well, I didn’t know what else to call her.”

The “Sword Heroine” Hwang Bang-ju referred to was undoubtedly Geomhui. Noh Gun shrugged.

“They’ll be fine. Both can handle themselves. And the elephant will probably enjoy it; she seemed quite fond of it.”

Seorin had always loved elephants. What surprised Hwang Bang-ju was that Geomhui also seemed to have an affinity for them.

Noh Gun had noticed it the moment she rode into the city on an elephant, though she usually kept her feelings hidden.

“Even great masters are drawn to elephants. Is it because they’re so fascinating?”

“They are fascinating. It’s an animal that doesn’t exist in the Central Plains, after all. And they’re kind of cute in a… dazed sort of way.”

While the sight of a war elephant might dispel any notions of cuteness, Noh Gun used the expression ‘dazed’ without hesitation.

“Well, they are fascinating. Originally, the word ‘imagination’ (想像 [xiǎngxiàng, literally ‘image-think’]) came from trying to guess what an elephant looked like, you know.”

Hwang Bang-ju, who had been nodding and muttering, suddenly turned his head in another direction.

“More than that, I’m worried about the heroines…”

The Yeongji army had only managed to prepare two war elephants. Seorin and Geomhui rode one, while Sasu-yeon and Dang Woalah took the other.

“If anything were to happen to Dang Heroine, the General Military Officer of the Dang Hwa-ryeon [a powerful female-led clan] would kill me.”

Hwang Bang-ju shuddered, as if he couldn’t bear to imagine it. To him, the Dang Hwa-ryeon seemed more terrifying than the monsters before them.

“Aren’t you scared of dying here from the monsters?”

“That’s just a matter of possibility, but being killed by the General Military Officer of the Dang Hwa-ryeon is a certainty, isn’t it?”

Noh Gun was dumbfounded by Hwang Bang-ju’s words. But he had a point. If anything happened to Dang Woalah, who could withstand the Dang Hwa-ryeon’s wrath?

‘Even Bin might have a hard time with that.’

Thump, thump, thump.

Boo-ooooo.

While Noh Gun was lost in thought, the ironclad war elephants and cavalry began to wreak havoc on the rear of the monster horde.

The massive war elephants trampled through the monsters’ rear ranks, while the ironclad cavalry charged into their flanks.

The three magical beasts snarled at the fortress walls but soon turned to face the war elephants.

The monsters’ and magical beasts’ animosity shifted towards the war elephants and ironclad cavalry, noticeably reducing the number of monsters charging the fortress walls.

“Proceed to the next phase!”

General Vikram shouted. At his command, some of the soldiers lowered their bows and quickly began to retreat.

“Aren’t too many people pulling back?”

It was only natural for Hwang Bang-ju to be anxious. The remaining soldiers were now less than a quarter of the original number.

“We’re going to pull everyone out anyway, so what does it matter? As long as we can keep the magical beasts at bay. Makes it easier for me, too.”

Noh Gun remained on the fortress walls for two reasons: to prepare for the possibility of the Water Demon God attacking the soldiers, and to prevent the three magical beasts from entering the fortress.

The archers remained to keep the magical beasts in check. If those three magical beasts were to invade this ‘cage’ where the Water Demon God was trapped, the situation would become quite difficult.

“Well, it doesn’t look like they’re planning to come this way, though.”

The three magical beasts didn’t try to climb over the fortress walls, even with the Water Demon God trapped inside. They were consumed by animosity towards the war elephants and ironclad cavalry trampling the monsters.

“Even if they’re magical beasts, they’re still just animals, aren’t they? They only focus on the immediate threat.”

“Are they, really?”

Noh Gun disagreed with Hwang Bang-ju’s words.

Those three magical beasts were not simple animals. And considering the affection they showed the Water Demon God, it wouldn’t be strange if they had already thrown themselves against the fortress walls.

So why weren’t they charging this way?

“Well, anyway, everything is going according to plan.”

Noh Gun said, turning his head.

In the empty training grounds, Son Bin and the Water Demon God stood facing each other, glaring intently. The commotion outside the fortress walls seemed distant and unreal.

“So now, smash him to pieces. Bin-ah.”

Noh Gun muttered with a grin. And Hwang Bang-ju, standing beside him, also looked at Son Bin and thought,

‘And please finish this quickly, Young Master Son.’

Numbers are a fearsome force. Even the wooden barricades installed on the fortress walls, or the relentless war elephants and ironclad cavalry, couldn’t withstand the sheer number of monsters surging forward.

So Hwang Bang-ju’s plea to end it quickly, even if it was driven by his own anxiety and impatience, was an accurate assessment of the current war situation.

If things continued like this, it was clear that the situation would only worsen with time.

***

As the sound of cannons faded, silence enveloped the inside of the fortress walls. Outside, blood and death still raged, but at this moment, only the Water Demon God and Son Bin held any meaning for each other.

“I have waited long for this moment.”

The Water Demon God said, looking directly at Son Bin.

Wooong.

A red aura settled on the blade of the massive axe-spear, and crimson lines coursing through the Water Demon God’s body glowed faintly. His ornate golden eyebrows and hair flickered like burning flames.

“Therefore.”

Ssk.

The Water Demon God lowered his stance slightly. At the same time, his skin twitched, and his gray muscles began to swell.

Crack, crackle.

An imposing presence, as if he were clad in iron armor. The Water Demon God’s white eyes, fixed on Son Bin, gleamed with murderous intent.

“I will go all out.”

Kwaang.

The ground beneath the Water Demon God’s feet seemed to explode, and in an instant, he charged towards Son Bin, axe-spear in hand.

The Water Demon God’s momentum, which seemed to eclipse even the cannonballs, was truly a display of ferocious, violent power.

Kwack.

However, such headlong momentum was not unfamiliar to Son Bin.

Woong.

Son Bin slowly raised Baekro [his sword].

A gentle aura resided on Baekro’s blade.

A slightly faint, yet clearer than anything else, it was the aura of the Hyeoncheon Grand River Art [a powerful sword technique].

The faintly glowing tip of Baekro was aimed precisely at the Water Demon God. The Water Demon God, who had been charging towards Son Bin, suddenly let out a great shout.

“Kuaaaaa!”

Hooo-ooook.

The red aura surrounding the axe-spear exploded. The axe-spear, as if spewing a massive flame, seemed to retreat before lunging straight at Son Bin.

Kwaaaang!

A deafening explosion erupted, and dust billowed. Hwang Bang-ju couldn’t understand what had happened, but Noh Gun could.

“What a brute.”

Noh Gun clicked his tongue.

“Even after deflecting it, it’s still that strong?”

At that moment, Hwang Bang-ju also saw it. Through the dust, the Water Demon God’s massive form was being thrown back as if it were nothing.

Hooong.

The Water Demon God’s reaction in mid-air was swift. He immediately twisted his body and plunged downwards.

Koo-oong.

The Water Demon God’s feet crushed the earth, and the ground vibrated faintly.

“Indeed.”

The Water Demon God’s eyes, as he raised his head, were shining white. There wasn’t even a trace of bewilderment at being thrown back.

“Impressive.”

As the wind swept away the dust, Son Bin’s figure was revealed. He stood there as before.

His hair and clothes were slightly disheveled, but he looked no different from before the Water Demon God’s attack.

Sarak.

Son Bin turned his body.

“You said you would go all out.”

Son Bin said, looking directly at the Water Demon God.

“Didn’t you say that?”

Son Bin’s eyes were also shining faintly. It was an uncontainable excitement at meeting an opponent worthy of crossing swords with.

“I did. So I am going all out.”

Wooo-woo-woong.

The Water Demon God’s axe-spear began to spew fire again. The red aura rose as if it would swallow Son Bin at any moment.

“The full power I had before I was a Demon God.”

Paang.

An explosion erupted, and the Water Demon God charged towards Son Bin again. The axe-spear fell as if to crush Son Bin in an instant. And Son Bin’s Baekro fearlessly met the axe-spear.

Clang, kwaang.

The Water Demon God’s axe-spear struck Son Bin relentlessly. The trajectory of the flexibly moving axe-spear was smooth and dazzling. It was fundamentally different from a simple attack relying solely on brute force.

Kang, kaang.

Son Bin’s Baekro also danced elegantly, deflecting the Water Demon God’s axe-spear.

Judging by appearances alone, it seemed as if he would be overwhelmed by the massive Water Demon God, but Son Bin’s Baekro did not back down even before the Water Demon God’s axe-spear.

“Haaaah!”

Kwaga-gwack.

As the Water Demon God’s shout echoed in all directions, his axe-spear fell towards Son Bin. And Son Bin also sharply thrust the tip of Baekro upwards.

Koong, kwajijik.

As a heavy impact sound erupted, the ground around Son Bin cracked and caved in. As if struck by a giant hammer.

But Son Bin did not waver in the slightest. Rather, only the spot where he stood remained unchanged.

Woong.

The tip of Baekro was precisely touching the Water Demon God’s axe blade. And the axe-spear could not descend any further.

Considering the Water Demon God’s and Son Bin’s physiques, it made no sense, and considering their strength, it was even more impossible.

However, the Water Demon God’s axe-spear could not force Baekro back.

The tip of Baekro, as if it were an iron wall, did not allow the Water Demon God’s axe-spear to descend any further.

“Amazing.”

The Water Demon God opened his mouth. His axe-spear and Baekro’s tip were still unyielding.

“However, you fall a little short of expectations, Raja [king or ruler in Sanskrit and related languages].”

It was a slightly mocking tone. Son Bin looked straight up at the Water Demon God and replied.

“Is that so? I…”

Kwaga-gwack.

In an instant, the Water Demon God’s momentum exploded like a storm. And his axe blade spewed fire, pressing down on Son Bin as it was. No, it tried to press down.

Hooook.

The Water Demon God’s massive body was thrown into the air as if it were nothing. It felt as if not the Water Demon God himself, but the world itself had been turned upside down for a moment.

Koong, paang.

The Water Demon God’s feet touched the earth, and at the same time, his figure disappeared. He was already charging towards Son Bin at an invisible speed.

Tchaeng.

This time, an explosion did not erupt. With a sound like shattering glass, the Water Demon God was once again thrown straight towards the fortress walls.

Kwaang.

The Water Demon God was already twisting his body to regain his balance. Just as his feet were about to push off the fortress walls and charge towards Son Bin again, he saw something strange.

Ssk.

Son Bin was drawing his sword there. Even though he would never reach the Water Demon God from that spot.

Hooook.

Baekro’s blade drew a line. And the Water Demon God realized that the line had already cut him.

“Kuaaaa!”

There was no time to think. The Water Demon God immediately gathered all his inner energy and met the ‘line’ with his axe-spear.

The Water Demon God’s axe-spear, as always, emitted a red aura and collided with Son Bin’s ‘line.’

Ssk.

It was a feeling the Water Demon God could never have imagined.

For a moment, it was as if his axe-spear had disappeared, and the ‘line’ had cut through the Water Demon God without receiving any resistance.

Ignoring the space between Son Bin and the Water Demon God, and even the Water Demon God’s axe-spear.

Puhak.

Black blood spurted out. The Water Demon God’s gray skin, which had seemed like absolute armor, could not withstand Son Bin’s ‘line.’

Tteong.

That wasn’t all. The rear part of the Water Demon God’s axe-spear, split in two, fell to the ground. The cut surface of the severed axe-spear was as clean as a mirror.

As if unable to believe it, the Water Demon God raised his head.

Son Bin was standing there. As if it were nothing, Son Bin slowly raised Baekro and said,

“From the beginning, I didn’t expect anything.”

“Keu-keu-keu-keu.”

The Water Demon God laughed, bleeding black blood. It was neither anger nor murderous intent. It was certainly not mockery.

What was overflowing from the Water Demon God’s white eyes was an uncontainable, instinctive joy.

“Excellent. Raja.”

Son Bin raised his head and looked at the Water Demon God. With those clear eyes, Son Bin asked.

“Why do you call me Raja?”

The Water Demon God wore a faint smile.

“Because you possess the qualifications of a Raja.”

“Qualifications?”

Son Bin frowned and asked again, but the Water Demon God did not answer. Son Bin asked again.

“Where is the Heavenly Demon?”

Once again, the Water Demon God laughed.

“You will know if you kill me.”

Son Bin sighed softly. At this rate, the conversation was meaningless. But either way, the conversation could no longer continue.

Ssk.

The Water Demon God slowly spread his arms. At the same time, an unprecedented energy began to surge from the Water Demon God.

The energy he had felt from the demon of the previous chapter was now spreading throughout the Water Demon God’s body, slowly engulfing him.

‘That’s!’

Son Bin frowned. It was the darkness of the abyss, the very evil that resided in that deep place.

“How long I have waited for this moment.”

The Water Demon God’s voice seemed to echo from deep underground. Along with it, an eerie wind-like sound began to leak out from somewhere.

Sarak, sarak.

The Water Demon God’s gray skin began to turn black. The crimson lines that had coursed through his body turned as red as blood for a moment, but soon even that was swallowed by the pitch-black darkness.

―You will not know.

The Water Demon God said from within the darkness. A sound like a beast growling echoed from within the darkness.

The overwhelming muscles that had seemed like absolute armor, the golden hair that had risen like a lion’s mane, could no longer be recognized. It was just flickering black like an eerie energy.

―You, our Raja.

Keureureureu.

What was there was no longer the Water Demon God. Already no longer in human form, a massive dark demon was shining its white eyes at Son Bin.

With that ferocious appearance, it was emitting raw, unadulterated evil.

Kuaaaaang.

The demon roared. At that sound, everyone froze for a moment. Even Noh Gun was no exception, and he had to quickly gather his inner energy to shake off the power.

“Euh, euheoeoeo.”

Hwang Bang-ju stammered with a horrified expression. Even the elite soldiers with bows and General Vikram Singh’s complexion turned blue.

“Tsk.”

Noh Gun clicked his tongue and quickly placed his hand on Hwang Bang-ju. Even as he channeled his inner energy to help Hwang Bang-ju, Noh Gun’s gaze did not leave Son Bin.

‘Bin-ah.’

Clenching his teeth, Noh Gun considered the worst-case scenario. How he would act in such a situation had already been decided.

Ssk.

Despite the demon’s roar, Son Bin did not waver. Son Bin straightened his posture and slowly raised Baekro.

Keureureureureu.

Hook.

In an instant, the dark demon lunged towards Son Bin without any sign. From the massive demon opening its jaws and charging towards Son Bin, however, no momentum or murderous intent was felt.

Only endless evil was opening its mouth towards Son Bin.

Kuaaaaaaa.

A chilling, ghostly wail echoed in Son Bin’s head. At that moment, which even a master of the outer sect would be forced to flinch, Son Bin did not retreat.

Rather, taking a step forward, Son Bin drew Baekro down as it was.

Towards that massive demon, and that terrible evil.

Shwik.

A golden trajectory split the darkness. There was nothing that could escape that sword path. Not even the darkness of the abyss, or terrible evil, or even a massive demon.

But at that moment when Baekro’s blade split the demon, Son Bin encountered something he had never expected.

‘This is!’

Sarak.

The moment the dense evil of the abyss was split in half by Baekro, something gently caressed Son Bin’s cheek.

It was a soft and warm, a gentle breeze.

(Author’s words)

I want to make a joke, but the atmosphere is serious, so I won’t. (Solemn, serious, stern)