A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 402

402. Sword Demon God

The figure that appeared in the middle of the reception room was bizarre. Covered from head to toe in old, black cloth, like a prisoner’s uniform from a bygone era, it was torn and tattered, with remnants of iron chains still attached to both wrists. Fragments of what looked like armor were scattered here and there. But the strangeness didn’t end there.

*Swish.*

Behind him, something like a crimson iron chain writhed. Adorned with sharp, black blades, it twitched menacingly, like a scorpion’s tail.

—Hoo, hoo.

Rough breaths escaped from within the black shroud. Bloodshot eyes and a curved sword in each hand completed the image. He looked more like a specter risen from an ancient tomb than a god. Yet, everyone’s expression as they looked at the specter was extremely grave, because the energy emanating from him, the Sword Demon God, was making everyone’s skin crawl.

*Clang.*

Son Bin’s White Dew [a sword] slowly revealed itself. The Sword Demon God’s bloodshot eyes darted around, focusing on the blade of White Dew. The Sword Demon God, standing in the center of the reception room, was surrounded by Son Bin and his party, but his red eyes were fixed solely on Son Bin’s sword, White Dew.

“Not everyone rejoiced in the existence of ‘Raja’ [king or ruler],”

Empress Sarasvati’s clear voice rang out. She sat on her chair, a gentle smile on her face, and said,

“For example, the Sword Demon God standing before ‘Raja’ now…”

*Crack.* In that instant, the marble beneath the Sword Demon God’s feet shattered with a sound. And the Sword Demon God lunged towards Son Bin.

“…hates it very much.”

The Empress’s explanation was unnecessary. The Sword Demon God’s red eyes, fixed on Son Bin, were already gleaming with clear hostility and murderous intent.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Sa Su-yeon’s sharp voice burst out. Already on guard, Sa Su-yeon immediately leaped forward. Her Myeong [a sword], clad in blue sword energy, chased after the Sword Demon God, and at the same time, iron pellets were fired from Dang Wol-ah’s white fingertips.

*Pee-peeing.*

*Swish.*

The moment the iron pellets were about to strike the Sword Demon God’s back, the crimson iron chain slashed through the air with a sharp sound.

*Clang.*

Blue sparks flew as the iron pellets were deflected. The iron chain, which had neutralized Dang Wol-ah’s iron pellets in one swift move, lunged sharply like a spear towards Sa Su-yeon, who was in pursuit.

*Whoosh.*

“Haa!”

Sa Su-yeon swung her sword, Myeong, imbued with inner energy, with great force. But just as her Myeong struck the Sword Demon God’s iron chain, the end of the chain flickered slightly in the air. *Swish.* Like a living snake, the chain wrapped around Myeong’s blade and lunged towards Sa Su-yeon in an instant. At this rate, she would have to surrender the hand holding the sword to the sharp tip. But Sa Su-yeon neither released her sword nor retreated.

“Storm Flower Snow!”

The moment the sharp voice burst from Sa Su-yeon’s mouth, her sword Myeong emitted light.

*Thwack.*

The Sword Demon God’s iron chain was swallowed by the light. And the Sword Demon God, who had been lunging only towards Son Bin, had no choice but to turn his body. The storm of ice blades erupting from Sa Su-yeon’s sword was trying to engulf not only the iron chain but the Sword Demon God himself.

*Shhh.*

The light emanating from the Sword Demon God’s curved blade flashed towards the ice storm. And the next moment, an explosion erupted.

*Kaboom.*

With a loud noise, the shockwave shook the detached palace. Unable to withstand the impact, the detached palace trembled, and decorations fell and shattered from various places.

“Ugh.”

Hwang Bang-ju covered his head and bowed. Crouching behind No-gun, Hwang Bang-ju barely raised his head after the shaking stopped. And he saw a scene he couldn’t possibly believe. Centered on the Sword Demon God, who seemed to have his arms outstretched, Son Bin’s White Dew, the Sword Demon God’s sword, and Sa Su-yeon’s Myeong were stopped, their tips precisely facing each other.

“…That bastard.”

No-gun let out a low groan.

“He’s an outsider.”

That didn’t mean he was a figure from the Central Plains’ outer history, but that his martial prowess was comparable to that of an expert from beyond their borders. Just now, the Sword Demon God had faced Sa Su-yeon’s Storm Flower Snow with two swords. That wasn’t because he was foolish, but because the power contained in his sword was enough to withstand Storm Flower Snow.

The clash of tremendous power and power. That clash brought tremendous shock and aftereffects.

While the shock swept through the surroundings, Sa Su-yeon was already unleashing Myeong towards the Sword Demon God, aiming for the fleeting moment of vulnerability that would inevitably come to the Sword Demon God who had received the Storm Flower Snow.

However, the Sword Demon God was beyond Sa Su-yeon’s expectations. It was the Sword Demon God who was preparing a surprise attack. As if he knew Sa Su-yeon would do so, the Sword Demon God’s two blades swirled towards Sa Su-yeon. If Son Bin hadn’t extended White Dew at that moment, Sa Su-yeon probably wouldn’t have escaped unscathed. That was the result of the current situation. It was as if the Sword Demon God had stopped the two people’s swords, and that was how the scene was established.

“To make the Sword Demon God turn away, that’s quite an impressive technique. Little lady from the Northern Sea.”

Empress Sarasvati’s quiet voice echoed.

“But this is our fight. So, wouldn’t you concede a little? Or…”

*Gritting.*

A chilling sound leaked from the Empress’s endlessly elegant red lips. The Empress looked at Sa Su-yeon with a cold gaze and said,

“I don’t know what I’ll do when I’m angry.”

Sa Su-yeon was not afraid of that blatant threat that made even Hwang Bang-ju, who was hiding and watching, feel a chill down his spine.

‘But.’

Sa Su-yeon bit her lip. Still, one thing was clear. If even the Empress stepped in at this situation, the situation would become even more unfavorable. Above all, this was Son Bin’s fight. His fight that he had to do, that only he could do.

*Swish.*

The Sword Demon God’s stopped iron chain made a sound like a rattlesnake, and the Sword Demon God’s red eyes darted around. As if that was a signal, the three people’s swords diverged. At the same time, Sa Su-yeon’s body rotated like a top and retreated.

*Clang.*

Sparks flew in the air. The Sword Demon God’s iron chain relentlessly aimed for Sa Su-yeon like a snake, but Sa Su-yeon’s Myeong, clad in blue sword energy, was perfectly repelling its venomous fangs.

*Thud.*

Sa Su-yeon, who had escaped from the Sword Demon God, landed next to Dang Wol-ah. And she saw that the Sword Demon God was still confronting Son Bin.

“You weren’t a fool.”

The Empress said in a voice that seemed to be praising.

“There are so many in the world. Those who don’t even know that they’ve driven their loved ones to death.”

Sa Su-yeon felt a chill. For a moment, the Empress’s voice sounded like the previous Jade Dragon [referring to a past event].

“Now, then.”

*Swish.*

The Empress reached out and picked up the white teacup on the table.

“It’s time to come to a conclusion.”

The Empress said with an extremely gentle smile.

“A conclusion that I’ve been waiting for a very, very long time.”

*Rustle.*

The teacup slipped from the Empress’s fingertips. The pure white teacup, which crossed the air like falling petals, eventually collided with the marble floor and shattered.

*Kaboom.*

A huge explosion swallowed the sound of the teacup breaking. And the Sword Demon God’s two swords erupted towards Son Bin like a storm. *Oong.* White Dew cried out, and clear energy covered the blade.

*Cling.*

The moment the tranquil White Dew and the Sword Demon God’s storm-like sword met as if promised, all of the Sword Demon God’s senses were distorted and the world turned upside down. It was at that moment that blue flame-like energy arose from the Sword Demon God.

*Whoosh.*

In an instant, all power disappeared. The domineering momentum that had been lunging towards Son Bin, and the energy that had been twisted by the Tao of Tai Chi [a Chinese philosophical concept]. Everything disappeared as if it were a blank sheet of paper.

*Shriek.*

There was no time to be surprised. The Sword Demon God’s two swords, stopped in mid-air, immediately lunged towards Son Bin. In front of the two blades that had already pierced his chest, Son Bin knew what he had to do.

*Swish.*

Son Bin’s empty left hand reached for the Sword Demon God’s sword. And a sharp sound followed.

*Clang.*

The two curved swords and the sharp tip of the chain at the end of the chain flew into the air. What had pushed back those eerie things, each of which was fatal, was none other than Son Bin’s finger.

*Oong.*

Son Bin’s index and middle fingers, raised like a sword. At the end of it, the energy of the Great Profound Heavenly River Sword Technique was shining like starlight.

“Heo.”

Even No-gun let out a sigh of admiration.

“When did that bastard learn that… No, isn’t it? That’s definitely…”

No-gun, tilting his head, looked at Dang Wol-ah. And he saw that Dang Wol-ah’s eyes were filled with tears. The very hand that had pulled him out of his cursed fate was now appearing before his eyes.

“Wow. It’s that thing from back then.”

Seo-rin said in a happy voice. It was that hand that had grabbed Seo-rin, who was becoming a beast while embracing sadness. Of course, the energy contained in that fingertip was beyond comparison to what it had been back then.

*Thud.*

The Sword Demon God, who had retreated, landed on the ground. The red eyes visible through the gaps in his lowered, old robe were clearly shaking.

—Hoo.

Rough breaths escaped from the Sword Demon God’s mouth.

“It’s amazing.”

Son Bin said, raising White Dew. No-gun smiled bitterly, wondering who was surprising whom, but there was no need to say it.

“What is that just now?”

Son Bin asked with a serious look.

“How did you do it?”

The Empress said in a low voice.

“The Sword Demon God cannot speak.”

“No, I should say he abandoned it.”

Son Bin looked at the red eyes visible through the torn robe.

“To fulfill his duty, he abandoned everything. Speech, face, and even reason. Now, his duty has become something no one wants.”

Her voice was filled with deep loneliness.

“So.”

—Hoo.

With the Sword Demon God’s breath, the Empress said in a pitiful voice.

“Please do your best? Our ‘Raja’.”

Son Bin gritted his teeth. Was it because she was a demon that his heart was so shaken by just a few words? Or was it because the existence of the Sword Demon God, who had abandoned everything, the red eyes visible through the prisoner’s clothes, looked so uneasy? Or was it because Son Bin himself was called ‘Raja’, and so he unknowingly recalled the memories of the Water Demon God? The answer was unknown. And what Son Bin had to do now was not to find that answer.

*Clang.*

Son Bin slowly lowered White Dew. When White Dew’s beautiful blade was facing down, No-gun, Seo-rin, Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and Geom-hee realized what Son Bin was about to do. But there was also something they didn’t know. Even Son Bin himself didn’t realize it, but Empress Sarasvati and the Sword Demon God saw it clearly. It was the blue flame-like energy that was blooming from Son Bin’s entire body.

“This is.”

Son Bin said, looking straight at the Sword Demon God’s red eyes.

“Crescent Moon Eclipse.”

*Oooong.*

White Dew’s beautiful blade slowly began to draw a circle. The Sword Demon God instinctively recognized the danger. No, he couldn’t not know. Moonlight was leaking out from where Son Bin’s sword had passed, as if space had been cut away.

—Hoo.

Black mist exploded and instantly covered the Sword Demon God. The two swords and the chain that wriggled like a scorpion’s tail disappeared. Wrapped in the darkness of the abyss, with only red eyes flickering, he looked like a specter that had sprung from hell.

—Kuaaaaa.

The specter howled as if in despair. Like an inescapable death, the Sword Demon God, covered in darkness, lunged towards Son Bin. But just before that eerie touch of darkness reached Son Bin, White Dew completed the circle.

*Flash.*

Blinding moonlight covered the detached palace and poured down. Hwang Bang-ju cautiously opened his eyes. In fact, he didn’t know what had happened. He had already tightly closed his eyes from the moment Son Bin’s sword was drawing a circle and the Sword Demon God was screaming. But the result before his eyes was clear. The terrifying Sword Demon God was collapsed, as if collapsing, a little away from the Empress. The two swords were lying haphazardly on the floor, and the crimson iron chain that had been undulating like a snake had also lost its power.

*Clang.*

Son Bin slowly sheathed White Dew. After taking a low breath, Son Bin raised his head. The Sword Demon God was not moving at all. But Son Bin could tell that he was still alive.

*Step, step.*

Slowly, Son Bin walked towards the Sword Demon God. His red eyes were facing Son Bin, and the crimson iron chain that had been lying limply on the floor trembled.

*Swish.*

Son Bin knelt on one knee. And he looked at the Sword Demon God’s red eyes.

“You have fulfilled your duty.”

His voice was trembling faintly. The sight he had seen was still vivid in his eyes. Endless days of self-reproach, and sadness that had been worn away to the point of not even feeling pain, cut through Son Bin’s heart like a blade.

“So now…”

Son Bin said, looking down at the still anxiously shaking red eyes.

“Return to the embrace of your friends.”

The red eyes stopped trembling. The eyes that had been quietly looking up at Son Bin shone brightly for a moment. But it didn’t last long. The Sword Demon God’s red eyes gradually lost their light and went out.

*Rustle.*

The fallen Sword Demon God’s body burned red. Just like with the Water Demon God, the Sword Demon God’s body was turning white.

*Swish.*

Son Bin reached out his hand. The Sword Demon God didn’t even have eyelids anymore, so all Son Bin could do was cover the gaps in his robe.

*Crumble.*

But he couldn’t even do that properly. Son Bin had to grit his teeth in front of the Sword Demon God, who had crumbled into white ashes in an instant.

*Flash.*

The next moment, blue flame-like energy erupted from the Sword Demon God’s remains. It soon became a storm of blue flames and lunged towards Son Bin.

*Thwack.*

“Hyung! [older brother]”

“Young Master Son!”

“It’s okay.”

No-gun reached out his hand and stopped Seo-rin, Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and Geom-hee. Son Bin, engulfed in blue flames, didn’t move at all. He was just silently looking at the Sword Demon God’s remains, which were scattering as ashes.

‘This is that…’

Sa Su-yeon bit her lip as she watched the blue flame-like energy pouring towards Son Bin. That strange phenomenon that she had only heard about was now happening before Sa Su-yeon’s eyes. But Sa Su-yeon couldn’t say anything. She could only quietly watch Son Bin’s appearance, which had such sad eyes that even Sa Su-yeon’s heart ached.

*Whoooo.*

The energy pouring out of the Sword Demon God’s remains soon subsided. Now, only small, sparkling flames were circling around Son Bin.

*Clang.*

Son Bin got up from his seat. Son Bin, who had been staring blankly at the place where the Sword Demon God’s remains had been, slowly raised his head. And he saw a completely unexpected sight. Empress Sarasvati, standing quietly in front of the table and looking at Son Bin, had tears streaming down her cheeks.

(Author’s words)

I don’t know what to say when a woman is crying, so I’ll take a break from the author’s words.