A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 396

396. The Guide

Sasuyeon and Dang Wora’s armored war elephants were trampling the monsters with tremendous power and stamina.

Boo-ooo-ooo.

Thump, thump, thump.

The armored war elephants were truly powerful. Moreover, Sasuyeon and Dang Wora were skillfully keeping the approaching monsters in check, ensuring the war elephants’ protection.

However, the monsters that filled the Northwest Great Plains relentlessly charged forward. Amidst the endless bloody battle, Sasuyeon suddenly realized that something was amiss.

“Wora.”

Sasuyeon said quietly. Dang Wora, who was driving the war elephant, also noticed it. No, she couldn’t have missed it.

The monsters and demonic beasts had all stopped simultaneously. Those that had been relentlessly attacking had suddenly ceased their movements, staring at only one place.

Grrrr.

The White Demon God’s demonic beast with white fur did the same. The white demonic beast, which had been persistently targeting the war elephant, raised its head and stared at the Yeongchae fortress.

The other demonic beasts with black and red fur also stood still, their eyes fixed on the Yeongchae as if rooted to the spot.

“Could it be…”

From that sight, Sasuyeon could only think of one thing. And Dang Wora felt the same.

“Yes.”

Dang Wora said softly in a trembling voice.

“Young Master Son has defeated the Water Demon God.”

Her small voice cut through the night air clearly.

Because the Northwest Great Plains, once filled with blood and screams, was now submerged in heavy silence.

***

Before Son Bin’s eyes unfolded a vast prairie.

A blue land stretching out like waves, the grass covering the prairie, beautiful wildflowers of all shapes, and various beasts running in herds.

Swish.

A gentle breeze brushed Son Bin’s cheek. The wind, having traveled across the land, carried the scent of sunlight and playfully ruffled Son Bin’s hair.

Son Bin couldn’t tell where this was. It wasn’t the highlands of Seojang, nor the great plains of Cheonchuk. No, Son Bin wasn’t even sure if this place existed in this world.

But one thing was clear.

That was the overwhelming pride he felt for this land, and a longing that felt like tearing his heart out.

‘Ah.’

Son Bin closed his eyes gently.

And when he opened them again, the sight of the blue prairie was no longer visible. Only the massive Water Demon God was slumped against the cold fortress wall.

Tap, tap.

The sound of torches burning could be heard. A strange silence had settled not only inside the fortress but also outside.

Swish.

Son Bin looked down at the Bailu in his hand. The blade of the Bailu, which had been shimmering with light, now simply sparkled beautifully under the moonlight.

Rustle.

After sheathing the Bailu, Son Bin looked at the Water Demon God. The Water Demon God’s gray skin, which had seemed like absolute armor, was now merely pale, and the dark red lines that had run all over his body no longer emitted light.

Thud, thud.

Son Bin approached the Water Demon God. Even sitting against the fortress wall, the Water Demon God’s eye level was similar to Son Bin’s height. And Son Bin could see that the Water Demon God’s white eyes had not yet lost their light.

“You are…”

Son Bin stopped speaking because the heartbreaking longing from before had welled up again.

After a moment of silence, Son Bin said quietly.

“Who are you?”

“The one who can say who I am…”

The Water Demon God paused for a moment. Even in his voice, there was no longer the same vigor as before.

“Is you, Raja [king or ruler].”

“I am not Raja.”

Son Bin sighed softly and shook his head.

“I am just a scholar and one who seeks the path of the sword. But why show me this…”

Son Bin bit his lip slightly.

“To me?”

Was it Son Bin’s imagination that the Water Demon God’s gaze towards him was gentle at that moment?

“Because you are the one who possesses the qualification.”

“What is that qualification?”

The Water Demon God did not answer. Instead, the Water Demon God turned his head and looked at the fortress wall he was leaning against. Or, more precisely, at the old boxes piled up at the bottom of the fortress wall.

“These things are for me… No, that couldn’t be.”

The Water Demon God knew what was inside those old boxes, that unique smell.

“Is this gunpowder to catch the monsters?”

“Yes.”

Son Bin did not deny it.

Once the Water Demon God was defeated, the monsters and demonic beasts would rush to the Yeongchae [fortified encampment]. Therefore, once the battle between the Water Demon God and Son Bin was over, the soldiers and everyone else would immediately retreat.

The war elephants and armored cavalry would also retreat, and the wooden fences that had been blocking the monsters would be dropped outside the fortress wall to serve as a stepping stone for the monsters to enter.

Thus, when the empty Yeongchae was filled with the rushing monsters and demonic beasts, these gunpowder charges installed inside the fortress wall would explode all at once along with the monsters.

This Yeongchae was, therefore, a trap from beginning to end.

“There’s no need for that. Now that I’ve become like this…”

The Water Demon God raised his hand.

Crackle.

The Water Demon God’s large hand was crumbling. As if charcoal was burning and turning into white ash, his fingertips glowed red and collapsed.

“Now those things will also retreat.”

That wasn’t very good news. The monsters and demonic beasts retreating was fortunate for this territory right now, but it meant that it could eventually become a problem again someday.

But Son Bin didn’t care.

“Raja.”

Son Bin raised his eyes. The Water Demon God’s white eyes were looking at Son Bin.

“Will you return me to my land, the place where I was born?”

Son Bin’s expression hardened. It wasn’t because he didn’t understand the Water Demon God’s words, nor because he didn’t want to do so.

“I don’t have that ability.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

The Water Demon God said quietly.

“All I want is just one word from you. That is enough for me.”

The Water Demon God spoke with eyes that contained no emotion or vigor. And Son Bin, meeting those eyes, had to bite his lip without realizing it.

It was a truly strange feeling.

The opponent was the Water Demon God. A stranger to Son Bin, with whom he had no connection, but rather an enemy.

But why did it feel like he was sending a loyal old servant whom he had served for a long time back to his hometown? Why did his long years and heartbreaking longing feel so vivid?

Why was something hot welling up from within his heart that he couldn’t even understand?

“I.”

Suppressing the something that was surging from within his heart, Son Bin said quietly.

“I hope that you return to your land and rest in peace.”

The Water Demon God smiled. Or perhaps that was just Son Bin’s feeling.

But the Water Demon God’s white eyes were clearly emitting a soft light.

“Thank you. Raja.”

Crumble, crumble.

Even during that time, the Water Demon God’s body was slowly but steadily crumbling. But there was no impatience or distress in the Water Demon God’s eyes.

“Soon you will.”

The Water Demon God said in a voice that sounded somehow desolate.

“Be able to realize the meaning of what I said. And the things you wanted to know.”

The Water Demon God’s voice was gradually fading. That was probably related to the fact that his body was turning white while emitting a red light.

“But also more questions and confusion will come to you.”

Son Bin listened silently to those words.

“Raja.”

The Water Demon God said.

“Go to the heart of the empire. The guide will be waiting for you there.”

His last words were now almost inaudible. But Son Bin could clearly be sure that he was smiling.

“It’s a pity.”

The Water Demon God suddenly smiled.

“I wish you were…”

But the Water Demon God’s voice could not be heard. Because his body could no longer maintain its shape.

Whoosh.

The Water Demon God’s entire body emitted a faint light and soon turned white. His white eyes were looking at Son Bin until the very end, but even that soon lost its light.

Son Bin did not turn away until the end. And when the Water Demon God’s form finally lost its last breath, Son Bin gently reached out and covered the Water Demon God’s eyes.

Crumble.

Despite the light touch, the Water Demon God’s remains shattered and turned into white ash.

Son Bin bit his lip. It was at that very moment.

Whoosh.

An energy like a flame exploded from the Water Demon God’s remains. And it soon became a storm of blue flames, rushing towards Son Bin.

Kwaaa kwa kwa kwak.

“Bin!”

Nogun, who had been watching, rushed forward like an arrow. But in the time it took him to jump off the fortress wall, the blue flames had already swallowed Son Bin.

“Haa!”

Woo-oong.

Nogun did not hesitate. He drew out the Soryeong [his sword] and immediately drew upon his full power. And he struck down with all his might towards the storm-like flow of flames that continued from the Water Demon God’s remains towards Son Bin.

No, he was about to strike down.

“Elder!”

That clear voice was Son Bin’s. And Nogun discovered Son Bin’s figure, looking at him and reaching out his hand.

Son Bin, still engulfed in blue flames, looked surprisingly unharmed.

Whir, whoosh.

Nogun’s body rotated in the air in an instant, and the sword energy of the Soryeong split the night sky.

Clack.

Nogun, who had scattered that tremendous inner force into the air at once, landed lightly right next to Son Bin.

“W-what is this?”

Nogun asked, holding the Soryeong. Son Bin, engulfed in blue flames, gestured as if to ask him to wait for a moment instead of answering.

‘Hmm.’

Nogun frowned and glared at the blue flames. It was neither flame nor inner force. It was certainly not a hallucination.

It was an energy that Nogun could not understand at all, but it was clearly real in front of him, pouring into Son Bin from the Water Demon God’s remains.

Whoo-oo-oo.

The energy pouring out of the Water Demon God’s remains soon subsided.

The energy that had been like blue flames, swallowing Son Bin, was now just a small, sparkling light hovering around Son Bin.

“What the hell is this…”

Nogun groaned.

Son Bin gently raised his hand. A small, blue spark was slowly landing on his palm.

As if being careful not to escape, Son Bin lightly grasped the spark.

Rustle.

He didn’t feel any heat. Because this wasn’t a flame in the first place.

“Are you okay?”

Nogun asked. Son Bin nodded.

“Yes. And…”

Son Bin raised his head and looked at the fortress wall, or rather, somewhere beyond the fortress wall. Nogun quickly realized that the direction was west.

“Could it be… do you know?”

Nogun, who would not be unaware of the meaning, asked Son Bin. Son Bin turned his head and looked at Nogun. And he gave a bitter smile.

“I can’t say anything other than west.”

It was blurry. Like a shadow in the fog.

“Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue, Nogun looked at the Water Demon God’s remains. Already, there was not even a trace of the remains left. Only the white powder scattering in the air told him that the Water Demon God had been there.

“What was that just now? I suspect it, but could it be something like the Water Demon God’s inner force?”

Nogun’s expression was serious.

He already knew that the energy like blue flames just now was not inner force. But if it was the Water Demon God’s inner force, even if only by chance, it would be poison to Son Bin.

Because what was supporting Son Bin’s life now was only the clear energy of the Hyeoncheon Daeganggyeol [a martial arts technique].

“No.”

Fortunately, Son Bin shook his head. Nogun was relieved inwardly, but his frowning face did not ease.

“Then what the hell is it?”

“Well. This is…”

Son Bin looked down at his hand.

The blue flames from before were already gone without a trace. But Son Bin could clearly know that the energy had not disappeared.

It already belonged to Son Bin himself. And that energy was letting him know where the Gate of Naraka [hell] opened by the Cheonma [sky demon] was.

‘Is this the meaning of what the Water Demon God said?’

The Water Demon God said, ‘If you kill me, you will know.’ In fact, Son Bin was now able to feel the Gate of Naraka opened by the Cheonma.

But what is this energy, what is this phenomenon?

“…I don’t know either.”

Nogun clicked his tongue at Son Bin’s words. Still, that would be the most honest answer. Therefore, the Water Demon God’s words that ‘more questions and confusion will come’ were true.

Suddenly, Son Bin had the thought that the reason why the Water Demon God called him ‘Raja’ might also be related to this phenomenon.

“Maybe this is…”

Kuo-ooo-ooo.

Son Bin’s words could not continue. The sound of monsters and demonic beasts wailing came from outside the fortress wall.

“What, suddenly? Didn’t you say they would retreat?”

Frowning, Nogun held Son Bin in one arm. And he immediately flew up to the top of the fortress wall.

Whoosh.

Son Bin obediently entrusted his body to Nogun’s movements. And he looked at the place where the Water Demon God had fallen.

The Water Demon God’s existence was no longer there. All that remained was his severed axe-spear. The white powder that had been drifting in the wind soon disappeared into the wind.

Clack, clack.

Nogun quickly climbed onto the fortress wall. And he saw countless monsters and demonic beasts raising their heads and crying.

Au-ooo-ooo-ooo.

The Northwest Great Plains was filled with the eerie cries of monsters. That low and gloomy sound, Son Bin suddenly thought, was like a requiem for the Water Demon God.

Woo-woo-woo.

But other people had no time to feel such emotions. General Vikram Singh and the soldiers watched the changes in the monsters with tension.

After a while, the cries subsided and the monsters slowly began to move. They began to retreat, just as the Water Demon God had said.

“The monsters are retreating!”

At the adjutant’s words, General Vikram Singh nodded.

No more hostility or madness was felt from the monsters. As if the fierce battle that had filled the Great Plains until just now was a lie.

“Do not pursue! Have the armored cavalry and war elephants maintain a state of alert!”

Following the general’s orders, the adjutant soon sent a signal with a torch. The monsters were slowly but steadily disappearing like the ebb tide.

“Why aren’t those guys leaving?”

At Nogun’s words, Son Bin turned his head. And he saw the three demonic beasts looking at this place.

“M-maybe they’re trying to attack? Something like revenge for their master.”

Hwang Bangju said with a frightened expression.

It was no wonder that he was afraid. Those large demonic beasts had knocked down even the war elephants in an instant, and they even shot fireballs from their mouths.

But what Hwang Bangju feared did not happen.

Swish.

The three demonic beasts, black, red, and white, lowered their heads. Son Bin thought that their appearance was like paying their last respects to the Water Demon God.

Whoosh.

The three demonic beasts soon turned around and disappeared along with the monsters.

In that way, the monsters that had filled the Northwest Great Plains retreated. All that remained were the countless corpses of the monsters and the trampled remains.

“It’s over.”

Nogun said as if throwing it out. But Hwang Bangju still seemed unable to believe it.

“Really? Maybe they’ll come back again…”

“They won’t come. At least for a while.”

Nogun said with a somehow displeased expression.

“It’s over now.”

It was as he said. The threat of the monsters that had filled the Northwest Great Plains had disappeared. And the Yeongji army had defended this Yeongchae against those countless monsters and demonic beasts.

With a result that could only be described as a miracle, with almost no sacrifices.

But there was no one cheering. There was no one elated with joy.

General Vikram Singh was also looking at the Northwest Great Plains where the monsters had retreated with a hardened expression.

The remains of the monsters left on the Northwest Great Plains were eerily revealed under the moonlight, like a sign of a bleak future.

(Author’s words)

The atmosphere continues to be serious. Hmm.