The Downfall of the Golden Lion
Cha Seung-hyun and Ban Da-hee had been comrades for three years. Now, one of their own had been murdered. The bond between Yoo Hyun-ah, Cha Seung-hyun, and Ban Da-hee was well-known even in their first year. Despite their efforts to remain calm, witnessing a colleague’s murder right before their eyes was too much. Cha Seung-hyun, known for his protective nature, wasn’t one to stand idly by.
The rest of us, members of the clan, halted our steps at the entrance and turned to look at Cha Seung-hyun. Behind him, Yoo Hyun-ah stood, staring blankly at Ban Da-hee’s lifeless body. Her mouth opened and closed silently, a sign of the shock she was in. I felt a strange sensation myself. Ban Da-hee hadn’t yet reached her full potential, but considering her prowess on the battlefield, it was hard to believe she had been killed so easily.
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Something long and slender was pointed at me. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up to see a short spear in Cha Seung-hyun’s right hand. It was an ordinary spear, short and sharp, nothing unusual about it. Yet, the cold aura emanating from its tip was impossible to ignore. As expected from someone destined to be a legendary warrior, he was already showing the potential to take on a hundred foes single-handedly.
“Do you understand the implications of your actions?” I asked.
“Shut your mouth,” he replied curtly.
“Put the spear down. I don’t want this to escalate further.”
“Escalate? You caused this, and now you want to back down? Stop with the hypocrisy.”
Cha Seung-hyun’s voice was low, but his words were laced with a palpable menace that pierced our ears. I considered dropping the formalities, but decided against it. Even the smallest semblance of propriety could be advantageous. So, I spoke calmly.
“Have you forgotten who started this? Hypocrisy? Don’t make me laugh.”
“So you’re saying Da-hee was entirely at fault? That she deserved to die?”
“Let’s not twist words. It was a situation where mutual killing was inevitable. If you want to pinpoint a direct cause, it was her actions.”
“Even if Da-hee attacked first, there’s a basic human decency. You killed my sister just because she was a nuisance, and you expect us to just accept that? A little compromise from both sides could have resolved this!”
Basic human decency, he said. To me, it sounded like nonsense. The difference between them in their first year and now was stark. They were still more human than users.
“Couldn’t you have held back a little? You were in a position to compromise! I thought, for a moment, that you weren’t completely unreasonable.”
The problem with Yoo Hyun-ah’s group was their lack of strategic thinking. In a situation like this, they should have maneuvered to their advantage, but they let emotions take over. It was a wonder they had survived three years under Yoo Hyun-ah’s leadership.
I tilted my head slightly and spoke.
“Didn’t I compromise?”
”…”
Cha Seung-hyun hesitated, unable to respond immediately. His face flushed with frustration. Sensing an opportunity, I pressed on.
“I didn’t ask for you to kneel or anything else. I just wanted a sincere word. What did she say?”
“Ugh…”
“I gave her a chance. She threw it away.”
“But still!”
For the first time, Cha Seung-hyun raised his voice. It wasn’t just loud; it was a resonant shout that finally drew Yoo Hyun-ah’s attention away from the corpse. Yet, her eyes remained vacant, still trapped in shock.
“But still? So your idea of compromise was our unconditional surrender? Your so-called representative clan threatened the lives of newcomers, provoked the top ten, and even attacked us. And after all that, you spat in my face and swore to kill us. Considering all this, were we supposed to back down?”
“We tried to stop Da-hee too.”
“I also tried to stop Go Yeon-joo. Or rather, control her. So you’re admitting you couldn’t control your own clan member.”
”…”
I could feel the tide turning. Technically, we could have resolved this without bloodshed, but as Cha Seung-hyun said, it was a matter of principle. If we dissected it, the justification was on our side. His chest must be tight with frustration, unable to properly voice his anger after losing a cherished comrade.
I heard the grinding of teeth. His eyes were narrowed in fury, his once gentle demeanor twisted with rage. Yet, he managed to take a deep breath and spoke in a strained voice.
“Don’t exaggerate. Yes, we threatened them, but Da-hee… she didn’t intend to kill.”
That was the best he could muster. I let out a derisive laugh. Seeing my reaction, his barely contained composure crumbled. I glanced over to see Go Yeon-joo yawning, feigning boredom. She was playing her part well, and today, she seemed more beautiful than ever.
“She didn’t intend to kill? Then what about provoking the Shadow Queen and attacking? Was that not with intent to kill?”
”…”
He didn’t answer, but I could see his grip on the spear tighten, the tip trembling slightly.
“Your nonsense is impressive.”
“Nonsense?”
“Let me explain why it’s nonsense. We didn’t intend to kill Ban Da-hee either.”
I paused, and Go Yeon-joo nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I didn’t intend to kill that boar of a woman. Sure, I stabbed her in the neck, but it wasn’t to kill. Just to threaten.”
“Ugh!”
Go Yeon-joo’s voice was smooth. I wanted to say, “This is why your words are nonsense,” but I had to draw my sword quickly. The conversation must have been the final straw. As soon as Go Yeon-joo finished speaking, Cha Seung-hyun roared and lunged with his spear. Before the tip could reach me, my sword flashed out, a silvery blade flowing like water.
Clang!
I blocked the spear with the back of my sword. The impact sent a jolt through my hand. His spear was imbued with a blue aura of magic.
“What are you doing?”
“Shut up! What do you know? You killed Da-hee, and now you talk, talk…!”
Everything he had been suppressing exploded at once. Compared to his proud and dignified self in the first year, there was a disconnect. But I understood. Back then, he had a solid foundation and was among the top ten. While a third-year wasn’t a novice, he was less mature physically and mentally than before. Especially under Yoo Hyun-ah’s leadership. I wasn’t in a position to judge. I had lost my brother and Han So-young, and I had been just as lost for months.
“Hah!”
His rage consumed him, and he swung his spear horizontally, magic rippling from its tip. I deliberately deflected the attack, confident in my backup.
“Shield of Reflect!”
Jung Ha-yeon’s spell burst forth, answering my trust. I didn’t know the details, but she had prepared in her own way. I worried she might use an attack spell, but thankfully, she cast a defensive one. When this incident was scrutinized later, the fact that we defended rather than attacked would be crucial.
A golden shield enveloped the clan members, and Cha Seung-hyun’s magic was deflected. Watching the energy rebound, I leaped forward. His attack gave me the justification to strike back.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sudden clash of metal snapped Yoo Hyun-ah back to reality. She turned to see Kim Soo-hyun and Cha Seung-hyun locked in combat. She couldn’t comprehend what was happening. She tried to speak, but only a hoarse whisper escaped. Her throat felt parched.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
A small shard of a spear flew past, grazing Yoo Hyun-ah’s face. Instinctively, she turned her head, catching sight of the cleanly severed edge lying on the ground. As the dry wind filled her mouth, she felt her throat tighten. She quickly swallowed and exhaled a shaky breath.
“Haa… Haa…”
Cha Seung-hyun was drenched in sweat, having been locked in battle for who knows how long. He was desperately swinging the broken spear, magical energy swirling from its tip as he launched a dazzling array of attacks. Yet, astonishingly, every strike was effortlessly deflected.
Kim Soo-hyun, the user from the Mercenary Clan, countered each of Cha Seung-hyun’s frantic assaults with a single swing of his sword. Though her vision was slightly blurred, Yoo Hyun-ah could tell at a glance that Cha Seung-hyun was at a disadvantage.
‘No, not Seung-hyun, not him.’
Her mind was blank, consumed only by the thought that she had to stop this fight. A foreboding sense of loss loomed over her. Desperately, Yoo Hyun-ah tried to move, but her exhausted body betrayed her. With a thud, she collapsed to the ground. As she propped herself up, a new scene unfolded before her eyes.
“Haah!”
Cha Seung-hyun suddenly twisted his body, spinning the spear with ferocity. Kim Soo-hyun, who had closed in, couldn’t evade in time. The sharp spearhead targeted the blind spot in Kim Soo-hyun’s path, slicing through him without mercy. Yoo Hyun-ah’s eyes widened in shock. But then…
“Ah…”
Kim Soo-hyun’s body was indeed split in two. Yet, there was no reaction from the severed parts. No blood, no entrails spilled out. Slowly, his body dissolved into the air, and Cha Seung-hyun, realizing something was amiss, looked around in confusion. Yoo Hyun-ah saw it then—Kim Soo-hyun had reappeared behind him, sword raised high, gleaming silver.
“Ah… Ah… Aaaah!”
Finally, Yoo Hyun-ah’s voice broke free. As if responding to her cry, Cha Seung-hyun quickly tried to swing his spear back.
“Uaaah!”
But it was too late. With a scream of agony, one of Cha Seung-hyun’s arms, still clutching the spear, was severed and flew into the air. As he staggered, another silver streak aimed for his neck. Watching it, Yoo Hyun-ah let out a heart-wrenching wail.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I apologize for the late update today. I was really struggling to write. I’m exhausted. I had an exam today and made a mistake—a simple one at that. I always thought I wouldn’t make such errors, but today it happened. I misread the direction and didn’t change the sign. I even reviewed it, but still… Sigh. I need to stay sharp for the remaining exams!
『 Reader Comments 』
Sensitive: Congratulations on your third consecutive first place! And welcome to the new champion. Unfortunately, I see you didn’t make it to four in a row. It’s rare to see that. Enjoy this chapter!
Kkoya: Haha. Since it was already in the main text, I didn’t consider it a spoiler. Killing Yoo Hyun-ah would indeed cause a huge mess. :)
Mechastar: Yes, that’s exactly what Soo-hyun was aiming for.
GameMaster: Oh! Thank you for the coupon. I didn’t see the comment when I was writing the replies. Sob.
Lancelot du Lac: Haha, so the Lancelot du Lac I’ve been seeing is actually multiple readers! That’s a refreshing thought. :)
Blami: Will Cha Seung-hyun survive or not? Stay tuned for the next chapter!
Kazumi: Wishes? Of course. It’s a million points. It’s quite a challenge to gather that much, especially in the early stages. You need to participate in achievements that give G.P., but it’s tough for average users to collect a million.
Prandil: Yes, I’ve received many questions about that. Once my exams are over and I have some time, I’ll post the settings, including that part.
Let’s Nap: Thank you for binge-reading! I’m amazed you finished it all in one day. (I love your username. I want to take a nap too.)
James Dean: Hmm! That’s a secret. But there were unavoidable circumstances. It’s a bit hard to explain… :D
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