BXBX NOVEL Chapter 274: Parallel Lines (3)
‘The Sword Sovereign and the Heavenly Buddha. What’s the relationship between these two?’
This was the first question Yoon-seok asked himself while sitting cross-legged.
—Be careful of the Heavenly Buddha.
The Sword Sovereign, who showed him a favorable attitude throughout their conversation, warned him to be careful. And a few minutes later, Yoon-seok met the Heavenly Buddha.
Why did he warn Yoon-seok?
‘Simply because I am from the Demon Sect?’
For some reason, it didn’t seem like such a simple problem. Perhaps the Sword Sovereign knew something else. However, no matter how much he thought about that part, Yoon-seok couldn’t come up with a proper answer.
‘By the way, how far can I believe what the Heavenly Buddha said?’
After rejecting Yoon-seok’s proposal, the Heavenly Buddha said that not long ago, he had received a similar offer.
“If it’s a similar proposal, he’s talking about the Last Bastion, wasn’t he?’
Considering that the Tower’s ultimate goal was to kill the Queen, it would be no surprise that another Challenger had the Last Bastion. After all, Yoon-seok also got it as a reward from the Tower.
‘Is there anyone other than me forming a team…?’
If that guess was correct, Yoon-seok didn’t want to care anymore. If another team succeeded in killing the Queen, it would only help him. However, one thing bothered him.
‘What did he mean earlier?’
The Heavenly Buddha said he was waiting for someone, and after their conversation, he bluntly said that there was no need for that anymore. As if he had already accomplished his purpose.
‘I can only catch that I was that someone…’
He didn’t understand. The Heavenly Buddha didn’t know who that someone was. Of course, if he meant not a specific person but someone who brought up this recruitment proposal, that would make sense.
But Yoon-seok was back to square one.
‘This doesn’t make sense either. Did he know I was coming? How?’
He was missing pieces.
‘…Don’t tell me. He didn’t just say whatever came to mind, did he?’
There was a good chance that was the case. However, it was kind of uncomfortable to dismiss it like that. Yoon-seok had felt a similar type of discomfort before. Relatively recently, too.
‘When and for what? I felt uncomfortable then, too…’
Yoon-seok soon found the identity of the sense of incongruity he felt. His senses spread out wide to confirm it.
‘…Not there?’
Namgoong Jin-jin’s room was empty.
* * *
‘Since when?’
One hour? Or two? Maybe more.
He was immersed in his thoughts, so he didn’t realize that Jin-jin had slipped away.
Whoosh-!
Yoon-seok spread his mana wide enough to cover the whole League. Fortunately, there was no need to go any farther. He could feel Jin-jin’s energy within their borders, but it was quite far to go for a walk because she couldn’t sleep.
‘Did something happen?’
Yoon-seok grabbed his sword and headed to her.
Namgoong Jin-jin’s energy was radiating from under a tightly secured building.
‘Let’s go inside for now.’
Yoon-seok evaded the security guards’ eyes as he entered. He knew it before taking such an action, but this place wasn’t an ordinary administrative facility. Iron bars all around and prisoners trapped behind them – this place was a dungeon.
‘Why the hell did she come here…?’
It wasn’t long after Yoon-seok thought of this question-
Stab-!
He heard a familiar sound. When a sharp knife pierced the skin, it sounded like this.
‘Damn it.’
Something must have happened to Namgoong Jin-jin. Yoon-seok immediately focused his eyes, and he caught sight of Jin-jin’s back.
At the same time, he stiffened in place.
‘What the hell…’
She was fine. No, it was a bit much to say she was fine, but she wasn’t physically hurt.
Stab-! Stab-! Stab-!
Namgoong Jin-jin was straddling a fallen man and driving a silver knife into his chest. Bloodstained her clothes, but she didn’t care. A mad smile split her lips.
“Pffff! Is this all? Namgoong bitch? Pffff!”
The man she was stabbing mocked her. Yoon-seok could tell who the man was thanks to this, even though this was their first meeting.
“Khehehe! Four years ago, your mother also had that kind of look under me.”
That man was a sworn enemy who drove her family to the brink of extinction.
“Please stop it.”
Yoon-seok grabbed Jin-jin’s thin arm.
“Let me go. This is family business.”
Contrary to what he thought, Jin-jin was calmer than ever.
“Are you okay with that?”
“…He slaughtered my family. There’s no reason I won’t be able to sleep at night because I have his blood on my hands. No, on the contrary, if this guy were alive, I would never be able to sleep comfortably.”
Indeed, that fit a member of a Moorim family. However…
“Pffff! Hmph!”
The man began to giggle.
“I didn’t ask about that.”
“…?”
“Given the fact that you came in secret, it seems that you didn’t receive permission to kill this man. Won’t you be in trouble?”
“That…”
Jin-jin closed her mouth. His guess was right. Hence, she must do this the night before they left.
“So, you don’t intend to go back to League again after stopping by your family manor with me?”
“Yes. They don’t want our family to be rebuilt. I was planning to hide So-so and wait for the right time.”
“You mean there will be no traces left if you go with me, right?”
“…”
Should he praise her for this? Or should he scold her? Regardless, it was clear she had a plan for now.
It was a bit annoying to put Yoon-seok into that plan, though. If they want to rebuild their family, they have to leave, but she can’t allow her foe to live. He understood, of course, and the Bloody Sky Delusion Sword also seemed like a man who deserved to die.
“Anyway, how about putting down your knife for now?”
“…Why do you stop me?”
Namgoong Jin-jin looked betrayed.
“It’s not about stopping you. It’s about being repaid.”
“Repaid?”
Her brow narrowed.
“Yes. I will take you to the Namgoong Family manor faster than anyone else can. Instead, give this one to me.”
“But…”
“Oh, I said it wrong. I didn’t mean I would save him. I’m asking you to let me kill him.”
Jin-jin’s expression moved from confusion to plain shock.
“They say a Moorim woman isn’t just a woman. I, too, have my hands stained in blood… it’s a big deal for you to say that.”
Yoon-seok didn’t know what she was talking about all of a sudden.
“What does that have to do with it?”
After all, the Bloody Sky Delusion Sword was a Ranker. However, Namgoong Jin-jin remained silent.
‘Ah, does she mean this revenge must be taken with her own hands to relieve her anger?’
That was a bit difficult, and it wasn’t efficient either.
Yoon-seok hurriedly added.
“Young Lady Namgoong, please let me do it.”
“But, I have already sworn to dedicate the rest of my life to my family.”
Jin-jin bit her lip and struggled to say it.
“As you know, I can’t give you what you want…”
“You don’t have to give me anything else.”
There was a sense of incongruity in their conversation, but Yoon-seok responded quickly.
“I am satisfied with this.”
Was that the right answer? Soon, Jin-jin raised the white flag.
“…Okay. Do as you please.”
“Thank you.”
He had received permission, so Yoon-seok grabbed the Bloody Sky Delusion Sword and lifted him. The moment he was about to slap his cheek-
“If you weren’t a Challenger…”
Namgoong Jin-jin whispered.
“No, if So-so had a body capable of bearing children.”
“…?”
“I must be the happiest woman today…”
For some reason, she looked sad. As if she was filming a drama by herself.
* * *
When Yoon-seok was about to ask what that meant-
Tuck.
His hand touched the Bloody Sky Delusion Sword’s cheek.
[A duel has been established.]
[Get ready. The duel will begin soon.]
Yoon-seok found himself back in the arena.
[3]
The countdown began.
[2]
The eyes of the Bloody Sky Delusion Sword opened wide. His injuries were suddenly healed, so he probably wondered what this was all about.
[1]
However, it was only for a moment that he was embarrassed. Desire formed in his eyes.
[START!]
He jumped backward and took his stance. Although he was empty-handed because he was imprisoned, he exuded a strong aura. Yoon-seok was a little surprised as he was the first to react like those brought here.
“Aren’t you going to ask what’s going on?”
“It’s obvious that it’s a Tower ability. Won’t I be able to go back if I beat you here?”
Being a Ranker, he quickly understood the situation. However, he missed the most important part.
“Puahahahahah! The ban is lifted! Heaven is helping me!”
“The ban is lifted?”
“Why are you surprised? Indeed, if you had known the ban would be lifted, you wouldn’t have made the mistake of calling me here!”
Yoon-seok didn’t even know there was a ban in the first place. No, to be precise, he didn’t even care.
‘Anyway, it seems that not only injuries but status abnormalities are also relieved when someone’s dragged here, right? Would it be okay to use it as a survival tool in case of an emergency?’
Yoon-seok smiled as he thought of another way to use the duel ability.
“Keheheheh! The happiest woman, her ass! What a naughty one. I can’t believe you’re giving me a chance because of that woman. If I kill you, then return and tear her apart.”
“…”
His mouth was quite rough.
“Puahahaha! Why won’t you say anything! Even if you regret it now….”
“You’re so noisy.”
Yoon-seok tied down his foe’s body using Dimensional Muscle. Then, he covered his mouth.
“Uh, uh…? Hmph!”
Unless he had a counter ability, Dimensional Muscle was close to unbeatable. Well, the Tower was full of counters, but… at least not for this guy.
[Register the target to the list.]
Yoon-seok, using b Death God}, read his information.
[Gu Yangzhen]
The nickname he used was Blood Swordmaster, which was also in Yoon-seok’s memory. He saw it when checking Lee Su-yeon’s ranking, so he was ranked 212th with the rating SS+.
‘212th place… he’s not at the level to mess around like this.’
As Yoon-seok smiled at that thought, the following phrases appeared.
[Do you want to specify the cause of death?]
Yoon-seok patted his chin. What should he call a death when the mind collapses and the body follows?
[Gu Yangzhen’s death was designated as a natural death.]
As he was pondering, the Tower gave him the answer. However, Yoon-seok was troubled again.
[Please specify the date and time of death.]
It was almost impossible to get it right unless Yoon-seok killed him right away. However…
‘Let’s guess roughly.’
That could be motivation as well.
‘Then how many days will it take to complete the second technique?’
“Hmph, hmph…!”
Seeing the Bloody Sky Delusion Sword start babbling, Yoon-seok made a quick decision.
[The date of death has been specified.]