Mid-slope of Taebaeksan Mountain.
A handsome man with short hair climbed the mountain.
The steps are light, if not swift.
It can't be helped.
He was ranked 12th out of 100. It was Yoo Seong-jun.
"Phew. Why did you ask me to bury you in a place like this?"
Still, isn't it fortunate that he left behind at least one line of will before he died?
Yoo Seong-jun looked around the place he arrived at.
A small, open field compared to a dense forest.
It's a pine tree planted in the center.
It could be seen that the tree was as big as the waist.
"When will you grow up?"
Yoo Seong-jun took off the bag on his back and sat in front of her.
It is a gravestone lying under a small pine tree.
The tombstone read:
-The late Yoo Seong-hwan-
Yoo Seong-jun's younger brother who was infinitely righteous.
"Is it comfortable there?"
Zero Cola taken out of the bag.
Since you said you don't like Pepsi, I bought you Pepsi.
This is the punishment for bringing me up here.
Gulp, gulp.
He commits the atrocity of pouring cola on a tree.
It might be half full.
Yoo Seong-jun, who had drunk the remaining half, looked up at the sky.
"It's so damn clear."
Even on a clear day like this, every moment, somewhere in South Korea, a gate breaker is occurring and someo ne is dying.
Or you get attacked by a villain.
80 years ago, the strong entered the capitalist society.
Only the strong survived.
To life, to power, to ability, to capital.
A world where it's hard to survive unless you have a strong, exceptional element.
A world where protecting the weak is a loss.
How did the world become so twisted?
Yoo Seong-jun looked at the pine tree.
"That loss came to you as death."
"I thought you were going to the gate. You were here."
That's the voice I heard then.
When did you come?
Yoo Seong-jun turned his head and faced the strongest player in Korea.
"What brings you here, Mr. Ma Seok-ho?"
"A gravestone under a pine tree... Is this a tree farm?"
The one sitting next to me is Ma Seok-ho.
At his question, Yoo Seong-jun shrugged his shoulders.
"He asked me to ask that. I guess I just listened to his jokes."
"Your brother. He left a clear will."
Ma Seok-ho smiles and closes his eyes.
Tilt your head slightly.
The world's greatest Seokho Ma is paying his respects at the grave of someone else.
Yoo Seong-jun, who was blankly gazing at the precious sight, met his eyes.
"What's on your face?"
"No. It's just unexpected. That cold-blooded, crazy guy at the gate is praying for peace."
"It sounds like a curse, but... let's say that something happened that made things different."
The change of Masukho.
Yoo Seong-jun knew.
How can I not know?
It was already revealed through the news.
"I guess it's thanks to the Meister."
"Haha! Did you see it on my face?"
"It's because it looks like someone has straightened his always grim-looking face with an iron."
Even with the one-sided attack, Ma Seok-ho just smiled.
Did I eat something wrong?
"I just realized it. When something precious truly comes back, you naturally come to know it."
"What did you realize?"
"I decided to live a more generous life by looking around me more."
"Did you learn it from the master?"
Ma Seok-ho nodded calmly.
"That's right. If it weren't for him, my daughter Jiyoon would have crossed the river of no return. Oh, do you want to see a picture of my daughter? She looks so cute when she smiles, who does she resemble?"
He manipulates his smartphone with his rough hands.
A girl appears on the background screen.
She was smiling brightly while hugging the crying Maseokho.
Yoo Seong-jun also smiled, as if he was infected by the happiness.
"Fortunately, I don't resemble my father."
"Then! I think I'm lucky to resemble my wife. Hahaha!"
Ma Seok-ho laughed heartily and closed his smartphone.
The wind blows in a moment of silence.
Skimming through the dense forest and grass.
It approaches with the scent of grass in its full glory, wraps itself around the two, and disappears.
A relaxing scent. Blue sky. Quiet nature.
The mind and body become stable.
Soon, Ma Seok-ho opened his mouth.
"So, do you still have a desire for revenge?"
"... Isn't it similar for you? You were chasing the Six Heavenly Stars like that."
Ma Seok-ho chuckled.
For no reason, you're tearing up the grass and rubbing it on the ground.
"That's right. It wasn't me, but it was refreshing to see those guys. Feeling empty after revenge is just nonsense."
"Because you have something to save."
Yoo Seong-jun accepted the words with an empty smile.
"Even if I succeed in my revenge, I will not return."
I reach out and stroke the tree.
The rough outer surface of the pine tree felt rough to the touch.
"But you're still going to get revenge, right?"
That's right.
Must do.
Even if I fall to hell, I will climb up and do it no matter what.
"Villain Alliance The One. The moment we catch even the last of them, we will ask for Pacer's location."
The villain who took everything away from him.
Dedicate your life to finding and killing.
Yoo Seong-jun stood up again, determined.
"Then let's go."
"Okay. I guess I should go this way too."
Our paths diverge. Maseokho is an X-class gate.
Yoo Seong-jun is on his way down.
Ma Seok-ho shouted at the back of Yoo Seong-jun's head.
"If you need help, just tell me! I'll help you at least once!"
That guy must have really eaten wrong.
It's like a person died and came back to life.
Yoo Seong-jun, who had been shaking his head, raised his fist.
"If I feel like I'm going to die, I will. But that won't happen."
"Haha, what a cheeky guy."
Still, it was a pretty interesting conversation.
Yoo Seong-jun, who came down from the mountain, looked at Ma Seong-won who was approaching.
The secretary is always expressionless.
He was frowning with one eyebrow.
"I guess something happened."
"How did you know?"
When I tap my eyebrows, only then does he let out a single word, "Ah."
He changed his expression and reported.
"This is a message from JDS that just came up. It looks like the arms distribution business will be difficult this month."
"Hmm, why?"
"That's why I need to discuss making items with the Meister...."
"okay?"
There's no need to hear any more.
Suddenly, Yoo Seong-jun got into the car, closed the door, and waved his finger in the air.
"Then let's just stay still."
"But it is clearly a breach of contract. Can I avoid paying the penalty?"
"There are times when you have to be flexible. Now is that time. Let's show mercy."
Then will there be a return?
Oh, I've unknowingly fallen for that simple, ignorant gentleman.
Yoo Seong-jun, leaning his head against the neckrest, let out a word.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of monstrous item you'll make next."
A meeting between a capable blacksmith and an out-of-the-box enchanter.
It looks like they're making it by holding each one, but will something better than the wooden sword that Shin Joo-hee is holding come out?
Yoo Seong-jun closed his eyes and swallowed his anticipation.
***