It will be fine. (3)

A small stone flew through the air and fell into the flowing stream.

Splash.

The stone quickly sank deep between the currents, becoming indistinguishable from the other stones already submerged. It would be impossible to find it again.

“Damn it…”

Grumbling under his breath, Jo Geol picked up another stone and threw it. The stone arched freely before plunging back into the water and sinking deeply again.

“What did Sasuk say?”

“He said to handle it ourselves.”

“Sasuk?”

“Yes, that’s what he said.”

Tang Soso looked at Jo Geol in surprise. Had those words really come out of Baek Cheon’s mouth?

‘That Baek Cheon Sasuk?’

It was hard to believe. The renowned nagger turning his back in a situation like this? If it were the Baek Cheon she knew, he would have forced them to reconcile, either by grabbing them by the collars or beating them up.

Tang Soso glanced at Jo Geol.

It was unbelievable, but she had no choice but to believe it. If asked whether Jo Geol was a trustworthy person, she would definitely say no. But if asked whether he was a liar, the answer would also be no.

In fact, Tang Soso glanced at Jo Geol not because she doubted Baek Cheon’s words. It was because of the expression on Jo Geol’s face as he conveyed them.

“Is something wrong, Sahyeong?”

“…What?”

“Your expression looks terrible.”

“In this situation, does it seem like my expression could be good?”

“It doesn’t seem like it’s just because of that.”

Jo Geol pressed his lips together at her remark, that precisely hit the sore spot.

– What will you do without me?

He couldn’t answer. He really couldn’t say a word. All he could do was clamp his mouth shut and stare at Baek Cheon, then turn away at the cold dismissal.

‘Damn it.’

What was he supposed to do? How could he answer a question about something he’d never imagined?

From the beginning, that wasn’t Jo Geol’s role. Worrying about what might happen, preparing for it, finding new paths – that was Chung Myung, Baek Cheon, and Yoon Jong’s role, wasn’t it?

Jo Geol just had to fight hard following their judgment. So why say such things to him now?

“Sahyeong.”

At the sound of her voice, Jo Geol turned to look at Tang Soso. Her face, staring intently at him, was cold and serious.

For a moment, Jo Geol felt the urge to pour out all his worries to Tang Soso.

But…

“What’s the problem?”

Jo Geol, looking annoyed, grabbed another pebble and threw it high once again.

Splash.

The pebble quickly disappeared beneath the surface.

“It’s just that everyone is getting tense because war is approaching.”

“That doesn’t even make sense…”

“Why not? They’re human too. No one can feel at ease with a war looming where people might die in droves.”

“…That’s true.”

Tang Soso muttered, still seeming unconvinced. Jo Geol changed the subject.

“Do you even have time to be doing this?”

“What?”

Their eyes met.

“The job you’ve taken on isn’t something you can afford to waste time chatting with someone with nothing better to do. I heard you’re incredibly busy.”

“…”

“Don’t worry about other things and focus on what you’re supposed to do. No… actually…”

Realizing he might have gone off track, Jo Geol added something he wouldn’t usually say.

“This is practically your dream job.”

Jo Geol understood.

It might have seemed like something started impulsively, but in reality, Tang Soso had spent a long time contemplating the development of the medical corps and the Tang clan.

Everything she had seen, heard, felt, and experienced was now being applied to her work.

Sometimes the most important work in a person’s life happens in their early years.

If she missed this opportunity, Tang Soso’s dream would never come true. If they won without the medical corps, everyone would undervalue its necessity, and if they lost, there would be no second chance.

Tang Soso knew this all too well. A sigh escaped from her lips.

No matter how much she worried and fretted, the water flowed on indifferently, just like the impending war.

If only she could stop for a moment. Just for a moment.

“Instead of worrying about this, focus on the medical corps.”

“Sahyeong!”

Jo Geol threw the pebble he was holding.

“You know as well as I do that stirring things up now won’t change anything. We’re talking about the three most stubborn and difficult people in Hwasan. Whatever they’re upset about, let’s just leave them alone for now. With time, it will probably resolve. Or at least, it will get better than it is now.”

Tang Soso remained silent. But Jo Geol understood the unspoken words hidden within her silence.

Do we have time to leave it alone?

Who could know such a thing?

“So focus on your work. Don’t let this mess up what you’re doing.”

Tang Soso gazed at the stream where Jo Geol had been incessantly throwing stones.

He was right. Worrying about an unresolved problem wouldn’t change anything. It was better to spend that time on something productive.

“All right, I understand.”

She nodded weakly, then turned as if to follow Jo Geol’s advice.

“But, Sahyeong.”

“Yes?”

Tang Soso spoke with her back turned to Jo Geol.

“You said that what I’m doing now is my dream, right?”

“…”

“You’re right. But the reason this is my dream is because doing this is the only way to keep the people of Hwasan from dying.”

Jo Geol’s fingertips trembled slightly at her words.

“…It was a pointless thing to say. Forget it.”

Tang Soso walked away.

Jo Geol, who had opened his mouth as if to say something to her retreating figure, soon closed it tightly again. His gaze dropped back to the flowing water.

Regret.

Hadn’t he already confirmed it several times?

Neither Tang Soso nor the Tang clan could find a way to treat Baek Cheon. Tang Soso had likely pondered solutions a hundred times more fervently than he had.

Reopening such wounds for someone who believed all of this was due to her own inadequacy was not right.

Sigh…

Watching the sparkling stream under the bright sunlight, Jo Geol lay down on the spot. The clear, blue sky without a single cloud filled his vision.

“Disgustingly blue.”

As if he didn’t want to see it, he shut his eyes tightly.

❀ ❀ ❀

That night, late in the evening.

Slash!

Chung Myung’s sword pierced the rock in front of him in an instant.

Crack!

As the embedded sword twisted slightly, the large rock shook briefly and violently.

“Ugh!”

Boom!

The rock, impaled by the sword, exploded with a thunderous noise. The inside of the split rock was densely perforated with holes shaped like plum blossom petals.

Chung Myung, staring sharply at the interior, spoke.

“…Damn it.”

His voice was almost a growl.

It was inadequate.

Had it been a proper sword strike, the rock would not have shattered.

An efficient and precise sword technique would leave the exterior of the rock intact while only destroying the interior.

But in the end, the rock was destroyed.

Chung Myung, after confirming several distorted shapes among the hundreds of plum blossom marks inside the rock, roughly wiped the sweat running down his face.

“Hoo…”

He exhaled deeply. It was an attempt to calm his troubled mind, but the turmoil didn’t subside easily. Instead, the anxiety he had been trying to suppress unwillingly crept up his legs.

‘Am I still this far off?’

In the distance, it seemed he could see the back of Maehwa Geomjon.

Strong, proud, and unstoppable.

That was Chung Myung’s past, a level he had once reached. It felt almost within his grasp, yet he couldn’t quite seize it.

Of course, he knew.

Climbing a mountain for the second time didn’t make the journey any easier. Especially since the path that had taken him decades before couldn’t be retraced in just a few years, no matter how skilled he was.

But knowing that…

Crack.

Chung Myung’s sword once again plunged into a nearby rock. The red energy at the tip of the blade surged, enveloping the sword and eventually covering his wrist.

Boom!

But the result was no different this time.

In fact, the rock shattered even more violently than the previous one. Chung Myung bit his lower lip. He was anxious.

Of course, to deal with the matters surrounding him now, he didn’t necessarily need to become stronger than he was in the past.

He had gained more than before and had become more adept and skillful.

Obsessing over personal prowess seemed trivial, disregarding everything he had achieved since his rebirth.

But even knowing this, he couldn’t stop.

The moment he tightened his grip on the sword again.

“The sword is heavy.”

A familiar voice suddenly broke through, causing him to look to the side.

An all-too-familiar figure approached through the darkness. Chung Myung released the energy surrounding his sword and let out a sigh. He asked coldly,

“Why?”

Normally, he might have joked about how this place had turned into a neighborhood hangout, but instead of the many responses he could have chosen, he spoke in an icy tone.

Anyone else might have flinched at his reaction. However, the person approaching paid no mind to Chung Myung’s sharp demeanor.

Or perhaps it was impossible to tell whether they cared or not.

Yu Iseol’s expression was always the same.

She walked neither quickly nor slowly and stopped right in front of Chung Myung.

They stood in silence for a moment.

Unable to endure the silence any longer, Chung Myung was the first to raise the white flag.

“Why are you here, Sago? This isn’t your usual…”

But Chung Myung couldn’t finish his sentence. Yu Iseol’s gaze had ignored his words and was directed downward.

Her eyes were fixed on his ankle. The white uniform around his ankle had turned bright red. It seemed a fragment of the rock had grazed his ankle.

Normally, Chung Myung would never have sustained such an injury. But today, not only was he hurt, he hadn’t even realized it. It was proof of how troubled his mind was. Chung Myung bitterly…

Thump!

“Ow!”

Chung Myung’s eyes widened as he clutched his head and jumped back in surprise.

Somehow, Yu Iseol was holding her sword, still sheathed.

“Why did you hit me all of a sudden?!”

Thump!

But Yu Iseol’s sword came down on his head again without hesitation.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Chung Myung, covering his head, dodged the relentless blows.

“Have you lost your mind, Sago? What’s with you?!”

As Chung Myung shouted in frustration, Yu Iseol spoke with a calm expression.

“Idiot.”

“…What?”

“Stupid.”

“No, really. You come here suddenly and start picking a fight…”

“Show me your leg.”

“What?”

Chung Myung glanced down at his leg. Blood was flowing quite a bit, but it was just a scratch to him.

“…It’s nothing. Forget it.”

“Show it.”

“I said it’s…”

Srrng.

Yu Iseol’s sword was slowly drawn, making an eerie sound.

With an awkward expression, Chung Myung reluctantly extended his injured leg.

“Here.”

…Honestly, Yu Iseol scared even him.