…Thunk!
A jarring impact.
A face twisted in pain.
Kim Jangcheol thought,
'Tsk. I shouldn't have stepped up.'
A bitter smile formed instinctively.
But he didn't regret it.
There was no time to dwell on things like regret right now.
…Thudoooom!
Shockwaves slammed into his right hand repeatedly. In his rush, he tore into his hand, scattering blood. Even as Bloody Lightning's defense shattered, Asurat's saw-blade sword was savagely bearing down on him.
But Kim Jangcheol wasn't surprised.
On the contrary, his eyes calmed.
'Just as expected.'
Asurat's ultimate technique had always been like this.
Suddenly, a memory returned.
In the game, Asurat had a technique that always activated in Phase 2, right before his death.
He connected his blood vessels to the saw-blade sword.
Then, through those connected vessels, he pumped all the blood in his body into it.
The result—his blood boiled like lava, and the explosive force of it all was loaded into the saw-blade sword, then unleashed.
And if you got hit by that?
Regardless of how much HP the character had left, it meant instant death. And Asurat would die as well.
'A kind of suicide technique, really.'
It was the final phase pattern that always came up in the battle against one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Asurat, and clearing the Asurat fight always involved that outcome.
The suicide technique that killed you to clear the boss.
Then the cinematic would begin.
A miraculous resurrection of the protagonist shown in the video.
That's how Asurat died.
And the protagonist lived.
Thus, the story moved on.
That was the standard route of Paladin of Blood.
But for him?
'I didn't like that.'
To end a completed boss fight with unavoidable death—that didn't sit well with him. That he couldn't dodge or stop it bruised his pride.
And part of him was fueled by a spirit of challenge.
That's why.
Right before clearing Asurat, every time the bastard used his ultimate suicide technique, he kept practicing to nullify it. He failed. Each time, before the cinematic played, he forcibly shut off the console.
And when he restarted the game?
The save data for the Asurat fight was wiped. It acted like he hadn't cleared it. So, he could challenge it again right away.
So, he'd beat Asurat down to near death. Wait for the ultimate suicide technique. Try dodging it. Fail, shut off the console with a snap, boot it back up.
Those were the days of his truly degenerate training.
But thanks to it, he gained something.
That singular 1-frame gap where Asurat's suicide ultimate could be parried.
'…Just like this!'
…Clatter-clang!
The saw-blade sword pushed through Bloody Lightning. The saw-toothed fangs opened wide, lunging for him.
Inside that mouth, blood lava seethed.
But he didn't let the overwhelming force distract him. Instead, Kim Jangcheol counted swiftly at fixed intervals.
'One, two… eight, nine! Ten!'
As precisely as a metronome.
Tempered by countless experiences.
On the tenth count, he thrust his right hand upward.
Kaang–!
The blade of the saw-blade sword was deflected upward.
A flawless 1-frame catch.
A perfect parry.
…Whoosh!
The destructive heat packed into the saw-blade sword dispersed. The ultimate technique, moments from activation, wavered just before completion. Its momentum scattered.
"...Kuh!"
With a stifled cry, black blood gushed from Asurat's mouth.
The ultimate technique was canceled.
But Kim Jangcheol didn't relax.
'There's still one more!'
One skill hadn't been blocked yet.
On the other side of the battlefield, Veloce was playing her violin. He was about to complete the third movement.
But Kim Jangcheol wasn't worried.
Instead, he raised his hand.
Activating a skill, he shouted,
"A Bountiful Harvest! Blessing!"
With all his heart.
Clenching his fist tightly.
At that moment—
Paaat!
The air above split open.
From the rift, a massive chair embedded with dozens—hundreds—of farming tools plummeted with mighty weight(?).
Right toward Veloce's head, just as she was about to finish the third note.
Boom–!
Veloce was crushed beneath the chair.
She splatted flat like a frog.
The violin?
She didn't even get to finish playing—it went flying off who knows where.
That was the end.
Crushed under the chair, Veloce fainted on the spot without even a scream, her body going limp. On the opposite side, Asurat, suffering internal backlash from the interrupted skill, wheezed and trembled before collapsing with a belated thud.
"......"
Wind blew in the silence.
The other battles had stopped long ago. Everyone was frozen in shock, looking back and forth between Kim Jangcheol and the two collapsed figures.
And they all thought—
'Was that… even possible?'
No, wasn't that… way too much?
Don't tell me—they're both dead?
Everyone murmured among themselves.
Even the Four Heavenly Kings were shaken.
Hartok felt awe at the fact that Asurat's suicide skill could even be countered like that. Sirgi sensed she could never replicate what she'd just witnessed. Baal, mouth agape, let a single drop of spit fall.
On the other hand, those on Artanis's side sensed a deeper crisis.
"...Veloce?"
Largo called out to his brother in a trembling voice.
But no response came.
"Uwaaah, aaaahhh!"
Andante screamed and rushed to Veloce. He frantically pushed the chair aside and checked his pulse. Faint, but the heartbeat was still there. Thank goodness.
Meanwhile, Artanis…
Calmly met Kim Jangcheol's composed gaze.
"Shall we call it a day?"
Kim Jangcheol's clear voice carried his suggestion toward Artanis.
He spoke.
"No matter how I think about it, this kind of conflict doesn't do either of us any good. Even if just for a little while, how about stepping back and cooling off?"
—…Are you proposing a truce?
"Yes."
Kim Jangcheol nodded, then glanced back and forth between the fallen Asurat and Veloce.
"Those two just now, they almost killed each other."
It was true.
If he hadn't jumped in?
If he hadn't blocked both of their ultimate techniques?
Right now, the two of them would no doubt be lying as cold corpses.
'That was really… dangerous just now.'
Kim Jangcheol let out a quiet sigh of relief.
To be honest, he still didn't quite understand why he had jumped between them. It wasn't something he calculated or planned. His body had simply reacted the moment he realized the situation.
"......."
Still, it was a good thing he parried Asurat's ultimate technique properly. In the game, he'd practiced it like it was second nature, but doing it in real life was a whole different matter.
Anyway, because he succeeded, the power contained in the suicide attack wasn't fully released, and Asurat's life had been spared. That was truly fortunate.
It meant a guy who'd been working hard to live wouldn't become a pointless sacrifice. That he'd be able to keep on living well in the future.
That was the very reason he was now proposing a truce to Artanis.
—A truce, you say. I haven't even undone the seal artifact yet, and with my arm stuck in the barrier, this must be your only chance at victory.
"That could be true."
—Yet you still propose a truce?
"Yes."
Kim Jangcheol nodded again as he spoke.
"Because I dislike meaningless sacrifice."
That was his honest feeling.
If they attacked Artanis now?
They could probably win.
One of her three loyal followers had already fallen, leaving only two.
If they struck quickly, mobilizing Hartok, Baal, Sirgi, and even the 3rd Star Master?
They could probably kill the remaining siblings. Then they could rain down attacks on Artanis, stuck in the barrier.
But if they did that?
Would they get away unharmed?
'No.'
Kim Jangcheol shook his head inwardly.
Killing Artanis wouldn't be easy. And even if they did pull it off… at least two or three of their side would end up crippled or dead. Definitely. Without question.
He didn't want that.
'Lately, everyone's been living by farming, working hard. They've come to live diligent, honest lives. Seeing those people die or get hurt for no good reason—no matter how I think about it, I just can't accept that.'
What's more, in the worst-case scenario, there was a real chance they wouldn't be able to finish her off.
And if that happened?
There would be no turning back.
Artanis, having lost her loyal followers, might become a sworn revenge-seeker, and that would be truly hopeless.
That's why.
'…Life is about playing it safe!'
Always by the principle of cutting costs.
For steady returns.
Minimize risks.
Thin and long like a noodle strand.
Reminding himself of that motto once again, Kim Jangcheol spoke.
"So how about it? Even just for a few days—how about taking time to cool off and think?"
'...…..'
Artanis stared at Kim Jangcheol's eyes.
Their gazes locked in mid-air.
A thought suddenly struck her.
'Now that I look at him… he's more than he seems.'
Not someone to take lightly.
Even the way he stepped between Veloce and that saw-blade sword, stopping both—proved as much. And now, offering this moderate proposal instead of rushing into a reckless gamble, said it all.
'…I thought he was just a lucky brat who took down the weakling Moderato and seized the throne.'
But maybe… that assumption was wrong.
If so, it might be better for her to take some time to reassess him too.
'And I'll get some time to free this damned arm from the barrier.'
Her decision was made.
She traced glowing glyphs into the air with her hand.
—Very well. I accept your proposal.
"Thank you. A wise decision."
—Do you dare to evaluate me?
"Of course not. Then, we'll be taking our leave now."
—…Don't forget. Though I have accepted your proposal and stopped the fighting for now, it is only temporary.
"Of course, of course. Then, if you'll excuse us."
Kim Jangcheol and his group withdrew, taking Asurat with them. Artanis's side also retrieved the unconscious Veloce. Thus began a delicate, uneasy truce—or perhaps coexistence—between the two factions.
***
The first day of the truce came to an end.
But the Witch of Melody, Artanis, still hadn't lowered her guard.
In fact, she was even more wary of Kim Jangcheol, observing him closely.
Because her goal hadn't changed.
Because she had to unlock the seal artifact. And to do that, she would have to extract Kim Jangcheol's heart directly.
She spent the entire day watching Kim Jangcheol with a gaze colder than ever.
When he was working in the fields.
When he was joking around with the farming corps.
And even when he, bathed in the faint light of the evening sun, strolled casually toward her.
"Hey, have you eaten dinner?"
"...…"
Dinner?
She was a bit hungry.
But what was this bastard up to?
And that basket he's carrying—what the hell is that?
It was the moment she felt both confusion and suspicion.
"Oh, just a sec."
Kim Jangcheol rummaged through the basket in his arms. Then, without warning, he pulled something round out and held it out to her.
"Hey, you guys don't have these, right?"
".....?"
What?
What trick is this bastard trying to pull…?
"Did you know? They say spring potatoes taste great."
As he offered her a potato, Kim Jangcheol's face was lit with a harmless, beaming smile.
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