Chapter 96. Downhill From Today (1)
Park Je-hwang was, well……
Just…… A being from a different world than mine.
Perfect height, perfect face.
Overflowing confidence, and though I didn't know much about it, the background of coming from a prestigious family.
On top of that, his intelligence was beyond absurd.
Sports? National-level, naturally.
Studies? Even without seeming to put in much effort, he was always ranked 1st.
He had even won awards at violin competitions, and his swordsmanship was at the level of the national youth team.
There wasn't a single area where he fell short.
Looking at him, it felt as though the entire world had been designed for him.
Teachers watched his every mood, the principal stumbled over himself at the ntion of his na, and even the board chairman was desperate to exchange even a single word with him.
‘At seventeen years old, no less.’
Before I saw Park Je-hwang, I still believed the world was fair.
I thought that honest effort would earn its just reward.
But Park Je-hwang proved—through his very existence—that all that ‘effort’ might amount to nothing.
Until middle school, I had a fair amount of confidence in myself.
But after entering high school and seeing him, I finally understood.
‘There really are people living in a completely different world.’
Whether it was royalty, genius, or whatever else……
He was a different species from from the very beginning.
To be honest, I was envious.
I was jealous.
And…… incredibly in awe of him.
I wanted to beco soone like Park Je-hwang.
Soone who, like him, swept every gaze in the room from atop a stage, and stopped the world with a single word.
That kind of absolute ruler—that was the person I wanted to be.
‘I have to get into Park Je-hwang's good graces.’
Just standing beside him as a friend, I felt like I would shine too.
Like the moon catching the light of the sun.
He didn't look at .
The occasional glance that passed over was the kind of look a singer gives a single fan in a crowd of tens of thousands.
And then—the mont his eyes landed on was by sheer coincidence.
A surprise quiz in the first sester of freshman year.
For the first ti, the flawless Park Je-hwang made a mistake that day, and I guessed every answer correctly by luck, topping the class.
"You're Kim Tae-yang, right?"
"……Yeah."
He walked toward .
Just him calling my na was enough to make happy.
Only his gaze was different.
Not the look of a singer seeing a fan.
Sothing more like……
The look of soone who has to pick up trash soone else left on the road—an annoyed, reluctant gaze.
That day was the beginning of my suffering.
Like a typhoon born from a god high in the heavens carelessly swinging his arm.
Like an ant accidentally crushed underfoot as soone passes by.
I had entered Park Je-hwang's line of sight.
I didn't quite know why.
The guy simply called for whenever he ca to school and kept tornting .
There wasn't a trace of remorse in him.
The cruelties Park Je-hwang inflicted on were as natural as breathing—countless, relentless, and varied.
I could have gone on about them endlessly……
But first of all, I didn't want to rember.
Yet there were things that ca back even when I didn't want them to.
Like this burn scar on my right wrist.
It was one day before winter break of freshman year.
The school cafeteria.
"Tae-yang. You and I might end up in different classes when we're sophomores."
Park Je-hwang said to , heating a spoon with the lighter he had gotten from Kang Hae-san.
"We've grown so attached. Such a sha."
"……"
"Co here."
I sat down in front of him.
My trembling gaze was fixed on the spoon turning red-hot.
"Tae-yang. Even when we're in different classes, even when we graduate, even when you marry and have children—don't forget."
Thwap.
He grabbed my hand.
"……!"
"Just because you can do sothing doesn't an you should do it."
Tss—!
The red-hot spoon was pressed against my right hand.
It was so hot that my flesh was burning.
"Aaaagh!"
"Does it hurt? It should hurt so you'll rember! Never forget. Look at this when you study, when you drive—and rember!"
"Je-hwang! Je, Je-hwang please! Aaaagh!"
"Hold still. Got to leave a mark."
The horrible mont passed, and I clutched my right hand, sobbing.
"Tae-yang, what are you doing there?"
Im Ye-rin had co into the cafeteria carrying sothing to drop off.
At that, Park Je-hwang and the others laughed as they rose from their seats.
"Tae-yang, see you around."
I trembled as I watched them leave, and Im Ye-rin said to ,
"Those guys are really…… haa……. Go to the nurse's office quickly."
* * *
[Finals Arena]
Boom-bang-bang-bang-crack—!
The clash between Jang Ae-guk and Park Je-hwang erupted in sparks, then split apart in a gust of wind.
They appeared to land at the sa mont, but Jang Ae-guk was a fraction faster.
Park Je-hwang twisted his body in midair and carved a trajectory through the air toward Jang Ae-guk with his sword.
Jang Ae-guk's sword thrust forward.
Jang Ae-guk was certain.
‘I'm faster.’
As the twin swords crossed, both their forms vanished for an instant.
Crash—!
With a thunderous boom, a massive shockwave spread across the center stage.
The audience held their breath, and even the wind stopped.
The 2 figures reappeared.
Jang Ae-guk lowered his head and stared at his sword for a mont.
His sword, soaked in blood.
His own blood.
Jang Ae-guk's clothing had been slashed lengthwise from his chest to his shoulder.
The blood running down had coursed along the blade of his sword.
‘This should be enough.’
Thud.
Jang Ae-guk dropped his sword and—thud—fell to one knee.
Park Je-hwang curved the corner of his lips upward.
"The winner! Iron Instrunt Champion!"
Park Je-hwang raised his sword high into the sky.
Roaaaaaar—!
The mont the tournant's champion was born.
The roar of 100,000 spectators surged upward as though it could reach the very edge of the sky.
The dical team approached and checked on Jang Ae-guk.
"I'm fine."
Jang Ae-guk rose to his feet and turned his head.
Park Je-hwang performing his victory ceremony.
President Park Jae-yeol applauding with joy from the VIP seat.
Seeing the smile filling his face, Jang Ae-guk had no regrets.
‘……An opportunity gained through defeat.’
A victory surrendered through match-fixing.
But Jang Ae-guk had secured a solid insurance policy.
The recorded file of Pyeon Jae-yeong's proposal to fix the match.
‘I'll climb back up.’
Whether it's the 40th floor or the 50th.
Jang Ae-guk left a bitter smile behind and exited the arena.
Click! Click!
Cara flashes and microphones poured down on Park Je-hwang.
Reporter Gi Ja-eun stood beside him.
"Congratulations, Iron Instrunt Champion. You've truly won!"
"It was a difficult opponent, but I'm glad I kept my promise to the people."
"A perfect drama of truth prevailing! All of the Republic of Korea is witnessing the birth of a new hero!"
Gi Ja-eun's excited voice.
She and Park Je-hwang were the conductors performing the symphony of 100,000 spectators.
Then Gi Ja-eun touched her earpiece and gasped.
"Oh my, President Park Jae-yeol is reportedly on his way down here right now."
President Park Jae-yeol appeared to a standing ovation.
Park Jae-yeol stood beside Park Je-hwang.
Park Je-hwang bowed his head to him.
"You worked hard."
"Yes."
Park Jae-yeol grabbed Park Je-hwang's hand and raised it high.
Roaaaaa—!
The tournant had drawn much criticism, but the roar of this mont buried all of it and more.
President Park Jae-yeol glanced subtly at Gi Ja-eun.
The ti had co.
Quickly, Gi Ja-eun thrust the microphone forward.
"Iron Instrunt Champion! The promise you made to the people wasn't only about winning."
"Hahaha. That's right."
Ti to reveal his identity.
Anticipation that soared higher than the sky-splitting cheers.
Park Je-hwang's hand moved toward his own mask.
When all eyes had converged on him.
A taut silence fell over the entire arena.
People even stopped breathing.
The audience hung sowhere between breathless quiet and sky-piercing anticipation.
Srrk—
He slowly removed the mask.
Sunlight flowed down his face like threads of gold.
A refined jawline, resolute eyes, features that looked as though they'd leaped straight from mythology.
Hair swaying slightly, damp with sweat.
"Iron Instrunt Champion!"
The cheers burst forth like a storm, and the crowd of 100,000 plunged into a frenzy of ecstasy.
In this very mont, he was the most flawless victor in all of history.
His grandfather, President Park Jae-yeol, slowly lifted the tournant prize—the Iron Instrunt God's Sword—into his hands.
His eyes held both pride and the deep affection of family.
As if by prior arrangent, Park Je-hwang slowly knelt on one knee.
The picturesque sight drew quiet gasps of admiration from the audience.
Park Jae-yeol held the sword in one hand and extended it toward Park Je-hwang.
"This is our era's greatest sword. I bestow this sword upon the savior who will save the Republic of Korea."
Park Je-hwang reached out with both hands and received the sword.
It looked like—
A scene of a king being crowned.
Park Je-hwang gripped the sword and rose, his expression resolute.
Park Jae-yeol took his grandson's hand and once again raised it high.
A shower of cara flashes more thunderous than the cheers poured down in torrents.
Boom!
Fireworks exploded, and from a giant airship overhead, an enormous banner unfurled and fluttered in the sky.
'Champion! Hero of the Republic of Korea, Iron Instrunt Champion!'
Park Jae-yeol gripped the microphone.
As if fitting the final puzzle piece, his voice carried force.
"Actually, the Iron Instrunt Champion is my gran—"
Just then.
Piiing—!
A sharp, high note.
An arrow cut through the sky.
Snick—!
The rope holding the banner snapped, and the enormous cloth swirled through the air and plumted.
"……!"
The mont the banner of glory crumpled like worthless trash and fell into the arena—
The frenzy in the arena turned to silence and chaos.
"Wha, what?"
"What's going on?"
As the spectators murmured—
Click.
The athlete entrance gate opened, and a lone man appeared.
A mask covering from the nose down, with only the eyes exposed.
Eyes filled with rage, pouring out a thick, green light.
His stride was heavy yet bold.
Without anyone to guide him, without any spotlight, he moved alone, slowly but steadfastly toward the arena stage.
Many people turned to look.
"Who is that masked person?"
"The finals are over."
"So kind of performance?"
The gaze of 100,000 spectators converged on a single point.
In his left hand, a broken bow.
In his right hand, a single arrow.
The man's green gaze flashed as though it would pierce straight through the arena.
The broadcast crews competed to beam his image out in real ti.
At that mont, complete silence descended over the entire arena.
He opened his mouth.
His voice rang out like thunder—and though it passed through no speaker, it reached every ear with uncanny clarity.
"Park. Je. Hwang—!"
A voice that made hearts pound and skin prickle.
The atmosphere of the arena had been completely overturned.
The man hurled the arrow he held to the ground and shouted.
"You are not worthy!"
Thwit—!
The arrow from Choi Jae-hwa, buried deep into the floor.
The arena guards rushed toward him.
"You! How did you get in here!"
The guards who had been charging at him with wide eyes suddenly toppled all at once as though caught in a gust of wind.
A single card thrown by the man.
The guard who caught it stared with wide eyes.
"……Naless Hero?"
The guards raised their heads to look at him again, and the man had already passed them by and was heading toward the arena stage.
The guard imdiately radioed in.
The arena announcer heard the call and was startled.
He imdiately grabbed the microphone in a rush of excitent, and his voice rang out thunderously across the arena.
"Naless Hero! The masked figure who has just appeared is a Naless Hero!"
"A Naless Hero?!"
"Unbelievable! It's a Naless Hero!"
"Roaaaa—!"
The arena plunged back into a frenzy.
The Ghost—Naless Heroes—every citizen of the Republic of Korea had heard of them at least once in the news.
One of them had actually appeared at this very tournant.
"The Naless Hero has presented a championship finals entry pass! Is he here to prove he is the true champion?!"
The scoreboard displayed the words 'Naless Hero Appears!'
"But the finals have already concluded! A champion has already been crowned. Haa……. Will the duel of the century be realized? All citizens are watching this unprecedented situation!"
The announcer's voice brimming with expectation.
This reached not only the spectators but also President Park Jae-yeol and Park Je-hwang's ears clearly.
Park Jae-yeol turned urgently to Park Je-hwang.
"Grandfather."
"No! Je-hwang, don't!"
Park Jae-yeol tried to stop him.
But Park Je-hwang's eyes were already brimming with soaring pride and the will to win.
"Right now, I feel I could defeat anyone. And we have the Iron Instrunt God's Sword as well."
"Je-hwang!"
"Glory is permitted only to our family. I will go and show them clearly."
"Je-hwang! Damn it!"
Park Jae-yeol reached out in a hurry, but Park Je-hwang was already gripping the Iron Instrunt God's Sword and walking toward the center of the arena stage.
Park Je-hwang did not know that he had beaten Jang Ae-guk through match-fixing.
Park Jae-yeol could not bring himself to say it.
The storm of his grandson's confidence.
Park Jae-yeol bit his lip.
The look in his grandson's eyes.
It was the arrogant will to surpass even Park Jae-yeol himself.
The arena announcer raised his hand high and shouted.
"The Iron Instrunt Champion has accepted the challenge! What is this? A special match? A true finals? It doesn't matter. Right here and now, a match to determine the strongest in the Republic of Korea—no, the entire world—is about to unfold!"
"Roaaaa—!"
Beneath the thunderous roar of the audience about to burst.
The Naless Hero finally stepped up onto the arena stage.
* * *
I walked steadily toward the center of the arena stage.
【Kim Tae-yang says he's so excited he might lose his mind! ‘Tear him apart! Shred him to pieces!’ 5,000,000 Happiness】
Kim Tae-yang, utterly beside himself.
Points were pouring in from anticipation alone.
It felt like my head might explode.
Srrring!
Park Je-hwang drew the Iron Instrunt God's Sword and gripped it with both hands.
Beep beep!
The arena scoreboard changed.
[Iron Instrunt Champion VS Naless Hero]
Beep beep—!
The red light ca on.
I didn't stop walking.
Park Je-hwang gripped his sword and took the opening stance.
The guy's eyes shot daggers at .
【Kim Tae-yang shouts, ‘Rip his head off! Shatter his spine!’ 7,000,000 Happiness】
Park Je-hwang.
The one who stands at the pinnacle of his life, under the na of Iron Instrunt Champion.
Even after fighting Jang Ae-guk, he showed no sign of fatigue whatsoever.
Energy radiated from the guy's body.
One born to be a sovereign, walking that very path.
With the utmost concentration of his life, right now, he has sharpened every sense to cut down a single person: .
The sa stance as his sword-draw art at the ti with Choi Jae-hwa.
The sword scabbard at his left hip.
His right hand gripping the hilt, pressing down steadily.
His posture lowered to the fullest.
Shhhh.
"Ahhh……"
At that sight, admiring sounds burst from the audience once more.
Halt.
I stood before him.
"Naless Hero. I can tell just from your eyes. You're old—even more than Jang Ae-guk."
"……"
"Draw your weapon. As Iron Instrunt Champion, I have no desire to cut down soone without a sword."
"Stop pretending to be strong. You piece of trash."
"What?"
"You have no right to use that na."
Beep beep—!
The yellow light ca on.
Park Je-hwang stared at in disbelief, then checked the yellow light.
"You're out of your mind……. Put away any thought of surviving. You brought this on yourself."
Shhhh.
Park Je-hwang's expression hardened.
As if he had made up his mind, killing intent poured out and he shifted his stance.
He drew his sword, hurled the scabbard to the ground, and shouted.
"I'll show you! Just how fast the blade of the Iron Instrunt Champion is!"
An upper stance raised above his head.
The two hands gripping the hilt applied steady pressure.
The blade chopped the sunlight into fine pieces.
The Great Sword-Draw Art—said to cleave even boulders in two.
A razor-sharp force was crystallized at the tips of his clenched fingers.
Preparing a lightning-fast single strike even swifter than the sword-draw art he had used with Choi Jae-hwa.
Park Je-hwang looked down at as he spoke.
"Looks like the real prize wasn't the Iron Instrunt God's Sword after all. It was you! Naless Hero!"
A stillness that seed to hold even the breathless spectators in one embrace.
The grains of sand blown into the arena crunched under the soles of shoes.
The wind rapped against clothing.
Every mont of waiting for the sword to burst forth felt like a calm storm—
But to my eyes, there was only a minnow brimming with arrogant self-confidence.
Flash!
The instant a needle-like light flashed in Park Je-hwang's pupils—
Beep beep—!
The green light ca on, and simultaneously, the guy's sword surged upward and shot out!
Shwaaash—!
A killing slash that seed it would cleave the entire arena in two—
His sword, aid at my neck—
……was gasping in my hand.
Indeed, the Iron Instrunt God's Sword.
It had pierced through my protective energy and drawn blood all the way to my palm.
"Th, this is impossible!"
The panic in Park Je-hwang's eyes.
The guy strained with all his might to wrench the sword free, but it wouldn't budge an inch.
I slowly raised the half of the broken bow in my left hand.
"This is going to hurt. You need to rember."
Shhhh.
The guy's gaze followed my hand.
"Wh, what are you trying to do?!"
Crack—!
The broken half of Choi Jae-hwa's bow shattered Park Je-hwang's right collarbone and drove into his chest.
"Aaaaaghhhh!"
His agonized scream echoed throughout the arena.
【Kim Tae-yang says he feels as though he might faint from joy. 20,000,000 Happiness】
Thud.
The guy dropped to his knees.
Just as I had expected.
Park Je-hwang had never known pain.
Experiencing vivid, searing pain for the first ti, he scread like a small child.
I kicked him in the chest and wrenched the Iron Instrunt God's Sword free.
"You have no right to hold a sword either."
I slowly raised the stolen sword.
Just as with the dagger, the sensation of it snapping perfectly into my hand.
Park Je-hwang, who had been writhing on the floor in agony, locked eyes with mine.
"Wha, what are you doing. Urgh! Stop! I lost!"
Fear drained the color from the guy's face.
I was—
……smiling.
"Got to leave a mark."
Swish—!
I slashed him diagonally across the face.
Blood sprayed upward, and Park Je-hwang rolled across the floor clutching his face.
"Aaaaahhhhh!!"
【Kim Tae-yang is satisfied, saying this is a fitting revenge for that guy. 30,000,000 Happiness】
Park Je-hwang, who had stood at the pinnacle of his life.
I'll let you keep walking.
"Your downhill starts today."
Until the day you die.
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