<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 49>
Screech—Bang!
The frail laboratory door finally broke, and I stepped forward.
Test tubes lined both sides.
It was, unfortunately, too late for the children trapped inside.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
I apologized to the souls of the children. The children’s souls, however, smiled back at me. They reassured me, their innocent laughter lighting up the space as they hovered around me.
Children yet untouched by the world’s cruelties.
Perhaps they didn’t know what d*ath was. That’s why they could smile so innocently.
I was sorry. If I had been just a little faster…
My chest ached.
“Uncle will…send you to a good place. Can you wait for just a bit?”
Giggling, they nodded and flitted about energetically. Leaving them behind, I moved forward.
After a few steps,
I finally met her.
“Spring.”
Swish—
The icy chill of the test tube traveled through my fingertips.
Spring, submerged in the blue liquid, clung tightly to her respirator, on the verge of shattering.
This was dangerous.
With just a whisper of air, it could all crumble.
This isn’t just a figure of speech. Spring’s body had become a battleground for various bloodline powers, each vying to take root within her.
There was no way her young body could endure such a battle.
She must be saved.
No matter what, I will save her.
“Left arm.”
From the empty space on my left, Asura appeared.
“Bring out all the offerings.”
The magic I was about to unleash wasn’t something a few mere offerings could contain.
“Apocalypse.”
A magical hexagram ascended.
A hexagram centered around Spring.
This is Apocalypse, the truth of Demon Lords—”Destruction.”
Then what is the opposite of destruction?
“Alive.”
Apocalypse (Destruction:滅亡)
Reverse (Reverse)
Alive (Birth:誕生)
The hexagram flipped in reverse.
When the pitch-black star transformed into the likeness of pure white,
My world inverted.
…
…
Drip, drip, drip…
A space encircled by thorny vines.
Drops of water trailed down the thorns.
Tap, tap.
Water droplets from all around began falling onto my head. In that instant, Spring’s sorrow painted my emotions like a flood of colors.
The thorns were a boundary.
The water droplets were tears.
Yes. This was Spring’s inner world.
Why was a mere 5-year-old child already so fearful, so sorrowful, and so distrustful of the world?
With a sorrowful expression, I pierced through the thorny vines and stepped inside.
And then,
Don’t come closer! Stay away!
Spring’s self-consciousness raised its thorns. Thicker vines surrounded me.
I simply smiled.
Reassuring her that everything was fine, I accepted all of Spring without resistance—her rejections, her prickly emotions—all of it.
Though my skin was torn, bl**d flowing, and the thorns cut into me,
I continued moving forward.
Even as Spring’s negative emotions rose against me, rejecting me,
I pressed on.
When my whole body was covered in wounds,
I finally reached Spring.
Inside the thorny thicket, Spring swung on a swing, something like one used by elves.
I called out.
“Spring.”
“…”
No response. Not even a glance.
I called out again.
“Spring, Uncle’s here.”
“…”
Still no response.
Cold sweat trickled down my brow.
This isn’t good. The situation is worsening.
Spring had locked herself away.
Having fled from the terrifying, hateful outside world, Spring had confined herself within her inner world.
As it stood, she would d*e.
Wounded humans can be saved. Be it the loss of arms, the loss of legs, or damaged organs, I can save them.
Life and d*ath are two sides of the same mirror. I assure you, there is no human I cannot save that a saint could.
However, the magic that can revive someone who has lost the will to live doesn’t exist in this world.
Neither a saint nor I, as long as we’re not gods, can save someone who has abandoned themselves.
Cautiously, I stepped forward.
As expected, my feet wouldn’t move forward. Spring’s inner defense was obstructing me—an invisible wall.
If I were to forcibly break through this, Spring would be left as no more than a living doll.
After a brief moment of thought, I
Eventually sat down.
Leaning against the invisible wall, I silently waited for the silent Spring.
Forsaking the flow of time, I waited without end.
I’m always by your side, you’re not alone.
I waited and waited, so she might understand the sincerity in my words.
Because I trusted.
Somewhere down the line, I believed she would reopen her heart and greet me with a cheerful smile.
I imagined that scene and patiently waited.
Park Bom wasn’t an abandoned child.
“Spring, Mommy and Daddy will be back soon.”
“Mommy, kiss.”
“Daddy.”
Park Bom’s parents were superheroes, rather famous hunters. That day, they’d gone to hunt for money.
But the smiling couple never returned to Spring’s side.
It was an accidental event.
A Red Gate incident occurred while they were on their way home after the hunt.
It just happened to be in the middle of the city, and unfortunately near a daycare center attended by children around Spring’s age.
The two threw themselves into action, saving the children. Thanks to their quick thinking, the children survived, but the two parents—one child’s father and mother—ultimately lost their lives.
Thus, Park Bom lost her parents in an instant.
But the world was unbearably cruel to Park Bom, who had lost her once-safe haven of parents.
“Why should I take care of her? If you like her so much, you take care of her, Brother! You got more of the insurance money anyway.”
“Hey, sister-in-law, let’s be honest here. Did I take all of it? You got paid too.”
“Whatever. I can’t take care of her. Send her to an orphanage or whatever, it’s up to you.”
Family, in-laws, people once considered close relatives—they all turned their backs.
Even the ones who had greatly benefited from the hunter couple’s kindness before their d*ath suddenly turned cold and pushed Park Bom away.
That was when
Park Bom closed the door to her heart.
Fortunately, due to the hunter couple’s good deeds becoming known, Park Bom ended up at an orphanage under the Optimum organization. Yet even there, it was the same. Every day she spent alone, without any purpose, was just the same.
A child with dry laughter.
A pretty child like a doll.
This was how others viewed Park Bom.
The first person Park Bom ever reached out to first was Park Ki-hyuk.
“Huh? Are you giving this to me?”
“Flavor of grapes. Spring’s favorite.”
“Wow, I’m so touched! What can Uncle do for me? Let me ride a pony?”
“…Yeah.”
Large stature, warm hands. Especially his smile directed towards her felt nice.
It reminded her of her father.
More accurately, the last image of her father she remembered.
Yes, that’s why she liked him.
Park Ki-hyuk.
Park Bom’s gaze shifted to the man sitting there—torn and battered by the thorns.
Drip.
The swing Spring was on came to a stop.
“…”
She leaped off carefully and cautiously took a step.
One step, another step, she approached Park Ki-hyuk who rested his back against the wall, waiting for her.
“….Did you come?”
“…”
Spring, too, crouched down, their backs touching through the wall.
“I’m scared.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I was alone.”
“I’ll wait for you.”
“Everyone hates me.”
“No one hates you. Everyone loves Spring.”
A disjointed conversation unfolded. These were deep scars ingrained in Park Bom’s heart, bursting forth like a flood.
Understanding this, Park Ki-hyuk responded sincerely.
More time passed. Park Bom asked questions, Park Ki-hyuk answered, a shared understanding grew.
Amidst all this, the thorny vines enveloping the inner world began to fade away.
Little by little.
“Spring loves chocolate.”
“I know. Milk chocolate, right?”
More and more…
“I hate needles. They hurt.”
“There won’t be any more needles. I disciplined those who gave you them.”
Little by little…
The thorny vines started to disappear, leaving only one more lodged in Park Bom’s heart.
“Don’t abandon me.”
“I won’t abandon you.”
“Will you protect me?”
“I will protect you.”
“Always?”
“Forever!”
“Then…“
Park Bom pouted her lips and after much deliberation, with great effort,
“Is Uncle my dad?”
The only existence in her mind that could represent someone who wouldn’t abandon her, who would protect her and stay with her forever, was a father.
In response to that innocent question,
“Could Uncle be your dad?”
He asked back, and Spring happily jumped.
“Yes! I like it!”
“Alright, Uncle will be Spring’s dad from now on.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Park Ki-hyuk smiled. Park Bom smiled as well.
“Spring.”
“Daddy!”
The wall disappeared as they enveloped each other in a hug.
A single flower blossomed in Park Bom’s heart.
That’s how Park Ki-hyuk became a father.
Like spring flowers dazzlingly blooming, Spring’s father.
A helicopter flew away and people fell from the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom…!
Dust rose from the playground.
People leaping down without parachutes.
The White Tiger Corps. The representative military group of Optimum.
“Spread out.”
At Yoonbyeongna’s command, the entire White Tiger Corps went into search mode. Leading them was Park Min-ji, the captain of the White Tiger Corps.
“Where are you?”
She’d seen him before.
The head resembling a goat, the bizarrely twisted horns.
Baphomet.
It was unclear why the servant of darkness’s full body was present instead of just the head, but it was definitely her brother’s demon.
– Are you of your master’s bloodline? What a pity.
What was the pity about? It was clear when you saw the pile of bodies scattered beneath Baphomet’s feet.
– Are you of your master’s bloodline? Are you annoyed?
Was she annoyed?
“Not at all.”
She didn’t question the act of eliminating enemies. Especially if they were villains.
They deserved to d*e for the sake of the world.
– As expected, a member of the master’s bloodline. You please me. Shall we enter?
“Is Ki-hyuk here?”
– The master is not here. But…
Baphomet’s eyes curved like a crescent moon and smirked.
– There’s the ugliness of humanity.
Ugliness?
Park Min-ji stepped past Baphomet and opened the door, and at that moment, she fully understood what he meant by “the ugliness of humanity.”
Long rows of test tubes with children sleeping, dependent on respirators.
Park Min-ji took a deep breath and picked up the communicator.
“Yeon, bring the medical team. As many as possible.”
– What’s going on?
“…I’ll send you a picture.”
Min-ji found it hard to even say it, so she took a photo and sent it.
– Even the most barbaric intelligent beings are kind to their own kind, but humans are crueler toward their own. Isn’t it fascinating?
“Don’t call them humans. That’s disgusting. The ones beneath you aren’t the same as us.”
– Truly a member of the master’s bloodline, you speak similarly to your master.
“Where is Ki-hyuk?”
– He’s nearby. Shall I show you?
“Please…”
Ha-ha, asking a great demon for help, how ironic—almost made her laugh, but now finding her brother was the priority.
– I must guard this place.
With a sardonic smile, Baphomet severed the wrist of a corpse beneath him with his scythe.
The severed hand soon floated up,
And moved.
– Follow it, bl**d relative.
It was a truly wicked way, burying the dignity of humanity in the sewer.
Thus, Park Min-ji ran, chasing after the floating hand.
The hand pointed to the hill behind them—the location of the research facility.
Standing before her instincts’ confirmation, Park Min-ji approached the door of the research lab.
And finally, she saw the brother she had been searching for.
“Ki-hyuk?”
“Big sister.”
Whoosh.
Bowing before the roaring flames was her brother, Park Ki-hyuk.
A funeral rite imbued with the apology for failing to protect and the meaning of peace in d*ath.
A Requiem (Town Souls Festival).
Farewell to the children.
With this, the entire event finally came to an end.
…
…
“By the way, who’s the child in your arms?”
“It’s Spring, my daughter.”
“…!”
“Congratulations, big sister. You have a nephew.”
