Chapter 206 – Footprints (2)
duaSHe was around seventeen. Of course, I’m not talking about now—I mean in my previous life.VRAHy
TGK1Anyway.53BD1
jVDI’d gotten lost. But my “detour” wasn’t anything serious—I had just stopped going to class.qQxHae
8prpI had the kind of personality that kept me from doing anything truly bad, so “aimless” was probably the most accurate word.R89WF
1cL3I knew even then that I wasn’t at the right age to be going through that phase.5hlPdlT
dyvzwwdBut looking at it another way, it was during those turbulent years that I managed to calm the storm.U4GVnd
BIaEc2BAt that time, I suppressed my teenage emotions and tried to imitate an adult.0AVm
KESIIFaking maturity, faking indifference.
A youth full of pretending.
That’s how it was until I graduated high school.MdMAHF
5RTNsAnd it was all because of my family.b4r7Xjj
PGJWhat I remember of my home life was the worst. Even if I tried to see it optimistically, it would be hard to deny it was absolute trash.fwhg5
WpgaaUeI won’t go into too much detail. I have no intention of digging up such a disgusting past. Besides, who wants to hear about miserable family tragedies? But if I had to sum it up—OGsI
ROXrMIt was a gutter life, lower than most could ever imagine.CC2T
goLeVSIf we had just been poor, I could’ve accepted that. But no—it was worse.XNvo
iyHXEven a world full of castes and demons seemed better than that.fI93SB9
hDCZThe shadow of a “civilized” society can be darker than the demon realm itself.D65
akvIn any case, it was because of that indescribable family that I ran away from home on the day I graduated high school.TQwRneS
djKbxI couldn’t live in that hellhole any longer.H9W
uR7I escaped.k7Zmawi
RhNThough more than an escape, it was a final departure. And I began wandering the streets.ecY
1twI had left, but had nowhere to go. I was too old for a youth shelter and had no relatives I could turn to.e7bExN6
39sPVNo money, and no way to earn it. In Korea, teens are strictly prohibited from working.FMpVtsx
AkE0KXI felt like the whole world had abandoned me. I never caused a scene, never acted childish. And yet, the world showed me no kindness.nutCat
EgwRQjSo my mind started to empty out. I was losing my will to live. And that was when I met my Master.gsI
O38q.
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.aZNUy
ih1OqCU‘…Hey, kid. What are you doing out here in the rain?’AYY
5nEA man approached while I was curled up in an alley, playing with cigarette butts.LsRVa
SfpThe left sleeve of his shirt fluttered in the wind and rain.s57
uSo6nutHe tilted the umbrella in his right hand slightly toward me.L1ACPCz
HJfOnly then did the rain stop pounding on me. I looked up at him without a word and snapped coldly.6kS7p
X06d‘And who are you, old man? If you’re going to act like you’re in some drama, take it elsewhere. Don’t bother someone who’s just sitting here quietly.’SGP8
uSiKThat harsh tone was just my way of protecting myself. I knew he didn’t mean harm, but at the time, I reacted like that to everything.45q
GSs‘Well, look at you. You’re like a fish out of water, and yet you glare like that. But I like sharp eyes. That’s good.’sszX09u
teF4tiThe man looked at me with an amused expression and gave a slight smile.rZSr40
rt1210‘Also—if you’ve got that much energy to talk, do something about that stomach of yours. The rumbling was so loud we heard it inside the restaurant. Never heard anything like it.’iZwr4
kyZEpD‘…R-restaurant?’5kIdbG3
cuh5The man jerked his chin toward the brick wall I was leaning on.XU956f9
zav‘The place you’re sitting against is my restaurant.’6Fz7EIs
KMfI looked at the sign.864jV
hehla“Busan Bam-bada” (Night Sea of Busan).qtw05jh
Lrl126Pretty cheesy name.2UtM
npiRhN0‘No wonder no customers came today…’s5HZt
Sbk2PAlthough honestly, that name probably wasn’t helping.Fatq95
AL7yU‘If you stay here, you’ll scare off what little business I get. Go find somewhere else to squat.’Yit
1ermtDpHe said that, then turned and walked away.ldjN4L
2zpQeWSplash.tCR4V2
bGvThe rain began pummeling me again. The heavy drops slammed the ground and sprayed water in every direction.u0hIdw
SjdoStep.6Notjle
EAcupHe walked a few steps and sighed. Then he spoke over his shoulder.M38Bs
iCCqam‘And relax those eyes, kid. I’ve been using knives for twenty years, but you’re the one who looks like he’s about to stab someone.’CR3
Fr6wL‘Old man… Are you a cook or something?’m2wWov
Yull‘Yeah. A cook with knives.’nTj
Jx4PQI looked at his outfit more carefully.lE6
O8eUA crisp white shirt and trousers. A navy apron tied around his waist. Clearly, a Japanese cuisine chef.4Er6K6h
qBmWGz7He tilted his head and added,JDcUdf
uutz‘Anyway, if you’re going to loiter, at least come inside and get out of the rain. I don’t want to be hauling out a swollen corpse in the morning.’Pczdadr
4cs‘……’NzGjM
ZrO‘Today’s business is already a bust anyway. One more beggar won’t make a difference.’p9yBMN
SC4AlxI watched him walk away.frfmGbb
uPHAnd for some reason, I stood up.vyD
SvBiMy feet followed after him.J6CfZSh
su17The man gave a slight smile and opened the restaurant door for me.YOaQPaA
b8qAWyWThat day, maybe he opened more than just a door.QofUgf
0N1q8b…Or maybe he just gained a new worker he could exploit.Mpclq6
tbY3AAnd it wouldn’t be a stretch—he cussed me out every hour of the day.MzNXMBZ
w0v“You ruined the snapper, you moron! Do you know how expensive that fish is? Go apologize to it. Tell it you’re sorry for killing it twice.”3dFe
uSkcuLD“I told you not to hold the knife like that, didn’t I?! Look closely! Rest your index finger on the sashimi blade. That’s the only way to get an even slice, you useless brat.”NfG
oWaIK3C“How does someone with two hands cut worse than me—with only one that works? If you’re gonna waste it like that, give it here, I’ll take it!”9nex
h2Pvh“You’ve been getting cocky lately just ’cause customers praise you, huh? That’s exactly why you need to stay humble. Don’t you know mature rice bends low? There’s no end in the world of sashimi.”sG3bx
xLQOne day, I snapped and shouted.cOSa9
JB78R“My ears are bleeding! And every time you call me, it’s ‘Hey idiot,’ ‘Oi, you,’ ‘Useless punk’—why can’t you call me by my name just once?”UEs
2YvgLoF“And you? You’ve been living with me for two months and still call me ‘old man.’ Why can you do that and I can’t?”Ng4
Le8ur“So what, I’m supposed to call you by your name? Want me to call you that?”aZ2k4
6PJk5zH“There’s a decent word for it—Master.”1kJzK0g
rBBqm6A“…Master, my ass.”lxmtfmj
kfammyQ“Ha… You little brat. Close the shop! No fish today—I’ll fillet you instead!”5yrtQ
wz5h“Officer! This ex-gangster is trying to kill me!”yNtqu
qTfThat was our daily life—constant chaos. And before I knew it, a year had nearly passed. It was early winter.dhj
iIR6y2COne day, the old man suddenly asked me a question.70qt
vnv“Don’t you ever feel frustrated?”mTWk
8Yi7vS1He wasn’t even looking at me.7Vw7
B9D1NDgHe was watching some students walk past the shop.kn3U
1KlKnPh“Frustrated? About what? That you work me to death for a few coins?”rsl
AAhV“No point in using formal speech if you’re just gonna talk back. I’m not talking about that. I mean… don’t you want to wear a school uniform? Study like them? Live a normal life?”qLP2q
ov2I tilted my head while still sweeping the front of the shop.wv58Vo
4Xv“Frustrated about that? They and I just live in different worlds.”Q0WZ
e5lJAt those words, he looked a bit sad. Then, with a firm voice, he said,CjqrmZ
LTF2Z“You’re also just a regular teenager. You have the same rights as anyone.”QFkP8
DfWqwPv“What, have you been drinking in broad daylight? Why are you saying all this out of nowhere?”0lugkDN
1EZ“I want you to go to school someday. Whether it’s university, grad school, or even an academy.”iIteRzh
JGxZ“All of a sudden? Besides, I only finished high school. I’m not interested in studying.”uvoEM
rWB0Li“You need to learn how to interact with people. You can only get that by mixing with people your age. You, who have no social skills whatsoever, need it more than anyone.”CZXi
BZ2dFZ“……”jl5vY
fD5UM“If you really want to go to school… I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.”J2Vd8l
uIj.
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.N3Ia
y9bMNow I finally understand.B311hG
FuFG2“Come, Balor Joaquin.”sQtRrnB
uv4MPFsNow I understand why the old man said those words.Kpr
H7YLAE“Kill Lycan… and guide humanity’s survival. Then you’ll become the founder of all heroes.”LbH
yv4***P7KDRA
0IgyiTwo beings walked across the vast, boundless territory of the Demon Realm, Gehenna.8eChK
v73Both pointed their swords at each other, tense, unwilling to yield even a single step.Tq62m
FkBHHThe air trembled, releasing a sound akin to a beast’s howl.hbx2
IxcThe entire atmosphere quaked under the pressure of their presence, a clear omen of the imminent clash between light and darkness.m8V
yhzBoom!9a7DIF
gM5OkAt the moment the lightning struck, Lycan launched his attack.Ky8xML
BGoZJThe ground burst beneath his feet as he exploded forward, closing the distance to Balor Joaquin in the blink of an eye.eIb5
hWx9At close range, Lycan swung his lightning-forged sword, crackling with thunder.eSypM
PTX9A yellow trail cut through the air, aiming straight for the human’s throat.3U5U
yJZXUjSo absurdly fast that no mortal could possibly react.0xAN
eiq1xAnd it wasn’t a metaphor—every one of his movements truly flashed like lightning.HjTYGU
ij7KhtqBut Balor’s eyes followed that trajectory precisely.67WAu
xki0BE3His senses, pushed to their limits, approached perfection.wKKr
Z5VIn that instant, when time itself lost meaning, Balor raised his Sacred Sword, Gram.wfm
Om7bj57Black and white. White and black.xxM8Ueu
zILvOTwo opposing forces collided at a single point.8dbsO6
dAISsshhhh—g0T
UjqcInstead of an explosion, a searing white hum burst forth.CdnRH
CIWcr8TThe impact was so massive that the very sound lost its shape and function.3SpQ
05FekcGBalor twisted his waist with force.epmJ
2FYThe blade of Gram, as it swung, absorbed the light and tore through space as if devouring it.QZomIuB
EncFaced with that terrifying arc, Lycan responded instinctively, using lightning magic both to defend and counter.6EKib
W9smBolts of lightning began crashing into the ground.F0s
8xmPg“Chain Lightning.”RdPv5VO
mnqt4Another roar of thunder echoed.H0E
mA8vHnBFrom there, everything was ruled by instinct.GamhmxZ
fOWIoumThere was no longer room for thought—only the body’s reactions remained.wcVCNnF
4RLGskRBalor cut through the lightning with his blade.mhKRHG
Pgi5Some fragments of shattered lightning shredded the air.TjHdx
GWAH9QTThe lightning blade clashed against Gram.zCCf
idoAUBeneath them, the ground began to melt from the heat.5NH1Wvz
1kc4fBLycan drew back his sword slightly, then thrust it forward in a stabbing motion.ykWPf
5YJoHe wasn’t defending—he was forcing a counterattack. Balor held his breath and raised his right arm. From below, a pillar of light surged skyward.UAgsc
DKUcmarThe sword’s energy split the clouds. The two combatants traded blows without moving from their places.8pIf
F289nDEven so, their surroundings were utterly obliterated.yK4uG
2EJxkCaThe land trembled, swaying like a swing, losing its axis.SJD
scWpLycan was awestruck. What a waste that someone like him was still just a mortal.ZthFvym
E05BkMost of all, that steadfast will and unshakable power—his own arm, the one that had attacked, felt stiff from the resistance.HmT
pDt0NzThis man defied all logic.7oGFn
P0dMIn wonder, Lycan unleashed even greater power.NUH15K
f26y5“Lightning Punishment.”tu3x
221qLZOCrash! Boom! Rumble!ine5
EjfvEDLightning rained down without end. Hundreds, thousands, millions… the bolts, yellow at first, then blood red, lit up the sky.RwK
ZvCcKZhThe mountains of flesh and blood that blanketed the area were reduced to ash. Balor swept his right arm horizontally.Hn1yViz
NMqsthA white wave devoured all the lightning in its path.rAS
Nw8In the midst of that chaos, Balor gathered even more power. Then he brought his sword down.0vFelG
45tDuSlash!pHimV
15FWA pure white ray grazed Lycan’s shoulder. The ground beside him wavered like a shimmering heat haze.tBC
uQzBalor’s strike had carved a void. The air, once filled with magic, became a total vacuum.jDW
7OquThe echo of that emptiness rang out coldly.Kkhv
JAdsLycan froze in disbelief. He shivered—and then, like a madman, burst into laughter.tuh9PGB
2vTds“Yes… it’s a shame someone like you can’t become a hero.”0DL
BZEks“…….”YWmy
OULcYe“But I’ve had enough warm-up.”q9mU
u6smlTFLycan’s eyes began to glow with a verdant light. Balor pointed his blade at him and replied.zKsKN
9YV“Let’s end this, Lycan.”9ccJ
FlkkkHSmoke rose from his left arm. Flesh and bone began to disintegrate.Ii8jMV7
dGnWbNLycan’s pupils shrank.Kr1
OcOcz8“The power of ‘Him’… Not even you, Balor Joaquin, can withstand it in that body. Such an incredible… and cruel power. But still, show me.”3i5fWag
5TR51Balor calmly gazed at his dissolving arm. He thought an arm is a small price to pay for this power.xfOIjy
NBhLycan spoke again, his voice mad with euphoria.6lj
WSB“The power to Defy the Heavens—The power that can even cut down the gods.”hQM
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaWe finally get Mc backstory and now I think about it it’s sad backstory.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaRude as fuck.