Try Living Well Without Me

“Long ago, or… about ten thousand years ago from now, there lived a martial artist. He was a young, brave warrior of the Namgung family. His abilities were quite outstanding. He was one of the Nine Dragons, after all. Moreover, he was an incredibly blessed martial artist. There’s nothing more blessed than living without worries, happily every day, with two children from his beloved wife.”

The bitches are looking at me with the eyes of lunatics, but I don’t stop.

The reason is simple: I don’t feel like stopping.

“There came a great darkness into the shining days of this martial artist: the Blood Cult and the Demon Sect. It was a frightening, endless, unfathomable darkness. The world was dyed in blood, and people’s hearts grew cold. The blessed life of the martial artist plunged into the abyss of despair.”

At the mention of the familiar terms, the bitches’ eyes changed.

At this point, I can’t help but hesitate.

If I go further, an irrevocable event may occur.

But eventually, I continue talking. The rising anger and frustration, the overwhelming sense of betrayal that no one listens to, strongly overpowers my reasoning.

“But this young martial artist had a special ability: the power to turn back time. It was an extremely terrible ability but also, like a streak of light. A singular salvation, and at the same time, an eon of suffering. Nevertheless, this young martial artist loved his family and the world, so he threw himself into a repetitive cycle, oblivious to his own fading self.”

One of the bitches was still staring at me with a grotesque look, but the other one’s gaze towards me began to change.

Regardless, I continued until the end.

“Every time the world was on the brink of destruction, the pitiable young man rewound time. Until when? Until he succeeded! To protect his beloved family and the world! Even when it meant abandoning his humanity and enduring extreme humiliation, he did not give up, and persistently reversed time. Then, a miracle happened. In this world destined for destruction, the first flicker of light appeared. That is the world we live in today.”

The woman whose gaze had changed now showed growing shock in her eyes.

A sigh-like remark escaped her parted lips.

“Se, surely… the reason why the movements of the Blood Cult were always known beforehand was because of this…”

“Ah? How does that fit together? They worked hard to defame me. This Sword Sage, who has put more effort than anyone else in the world to drive out the Blood Cult and the Demon Sect! They claimed I could do it because I was collaborating with the Blood Cult. Hahaha.”

“Hey man! Come to your senses! Are you really going to believe such absurd nonsense? Can time reversal even make sense?”

Such, one of them doesn’t believe a word.

Of course, no matter what, my complaints will continue.

“Anyway, somehow I managed to save the martial world, and then what? They consider me a criminal! The salvation of the martial world was hypocrisy, they said, alleging all kinds of corruption, including sexual crimes and pedophilia! Talking about inhuman acts like cannibalism, completely absurd nonsense, yet they all believed it. Reflecting on it now, I understand somewhat. Everyone needed somewhere to vent their anger—losing their families, friends, and comrades to the Blood Cult. So they vented their anger on this new Grand Master of the Sword Sage. And now, it’s come to this…”

Seems like I can’t go any further.

Phwoosh!

As the woman began to realize one of the great truths of the world, suddenly, she spewed blood.

Directly into my face.

Thanks to that, my hair and top are completely soaked in blood, but whatever.

“Hhm… Ek… Wuuwheek…!”

“Sa, Sang-hi! What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”

The other one seemed fine, not believing what I said.

Tsk, it would’ve been nice if she had died—what a waste.

“Ah, irritating.”

Though I said I have no intention of mischief, it seems like my mind has changed again.

The middle and index fingers inside my sleeve are contracting in a circle, ready to explode any moment now.

“So, you think a person of insufficient ‘level’ should just know the will of the heavens and remain unscathed? You didn’t realize that they were not on the same level?”

“What, what…?”

Thinking about it, I’m pissed again.

It’s not them I’m mad at. I’m angry at the heavens.

The heavens that gave me the ability to regress and bestowed upon me an eternity of loneliness and pain.

Even the idea that the concept of heavenly mandate (天命) might wear out hasn’t crossed their minds. Why impose such restrictions that I can’t confide in anyone, can’t lean on anyone?

Regression is hard enough. Why can’t I lean on people? Isn’t this whole setup making me suffer, suspecting that someone is trying to make me miserable?

“If it’s come to this, I only have one question: Why did you insult me?”

“That, that’s because… You are a hideous criminal who committed terrible crimes!”

“Hmm, alright. I just feel bad listening to that now.”

The latent Tan Ji Gong erupted piercing through the woman’s brow.

With a hole the size of a finger in her head, she stood stunned for a moment before collapsing lifelessly.

There was no longer any hint of life in her eyes.

“Damn it, even though I caused an incident, my anger doesn’t subside.”

Seeing blood again after so long, I want to see more.

Precisely the blood of those who insulted, defamed, and slandered me.

Although during the regression era I referred to myself as an ’emotionless machine,’ that only applied to positive emotions such as happiness and joy.

The fear of heading toward a dark future, the sorrow of losing someone close again, the fury against the heavens that tossed me a hero’s destiny and disappeared, and…

The torment of solitude, wondering if I’ll end up alone for billions of years.

All these negative emotions and sufferings accumulate in my heart, never disappearing.

Even if I rewind time, even if my torn and severed body returns, my heart remains the same.

I’m not an iron man, not a saint.

I’m just an ordinary human like all of you. No matter how much I brainwash myself into appearing strong and unbroken, the pain inside continues to torment me for eternity.

And yet, after enduring so much, what do you say? That I’m a criminal, a villain?

“…Damn.”

A breath filled with anger escapes my lips.

Rage against the world that didn’t honor its heroes and the heavens that created such a world.

Slowly, very slowly, I make my way towards the Great Hall.

My hands full of murderous intent, heading toward my good-for-nothing younger brother who’s in there waiting to be torn apart.

“Ha, ha.”

Each sigh feels like a release, continuously escaping from my lips.

Why the hell did I keep swallowing it all this time? What was the reason for acting according to the so-called ‘public justification’?

I don’t know. For now, while I feel good and my mind is clear, I don’t think too deeply about it.

I just want to unleash this liberation and fury.

Although I look like I’m stained with blood, what does it matter if I’ll have more to smear myself with soon anyway?

Creeeeeak!

“Kyeeek!”

“Gah! House Lord! What is this appearance!”

“It’s blood! Blood! The Sword Sage has committed murder!”

“…Older Brother?”

“Dear…?”

“Ah, Father…!”

If only I had been this way from the start, I might have been at ease much sooner.

“Are you all well? Haha, let’s start the Namgung meeting then. Isn’t it delaying everything since the house leader arrived late?”

I walk through without hesitation and sit at the Chairman’s seat.

Although the gazes of Yu Soeun and Namgung Su-a tremble greatly as they look at me, I barely pay attention.

I’m solely focused on my younger brother, Namgung Bin, sitting directly across from me at the long round table.

“Well, let’s get started. Why are you all sitting around idly? Let’s discuss the first agenda item.”

But no matter how long I wait, the officers, thoroughly perplexed, show no signs of starting the meeting.

In the end, guess I have to take the lead again.

“Fine. Then let me, the house lord, begin. Not sure if all of you remember, but there was a trade company called Cheolyang Trading Company that was friendly with us. The first agenda is regarding that company’s situation…”

“Just a moment, House Lord. There’s something I need to say before we start the meeting.”

Namgung Bin interrupts me with his spiel, something oddly familiar.

“Oh, is that so? Then please state your matter.”

As I was about to give him the floor,

“The Elder Council, the officers, and all members unanimously agreed to… dismiss you, Brother…”

“Hold on a moment. Stop right there.”

“…is what I was going to say.”

Damn, I can’t stand listening to it.

I already know what he’s going to say. They’re probably going to tell me to step down from the position of house leader.

For some reason, the scene flashes in my mind.

But letting the situation of boring, infuriating nonsense unfold as it is…with my current state of freedom, I can’t let that happen.

I feel like I can freely swing my sword and invoke bloody chaos without hesitation.

Jerk-jerk.

“Young brother.”

“…?”

Standing up, I stride confidently toward Namgung Bin. The kid looks at me curiously, wondering what I’m up to.

Let’s start with those eyes—after all, unseen fear is always the greatest.

I know this from the time I had my eyes gouged out while being used as a Blood Demon’s plaything.

“I don’t know why you slandered me. That guy who helped me in every way during the Holy Blood War—you really envied and hated me that much? I can’t understand it.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Hmm… it’s a suggestion not to take the unfairness too seriously. In the end, it’s all because of you. Did you really think I would keep tolerating you like a fool forever? You’re smart, you should’ve predicted something like this would happen eventually, right?”

“Kyyy! Brother… stop! Just please… stop, for a moment…!”

I extend two fingers. The distance between us when my hand started at my waist was about ten paces; yet, by the time my index and middle fingers touched his eyeballs, the distance between us had shortened to barely a foot.

Squish!

“Aaahhhhh!!!”

“…!”

“…!”

And now, the people who couldn’t do anything while I was moving, suddenly spring to action as soon as the situation is over.

Proof that all of you together can’t stop me.

“Young brother.”

“Ghhh… Brother…!”

As I pull my fingers back, both Namgung Bin’s eyeballs remain stuck on them, leaving his blood vessels spurting red streams down his face.

“I’ll pluck your mouth last.”

“I’m sorry… I’ve made a mistake… Please, stop… Guh!”

“…”

How conveniently things are resolved when I exert a bit of force. Every day, I rediscover this undeniable truth.

In fact, I knew this all along.

But if I let out my emotions like this, things may go well, but I won’t be able to control myself.

Now, I don’t even care about that anymore.

Swoosh.

I sweep a manic gaze over the executives. At the end of the line, I see Yu Soeun and Namgung Su-a staring at me with eyes filled with shock and fear.

“Please wait for just a moment.”

I toss the eyeballs, still stuck to my fingers, on the floor while addressing them.

“I’ll disassemble our beloved younger brother first and bring him over to you.”

Ah, I’m angry.

But I don’t want to endure it anymore.

Why do I feel so light-hearted?

It’s not like a person can change overnight.

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