Chapter 2: Return
Near Mount Hwangnyong.
The empty air split open, creating a fissure.
A dimensional gate, now called a Gate.
Yoo jin walked out from where the space had split.
Only trees were visible before his eyes.
It wasn't a scenery that made one feel at a glance that they had returned to Earth.
Because what was currently visible before Yoo jin’s eyes wasn't significantly different from the forests of Alkarthus.
However.
A smile began to spread across Yoo jin’s lips.
He could feel at once that this place was a completely different dimension from Alkarthus, where he had spent 100 years.
That was an intuition acquired over 100 years and a collection of experiences built up while being called the War God.
“I’m back.”
He barely held back tears that were about to burst out.
It took too long.
It was the year marking exactly 100 years since he was suddenly dragged to the otherworld.
Yoo jin had finally returned to Earth, which he had longed for so much.
“I can finally keep the promise.”
He couldn't calm his excited mood.
Because he had wished for it so much.
Attacked by unknown monsters.
Surviving somehow even while unable to sleep due to the howling of wolves.
In the end, he was called the War God and unified the entire continent, but there was never a single day that was easy during that long time.
That made him even happier.
To have returned to Earth alive.
To be able to keep the promise more important than life.
“Eun-ho…….”
He called out that name he hadn’t spoken aloud for 100 years, only swallowing it inside, for the first time in a long while.
He thought he should go meet his student first.
“Come to think of it, is the time same? Surely 100 years haven't passed on Earth too like in the continent…….”
Yoo jin, who was turning his body, froze just like that.
Because of a young man who entered his view.
Between the trees revealing themselves densely.
The last land of the mountain stretching long into the empty air.
A youthful young man was standing at the edge of the cliff.
Yoo jin felt his whole body stiffen in an instant.
Many thoughts rushed into his mind.
Especially, one overly clear incident was creeping up and filling his mind.
However, Yoo jin had rolled in the otherworld for 100 years.
There were many events that couldn't be easily spoken of until obtaining the title of War God.
Was it because of that?
The body was awkward, but the mind was not.
Grind!
Yoo jin clenched his molars strongly.
He forcibly awakened his body, which had momentarily stiffened due to past trauma.
‘Get a hold of yourself. If it’s the same as back then, I wouldn't have even returned.’
Yoo jin slowly moved his legs.
Towards the man barely hanging on at the edge of the cliff.
Stomp stomp.
As the sound of Yoo jin’s footsteps rang out, the body of the man standing at the edge of the cliff turned around.
Yoo jin’s eyes shook violently.
There were several reasons, but the biggest reason was that the man he thought was an adult was actually a student wearing a school uniform, and that too, the school uniform he knew……
And truly life and death.
Because he was making an expression as if weighing his own life.
As Yoo jin’s eyes, which were trembling violently, calmed down.
It came into view accurately.
The face of the crying student.
“…….”
Perhaps the student, whose face was covered in tears and snot, also discovered Yoo jin, as a change began to occur in his expression slightly.
“Who is it, there hasn't been a person at this time not even once…….”
From the student’s voice, Yoo jin could deduce a few things.
That that child had come here several times…….
And perhaps every time.
“Why are you trying to die?”
At Yoo jin’s voice, this time the eyes of the student wearing the school uniform trembled violently.
An expression asking how on earth he knew.
“What does it matter to you.”
Not a single intention to hide was visible.
He must be that desperate.
That’s why he really intended to die this time.
“Well, it doesn't matter. But it’s not a situation to just pass by, is it? When a student is trying to commit suicide right in front of my eyes.”
At the word suicide, the student’s lips trembled.
However, he did not utter any words.
Only his complexion becoming paler.
“I don't know what happened, but come here for now since it’s dangerous. It’s dangerous there.”
As Yoo jin took a step forward, the student’s foot retreated backward.
Clatter…….
Perhaps hit by the retreating foot, a small stone fell down the cliff.
Yoo jin’s eyebrows drew a diagonal line.
“What are you doing, I said it’s dangerous…….”
“What does it matter!”
Yoo jin’s eyebrows expressed a distortion of emotion at the student’s sharp voice.
“Whether a student dies or not. What does it matter to you, seeing me for the first time.”
“…….”
Expression disappeared from Yoo jin’s face.
“Please just go! Don't be a busybody!”
It was a well-known fact that rebelliousness gets added when wearing a school uniform.
Because it is also a time when one doesn't want to listen to anyone's words.
And even right words sound only like nagging.
However, the student’s shout contained something beyond that.
Something contained within small resentment.
Probably many things are contained, but what is felt most significantly is.
The heart that cannot trust adults.
Still, Yoo jin was just looking at the crumpled student’s face without saying anything.
“…….”
The student, who was pouring out passionate resentment, captured the quiet Yoo jin in his eyes and crushed his lips.
“Tch.”
The student clicked his tongue once and turned his body again.
To push away Yoo jin facing this awkward atmosphere.
“Adults are all selfish. Turning their backs when actually needed.”
That was clearly a soliloquy.
Even to the rising sun.
A very small soliloquy enough to be buried even in the sound of blowing wind.
However.
Contained in that soliloquy so small that it would be devoured by everything around.
Perhaps.
The true heart of this child, who was suffering alone because no one recognized it.
Light began to return to Yoo jin’s eyes, where expression had disappeared.
Hundred years.
During those hundred years that were too long.
Yoo jin became strong enough to catch a dragon with bare hands, and strong enough to destroy a kingdom with his own power alone.
However, more than such power.
More than the distant strength transcending humans.
There was one thing Yoo jin learned even more greatly.
“Hey, kid.”
Yoo jin’s mouth, which had been firmly closed, opened.
At that sound, the student’s head moved halfway back.
The sun rose between the gazes that met.
“It’s not only adults who are selfish. You are the same.”
“What do you know to say such things…….”
“I don't know. No, even if I knew, I would have said the same. Seeing a guy trembling at a cliff like a loser while blaming others.”
Snap.
“I said stop being a busybody and go! I’m already dying of hardship even without you!”
Demonic energy began to boil around the student’s body.
The instantly increased demonic energy ignited, creating an aura visible to the eye.
‘Ho-oh.’
He didn't make a sound, but Yoo jin pursed his lips as if whistling without realizing it.
Although not yet ripened, a quite strong and dense power was felt.
Then suddenly such a thought occurred.
“You, why are you trying to die while possessing such strong power?”
“Strong……, me?”
Yoo jin’s eyes narrowed.
It was a short moment, but Yoo jin definitely saw.
The student’s expression wavering.
“Don't tell me you don't even know that you yourself are strong?”
“Stop saying weird things! What strong! I always…… always only get beaten by those guys…….”
The wavering pupils fell downwards.
The student’s two fists, with gaze lowered, were trembling.
It was a short conversation, but Yoo jin could reach a conclusion in his own way.
“I don't know who those guys are, but did you try to die because you get beaten by them and adults don't recognize it? Like a fool?”
Veins popped up on the trembling fists.
“Don't talk as if you know everything since earlier. do you know with what heart I come here every morning? Every morning here, at here…….”
Just as the trembling of the fists transferred to the shoulders, the student’s shoulders began to tremble greatly.
Yoo jin moved his eyeballs quickly.
A tree not too far from the cliff.
It was captured that there were scorched marks on several trees.
And it was seen that the student’s school uniform jacket was wet in places.
Traces of struggle.
No, a desperate writhing.
It was Yoo jin who discovered that.
Therefore, he could say those words he had thought of countless times only now.
“Hey, kid.”
The corners of Yoo jin’s mouth slowly lifted.
If given a chance just once.
I will not repeat the same mistake again.
At that time, not a name in vain.
I will become a real teacher.
Possessing the weapon called sincerity.
Nowhere else in the world.
Such a teacher.
Grin.
“Jump.”
Silence arrived behind Yoo jin’s voice.
Sound disappeared, but that didn't mean movement stopped.
Especially, the eyes of the student facing him were shaking ceaselessly.
“What are you saying…….”
“I said jump, you said you want to die.”
“…….”
The student’s expression doubting his own ears.
“You said so. That they turned their backs when actually needed. So, I will watch clearly for you. As an adult. And as a teacher.”
“What are you saying right now…….”
“Jump! Stop behaving like a baby!”
Yoo jin’s voice devoured everything.
Even the darkness being devoured by the sunlight.
Even the bird sounds greeting the morning.
Even the student’s expression.
Silence continued.
Whether receiving a big shock.
The student froze like a person whose soul had left.
For the first time.
While unable to turn his eyes away from a man scolding him sincerely.
And a small soliloquy that seemed audible yet inaudible continued.
“If you really want to die, that is.”
Yoo jin’s gaze, which was facing him, slowly headed to the tree.
The tree trunk with surface peeled off and scorched.
Yoo jin knows.
That a guy who wants to die would absolutely never do something called effort.
Perhaps that student.
The words that student wants to hear.
Towards the student whose soul had left, Yoo jin tried to open his mouth.
“You actually…….”
At that moment.
Boom!
“Kuweeeek!!”
The vibration of the ground and a tremendous roar rang from behind his back.
Yoo jin’s body turned around quickly.
“Uh-oh? Why is this guy…….”
The protagonist of the sudden scream was a Drake.
A monster that was quite high-ranking in Alkarthus as well, excluding Yoo jin’s disciples called the Three Gods.
That made it even more incomprehensible.
Why such a high-ranking monster appeared here.
“What is this? It’s not even a dungeon break, so how did a monster pop out…….”
Whether the situation was the situation.
The student, who had lost his soul, had come to his senses before anyone knew it and was capturing the Drake in his eyes.
Wait…… come to think of it.
The conversation shared with the Archmage right before the return came to mind in Yoo jin, who was capturing the Drake in his eyes.
‘Keep in mind. As soon as you return, close the dimensional gate first. If not…….’
“She did say reckless things would cross over, right?”
Yoo jin’s gaze headed towards the back of the Drake.
The dimensional gate he used when crossing over from Alkarthus to Earth.
Fizzle―.
Whether it caused a rampage because it wasn't closed in time, the surface was continuously widening.
“Haha…….”
Yoo jin, who was letting out an awkward laugh, smacked his lips.
It was partly because he couldn't speak of his own mistake out loud.
But the bigger reason was.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Kuweeeek!!”
Because the Drake, with its huge mouth open, was running towards the cliff.
“Don't be scared, it’s nothing much. Don't step backward for no reason…….”
Yoo jin turned his head towards the student behind him.
“What, where did he go?”
However, Yoo jin’s question was resolved by the sound that rang out soon after.
“Aaaack!!”
The figure of the student falling down the cliff entered Yoo jin’s view.
“He really jumped.”