After Ten Millennia in Hell

Epilogue Chapter 15 - Cherry Blossom Ending (1)

“Hey, Si-Hun. Yeah, yeah. It’s been a while, man.”

“You texted me to ask if I was free this weekend, right? Seol-Ah said it might be difficult because the house needs to be renovated or something this week.”

“She didn’t tell me the details. Something about tearing apart a room and building it anew.”

“Anyway, I think we’ll have some time next week. How about you guys?”

“Oh, that’s great. Shall we meet next week, then? Where do you guys wanna go?”

“Cherry blossom viewing? Isn’t it a bit late?”

“That’s true. The cherry blossoms don’t matter. I’d much rather spend time with you, Layla, and your daughter since it’s been so long. Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you next Saturday.”

“Yeah, you take care too. Sheesh, I love you, my ass. Don’t be disgusting. Say that to the sister-in-law.”

“Okay. I gotta go pick up the kids now.”

***

“Oh Kang-Hyun.”

“Here,” Kang-Hyun answered once the homeroom teacher called his name.

The teacher nodded and looked down at the attendance list for the next name.

“Jeon Yeong-Woong.”

“...”

“Jeon Yeong-Woong?”

The homeroom teacher looked up and turned toward the student sitting near the windows. A boy with a physique so large that one would never think they were in second year of elementary school, was apathetically looking out the window.

“Yeong-Woong?”

“Tsk.” The boy frowned displeasingly as the teacher repeated his name and glared at him. “You saw I was here. Wanna keep annoying me?”

“Ngh.”

The student was being disrespectful to the teacher. His hand holding the attendance list trembled in anger but he couldn’t scold the student. Yeon-Woong was one of the very few elementary school Players. He was still young but as a Player who could use mana, he was no different from a weapon.

Not only that but Yeong-Woong was considered a genius who garnered global attention before he enrolled in elementary school. He was not one a mere civil servant could dare touch.

‘Why does that brat have to be in my class of all classes...?’

The next class had an elementary school Player as famous— no, more famous than Yeong-Woong but the teacher had heard they were not a snotty brat like Yeong-Woong.

“A-Alright, next up is...”

The homeroom teacher smiled awkwardly and looked away to avert his gaze from Yeong-Woong. The boy clicked his tongue and looked back out the window.

“...”

Kang-Hyun sighed and shook his head after he stared intently at Yeong-Woong.

“Alright, let’s begin~ take out your textbooks.”

Their first class was history. Kang-Hyun opened his textbook and focused on the class as he took immaculate notes.

“Twenty years ago, when a Gate opened for the first time...”

Monsters swarmed out of those Gates and superhuman beings known as Players appeared.

“As you all know, the one who contributed the greatest in the final war in Seoul against the demons was Player Kim Si-Hun, also known as the Martial God. This will be on the test, so make sure you remember it.”

“...” Kang-Hyun’s hands stopped as he was taking notes. “It wasn’t,” he whispered to himself with his head down.

‘The one who saved the world in the final war... was my father.’

He wanted to yell at his teacher to teach the proper history but couldn’t bring himself to. Kang-Woo himself had wanted his name to be off of the history books.

‘I don’t understand.’

According to his mothers, his father had saved the world hundreds of times. Even now, he was traveling throughout the world to close Rifts that regular Players couldn’t handle. Despite his astonishing achievements, only a few people knew of his glory. No one worshiped or thanked his father. His name was washed away over the span of a decade.

‘Everyone should know more about my father.’

He wanted to push aside his homeroom teacher teaching false history and tell all his classmates how great his father was. However...

- Why did you do it?

- Huh? Do what?

- Why did you keep yourself off of history?

- Oh, that?

- Everyone remembers Uncle Si-Hun and not you!

- Yeah, because I made it that way.

- B-But then you would be—!

- Kang-Hyun.

His father smiled warmly and patted his head.

- It’s not about being remembered by everyone, but who you are remembered by.

Kang-Woo smiled as if it were nothing but Kang-Hyun couldn’t understand his father. He believed all actions came with a result; if those actions were saving the world, it was only natural they should result in a corresponding reward and fame.

If no one knew about the good deeds one had done for the world, no one would ever sacrifice themselves for others. Those who did bad things needed to be punished and those who did good things needed to be rewarded. Even Kang-Hyun knew that even though he was still young. Hence, he didn’t understand why his father sacrificed himself for others and asked for nothing in return.

“Haaa,” Kang-Hyun sighed.

He was sure his father would snicker and pat his head in silence if he shared his thoughts with him.

‘I’m not a child anymore.’

Kang-Hyun pouted and jotted down the false history his homeroom teacher taught him.

***

Kang-Hyun packed his bag after the fourth class ended and ate lunch. He went downstairs to the Grade 1 classrooms to go home with his sisters.

“Looks like they’re still eating lunch.”

He looked through the window and saw Lia and Kang-Hee eating lunch. Lia was surrounded by friends while Kang-Hee was eating by herself at a short distance away from the group.

“Urgh...”

Kang-Hyun groaned as he anxiously watched his little sister eating alone and turned around. Kang-Hee was very delicate so she might be hurt if she noticed him watching her.

“I’ll just... go for a walk.”

He couldn’t go home first and leave Kang-Hee and Lia. He decided to walk a lap around the school to kill time. Then, he heard something as he reached the back of the sports equipment storage room.

“Whine, whine.”

“Bwahaha! This son of a bitch is about to die!”

“Whoa, that’s fascinating. I guess a dog can still walk even with its leg broken.”

Kang-Hyun heard the whines of an animal from afar, along with malicious cackles and unpleasant voices.

“...”

Kang-Hyun stuck close to the wall and peeked out to observe what was happening. A dog with a broken leg was staggering as it struggled to stand and five boys were looking down at it as they laughed. He saw a familiar face among the five boys.

‘Jeon Yeong-Woong.’

He was the Player bully whom even the homeroom teacher couldn’t do anything against.

“What do you want to do with this dog, Yeong-Woong?”

“What else? I’m getting bored of it, so I’ll kill it.”

Yeong-Woong smiled nastily and picked up a rock from the ground.

“Take a good look. I’ll show you something awesome.”

A rapidly spinning rock was sent flying toward the dog.

“Whine!”

“Huh? That mutt dodged!”

“Fucking hell.” Yeong-Woong frowned displeasingly as he glared at the dog who dodged the rock. “Move over. I’ll hit it for sure this time.”

He snapped his fingers. This time, ten rocks floated into the air.

“Ngh...” Kang-Hyun grunted as he watched in silence.

‘It’s going to die.’

A dog with a broken leg couldn't dodge those attacks. Kang-Hyun clenched his fists and bit his lip.

‘What do I do? Should I bring a teacher?’

No, it would be over before he could.

‘Then should I...’

He wouldn’t be able to do anything even if he stepped up. There were five of them and one of them was a Player who could use mana.

‘Compared to him, I’m...’

He was nothing but a half-blood who couldn’t even use mana, much less demonic energy, despite being born as the Demon King’s son.

“...”

The thought that he did not need to step up crossed his mind. He did not need to endanger himself just to save a dog. Actions always came with a result— the action of stepping up to save that dog would cost him more than benefit.

‘Besides, no one would know about it.’

The only thing he would get from being brave would be merciless violence. Worst-case scenario, their target might change from the dog to him. There was far too much to lose and far too little to gain. Hence, stepping up in this situation was idiotic.

‘No one would care if one dog were to die.’

It was clearly abandoned, considering it had no leash and its fur was a mess. No one in the world would care if a dog with no owner died.

“Huuu.”

‘Yeah, let’s go back. No one would know even if I ran away. Lia, Kang-Hee, his father or mothers would know, so—’

- It’s not about being remembered by everyone, but who you are remembered by.

“...”

No, one person would remember it, and they would never forget it.

“Dammit...”

Even if no one else would know, Kang-Hyun would never forget it.

“Hey, Jeon Yeong-Woong.”

Kang-Hyun pulled himself off of the wall and stood before the boys. His legs were shaking and he could barely breathe. The sound of his pounding heart was deafening.

Yeong-Woong turned to Kang-Hyun and frowned.

“What the hell are you supposed to be...?”

‘Why the hell is he so big? Are we really the same age?’ Kang-Hyun thought as he clenched his fists.

“You don’t even know who’s right before you in our attendance list? Are you stupid?”

“No, I know. I’m asking what the hell you’re doing.” Yeong-Woong looked back and forth between the panting dog and Kang-Hyun. He scoffed and asked, “Is it because of this mutt?”

“I see so many mutts here that I’m not sure who you’re referring to,” Kang-Hyun answered.

“You fucking son of a bitch.”

“Mutts shouldn’t be picking on each other. Try to get along.”

“...”

Yeong-Woong’s expression hardened. He gestured to the four boys with his eyes and they charged at Kang-Hyun.

Kang-Hyun calmly examined the four boys and quickly turned his head to shout, “Teacher! Over here!!”

“Ngh.”

“What the hell?”

The charging boys stopped in their tracks. Kang-Hyun took this chance to weave between the boys.

‘I just need to face Yeong-Woong.’

The others were nothing more than Yeong-Woong’s lackeys. They would run away if Yeong-Woong was defeated.

“S-Son of a bitch!”

“Get him!”

The boys chased after Kang-Hyun after noticing they had been fooled but couldn’t catch up to him since they couldn’t use mana.

“Huup!”

Kang-Hyun swung his fist at Yeong-Woong. Although he couldn’t use mana or demonic energy, he was physically gifted thanks to his parents— he was far past the physical capacities of an elementary school student.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Yeong-Woong remarked.

Swoosh!

The rocks spinning above his hand smashed into Kang-Hyun.

“Kurgh!”

Pain as severe as being hit hard with a hammer spread throughout his body.

“You should choose your opponents wisely. What were you thinking, picking a fight with a Player?”

Yeong-Woong smiled nastily as he grabbed Kang-Hyun by his hair.

‘Now!’

Kang-Hyun threw the fistful of sand he had been clenching.

“Kurgh!”

Even a Player couldn’t help but instinctively shrink away if sand was thrown at their face. Yeong-Woong let go of Kang-Hyun and stepped back. Kang-Hyun charged at Yeong-Woong like a wild beast.

“Haaaap!”

Bash!

Kang-Hyun smashed his head into Yeong-Woong’s jaw.

‘I did it!’

It was a direct hit. Even a Player would pass out if they were hit hard enough on the jaw—

“Son of a bitch!”

Smash!

The swaying Yeong-Woong kicked Kang-Hyun.

“Kurgh! Urgh!”

Kang-Hyun tumbled across the ground.

“Kill that motherfucker!”

“You’re dead!”

The other boys caught up and kicked Kang-Hyun on the ground.

‘Dammit.’

Kang-Hyun curled up into a ball to endure their kicks.

‘If only I could use demonic energy.’

He resented the demonic energy inside him that didn’t budge even in this situation.

“Whine, whine.”

The injured dog staggered toward Kang-Hyun.

“Go away... you idiot.”

“Whine...”

“I guess mutts tend to attract one another,” Yeong-Woong said with a nasty smile.

He walked toward Kang-Hyun with a rock the size of a head floating in the air.

“Y-Yeong-Woong, this is a bit...”

“I-Isn’t that way too big?”

“Move.”

Yeong-Woong got closer to Kang-Hyun and the dog.

Just then, an expressionless voice echoed, “That’s enough for today, don’t you think?”

Yeong-Woong flinched and turned around. He saw a girl with silky hair that reached her waist. Despite her young age, one would describe her as beautiful rather than cute.

“Y-You’re...”

Yeong-Woong gulped.

She was Kim Si-Ah, the other elementary school Player in the class next to them. Everyone in the same year as her knew who she was. No, probably everyone in this school— scratch that, everyone in Korea knew who she was. That was how famous of a Player she was.

Although Yeong-Woong was hailed as a genius since he was little, he was nothing but a candlelight before the sun that was Kim Si-Ah. After all, she was the daughter of the famous Martial God Kim Si-Hun.

Si-Ah unsheathed the bamboo sword from her belt and asked, “Or what? Do you wanna fight me too?”

Blue sword energy burst from the bamboo sword.

“L-Let’s go, guys!”

Yeong-Woong quickly turned around and ran away after seeing the sword energy around the bamboo sword. His four lackeys followed suit.

“...”

“...”

An awkward silence fell once Yeong-Woong and the others left. Si-Ah placed the bamboo sword back on her waist and walked toward the collapsed Kang-Hyun.

“Are you okay...?” she asked.

“Oh. Yeah, I’m fine.” Kang-Hyun got up, helped by Si-Ah, and bowed his head. “Thanks for helping me.”

“I wasn’t trying to help you,” Si-Ah answered coldly and looked down at the dog with the broken leg. She whispered, “You moron... You’re so nosy for a weakling.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing.” Si-Ah snorted as she turned around and walked away elegantly. “Oh, right.”

As she turned the corner, she peeked out of the corner as she scratched the wall with her nails.

“We’re going to view cherry blossoms... next Saturday.”

“Cherry blossoms?” Kang-Hyun asked in confusion.

“Yeah. Your family and mine.”

“Oh.”

“So... umm...” Si-Ah’s lips quivered as she turned away from Kang-Hyun and shouted, “G-Get better by then!”

She disappeared as her hair fluttered in the wind.