The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board-Chapter 388

"Has it been a year already?"

"Hmm… It's already been that long?"

It had already been a year since Shin Rip and Shin Hyun had accompanied Seol and Shin Yu to the second Gate.

"If it's been a year… then it must have been quite a while inside it."

"Hihihi. At this rate, they might want to stay there permanently because they like it."

Shin Rip hesitated for a moment.

"I see."

"Huh?"

"Maybe there was a problem…"

Shin Hyun also frowned, reinforcing Shin Rip’s opinion.

"Well, they're smart kids… they've probably realized it was a dream a long time ago. But since there is no news…"

He looked at Shin Rip.

"Should we intervene?"

"Hmm…"

"Maybe there was a problem, and they're just waiting?"

"We must wait a bit more. We might end up making the situation worse if we act too hastily. We could be making a grave mistake."

"Well, I don't like being blamed—and neither do you, hyung-nim."

"Blame…? Hahaha… Why would I be afraid of being blamed at this point?"

Ship Rip said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"What I desire has become clearer after death. I've almost achieved what I intended to, and now, there's only one thing left."

"Only one thing? Hmm… So it's that guy."

They had a younger brother, someone with such incredible talent that everyone else's paled in comparison.

"Now that I think about it… I wonder if Shin Yu is doing well."

"I don't know. Maybe he became an unprecedented swordsman there."

"He has a stubborn side, so he tends to be unaware of his own mistakes. I think the chances of that having happened are slim…"

"But still, I hope he made all of the possible mistakes."

"What do you mean?"

At Shin Hyun's question, Shin Rip laughed.

"He seems to be unaffected by the fact that he lost his body at a young age. Although that might not actually be the case…"

"You're right…"

Shin Yu had lost his life when he was very young. Because of that, he had missed out on many things he should have experienced.

Pain and realization.

He hadn't been able to accept death as death and thought that there was always another chance—just like himself. However, not everyone could have an opportunity like his. ř₳NỐᛒÈŝ

"But still, isn't it amazing?"

"What?"

"How he changed. To think someone whom it seemed like would never leave our side has walked into the gate on his own."

"He must be worried about that guy who also went inside."

"Hihihi… So you're talking about Seol."

"It's really amazing… Many things have changed thanks to him—even Shin Yu."

"There's a saying that says seasons change due to people… After all, change always starts with individuals."

"Maybe this time too…"

It was at that moment.

BOOM…

The ground shook, and Shin Rip and Shin Hyun exchanged glances.

"So it's over…"

"That was long."

"Let's go."

* * *

It wasn't just Seol who had come out from the dream.

Belian and Beldre were also there

"Oof… Oof…"

"Ugh… Bleh!"

Even Lucia.

"AGH! I… I… ugh…"

There was an arm lying on the ground.

"…"

And lastly, Shin Yu.

Leaving Shin Yu aside, everyone except for Seol was suffering from the aftereffects of the dream.

WHOOM…

The door opened from the inside.

Shin Rip and Shin Hyun appeared.

"It's been a while! Yes…"

On one side of the door, people were vomiting, and on the other, they were oddly silent.

Sensing something was off, Shin Hyun asked Shin Rip.

"Hihi… Was it also like this for hyung-nim too? It's been a while, so I don't remember it well…"

"No, not all dreams are the same. Let's ask the kid standing over there."

"For some reason, his atmosphere makes him hard to approach…"

Seol's demeanor had changed.

His facial expressions were minimal to begin with, but now, he had become someone unreadable.

Before the brothers appeared, Seol exited the Yaksha state.

Shin Rip and Shin Hyun approached him and asked.

"It seems you're the only one still standing. So, did you get what you wanted in the dream?"

Seol naturally nodded.

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"I did."

"Then, there's nothing more to be said… Okay, Shin Yu…!"

Shin Yu was still lying on the floor.

As Shin Hyun approached to bring him back, Shin Yu scribbled on the ground.

- Leave me alone for a moment.

"Hmm? Is it puberty? Well, I guess he’ll manage somehow."

Shin Hyun left Shin Yu alone and returned to Seol.

"So, could you tell us what happened inside?"

"That's…"

Seol described what he had experienced from his perspective as bluntly as possible.

Shin Rip's expression darkened while listening to Seol’s story.

"So that treacherous guy ended up using Shin Yu."

"It seems so."

"You'll shake it off and get up. Although dreams look real, you will quickly forget what they were about once you wake up… A dream world is no different."

"…"

"Of course, it's not always the case… It seems you're going to suffer for quite a while."

Seol smiled.

It seemed like he was telling them there was no need to worry about him.

Swoosh…

Shin Rip grabbed Seol's wrist and said.

"Release your energy."

Without much resistance, Seol spread his energy throughout his whole body.

"You've done it…"

Shin Hyun nodded at Shin Rip's words.

Just like Shin Rip, he had a serious face.

"Hihi… It's about time you leave."

"The final teaching… It doesn't seem like you're going to need it."

For some reason, they were hesitant about giving Seol the final teaching. However, he didn't insist on them.

After all, he had already received a lot.

Digesting the things he had gained was a higher priority. So he needed to clear his mind.

"You've obtained an unimaginable fortuitous encounter. Now… there's only one thing we must ask you."

Shin Rip asked.

"Will you stop?"

Seol calmly replied.

"I'm thinking of moving forward."

"Hihi! Yes! That's right! You must see things till the end! We're looking forward to it too!"

"Good…"

Seol bowed deeply to Shin Rip and Shin Hyun.

"Thank you… If it weren't for the two of you."

"That's not right."

"You crawled here on your own. We merely just taught you how to walk."

"So… that's why…"

Shin Rip uncharacteristically hesitated and then whispered to Seol.

"What about Shin Yu? What did he say he would do?"

"We haven't talked yet…"

"Right! Of course. Hmm… Seol."

Shin Rip and Shin Hyun patted his shoulder.

"Whatever it is you're aiming to achieve, you must succeed."

Nod…

Shin Rip and Shin Hyun stepped back.

* * *

Swoosh…

As they stepped back, this time, a black hand approached him.

It was Shin Yu.

Scribble…

He wrote on the ground.

- What about Yurim?

Seol shook his head.

Twitch!

Shin Yu's short body trembled.

Scribble…

- I'm not sure what to tell you.

Seol smiled.

"It's okay. You don't have to say anything, Shin Yu…"

Scribble…

- Will you forgive me?

"I never hated you."

Although they had fought each other because they both believed they were right. And though Seol was proven correct in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to call Shin Yu’s intentions wrong.

The value of justice changes depending on the position, after all.

- Are you planning to leave?

Nod…

Now, only the final gate remained.

Shin Yu recalled the final gate that had put even Shin Kang in danger and waited for Seol's answer.

"I won't stop. After all, that's what Yurim would have wanted."

Seol stared at Shin Yu and then said.

"Shin Yu, let's go."

- Me…?

"It's also time for you to make a decision."

A choice he would have to make one day—that time had come.

Shin Yu had already rejected Seol's proposal once.

- I…

Shin Yu paused for a while as his inner conflict intensified.

And then, he finally made a choice.

- I can't go…

Swoosh…

Seol turned to Shin Yu and said.

"I guess this is it for us."

Then he turned away coldly and added.

"It was really fun meeting you, Shin Yu."

Scribble…

- Yes…

In front of the final gate…

It seemed there was still some time before it opened. Seol stared blankly at the door.

As soon as the door opened, he would leave.

Paf…

Shin Yu stared at Seol for a moment and quickly left.

Seol, who was left alone, muttered.

"But still… I will wait a bit longer."

* * *

Shin Rip and Shin Hyun returned to the first gate.

Now, all of the Night Beasts had disappeared.

It was like a secluded mountain village.

They stopped by the place they had stayed at before and began tidying up the things they hadn't been able to.

"Hyung-nim, it's really time for us to leave this place."

"Do you think it's a shame…?"

"No, we're only going back to where we belong."

"You're right…"

"But to think Shin Yu would leave without saying anything…"

"Well, embracing someone lasts for a while, but losing them happens in the blink of an eye."

Clank…

"This was still here?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The memorial pot that we used to remember Shin Yu."

"Father really believed in a lot of superstitions."

"Hihi! It feels like just yesterday when you were bawling your eyes out, saying if we cook rice in this pot and eat it together, it would be as if all four of us hadn't separated…"

"Ehem… Do you even remember such things?"

"To think we still had this."

Shin Hyun opened the lid of the pot.

"…"

"Why? Is there rotten rice left?"

"Rotten rice? It would be good if it were that."

Shin Hyun said while looking at the pot.

"What are you doing in there?"

A black hand jumped out of the pot.

Shin Rip also seemed surprised.

"You didn't go?"

Scribble…

- I decided to stay here.

"Why…?"

Shin Hyun put down the pot with a serious expression.

Shin Rip also wiped the smile off his face.

- Both my hyungs are still here, so how could I…

At that moment, Shin Hyun's face flushed with anger and screamed.

"HEY—!"

PAAF—!

Shin Hyun kicked Shin Yu and sent him flying.

Shin Yu felt wronged for having been hit but concluded figuring out why was more important.

Scribble…

- Why…?

"YOU IDIOT!"