Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

Chapter 05

chapter 05

just before the life-and-death battle with general moon hee-cheol was about to unfold,

myung-jun was engaged in some sort of ‘strategic conference’ with the time keeper in his palm.

‘anyway, do we have to fight a losing battle? why?’

when myung-jun asked time keeper, it answered.

but you’ve never directly asked about that fact because you were afraid to hear it.

and another fear you have is the fear that all of this may never come to an end.

you must confront those fears within you. look into your opponent’s eyes, ask directly.

and declare. declare that you will put an end to all of this.>

‘then what changes?’

‘yeah.’

<30 years is enough time to change a person’s nature. perhaps even the general who kept you might have initially intended to keep you not out of selfishness, but from a sense of duty.

he might have made the questionable decision of carrying all those sins to erase your existence and utilize your abilities to 100%, even if it means restricting your freedom, believing that it would be the right thing for all of humanity.

in his own mind, he might have had such an idea of taking on all those sins for the sake of humanity’s salvation. like a dark hero burdening himself with irremovable sins for the sake of saving humanity, just like that.>

‘but?

‘are you saying that general deliberately prolonged the gate situation? despite having the ability to clear the final gate?’

looking at those two eyeballs and one mouth, myung-jun burst into laughter.

‘fine. let’s assume that’s true. what does that have to do with my regression?’

‘reset?’

‘and then you will reveal the way to defeat the general with regression thru me.’

and you will become the true saviour of the earth, the star of salvation, in the world that has returned to the past.>

‘so, after regressing, that damned guardian of star who imprisoned me for over 32 years will be the one protecting me? i don’t really like that idea.’

then, time keeper, who was 100% sympathized with myung-jun’s thoughts, spoke with a confident voice.

“no. with that kind of power, if you use it to go back in time, you’d have to tell that bastard child to go to hell. and you’d encounter a new star that supports your destiny. you may not have a heart, but your anticipation is pounding.

imagine how many stars would rush to attack when an existence that punched holes in spacetime and rewinding the universe appears without any protection of guardian.>

‘if possible, i’d like to continue alongside the current guardian.’

‘but we’re turning back time. then, wouldn’t the power of the oath keeper return as well?’

it’s like watching a video and rewinding it, but the time in reality remains the same, right? you can think of it as a similar concept.>

‘is that so...’

but you have to remember this, it knew all the consequences yet still brought about this ending to ensure that you would keep your promise. don’t make its sacrifice be in vain.>

in his heart, myung-jun expressed heartfelt gratitude to the guardian who had committed to his own destruction to help him.

and then, with a determined expression, he spoke to his right hand.

‘i’ve made my decision.’

‘one more thing. if this whole plan succeeds and after regressing, the power of destiny keeps manipulating me, what do i do then? those star beings can manipulate not just time and space but even the will of living beings, right? when they realize they’ve been deceived, they won’t just stay quiet.’

“then admit that you’re blabbering all this crap because you enjoy it! you selfish jerk!”

outside of sleeping or working hours, myung-jun had always spent his time simulating battles against hee-cheol. while considering how to approach countering an opponent armed with the equipment he had created.

however, despite his numerous analyses, hee-cheol’s abilities were just too overpowering. myung-jun felt the cards he had prepared were running out.

and finally, when all the equipment he had prepared for the battle had been depleted, myung-jun extended his arms in surrender, amidst the fierce combat and amidst the overwhelming power of hee-cheol, who hadn’t dealt a single injury to himself.

even amidst the intense battle, cursing at hee-cheol’s overwhelming power that hadn’t inflicted any wounds on him, myung-jun whispered to the time keeper in his mind.

‘still not time?’

however, as if hee-cheol wasn’t going to grant more time, he began walking towards myung-jun, pushing aside the dolls on both sides.

“have you released enough stress?”

“asshole.”

“fine. if you want to curse, go ahead. if there’s anyone in the world who has the right to criticize me, it’s you. but keep this in mind. just as i can’t harm you due to your worth, you can’t harm me due to your lack of capability.”

hee-cheol, slightly taller than myung-jun, stood before him. with a malicious grin, he looked down at myung-jun.

“that’s the ‘gap’ between you and me.”

in response, myung-jun smirked at hee-cheol and said,

“sure, i’ll admit it. you’re strong. even if i use all the means i have, you’re so strong that you could overpower me without inflicting a single wound. but there’s one thing you need to know.”

“what’s that?”

“even though i currently lack the ability to harm you, i have the ability to harm myself.”

saying this, myung-jun summoned a large sword in his right hand. then, gripping the sword, he struck his own left arm.

“aaarrghhh!!”

“what the hell are you doing?!!!!!!”

“i’m cutting off my own arm, what’s it to you, you son of a bitch!”

“you crazy lunatic!!? do you think we can’t reattach a severed arm in the world where even dying people can be healed?”

“that’s right. but what if i do it this way?”

in an instant, the sword in myung-jun’s right hand burst into flames.

at that moment, realizing what myung-jun was about to do, hee-cheol urgently shouted,

“stop that bastard!”

however, before hee-cheol’s dolls could suppress myung-jun, who had lost his will to fight, myung-jun brought the blazing sword to the severed part of his wrist.

screeeeeech

“aaaargghhhhhhh!!”

“are you really crazy?!”

“you’re the crazy one! well, now i’ve lost one hand. even if i can wield a hammer with my right hand, i can’t handle steel with another hand now.

i won’t create weapons for you anymore. not for you or even for those poor and foolish people who see you as a saviour.

choose!

will you keep clinging to that pathetic power until the weapons i’ve created deteriorate completely, or will you use your abilities now to restore this shitty world to its original state!”

“that’s...”

at the moment when general moon hee-cheol was about to answer myung-jun’s question, suddenly his expression hardened and quickly stepped back.

in the place where he had been just moments ago, a massive arrow of light was now embedded.

“captain! what are you doing now!?”

“please step back, general!”

“i asked you what are you doing!”

as the enraged voice of hee-cheol echoed through the corridor made of special metal, a woman holding a bow spoke.

“a few moments ago, the activation of a level 13 item was detected in that guy’s right hand.”

upon hearing her words, hee-cheol’s expression instantly hardened.

the level 13 item she mentioned.

it was an item from an uncharted realm that humanity had never encountered since the gate incident occurred.

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