The last memory before he regressed.
After holding Yu Na-gyeong’s hand and being teleported to a basement filled with explosives.
Limon wore a bitter expression as he recalled the moment he barely escaped the collapsing building, only to face a barrage of gun barrels.
“……TNT? A trap? What are you talking about?”
Yu Na-gyeong blinked blankly.
Her appearance was so dim-witted that she didn’t even look stupid; she certainly didn’t look like the person who had masterminded Limon’s death.
But Limon ignored her words completely.
He only lamented softly, his golden eyes sinking with loneliness.
“I was too foolish. There were plenty of strange things.”
That she, who was nothing more than a low-level employee of the PAB, could find the Liberation Brigade’s headquarters when even intelligence agencies couldn’t.
That Yu Na-gyeong, who had no interest in career advancement or money, had no reason to actively suggest the subjugation of the Liberation Brigade.
That the Liberation Brigade’s weaponry and preparations were far too well-coordinated for a sudden raid.
He should have noticed earlier.
Because his trust in Yu Na-gyeong had blinded him, he failed to consciously perceive that sense of incongruity.
“There’s no way you’d be in danger while you’re with me.”
Another important clue.
It was the ominous premonition he felt when he saw Yu Na-gyeong’s constellation, as if she were about to be in danger.
Thinking back, that itself was nonsense.
Whether a million-man army attacked.
Whether he fell into some elaborate trap.
Whether he faced off against a Monarch-level player.
Limon was more than capable of at least protecting one person and escaping.
If that target was Yu Na-gyeong, a high-level player, there was even less need to say more.
Despite that, there was only ever one way she could be in danger.
“…Unless I am the one killing you.”
That fact was so tragic it left a bitter taste on the tip of his tongue.
However, he did not let go of his sword.
Like a swordsman who had lived far too long to be buried in mere emotion and forget his duty, he pointed his sword at the ‘enemy’ and asked calmly.
“Why, Na-gyeong?”
“Um, Team Leader? I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re scaring me when you keep acting like this. So, can’t we just end the joke here?”
Her large, clear eyes did not waver.
She was indeed a clever subordinate.
Even if one knows that feigning innocence to the end is the best course of action, few can actually carry it out.
What was unfortunate was her lack of experience.
If she truly couldn’t understand his words, her eyes should have flickered with anxiety.
Because she was too smart, the excessive composure she created came across more clearly than words of affirmation.
“Is it hostages?”
“……!”
Crackle, the mask began to fracture.
Yu Na-gyeong tried her best to act nonchalant.
But the Sword Master’s damnably sharp senses did not miss the pounding of her heart.
“Since you’re an orphan, parents or blood relatives would mean nothing to you, so they must have threatened the lives of your younger siblings at the orphanage.”
Limon knew.
That the reason Yu Na-gyeong always chattered brightly and cheerfully was because she was starved for affection.
That she spent most of her salary caring for the children at the orphanage.
How much she adored the children from that same orphanage.
That was why he felt no anger.
He only murmured with loneliness.
“I understand your choice.”
Could she no longer endure it?
Finally, the mask shattered into pieces.
Revealing a face distorted as if she were about to cry at any moment, Yu Na-gyeong muttered in a trembling voice.
“…How did you know?”
“There’s no way you’d betray me for something like money or orders.”
“You’re sharp, truly.”
Two sentences contained a torrent of all kinds of emotions—admiration, resentment, and a sob.
Limon looked straight into her eyes, which were mixed with even more emotions than her voice, and asked.
“Is there no other way?”
“Do you think there was?”
“No.”
“That’s right. At least one of us, either me or you, Team Leader, must die here.”
“I suppose so.”
He knew even before asking.
If there had been another way out, someone as quick-witted as her wouldn’t have used these means.
The reason she couldn’t inform him of the situation and ask for help was likely because there truly was no other way.
He finally recalled the memory of the future.
The sorrowful face of Yu Na-gyeong, who had detonated the bomb after teleporting to the basement of this building with him, proved that fact.
It wasn’t such an unfamiliar occurrence.
In the distantly remote past.
Even when he faced the seven dragons that ruled the world.
Even when he fought the black mages who descended the Demon God.
Even when he stopped the movements of the Seven Dragons Council that overturned Asia.
Those who simply could not handle Limon had, at one time or another, tried to use those around him through methods like hostages or threats.
Even in the era when the Sword Master was an absolute being, it was impossible to block all those many tricks.
Therefore, every time this happened, Limon’s countermeasure was fixed to one thing.
“I’ll ask one last thing.”
Limon swallowed the bitterness.
And looking quietly at Yu Na-gyeong with his golden eyes, he asked.
“Are those children… more precious than your own life?”
It was a confirmation, not a question.
Yu Na-gyeong did not avoid his eyes as he sought to fulfill his minimum responsibility as a superior who failed to protect his subordinate.
She simply answered firmly while looking straight at Limon.
“Yes.”
“…You could have hesitated a little. You’re making me, the one who asked, feel even more embarrassed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You should be very sorry. Not only did you stab your superior in the back, but you’ve also dumped all the cleanup on me.”
Limon chuckled.
There was no way she didn’t know the meaning behind his question.
To give such a firm answer.
Even Limon, who had lived a long life, had to admit that Yu Na-gyeong was a truly remarkable talent.
That was why he could make his decision much more comfortably.
“But, I will forgive you.”
Her pupils dilated as if she had heard something unbelievable.
Before Yu Na-gyeong could even release the stiffness from that shock, he took a step forward.
One step to approach her blind spot.
One step to pull and grip his sword slightly.
One step to smoothly pierce her heart with the sword.
Stab!
“So, rest in peace.”
As if time had stopped.
Yu Na-gyeong stood frozen with Limon’s sword thrust into her.
Only after a long time passed did Limon quietly catch her body as it began to collapse.
There would have been no pain.
Because she wouldn’t have even known she was dying.
Nevertheless, the smile remaining on her lips was so faint yet clear, signaling that she had accepted her death.
Limon closed the eyes of his subordinate, who was so smart and cheerful, yet so foolish, with a cold face.
Rustle.
It was immediately after.
The world was dyed black.
The invisible became visible.
The moment he felt his eyes meet a snake that had just pulled its fangs out of Yu Na-gyeong’s neck and was flicking its tongue as if mocking him.
Limon grabbed the snake’s neck.
To snatch away the softly glowing orb the snake held in its maw, which it had pulled from Yu Na-gyeong.
“Hand it over.”
Was it surprised at being caught?
Or was it enraged at having the orb stolen?
Limon didn’t even bat an eyelid as he watched the snake squirm as if having a seizure.
He only spoke coldly.
“This isn’t something a thing like you should covet.”
Limon did not know.
What this orb of light was.
But one thing was clear.
That it belonged to Yu Na-gyeong.
And that alone was reason enough for Limon to seize the orb from the snake.
Of course, the snake, not accepting that reason, bared its fangs fiercely and tried to attack Limon by lashing out its tail like lightning.
But unfortunately, the snake was not faster than Limon.
“Now, begone.”
Crack.
The snake’s neck was snapped vertically.
Its remains melted away like an illusion.
Limon no longer paid any mind to the likes of the snake.
He simply stared intently at the orb of light that emitted an unusually familiar atmosphere, before placing it upon Yu Na-gyeong’s chest.
As if expecting some kind of change.
But even after the orb of light melted and permeated back into Yu Na-gyeong’s body, no miracle like the dead coming back to life occurred.
At the moment Limon wore a bitter expression at that obvious fact.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
With a thunderous roar as if the heavens were collapsing, a massive explosion surging from the basement swept through the entire building, including Limon.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
‘Is it finally over?’
***
The headquarters of the Liberation Brigade, which had a sign hanging that read Haecheong Trading Co., Ltd.
He sighed as he watched the building, which had stood tall like a lighthouse in the soft moonlight until a moment ago, collapse while being engulfed in massive flames.
‘How exhausting.’
The TNT buried there alone amounted to 144 tons.
On top of that, dozens of explosive items to enhance power and barrier items to prevent escape were deployed.
If Yu Na-gyeong had taken Limon into the basement as planned, not even a Monarch, let alone a Sword Master, could have ever come out alive.
In fact, there were many who opposed his measures, calling them excessive.
Still, he pushed forward with the plan persistently.
Unless he wasn’t going to start at all.
Because he knew all too well that once he attempted to kill Limon, there would be no turning back if he failed.
But the anxiety was finally over.
As long as the last Sword Master of humanity was gone, he no longer had any reason to worry about insomnia, stomach pain, or hair loss.
That was what he thought.
“Ha, damn it.”
The remains of the building that had collapsed after being engulfed in the fire.
That was, until he heard a single, low voice leaking out from between that thick cloud of dust.
“How many sins must I have committed in my past life to have to go through this mess twice?”
He stopped breathing without realizing it.
At the same time, he murmured in his heart.
No, there was no way.
He must have misheard.
The owner of that voice was already dead.
Whoosh!
However, after a sudden fierce wind swept away the dust cloud.
The sight of a white-haired man appearing in the ruins against the backdrop of the burning flames, holding a woman in his arms, made his mind go blank.
He wasn’t the only one flustered by that sight.
Everyone who had been positioned around the building in case of an emergency was holding their breath in shock at the ’emergency’ that had actually occurred.
‘How?’
That was the thought everyone shared.
That a human could survive such a horrific explosion and collapse was something that transcended their common sense and understanding.
“Stop right there, Limon Aspelder!”
Fortunately, there was an exception.
Whether it was because his mental strength was exceptionally strong.
Or whether his desire for success transcended his judgment.
While everyone else was frozen with dazed faces, a single man stepped forward holding a megaphone.
And he shouted boldly according to the prepared manual.
“I am placing you under emergency arrest for the murder of a PAB agent and…”
“Terrorism and suspicion of high treason, so surrender on your knees?”
“Y-yes. If you…”
“If I don’t comply, you’ll subdue me with force?”
“…Yes.”
No, why?
Why does this man know what I’m going to say?
Did he somehow see the manual?
He had stepped forward to claim the credit.
Thanks to having all his words snatched away, the man, who suddenly became an extra without lines, flushed red in the face.
Thwack!
Limon’s sword brushed the ground.
The head of the man holding the megaphone shattered like a watermelon.
“Try it if you can.”
“……!”
Red blood poured like rain.
The brain-splattered megaphone fell.
Until the headless piece of meat collapsed.
He remained frozen, staring blankly at the scene.
No, it wasn’t just him; hundreds of people who were watching Limon were frozen and unable to move.
It wasn’t just because, to them, who hadn’t seen Limon flick a single grain of sand with the tip of his sword, the man’s head appeared to have broken on its own.
“Anyone else want to step up?”
Limon looked around with a calm face even after just killing a person.
Those golden eyes told them.
Anyone who stepped in front of Limon now would follow the same path as that man.
As if mocking them for their deathly silence.
Limon wore a cold sneer that seemed like it would freeze them.
Then he slowly turned his head and looked straight at one side of the wall of people surrounding him with their guns drawn.
—
“What should I do? It seems these guys don’t want to be your shield.”
“……!”
He felt a shock as if his heart had dropped.
Because Limon’s gaze was directed exactly toward where he was.
Rationally, he thought.
There was absolutely no way.
That even a Monarch couldn’t find him at this distance in one go, especially since he had used cognitive distortion items to kill his presence.
“Are you coming out yourself? Or should I drag you out?”
But Limon cut through his blind faith with a single cold sentence.
“Kang Jung-soo.”