Swordmaster, My Ass!(Under Revision)

The day of eclipse (2)

Jin carried Beom Jae on his back as they followed the group.

Beom Jae watched as Jin stared at nothingness, following the group without a single sound.

"Hey, you killed that robed guy earlier. That's so cool!" Beom Jae said, trying to lighten up the mood.

. . .

Jin didn't respond. Beom Jae's words only reminded him of the act he'd done.

"I killed."

"But he's evil..."

"Why am I feeling guilty?"

"I'm protecting myself, right?"

All these thoughts filled Jin's mind, continuously justifying his acts. He slowly turned to Beom Jae and nodded.

"Yeah... I didn't think I could do... that..."

Beom Jae nodded hesitantly. "Y-Yeah... I'm surprised too..."

They just started minutes ago, but it felt like hours for Beom Jae. The air around them is silent and palpable. He could feel the heat radiating from his body.

Beom Jae looked ahead, seeing the group following Seo Dae who was already ahead of them.

Tae Jin-soo darts through the forest, following Seo Dae's shadow. Woon-gi ran alongside him, bloody, and wielding his spear.

"What happened to the Lunatic Investigator?" he asked, looking at Woon-gi.

Woon-gi looked back at Tae Jin-soo. "Robed men suddenly surrounded us and they took the Lunatic Investigator with them. I don't know either... He let me escape and I just ran..."

He sighed, feeling guilt in his heart. "I—"

"Stop," Tae Jin-soo said, his voice stern. "The Lunatic Investigator let you run? How? Mind to elaborate?"

"H-He... Protected me..? W-Why?" Woon-gi said, confused. "Why did you ask?"

Tae Jin-soo leaped to the side, avoiding a tree in front of him. "He protected you? How? He doesn't learn martial arts, he's an investigator. How?"

Woon-gi ducked his head, avoiding a tree branch. He glances ahead and back at Tae Jin-soo. "What? Where are you getting these questions? He saved me, that's it, all there is to it."

Tae Jin-soo nodded, eyes suspiciously lingering on Woon-gi for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Fine. I won't press into the matter then."

Han Soo neared Jin and Beom Jae, smiling. "You two still alive? I thought I'd lose some bucks." He laughed as he ran beside Jin.

Beom Jae bonked Han Soo's head lightly. "Don't jinx us, dumbass!"

Woon Soo chuckled and patted Beom Jae's back. "Don't worry, you'll live, this kid down here is strong."

Both of them glanced at Jin who was focused intently ahead, his expression still troubled.

Jin turned his head to Han Soo, noticing his gaze. "Ah, no, no, I'm not that strong..." he said, giving a forced chuckle. "Y'all did all the work and saved us two."

Han Soo smiled widely, he put his hand on Jin's hair and ruffled it as he laughed. "Too modest, too modest. You'll never reach the top if you're not proud, eh?"

Jin gave a silent nod and diverted his gaze ahead.

Beom Jae tapped Han Soo's shoulder, lightly. "What's going on here? Where are we going anyway? And why did Lady Seo Dae just wake up and start running?"