Chiwoo: War God Reborn

Discarded shoes.

A sky blazing dark red.

A final prayer.

And, a world plunged into darkness.

I opened my eyes.

A gasp escaped me.

My chest tightened. My hands trembled.

It was as if someone had plunged my head underwater then abruptly pulled me out—

I was thrown from an alien time back into reality.

"Haa… haaah…!"

Cold sweat trickled down my neck.

Even as I breathed, I still smelled something burning.

My mouth was parched, and my fingertips tingled.

That day, for the children,

I had used my blood to open the circular formation

and sent them away, even knowing I didn't know where they'd go.

And…

the name of a young girl, my first disciple, who stubbornly followed me everywhere, insisting on becoming a shaman.

'Hwanno…'

I raised my head.

Before me, an old woman silently watched.

The bell in her hand.

That very bell… which I had handed to her from my own hand in my memory.

'Could it be… Hwanno's descendant?'

It was an unbelievable thought.

No,

it was unbelievable… yet it was a reality that made perfect sense.

"…Thousands of years have passed…

And they… are still alive…?"

I carefully reached out my hand,

and placed the old woman's fingertips on the bronze bell.

[Cling…]

At this very moment—

I realized for the first time

that past and present were connected,

that somewhere in this world,

someone was still waiting for us.

"…What… happened to Hwanno?"

Dam-bi opened her mouth, a glimmer of hope in her voice.

"At that time, Hwanno worked tirelessly, day and night, leading the young children in this barren land, waiting for her master's return."

"Are you… by any chance… a descendant of Hwanno?"

The old woman quietly nodded.

"Yes, I am. I am Hwanno's third-generation descendant.

My name is Noya."

I couldn't say anything.

If I opened my mouth, I felt I would cry.

That child who was with me—

had truly survived.

Leading the children,

all the way here…

The life I protected,

crossing time,

had continued this far.

Noya slowly placed the bell down before me.

"Hwanno is said to have heard the voice of the heavens the day before she passed away. That is how we… have lived, honoring our ancestors.

We have carried on the history of Chiyoo, the names of our fallen ancestors,

like a prayer."

Dam-bi gazed at the bell with a distant look.

Her eyes trembled slightly.

To her, this was not just an artifact.

'Even after… I left…

These children… remembered me…'

Something burst inside my chest.

Overwhelming emotion, guilt,

and…

an inexplicable sense of relief.

"...Thank you."

That was all Dam-bi could say.

To Hwanno,

to the children of this village,

and now… to this old woman facing her.

"You protected everything.

Even…

the things I couldn't protect."

The old woman quietly smiled and nodded.

"It is only because there was a root that leaves could bloom.

It is a natural thing… so do not trouble yourself too much."

With those words, she slowly stood up.

And approaching the wall densely covered with talismans, she carefully hung the bronze bell she held in her hand.

[Cling…]

The moment the clear sound echoed through the room—

in Dam-bi's vision, a red goblin mask hung above the bell.

A familiar forehead and sharp eyes.

Solid and unrefined lines.

At that sight, an unconscious word escaped Dam-bi's lips.

"…Oh, Min-chan… and my companions?"

A name brought back to reality.

The person who came here with injuries.

Only then did Dam-bi recall that she wasn't alone.

"All your companions are safe. They're resting in the other room. Would you like to go see them?"

Dam-bi carefully walked toward where familiar presences were felt.

"Noona! Are you okay? I was really worried. Can you move now?"

Still Do-yoon's boisterous voice.

Dam-bi smiled faintly with relief and asked.

"How's Min-chan?"

Min-chan, lying down, turned his head, looked at Dam-bi, and said.

"The bleeding has stopped, and I'm feeling a bit better. How are you?"

"I'm okay. I just… used too much energy, that's all."

At that moment, Young-beom entered the room, holding a tray.

A playful smile lingered on his lips.

"You'll be starving after fainting and waking up— Try some of this, everyone."

On the tray were palm-sized grubs, roasted golden brown with a savory aroma, warm porridge, and a bowl of subtly fragrant herbal tea.

"..."

Silence fell.

The porridge was fine. The tea was fine.

The problem was—

the well-roasted, savory-smelling, palm-sized grubs.

The companions, excluding Min-chan and Dam-bi, gestured with a significant smile for them to eat.

"Ah… no, the bleeding patient should eat first! Min-chan, you bled a lot. You need nutrition!"

Dam-bi's pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck.

She subtly pushed the tray towards Min-chan with a serious expression.

Min-chan remained silent.

And very slowly, he only picked up the porridge bowl.

And with his eyes narrowed, he meticulously stirred the porridge with a spoon, as if searching for hidden bugs.

"You shouldn't do that. That old lady prepared this food with all her heart for the two of you. Don't disregard her sincerity."

Young-ho pointed at the old woman with his finger and interjected tactlessly, and Dam-bi's face fell into a frown.

Then, Gab-su laughed and said.

"Alright, alright, stop teasing and just eat the porridge. Nothing strange is in it. Min-chan… Dam-bi isn't wrong, so eat up. It's protein, protein."

Sang-cheol also nodded with his arms crossed and added.

"Think of them as Korean silkworm pupae. They taste better than they look. We all ate them."

The noisy meal ended, and a brief silence settled in the room.

Taking advantage of the lull, Gab-su cautiously opened his mouth.

"...Dam-bi. Can we… go back? To our original world."

Dam-bi looked down at the teacup in her hand.

Her lips parted, but an immediate answer didn't come.

And a moment later, she quietly raised her head.

"…Realistically, it's almost impossible."

The air in the room turned cold at her words.

Dam-bi continued.

"That ritual… requires someone's life as collateral. Furthermore, in the current situation, we don't know which time period or which place we would fall into. Even if we could go back, there's no guarantee it would be the 'now' that we know."

Gab-su nodded silently.

A brief flicker of regret crossed his eyes.

"…I see."

Silence fell for a moment.

Then, Do-yoon cautiously opened his mouth.

"Uh… then, do we really have to live here? What about our homes? What about food?

And… will the people here accept us?"

Fear and confusion were mixed in Do-yoon's voice.

Even after finishing his words, he looked around, his eyes darting, hoping someone would give him reassurance.

Dam-bi met his gaze and slowly nodded.

"I… don't know yet.

But at least… the fact that we are here,

means that someone… was waiting for us even here."

After the air in the room settled for a moment,

Noya quietly knocked on the door.

"Excuse me. Did you eat well?"

Dam-bi raised her head.

"Yes, thanks to you. From now on… I'll call you Elder Noya. Would you like to greet my companions?"

Noya nodded and stepped inside.

Her eyes were quiet and spoke of long ages.

And she turned her gaze, one by one, to the unfamiliar group, including Dam-bi.

"This is the elder of this village. Her name is Noya."

Dam-bi added a brief introduction.

Noya spoke first.

"You have come a long way. This land… must be unfamiliar to you.

But I, for a long time… have waited for this day."

Words were not understood,

but the companions, except for Min-chan, could feel politeness, warmth, and deep longing in Noya's eyes and tone.

But Min-chan seemed to see through all those emotions to the thousands of years of waiting and resignation beneath.

Dam-bi stepped forward.

"Now, I'll explain on your behalf. From the moment Chiyoo fell at Zhuolu…"

That night,

Dam-bi's words continued for a long time.

Memories of a past life, forgotten history,

and even the traces of blood left in this world.

After hearing it all, Sang-cheol scratched his head and summarized.

"So, to sum it up…

You and Min-chan already knew you were Chiyoo and Hwansa from a past life even amidst that chaos,

and the rest of us… so, Emperor Yan Shennong of Guryeo?

That guy didn't like Chiyoo's iron rule, so he betrayed him and sided with Xuanyuan, leading to Chiyoo, Fengbo, and Yusa being defeated one by one…"

He looked at Noya and nodded.

"And this person here… is the descendant of the disciple you evacuated the children with three thousand years ago?

Anyway, those people settled here and waited for you, right?"

"Oh— Coach, you're surprisingly smart, aren't you?"

Do-yoon said, eyes wide.

"You… what's with that disrespectful look?"

Sang-cheol frowned and growled.

Then Do-yoon cautiously raised his hand.

"But… excuse me… I have one question.

You said they were evacuated three thousand years ago, right?

But you also said only about three hundred years have passed here.

So… what happened to the time in between?"

Do-yoon's voice trailed off as he looked around.

At his words, everyone's gaze turned back to Dam-bi.

Dam-bi was silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.

"…I don't know either.

What's certain is—

the moment I cast the transfer formation,

my life… ended there."

The air in the room briefly fell silent.

After Dam-bi finished speaking, no one easily continued.

Noya looked at Dam-bi and slowly nodded.

And then, she slowly looked around at everyone seated.

Her eyes held an ancient waiting and a weighty resignation.

"We… began from the children who survived that day."

Noya's voice was low and deep.

"Starting with the last bell left by Hwanno—

We settled here and lived, waiting for you for a long time."

"Even as a settlement, life was not easy from the beginning.

Numerous wild beasts and monsters, unknown diseases, and cold and famine…

We endured all of that, conveying your names like a prayer."

She quietly looked back at the red mask hanging on the wall.

"Chiyoo. And Hwansa.

Your names were not 'legends' but 'memories'."

"However… as time passed, the bloodline gradually thinned,

and those who inherited the abilities gradually decreased."

Noya's hands trembled quietly on her lap.

"In this village now, there are less than ten who can control 'Ki'."

Min-chan asked in a low voice.

"Why… did you wait for us so much?"

Noya smiled faintly, yet firmly.

"It is… because you protected us.

Through your sacrifice, the children lived.

Those lives begot more lives, and this village continues.

We… had enough reason to wait for that alone."

She then raised her head.

"However, even this place… is becoming difficult to bear."

At Noya's last words, the companions except Min-chan raised their heads.

Their expressions were mixed with a slight wariness and bewilderment.

But Min-chan, as if he had already anticipated everything, merely stared at Noya with a resolute expression.

"Hordes of monsters are drawing closer to the village,

and from below the mountain, those who hunt slaves have begun to invade this land.

We can no longer hide.

Now that you have returned—

we must choose change."

The faint sound of crickets made the silence in the room even more distinct.

At that moment, Min-chan quietly stood up.

His eyes were still full of fatigue—

but his voice was clear.

"…What are you trying to say?"

It was a short, low, yet sharp voice.

The tone of someone resolutely on guard.

Noya closed her eyes for a moment, then met his gaze again.

"We need Chiyoo."

She spoke slowly, yet clearly.

"We need an unwavering, powerful leader."

The gazes of the companions all turned to Min-chan.

Dam-bi's eyes widened and trembled.

"…No way."

Noya bowed her head and pleaded.

"Please… revive Guryeo.

A name people can rely on,

at the center of the vanished flag—

Chiyoo must stand."

Silence fell for a moment.

Then—

Min-chan opened his mouth in a low, firm voice.

"…Their lives,

they protect with their own hands."

He slowly raised his head.

In his bloodshot eyes,

ancient guilt formed the base.

"Don't rely on a failed leader like me.

I… am not the Chiyoo you remember."

"Min-chan…"

Dam-bi spoke Min-chan's name in a sorrowful voice.

Min-chan continued.

"The power that day… was merely the rage of those who faced the past.

You feel it too. Now—it's nothing.

Chiyoo and Hwansa… are just empty shells with names left."

Min-chan paused to catch his breath and shifted his gaze to Dam-bi.

"The day we fell into this world.

At that moment… rage, that hot emotion, drove us.

But now?

My body is impossibly heavy,

and my energy is gone.

Chiyoo's power or whatever…

I don't have anything like that inside me now."

Dam-bi's eyes wavered.

"I can't fight like that day.

I don't have the strength to protect… now."

Min-chan gazed into the air for a moment and said.

"And unlike the past, times have changed.

One strong leader cannot do anything."

After speaking, Min-chan said nothing more and opened the shrine door.

The old wooden door creaked and groaned softly, then closed, swallowing his shadow.

Only heavy silence filled the room.

Dam-bi stared blankly at the closed door, while Gab-su and Sang-cheol sighed with complicated expressions.

Darkness shadowed Do-yoon's face.