"Hans. Have you ever seen me taking and enjoying drugs, or were there any circumstance where it look like I took drugs?"
Roman's question was straight-forward.
Hans was startled, by question of taking drugs.
As usual, he thought he was going to run an errand, but he couldn't hide his bewilderment at Roman's sudden question.
And Roman was sure it can be only answered by Hans, since Hano took great care of Roman's daily life even before he possessed it, he would surely know the information he was looking for.
Roman said "I do not mean to play with you or anything. However, I just trying to use these time to look back on life choices I had made until now. Not using by own memories but from an outside perspective.
No excuses were added for the loss of memory due to possession of Roman body.
It was a part that needed clarification, but Roman knew it wasn't necessary to him since he know about it.
Hans was troubled how to reply his question.
Unusually hesitant, he showed a serious expression as if he had made a decision.
'I recently experienced Master Roman is not the type of person who can talk in vain. If you really want to check the circumstances of using the drug from a third person's point of view, so let me be honest about what I know.'
" I've never seen master using drugs. However, there were times when the behavior of master was a little strange."
"When was that?"
"It was month ago? Master had just returned from a social gathering party. Actually, it wasn't anything special, but after attending that social gathering party, state of the master was a bit strange. From that day on, you refrained from going out, stayed in his room, and demanded excessive amounts of alcohol every night with a dull face. That's why I suspected that the master might have get hand on drug that was banned at a social party.
The day Roman committed suicide.
Hans looked at Roman who was possessed by Baek Joong-hyeok and was suspicious of the drug.
Recently, it has been a problem among the nobles, so I was suspecting Master Roman.
However.
"Other than that, there is nothing to say about the circumstances. And now I know how foolish it was. There is no way that such a strong master would touch a drug."
It was simply a matter of suspicion.
Hans trusted Roman.
Roman's cleverness shown in the process of subjugating Blood Fang was something that an addict could never show.
'It's a social gathering party.'
Roman was deep in thought.
Social gathering party.
It was a familiar word.
Roman changed after attending a social gathering party, and shortly thereafter, he made the extreme decision of suicide.
He also said that the rumors of infidelity that Flora heard came from that's a social gathering party.
if so.
"Who was in charge of the social gathering party I was attending?"
THE root of the problem.
That was important.
And the answer.
"You attended the Barco family party."
Barco.
It was at that moment when things entered a new phase.
The explanation was simple.
"I had known the eldest son of the Barco family from the beginning. After the marriage conversation with Lawrence, the relationship began to falter, but none of the noble children got along as often with Master Roman as he did. So it wasn't too unusual to attend the Barco family's social party. The interests are complicated, but that doesn't mean the former relationship is gone."
Barco's eldest son.
Anthony Barco, like Roman,he was a man with a bad reputation.
So the two became to know each other.
Coming from a powerful family in the northeast region, two men with a trashy reputation often played together.
'Two of them weren't close friends. Since they have a similar reputation, it must have been to the extent that they simply got along as friends for entertainment. However, the relationship became entangled around Flora. Anthony Barco wanted to marry Flora, and Roman was no different. And the winner of that battle was Roman. It's because the Lawrence family, who ultimately rejected Barco, decided that Dmitry was better than Barco.'
The puzzle pieces have been put into place.
Barco's invitation.
If Roman, who had been in a strange state since then, had made the choice to die, it was certain that the cause was in Barco.
'The only reasonable doubt I can have in a situation like this is that Barco induced Roman's suicide. If Dmitry becomes one with Lawrence, Barco will not be able to claim Lawrence's fertile land, let alone Flora. And the simplest way to solve that problem is to prevent the marriage from happening in the first place. From what Hans had told him, Barco had previously wished to marry him on behalf of Lawrence, so the only option left for them now is to either induce the divorce or create a situation in which they cannot get married.
I was a picture of Roman death.
The force that benefits the most from this is Barco.
It is not known how they led him to suicide, but they had tried a variety of methods to achieve their goal.
Spreading obscene rumors and inducing breakup.
Made Roman commit suicide.
'There is trash everywhere.'
The truth was not great , but it was disappointing
He decided to live the life of Roman, so the name Barco touched Roman's nerves.
That was then.
Hans said.
" In fact, a few days ago, Barco sent me an invitation to a party. I couldn't deliver it to you because the master went into closed training, how do we deal with this?"
"Did Barco invite me?"
Yes.
Laughter came out, They were blatantly inviting me.
No matter what kind of harm they did to him, they were so bold that they sent out invitations to see him again confidently.
'It's annoying.'I didn't like it, Braco name he didn't like it.
In order to live as a Roman in the future, it was necessary to clean up the annoying parts clearly.
"Tell them we are going to the party."
To face the problem head-on.
That was the way Roman would live in the future.
* * *
The party was two weeks later.
Roman, who had time to spare, went to see Kevin, who had been waiting for him after second meet-up.
"What can I do next?"
Kevin.
He bowed his head and said.
He followed Roman's suggestion, but the problem was that there was nothing he could do for Roman.
Kevin was just a teenage boy.
Born with an ordinary talent like a stone rolling on the side of the road, no matter how much he pondered for the past week, he could not come up with an answer about his role.
So he asked about his role.
Why did you accept me?
Roman said "I want to use you as my sword. However, the use of a person is not determined by the will of others. So, from now on, I will tell you three ways so that you can choose for yourself."
Sword, It was surprising.
You want to me as your sword, which he had never touched in his life.
It was a remark that could not be understood with common sense, but Kevin did not raise any objection to Roman's words.
"The first is to give up to be my sword. If you're afraid to hold the sword and don't want to bleed, be my hands and feet, not my sword. You can do your part by following Hans, learning about what he does, and doing the non-dangerous tasks I direct you."
Safe option, did not force the risk of losing his life.
Forced work creates variables, and Roman does not keep a weak human being by his side as his sword.
"The second is to protect me as a sword. However, in your mid-teens, there is no way for you to become strong in a short time, who was far from a life of a swordsman. The world is not as a beautiful fairy tale. It takes a lot of willpower to become strong after a while, and if you choose the second option, I will test your will with the number of buds. A method of providing pain from twisting bones and muscles. It is not just a decision, but a result that proves your will."
It was cool.
The fear emanating from the words made Kevin's mouth dry.
But last.
When Roman accepted Kevin, he thought maybe he could handle his final ordeal.
"The third ."
Drew his sword
And then.
tuk.
"Cut off your wrist with this sword. Even in situations where you inflict pain on yourself, if you endure the pain to the end and achieve your goals, you will become stronger than anyone else."
The sword fell in front of him.
For the first time, a feeling of fear flashed on Kevin's face, who had been showing his will until recently.
Crazy Stallion.
When I first met him, Gwangma was just a little boy, like Kevin, who didn't know he was a martial artist.
By the way.
How was he able to grow into the Four Heavenly Kings?
Thanks to his natural talent?
no.
His growth came from a strong will.
'There are ancient warriors in the Moorim . Among them, the Demon Magician turned a number of demons who pursued strength into evil spirits with powerful magic. Gwangma(translater note Nick name of Crazy Stallion) learned how to become a sword that can be useful to me, and by overcoming the ordeal of a ghost, he become a sword I trust.'
It's was a dangerous weapon, The moment you use that martial arts, your mind is gnawed by Qi, and it exerts its power in the intense pain that cuts your blood vessels.
It is a pain that ordinary people would not even dare to bear.
Like Roman's last suggestion, the ghost magician is the one who uses martial arts even in the pain of cutting off one's own arm.
A world that cannot be reached by ordinary will.
So I chose the ghost magician.
I don't think Kevin can really handle ghost magic, but I wanted to at least give him a choice.
Roman said "In order for a ordinary man to transcend the limits of his talent, he needs a lot of sacrifice and will. you are already mine Whatever choice you make, I will use your valuable, but it is up to you to decide how you use it."
Kevin swallowed dry saliva.
His eyes looking down at the sword and shook with fear, and his mouth was so dry that there was no saliva to swallow.
cut off his own arm
It was harsh.
How did he do that?
"Whoop, whoop."
Breathing became heavy.
He wasn't sure that this was the right thing to do, but at least he had confidence in Roman who looked at him.
He trusted Roman who saved his and his family life.
He believed that Roman would save his life again this time.
I'll do it.
He bit so hard that he even felt his teeth crumble.
widely!
Kevin grabs the sword.
And the moment he was about to put the sword into his arm.
"Charm of illusion demon"
Roman's eyes lit up.
At the same time, mana started to swirling.
Kevin's eyes turned hazy as the martial arts of the phantom, known to have deceived the souls of many people, were displayed.
And then he fell to the floor.
In Roman's perspective, he slams his face into the floor as if dead, but in Kevin's world, the moment he cut his hand with his sword he lost consciousness.
From now on, it was a fantasy world to him.
yet.
Aww!
Kevin's face contorted in pain.