"What happened, Jangmun?" Heo Sanja, who had been anxiously waiting, exclaimed as soon as he saw Heo Dojin. But Heo Dojin, without saying a word, simply moved into his abode.

"Jangmun, execution!"

Heo Sanja called out in surprise once again. Then, he hurriedly followed Heo Dojin into the house.

"What did they say? They surely didn't insist to the end, did they?"

"..."

"Jangmun, please say something. Are you really going to do it? Even though Jangmun himself spoke?"

Fear and hope intertwined in Heo Sanja's eyes. A brief sigh escaped from Heo Dojin's lips as he looked at him.

"He said he would."

"T-That's... Why..."

Heo Sanja blinked as if he had just woken up. Then, he stood up with a jolt, shouting, "I-I'll go and talk to them. No! Even if I have to knock them down right now..."

"It's pointless."

Heo Sanja stopped abruptly, looking dazedly at Heo Dojin. Heo Dojin, with an almost bewildered expression, shook his head.

"It will be in vain. No words... Yes, no words will reach them."

"No..."

"Presenting righteous words won't persuade them. No, perhaps..."

Even the persuasion itself might be lagging behind in terms of righteousness.

What words can persuade those who vow to act on what they've learned?

A faint smirk appeared at the corner of Heo Dojin's mouth as he pondered. It wasn't directed towards the young disciples who proclaim to uphold cooperation and dignity without understanding the ways of the world.

While shouting for cooperation and dignity with his mouth, he was mocking himself for insisting on avoiding harm whenever a crisis arose, contradicting his own teachings... It was a mockery directed at himself, the shaman who had reached this point.

"So, are you suggesting we just let it go like this?"

"...."

"Jangmun, are you really planning to kill all those kids? Are you going to massacre them all under the blade of Sapa?"

Now Heo Sanja seemed almost on the verge of screaming. As Heo Dojin exhaled deeply, he instead questioned:

"What should we do then?"

"We should persuade them!"

"But it's been proven ineffective."

"Then we should forcefully intervene, even if it means grabbing them by the collar and kicking their butts!"

"Are you treating them like clueless children who don't understand the world?"

"Are you comfortable saying that now...?"

"So, are you suggesting that we snatch away the opportunity for the disciples to grow, stamping them with the stigma of surviving through the sacrifices of the elders of the clan?"

Heo Sanja's eyes shook with agitation. At the same time, a hint of doubt flickered in his gaze. It was something he couldn't comprehend.

The Heo Dojin he knew was someone who seamlessly translated his words into actions without hesitation. He was someone who could sacrifice his own life or the lives of his disciples at any moment for the sake of the shaman.

But...

Heo Sanja hesitated as if his tongue had stiffened.

In his heart, he wanted to choose the former. But if he chose the former, the only thing that would change would be the time of death; the outcome wouldn't be much different. Perhaps the shaman would have to endure near-fatal losses.

The latter? Choosing the latter might lead to survival. But could a shaman who cowardly withdrew throughout the war truly be called a 'shaman' after the war?

Heo Sanja's eyes darkened with worry. Then, with an anxious expression, he asked, "But... but isn't it possible that it won't necessarily turn out that way?"

But even as he asked, there was no confidence in his face.

"Isn't there precedent for this? In the past..."

"In a country where people with three eyes treat those with two eyes as idiots."

"Uh... what?"

"Back then... everyone had three eyes."

A smirk escaped from Heo Dojin's lips.

It's different from the days of the Makyodaehwan. Back then, except for the volcano, every faction was relentless in ensuring their safety. So, only the volcano became an odd faction, and it ended there.

But now, it's different.

With Cheon Umaeng rallying numerous factions to maintain order, what treatment would a shaman who fled from the enemy for the sake of the faction's safety receive?

The situation is similar, yet completely different.

Just one force, the Hwasangyeom Cheongmyeong, has completely changed the position of those involved in the war.

"Then what about them...?"

"It won't be so."

Heo Dojin shook his head.

"They didn't make their decision with such considerations in mind. They simply... don't want to run away twice. As inspectors, as disciples of the shaman, and as individuals who must uphold cooperation."

"... "

"Heo San," Heo Dojin said with a faint smile.

Heo Sanja couldn't accept it. How many of those people would they have to gather? Could they even call what remained after gathering them all 'shamans'?

"Surely, there must be another way? How can you give up so easily?"

"...."

"What if we assert Jangmun's authority and forcibly bend their wills! Then wouldn't they have no choice but to comply?"

"Indeed. That might save lives."

"Then why not do it right away?"

"But at that moment, the shaman ends. Even if everyone survives without a scratch, the shaman from then on won't be a shaman anymore."

Heo Sanja's hand trembled slightly.

He wanted to refute a hundred times over, but he already knew that the words were true. How could a shaman branded as a coward be a shaman?

How could those who begged for their lives cowardly be buried under the prestige of the inspectors?

"Let's go."

"Execution..."

"If you still see them as children, you can do as you say. But..."

Heo Dojin raised his head.

"As a teacher, my duty is to properly observe and acknowledge their growth. I cannot suppress the will of those who have become no less than masters... No, who have become masters better than me, with the authority."

"...."

"I will stay by their side."

"Execution!"

Heo Sanja screamed as if he had scratched out his insides. But Heo Dojin's eyes remained heavy and calm.

"Now there's only one way for the shaman to continue."

Now, instead of boiling fervor, refined duty filled his eyes.

"We must show. What kind of shaman we are. To those who dare to aim for this place, to the watching world, and to the rival factions trying to confirm our choice."

"...."

"With the sword, with our lives, with our will. We must show clearly. Then, even in death, it will be the fertilizer for the shaman to bloom again."

It was a more composed voice than ever.

But only the hand resting on Heo Dojin's knee betrayed his inner turmoil, trembling faintly.

He had overturned all insults to save his disciples. But now, those saved disciples were about to die for the honor of the faction.

How could one express such a feeling?

"Move."

"Execution..."

"Quickly!"

There was a moment of stillness. Heo Sanja, who had been staring fixedly at Heo Dojin, finally bowed deeply.

"Please watch over them."

And with that, he left the room without looking back.

Heo Dojin, staring blankly at the spot where Heo Sanja had been, let out a hollow laugh.

"Two days?"

No, maybe just one day. He was counting the time left for the shaman. Suddenly, a late realization struck him.

"So... that's why, it was the Volcano Sword Faction."

The one who cherished people so much but despised sacrifices had chosen to diverge from him. The Volcano Sword Faction knew. They knew that one who shrank from sacrifices would eventually pay a greater price. If he truly wanted to protect his disciples, he couldn't turn away from the duty given to him.

Now, he finally understood.

"I should have known a little earlier."

Heo Dojin, murmuring softly, closed his eyes deeply.

Now, it wasn't just sadness.

Because he learned that his disciples were walking a better path. They confirmed that they were masters who didn't fail.

Even if the end of that path was despair and death...

It would bloom again. Brilliantly, for the world to see.

"Jangmun."

Heo Dojin's voice echoed emptily.

The one he was following was someone he had never even seen. Someone who had died and disappeared a hundred years ago, and wasn't even a shaman, but the head of another faction.

"Will our shaman bloom again?"

Like a volcano that had erupted again, will it?

Even if Heo Dojin closed his eyes and remained silent, no answer came.

* * *

"Are you saying you won't back down?"

"That's right."

"But why on earth! Why such a foolish thing!"

Im Sobyeong pierced through Cheongmyeong as if she couldn't understand. Cheongmyeong shrugged his shoulders.

"Because they're human."

Im Sobyeong looked at him as if she couldn't understand at all. Cheongmyeong's eyes were quietly shining now.

"Because they're foolish, that's why they're human. Because they can't always make the right choices."

"But... you're a shaman. What does that have to do with..."

"And I like those foolish people."

As if finishing his words, Cheongmyeong stood up. His previously dim eyes were now quietly gleaming.

"I'm going."

"What? No! Didn't you say it could be a trap!"

"So what?"

When Cheongmyeong retorted, everyone fell silent. He looked resolutely at Im Sobyeong and all the others.

"If it's a trap, then we'll just smash through it. We can't just let those foolish people die like that."

With his sword in hand, Cheongmyeong chuckled.

"Isn't that right, Execution?"

- Of course it is.

That answer seemed to echo refreshingly in his ears.

Return of the Volcano