Heavenly Martial God - H.M.G Chapter 6 (Part 1):

*Tap! Tap!*

The brazier set up in the room blazed fiercely with sparks.

Namgoong Hyuk stared blankly at the roaring flames.

The chill creeping up his spine refused to subside.

‘Damn this body.’

Despite having two braziers in the room, the cold wouldn’t go away.

The room felt as hot as midsummer, yet his hands and feet were freezing.

*Shiver, shiver.*

He tightly pulled the blanket over himself. His dislocated shoulder throbbed with pain.

The persistent ache made his face contort.

“I’ll fix this wretched body no matter what. I swear it!”

Watching the flames, he vowed to escape this useless, frail body that made daily life impossible.

At the very least, he needed to reach a normal level of functionality.

“Huuu, thank goodness. At least I can get the medicine.”

Namgoong Hyuk smirked faintly as he waited for Namgoong Jang Cheon, the Family Head.

Things had gone more smoothly than he expected.

As expected of the Namgoong Family—getting a single elixir with just a word.

Even though years had passed, elixirs were still precious, and being able to obtain one so quickly was a blessing.

Namgoong Hyuk poked at the firewood with a poker.

*Crackle!*

The dying flames roared back to life.

Namgoong Hyuk waited leisurely for the elixir.

Four days passed.

Namgoong Hyuk’s eyes, fixed on the brazier, were bloodshot.

“……Only ten days left.”

Why hasn’t it arrived yet?

Shouldn’t it be here by now?

No.

It’s an elixir, after all. Even for the Namgoong Family, it might take some time.

But why did Namgoong Jang Cheon’s evasive gaze keep flashing in his mind?

“Let’s wait calmly. It’ll come. Surely he wouldn’t let his own son die just like, right?”

No need to worry unnecessarily.

Namgoong Hyuk waited for the elixir with a relaxed mind.

Another three days passed.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

Geum Cheom Sang looked at Namgoong Hyuk, who was thrashing on the bed as if he’d seen something bizarre.

In just a few days, his eyes had sunken, and his face had turned pale—an alarming sight by any measure.

“Young Master, are you alright?”

Namgoong Hyuk’s hollow eyes turned toward Geum Cheom Sang.

Geum Cheom Sang flinched at how ghostly he looked.

‘……He looks like a skeleton.’

He wasn’t just pale—he looked like a rotting fruit, as if he might melt away at any moment.

The difference between three days ago, yesterday, and today was stark.

His complexion had turned deathly pale, almost bluish, as if something truly dire was about to happen.

“……The elixir?”

“Huh?”

“Has the elixir not arrived yet?”

“Ah, not yet.”

“…Haaah. Still not here, huh. Ha, haha, it’s not like it won’t come tomorrow either, right?”

Namgoong Hyuk let out a self-deprecating sigh and laughed bitterly. Geum Cheom Sang felt a vein throbbing at his temple.

‘Why is he like this when he didn’t even care about elixirs before?’

This was a far cry from the hollow expression he’d worn when he said they were useless even if he took them.

This was the face of genuine disappointment.

Why is he like this?

“Young Master, are you alright?”

“……The elixir?”

“Huh? I just said……”

“Still not here?”

“……Well, yes. Would you like some tea?”

“……The elixir still isn’t here?”

“Just now—”

“Haa, he’ll send it, right? I’m his son, after all. Isn’t that so?”

Namgoong Hyuk muttered weakly, repeating himself as if he’d lost his mind.

“……Young Master?”

> “Don’t talk to me unless it’s about the elixir.”

“…….”

“How many days are left…… one, two……”

Namgoong Hyuk rolled his eyes, counting the days, before finally flipping them back.

“Ugh, I’m screwed! Aaaah, aaaaaaaah!”

Namgoong Hyuk let out a roar, screaming this time.

Geum Cheom Sang stared at him with wide eyes.

It was like watching someone go mad in real time.

The difference between the first day when he suddenly asked for the elixir and now was staggering.

“Instead of the elixir, how about some soup? The physician said too much elixir is bad for the body……”

“What elixir is bad for the body?! Stop talking nonsense! Are you saying I won’t die?”

“Yo, Young Master. Why would you die……”

“Haa, this won’t do. I’ll go get it myself… No, it’ll come. Right?”

*Thud, thud, thud.*

He flared up, then suddenly wilted like a withered flower.

Then, he let out a sigh, revealing his anger and anxiety.

Now, trembling and chattering his teeth, Namgoong Hyuk left Geum Cheom Sang gaping.

‘He’s eaten so many elixirs before. Why is he like this just because he missed one? Is it because of his leg?’

That must be it.

Geum Cheom Sang tried to soothe Namgoong Hyuk gently.

“Young Master. It’s not a big deal if the elixir is a little late. Don’t worry—”

“What?! Do you know what happens if I don’t get it?”

“Surely you won’t die, right?”

“Die? D-Die…?”

Namgoong Hyuk’s eyes twitched violently.

“You’re dead. When I get out of this bed, I’ll kill you first, I swear!”

Something had triggered him, and Namgoong Hyuk began to rage.

Geum Cheom Sang watched him for a moment before quietly slipping out of the room.

In that state, he wouldn’t be able to go far anyway.

‘……When is that elixir coming, seriously?’

* * *

*Crackle! Crackle!*

The firewood burned fiercely, and Namgoong Hyuk, with dark circles under his eyes reaching his chin, bit his finger.

*Click, click, click!*

As time passed, his bloodshot eyes shook uneasily.

Namgoong Hyuk muttered with a pale, lifeless face.

“It’ll come, right? It’ll come. It has to.”

Surely they wouldn’t just abandon him like that.

No matter how useless he was, no matter how much he drained their wealth with this crippled body, he was still their blood.

…But wasn’t that plenty of reason to discard him?!

“No, I’m still family. The head of the Namgoong Family wouldn’t lie…… Please.”

Namgoong Jang Cheon, who had always been overly protective, wouldn’t easily abandon his child.

Or so Namgoong Hyuk hoped.

‘The Sword King from my previous life at least kept his promises. If he realized one of his descendants lied like this, he’d be rolling in his grave.’

Namgoong Hyuk muttered curses or prayers—he wasn’t sure which.

Then.

“……How many days are left?”

He had counted until seven days remained.

After that, he was half out of his mind and had no idea how time was passing.

Namgoong Hyuk raised his fingers, counting the days as they passed.

The number dwindled.

Five, four, three…….

Three…….

Three days?

“Three days? Only three days left?!”

A storm raged in Namgoong Hyuk’s eyes.

When did time pass so quickly?

At some point, the fire in the brazier had gone out.

An ominous feeling crept in.

It was like watching his remaining lifespan burn away.

Thinking about death looming so close made his mouth dry.

It felt like all the blood was draining from his head.

‘The Supreme One of the martial world, dying while waiting for an elixir?’

Me, Ha Hoo Young? Dying without accomplishing anything?

Does this make any sense?

It was absurd and utterly futile.

Waiting to die so helplessly—it was a sight he could never have imagined in his past life.

Veins bulged on Namgoong Hyuk’s forehead.

“Damn it, why isn’t it here?!”

They said they’d send it soon!

What good was it if it arrived after he was dead?!

“This isn’t a matter of waiting anymore.”

Namgoong Jang Cheon’s unreliable face came to mind.

With a resolute expression, Namgoong Hyuk pushed himself upright.

“Damn it.”

As soon as he took a step, he realized his broken leg hadn’t healed yet.

A sharp pain shot deep into his brain.

But what did that matter?

He was about to bid farewell to this world in three days anyway.

Dragging his battered body, Namgoong Hyuk staggered out of bed.

*Shuffle, shuffle!*

*Thud, thud, thud!*

He spread his legs and took small steps to minimize the pain as he moved toward the door.

“Why did they make this room so big?!”

Namgoong Hyuk grumbled as he made his way to the door.

*Bang!*

The door opened, and Geum Cheom Sang rushed in.

“Young Master! The elixir! The family head has sent the elixir!”

Otaku_Tensei

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