“Uh, Master, you looked in danger, so I just… couldn’t help it…”
The sight of the Nameless stuttering with a blushing face made me snicker.
Ah, my disciple, Cheon Mu-myeong.
Well, there are still lingering doubts and a slight sense of betrayal in my heart…
But still, the fact that he’s been my disciple for about ten years doesn’t just vanish.
Suppressing a grin, I reached down to pat the absurdly awkward arm wrapped around my waist.
“Don’t worry, this is nothing to be concerned about.”
Nameless flinched, his head turning redder than a strawberry as he added, “U-um… Are you hurt anywhere?”
His voice trembled noticeably.
A somewhat mischievous smile naturally crept onto my face, which was a bit troublesome.
Hmm, why is he so embarrassed about this?
“Ha ha…”
Even so, I decided to give in to this cute side of my disciple that I’ve come to know well and change the subject.
“Of course, this is all thanks to you.”
As I smirked at him, he seemed to think he had outsmarted me by shifting the topic.
With a somewhat relieved expression, Nameless began to speak again.
“Master, I’ve been thinking while I was alone…”
“You’ve been thinking, huh?”
I had no intention of asking what he was pondering about. He was definitely contemplating our relationship.
…Of course, it wouldn’t be about our teacher-student relationship changing since my non-confession, but rather the relationship between a master and a disciple.
Ever since that Nameless fellow passed by, things between Nameless and me had become a bit awkward.
Hmm, now that I think about it, it feels ridiculous.
Me, being swayed by a ghost of all things.
…Though I still seem to be swayed.
In the meantime, I wore a warm smile at my disciple’s typical demeanor and stepped in his way.
“Let’s hold off that conversation for later, shall we?”
Well, I do have uncomfortable feelings attached to it.
But more than that, it’s not the right atmosphere to talk with the sudden shift in the surrounding energy.
“Just wait a moment.”
“…Understood.”
Seeing Nameless with a somewhat forlorn expression, I frowned and patted his waist.
“Hey, don’t look so glum.”
It’s nice to catch up and chat with my long-lost disciple again and all, but isn’t it true that the circumstances don’t allow for it right now?
And understandably so.
“You’ll understand me, won’t you?”
“You set your own rules and then expect me to understand what, exactly?”
“You won’t be at a huge loss. You’ve already transcended life; all I’m asking is for just a little time investment.”
“Tch. You’ve spent so long up there, and your selfishness has become a habit. Can’t you understand me saying I don’t want that?”
It’d be better to first take care of this guy who suddenly attacked me, then talk quietly in this calm room.
The reason is simple.
I need to focus on the conversation.
And incredibly foolishly, I need to scold the guy who decided to make me an enemy.
As if he understood my intentions, he replied, “Got it. It may not help much, but I will assist you, Master.”
Nameless nodded enthusiastically, declaring his intent to help me.
“Uh…”
If it were up to me, I’d prefer Nameless not to get involved in something dangerous.
But saying no would not be the right move for a master.
“Okay, I won’t stop you.”
But…
“If it looks like you’re in danger, retreat immediately. Running away is nothing to be ashamed of.”
It’s his first time facing an opponent on the same level as me, so naturally, I can’t help but worry.
“Do you understand?”
“…I understand.”
As I expressed my concerns, he nodded in agreement, confirming his understanding.
With a wooden sword lying on the floor, I picked it up and pointed it at him.
Now that we’ve confirmed our differing opinions, the only thing left is to deal with the guy who’s getting in the way of my goals.
I won’t kill him; I’ll take it easy if I can.
Well, think of it as a lesson.
“Hey now, think of it as a teaching spar.”
“…You’re going to teach me?”
I’ve taught students at the Academy and have a fine disciple myself.
And that guy is just a selfish, self-centered brat who knows nothing outside of himself. No different from a child.
So there’s no way I can’t teach him.
“What’s wrong? What can’t I do?”
He looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, making me smile as I pointed my wooden sword at him.
“Three strikes. I’ll let you pass.”
Anything beyond that might be tough for me.
*
A pure white light.
From the hands of one who is called a god, a light that could only be likened to a morning filled with the activity of life burst forth, threatening to envelop this area.
Deep darkness.
In response, Cheon Ha-rang’s wooden sword seemed to claim to be the nighttime counterpart to that morning, greedily consuming the light.
Soon, opposing colors collided.
-Kugugugu!
The coarse sound of friction filled this area as if it were about to tear the very fabric of space itself.
At the same time, the sky seemed to engage in a fierce competition between morning and night, creating an illusion of time moving quickly as both claimed dominance.
After a brief moment, as the once brilliant light shared warmth started to retreat, leaving behind a darkness that offered comfort and solace…
Only dim light remained, casting uncertainty over whether this place would soon be morning or night.
“Ugh… what was I supposed to help with?”
Nameless, watching this scene unfold, let out a hollow laugh and grasped his sword tightly.
There was nothing he could assist with in this fight. In truth, his lack of mastery could even become a hindrance to his master.
So, let him do what he can.
Having made his determination, Nameless approached the still motionless Lucius, Elia, and Camilla, standing before them.
“I’ll protect you from any fragments that might injure you during the battle.”
Of course, he received no response.
Yet they remained, oblivious, their expressions hinting at concern, merely present throughout the ordeal.
“…It seems there’s nothing I can resolve with my power.”
“…”
“But won’t you solve it, Master? Just wait a little while longer.”
Nameless added quietly, still clutching his sword as he silently observed the fight between Cheon Ha-rang and that being.
*
Where my wooden sword collided with the light wielded by that guy, the area completely collapsed, rendering its original shape unrecognizable.
-Kugugugu!
All this chaos resulted from a single clash.
“Ugh… truly, nothing comes easy.”
“Right? It’s only natural that a fight between transcendents wouldn’t end quickly.”
Though I couldn’t fathom it, the reasoned response was, in a sense, spot on.
After all, both were at the same level, meaning he had already surpassed natural limitations, just like me.
So there’s no way his energy reserves would be depleted, and tiny techniques would decide the outcome. In his case, the difference in magic would likely be crucial.
Moreover, given my utter lack of information regarding magic, I couldn’t act recklessly.
Hence, this frustrating and structurally unwinnable battle of wills would continue.
As the growing frustration permeated my chest…
“Tch, if Lucius can be a clone, then you must have some skill with the sword, right?”
After briefly gathering my energy back, I aimed my wooden sword at him.
In reality, although Lucius’ swordsmanship was a little lacking compared to Nameless, it was still impressive.
So it stood to reason that if he were not a clone but his original self, his skills would be even higher.
“What are you talking about?”
He merely wore a bewildered expression at my words.
“How could I possibly catch you with a sword when you’ve reached this point by swinging it tirelessly?”
“…Ugh.”
Is that a compliment?
Should I be proud of this, or should I disregard it?
It’s utterly difficult to react to such a statement as I gawked, only to hear him continue.
“Also, the sword techniques used by the Hero were the best sword techniques I knew.”
With a heavy sigh, he shrugged.
“But then you suddenly appeared and shattered that common sense. You should understand how bewildering it was to face your disciple.”
“…Ugh.”
“Well, it wasn’t my intuition that guided me since I’m not the Hero, but Lucius, either.”
Was this what the so-called ‘future vision’ looked like?
As I pondered alone while wiping the sweat from my brow, I spoke up.
“Do you understand now? If we fight, it won’t just be a simple resolution like this.”
“Hmm.”
“And when you try to return to your original world, if I block it, then you have to face me, or you can’t go back.”
In other words, he’s throwing a tantrum and asking me for a favor… or something like that?
“Ha.”
How ridiculous.
I chuckled at whatever delusion he was under and lifted my wooden sword once more.
“Did I not tell you from the beginning, this isn’t a fight but a teaching spar?”
I traced the ground with my wooden sword as I added, “If I truly wanted you dead, you’d have been exterminated instantly. Keep that in mind.”
“…Is that so?”
His expression momentarily went blank, pondering my words before he lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Then, I suppose there’s no helping it.”
At the same time, he raised his arms.
-Fwoosh!
“Cough!”
Suddenly, he began to spew crimson blood from his mouth as he pierced his chest.
“…What?”
As I stared in astonishment at the baffling situation, an unsettling feeling washed over me.
“…What is this? What’s suddenly happening?”
“Lord Harang…?”
Time, which had been paused, began to flow again.
“Ha.”
In a somewhat unfavorable position for me, I had injured the very god they believed in, and worse still, I resembled the demonic beings they thought were enemies.
“This is troubling.”
