Chapter 16

Master really loved alcohol. Of course, when he got drunk, he often made incomprehensible noises. Was it the influence of experiences from another world?

He couldn’t forgive someone named Magel who sprayed something called Harukas or whatever, saying he was a complete jerk.

He also cursed at the probability of something called “pickup,” saying it had no mother, and even punched the ceiling while spewing profanities.

He called a guy named Matthew, who stole his friend’s girl, a bastard and said you can’t trust blondes.

But those drunken rants were something we could laugh off. Even when he said those things, he always had a smile on his face.

However, there were times when Master spoke with a sad voice.

Like today.

“One hundred twenty-four… ninety-seven… twenty-one… three hundred twenty-nine… four hundred ninety-four… sixty-six…”

He always recited numbers from 1 to 500 like that.

And at the end, he always said the same number.

“And finally, Yibai…”

I couldn’t understand what it meant. But I wanted to.

“Master…”

After laying Master down, I saw it. Transparent tears streaming down his face.

“Master… my only Master… why are you sad? You finally came back to me, didn’t you? You came to where you belong, so why are you sad? I…”

I want to understand everything about you. Your joy, your anger, your desires, your pleasures, your fears, and your sorrows.

“Please never shed tears because of anyone else.”

Don’t bleed because of someone else, I’ll protect you.

Don’t drool over another woman, I’m here.

Don’t cry because of someone else, because I wouldn’t know what to do.

“When Master passed away, many people hated me. It’s true that I caused Master’s death, but it was unfair…”

Master’s comrades, his followers, even his fiancée, all poured their hatred on me.

I had indeed committed an unforgivable sin against Master. But I couldn’t understand why they directed their hatred at me.

Do you hurt as much as I do? Do you cherish Master as much as I do? Are you as miserable as I am?

You old fools who only know Master from his childhood, you bugs who only know his achievements, you whore who bothered Master for 15 years, don’t you dare insult me.

But I wore a false mask and repented. I knelt and apologized for causing Master’s death. In truth, I had no desire to apologize to them.

The only one I needed to apologize to was Master.

The half-elf who claimed to have cherished Master the most said to me:

“…How long do you plan to shamelessly live after killing that child?”

Master’s fiancée said to me:

“Well done, killing him and then coming to my territory? Your shamelessness has reached the level of art.”

You filthy things. In front of the person who was grieving the most… when I was the one who wanted to cry the most…

“Suck your fingers and watch. He was mine from the beginning.”

So I won’t hand him over to you.

Lying next to Master, I examined his face. That long-dreamed-of, beloved face.

Touching his warm cheek, that warmth transferred directly to me.

“Goodnight.”

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It was a relief it was just a nap. When I saw Airi sleeping next to me, my lifespan decreased in real-time.

“Don’t sleep next to me again. It’s not something a girl should do.”

“But to have a beautiful girl like me sleeping next to you… isn’t that an opportunity you couldn’t get even if you offered a kingdom? Shouldn’t you be a little happy?”

“Airi, your mouth is for speaking, not for spewing nonsense. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“But Master, you were crying in your sleep, weren’t you? Reciting strange numbers… did you have a dream about losing at gambling?”

“Airi… let’s pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“Huh?”

“…You understand, right?”

Damn, old memories resurfaced without me realizing it. I thought I had forgotten, but it seems I can’t quite let go.

Camelia brought out a stew from the kitchen, filled with tomatoes and vegetables.

“You should eat this and pull yourself together, Werner.”

Aside from being a bit salty, the stew was edible.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had your cooking, sis.”

“Well, you used to eat anything that was served.”

“Well, back then, I wasn’t in a position to be picky.”

Werner said that as a child, he drank sewer water and caught rats to eat, so any dish served to him felt like a feast.

Though personally, even if you grew up eating garbage, delicious food is still delicious, and bad food is just bad.

“Thinking about it now, your cooking is like heaven compared to others’. Some people just threw everything in and boiled it.”

“The other comrades would get mad if they heard that.”

“Let them get mad. I don’t lose to the brothers or sisters anymore.”

“Didn’t you say the same thing 15 years ago and get completely defeated by the leader?”

That’s a dark history. Werner, around 14 years old, was hit by early chuunibyou and developed all sorts of magic, giving them bizarre names. He was deeply embarrassed about it later.

He even stood up to Airi’s parents, who took care of him, and challenged the brothers and sisters, claiming they couldn’t beat him anymore, only to get wrecked.

“Back then, the magic you developed was indeed powerful.”

“Sis, please stop…”

Then Airi chimed in.

“I’m curious! About Master’s childhood!”

“Airi… in this world, there are things you should know and things you shouldn’t.”

“Then this must be the former!”

It’s the latter, damn it. Why do I have to be teased for someone else’s dark history?

“Well, it was 15 years ago, and sis, you probably don’t even remember…”

Camelia shook her head.

“No, I remember clearly because it was your match with the leader.”

Damn elf bastards, their intelligence is annoying. Smart little ear freaks.

“Right after the bell signaling the start of the match rang, you chanted this spell…”

Damn it…

“O wind that tears apart evil! Descend upon this place and obey my command! My right hand wields the gentle breeze that protects justice! My left hand wields the fierce wind that annihilates wickedness! Wings of Storm!!!”

Damn it…

Airi was desperately holding back her laughter, and Camelia was seriously imitating Werner from back then without stopping.

“O crimson flame that burns evil! It’s feeding time! Become the infernal blaze and devour my enemies! Inferno Flame Fist!”

14-year-old Werner, you damn bastard… why did you name your techniques like that…

Airi was now at her limit, bursting into laughter.

I’m sure there were stickers of those lines too.

“O lightning that strikes from the heavens! Become the spear of justice that severs the chains of evil! Lightning Lance of Justice!”

The incantations were damn long, but why did you even name the techniques?!

Airi was now trembling with laughter.

“And the last one was the highlight.”

“Sis, please…”

I think I know what’s coming.

“O darkness that devours evil! Manifest in this place! And guide my foolish enemy who knows no bounds to the abyss! Abyssal Guide of Darkness!”

Damn it, it finally came out. The 4th most famous line of Werner, voted by fans.

The bastards who voted for that are damn bastards, and the chuunibyou version of Werner who shouted those lines and brought shame to the current me is also a damn bastard.

I’m sure the community reactions were…

Title: How much of Werner’s chuunibyou phase is considered dark history?

ㄴ According to him, if time travel were possible, he’d beat his past self to death.

ㄴ Imagine you shouting “Heavenly Demon Annihilation Fist! Heavenly Demon Thousand Strikes!” in school during your chuunibyou phase.

ㄴ (Wernercon shouting “Abyssal Guide of Darkness!”)

ㄴ He suffered from that for life.

ㄴ The Mage Association even preserved those lines and published a book.

Title: But why did teenage Werner name his techniques like that?

ㄴ Honestly, at that age with that power, wouldn’t you want to name them like that? lol

ㄴ The funny thing is, they were ridiculously powerful lol

ㄴㄴ Abyssal Guide of Darkness is awesome!!!

ㄴ According to the official novel, his ultimate move back then was “Great Wing of Hellflame and Eternal Darkness” lol

ㄴㄴ Damn lololololol

Title: If Werner had been a healer

Post: Would he have shouted, “O angel of healing! Descend through my arms and perform a miracle to save all people! Great Healing Beam!”?

ㄴ Werner’s going wild.

ㄴ The commander has finally gone mad.

ㄴ If Werner sees this, he’ll immediately hit you with Abyssal Guide of Darkness.

ㄴㄴ You’re worse, damn it.

Airi couldn’t hold back anymore and burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha! Master, did you really do that back then? Abyssal Guide of Darkness!”

I stood up abruptly upon hearing that.

“Master, are you upset? Where are you going?”

I grabbed the door handle and replied.

“Yeah, I’m going to kill myself.”

Let’s add a “regret after suicide” tag, damn it.

And 14-year-old Werner is a damn bastard.