How long has it been since I’ve sweat like this…
Wiping the beads of sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, I let out a sigh of relief.
Using all the inner power I had, I barely managed to control the strange fragments moving near Nameless’s heart.
And as proof, look—Nameless has opened his eyes.
“Ugh, Master, the pain again.”
“…”
Of course, his condition wasn’t normal, but…
I looked at Nameless with a dubious expression.
He looked at me with eyes that screamed he was the most unfortunate protagonist in this world, sending me a dreamy gaze.
“Ugh…”
Should I be worried that I made a mistake? That thought kept circling in my mind.
I was sure I succeeded…
I definitely didn’t doubt my disciple, but the moment I pulled out the fragments thinly, I checked again and again.
But no matter how much I checked, it only proved that I had successfully completed it, and I couldn’t explain the pain Nameless was feeling right now.
After sending him a meaningful look for a moment, I let out a small sigh.
“Ugh, Master.”
“This kid really…”
Thinking back on Nameless until now, it could be this foolish brat was throwing a tantrum at a time like this…
But as long as there’s even the slightest chance, I had to indulge his tantrum.
Isn’t it okay for a disciple to throw a tantrum with their Master?
The problem is that he’s already past the age for that…
With one hand pressed against my forehead, I shook my head slightly.
“…sly little brat.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“I said nothing.”
Biting my lip at Nameless’s brazen attitude, my ears perked up. He clearly heard me, but he pretended not to.
Well…
Recently, we hadn’t had much time alone together, and since Nameless lost his parents when he was young, it’s understandable he could act like this toward me.
In fact, it might be he had acted too mature up to now.
And honestly, I didn’t dislike spending this time with him either.
Smirking, I fell back into thought.
I have a bad habit of doubting anything unless I see it with my own eyes or hear it from Nameless.
And it’s a clear fact that Nameless is complaining about pain, which I witnessed myself.
Now, I need to think about the cause of it.
“…”
Let’s recall.
The moment Nameless showed unusual symptoms was right after that staff lodged in the corner made contact with him.
It was truly bizarre—
Not only did Nameless fall, but all the sounds around us disappeared.
At the time, I was so focused on Nameless collapsing that I didn’t pay much attention, but this is clearly an anomaly.
After all, it was merely a case of Nameless and that staff touching, yet it transcended space to eliminate sound?
Well, I suppose it’s possible to cancel sounds; I could do that too.
But what constantly nags me is a different issue.
The fragments in Nameless’s heart—I can’t think of anything that could relate to them.
Even when I first met Nameless, when I checked his health, he was perfectly normal.
So it’s more accurate to say it emerged now.
And what’s bothering me is—
That staff showed no reaction when it made contact with me.
That leads me to suspect that there might be some kind of connection between it and Nameless.
“Hmm…”
I tilted my head.
What on earth could it be?
My head started to throb.
Just because I thought this far doesn’t mean I have any knowledge regarding it—I’ve lived my whole life in a hut, and mulling over it alone will lead nowhere.
But if I ask Nameless, he probably wouldn’t know anything either, right?
Nameless definitely wouldn’t be aware of it.
Then… I would need to ask someone else or go searching for information…
As you know, the people I know are quite limited, right?
The only ones qualified to ask such things would be our tag-along Hero and Saint, and that cheeky little boy and Lili.
Oh, those kids I picked up from the slums could also help.
Asking them could be a good idea… since they owe me a favor, they’d surely listen to me.
Nodding to myself,
As I kept organizing my thoughts and plans…
I felt a jolt—
“Ugh.”
Nameless, who had been resting his head on my knee with a shameless expression, burrowed his head even deeper.
Wait, this is a bit strange.
I instinctively stopped my hand, which was petting him, and slowly pushed his head away.
Upon doing so, Nameless’s lips puffed out, as if saying, “I’m so dissatisfied!”
“What’s wrong?”
His voice was low and raspy, it’d make anyone think I committed a grave sin.
Trying to shake off the odd feeling, I frowned slightly and spoke.
“Nameless, how much longer do you plan to be in pain?”
Nameless rolled his eyes and, with a brazen expression, replied.
“I think I’ll feel better soon.”
“…Right.”
I turned slightly, trying to hide my flushed face, nodding gently.
Pushing his head away was optional.
In spite of that, Nameless stiffened his neck to resist being pushed away, but I couldn’t help my embarrassment, and Nameless made himself comfortable on my knee again.
“Phew…”
I let out a sigh of relief.
“Cheh.”
Meanwhile, I could hear him click his tongue from below…
I also wasn’t too pleased with his attitude, pouting my lips but then pulling them back in.
Well, it seemed unintentional, so I can’t scold him.
Besides, wasn’t he a patient just moments ago? For now, I can tolerate his childish behavior a bit longer.
…And.
Seeing the moment when it felt like Nameless might disappear before my very eyes made me somehow feel that this foolish tantrum also holds a certain value.
So I decided to enjoy this moment, and began to pet Nameless’s head.
With a grin—Nameless’s lips curled up again.
What a simple disciple.
*
After a brief rest,
Nameless, fully recovered, stood up and stretched, as his stiff body from lying too long loosened up.
Watching him jump around to relieve his muscles, he looked really refreshed.
On the contrary, I struggled to get out of my spot, taking a while to finally rise.
Anyway,
We were currently staring at the staff that I kicked, lodged in the ground.
Nameless tilted his head in confusion and opened his mouth, as if he couldn’t grasp the situation.
“By the way, is this a sheath?”
It was the same question he had asked before he collapsed.
It seems Nameless doesn’t remember much from just before he touched the staff.
I smiled bitterly and shook my head.
“You don’t know?”
He really has no clue what this is… but just in case he might try to touch it, I better prevent it.
I stepped in front of Nameless, who was about to reach for it.
“Just be careful; there’s no harm in not touching it.”
Nameless tilted his head for a moment, then, understanding the seriousness in my eyes, nodded obediently.
“Yes, Master.”
“…Alright.”
I got a bit startled to see him almost reach for it, but it seems as long as I told him not to, he would obey.
What on earth could this thing be, that it turned our intelligent disciple into an idiot like this…?
I frowned.
…There’s no way it’s just a regular twig, right?
I should investigate it a bit more, but I couldn’t expect to figure it out just by examining it myself.
So, it’s time for an experiment.
Well, also to vent my frustrations.
Smiling mischievously, I said,
“Nameless, step back for a second.”
“Pardon? Understood.”
At my smile, Nameless looked puzzled, tilting his head, and hurriedly stepped back as I waved my arms.
“Good.”
After confirming he had retreated enough, I drew out the wooden sword tied at my waist.
Nameless’s eyes widened in shock.
“Wait, Master!”
Ignoring him completely, I steadied myself, fixed on the staff.
I pulled my right leg back an inch more.
I lowered my left arm three inches.
Twisted my shoulder a bit more.
Perfect, that’s it.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.
And let it out.
-Kuhguhguhguhguh-!
The ground began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck around me.
My hair and the hem of my clothes fluttered as if a violent storm were raging.
Power was coiling, layering, extremely.
The deep, dark energy roared and burst forth.
Though the sky didn’t fall,
I dragged my left leg across the ground, twisting my waist.
The sword’s tip traced a graceful line, carving diagonally across the ground to the left.
I kicked off with my right foot, stepping into the void, lifting my body into the air.
I maintained the movement of my left leg as I spun around widely.
The right arm holding the sword joined the motion as if the shoulder was being pulled along, creating a line.
“Ha-!”
The sword slashed horizontally.
What I aimed to shatter wasn’t the heavens, but a small obstacle.
Second Technique: Breaking Heaven (破天)
Truly, I drew the sword in the empty space where there was nothing, yet
The sound of breaking glass layered upon itself, eventually erupting into a deafening noise that threatened to tear my ears apart.
