213. Master and Disciple Journey (6)

"...So, yeah. You know the rest. I followed Chairwoman Rina to Velvet Hunter Academy. Trained, and organized the Demonized Human Extermination Squad that hunts Demonized Humans."

"...."

I stared silently at my Master.

At that, she glanced away slightly, as if sharing her story like this was quite awkward.

It seemed like this was the first time I'd heard anything this personal about her.

I understood now how and why she had come to lead the Demonized Human Extermination Squad, dealing with Demonized Humans in the shadows.

'It was because of that memory.'

She'd already experienced how horrifying it could be when humans who gained immense power lorded it over others. It would be no surprise if she had come to despise such bastards.

And I also learned how she became so close to Chairwoman Rina.

From Rina's perspective, she wouldn't have wanted to let my Master slip through her fingers either. That insane talent for overwhelming villains the moment she picked up a sword. It must have felt like finding a jewel rolling around on the street.

Since I had fallen into this world,

among all the characters whose stories don't appear in the game, she was the only one I had grown close to. So every story my Master told me felt entirely new.

'As I thought, this world isn't a game.'

I was realizing it all over again.

If this place truly was just inside a mobile game, there was no way they would have written this kind of backstory for a character named Baek Seol-hee who doesn't even appear.

Anyway.

"So, your sense of taste, back then too...?"

"Yes. Because of the poison that woman fed me, I haven't been able to taste anything since."

I couldn't help but look at my Master with sympathy.

To completely lose one of the five original senses. That could hardly be a trivial matter.

Every single day, whenever she had a meal or ate something, she must feel a deep sense of deprivation and loss.

Maybe she noticed my expression.

Baek Seol-hee let out a small snicker.

Unlike her usual rigid demeanor, her expression was much more natural.

"You don't need to worry about it so much. Because I can very clearly feel your consideration for me."

"...."

Stroke, stroke—

Baek Seol-hee reached out and gently stroked my bangs.

"Truly. Ever since I ate the meal you made, I feel my body becoming much warmer and lighter than before. That is surely because you made it with such care, thinking of me."

My Master comforted me by saying it was fine, but—there was no way I could let my mind rest with just that.

'Is there no way to restore Master's sense of taste?'

What if I continued to make her extremely stimulating dishes, one after another? I have a knack for experimental cooking, and I also know plenty about the ingredients that exist in this world.

'Rejected.'

I shook my head inwardly.

If it could have been solved by something like that, Chairwoman Rina would already have handled it. Something more was needed on top of that.

Something that could restore a lost sense....

'Ah? Restore a lost sense?'

Something briefly flickered through my mind.

It's not certain yet. But it's clearly worth a try.

"Master."

"...Hmm?"

"I will definitely heal you, Master."

"No, it's all right even if you don't. I've lived like this for so long that it's not particularly inconvenient anymore."

"No. I absolutely have to make you eat my cooking and hear you say it's delicious."

When I said that earnestly, gazing at her, my Master let out a shallow sigh.

"It seems I've told you a story I shouldn't have...."

My Master ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shook her head as if she didn't want to continue this topic.

Well, I was just making a resolution for now anyway. Since I didn't intend to keep at it endlessly, I changed the subject.

"Ah, but I have something I'm curious about. What about your parents...?"

"Hm, both are alive and well. Though it's already been over five years since I've seen them.... Given the nature of my work, there are more than a few who hold a grudge against me."

"...Ah."

It felt like the more we talked, the more I was stepping on landmines.

"I'm sorry. The reason I suddenly brought all this up is that coming to Jeju Island stirred up memories I couldn't help...."

My Master's eyes held a distant, wistful look as she said that. Seeing that, a sudden realization struck me.

'Memories she couldn't help...?'

"Um, by any chance, was Jeju Island your hometown, Master? And are your parents here too?"

At that, my Master's eyes widened as if surprised, and then she broke into a chuckle and pointed at me.

"Now there is one more person who knows my weakness. Chairwoman Rina and you. Only the two of you."

"Ah...?"

"Yes, that's right. This is my hometown. And my parents run a lodging business here, on Jeju Island."

And with that, my Master expressed her gratitude to me. Saying that because she had kept a conscious distance, she hadn't known Jeju Island was in such a dangerous situation, and thanking me repeatedly for preventing that.

Well, honestly speaking, nothing would ever have truly endangered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Master's family. There was no way that Rina wouldn't have taken some kind of measures for Master's family.

But that wasn't the part that bothered me. It was the fact that my Master hadn't been able to see her parents for five years.

"Master. I have a request."

"Hm. What is it, tell me."

"Let's go tomorrow."

"...Go where?"

"You said it's already been over five years since you saw them. So let's at least go see their faces once."

At that, my Master's eyes rounded as if I had said something she had never imagined.

"Wait. Don't you have work to do here?"

"Thanks to you, Master, I think I can finish all of that by tomorrow afternoon. And anyway, the deadline assigned to the request was three days. From tomorrow to the day after, let's rest there for a day."

"Ah, no, I...."

Seeing her hesitate, I pressed her again.

"Let's go together. Hearing that they're doing well is different from seeing it with your own eyes, isn't it?"

I knew what my Master was worried about.

Since she's notorious among Demonized Humans as the Slaughter-Crazed Woman of the Demonized Human Extermination Squad, she probably doesn't want to give them any excuse to find a weakness.

"I know what you're worried about. But, I was the one who insisted on coming to Jeju Island in the first place. And didn't you say your parents run a lodging business? If the place we stay happens to be there by coincidence, would anyone be able to suspect the relationship between the Instructor and your parents?"

At those words, Baek Seol-hee's face showed a fluster I'd never seen before.

* * *

And so the next day dawned.

The gate clearing started again.

Swish—

Swish—

Slaaaaaash—

Jin Yu-ha wielded his sword like a man possessed. In contrast, Baek Seol-hee's sword had slowed compared to the day before.

Yet, it balanced exquisitely with Jin Yu-ha's increased speed, keeping their dungeon clearing pace roughly the same as the previous day.

Shing—

I wiped away the dripping sweat and shook the blood off my sword.

"Hoo, this is the last one."

"...."

My Master had agreed for now to my insistence, but her face still looked troubled.

'No matter what, living apart without even seeing their faces once is absurd.'

I was an orphan even before I fell into this world. I'm an orphan here, too, so to be honest, I don't really know what a warm familial bond is like.

But. I did know well that they were precious people who formed the foundation of who my Master is.

Because I have people like that, too. The Utopia Party members, and people like my Master.

If I had to be separated from them and live apart for five years... honestly, I think it would be agony.

"Well then, since we're done. Shall we go?"

I knew my Master was troubled, but I spoke as if I hadn't noticed.

* * *

「Seolhwa Garden」

It was a well-reviewed lodging establishment on Jeju Island that catered to hunters who came to clear dungeons.

But right now, a crowd of hunters had gathered at Seolhwa Garden and were raising their voices.

"Hey, lady! We're saying we won't stay here! Some weird bastards cleared out all the dungeons, so we're just canceling!"

"W-Well, if you're canceling on the day of... there's a 30% cancellation fee...."

"What?! Fee or whatever, I don't care. We're saying we won't stay here! So why should we pay money? Are you really gonna do business like this?"

"Th-That's...."

"Ha, seriously. Treating hunters like this and you call this a hunter lodging business? Who do you think made Jeju Island this peaceful—?!"

The owner of Seolhwa Garden,

Baek Seon-hee bit down on her lip.

Of course, she hadn't forgotten her gratitude toward hunters.

In fact, Jeju Island had been a lawless zone completely cut off from public safety after the Gate Incident, where villains ran rampant simply because it was an island.

That this place had become as peaceful as it was now was only possible because Chairwoman Rina and many other hunters had put in relentless effort day and night without giving up.

And how could she ever hate hunters?

Even if she couldn't even speak properly about it to anyone.

Even if she was constantly anxious because they did such dangerous work.

Her own proud daughter, Baek Seol-hee, was a hunter after all.

That child had been beyond what she and her husband could contain from the start. So they entrusted Baek Seol-hee to Rina.

And she and her husband wanted to help the hunters working alongside Seol-hee even a little, so they opened a pension that gave hunters preferential treatment and provided room and board at low prices, and they had done it without regret ever since.

But at times like this, she couldn't help feeling a creeping sense of disillusionment.

Because the world wasn't filled only with excellent hunters like Chairwoman Rina. On the contrary, there were many who demanded even more special treatment just because they had been given power.

That was why businesses like this were typically run by awakened ex-hunters. When customers acted out like this, if the other party was an ex-hunter, they'd at least think twice.

But from the position of a powerless civilian like Baek Seon-hee, resistance or defiance was not easy.

"...I understand. I'll cancel it free of charg—"

It was just as she was bowing her head and about to placate those hunters.

"Wow—. So these are the famously obnoxious hunters I've only heard about?"

A man's voice cut in from the side. He looked quite young.

"And what the hell are y— Huh?"

When they lifted their heads like that, Baek Seon-hee's eyes widened.

There stood an unrealistically handsome black-haired man. A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hunter that practically no one in Korea didn't know now.

"Me? I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the guy you were just talking about who cleared out all the dungeons?"

Because it was Jin Yu-ha.

"...."

And behind him, the person she had so desperately wanted to see, her own daughter.

Baek Seol-hee was wearing a terrifying expression.