Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Determination
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Mu-myeong had passed along that story to me, but it didn't bring any major changes to my daily life right away.
At most, it just gave me a small worry.
'Saintess...'
The Saintess chosen by the gods.
Was it okay for me to harbor ill feelings toward that child?
But wasn't she, too, made into a Saintess not by her own will,
but simply by the gods' choice?
The worries dragged on, but they always ended up at the same conclusion.
'I have no idea.'
To be honest, I didn't even know what I wanted to do myself.
Part of me wanted to seek out the Saintess
and use her to curse that damned god...
But... was that something I should do?
It wasn't about sticking to the original story; it was just that I was scared.
Was it right to ruin the future of a child I might have once cherished and liked,
all because of my ugly selfishness?
This place was no longer just a world from a novel to me.
That child had her own self-awareness too.
Just look at Mu-myeong—even he, who should have gone to the Academy, met the Hero, and overcome trials together, was now by my side because of my influence.
This was reality.
And that damned god, who had chosen me, dragged me here, and then abandoned me,
would probably just sit back and watch idly if the Saintess ended up in a pathetic state, doing nothing about it.
'Was I originally this kind of person?'
I felt nauseous seeing myself lost in utterly calculating thoughts, not a matter of conscience.
My contemplations only deepened.
I was still clueless, doing nothing, just an ignorant fool who didn't know the right answer.
Today, too, I'd probably just repeat the same worries
and hole up in this narrow mountain, swinging my sword as always.
Pathetic.
Lost in thought, staring blankly up at the sky,
Mu-myeong couldn't leave me like that and approached my side.
"...Master."
I slowly turned my head to look at Mu-myeong, who had spoken to me.
Mu-myeong's expression was filled with worry, just like mine.
It made sense—he knew better than anyone how troubled I'd been since hearing those words.
For some reason, the situation struck me as funny, and a self-deprecating chuckle escaped me.
'A master worrying her disciple.'
Truly pathetic.
Even knowing how pathetic I was, I couldn't bring myself to move forward. That realization made me want to vomit.
Feeling pathetic about myself, it was hard to respond to Mu-myeong,
so I lowered my gaze from him to the ground.
Uneven, bumpy dirt came into view, dotted with scraggly weeds and scattered stones strewn messily about.
Miserable.
I lifted my head again to look at the sky.
A clear sky stretched out, countless stars shining brilliantly in their places, and among them, the full moon gleamed especially bright today, catching my eye.
'Ah, it's so dazzling it hurts my eyes.'
Yet nothing on this land where I stood shone with its own light.
While I was lost in thought, gazing up at the sky for a long time,
Suddenly, something touched my shoulder.
"Master."
There was no need to wonder—Mu-myeong's hand was on my shoulder.
'Hmm.'
Normally, when I was deep in thought, he would quietly leave without saying a word,
but today he was unusually clinging to me.
Not that I planned to refuse.
Ever since taking him in, Mu-myeong had always been my top priority,
so I couldn't reject his touch and hurt this wounded child even more.
I let out a small sigh and turned my head back to him once more.
"Ha, why are you calling me?"
As soon as I finished my curt reply, the worried expression from before was gone;
instead, Mu-myeong wore a mischievous smile, like a child about to play a prank.
I wouldn't have expected it in this atmosphere, but whenever he made that face, he was teasing me, so unease welled up.
"Do you remember a few days ago, when you said you'd grant one of my wishes?"
"Hmm."
I chewed my lip; as expected, it was some mildly troublesome prank.
'Did I raise my disciple wrong...?'
I'd thought he was trying to comfort me given the mood, but this was unexpected.
'Who did he take after to be so oblivious...?'
Anyway, I could never figure out what my disciple was thinking.
Still, I couldn't back out of a promise made on my honor as a master just because I was feeling troubled now, so with a subtle expression, I gave a small nod.
Seeing me nod, Mu-myeong wiped the mischievous look from his face.
Then he lowered his hand from my shoulder and slowly moved in front of me.
As I naturally followed him with my gaze, when he reached the spot with the moon at his back, Mu-myeong opened his mouth.
"You've always told me to descend the mountain and see the wide world, haven't you, Master?"
Mu-myeong took a step closer; now the moon was completely blocked from view.
"Of course, staying only on this mountain is enjoyable if I'm with you, Master."
The brilliant moonlight that had hurt my eyes now fell solely on Mu-myeong, reduced to mere lighting.
"But I thought I'd try following your words and see the wide world once."
In the pitch-black surroundings, only Mu-myeong stood before me, radiating a bright halo.
"But I'm still inexperienced and scared, so if you're worried about a disciple like me..."
It didn't hurt my eyes; it was just bright.
"...why don't you travel the world with your still-unlearned, unworthy disciple?"
With those words, Mu-myeong closed his mouth with an awkward smile,
and I stared at him blankly before opening my trembling lips to reply.
"Hmm, I see..."
-Mu-myeong
After speaking, I hid my trembling hands behind my back and waited for Master's response.
Master's mouth opened and closed again,
as if hesitating to answer.
'Is she going to refuse after all?'
A bitter smile formed.
In a way, it was natural.
I'd said it thinking to comfort her since she seemed troubled,
but in my own way.
I didn't know why Master never left the mountain,
because she'd never told me.
When I was young and immature, I'd asked once, but after seeing her dodge the question with an awkward smile, I'd never asked again.
If asked why I didn't persistently question despite my personality,
the reason was simple.
Because I'd seen Master's trembling hand.
In terms of pure strength,
no one could surpass Master, yet she was trembling.
What could possibly scare her so much?
That day, Master looked weak—not easy to take advantage of, but weak.
For the first time, the Master who had always seemed endlessly vast in my heart appeared small, fitting her frame.
Seeing her like that for the first time back then made my heart ache terribly.
The one who had saved me from darkness, who had proudly promised a warm home and a brilliant future to a lost child like me—seeing her living with darkness in her own heart made mine feel like it would burst.
Watching her then, a sudden thought struck me.
'Just as Master made me happy, I hope Master is happy too.'
Master's smile while eating strawberries, looking happy, was the most beautiful.
I wanted her to wear that smile her whole life.
It might be overstepping as a disciple, but I earnestly wished it.
And I would make it happen with these hands.
As my thoughts continued, Master's voice came.
"Hmm, I see..."
Master slowly stood from her spot and turned her back to me, walking away.
'Refusing after all.'
I didn't regret saying it.
I'd conveyed my wish,
and the decision was Master's, so I just had to follow.
Rather, refusal was fine, but I hoped this wouldn't create distance between us.
As I gazed at her, preparing my heart for refusal, an answer from Master made my eyes widen.
"You're right—I did tell you to leave this narrow mountain and experience the wide world."
Light gradually fell upon Master's shadow-cloaked form.
"But sending you alone still worries me; it makes my heart feel stuffy."
Finally stopping, Master stepped out of the shadow, bathed fully in moonlight.
"Well, there's still much to teach you, so traveling together wouldn't be bad."
Facing me with her back turned no longer, Master shone brilliantly in the moonlight.
"Very well, as you say, let's go see the world together."
Master smiled, looking relieved.
It was so beautiful that I cherished it in my eyes.