Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Side Story - Teacher's Day
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This chapter is a side story released to commemorate Teacher's Day. The settings and content of this chapter have absolutely, absolutely no relation to the main story.
"Mm... mnya... Nameless, I can't eat all that..."
"Hey now, you can't just casually toss around your master's name like that, who's as vast as the heavens."
-*flick*-
"Yowch-! W-Wh-What was that?!"
Suddenly jolted by the impact, I rubbed my head and woke from my sleep.
I'd been having such a nice dream, too!
With my cheeks puffed out and my lips pursed, I glared at the culprit who'd hit me.
"...'What was that?' you say?"
The one who'd flicked my crown... was, of course, Nameless.
Nameless looked down at me—still rubbing my head—with a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
"Seems our cute little disciple is extra playful today, huh?"
"...Disciple?"
Who's calling who a disciple here?
...Me? Nameless's?
What kind of nonsense was this?
No way.
With trembling, disbelieving eyes, I looked up at Nameless.
...Had this ungrateful brat finally declared he was going to surpass me?
I clenched my fist tight.
This was blatant overreach.
A challenge to his master, who towered like the sky.
And...
...wouldn't accepting such a challenge be the way of a true master?
One corner of my mouth twisted up in a smirk as I rose from my spot.
Either oblivious to the situation or just playing dumb, Nameless kept beaming at me with that same cheerful smile.
Looking at him made my nonexistent high blood pressure spike...
"Fine! Let's see how long you can keep smiling!"
Fueled by the rage filling my head and the sweet anticipation of giving him a good scolding, I lunged straight at Nameless.
"Yargh-!"
"Harang, you're a hundred years too early for that."
-*flick*-
I took a solid knuckle to the crown and crumpled to the floor.
...
As soon as I came to, I calmed my excitement and began calmly analyzing the situation.
Nameless firmly believed he was the master.
And he saw me as the disciple he'd taken in.
I subtly probed him by bringing up the story, and it matched exactly—except completely reversed, with me picking up Nameless.
Hmm... something feels off.
The idea that our relationship was flipped made me feel a bit weird...
But I brushed it off soon enough.
After all...
This was just a dream, right?
I'd wake up any second.
The only nagging question was why I was dreaming something like this...
If I had to guess... probably Lily's rotten prank?
I'd never wish for a dream like this...
If it wasn't Lily... that just didn't make sense.
My good disciple Nameless, raised so purely from childhood, would never treat me so casually.
And my head was still filled with our beautiful memories.
Hmm, of course.
I nodded firmly.
Still...
"Iing..."
My head hurt so much.
Just to check, I rubbed the spot on my crown where Nameless had hit me... and yep, it was swollen.
...Wasn't this a bit much?
I shot Nameless a glance loaded with resentment.
Catching my look, Nameless smirked at me, then gently stroked the bump on my head.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"..."
*Pat pat*
...This was something I always did to Nameless, but receiving it myself felt strangely good.
What was it... a bit comforting?
Thinking that only Nameless got to enjoy this made me almost jealous—it felt that nice.
My face naturally started to melt into a smile.
"Uhhehe... whoops!"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
What was I doing?
I shook my head vigorously.
...No, this won't do.
I'm a dignified master.
...But since it's a dream, maybe I can act a little spoiled?
I snuggled a bit into Nameless's embrace.
Yeah, goo goo gaga.
Afterward, my face burned bright red, but that's my little secret.
"It's a dream... yeah, just a dream."
I closed my eyes for a moment.
...
To wait for the dream to end.
As I rolled around restlessly on the bedding, Nameless let out a deep sigh, slipped his hands under my armpits, hoisted me up, and lifted me just like that.
"Wha—hey!"
...Kinda ticklish.
Startled, I flailed my arms, but dream-Nameless wasn't fazed by my strength at all. He just stared at me with a smile that sent chills down my spine.
"Harang."
"...Hic— Y-Yes?"
His intimidating aura made honorifics slip out before I knew it.
How humiliating...
With downcast eyes, I peeked up at Nameless, who was holding me aloft.
...This wasn't the Nameless I knew.
Though it was a dream, getting overpowered like this really drove home how big his frame was.
W-Was the difference this stark?
Nameless's lips twitched like he was about to say something.
...What was he going to say?
My heart started pounding for some reason.
"Instead of wasting time lounging around like that, how about some training?"
"...Training?"
"Yeah, training."
My heart went cold.
Training?
Me, training even in my dream?
Nameless nodded and continued.
"Yeah, didn't you always beg me to train with you?"
"...Me?"
"Hey now, mind your manners."
...I'd begged him to train?
Stunned by the unexpected words, I blinked, then nodded as a realization hit me.
This was a dream where our roles were reversed.
So everything Nameless had done to me in the past, I'd done to him here.
That made sense.
Well, maybe I could play along a little?
I was curious what he'd teach...
And seeing this new side of Nameless was refreshing.
After quickly weighing it in my head, I nodded.
"...What are you gonna teach me?"
"The 'Mana Breathing Method' you always said you wanted to learn."
"...?"
...
"Na... Nameless M-Mas— Haa— Mas... ter."
"What's wrong?"
In a pitiful whine, I tugged at Nameless's sleeve.
He gazed at me with honey-sweet eyes and lifted the corner of his mouth.
But when he heard what came out of my mouth next, he scowled like a goblin from folklore.
"This is Internal Energy Circulat—"
"Hey! Hah! This is the Mana Breathing Method, not Internal Energy Circulation!"
Damn that Mana Breathing Method—its cursed name forced the word "master" out of my mouth, something I could barely say.
Calling Internal Energy Circulation "Mana Breathing Method"?
What kind of baseless nonsense name was that?!
The old-school martial artist in me started to stir.
...Sure, what I used was a bit distant from pure martial arts.
But that wasn't it.
"Now! Repeat after me! Ma. Na. Brea. Thing. Me. Thod."
"Ma... Mana..."
I squeezed my eyes shut tight.
I could do anything else he asked... except this. I just couldn't say it.
This was exactly the Internal Energy Circulation I'd taught him!
Sitting cross-legged, I drew in nature's qi with special breathing.
Exhaling expelled impure energy; inhaling gathered pure qi into my dantian.
Then, I circulated the accumulated qi through my body to increase its density.
...It was completely Internal Energy Circulation.
Eyes still shut tight, I wriggled out of Nameless's arms and bolted out of the cabin.
"Harang! Where are you going?!"
"Lily, you wench! Get me out of this goddamn nightmare right now!!!!!!"
"Harang!"
This was a horrific nightmare.
...
...Naturally, dream-Nameless was stronger than me.
I hadn't even made it three minutes before he caught me.
"...You really don't want to learn it that badly?"
Nameless grabbed me and looked a little downcast.
...When he makes that face, it tugs at my heartstrings again.
Maybe I could say it just once...
"Gah!"
Shocked at my own ridiculous thought, I shook my head fast.
No, you demon!
I can't fall for Nameless's pitiful look.
Nameless clicked his tongue softly at my turned head, sighed, and said,
"Fine, then. I'll teach you something else."
"...Something else?"
"Yeah."
Did I teach him anything else at this point?
For months, it was just basic stamina training and Internal Energy Circulation...
Looking back, that was a mistake... damn my curiosity.
My eyes sparkled as I nodded.
"Ever heard of the Bedchamber Arts?"
"...?"
I'd definitely heard it somewhere, but it wouldn't come to mind.
Bedchamber Arts... Bedchamber Arts... Bedchamber Arts...
"Bedchamber Arts?"
"Yeah, Bedchamber Arts."
My pupils shook like there was an earthquake, cold sweat pouring down my back.
No way... the Bedchamber Arts I knew...?
Nah, I never taught him something like that...
In a trembling voice, I asked Nameless,
"...What is it?"
"Less talk, more action. I'll show you right now."
Nameless tossed me lightly onto the bedding and suddenly stripped off his upper clothes.
"...Nameless?"
"It's fine. Don't be so scared."
Nameless drew closer, reaching out toward me.
Just as his hand touched my cheek, my eyes snapped open.
...
"Gasp... haa... haa..."
I finally woke from that awful nightmare.
Am I insane?
Me, having such a... scandalous dream!
I glanced sideways—Nameless was sleeping so soundly, he could've been kidnapped.
"You little..."
...His occasional goofy grin was getting on my nerves for some reason, so I gave Nameless a hard flick on the head.
"Gahk!"
Nameless bolted upright, looking around wildly before spotting my fisted hand. In a dazed voice, he said,
"...Master? Why'd you hit me...?"
For some reason, that made me even madder, so I pinched his thigh.
"Ow! Master, that hurts!"
"Just take it!"
"Gah! No! Master!!"
After that, just like I'd been hit in the dream, I mercilessly bonked Nameless's crown.
...
My cheeks flushed red as I hit Nameless.
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