Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: What Cringeworthy Nonsense Are You Spouting?!
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What cringeworthy nonsense are you spouting!
The corner of the training ground.
I pinched the nose of Nameless, who was peacefully napping in the shade.
"Aaack! Master!"
"You brat, what makes you think you can still be sleeping?!"
His cheeks puffed out like balloons.
My one and only disciple—after I'd come back from an awesome spar as his one and only master.
When he should have been cheering me on nonstop, here he was snoozing away without a care.
And besides.
In that spar, I'd had to push myself so hard—and thinking about it, it was all because of Nameless.
His first official match as my disciple, and he lost pathetically. As his master, didn't I have to step in and save our sect's honor?
...Not that we had a sect or anything.
Anyway.
This Nameless punk was utterly shameless—utterly shameless!
He deserved a little punishment.
I curled one corner of my mouth slyly and ignored his screams as I twisted his nose even harder.
Nameless squeezed his eyes shut and raised his hand to lightly tap my arm.
"Ugh... Master, it's breaking... breaking..."
That was the signal we'd agreed on together—a tap to say the pain was too much to bear.
Back when I first took him in, not long ago.
I wasn't great at controlling my strength yet and kept causing accidents, so we'd had no choice but to set it up.
...Well, whatever.
This ought to be punishment enough.
His nose was already bright red anyway; time to let up.
But.
Even if the punishment was sufficient, the resentment bubbling in my heart hadn't fully dissipated.
I mean... wouldn't anyone feel miffed?
My one and only disciple skipping out on watching his one and only master's match?
...The more I thought about it, the more shameless it seemed.
Aren't Nameless and I supposed to be each other's one and only in this world?
Hurt and frustrated, I whipped my head away and snorted.
"Hmph."
Not sure how that looked to him, but Nameless let out a small chuckle—still not fully with it, apparently.
He kept fiddling with his nose and then opened his imprudent mouth.
"...From the start, Master, you were the one who—"
I shot a glare at Nameless as he started to say something.
Huh?
"What did you just say?"
"Pardon? What did I say?"
Maybe trying to dodge my gaze.
Nameless broke out in cold sweat, rolling his eyes every which way.
Even whistling innocently while pretending—all top-notch acting.
If only he handled his sword half as well.
"Tch."
He was shameless, sure, but this side of him was pretty cute, so I decided to let it slide this once.
You know.
Like watching a nephew show off.
Yeah, exactly.
I nodded to myself.
I turned my head away slightly from Nameless, who was pouting with his lips stuck out like he was full of grievances.
I let out a sigh.
For a grown man, how did Nameless pick up such girly habits...?
Who the heck did he learn that from as a kid?
"Tch tch."
Truly pathetic.
I'm his master, so I can find even that cute.
What woman would fall for a guy making that prissy face?
...At this rate, my disciple's really going to spend his life as a virgin without kids.
A disciple's got to take responsibility and show his master some grandkids.
I sighed lightly and shot Nameless a sharp glare.
Sensing my mood, Nameless flinched, shuddered, and slowly turned his head to avoid my eyes.
My head started throbbing at the sight.
To figure out why he was acting up, I spoke in a low, gravelly voice.
"...What are you doing?"
At my call, Nameless's head creaked around like rusty hinges.
His pupils were shaking badly.
He mumbled at his lips a bit, then pointed where he'd been looking, as if making excuses—
"Th-there... Ah! I thought the flowers there were really beautiful."
And just like that, he spouted nonsense about seeing flowers.
Flowers on a training ground paved with smooth stone? What are you on about, disciple...?
Did he see my rotten glare?
Nameless flailed his arms in a panic and opened his mouth like he was pleading.
"Master, it's true."
"Ha... Fine, where's this flower then?"
He was so desperately insisting, so with thoughts of humoring him once, I turned to look.
Of course.
No flowers—just piles of weapons and a huge mirror on the wall.
I fixed him with a cold, dead stare, as if demanding an explanation.
Hmm...?
Expecting him to sweat bullets nonstop, I was mocked instead—his lips were curved up in a smirk.
Curious why, I tilted my head slightly.
"Where's the flower?"
To my question, Nameless flashed an innocent smile and replied.
"Pardon? Right there, isn't it?"
"No... Where exactly...?"
As I said before, just weapons and a mirror...
Wait.
A bad feeling welled up inside me.
...The mirror?
My hunch hit the mark—horror filled my eyes.
No way, seriously?
Regardless, Nameless put a hand to his forehead and shook his head lightly.
"Ah, Master, you're so beautiful I must've mistaken—"
Nameless's words cut off unfinished.
-Thwack!
Because midway through, I'd driven my fist into his solar plexus.
"Wh-what cringeworthy nonsense are you spouting!"
Embarrassed, my face flushed red.
Where the hell did he learn such cringey lines, and how could he say them so casually!
I huffed out breaths like I was fuming.
To begin with.
He'd picked the wrong target for lines like that.
Aren't those for sweet-talking innocent girls?
This guy definitely.
Didn't even grasp what his own words meant.
Nameless dozed off again, and about fifteen minutes passed.
Stirring awake, he saw me sitting beside him and flinched hard.
Guess he knows he messed up.
Still.
I did overreact a bit this time, so...
I sighed softly, stood up, and patted his head.
"I'm truly happy when you say things like that to me... but Nameless, save those words for the woman who'll be your wife someday."
"..."
To my words, Nameless just pouted sulkily, saying nothing.
I smirked at the sight and ruffled his hair roughly, as if demanding a reply.
"Got it?"
"...Yes."
Nameless nodded with a face full of dissatisfaction.
But seeing him answer like that.
Meant we hadn't hit rock bottom—truly a relief.
Really.
...One worry down.
I let out a small sigh of relief.
...
Right after Nameless came to.
By coincidence or not, Lucius opened his eyes—which had been closed—and sat up.
Seeing him awake, Elia made a tearful, worried face and ran toward him.
"Lucius! Are you okay?!"
Head hurting, maybe—Lucius pressed his forehead, scowled faintly, glared at the approaching figure like he was annoyed, then recognized her and promptly bowed his head.
"I'm fine, Saintess."
"Really... don't scare me like that."
Even with his reassurance, Elia's eyes reddened.
These two were really something.
...I usually avoid swearing, but for some reason, watching them always makes my blood boil uncontrollably.
Did they not see me and Nameless right next to them?
Totally lost in their own little world.
...Keep watching this, and I'll be the only one fuming again.
"Ahem. Ahem."
To snap them out of it, I cleared my throat lightly to make some noise.
Then.
Lucius's pupils started shaking wildly as he slowly turned to face me.
His face paled.
...Is he scared of me?
Absurd—I scowled and glanced at Nameless.
He was doing the same, rolling his eyes nonstop, just gauging my mood.
Why are all the guys around me such loose screws...?
I scowled fiercely.
Nameless and Lucius rolled their eyes, too busy watching me.
At their pathetic display, I sighed softly—and both men flinched simultaneously.
"..."
My head throbbed.
...Not long ago, I'd thought Lucius was just straightforward to a fault.
Now I see he's even more jumpy than Nameless.
When sparring with Nameless under my guidance, I push harder than with Lucius.
Yet.
This Lucius—stronger than Nameless.
The grand Hero himself.
I never imagined a single spar would change how he looks at me like that.
Before, his eyes held open admiration—kind of burdensome.
Now, there's a hint of fear.
...Straining things with the Hero would be a headache.
Truly, nothing goes my way.