Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Sun and Moon -2
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She remembered his gentle voice.
"Selvia, it's such a nice day today... The sunlight is warm, and the clouds are just right in this clear weather."
His black hair swayed softly. There wasn't a single shadow on his face; it seemed filled with unwavering positive conviction. He was different from anyone else in the village.
In a village where everyone harbored fragments of envy, jealousy, anger—smudges of soot in their hearts—he alone shone brightly. He stood firm even against the malice passed down through generations. He was a light in the shadows.
In other words, he was a boy who didn't fit in with the village at all.
He scolded immature boys, resolved misunderstandings between neighbors when quarrels arose, suggested wise solutions, returned insults with kindness instead of retaliation, and moved others with love.
He raised his voice clearly against the village's many bad habits, fought against injustice, upheld justice, and saved people from the darkness in their hearts.
It was behavior no child could possibly exhibit. How could a boy of about seven years old accomplish all that? That's why he drew gazes of awe and fear upon himself.
He was the brightest person in the village.
And he was Selvia's childhood friend.
He talked a lot, too.
"People need regular sunlight. And... in childhood, it's good to run around naturally. I think that's the best... way to enjoy your early years."
"You always talk too much. Stop acting like you know everything, you idiot!"
"...Sorry, Selvia. Did I bore you? Want to play hide-and-seek?"
The way he spoke to her softly, gazing at her, seemed so... mature. Unlike the boys his age who flared up and yelled at everything.
In her shallow learning as a child, the only word she knew to describe the aura he exuded was "maturity."
When he looked at her, her heart tickled and her mood grew strange. So the young Selvia huffed and puffed before saying,
"About time!"
"But don't go too far. If you go beyond the forest like last time... I won't talk to you for a week."
"...I have other friends besides you!"
"Yeah, a week if you break it. No negotiating with terrorists who cross into the forest."
"........."
He would indulge her childish irritation but drew a firm line where it mattered. Thanks to that, Selvia never ended up screaming her last breath as bear or wolf food.
Looking back, it was strange. Though they were only a few years apart, he had seemed more adult than anyone in the village back then. Like someone who had lived decades ahead.
In a village where it was taken for granted to plunder daily necessities and furniture from a house left with orphaned children after their parents died, claiming "the dead's belongings are public property."
It was truly a terrible environment for children's emotional development.
Without him, Selvia would have grown up with a twisted personality in all directions.
She wouldn't have known how to cope with stress, how to overcome walls, how to make friends, or how to love herself.
That's why, now... she had words for the wandering Envers.
She knew how much comfort could help when the heart ached.
Like passing on the warm teachings of the prophet to someone, like sharing fire with a shivering child, like tearing off a corner of bread for a starving girl.
Having received from him more than enough to fill and overflow her heart's vessel, she too would become someone who gives to others.
Selvia wanted to be a cool person.
What would he have done?
What words would he have shared?
Selvia asked her hazy childhood friend in her heart, his features blurred in memory.
Fragments of recollection flashed by, and Selvia decided on the story to pass on.
Envers groaned before fluttering his eyes open blearily. When he did, it was night. Looking around, he saw a dark park bathed in pale blue moonlight.
"...Where's this?"
"Academy park, bench. Feeling better? You drunkard."
Envers thought hazily for a moment, recalling how he'd ended up here. The wall he'd felt upon seeing the Heavenly Demon, the despair, escaping the pain in his heart with alcohol.
The words of a woman tempting him: 'If you want, I can show you a paradise free of all pain'...
Envers covered his face with both hands and muttered gloomily. Staying awake hurt. It felt like all his efforts had been denied.
"Just... why didn't you leave me there..."
"Hah."
Selvia squinted at him sideways.
But only for a moment. Selvia closed her eyes quietly, trying to understand Envers's heart. He'd been under 'pressure to succeed' and 'punishment for failure' his whole growth period.
Having been raised as a family assassin through endless competition from a young age. Even a naturally bright person would have a wedge driven into their heart somewhere.
You must not fail.
And then his brother's betrayal, the mana circuit defect, his mother's expulsion, the cold treatment in the mansion. This incident would have left another wedge.
If only I had been stronger...
Then.
Selvia began.
"Envers, you hate failure?"
"........."
Envers inhaled sharply, as if stabbed with a knife.
"Hey, I heard you have a goal. The reason you came to the academy."
"...Yeah."
"Wanna tell me?"
"...I'll grow strong and return to the family. There, I'll fix everything I missed. I have to."
Envers answered gloomily. I see. Selvia nodded and said,
"Hey, I have a really important... goal too. My family, my teacher, my benefactor. My lost childhood friend—I want to find him and repay what I received."
"........."
"Some guy got into the Magic Tower Master's discipleship before me, and that Snow White girl... she's already touching upon myths. Even if I try, I don't know if I'm improving. I'm worried if I can reach myths."
But.
"When you hit that wall... the reason you turned into a drunkard while I could walk around fine? It's a difference in perspective."
"...What do you mean?"
"Don't look at the wall. Look at yourself, Envers."
Moving Mountains with Folly.
"We've climbed the Tower of Trials and learned so much. Especially you... you even picked up weird techniques playing with Luna?"
"........."
"You've grown stronger, Envers. You'll get stronger. Don't look at the wall you couldn't cross—look at what's piled up under your feet. Then... keep doing what you've been doing."
"...Cheering me on?"
Selvia didn't reply and lightly smacked the back of Envers's head. Envers awkwardly rubbed his nape, then stood from the bench.
People don't change overnight. He was still reeling from failure, but Selvia's comfort eased his heart a bit.
It felt familiar somehow.
Back when he played nicely with Roderus, when he fussed but quietly looked after him—it felt like this.
"...Thanks."
"Whatever. We're friends. Don't be all mopey—quit the booze first. You look pathetic."
"...Can I call you sis?"
"You nuts?"
Selvia smacked her forehead.
She sighed once and added, looking at Envers,
"Luna wants to see your face. She's waiting at the Tower of Trials. Swing by on your way back."
If I smell booze again, fire arrows are flying. Selvia warned firmly and turned away.
Envers stood still for a moment, then headed to the Tower of Trials where Luna waited.
Moonlight filtered through the window.
In the deep blue night that had settled silently, a girl's shadow moved under the spotlight of moonlight.
"...Luna."
Luna was dancing. Imitating a bird? A snake? She extended her hands and feet, shifting forms moment by moment.
Envers, peeking through the door crack, was entranced by her dance.
The curves and lines drawn by her body were beautiful in themselves. With the artistry in her movements added, it was like a painting.
Could he approach?
Should he even step in? It made him hesitate.
Then, their eyes met. Envers flinched, body stiffening. It felt like he'd been caught seeing something he shouldn't.
Luna's eyes curved softly. Then, in a calm voice, she said quietly. Thanks to the night's silence, it carried clearly.
"Voyeur."
"...No."
"Come in."
"........."
Envers blushed and shuffled inside hesitantly. The night air was chilly, but his racing heart made it hot.
Up close, he saw Luna's smooth skin glistening with sweat. Her clothes clung damply, blatantly revealing her body's curves.
No place to look.
"Gaze."
"...What?"
"You know. Feel it."
"........."
Right. Luna had taught him Gaze Insight. She'd have noticed where his eyes lingered ages ago.
Now aware, there was truly nowhere to look. Overwhelmed by shame, Envers squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't trust himself to control his instincts.
Huh.
A small laugh sounded. Envers's eyelids twitched but stayed closed. Was Luna laughing? Mockery, or...?
"Too many thoughts. Open your eyes."
"...Troublesome."
"Know. Open."
"........."
Envers couldn't resist Luna's command. He cracked his eyes open, fixing his gaze intently on her forehead.
Luna met his eyes briefly with a faint smile, pointed at her eyes with her index finger, then at herself.
Look at me properly.
She moved. Chaotic, incomprehensible—seemingly meaningless. Suddenly sitting, doing a handstand, shifting her center of gravity extremely.
At first incomprehensible, but Envers soon found the answer.
It was imitating the Heavenly Demon's movements. Bizarre steps beyond human comprehension, impossible to even imagine.
"...Studying it?"
"Yeah. A bit."
"...While I wander, you advance far ahead."
"No."
Not to make him think that.
Luna stopped and stared at Envers. Words weren't her forte; she expressed with her body. It had worked until now.
He usually understood fine—why lost now?
She sighed lightly and spoke.
"I taught you. Gaze. Burst Crush too. Heavenly Demon's no different."
"........."
"Me, good teacher. You, good student."
"...Teach me?"
Luna shook her head subtly. Half right. She poked his chest with her fist. Then smiled as provocatively as possible.
"Bet. Us."
"...Bet?"
"You go. That world. Learn there."
I'll mull over the Heavenly Demon's martial arts here, so you go to the Heavenly Demon's world and study their martial learning.
"Then, when ready. Duel."
Once we've learned enough, when the time ripens. Spar our martial arts. A light bet. No stakes. No grand goals or lofty ideals, no burning necessity. Just.
"Fun."
Like enjoying climbing the tower. Like not leaving攻略 failures as mere failures.
To cover failure's pain with the joy of play.
But a bet without stakes is no fun...
Luna pressed index and middle fingers to her lips, then firmly to Envers's lips, making a kissing sound with her mouth.
"If you win, I'll do it myself."
You seem real interested in me.
"........."
"Do it?"
"...Yeah."
"Good."
See you later. Luna pushed his chest to bid farewell.
Envers's mind felt freshly formatted, dazed. What followed was a dreamlike blur.
He walked blankly to the dorm, brushed his teeth blankly, lay in bed blankly.
For about an hour, his brain stayed offline. Then, wondering if one indirect kiss could spark motivation, he cursed himself—then thought, isn't this enough to push forward?
"...Gotta quit booze first."
In the end, he steeled his resolve.
When Moonlight Seeps In
📍 Condition: Clear the wuxia session, then win a friendly spar with Luna