Chapter 81
Chapter 81
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: The Master's Return
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 81
“Where is Inebil?”
Silder asked as he descended the stairs.
“I told her it would take some time. She’s with Charlotte right now.”
“Those two are really close.”
“The young lady is very fond of Inebil.”
“They’ll remain good friends from now on, those two.”
As long as Inebil made the right choice, there would be no issues. He reached the bottom of the stairs and opened the door.
A mage who had been waiting inside took off his brown robe and bowed. He was the mage chosen in place of the Master.
“Is the Master inside?”
“Yes. He’s regained consciousness after the ritual.”
“I think it every time, but it’s such a hassle. Erasing memories and wandering the streets.”
“It’s just his desperate struggle to pull himself together.”
“Reliving the most horrific moment to awaken his mind. It’s such a pathetic method.”
The Master was waiting in the room. He stood before the mages kneeling in prayer.
He was wiping his bare body with a damp cloth. The Master, who had been wringing out the blood-red cloth, turned his head toward him.
“We meet again like this.”
“I’m glad you completed your journey safely. I worry every time you set out on a trip, Master.”
“God failed to kill me this time as well. I threw myself into fate, yet here I am, returned. No matter how many chances He gives me, it’s useless. What a pathetic, flawed god.”
The Master shook out the cloth and tied it around his waist. One of the kneeling mages offered a robe. Behind the Master, who was slipping it on, a chair was visible. A corpse sat there.
“Any success?”
He asked, tearing his eyes away from the corpse.
“I tried cultivating a suitable candidate, but it wasn’t satisfactory.”
The Master looked at the dead woman with a disappointed gaze.
“But I didn’t return empty-handed. I gained some insights, so please don’t worry.”
“I was never worried. You’ve always guided us on the right path, Master. It’s just regrettable that time is pressing. The situation changes by the moment, so we must seize the right timing.”
The Master, now robed, stepped forward. His expressionless face remained the same. An inscrutable look that revealed no hint of his thoughts.
Every time he saw the Master, he thought of corpses. The dead woman behind him seemed more alive by comparison.
“Since you came to me before I sought you out, it seems we must prepare to open the Realm.”
“You always see ahead, Master. I envy your foresight.”
“Not at all. More importantly, who is the next subject?”
“They’ve gone to prepare now.”
“Then I should prepare as well. I’ll go meet the suitable candidate.”
The Master gave a slight nod and passed by. The mages filed out of the room one by one. Two mages remained.
“I have high expectations for the two of you. I hope for results.”
“We will complete preparations to open a complete Realm as quickly as possible.”
“I want results, not promises.”
“Understood.”
“What of the other three? Still weighing between me and the Master?”
The middle-aged mage gave a thin smile.
“They’ve all decided to side with the lord. They’ve nearly mastered everything the Master has researched, so it’s time to serve a new master.”
“What’s the Master’s reaction?”
“He knows, but he won’t act. He rambles on about gods and fate—he doesn’t know how to handle people.”
“Then the Master knows he’ll die once he’s no longer useful.”
“He must.”
“And yet his attitude toward me hasn’t changed. Truly remarkable.”
“He’s just a madman. It’s true he discovered astonishing magic, but he lacks the caliber to wield it. It won’t be long now. Things will proceed according to the lord’s will.”
The two mages bowed deeply and left the room. He scanned the gray room before walking over to the chair where the corpse sat.
The blood had fully drained from her severed wrists. Her tongue hung grotesquely from her open mouth.
“I’m curious what you think. Will the Master humbly accept death?”
“I’ve observed him for five years. He keeps chasing empty dreams. Killing a god... He must be exhausted. That’s why he erases his memories and relives past events, waiting for sudden death to claim him. If our lord drives a blade into his heart, he’ll die smiling.”
“So I was the proxy of the god he always spoke of.”
“He’s just a pitiable human. Talented, yet wandering without finding a proper place.”
“But the Master came to me first. He had exactly what I wanted, as if he knew all my deficiencies.”
“He probably approached the others as well. But none proved suitable. There was no one prepared.”
“I always see the negative, while you always view positively.”
“That’s how balance is achieved. If you dislike it, I can worry, and you can comfort me. Would that work?”
“That’s no good. I lack confidence in soothing you.”
Silder spoke sincerely.
“Don’t worry too much. He’s clinging to life, using fate as an excuse because he fears suicide. I’ve seen countless cowards like him. Pitiful creatures who leave even their death to others.”
“Your judgments have never been wrong.”
He slowly untied the cords binding the corpse’s hands and feet. The butler approached, offering to help.
“I’ll do it.”
Her bruised purple wrists and ankles were pitiful. He laid the corpse on the floor. He straightened her protruding tongue and closed her raised eyelids.
“Bury her in the cemetery.”
“Understood.”
“We will usher in a new era on the sacrifices of these people. I will surely fall to hell. If God exists, He will pronounce the ultimate punishment.”
“If God exists.”
“Come to think of it, I’ve never asked this before. Do you believe in God?”
The butler hesitated before looking at the corpse.
“If God truly existed, He would have cared for this woman. He would have pitied her and extended a hand of salvation. But look at the result.”
The butler bent down and lifted the corpse.
“I’ve never pondered God’s existence. Whether He is or isn’t makes no difference. If God’s essence is the good we understand, He would have saved her.
But she died. So is God’s essence the evil we know? Yet the world turns peacefully. Neither this nor that—a god upholding the middle path. I don’t know. Whether to call it God or a higher being.”
“If someone from the Central Cathedral shows up, I’ll have to say I don’t know you. Heresy trials are said to be horrific.”
“What do you think, my lord? Do you believe in God?”
Gazing at the dim stairs, he replied.
“I wish He existed. I want a god pursuing universal good to take my life. Only then could I rest in peace. A world where villains are punished is the ideal one.”
“Then I won’t die peacefully either.”
“I apologize in advance. You won’t die peacefully because of me.”
“It’s a path I chose knowingly. I must bear the responsibility of my decisions.”
“I’m blessed. Having you by my side proves it.”
Silder stared at the bloodstained chair before turning away.
* * *
“Master, sorry, but could you explain again? I can’t understand it with my head right now.”
Inebil was sincere. She couldn’t comprehend what her master was saying at all.
No, she had heard it, but perhaps she didn’t want to accept it.
“Everyone was like that at first. They’d look at me with doubtful expressions like yours, even get angry. ‘Does that even make sense?’ they’d say.”
“Exactly. Do you think it makes sense?”
“The proof is right in front of your eyes. Do I need to explain more?”
She scrutinized Dianne’s eyes, nose, and mouth. The face she had seen for years felt utterly alien today.
“Let me summarize. So, you’re saying you can get stronger just by going somewhere?”
“That’s right. It might be a bit disorienting, but there’s no real risk.”
“You’re saying you can gain benefits without any danger? I still can’t grasp that part. Have you accepted it, Master? There’s no such thing as a reward without sacrifice in this world. I know that better than anyone.”
When her parents sold her to a noble house, she learned the ways of the world.
The weak are devoured, the valuable are sold, and to gain power, one must endure pain.
She had internalized it through her body. Three truths. Whenever confusion arose, she always used those three truths as her anchor.
Deviating from them usually left a bitter aftertaste.
Get stronger just by going somewhere?
The words felt too sweet, turning sour. If true, her favorite ‘effort’ would lose its place.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Her master spoke as if satisfied, rising from the bench.
“Draw your sword.”
“Huh?”
“You can’t accept it with your head. But once you experience it directly, you’ll understand. That’s the allure of this power.”
She stood without hesitation. Sparring with her master was always welcome. She stepped out of the shade and faced her.
Her master, posing under the sunset glow, looked as solid as ever. The master she loved, respected, and truly cherished was still strong.
“Prepare yourself. It was a short trip, but I saw something.”
“Did you learn a lot from Lander?”
“No. I couldn’t learn it. It’s not the kind of thing you can learn. If I’d had more time, I might’ve picked up his stance by peeking.”
“Stance, yes. It’s time for you to learn the higher levels. For now, I’ll use only my original power. Let’s spar enjoyably like old times.”
“That’s what I wanted!”
She tossed her scabbard aside and charged at Dianne. Her master always started defense by stepping forward with her left foot.
It was the left foot now too. Time to seize the initiative and press.
Clang—a clear metallic ring blocked the first move. Just as expected.
If her master had faltered here, she would have been disappointed. She recovered her downward slash, creating distance. It had been a while, and excitement surged.
“Nothing’s changed?”
“Sudden drastic changes mean it’s time to die.”
“Is that so?”
She shifted left. Basic footwork against a right-hander. She poured power into her pride-worthy legs, closing the gap swiftly.
First the shoulder, then the shin. Focusing on the upper body wasn’t her style.
Rolling in dirt, kicking up sand, spitting—chaotic combat aiming solely for the opponent’s life. That was the swordsmanship she had honed since her mercenary days.
Her master smoothly deflected the two consecutive attacks. Her master’s swordsmanship, dispersing rather than countering force, was truly elegant. A quality she could admire but never emulate.
She held her breath forcibly and pressed on.
Fiercely, wildly! She had to unleash her sword fully without being swept by that graceful blade. At the limit of her breath, a gap appeared.
Before she could thrust, her master stepped back. She stomped her foot with a sigh.
“You escape like that there?”
“I know your style best.”
Her master lowered her sword.
“Lander showed you domains and stances, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Domains are vague, so I’ll skip them and show you a stance.”
“I won’t fall for it easily.”
She stared at her master with eager anticipation.
(To be continued next time)