Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Chapter 5 - Scent
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"Why are you with that boy, Master?"
The moment I heard those words, my mind went blank.
In that voice, laced with a mix of emotions that left it feeling eerily detached, I couldn't muster a single response.
It wasn't for any other reason.
It wasn't even shock that a disciple I hadn't seen in ages, one I'd personally cut down, had come back to life.
'Why am I with him...?'
I truly had no answer. I didn't know.
What did she mean by that question?
The reason we were here, in this tavern, together?
Or, setting that aside, the reason I was with him anywhere at all?
Or both?
Either way, I couldn't give a proper reply.
Fundamentally, I had no confidence to stand tall about being with him.
No matter how much the issue stemmed from So-yeon standing before me now,
a disciple's failings were ultimately the master's fault.
Even after cutting her down, I still felt responsible for her.
If only I'd taught her more, it never would have come to that.
*Tremble*
"Is that... really you, So-yeon...?"
"Even after all this time, you can't recognize the disciple who cut herself down on her own?"
"..."
I gazed into So-yeon's crimson eyes with trembling ones of my own.
Those blood-red pupils, a symbol of the Blood Cult.
It was clear they'd done something to her.
"Were you revived as a jiangshi?"
"I don't know. And I asked first."
"Why are you with that boy, Master?"
She pressed the question again, urging a response.
My heart began pounding wildly, refusing to calm.
'What do I even say...?'
As I stood there speechless,
"Ha."
So-yeon let out a sigh mixed with scornful laughter.
"It must be because of me, right? You felt responsible for what I did to Yuseong, so you sought him out and raised him under your shadow. It's been so long now—his wounds, body and soul, must have healed by now."
"...Ah."
Her words made me realize she was under a misconception.
She seemed to think I'd found him right after the incident—or nearly so.
In truth, we'd only met recently.
"Well, thinking about it that way, it might actually be a relief. If he grew up under your shadow, he wouldn't have been touched by other women, and surely you wouldn't have laid a hand on him either. You might feel some sense of responsibility or maternal affection, sure."
*Thud!*
It felt like a heavy lump of iron had dropped into my chest.
'Huh...?'
Cold sweat began to bead on my skin.
I couldn't help averting my eyes from her crimson gaze.
I forced them back to meet hers, but she already seemed to sense something off.
"...Isn't it?"
"...Urgh..."
If I stayed silent any longer, everything would come out.
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened my mouth.
"We haven't been together that long. I searched for him tirelessly for the past ten years but only found him recently."
"...Then what was Yuseong doing all that time?"
"...What do you mean by that?"
"What was Yuseong doing when you found him? That's what I'm asking. He must have done something over those ten years to survive and meet you. What did he do to get by? Did he seduce women? Sell his body? What has he been up to all this time?!"
Mad love. That was the only way to describe the emotion.
The cold killing intent simmering in her reignited, burning hot once more.
"C-Calm down. I told you he lived in the mountains with his master."
"His... master?"
"Yes. After he was gravely injured because of you, it seems he was luckily cared for by a benefactor. He'd picked up some skills along the way, so when I first saw him, he was living quite well on his own."
I recalled our first meeting.
A man running a fortune-telling shop in Shaanxi, who had even built a bit of a reputation.
Despite all he'd endured reading the heavenly secrets, he was a proper young man living by his own convictions.
If not for his looks, that is.
"...And that master was a woman?"
Her words made my brow furrow.
I knew she was the jealous type, but this was excessive.
Jealous of his master, even?
"I don't know. I didn't hear that much."
"Then...!"
"But even if the master was a woman, surely nothing like what you're imagining happened. Not in a master-disciple relationship."
The age gap aside...
'Ahem.'
...Love could overcome age, so that didn't matter, but it was a master-disciple bond.
There couldn't possibly be any romantic attraction between them.
It was like parent and child—how could something so abominable happen?
"No matter how twisted your affections are, that last bit crossed the line."
"..."
*Grip*
Strength entered the hand gripping her sword and her lips.
She showed no sign of swinging it.
"...Still, I have my doubts."
Her suspicions hadn't fully eased, but the conversation had yielded something.
Unlike the other Blood Cult members, she hadn't lost her reason.
She clearly retained her memories and emotions from life.
With any luck, we might resolve this through talk alone.
And after that, make her apologize to him...
'Wait a minute.'
Come to think of it, he'd lost his memories of So-yeon.
That's why he didn't hate me and let me stick around.
If... I made her apologize to him, I'd have to explain everything first.
*Thump*
'Then... what do I do...?'
I'd have to reveal it all.
That I'd deceived him.
That I'd tricked him.
Even if she apologized... would he just let my betrayal slide?
How would he see me—a repulsive master who'd lied and manipulated him from a criminal's position to sate my petty greed?
In the old days, I'd have pondered this endlessly.
But now, as if accustomed, I raised my sword in my mind's eye and severed the thought.
Then, I turned to So-yeon and spoke.
"I don't know how you were revived, but you haven't lost your wits. Do we really need to cross swords?"
Calmly. As calmly as possible.
I steadied my still-racing heart and continued.
"The sin you committed left an indelible scar on that boy, but you've already died once and come back. Shouldn't you start by apologizing to him?"
I didn't want to cut her down again.
It was something I'd regretted for the past ten years.
Did I really have to kill her?
Did I really have to strike her down?
If I'd tried harder, couldn't I have turned her around?
It haunted my thoughts constantly, even invading my dreams.
"...What are you scheming?"
"I've watched over you since you were a child. I know that's not your true nature. It must have been some misunderstanding. You didn't want him to hate you, did you?"
"..."
"Apologize to him first. Ten years have passed. If not now, when?"
"Apologize... you say?"
"Do you want to remain hated by him forever?"
"..."
So-yeon bit her lip.
I let out a silent sigh of relief inwardly.
Mad love. Even if it was insane, it was still a form of love.
She wouldn't want his hatred either.
If there was a chance for pure love, she'd want it.
"Isn't it already too late...?"
I extended my hand to the bowing So-yeon.
"I'll help you. The moment you give up as 'too late,' it truly becomes impossible."
So-yeon bit her lip again.
She seemed deep in thought.
"..."
I didn't press her, simply holding out my hand silently.
Moments later, she spoke.
"...I'll try."
I could feel the tension easing in her voice.
"Good. Wise choice."
"...Should I apologize right now?"
"You need to prepare yourself first. And he's not in any state to receive it anyway."
I pointed to him, whom I'd sent far away using Air Grasp amid the clash with So-yeon.
"Waaah... the booze bottles here..."
Even amid the chaos, he was still drunk, unchanged.
"...Why is Yuseong like that?"
"Looks like he's had a lot to drink."
"He drank alcohol...?"
"Seems he's picked up a new hobby since we last met. He really loves the stuff."
I avoided saying it started because of her, not wanting to provoke her.
"Ah... So you two came to the tavern alone?"
"I couldn't let him wander dangerously on his own. He insisted on this place, so I had no choice but to tag along."
I hid my impure intentions as best I could, sweating inwardly.
Who knew what would happen if the truth came out.
"...I see."
Thankfully, she didn't suspect me and approached him.
*Rustle*
"Ughhh... don't pull..."
"...Sorry. Just stay like this for a bit."
So-yeon wrapped one arm around him.
"Sniiff... haaah..."
"It tickles..."
I was startled to see her press her nose near his neck and inhale deeply, but I held back any reaction.
She wasn't doing anything else yet.
"Hmmm..."
After a long while, So-yeon spoke.
"Master. Can I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
I replied nonchalantly.
I figured nothing major would come up now.
At that moment, I still hadn't realized
"Why do you smell like Master on Yuseong?"
that I'd underestimated So-yeon's madness.