Dark-Robed Zen Master (2)
"Ah. It's warm." This must be what paradise feels like. Warming a body exhausted from the cold winter night under a warm blanket. Wrapped tightly in a navy blue blanket like a cocoon, I curled up and closed my eyes. In an instant, sleep slowly embraced me. It seemed I had just fallen asleep. When I thought again, there was a slight sense of dissonance, as if my mind had just awakened.
"Are you sleeping? Sowoon-ah."
".... I was just about to fall asleep."
Mother called me from behind my back. I turned around vigorously under the blanket. Although I couldn't see her in the dark room, I could feel her presence.
"You seem quite serious about martial arts these days."
"... Yes."
Unconsciously, my gaze went to where I had propped up the sword earlier. It wasn't clearly visible, but the last time I saw it, the blade was quite worn. It wasn't from intense sparring or duels, yet a newly carved wooden sword didn't even last a month, so anyone could tell I was serious.
"It looks good."
As if waiting for those words, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Though blurry, I could see Mother's figure.
"Rather than you who used to waste time in the fields without anything to do, I like seeing you spend your days diligently like this."
Did I waste time in the fields? I don't remember, but it seems so. I had the strength to do something but no particular motivation. At this age, everyone goes out to play, but well. The absence of a father is quite a significant disqualification among children of this age. It's a time when nothing else is visible beyond what's immediately apparent. Naturally, I couldn't go out and play with such kids. Though unintentional, since Mother was satisfied, my mood improved before going to sleep. However, unfortunately, that good mood didn't last even an hour.
"... Can you become a martial artist?"
Her tone was filled with worry. For an ordinary ten-year-old, it would have been an unthinkable realm, but since it wasn't, I could sense it.
"They say it's dangerous..."
This was, yes, maternal love. Mother was purely worried that her only son might one day leave home and return injured or dead. If it weren't for this question, I would have said something that wasn't true to ease her worries. But I couldn't lie to Mother about something that would soon be discovered.
"Yes... I intend to become a martial artist."
As soon as I said that, Mother expressed her distress, saying "Sowoon-ah..."
"I know it's dangerous, Mother. Only a very small number gain fame, and most wander as third-rate wanderers and meet misfortune."
"It probably isn't much different from what you're worried about. If I decide to live as a martial artist, I'll inevitably get hurt. Perhaps... I might have to be prepared for death."
For a moment, a monster flashed through my mind. To kill that monster, being prepared for death might not be enough.
"But there's something I want to do."
Nevertheless, I'm willing to do it. Even if I can't keep my promise to be with Mother, even if I abandon the promise to walk the righteous path.
"There are things in this world that I absolutely cannot do without this power."
Because tearing that guy apart is the only way to protect Mother. It's the only path of a righteous martial artist that I can follow.
"Someone called me a selective idler and criticized me harshly, but even so, I'm a genius who reached first-class in just one month."
Looking at Mother again, my heart wavered once more. Because I saw something sparkling at the corners of her eyes. Even so, I suppressed my emotions and asked Mother.
"Can you support me? Your one and only son."
For a long time, Mother didn't answer.
"If it's first-class, I remember seeing it when I was young too."
"They said they stopped by briefly while crossing the mountain because something happened."
"I saw it once."
Before I knew it, Mother's arms were wrapping around my shoulders. I quietly accepted her warm touch and listened to her story.
"They cut down to places that couldn't be reached. It was amazing and great."
"Is my son like that too?"
Before I knew it, I was tightly embraced in Mother's arms. Burying my face in her shoulder, I responded.
"I can show you right now. It will be much greater than that person, you know?"
"Yes. I suppose so."
Once, Mother hugged me tightly. As if responding, I hugged Mother tightly too.
"I can't hold you like this forever. On the outside it's like this, but inside you've already grown up."
Mother's hand slowly moved away. Finally, though blurry, she showed a clear smile and said.
"When you leave, at least say something, and it would be nice if you visit often."
".... Yes."
. .
"Mother?"
When I woke up from a drowsy sleep, the spot next to me was empty, with the blanket neatly folded as if no one had been there. She must have already gone to work. After having that conversation yesterday, I couldn't just sit still, so I folded the blanket and quickly opened the door and ran out.
- Thud.
"Thud?"
Just as I was about to leave the house, I felt something thud under my foot. Something slightly hard and light.
"A sword?"
Looking down, there was a sword placed there. Why a sword? When I bent down to pick it up, I could feel it was a real sword. Moreover, it was a new sword that had hardly been touched by human hands.
"It looks pretty expensive."
The feeling of it sliding out of the sheath was no ordinary item. It wasn't a famous sword, but it was definitely higher grade than swords you could find anywhere on the street. At least, it seemed like something that couldn't be made even if one died and came back to life at our village blacksmith.
".... Is it from Mother?"
Last night, we had talked about martial artists, so I couldn't help but think of that. Was it a sword Mother had obtained? It must have been quite expensive, no, in our household's circumstances, it couldn't not be expensive. I was newly grateful for Mother's gift.
"Practice, practice, practice..."
Light reflected on the blade and sparkled. Looking closely, it seemed like some inscription was engraved. Practice, train, and polish. It was a message to keep striving endlessly. I couldn't help but be grateful for this silent nagging.
"I should show it off to Master Jeon No."
Since I had a new sword, I wanted to show it to him at least once. I properly fastened the scabbard at my waist. Because my body was young, it slightly dragged on the ground... Can't be helped. Using light footwork, I crossed the mountain in an instant and ran. I could already see Master Jeon No's house where I had spent almost several days.
"You come every day."
Master Jeon No, lying on the wooden bench, spoke.
"You gave me permission, didn't you?"
Just a few days ago, I had heard that I could come anytime. Huh? Wasn't that it? Was it just a formal statement?
"That's right. Come anytime. But today you don't have a wooden sword. Are you not planning to train today?"
"Haha... No. I no longer need a wooden sword."
Saying that, I took out the sword from my waist. The splendid blade was revealed to the world. Master Jeon No raised his body from the bench and asked.
"You obtained a real sword?"
"Yes. I obtained one."
"Huh..."
Master Jeon No lay down again and let out a surprised sigh. When I didn't put the sword back in the scabbard and took it out completely, he asked once more.
"Are you planning to train with a real sword?"
I nodded awkwardly and answered yes. Then he waved his hand and strongly dissuaded me.
"Stop it. Aren't you a first-class martial artist?"
"If you swing a real sword, my house will fly away in a few days from the sword wind."
He pointed at the house with his finger and spoke as if asking what kind of scary thing I was saying.
"This is all I have as property. If you don't want to make me homeless, let's use a wooden sword as much as possible."
Hmm. Then there's no particular place to swing it. But since Master Jeon No had his own circumstances, it was a bit awkward to ask. I decided to swing the real sword later at the foot of the mountain where there were no people, and headed home to get the wooden sword.
"Hmm?"
I feel a sense of déjà vu inside the house? Did Mother return in the meantime? No. Mother's fieldwork couldn't have ended so quickly. Moreover, if it were Mother, it wouldn't have felt like déjà vu. There's something in the house.
- Thud
I searched the house thoroughly. Was there any trace of someone intruding? There wasn't. No pressed marks on the floorboards, no traces of opening the door, no traces of searching the house, nothing at all. For ordinary people, there was nothing to the point where they would be relieved thinking it was just a groundless worry. That's why it was strange. How could there be no traces of Mother or me coming and going? Isn't it normal for there to be traces of the two people living in this house? When my thoughts reached that point, my body moved faster than my head. In an instant, I drew my sword and began cutting through places where someone could hide.
"Damn bastard. Where are you?"
It doesn't register in my senses. At minimum, a master of stealth techniques who has reached the peak realm. Why would such a master be in this remote countryside? I don't know. I don't know. As expected, that bastard didn't come out. I spent the entire day with the real sword drawn, on guard, but couldn't catch any clues. All I could do was confirm that there were no poisons or traps inside or outside the house and think that he must have already left. Thinking about it, the real sword from this morning was also too sudden an item. Combined with that, it felt suspicious in many ways. Tomorrow, I should at least make some tracking incense and scatter it around.