Book 8 Chapter 9

Episode 183. The World's Best Martial Arts Tournament successfully concluded, and a long festival began.

With a performance no less impressive than Aki's, Cheonhwaillyong Celine also won the adult division.

"This adult division final, wasn't it really amazing?"

"Seriously, Celine pulled off that comeback."

"Both the disciple and the master are incredible."

They say the final match against her rival Moreon achieved a dramatic come-from-behind victory and sparked tremendous enthusiasm, but I didn't see it.

Because at that time, I was listening to the story of Slime Slayer, Cora.

"Therefore, strangers, I hope you will heartily enjoy the festival of the blue city <Terbenopl>!"

It was the Republic's largest New Year festival, lasting a full ten days, and its grand scale made <Delaiten>'s seasonal festival seem like child's play.

They say that if the owner of the laurel wreath visited any shop, not only the winner but everyone present would be treated to a free meal.

'Originally, I hear it was a festival for the consul who returned victorious from a great war…'

As the period of peace lengthened, it seems to have changed like this. I thought it wasn't bad.

"Aki Punch! Aki Punch! Aki Punch! Aki Punch! Aki Punch! Aki Punch! Aki Punch! Aki Punch! Aki Punch!"

Wherever Aki went, along with fervent cheers, confetti poured down.

Even Celine, next to her, despite being the adult division winner, was there only one superstar?

"Try this, Aki!"

"Aki, eat it!"

"No, our shop has tastier food!"

"Eat that too!"

Aki received the full love of <Terbenopl>'s citizens.

Whenever Aki ate something and smiled brightly, the citizens clutched their chests and seemed about to collapse. To see that one smile, everyone, without exception, brought out food.

As I looked down at that scene from atop the clock tower, a smile naturally formed on my face.

'Was it a joyful experience, Aki?'

I hope it becomes something worth remembering in your immortal life. Because this is all I can give you…

For three days after the festival began, I protected Aki with Bell Sidious from dawn until late night, but strangely, I wasn't tired at all.

It's strange.

It's truly strange.

It was around that time that I sensed Valensidis' presence behind me. He appeared by transcending space with dark magic.

"What about a ship to the archipelago?"

"Got it."

"I wanted to leave right away, but…"

Slime Slayer, Cora's physical condition was simply not fit for a voyage.

There was also the reason of waiting for Cora to recover, but there was also the wish for Aki to enjoy this festival a little.

The realistic reason was that it was difficult to find passage during the festival period.

"Anyway, it was a matter of waiting until the fleet was assembled. Regardless of your will."

"Hmm, a linked fleet (連環船團), you say."

"Is there something bothering you?"

"No, nothing."

"If you're going to leave, now is the right time. There are fewer passengers because they're enjoying the festival. If you try to depart after the festival ends, it'll be difficult to move because too many humans will recognize your baby dragon."

Ships heading from <Terbenopl> to the Tersi Archipelago, be they merchant ships, deep-sea fishing vessels, or passenger ships, always travel in a convoy, they say.

This is because pirates base themselves on the scattered islands of the South Sea (南海), and attacks by sea monsters inhabiting the deep sea are frequent.

So witches tie the ships together with chains of supernatural power and travel while protecting the fleet from various dangers with magic spells.

That is the linked fleet.

You can consider many ships as moving like a single body.

Of course, if it was a wealthy magnate with enough money to hire a powerful witch or wizard, they would depart alone, but these were very few.

So we had to wait until this fleet was assembled.

"I just thought, 'they use curious methods'."

During the time when the Red Dragon Legion was strong, there were no such methods.

The moment someone dared to commit piracy, fireballs would fall from the sky, so who would even think of piracy?

And sea monsters, afraid of the dragons patrolling the sky, couldn't even think of coming out.

You can see it as a cross-section of an era where dragon protection is coming to an end.

"So when does the fleet depart?"

"Dawn, two days from now."

"Two days from now, huh."

"What about Cora's condition?"

"I just checked, and she's much better. She herself wants to leave right away, it seems. She also seemed to have become friendly with Pipi, who acts as a bodyguard."

"Right, then now…"

I had to take a deep breath, so my words broke off. My gaze, which had been fixed on Aki, shifted to Celine next to her.

Hmph, a low sigh escaped me.

A happy memory turning into a heavy burden, this must be what they mean.

'But Aki, you have to get used to it from now on.'

You, someday, even with me…

I told that story that night to Celine, who had just wrestled with over a hundred initiation applications.

Celine didn't say things like "The festival isn't over yet," or "Are you leaving already?"

"Yes, you have to go."

Since it was decided that way from the beginning, she spoke with resolute eyes, as if she would readily accept it.

But the slight trembling at the end of her voice was clearly discernible.

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

I never imagined that arranging someone's farewell would be this difficult.

"I want to go with you, but…"

"No, you must focus on the revival of the sect."

"I know. Now that I'm the sect leader. Do you know what? Some survivors scattered across the continent are gathering. It's less than ten people, but it's all thanks to Aki."

With Aki and Celine's victories, the Cheonhwapa maintained its status as one of the Six Great Sects. That is, Celine became the youngest sect leader of the Six Great Sects.

"Anyway, thank you for telling me quickly. No, I should say thank you for telling me like this, instead of just disappearing suddenly."

"…"

"Because I have a gift to give you as a master."

"A gift, you say."

"Don't ask. Because I want to surprise you."

"Then I also have something to say. Maybe I should have said it earlier, but…"

"What is it?"

"If we part ways this time, we won't be able to meet again for life. I can't tell you the reason."

Aki enjoyed the festival the next day too.

As it was the Republic's largest metropolis, where all kinds of delicacies gathered, the variety and quantity of food were so immense that even with his enormous appetite, it was overwhelming.

At night, I called Aki, who had returned with a bulging belly.

"Come here, Aki."

"Aki is sleeeepy."

"I'm going to make your hair black for a while. So people won't recognize Aki."

The human form that dragons possess was merely something in the intermediate realm between illusion and reality.

It was, so to speak, a temporary form.

Therefore, even if Aki's hair was dyed with hair dye, it would return to its original color before even two days had passed.

But anyway, one day would be sufficient for this matter…

The farewell took place at dawn after the hair was dyed.

"Aki is sleeeepy…"

Aki rubbed his eyes.

In front of the South Sea, where the sun had not yet risen, on the quietly lapping waves, the same color as the night sky.

The salty smell I had somehow grown accustomed to, the cries of seabirds, the colors of the city at dawn, the shouts of early-rising fishermen…

If Aki's personality is similar to mine, he probably won't forget these trivial scenes for the rest of his life.

"Yes. I'm sorry you're sleepy. Because I have something I must give you."

Celine put a leather strap around Aki's neck. Attached to the end of that leather strap was a tree.

The symbol of the Cheonhwapa, Jeokchongmok.

And she poured light onto it. It was the victor's laurel wreath, which had transformed into a form of light immediately after the awarding ceremony.

"Oooh…?"

Aki, whose sleepiness had somehow vanished, opened his two eyes wide.

Around the cross-shaped Jeokchongmok, the laurel wreath was draped. Dazzlingly reflecting moonlight in rainbow colors, it was the emblem of victory at the World's Best Martial Arts Tournament.

"It's the same as Master's!"

As Aki smiled brightly, looking alternately at Celine and the Jeokchongmok, Celine placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It was truly joyful, Aki. Being able to teach you must have been the greatest fortune of my life."

"Is it fortune?"

"Yes. Shall I say it was like a light shining in the darkness…? You're still young, so you probably don't understand what I mean. Aki, you have to go now. And I can't go with you."

Aki blinked blankly, then looked up at me.

My chest felt tight.

As I nodded, Aki looked at Celine and shook his head, tilting it.

"Why can't we go together?"

"I have work to do, and Aki has a place to go."

"Once the work is done, we can go together! Aki will wait, Aki will wait!"

Aki didn't know that this was an eternal farewell.

I knew, and Celine knew too.

Because I had told Celine.

But for some reason, Aki seemed to show extreme aversion to this farewell. As if once separated, they would never see each other again.

"Aki…"

As if all memories and recollections up to this point were pouring out at once, Celine bit her lip.

She dropped her head, unable to speak for a while, then the next moment, she stood up vigorously.

"The mindset of a Cheonhwapa disciple, the first!"

Every day before starting training, Celine made Aki repeat this. Aki clenched both fists and replied.

"Like a dragon (龍), martial arts must only be used to protect the weak and those without power!"

"The second!"

"Like a dragon (龍), martial arts must be used to shine light on the dark places of the world!"

"The third!"

"You must hold the heart of a dragon (龍) in your chest!"

In my eyes, watching that, a lonely light flickered.

The end of a bond…

Memories of the moments when he shouted those words with Celine will continuously come to Aki's mind in the future.

- Rin, will you promise me? That when you return, you will be an adult who can share the light of magic with others.

Just as the last moments with the Dean (Auntie) are still vivid in my mind.

"Always remember those!"

"I understand!"

"Good! If you hold that belief in your heart, we're not parting ways, Aki. We'll continue to go together. Because I'll always be in your heart."

As Celine poked Aki's chest with her index finger, a flower-like smile blossomed on Aki's fidgeting face.

"Then are we really always together?"

"Of course. Have you seen me lie?"

"I've seen it a looot!"

"?"

"???"

"Ahem, anyway! Take care not to catch a cold… Always be healthy, Aki."

I saw Celine barely manage to swallow the cliché phrase "Let's meet again."

Did she think that even such words would cause pain when recalling this brief connection later?

Celine let out a small laugh and patted Aki's shoulder twice.

"Then."

And she turned away, from Aki, and from the moment of eternal farewell. Because a master cannot show tears.

"…"

Aki, who didn't understand the situation, looked up at me blankly.

I felt that something was similar yet different.

On that day, I knew what I should say but couldn't. But now Aki wants to say something but doesn't know what to say.

I didn't want Aki to experience the same regret as me.

'Look at me, Aki.'

First, I showed him a fist-and-palm salute with both hands.

And after conveying the words Aki should say with my mouth shape, I gently pushed Aki's back.

"Always be healthy."

Celine tried to complete a perfectly calm moment of farewell. She must have tried to complete a moment of parting where the master's authority would not collapse.

"Master."

She would have been able to complete it, had her first disciple at that moment not respectfully given the fist-and-palm salute with both hands.

Everything collapsed there.

After a moment of silence, Celine quickly turned around and hugged Aki tightly.

[The fleet will depart in two hours. Those who have not yet boarded, please present your boarding passes and use the designated rowboats to…]

And she remained like that until this announcement echoed at the pier.

Because there are also emotions that cannot be conveyed in words, as if cherishing that last warmth.

Because he was too young, Aki didn't understand the meaning of the tears his master shed, but he did pat her back.

'You are many times better than me, Aki.'

At that sight, a shadow from the past fell, and a sorrowful smile formed.

At that time, at that moment of farewell, why was it so difficult to convey a simple word of thanks…? How much I regretted that for my entire life.

I placed a hand on Celine's shoulder and sincerely expressed my gratitude.

"Thank you for teaching Aki well, Celine."

"It's me who should be grateful. For entrusting Aki to me that day, truly…"

What Celine finally handed over to me were two hair ties and a Cheonhwapa do복.

"Aki likes pigtails, right? It's very easy to do with these."

Celine waved her hand the entire time we boarded the rowboat and headed towards the distant horizon where the fleet was moored.

And probably, even after we had completely disappeared beyond the horizon, she would have stood there dejectedly, waving her hand.

Because it was written in the letter sent by my senior disciple (Daesa hyeong) that the Dean (Auntie) had done so.

And surely, if I were in a situation where I was sending off Tureina, I would have done the same.

Is a master's heart all the same?

"Master, why are you crying? Is it because the sea breeze is stinging?"

Aki, looking at Celine on the receding pier, turned his head and asked.

Unable to answer anything, I stopped rowing for a moment and placed a straw hat on his head.

The summer dawn was spreading over the horizon. The dawn of the past, which could not possibly be seen, overlapped that dawn.

The dawn of that farewell day, which makes my chest heavy whenever I recall it…

"Aki, look closely at that dawn. Because that dawn will help you meet Celine again later."

This memory will surely be sad and heartbreaking.

But.

While doing so, it will warm a corner of your heart and become a sturdy support for your soul…

"I pray that this memory of today will support Aki on the immortal journey he will walk."

When I look at Aki, I feel as if I'm looking into a mirror of the past.

A mirror of the present merely reflects, unable to change anything, but a mirror of the past is different.

The current me can teach what I couldn't do in the past, and what I should have done…

"Ah."

I thought that perhaps that might be a parent's heart.

And perhaps.

I wondered if this was the Dean (Auntie)'s heart towards me.

"Yes, this was her heart…"

A path that could not be seen in books began to appear at some point, and I walk upon that path. Beyond that horizon of intellect, towards the truth (眞理).

Socrafres.

- From the surrounding environment, you can inherit the research progress of 'Unique Magic'.

- Progress 76.7% => 79.8%.

Just as I simultaneously recalled the smiles of the Dean (Auntie) and Alakis, Aki rested his chin on my shoulder and smiled brightly.

"Then Aki will see it with Papa!"

"Why?"

"That way, Papa too can meet Master later, right?"

I don't know what was so good, but after saying that, Aki giggled.

So I just smiled too.

When I was with Aki, I could forget all sorrow and laugh like a boy from the past. I still don't know why.

The day I reach the truth, I'll know.