episode_0144

“I can see the signs starting to show… .”

Last night, I was in a daze, recalling what Lily had said to me in my dream.

* * *

“The Demon King’s seal is getting weaker!”

“… The seal is weakened?”

The sight of Lily smiling faintly made my head spin.

…the seal is weakening?

It’s a headache to see the story progress steadily even though neither the warrior, the saint, nor even the nameless one entered the academy.

“Yes! Even though it was a seal that cost the warrior his life, it seems it was impossible to maintain it for over 300 years!”

Or maybe our Demon King is really strong? Lily added quietly, not caring that my mood was sinking, and just laughed.

“… I see.”

But I can’t show these feelings to Lily.

I think you recognize me as a complete colleague, so I can’t just hit you for no reason, right?

I just kept worrying to myself.

“So, is that what you came here to say?”

“Yes! Because it’s important information!”

“It’s definitely important… .”

Lily, who was jumping around and flapping her wings, put her chest on my shoulder and continued speaking.

“Yes! So, I hope Harang-nim will also start preparing!”

It’s soft… no.

“What are you preparing?”

When I tilted my head and asked, Lily let out an unpleasant laugh and placed her index finger on the corner of my mouth.

“Of course! It’s preparation for war!”

“What.”

War?

“No, do you know when the Demon King will wake up and are you already preparing?”

“Uh… At this rate, won’t you wake up in 3 years?”

3 years, it may be long, but…

“That’s fast… .”

“Is that so? 3 years to a human… Ah, it means nothing to Harang!”

“What does it mean?”

“Oh, it’s nothing…! I’m definitely not calling you grandma or anything like that!”

This year?

I felt like hitting him hard, but I held it in and asked with a sigh.

“Just in case, I ask, whose war is this?”

“Uh… Won’t the demons and humans become one?”

Lily answered as if it was obvious, then shook her head and continued speaking.

“Of course, anonymous and Harang are excluded!”

“… Yes, thank you very much.”

“Ah! The Heavenly Demon Sect! They are precious sacrifices!”

Instead of responding to Lily’s subsequent words, he simply bowed his head.

… It’s really complicated.

If a war breaks out, which side should I fight on?

If I think about it from a moral standpoint, it would be right to help people like me, but if I think about it calmly, it would be right to do nothing.

What I’m saying is that I have a lot to gain by not helping anyone and just remaining neutral.

If you ask what the benefit is… Since there is no loss, there is only benefit, right?

but….

Camilla is on my mind. And, even though it was only for a short time, it breaks my heart to think of the children I grew attached to while working as a professor at the Academy dying.

Hmm… I’m worried.

Actually, it’s best to hear an anonymous opinion, so I think it might be okay to talk about it later.

It seems that my head alone will not be enough to free the Cheonmasingyo from the Demon King’s sacrifice.

Wait a minute… Then wouldn’t that mean we’re at odds with the Demon King?

You’re taking away what you promised to give… .

Hmm, I don’t know.

… Well, if it comes down to it, just me and Anonymous can hide somewhere.

It may be a cowardly way to run away, but isn’t it okay to be this greedy?

As long as anonymous people follow me, I don’t mind getting dirty.

“Okay! I’ll go now!”

“Okay, go ahead.”

“Wow! It was fun! I’ll probably come back again sometime soon!”

He responded with a pout as he watched Lily rise into the air, flapping her wings.

“Don’t come here.”

For some reason, whenever I talk to Lily, I feel so excited, so I really hope she doesn’t come.

“Hehe, if you like it, then bounce- Whew! Got it! ”

He threw a stone at Lily, who was trying to talk nonsense, and smiled faintly.

I woke up from a dream.

* * *

“Anonymous, do you think you need more?”

“I think this should be enough.”

I sighed deeply as I looked at the firewood piled up like a mountain.

“… The weather is getting cold quickly.”

A little bit of steam is leaking out of my open mouth as if to prove it.

The nameless man nodded, carrying most of the bundle containing firewood on his shoulder.

“Yes, I think the high altitude has a big impact.”

“Hmm… I see.”

I also gathered up all the remaining firewood, put it in a bundle, and slung it over my shoulder.

It’s not exact, but it’s been almost two months since I heard those words from Lily.

During that time, Moo-myeong and I were just sharpening our swords and nothing much happened.

There were also no intruders heading towards the cabin.

Hmm… Actually, it was a bit early for an intruder to arrive.

Because the capital city where the palace where I had my accident is located and the mountain range where I live are quite far apart.

Well, it took me half a day to get here, but if you think I’m coming alone…

Considering the breaks in between, it would probably take three months to do half a day.

Of course, Lily came by a few times to tell me what was going on, but… there wasn’t anything important to say.

It was mostly just small talk.

Oh, one thing that concerns me is that the Cheonmasingyo is thinking of moving closer to the hut?

I gave my permission because I had no other reason to refuse.

Hmm, it’s been almost a month since you gave permission, so shouldn’t it be coming soon?

No matter how far it is, there will be no restrictions on movement as long as there are jackals, so they will arrive quickly.

If only we had the materials to build a building for the children of the Cheonmasingyo to stay in, they would come right away.

… Well, then it won’t be boring.

Since there were over a hundred of them at that time, wouldn’t it be almost like forming a village?

It’s definitely going to be noisy.

Hmm, if there’s going to be a war, I guess I can just take Camilla out.

Of course, I will resist as much as Camilla, who has a strong will… .

Eventually, you will agree.

Well, if I were to bring Camilla, the human side would already be half destroyed.

Even if you get hurt, it’s okay if you comfort them.

Time heals everything. Or sometimes people comfort you.

In my case, haven’t I received a lot of comfort from anonymous people?

If you raise just one disciple, things will get better.

I poured the firewood into the newly built shed next to the cabin where I was staying and shook my hands.

“Anonymous, is this really the last time?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Of course, there hasn’t been any good news over the past two months.

He pulled out a wooden sword from his waist and aimed it at the nameless man.

“Now that you’ve finished all the work… Nameless, it’s time to pick up your sword.”

“Yes, Master… .”

The nameless man, who seemed to be giving off an air of not wanting to do anything, sighed deeply and walked towards the training ground with a thumping pace.

“Then, take it…!”

“… Ugh!”

The unknown’s skills began to rise at a frighteningly steep rate.

“Sigh!”

“Left, behind the ankle. There’s a square.”

I guess the reason is because of the internal energy I started injecting in large quantities and the bugs.

The bug, which was thought to only cause harm to the nameless, instead brought out the nameless’ talents.

I’m not sure why, but if I recall what Saint Elias said, I think it has to do with personality.

All personality is related to the mental image that is important in dealing with internal energy.

The bug begins to interfere with the nameless personality, and somehow, by good luck, the imagery does not split into several paths, but gradually begins to connect as one.

He put the wooden sword in his waist and shook his hands.

“Hmm, it’s definitely growing fast.”

“Oh my, gasp… Thank you.”

Myeong, who was lying on the ground, breathing heavily, smiled at my compliment.

“Will you leave me soon at this rate?”

Picking a smile, he made a joke to make people laugh, and the nameless person’s expression hardened coldly.

“That won’t happen.”

“… Is that so?”

I wondered if it was necessary to be so serious, but somehow those words made me feel good and the corners of my mouth started to twitch.

… Ugh, this won’t do.

It is no different from the disciple declaring that he will nag his teacher for the rest of his life, so he should be scolded loudly… .

Aside from that fact, it’s really not easy to deal with my feelings of being happy.

But, as a teacher, I must say something.

He sighed and poked the nameless man’s waist.

“Are you really not going to get off?”

“Yes, Master.”

A firm, anonymous statement.

I have absolutely no idea what the disciple is thinking.

… I need to wake up people to their sense of alert.

All men prioritize reproduction.

He raised the corners of his lips slightly and slapped the shoulder of the nameless man who was lying down.

“Haa, if I keep doing that, I’ll end up living my whole life as a bachelor and then die.”

But, as if to mock my feelings.

I tried to express my concern by speaking to him, but his expression only got worse.

“When on earth… .”

“What?”

“No… .”

It was a truly peaceful day.

… When I look at the anonymous expression with his lips pouting, it seems like I’m the only one who’s at peace?

Why on earth are you upset?

I just tilted my head because I didn’t understand.