Ch.100Cursed Journey (1)

I can’t figure out what to do next. I’m completely lost on how to proceed. Acting honestly feels wrong, but so does acting rationally. I wish I had never realized these feelings in the first place.

While wandering aimlessly without direction, I found myself in front of a booth.

[Magic Experience Booth]

Should I ask Haeun for advice? No, that might be too cruel to her…

Then let me ask Leo first. I feel like Leo might give me a good answer.

As I entered the booth, I saw Leo researching magic alone.

“Where did everyone else go?”

“They all went to watch the fireworks.”

“Then why are you still here, Leo?”

“I’m not particularly interested.”

Leo answered halfheartedly while continuing to scribble something on paper.

I need to change my plan. First, I should drag Leo outside to at least show him the fireworks.

I can’t accept ending the last day like this. So I snatched the paper Leo was writing on and said:

“Come on, how about watching for just a bit? It’s the last day anyway.”

“No. Give that back.”

“I’ll return it if you agree to watch for at least five minutes.”

“…Sigh, I’ll come right back after five minutes.”

“Alright.”

Successfully dragging Leo outside, I pointed at the sky and said:

“What do you think? Isn’t it pretty?”

Leo stared blankly at the sky for a moment, then muttered in a truly empty voice with an expressionless face:

“Pathetic.”

Then Leo quickly corrected himself in his usual tone, speaking urgently:

“No, it’s pretty. Now can we go back…?”

The moment Leo turned his head to leave, his pupils suddenly shook violently.

“…Joe?”

Then he mumbled something so quietly I couldn’t make it out. I’ve never seen Leo this shaken before. Something must be wrong.

“Leo? Are you okay?”

No response. Is there something in the direction he’s looking?

When I turned my head to look, I saw what appeared to be someone like a phantom. Could it be an enemy?

Just as I was about to ask Leo to confirm, he suddenly dashed toward that place.

“Leo?! Leo!”

Leo ran off as if possessed by something. There must definitely be something there.

So I chased after Leo at full speed. His current state was far from normal.

When I finally caught up, I found Leo collapsed in front of someone’s grave.

“Leo? What was that about…?”

Leo looked at me with empty eyes and spoke in a hollow voice devoid of any emotion:

“Would you listen to my story for a moment?”

“What story all of a sudden?”

“Just my story. The story of my cursed journey.”

“…Is this about your past, Leo?”

“Yes, the story of my worthless past.”

Suddenly Leo offered to tell me about his past—the very past he had been hiding all this time.

“…Why are you telling me this now?”

“A farewell gift.”

I still couldn’t sense anything from Leo. His current state was no different from that of a moving corpse.

“Something happened to you, didn’t it?”

“…”

No response. It seems Leo only wants to tell his story.

But I have nothing to lose here. In fact, I’m confident I might learn some important information.

When opportunity knocks, take it—don’t overthink and miss the chance.

“…Alright, so what happened in your past, Leo?”

“It was nothing but tragedy. I’ll start from my childhood.”

#

They say a person’s fate is determined at birth. And that such fate can never be defied.

But I have no intention of submitting to such fate. So I will resist destiny no matter what.

“Leo. Is that why you ran away in the middle of training?”

“Come on, I should be allowed to rest for just one day!”

It seems I was born with a cursed fate. An existence of training 12 hours every single day without exception—truly horrific.

Still, thanks to this madness, my swordsmanship has definitely improved. If I continue training like this, someday I might become a great swordsman like my master.

But taking one day off wouldn’t hurt anything. Yet my heartless master doesn’t understand such a simple fact.

“Master. I promise I’ll work hard starting tomorrow if I can just rest today.”

“No.”

“Please let me rest? This is too cruel for a 14-year-old!”

“We won’t be doing any physical activities today anyway. So don’t worry.”

“…Really?”

“If I’m lying, I’ll let you rest for a whole week.”

“Alright!”

At least today I don’t need to do that boring and grueling sword training. Now I can finally sit down and rest.

Come to think of it, I’ve gotten quite used to this life. But honestly, if I had just refused this madness when I was 8 years old, my life would have been much happier.

No, I was just a child then and couldn’t make proper judgments—though I’m still a child now too.

Anyway, as soon as I said yes when asked if I wanted to become a hero, this miserable life of forced 12-hour daily training began.

But I still don’t know why the person called the world’s greatest swordsman came all the way here to become my master.

Master says it was just coincidence, but is it really all just coincidence?

Still, opportunities like this are rare. So I just need to endure a little longer. Master said he would set me free when I turn 15.

After that, it’s smooth sailing. With my current skills and the title of being the disciple of the world’s greatest swordsman, making a living should be easy.

With such thoughts, I followed my master into a building where I saw piles of books.

“Master. I’ll do sword training.”

“No.”

“Come on, you know I’m terrible at anything that involves using my brain!”

I’d rather just swing a sword than sit through these awful theory lessons. If only I weren’t so stupid, I could have lived comfortably as a scholar or something.

No, is this really better than rotting away in some company?

“Magic at least has nothing to do with intelligence. Think of magic as pure talent.”

“…Really?”

“There have been many fools among high-ranking mages throughout history.”

“Well, let’s give it a try then!”

If it’s just about talent, there’s definitely a possibility. Maybe I’ll be known as Leo the Mage rather than Leo the Swordsman.

With such expectations, I attended my master’s magic lesson.

***

I guess physical activities suit me better after all. I should just stick to being a swordsman.

“I really don’t want to take magic lessons ever again…”

“We’re done with magic lessons anyway since I was only teaching you basic magic. By the way, you have overflowing talent for magic.”

“Thanks for the compliment, but I never want to do magic again for the rest of my life.”

Even with talent, magic is difficult and only frustrating. Swinging a sword for 12 hours straight is actually much more comfortable.

Anyway, today’s schedule is finally over. So I can finally rest—though “rest” only means four hours.

“Good work today! I’ll be going now!”

With that, I fled from my master and ran straight home. Upon entering, I shouted loudly:

“I’m home!”

“Our son is back? How was today?”

“I learned really boring magic. Oh, and Master said I have talent for magic.”

I told my mother while washing my hands and preparing to rest.

“So our son is becoming a mage?”

“No. I really hate that.”

“Why? Being a mage is a better profession than a judge or prosecutor, isn’t it?”

“Magic is just too hard. I’d definitely go crazy if I lived as a mage.”

“Then our son will become a swordsman when he grows up.”

“That’s the plan. And there’s not much time left now.”

Only about three months remain until I turn 15. Then this tiresome and arduous life will end.

What once seemed so endless is now coming to a close. Where should I seek employment after this ends?

No, maybe I should enter the academy, hide my strength, and then reveal it later to receive praise from everyone?

Yes, that’s how I’ll be compensated for my lost childhood. With such thoughts, I went to my room to rest.

If I sleep now, more training awaits when I wake up… truly dreadful…

***

Somehow three weeks have passed. And today is finally the day I turn 15. So after today, this crazy life ends!

With such thoughts and heavy steps, I went to my master and said:

“The day has finally come!”

“Yes, it’s finally the last day.”

My master’s eyes looked somewhat sorrowful. I guess he’s sad too since it’s the last day. Anyway, I steeled myself and said to my master:

“Since it’s the last day, let’s just rest!”

“Alright.”

“…Really?”

I expected to be refused, but my master must have hit his head or something because he agreed to let me rest.

Of course, I’m happy to be able to rest, so that’s fine. Whatever the reason, it’s my first break in seven years, so I might as well enjoy it.

As I was about to head straight home, my master suddenly stopped me.

“Leo, I’d like a cup of coffee.”

“Why coffee all of a sudden?”

“I just want to have a final conversation.”

“If that’s the case, alright.”

I entered the building where my master was staying to make coffee, just as I had always done for the past eight years.

I’ve become quite skilled at making coffee by now. I’m confident I could pass a barista certification test right away.

So I made two cups of espresso, handed one to my master, and prepared to drink the other myself.

“Have you become addicted to it now?”

“I just love its unique aroma.”

I’ve completely fallen for this coffee recently. Though it did mess up my sleep pattern and cause me trouble.

Anyway, my master and I began chatting while savoring our coffee.

“So what did you want to talk about?”

“Do you know about supernatural powers?”

“Isn’t it something that manifests with a one-third probability?”

“Then I need to explain about supernatural powers for a moment.”

My master took a sip of coffee and said:

“Usually, supernatural powers manifest in people who desperately wish for something. Like someone who desperately wants coffee might gain powers related to coffee.”

“What kind of example is that?”

“Do you also know about the growth of supernatural powers?”

“No.”

“Supernatural powers grow three times, allowing them to be used like completely different abilities. And do you know the conditions for manifesting these powers?”

“Of course I don’t.”

I know nothing about supernatural powers. So there’s no way I could know about manifestation conditions.

But my master doesn’t seem to consider my situation at all.

“Mastering your power to the extreme. Being on the verge of death. And losing what’s most precious to you. These are the three conditions. But the last one can be considered impossible to manifest.”

“Why?”

“Do you think there are people who have something more precious than their own lives? Even if there were, do you think someone who has lost what’s most precious to them could continue living?”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

If you lose what’s most precious to you, there would be no reason to live, so you’d probably commit suicide or something.

Speaking of supernatural powers, I suddenly realized something.

“Wait, does that mean I might manifest powers today?”

“If there’s something you desperately wish for right now.”

Then my master put down his coffee cup and stood up.

“I’ll be going now.”

“But there’s still plenty of coffee left?”

“I just remembered something urgent.”

Why did he ask me to make coffee if this was going to happen? But since it’s the last day, I can tolerate this much.

Anyway, just before leaving, my master briefly said:

“Take care of yourself.”

“I will! And I’ll come visit you soon after becoming the world’s greatest swordsman!”

With that, I was finally free. Now it’s time to go have fun!

***

While taking the first comfortable nap of my life, I was awakened by screams coming from somewhere.

“Kyaaaah!”

I went outside following the sound, and a truly horrific scene unfolded before me.

The village was burning, and demons were brutally murdering the villagers.

And instinctively, I felt immense fear toward someone who was commanding those demons.

As I stared at someone with terror-filled eyes, trembling, someone spoke to me:

“Finally found you.”