Ch.328108. Isn’t That Right, Master? (3)

“You’re still the same.”

Though it should have gradually faded even from memory.

Seeing him now, his old image vividly appears in my mind.

The person before me and the one I’ve always known.

“……”

The sky is a sea of stars, and the earth is another sea made of water.

Yet we stand upon it, undisturbed.

“Thanks to you not turning away from me back then… my foolish self was able to come this far.”

The one-armed old man had wrinkles, but his skin color remained vibrant.

His back was straight, and his two legs firmly supported his upper body like pillars.

Although his physical body appeared extremely aged at first glance,

Even with weakened muscles, the energy forming his skeleton and foundation had reached such maturity that he hardly looked like someone on his deathbed.

Even though this place was neither the living world nor the mortal realm,

His soul, which he had honed and tempered, had become strong enough to sustain even his aging body.

Had he wanted, he might have been able to enjoy life soundly for years, decades, or even longer.

However, Raymond let go of life without regret.

What does it truly mean to know the right time and moment?

Knowing where tomorrow’s self will head.

Knowing where today’s self will head.

Even though he might still be trapped within the boundaries of fate,

At least within those boundaries, he had reached a realm where no one could reproach or force him anymore.

“Freedom depends on how you take it, true freedom. That’s what you said, isn’t it?”

“……”

Kariel simply nodded quietly.

“But I was too weak and fragile to yearn for freedom.”

So I…

“I came up with my own definition of liberation.”

“……”

If that is the conclusion you’ve reached, then gladly.

Though he didn’t speak, Raymond blinked as if he had heard his voice.

“I’ve always been both envious and afraid of naturally gifted people.”

Jealousy and envy.

Unable to endure that inferiority and baseness, I spent my childhood avoiding their gaze and bullying those weaker than myself.

If I hadn’t met my master, how many of the weak and poor would have suffered at my hands?

And how many flatterers would have clung to me like flies, laying maggot eggs on my body?

“I am grateful.”

He bowed deeply.

“That too is your effort, and your blessing.”

Even just following is not an easy path.

Perhaps even if hundreds were gathered, and thousands were collected,

Those who are qualified among them would be few.

Even if hundreds or thousands of such people were gathered again, and selected to be countable on fingers, they would still barely endure this journey.

Though fate may have brought them together, grasping that hand is solely up to the individual.

“……”

Even though Kariel himself knew the future, and beyond knowing it, possessed the fateful power to guide the future with his will and grasp the threads of possibility to determine that future…

…Even that would be rejected and cast aside by the weak and insignificant—their conduct, true nature, true heart, and essence.

People do not change.

Beasts do not change either.

But the qualification to overturn one’s birth is given only to humans.

Therefore, being born human is so noble and pure.

That’s why treating that purity as trivial and worthless is a great sin in itself.

Don’t we know that?

Can’t you just tell us?

But if they won’t listen or accept even when told and taught…

…Then everything becomes futile.

“Have you been watching over us from here?”

“…Among other things.”

As long as they don’t give up or let go on their own, may they walk that path to their heart’s content.

The past has gone, but now for Kariel, the present and future are meaningless constructs and concepts.

“How long have you stayed in this place?”

“…Short if you call it short, long if you call it long.”

Even the concept of time is meaningless.

That’s why he must always hold onto his self to avoid losing his center.

“I see.”

Raymond was silent for a while.

“As my master said, I held a sword without resting for even a single day.”

After completing a full 20 years like that, he spent 4 years in Pacelan.

Then, after returning to what felt like home, the sanctuary, he had been holding his sword continuously until now.

“By the 50th year, I started to understand something. But by the 60th year, I belatedly realized that I didn’t know how to properly hold a sword, that I had merely been swinging rather than truly cutting.”

Why is holding a sword so difficult?

What should I do to make it easier?

What does “easy” even mean?

Familiarity? Mastery? Proficiency?

“After a few more years passed, I began to understand a little.”

That the path is truly long and arduous.

I may be counted among the continent’s finest swordsmen,

But such a person as myself is still insignificant…

“Yet I didn’t feel regret or disappointment.”

“……”

“I must have lived earnestly. I have no regrets.”

…However.

“I do have one lingering attachment.”

“What might that be?”

Kariel asked, though he already knew.

“…We are creatures bound to live according to the environment we were born into.”

Whether commoner, poor, noble, or royal.

“Only after reality becomes unbearably difficult, after receiving great shock, after pain becomes intolerably severe… only then do we vaguely realize something is wrong.”

Yet because of our upbringing, as they say, old habits die hard, and we remain stuck.

It’s like an alcoholic unable to quit drinking,

Or a gambling addict unable to stop gambling.

“Whether to become a tree, a woodcutter who cuts trees, or neither—I heard the words but it took considerable time to understand.”

“……”

“Could I ascend to heaven if I wished?”

If he wished, he could dwell in the heaven prepared by this world’s master.

There, he would surely be respected and employed.

…However.

“I am still too lowly to achieve completion in the name of eternity.”

“……”

“And after resolving my master’s lifelong task, I’ve realized what I must do.”

“Is that so.”

“…I want to pull my foolish brother from the edge of hell and help him live as a human again.”

So that afterward, he can walk the same path as Raymond himself and find his own salvation.

“I see hope.”

“…Is that so.”

Raymond chose to set aside his achievements to save someone else.

…When he could have peacefully entered heaven from here.

It’s partly regrettable, partly admirable.

“The better path often originates from the worst.”

What others dislike doing, what others avoid and don’t want to approach.

Yet in some sense, the most necessary…

“Who do you think made me this way?”

Raymond laughed lightly as if making a joke.

“Going beyond the extremes of swordsmanship, I realized that one must step into death to find what comes next. Sincerity. True intent. Truth. I realized this too late… but I’m satisfied just to have found the path.”

“…So now I aim for what comes next.”

Raymond had seen it.

Kariel’s father, the hero.

Even after his reincarnation, he still possessed his sword intact.

He simply lacked the strength, time, will, or awareness to draw it out.

It doesn’t disappear.

Even if buried and confined,

What has been accumulated and formed never truly vanishes.

Although the fruits of Raymond’s current body and human existence will return to nothingness,

Even that will connect to someone else’s will and achievement.

But beyond that, Raymond—or more precisely, the essential being who has lived wearing Raymond’s shell and mask…

Is about to begin another long journey.

“This time, I truly want to reach the realm you spoke of, Master.”

“As long as you don’t give up on yourself, the path will open.”

“Immersing oneself in the swamp of oblivion is truly frightening. Even though I’ve prepared myself.”

“But if the seeds you’ve sown were truly not meaningless,”

You will be able to hold the fruit that grows from them.

“…I can only hope. Not that it will be easy… just that I won’t lose my way.”

“Look at my father’s example. Though he lost his way and suffers in anguish… hasn’t he still found his path because of you?”

“It’s all thanks to your virtue, Master.”

“It’s also the fruit of your efforts that made it possible.”

“…I can only be grateful.”

Being able to push the shoulder of one favored by God is an infinite glory.

That was the fundamental reason he could enter the gates of heaven.

Even without that, he might have entered heaven, but wouldn’t have received VIP treatment.

The human world or the other world, they’re the same in this regard.

…If anything, the latter is even more severe and thorough.

Wasn’t Irenis killed in the most miserable and wretched way because he was God’s son?

Even though that was his mission and true purpose,

By human standards, could there be a more tragic and desperate mission?

But that’s how it should be.

Because his father wanted it that way.

If even through such means, he could bring a glimmer of enlightenment to his creations…

Wouldn’t that be the unconditional and holy love He spoke of?

Didn’t He willingly give up what was most precious to Him for the sake of His humble creations?

“Will you continue like this, Master?”

“Until I finish what needs to be done.”

“When will that be?”

“…We’ll see. But it won’t take long.”

When someone arrives who can take over this position, he will gladly pass it on and walk another path.

“I see.”

Raymond exhaled briefly.

“Perhaps because I wielded my sword too much on one side in this life. The imbalance in my body and soul is considerable.”

It seems even my eyes improved only on one side.

Even my internal organs were affected.

And eventually my soul as well.

That’s why the current Raymond, Raymond’s black sword, took the form and concept of a blade.

But if he wants to complete himself as a sword,

All that remains is to sharpen the opposite edge.

“Hmm.”

A pitch-black sword formed above Raymond’s single arm.

“Master, if you’re feeling bored, would you indulge me in a match? This unworthy disciple wants to show how much he’s grown.”

“……”

Though Kariel cast an indifferent gaze,

A small curve formed at the corners of his mouth.

“……”

Raymond felt an emotion he couldn’t tell was joy or disbelief at seeing his smile.

It was moving, perhaps.

For Raymond had never once seen him smile before.

…Still, it felt somewhat satisfying to think,

My achievement was enough to bring a smile to his face.

“It should be fine as a brief farewell gift.”

Kariel nodded and said.

“Raymond. Show me your skills with all your might. I’ll evaluate you.”

During his time in the mortal world, Raymond had no equal.

He had no need or reason to challenge anyone.

Four years.

Except for when he descended to Pacelan to quell the chaos inside and outside the country, he had not shown his skills.

But during his time in the secular world, he never lost in any situation.

Neither numbers, nor great magic, nor demonic arts, nor schemes, nor vicious tactics.

He cut through and sliced everything with his sword and insight.

Some might have felt a hero’s spirit from him.

Some might have felt admiration and awe.

Some might have felt fear and terror.

Some might have felt faith.

But for Raymond, even that was just training, part of his practice.

One must accumulate merit and good deeds to qualify for the next journey, the next path.

And by saving Pacelan, Raymond was able to open the stagnant gate and embark anew on the journey of the sword.

Who in the world would tell you such things?

We’ve been told to live virtuously, but who would tell us that there are certain qualities and prices to be paid to form the gates of heaven and qualification?

“Will you still not wield a sword?”

Since resolving matters with his father, he had consistently avoided swords.

Except when teaching.

But once the teaching ended, he never picked up a sword again.

And even now,

Standing casually, his eyes shining as if beckoning him to come.

“Huu. Very well.”

Then…

“I too will do my best.”

Beyond simple satisfaction,

If my strength could impress you even a little…

‘Isn’t this also the utmost respect a disciple can show to his master?’

On earth, in the mortal realm, he had no match or equal,

Yet Raymond never stopped his sword training.

Because it was self-discipline and self-cultivation.

And now, it’s time to show the fruits of that cultivation to his master.

So how could he hold and swing his sword carelessly?

“Here I come.”

The pitch-black sword held beneath his single arm.

As it delivered a strike that seemed to weave together diagonal and straight lines, points and curves into a single blow,

Instantly, space split and shattered in myriad ways, and the colors, space, and perceived black and white, light and darkness were all cut at once.

…This isn’t something one could use freely in the mortal world.

In an instant, the sea of stars and the earth were torn, broken, split, and cut, collapsing momentarily.

And then,

Through those cracks, golden afterimages, remnants, shining like dust, illuminated the world.

‘This is…?’

Eventually,

…As if nothing had happened from the beginning, everything returned to its place.

“I see. This space is…”

Raymond saw it.

Through the cracks in the split space, there was a being of madness crying out with hatred and rage.

Also, a pure white holy light, beyond purity to nobility, as if freezing the world, yet casting a dignified gaze with restrained severity.

But,

That wasn’t all.

Something else lurking within.

All of those…

“Is it over?”

“Of course not.”

I still have a few more moves left.

If I could put all of that into a single strike… perhaps I could reach a realm twice as high as now.

But that… let’s leave it to the next life.

“Here I go.”

Raymond said, pointing his pitch-black sword.

“Come.”

And Kariel, with a faint smile, made his golden eyes sparkle.

And so today that is not today, perhaps tomorrow that is not tomorrow, perhaps even after eternal ages have passed,

The sea of stars will remain, ever abundant.