Ch.406Side Story: Cherished Memories

Dreams.

When I asked Aria Rius about dreams, she said she no longer dreamed.

Elenoa Luden Griffin answered that dreams were trials she had to overcome, and destiny.

Erika Bright didn’t particularly care about dreams.

Then.

If you were to ask what dreams meant to Owen Baltani.

“Ah.”

They were the past.

“Again.”

The boy had overslept again today. It wasn’t because the palace bedroom was too comfortable, or because he was tired from overworking yesterday.

It was simply because he enjoyed dreaming.

After washing up quickly and heading outside, Owen shakes off the feeling that he’s still in a dream and collects himself.

There was still a trial from the bishops remaining, so today was the day to travel to a distant region to resolve it.

‘A female ghost appearing in a well, was it?’

Because of this, the villagers couldn’t drink water, and those who drank it unknowingly fell ill.

It was clearly a case for a spiritmaster to handle.

“Oh, you’re here?”

A man was waiting for Owen. With tanned skin, blonde hair, and standing at about 180cm, he had an aura that would appeal to anyone regardless of gender.

But the ornaments on his hands and neck revealed his enjoyment of luxury, and the kiss mark on his nape was evidence that his relationships with women weren’t exactly clean.

“Lord Bellas.”

His name was Bellas.

Once the god of festivals and joy, he was now a sort of assistant traveling with Owen throughout the continent.

If asked why he was doing this, the reason was that he wanted to see the story of the boy who was continuing the legacy of Spiritmaster Deus Verdi.

Owen was initially uncomfortable with this, but since Bellas turned out to be quite helpful, they now traveled together like partners.

“You don’t look good. Did you have that dream again?”

“…Yes.”

Watching Owen hesitate, Bellas clicked his tongue.

“A nightmare, then.”

Bellas said that if it was disrupting his daily life to this extent, it would be right to call it a nightmare.

“That’s not possible.”

But Owen firmly denied it. It wasn’t a nightmare at all. Rather, it was so sweet that he just wanted to forget reality.

However, Bellas crossed his arms and declared coldly:

“Look at yourself, unable to escape from such a sweet dream while your reality crumbles. That’s a nightmare. For you, it’s no different from a drug.”

“…Don’t talk about my memories with them like that.”

Owen passed by Bellas and headed to the dining hall. He planned to eat before departing, and Bellas shrugged and followed behind.

The dreams that the boy named Owen Baltani had every day always had different content.

Today, he was playing a melodica in a carriage while the Dark Spiritmaster praised him, and Deus sat on the opposite side, looking at him proudly.

A real memory from the past.

The dreams Owen Baltani was having were memories of the time when he followed Spiritmaster Deus Verdi and adventured throughout the continent.

He grabbed a sandwich and sat at the table. It was where the palace servants ate, but it was quiet and empty since it was late.

“Today we need to go to a village where a woman who drowned in a well is spreading curses. Since it’s far, let’s eat quickly and get going.”

“Sigh, such a simple menu really isn’t my style.”

Despite saying that, Bellas started eating a sandwich along with Owen.

He took half a sandwich in one bite and mumbled while chewing.

“Not bad, actually?”

‘It’s, it’s not bad, actually?’

Suddenly.

Bellas’s voice overlapped with his own younger voice from the past.

Now his voice was deeper with his Adam’s apple showing as he went through puberty.

But back then, the clear voice of a boy.

‘What? Not bad? That’s a bit arrogant, you brat!’

When he responded like that after drinking the tea that Findenai had brewed for him, she immediately frowned and confronted him.

‘No, I didn’t mean it like that…’

‘What do you mean you didn’t? I need to brew this again after giving it to the master.’

‘…Will you give that to me?’

‘I can see the answer in your face, kid. You’re dead.’

Remembering how Findenai used to torment him, Owen smiled fondly, pausing with the sandwich in his hand.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

But the boy was awakened by Bellas’s call. With an awkward expression, he hurriedly stuffed the sandwich into his mouth, trying not to reveal what he had been thinking about.

“Are we going right away?”

“No, I want to play once on the rooftop before we go. We don’t know what might happen while I’m gone.”

“Thorough, aren’t you.”

Since they would be away for a while, Owen wanted to comfort any spirits that might appear by playing music before leaving.

He headed to the piano on the rooftop, which had become a fixture of the Griffin royal family.

It was essentially Owen’s exclusive possession. He sat down comfortably and began to play the keys.

Another reason why Bellas followed Owen.

“It’s sweet every time I hear it.”

It was because of Owen’s musical skill, and even Bellas, whose usual manner and conduct were frivolous, now closed his eyes and listened to the performance.

Skilled playing.

Owen himself thought that his skills had grown incomparably from before.

‘Hmm.’

Perhaps that’s why.

‘You’ve improved a lot.’

He felt as if he could hear the voice of Deus Verdi, who had been watching him play the piano from behind.

‘Spiritmaster!’

His younger self called out to him again.

‘You’re doing well enough, but rest is also important. It might be good to stop playing for a day and rest.’

Hearing that, Stella, who was beside him, added a word.

‘That’s right. Owen, working too hard isn’t always the best approach.’

‘Yes! I understand!’

And then he remembered spending the next day playing card games with the Dark Spiritmaster.

“Ugh…”

The silky smooth rhythm collapsed. Perhaps because he was pressing the keys too hard, his fingers suddenly couldn’t move.

Tears fell onto the keys instead, expressing his emotions.

“I want to go… back…”

Those happy times.

“I want to go back.”

Why did they end so quickly?

The time spent with everyone.

Although there were many difficult times and sad stories they encountered.

“To that time… to when we were all together. I want to go back.”

He wanted to return to those joyful days.

He wished the memories and stories shared with everyone would never end.

But no matter how much he wished.

The end eventually came.

Owen Baltani was left alone.

It was so sorrowful.

[Hey, why are you crying?]

A voice was heard.

It wasn’t vague like the ones in his dreams or imagination.

The voice piercing his ears had a bit of mischief and wasn’t reading the atmosphere.

Without even having time to wipe his tears, he quickly turned his head to the side.

[Wow, you’ve grown so much! Do boys always grow this fast? You’re already as tall as Stella.]

There stood the Dark Spiritmaster, sticking out her tongue and laughing.

[Senior, you’re about my height too.]

A warm and loving woman’s voice came from behind.

Following it, there was Stella with a smile, slightly raising her hand in greeting.

[Hello, Owen. That was a wonderful performance.]

“Wonderful my ass. Why did you suddenly start crying?”

Findenai grumbled and clicked her tongue right beside him.

And beyond her.

“Ah…”

He was standing there.

With a stern expression, gauging his growth.

The new back he had been following since some time ago, no longer his grandfather.

Although not Deus Verdi, but now watching over him as Shinwoo Kim, their eyes met.

Owen ran to him and embraced him tightly.

“Spiritmaster!”

He had been shedding tears for a while now. The emotions welling up were already too difficult to suppress.

Although his inadequacies and shortcomings were all exposed, he didn’t care.

No matter how much he might be scolded, he was just too happy to see him.

“Owen.”

Gently.

His hand was placed on Owen’s head.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

Just like before.

Shinwoo Kim neither pushed Owen away nor embraced him back.

After a while.

When Owen had calmed down somewhat, he wiped his tears and looked up at Shinwoo Kim.

“Did you learn black magic?”

When the expected question came, Owen swallowed hard and answered.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Feeling somewhat relieved that he was willing to hear why he had learned it despite being told not to, Owen answered.

“Because I couldn’t follow you otherwise.”

“…”

“Spiritmaster, I keep wavering.”

Tears welled up again.

He didn’t think he was usually this tearful. The boy who had only been playing music had come to think too much.

“I need to follow you… but I keep wavering and crumbling. I’m too weak compared to you.”

So he learned necromancy.

With a desperate mindset to try anything.

It might not have been the best choice, but at the time, Owen thought it was.

“The spirits pressure me. People outside point fingers at me. The bishops keep testing me with strict standards.”

The feelings he poured out with tears could be considered a kind of complaint.

But the people here listened to the boy’s story.

Outside, he had to maintain dignity as a spiritmaster candidate and never waver.

But in front of them, he was just little Owen.

“Spiritmaster… my conviction isn’t that great. I’m not as strong as you. I’m too weak. I’m just swept along by my surroundings!”

“…”

“Please help me. Spiritmaster, help… help me.”

Kneeling down, Owen poured out the emotions that had been building up.

“I want to go back to that time! Just to when I was with the Spiritmaster! To when I traveled the continent, playing music and following your will!”

Had there ever been a time as joyful as then? The time when he didn’t worry about anything and just followed Deus Verdi’s back was truly delightful.

But when he disappeared, Owen felt as if he himself was empty.

Looking at him.

“Are you thinking of giving up?”

Shinwoo Kim finally spoke.

Just one question.

Receiving it, Owen slowly raised his head and met his eyes.

The compassionate eyes seemed to say that he would accept if that’s what Owen wanted.

But was that what Owen truly wanted?

When faced with the possibility of ending everything, Owen realized that he unconsciously felt resistance.

Noticing this, Shinwoo Kim smiled and knelt on one knee to meet his gaze at the same level.

“It’s natural to waver.”

Because I did too.

“It’s also natural to fall.”

Because I did too.

“You’re bound to crumble. Humans aren’t as strong as they think.”

I don’t know how many times I cried, how many times I despaired, how many times I suffered.

“They’re not wise enough to let go of grudges just because they died.”

At some point.

I became someone who couldn’t endure without killing even my own emotions.

“Owen, what do you truly desire?”

Owen knew this question very well. It was what he said when comforting souls.

The moment he heard it himself, he truly felt as if his soul was pierced.

The fog that had been clouding his mind gradually cleared, and what remained was.

The image of one man.

Always dignified, unbending, living by his own convictions.

Respected, influencing many.

A great person.

“I want… to be…”

The reason he never gave up despite the hardships. Because there was a future he saw and dreamed of.

“I want to be a spiritmaster like you.”

Looking at Owen who declared this, Shinwoo Kim smiled gently.

“It will be hard.”

Various dangers, pressures, and threats to life will come.

“You’ll miss it.”

You’ll miss the time when you didn’t have to think about anything, just followed orders and acted accordingly.

“You’ll wish the story would continue forever.”

That time back then.

The story of traveling the continent with everyone.

In truth, I had wished it would continue.

“But it can’t.”

However, the man who was at the center of that story more than anyone else.

“Eventually, stories must end.”

Denied it.

“Our story has ended. What remains is you.”

He had been telling him it was time to move forward. That good times can’t continue forever.

“Owen Baltani.”

Embracing the boy tightly, Shinwoo Kim truly entrusts everything to him.

“Don’t look at my back anymore, now walk your own path.”

“…”

“Everything that comes to you will now flow as your own story.”

Joy, happiness, trials, frustrations.

“In the end, you will overcome everything and become a great person, young one.”

How deeply those words, spoken like a prophecy, resonated in his heart.

The strength in Owen’s hands, which had been embracing him, loosened.

“From a place you cannot see.”

It was as if he instinctively knew it was time to let go.

“I will eagerly await that day.”

Shinwoo Kim also released his hands. Then he turned around.

Thinking that anything more he said might just become another burden for Owen.

[Even though he said that.]

The Dark Spiritmaster smiled as she passed by Owen to follow Shinwoo Kim.

[Still, come visit anytime. Owen is always welcome!]

“Dark Spiritmaster.”

[We had fun, didn’t we! So come visit anytime! If you miss the past, we can just play again!]

The Dark Spiritmaster gave a thumbs up and followed Shinwoo Kim.

“Sigh, you’ve grown physically but you’re still the same kid.”

Findenai, who had been watching the conversation between the two, clicked her tongue but roughly ruffled Owen’s hair.

“Kid, it’s just that our story has ended. You’re just beginning.”

“Findenai…”

“Don’t forget that. Well, if you go in a strange direction, I might come find you and give you a punch or two.”

The rough hand that had been ruffling his hair departed.

[Owen.]

Lastly, Saintess Stella smiled brightly and remained in her place.

[It’s natural to feel regret because it was enjoyable.]

But she too.

[So don’t be too sad.]

After giving advice with a warm smile and hands clasped as if in prayer.

[If you think about it differently.]

Smiling.

[Feeling a lot of regret means it was that much fun.]

She left.

It was like a dream.

But Owen slowly stood up.

He didn’t indulge in its afterglow.

“Sniff.”

Swallowing his tears, clenching his fist, and standing up.

“Let’s go, Bellas.”

To fulfill his duty as a spiritmaster, to write the first sentence of Owen Baltani’s story.

He stepped forward.

* * *

[Shouldn’t you have said something to Bellas?]

The Dark Spiritmaster mumbled as we headed home. It wasn’t wrong, and I was also planning to say something to him.

“It’s fine, he seems to be helping Owen well.”

If he couldn’t come because he was assisting Owen, I decided to forgive and move on.

[I still hope Owen doesn’t use black magic.]

[Are you looking down on black magic?!]

The Dark Spiritmaster burst in at Stella’s words, but I ignored her and answered.

“He’ll figure it out. Learning through trial and error is necessary too.”

Surely Owen will eventually find his essence and let go of black magic. After all, Owen doesn’t match with black magic at all.

“Anyway, let’s go home. It’s so damn stuffy being cooped up in a hotel room.”

Findenai grumbled.

It seemed she was getting tired of hotel food after eating it for several days.

“Wait, we’re supposed to have dinner with Erika and the others.”

Come to think of it, I was planning to invite Owen too.

‘He seemed busy, so it can’t be helped.’

He must be moving around busily.

And someday, the story of the boy named Owen Baltani will reach my ears.

[Can I visit a few times? I told him to come visit.]

“That would be nice too.”

Coming to rest occasionally was certainly welcome.

“Ah, what dinner? I feel like I’ve gained weight just staying in the hotel.”

[…It’s true!]

The Dark Spiritmaster looked at Findenai’s stomach with curiosity. I hadn’t noticed, but it was slightly protruding.

“Hmm?”

But other parts didn’t seem much different from before.

[Wait a moment.]

Just as Stella, who was an expert in this field, was about to approach Findenai.

“Ugh.”

Findenai covered her mouth as she felt nauseous.

In that moment, we made eye contact and realized we were thinking the same thing.

“Huh, shit.”

[Watch your language!]

When the Dark Spiritmaster urgently shouted, Findenai dazedly nodded.

“Right. Ah, damn… is this not allowed either?”

[First, throw away all your tobacco.]

“Ah, shit! If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have smoked this morning!”

Saying that, Findenai immediately took out her tobacco and crumpled it.

[I’ll pray for you, so be careful from now on.]

Stella gently reached out and touched Findenai’s stomach.

“Congratulations on becoming a father?”

Findenai looked at me with a silly grin, leaving Stella to her devices.

I was a bit dumbfounded.

Can I impregnate someone even as a spiritual body?

I was wondering about this when.

[…Findenai? This is just from overeating.]

Stella’s words broke the tension.

[It seems your stomach is upset from eating too many rich foods. We got all worked up for nothing.]

[You can go back to using bad words.]

“Shit, this sucks.”

Findenai immediately cursed, but with a sense of disappointment, she rubbed her stomach.

Then looking at me, she shouted:

“Ah, I can’t stand the disappointment. From now on, I’m quitting smoking and won’t curse anymore.”

“Hmm?”

“Because I’m going to get pregnant today. Shit, I’m going straight to bed you.”

With that, she grabbed my wrist and started dragging me to the hotel.

[Wow, wow! Cutting in line!]

[…I’ll tell Erika to have dinner at the hotel.]

The Dark Spiritmaster and Stella immediately started following us.

“…”

I’m not sure if I can actually impregnate her.

“What should we name the baby? You’re good at naming things.”

On the street as the sun was setting.

To Findenai who was pulling me along and asking.

“We’ll have to think about it going forward.”

I also responded with a smile.

– The End –