episode_0162

“Sigh… .”

The disciple’s sad sobbing, which seemed to be the first I had heard since my first meeting with Myeong-i.

“…”

Although I was becoming increasingly upset about it, I couldn’t say anything else to Moo-myeong right now.

“… done. I want to be alone for a while.”

“Master… .”

There must have been many reasons for that.

If I had to pick one thing, it would be that I lacked courage.

Why can’t I find courage?

As someone who would have wanted to make it happen even if it meant losing my life, I was bewildered by the reaction.

Why?

I thought long and hard about the reason.

“Phhh… .”

As expected, the final answer was the same as before.

I am naturally timid.

I am a coward and I am afraid of change.

I’m so afraid of how our relationship will change after today’s incident.

I’m so scared that I won’t be able to look at Anonymous the same way I used to.

I’m so scared of seeing the nameless person who feels guilty whenever he sees me.

I’m so afraid that my heart, which used to be warm whenever I see you, has become cold and frozen.

I… I was so scared.

“I’ll be away for a while, so don’t come looking for me.”

So I decided to run away.

Because I was afraid to see the anonymous person.

Because I hated myself.

Because I’m a coward.

I’ve always been like that.

Whenever something difficult or unexpected happened to me, I was always busy running away from that place.

And it’s still the same now.

I’m still a coward and an ignorant fool, and I run away from this place because I’m afraid of change.

How long did it take to walk like that?

I heard your voice behind me.

“Oh no… I’m sorry… .”

There was really no strength in that voice.

He was so weak that his voice trembled slightly and had a faint hint of moisture.

“…”

He felt his heart suffocate and bit his lip.

If you’re going to cry so sadly, you might as well hold on to me.

You should have just lied.

You should have at least made a lame excuse.

Why are you just letting me go?

“… Yeah.”

The answer was also simple.

The guy’s nature, no.

I guess we should stop talking such stupid stuff.

The thoughts, beliefs, and values of the guy who changed while being with me must be so good.

I guess he only thinks of me, and thinks of my pain more than his own.

So, you are sending me away.

Because that’s the kind of kid I saw.

But even though I knew him, I had no choice but to run away from this place.

As I said before, I’m a coward.

Because unlike you who have changed, I have not changed.

Thanks to your appearance, I realize this anew.

Unlike my disciple who grew up so well, I was completely helpless.

What a truly incompetent teacher.

“You guys should go back now.”

He smiled self-deprecatingly and told the children who were at a loss about what to do with the depressed atmosphere between me and the nameless one.

“… Yes.”

The guys nodded their heads as if they were not sure, but they didn’t say anything to me.

Maybe he was being considerate of me.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“… No.”

As I take more steps, the distance between me and my disciple gradually begins to widen.

Accordingly, the nameless sobbing sound naturally becomes smaller.

My heart, which had previously felt cold, is now beginning to ache and cry.

“After… .”

The season has passed winter, and spring has definitely arrived.

A cold wind blew past my cheek.

*

I walked down a street that didn’t exist in my memory, and wiped my wet, red eyes.

“… This place is.”

Where could it be?

How long did it take?

Even though I looked around, I was surrounded by places that seemed new to me.

I was the only one standing on the dry ground, and I could not feel any sign of life.

“Um… .”

I guess I’m lost.

A small laugh escaped him.

As expected, I was the same as before.

“Sigh… .”

There won’t even be any eyes looking at me.

After a long time, I sat on the floor and blankly looked up at the red sky.

“…”

What should I do from now on?

The original goal of beating God has disappeared.

The hatred I felt for revenge on the one who brought me here also became unknown.

I lost my goal.

I am lost now.

“What should I have done in this situation… .”

Even though I must have lived several times longer than others, I felt depressed because I couldn’t find the answer.

I was suffering like that alone for a long time.

“You can have different goals!”

Suddenly, I tilted my head at the sound of a voice coming from next to me, where there should definitely be no one there.

“… Lily? Why are you following me?”

“Net? We met by chance while walking?”

What the heck, that’s a ridiculous lie.

I frowned at Lily’s shameless smile for a moment, but then realized that he was the only one who didn’t listen to me, so I sighed deeply and waved my hand.

“… Tsk, do whatever you want.”

“Yeah!”

I ignored her and took another step forward.

But is it because I realized that Lily is there?

If not, maybe I felt a little gratitude towards Lily for coming to my side.

“Lily.”

I kept saying things I normally wouldn’t say.

“What should I do as my next goal?”

“… Do you usually ask that to other people?”

Tsk, what a shame.

I gave you the chance to help me personally, and now you kick it away.

He clicked his tongue slightly and took another step.

“Ahh! No!”

Lily smiled kindly and added, tangling herself into my arms.

“Yeah, you can do whatever the Demon King likes, right?”

“… What do you like?”

“Yes! Things you like! For example, things like when you do this, you feel good! Things like that!”

Because it felt good.

No, more than that.

“… I am not your demon lord?”

“Ah, okay. I’ll call you Harang! Anyway! It’s what Harang likes!”

Because I like it.

“Hmm, even if you ask like that… .”

“Anything is fine! Take it easy! And, think lightly!”

If you say so.

He tilted his head with a sigh at Lily’s expectant gaze.

I like it no matter what anyone says… .

“… This is not it.”

“Tsk.”

“What are you clicking your tongue for?”

He made a face of bewilderment and began to think again.

First of all, I like swords.

No, to be exact, I don’t like swords, but rather enjoy training in martial arts.

However, it has already reached a point where it may be able to go further.

There’s no point in becoming any stronger than this.

So what else is there?

“Um… .”

I closed my eyes and recalled the past days.

Then, a certain scenery began to appear.

I remembered the slum streets I walked through with my disciples, helping the children of the Cheonmasingyo sect.

Why did this place come to mind?

The worries didn’t last long.

“I guess I feel good when I help others.”

In fact, one of the reasons I harvested the anonymous ones was because of a little sympathy.

That might not be entirely wrong.

“Uh… Really?”

“… Well, if I had to pick one, it would be this.”

For some reason, Lily smiled at my words, and I felt eerie, so I distanced myself.

“Harangnim!”

Soon, Lily added with a bright smile.

“Then, how about helping us, the Demon Tribe, and the Heavenly Demon Sect?!”

Ta-da. I scratched my head awkwardly as I watched Lily speak, even making sound effects herself.

“Are you asking me to help you?”

“Yes!”

Lily, who had answered like that, suddenly lowered her eyes and knelt down in an inappropriate manner.

“Please grant our wish.”

“… Wish?”

“Yes, it’s something we’ve been hoping for our whole lives.”

There was no need to ask what it was.

Because the red sky without the sun, the dry land, and the rotten and decayed trees explained it for me.

“Well, if there’s anything I can help you with, I’ll help you.”

“Oh my! Really?!”

The serious atmosphere had disappeared, and the sight of Lily running around with her feet rolling around was so typical of her that I couldn’t help but snicker.

Besides, originally, the one who would grant that wish would have been their Demon King.

Now that his work has been passed on to me.

I can say that I have a duty to carry it on.

So, what I’m saying is that I have no reason to refuse Lily’s request.

… Of course, to be honest, this is just an excuse.

I have no goals right now.

So, let’s borrow his goals for a moment.

Until I get my goal back.

Until my path is completely determined.

“First, I have to tell the kids.”

“Already?! I need to slow down a bit-”

“No. I’ll go alone for now.”

And, go to a place where humans live, not here. There are things you need to ask the saint and the warrior.

I remember it clearly.

When the saint prays for something and the warrior uses an unknown power.

The one who answered her.

The one who gave him strength.

If that guy’s true identity wasn’t God, I had to see for myself what it was.

* * *

Optimism

Cheonharang, right after she returned to the human world.

An unprecedented dark age has arrived.

The warrior.

“In the end… .”

The saint.

“Oh my god…please save her… .”

The one who is called a hero.

“Hey, Grandma. What the hell are you doing?”

With one goal in mind, they began to move once again to regain their light.

The nameless swordsman too.

“… Master.”