After that, my disciple was busy practicing the first technique I had taught him, the Falling Sky.
It seemed like he was weighed down by the fact that I had left him to face opponents alone.
Maybe that’s why the Nameless one significantly increased his already intense training schedule, spending each day in a somewhat mechanical routine, just like I had for a long time.
Seeing him work so hard, I decided to teach him with extra effort, correcting his stances, showing him techniques, and even putting my hands on his to help him feel the movement of my muscles.
Initially, the Nameless hesitated to touch my body, but eventually, he got more comfortable and continued with his training.
And just like that, three more years passed.
…
“That was a decent Falling Sky,” I said as I approached the panting Nameless after he showcased the technique. I gently patted his forehead with a towel to wipe away the sweat.
“Yes, it’s all thanks to your teachings, Master.”
“Tsk, your words flow like a stream.”
Over the past three years, through his bone-crushing efforts, the Nameless had somewhat mastered my Falling Sky.
Well, somewhat.
Although he couldn’t bring the sky crashing down like I did, he certainly had enough power to shake the heavens.
While my teachings had certainly helped, the speed of the Nameless’s growth was extraordinary.
Could it be because he was the main character? His growth was so fast that, embarrassingly enough, I felt a bit jealous as his master.
Of course, it wasn’t all bad feelings.
‘He’s my disciple.’
His rapid growth filled me with pride, a feeling I had never had before, like ‘I’m full just by looking at the food.’
And of course, he wasn’t just growing fast in terms of swordsmanship.
“Hey, Nameless, how much taller are you going to get? Looking at you is giving me a stiff neck.”
“It seems like you’re still short, even after all this time, Master.”
“What?!”
I lightly flicked the forehead of my insolent disciple, who seemed to enjoy teasing me at every opportunity.
“Ow! Master, I’m no longer a child!”
Was he annoyed by the flick? The Nameless covered his forehead with both hands, narrowing his eyebrows, but that was nonsense.
“In my eyes, you’re still a child.”
There’s an age gap of over 300 years, so compared to me, anyone would just be a kid.
Of course, it still didn’t feel great to be reminded how old I was.
“I will eventually obtain a body like yours, so the age difference won’t matter, right?”
“Oh come on, do you think that makes our age gap any less?”
It was one of the few chances I had to tease my unruly disciple.
The Nameless had only teased me about my age once in all the time we’ve spent together; otherwise, he would furrow his brow every time I brought it up.
I didn’t exactly know why, but from his usual self-assured demeanor, I guessed he was aware that I was a bit sensitive about my age and was being polite.
Because of that, I too found it fun to tease the Nameless, seeing this now-mature young man’s handsome face showing such a sulky expression.
Definitely because of the age difference, or perhaps because I’d raised him myself, I still found this towering guy to have a certain cuteness to him.
The Nameless, still full of complaints, responded again.
This back-and-forth had played out so many times that I’d lost count.
“If I obtain a body like yours, that would be true immortality! Shouldn’t I be looking forward to the days I’ll live longer than the days I’ve lived?”
“Tsk, wait until you actually reach that level before talking, you brat.”
I gave him another flick on the forehead.
“Ow! Stop hitting me! Aren’t you scared that someday I’ll surpass you, Master?!”
“You little punk! You’re still not getting it, have another one!”
How dare you threaten your heavenly master!
Flick!
“Ahh!”
Certainly, the Nameless had never acted this childish before. I sighed in exasperation, wondering who he learned this from.
“Sigh, tsk tsk.”
Despite this childish mindset, his physical growth was still impressive; he seemed to have shot up to nearly 180 cm.
In contrast, I hadn’t grown an inch and my appearance hadn’t changed at all.
Not even my fingernails, toenails, or hair grew.
Maybe I considered even the tiniest bit of energy or nutrients that could stimulate growth to be a waste, as my danjeon, just below my belly button, desperately absorbed nutrients like a crazy vacuum.
Of course, if nails fell out or hair was cut, they would grow back.
So even though I tried to maintain a calm demeanor on the outside, recently, I couldn’t shake a feeling of unease.
‘Have I really achieved immortality?’
I should’ve been happy, but with my inherently timid nature, I felt a sense of dread about the future.
What if the Nameless aged and died and I was left all alone?
An extended lifespan isn’t solely a good thing.
And if I complained about loneliness later, would I even be able to take on another disciple after losing the bond I had built with Nameless?
Even though he acted so recklessly, his kind nature always made me feel cared for, and it just felt wrong to betray that by taking on new disciples.
“Ha.”
As those melancholic thoughts crossed my mind, a heavy sigh escaped my lips.
Somehow, the Nameless seemed to understand my feelings all too well. He chuckled lightly and said, “Don’t worry, Master! I’ll definitely reach the same level as you!”
He went from fooling around to comforting me right away, and I couldn’t help but smile.
‘What a kind disciple, who could he possibly belong to?’
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I turned my head and waved my hands, urging him to resume training.
“Alright, stop slacking off and finish your practice.”
“Yes.”
Even a small word of comfort from him made my heart feel much lighter.
If he could see my attitude, he would definitely understand my real feelings.
How embarrassing.
By the way, it had been three years since that day, and the Nameless was now 19 years old.
That meant he was nearing adulthood.
With less than a year until he could enroll in the academy, it seemed he had no plans to leave the mountain. Whenever I tried to hint at it, he would always cut me off sharply.
See? Just like now.
“Disciple! The world is truly wide—”
“Don’t you also stay in this mountain, Master?”
“…That’s true.”
I had nothing to say.
That said, I couldn’t very well tell the Nameless, “If you don’t go to the academy, the world might end!” That would be utterly absurd. Moreover, if I forced him to enroll, he would likely escape from the academy and come back to this mountain.
It was a certainty, not a guess.
Look at him now, how he’s swinging his sword with a sour expression as if I’d asked him to leave the mountain.
‘Being this obvious about his sulking isn’t easy…’
Tsk, who does he take after?
While I appreciated the Nameless’s heartfelt intention to stick around for life, he wouldn’t be able to find a partner like this.
I understood how he felt, though.
In my past life, I had sworn to live with my parents forever, but I didn’t stick to that, so why would he be any different?
Besides, spending time in his prime with someone as old as me couldn’t be too satisfying.
‘Ugh.’
Thinking such crude thoughts made my face flush.
I must really be losing my decorum with age.
Well, since three years ago, he had started using a separate room, so he might have been able to take care of things himself, but that probably wouldn’t be enough.
At this rate, he might just tell me, “I couldn’t find my partner because of you, Master!” like a moody teenage girl.
If that ever happened, I’d swallow my tears like a father being scolded for laundry by his daughter.
A shiver ran through me at the chilling thought of such a future.
Absolutely not!
Still sulking and refusing to look at me, the Nameless was swinging his sword. I sighed deeply, looking down at him.
“Sigh—who on earth would take that brat away? They’d feel sorry for whoever that is.”
I couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful toward my disciple, who couldn’t see the heart of his heavenly master.
If the Nameless was indeed the protagonist of the novel I once read, there would be a fateful partner chosen by heaven for him.
‘But I only read romance novels…’
As the thought suddenly crossed my mind, a mischievous grin spread across my face.
I had found another way to send him to the academy.
He’s a guy, so if I told him his destined partner was in the academy, he’d probably light up and be on his way in no time.
“Hehe.”
What a brilliant idea!
“Master, are you feeling alright…? Why are you laughing like an idiot?”
I ignored the suspicious words of the Nameless with a flick to his forehead.
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