“Sniff….”
The sorrowful cries of the Disciple, a sound I hadn’t heard since my first encounter with Nameless.
“…”
My heart grew more troubled, but right now, I couldn’t offer anything else to Nameless.
“…I see. You want to be alone for a while.”
“Master….”
There were surely many reasons for that.
If I had to pick one, it was that I lacked courage.
Why was it that courage wouldn’t spring forth?
If it was something Nameless wanted, I who would have gone so far as to risk my life to grant it felt a level of bewilderment.
Why?
I pondered over the reason.
“Haah….”
The answer still led me to the same conclusion as before.
I was inherently cowardly.
As a coward, I feared change.
The thought that our relationship would change after today’s incident frightened me too much.
The idea of not being able to look at Nameless the same way terrified me deeply.
I was scared to see the guilt that would surely be in Nameless’s eyes whenever they looked at me.
When I see you, it terrifies me that my heart, which was always warm, has turned cold.
I… I was so scared.
“I’ll be away for a while; don’t come looking for me.”
And so, I decided to run away.
Because I was afraid to face Nameless.
Because I loathed myself.
Because I was a coward.
I had always been like this.
Whenever faced with something overwhelming or even slightly unexpected, I was busy running away.
And it was the same now.
I was still a coward and a fool, fleeing from change.
I wondered how long I had been walking.
Your voice came from behind me.
“Ugh… I-I’m so sorry….”
That voice had no strength at all.
It was so weak that I could feel a little quivering and moisture in it.
“…”
My heart tightened, and I bit my lip.
If you’re going to cry so sorrowfully, then at least grab onto me.
You should have just lied instead.
You should have come up with some pathetic excuse.
Why are you just letting me go?
“…Right.”
That answer was simple too.
It was time to throw away that foolish nature of yours, no, that nature that’s like a baby.
It must be that the thoughts, beliefs, and values you formed while being with me turned out to be that good.
Thinking only of me, prioritizing my pain over your own.
And so, you’re letting me go.
Because that’s the kind of child I saw in you.
But knowing this, I had no choice but to run away from this place.
As I said before, I’m a coward.
Unlike the changed you, I couldn’t change.
Thanks to your new look, I realized once again.
While I have such a wonderful Disciple who has grown this much, I still stand still.
What a pathetic Master I am.
“You all should go back now.”
With a self-deprecating smile, I told the kids fidgeting awkwardly in the stagnant atmosphere between Nameless and me.
“…Yes.”
They nodded uncertainly, but didn’t add any more words.
They were likely being considerate of me.
“You worked hard.”
“…It’s nothing.”
The more footsteps I took, the greater the distance between me and my Disciple began to widen.
As a result, Nameless’s sobbing gradually faded further away.
This cold heart that had felt nothing but chill until now was painfully aching, making me want to cry.
“Haah….”
The season had surely passed winter; spring had definitely arrived.
Yet the cold wind brushed past my cheek.
*
As I walked through streets not found in memory, I wiped away my red, moist eyes.
“…Where is this?”
Where on earth had I walked to?
Even as I looked around, the place surrounded me as if I were seeing it for the first time.
I was the only one standing on the barren ground; there wasn’t a single sign of life around.
“Hmm….”
It seemed I had indeed lost my way.
A small chuckle escaped me.
I guess I truly hadn’t changed.
“Haah….”
With no eyes upon me, I sat down on the ground for the first time in a while and blankly looked up at the red sky.
“…”
What should I do from now on?
The primary goal of slaying gods has vanished.
The hatred for the one who’d dropped me here was no longer understandable.
I had lost my goal.
Right now, I was lost.
“What should I do in times like this….”
Even though I had lived several times longer than others, I couldn’t find the answer, and my heart felt heavy.
And so, after a long while of struggling alone.
“You could just have a different goal!”
Suddenly, I tilted my head at a voice that clearly shouldn’t have been there beside me.
“…Lili? Why are you following me?”
“Uh? I randomly bumped into you while strolling!”
What a ridiculous lie.
As I frowned at Lili’s shameless grin, I soon realized she was the only one who hadn’t bothered to heed my words, and I sighed deeply, waving my hand dismissively.
“…Tch, do as you please.”
“Yes!”
Ignoring her, I set my feet in motion again.
But perhaps it was because I had realized Lili was there?
Or maybe I felt a small sense of gratitude toward Lili for coming over to my side.
“Lili.”
Words I wouldn’t normally say tumbled out.
“What should I make my next goal?”
“…Isn’t that something you usually ask someone else?”
Tch, so rude.
I had given you a chance to help me, and you just kicked it away.
I clicked my tongue and moved my feet again.
“Ah! No way!”
In response, Lili, with a smile that looked so friendly, clung to my arm and added.
“Well, you can do what the Demon King would like to do!”
“…What I like?”
“Yes! What you like! Like something that made you feel good when you did it! You know, things like that!”
Something that made me feel good?
No, more importantly.
“…I’m not your Demon King, you know?”
“Ah, whatever. I’ll call you Harang instead! Anyway! What does Harang like!”
What I like.
“Hmm, even if you ask….”
“Eh, anything is fine! Just relax! And think lightly about it!”
If you’re going to say it like that.
With Lili’s expectant gaze urging me, I tilted my head in reflection.
What I like… definitely Nameless….
“…This isn’t it.”
“Tch.”
“What’s with the tongue clicking?”
With an incredulous expression, I began to gather my thoughts again.
First of all, I like swords.
Or rather, it’s not so much that I like swords but rather enjoy training in martial arts.
However, I had already reached a level that might be beyond anything else, and now there wouldn’t be much point in becoming any stronger.
So, what else is there?
“Hmm….”
With my eyes closed, I recalled the past.
And then, a scene began to materialize.
The rundown streets where I had helped the kids of Cheonma Church, where I walked alongside my Disciple.
Why did this place come to mind?
The pondering didn’t take long.
“I think I feel good when I help others.”
After all, one of the reasons I took Nameless in was out of a small compassion, so it shouldn’t be a lie.
“Hmm… is that so?”
“…Well, if I had to pick, it is.”
I stepped back a little upon seeing Lili’s inexplicably smiling face.
“Harang!”
Then, Lili, still wearing a bright smile, added.
“Then how about helping our Demon Tribe and Cheonma Church?!”
Boom. Lili made sound effects herself as I scratched my head in embarrassment.
“Are you asking me to help you guys?”
“Yes!”
Having responded, Lili suddenly looked down and, oddly enough, knelt before me.
“Please grant our wish.”
“…Wish?”
“Yes, it’s something we’ve been hoping for our whole lives.”
I didn’t need to ask what it was; it was clear enough.
The red sky without a sun, the dry land, the rotten, decaying trees explained it all for me.
“Well, if it’s something I can help with, I’ll lend a hand.”
“Yay! Really?!”
Where did the serious atmosphere go? Watching Lili hop around as she danced on her feet made me chuckle slightly.
Moreover, the one who would have originally granted that wish would have been their Demon King.
Now that duty has passed on to me.
So, there’s no way for me to refuse Lili’s request.
…Of course, honestly speaking, this is an excuse.
I currently have no goal.
So for now, I’ll borrow their goal.
Until I regain my own goal.
Until my path is completely laid out.
“First, I should convey this to the kids.”
“Already?! You should at least gather your thoughts slowly-”
“No. For now, I’ll go alone.”
And then, I’ll head to the place where humans live, not this one. I have to ask the Saint and the Hero about some things.
I remember it clearly.
When the Saint was praying and the Hero was using an unknown power.
I had to confirm with my own eyes whether the one who replied to her was not a god.
*
Falling Sky
Cheon Ha-rang, shortly after she returned to the human realm.
An unprecedented dark age has approached.
The Hero.
“In the end….”
The Saint.
“Oh gods… please grant her salvation….”
The one called a Hero.
“Hey, old lady. What are you doing, exactly?”
For a single goal, to reclaim the light once more, they began to move.
The swordsman called Nameless as well.
“…Master.”
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