Sowol couldn’t open her mouth at the incomprehensible words.
Done teaching?
Leaving?
“Wh-what do you mean?”
The bewildered Sowol opened her mouth with difficulty.
She expected Lee Hyun to say it was a joke, a jest, laughing joyfully as always, but the response that came shattered her expectations.
“You have nothing more to learn. I have nothing more to teach you. Since I’ve passed all of Moonlight Sword, I have no reason to remain here.”
“…”
“Excellent. My disciple. You are my pride.”
“…All of this….”
So.
This was the result of her diligent efforts?
Her heart wavers. Her eyes moisten and a resentful feeling wells up.
“I didn’t know that!”
If she knew it would be like this, she wouldn’t have worked so hard.
If she knew it would be like this, she would have been a bit lazier.
“I hate you, Master!”
How could she have known that her efforts to please her teacher, Lee Hyun, would only hasten their parting.
Sowol turned around, shedding tears, and returned to her room.
“Young lady?!”
Laila was shocked when Sowol, who had gone to confess, returned crying. Could it be that she had been rejected? If so, how should she comfort her?
“M-Master, sob. Waah… Sob sob. Master…”
She was rejected. She ended up getting rejected. Laila embraced Sowol.
“It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s just that Master Lee Hyun has poor taste in women…”
“Sob… Don’t insult… sob. Master.”
What should she do?
At times like this, isn’t just hugging the answer?
Laila patted Sowol, and only after sobbing in her arms for a long time did Sowol finally calm down and tell her what Lee Hyun had said.
“…So, Master Lee Hyun is leaving?”
“…Yeah. Sniff.”
Lee Hyun is leaving.
She had never thought about it, but she should have kept it in mind.
So Jung-yang had always wanted Lee Hyun to formally take a position in the Eastern Clan.
But he had always declined politely and kept his distance from the Eastern Clan. As if he was preparing to leave at any time.
To think that was for this.
“I can’t understand it.”
“Sob… That’s what I’m saying…”
Wiping her tears, Sowol sniffled. As the sadness disappears, resentment seems to well up.
“Stupid! Idiot! Jerk! Really…!”
“…”
“Do you hate me so much?”
“…”
“…Waah!”
In the end, she couldn’t say that she hated him.
Even in this situation, her feelings for him were unchanged after all.
Sowol burst into tears again, and Laila tightly embraced her.
-Knock knock.
That’s when they heard a knock on the door.
Laila patted Sowol and slightly opened the door to see.
Standing there was Lee Hyun with a troubled expression.
“Is Sowol inside?”
“She’s inside, but I don’t think she wants to talk.”
Peeking inside, Sowol was playing dead with her face buried in the bed.
It was a mix of not wanting to show her face stained with tears and snot and petulant attitude to Lee Hyun.
Having served Sowol for a long time, Laila sensed her feelings and quietly stepped outside and closed the door.
“Why are you leaving?”
“Because I’ve done what I had to do.”
“But… there are many people here who care about you, Master Lee Hyun. Not just the young lady, but…”
“Still, I have to go. If I stay here, I’ll only hinder Sowol’s growth.”
‘And I also have to find a new disciple.’
From Lee Hyun’s perspective, it was proceeding according to plan, but Laila, who couldn’t know that, felt like she was burning up inside.
Her master, and the person she liked so much, was being so frustrating.
“So… when are you planning to leave?”
“Right now.”
“Isn’t that too soon? We’ve been serving you all this time, Master Lee Hyun. At least give us some time…”
“Originally, the sooner the goodbye, the better.”
“At least wait until Young Lady Sowol calms down a bit…”
“That’s why I came to comfort her since she seemed really upset.”
Sighing deeply, Laila opened the door again.
Sowol was still playing dead.
Having served Sowol for a long time, Laila could tell.
When Sowol was like this, she would sulk for at least a week.
“I don’t think you can converse with her like this…”
“Really?”
“Yes. Just one week, no, two weeks…”
“I can’t take that much time. I have a long way to go.”
“Where are you going?”
“Who knows.”
“If you don’t have a special schedule…”
“I do have a schedule.”
First, he plans to meet the people recommended by the church.
Since the church is also gathering talents, he needs to go and check on them before they recruit them and take them as their disciples. It’s better to go as soon as possible to do that.
Lee Hyun shook his head, and Laila looked at him sullenly.
“… Can’t you not go?”
“No.”
“You’re quite cold.”
“I’m originally like this. Just as you do what you want, I’m doing what I want to do.”
Lee Hyun placed his hand on Laila’s head.
Her puffed-up cheeks, her flushed eyes.
It could be seen that Laila was also dissatisfied with Lee Hyun leaving.
But even so, he had no intention of changing his plans in the slightest.
“I say I’m leaving, but it’s not like I’m cutting off contact completely. We might meet again later.”
“Meet again?”
“Sowol will have to enter the academy when she becomes an adult, right? Around that time, I’m also considering going to the academy.”
“What? Why are you going to the academy?”
“I have a reason. I’ll explain that later. Well… I’ll still visit when I have time. So don’t feel too sad.”
“…Haa.”
“I’ve told the clan leader, so you explain it well to Sowol.”
“I’ll try… but I don’t know if it will go well.”
Even if he says they’ll meet again,
the fact is that they’re separating.
And he’s saying when Sowol becomes an adult.
Isn’t that years from now?
Laila looked at Lee Hyun with a sullen expression. Patting her head once more, he slowly looked around.
“It was a really nice place, even though it was just one year.”
“…”
“The people were nice too.”
“…Master Lee Hyun.”
“You’re one of them. I had fun. I hope you become even more beautiful when we meet again.”
“…”
He’s really someone you can’t win against.
Shaking people’s hearts like this with just a few words.
Watching Lee Hyun, who alone became carefree, moving away, Laila let out a big sigh.
***
I expected there to be some resistance.
But even so, I can’t ignore my plans.
Getting entangled in personal feelings and not doing what needs to be done is not my style.
It’s a shame I couldn’t comfort Sowol’s sulking, but what can’t be helped can’t be helped.
It’s not like I can comfort her every time she’s upset.
“You’re leaving?”
When I returned to my quarters and finished packing, I felt a presence.
Looking back, it was So Jung-yang.
Looking at me with a sorrowful expression, he heaved a heavy sigh.
“Do you really have to go?”
“Yes. Because I’ve finished what I had to do here.”
“It’s regrettable. Even if you don’t work, you can stay here, Master Lee Hyun…”
“Hahaha. That’s not what I meant.”
“Can’t be helped then. Then this…”
The pouch he handed over was full of gold coins.
This much should be enough for travel expenses.
“Why are you giving me this…”
“It’s far short of what we’ve received from you, Master Lee Hyun. So please visit the clan anytime.”
“Haha. I understand. Ah. And.”
I took out a letter from my pocket.
It was a letter I had written after passing on the fourth technique of Moonlight Sword to Sowol.
Originally, I should have delivered it to Sowol directly, but since she’s completely sulking and won’t even see me, I have no choice but to give it like this.
“Could you give this to Sowol?”
“That child. She’s really upset.”
“Haha. Yes. She won’t even see me.”
“Haa… It’s my fault for raising her wrong.”
“If you put it that way, it’s also my fault for teaching her wrong.”
“That’s not what I meant… I understand. Do you plan to leave around tomorrow evening? A farewell party…”
“No. I’m thinking of leaving right now.”
“In the middle of the night? Why don’t you rest today and leave tomorrow?”
I checked the time. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.
Ding. Midnight had passed.
“Today has begun.”
“Haa…”
“Goodbyes are better when they’re quick. Staying longer will only leave regrets for both.”
“If you say so… I have no choice. I pray you achieve all you desire, and we can meet again next time.”
With So Jung-yang’s farewell, I turned around.
Heading to the main gate of the Eastern Clan, several warriors greeted me with a smile.
“Where are you going, Master Lee Hyun? Let’s have a drink tomorrow! It’s on me!”
“Yeah. Yeah.”
Giving them a casual smile and waving my hand, I entered the darkness.
How far did I travel like that?
It was around the time I left the territory and arrived near Mount Wola.
“…Ooh?”
There was an ominous energy coming from Mount Wola. Heretics.
Was the previous attack merely the vanguard?
I didn’t need to check to know that their destination was the Eastern Clan.
So I drew my sword and unleashed Moonlight Sword.
The darkness blanketed the surroundings. And the moon rising in the sky.
Perhaps feeling the strangeness from it, the ominous energy from Mount Wola was gradually intensifying.
Seems like they’re going all out this time.
I smiled at the monsters descending from Mount Wola and the elite soldiers of the Asura Cult leading them.
Dealing with these guys is bothersome, but,
Well. Let’s think of it as a parting gift.