765 – 9. There is not a single day when I don’t do this (14)
‘Sword (劍)’.
Since prehistoric times, humans have longed for cutlery. Tools made by breaking and polishing stones have performed various roles. Sometimes it is a farming tool, sometimes it is a ritual tool, and sometimes it is a weapon.
Among them, one of the objects with a long history was the sword. This primitive tool, which has been favored by mankind for a long time along with spears and bows, is still in active use even after thousands of years.
That was the reason why I came to visit ‘Cheongeomsan (天劍山)’.
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This mountain, located in the middle of the desert, is filled with great myths and traditions. There is a rumor that a sword that cuts down all evil lies at its source, and that there are sentinels who have developed unique sword techniques to protect it.
Of course, some say. Well, a legend is just a legend.
The history of mankind has been a series of prosperity. It was a field where technological innovation occurred every few decades, let alone thousands of years. How can antiques and ingenuity from thousands of years ago transcend the modern era?
It was indeed a reasonable inference.
Until I came here and experienced the sword myself.
Kang!
The blade flew through the sky along with flames. My grip was fine, but the worn-out sword was not.
The blade, which repeatedly splinters and rotates, falls into the ground.
Park!
When I saw that, I had no choice but to suppress a laugh.
“Didn’t you decide not to use magical power?”
“I didn’t write it.”
The woman across from me who answered that question was an old woman.
Did you say she was the ‘Grand Instructor’ of the ‘Sword Circle’? Since worldly names had no meaning on Heavenly Sword Mountain, the title was sufficient.
He is probably a person with a connection to swordsmanship.
Even if he used magical powers, it was difficult to guarantee a victory. Even if all three people called ‘instructors’ were put together, they wouldn’t be able to defeat this old woman.
So she was even embarrassed when she first saw it.
Who would have imagined that such a talented person would be living in seclusion?
Even though I am imperfect, I am a ‘master’.
In the private room in the middle of the night, the old woman’s voice continued calmly.
“Young man, you are strong. So strong… So weak. The growth was too fast. “I didn’t have time to stop and collect myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means there is a lack of sophistication.”
You said that from the beginning.
I felt like grumbling inside, but since I was a person who aimed to be a polite and hospitable young man, I decided to hold back.
“It seems there have been many battles that required great effort.”
“I get surprised sometimes. “I’m amazed that my name is still attached to me.”
“I understand. Even if you exert all your strength, it wasn’t enough, so you probably didn’t have time to look down at what you already had in your hands.”
There was no need to return an answer.
If you have the insight of someone as skilled as an old woman, excuses will be useless. Instead, I just looked down at the handle of my training sword, which had been cut in half.
Already in hand.
There were countless. Because every time I went through a struggle or struggle, I reached out to new powers.
In fact, it had to be that way.
For me, there was a powerful advantage called ‘future memory’. I don’t have a weapon right now, but what fool wouldn’t grab one of the weapons lying around in the clearing?
After struggling so hard to survive, I ended up like this.
I have finally decided on my path, but I am an immature child who has just taken my first steps and does not even have a proper mental image.
This was the background to the birth of the deformed state called ‘Imperfect Master’.
“To be honest, it’s not that big of a problem. Aren’t you a ‘master’? It would be safe to say that the time remaining is infinite. In addition, at this rate, there won’t be many opponents who can rival him… Even if it’s not a mountain of a thousand swords, if you gradually think about it…….”
“I don’t have time.”
My voice responding to the soft consolation was extremely firm.
But did he know that I would react this way? The old woman smiled faintly and shook her head.
“You’re young, you’re young… “I once had a time like you.”
“I am not saying this out of youthful enthusiasm.”
My tone of voice as I answered that question was still firm. Maybe it was because I was speaking my honest truth, so there was no need to add or subtract anything.
“You may not be interested in the secular world, but the threat of the Dark Church is approaching every moment. There are already victims… Not long ago, to the extent that the swordsman suffered…… !”
“Is that all?”
I was completely speechless after hearing this short question. The old woman’s eyes had already sunken deep.
“I thought it would take another week until you came to visit me.”
“That’s… ha.”
I was trying to come up with excuses, but all I could do was sigh.
My eyes glanced around. Even though the beginning of spring has arrived, the white, frozen breath disperses before your eyes. This was due to the high altitude.
This is one of the peaks of Cheongeomsan Mountain.
It was a place where the heads of the ‘sword circle’ stayed for generations. In other words, there was only one reason to come here.
That’s right. Today I deliberately came to visit the ‘Great Master’.
I am looking forward to being able to find a clue as soon as possible.
It was strong evidence that my heart had become impatient.
“…… “There are some circumstances.”
“hahahaha! “Why is it that the Iron Blood Duke of the world is so distressed?”
“Don’t make fun of me. Even if you are a ‘master’, it doesn’t mean there are no limitations.”
Even I wasn’t a complete master.
He added it as if grumbling, but the old woman just smiled. It’s as if she is a grandmother who listens to her grandchildren’s complaints.
“Don’t be too hasty…” Not only is this not a problem that can be solved, but it hasn’t even been a few days since you came to Heavenly Sword Mountain.”
“That’s true, but… …..”
“Really, he looks exactly like that guy.”
My forehead furrowed at the unexpected sentiment. ‘That man’ seems like a title for a ‘swordsmith.’
How much do I have in common between me and the swordsman? If it had been said about Shien, it would have been more understandable.
Nevertheless, the old woman’s sentiments were not withdrawn.
“Even though he has such brilliant talent, how can he be so short-tempered? ….”
At this time, I wanted to be honest. He said he saw a future where Cheongeomsan Mountain was burning. And since that time is not far away, I want to prevent it somehow.
But my lips never became soft.
This was because a kind shadow was cast in the eyes of the old woman reminiscing about the past. I’m not sure, but I think the memories I had with the swordsmith are coming back to me.
The advice, which had been paused for a while, continued only after a few seconds.
“Take your time.”
“But, Master Daebum…” ….”
“The talent that represents the era is like the sun. Those who embrace it will go blind, and those who stand close to it will burn. “You realize that sometimes there has to be a time when the sun sets.”
It was advice given in a serious tone. Perhaps this is the true lesson the old woman wanted to impart to me.
So I gave up my objection. I just sighed in surrender.
Looking back, it was a correct point. As the old woman said, my problem was not one that could be solved by whipping me. On the contrary, it would be better to take my time and refine my thoughts.
Yes, for example, ‘meditation’.
Several associations naturally occurred. On a night when grass bugs cry, a woman with gray hair, just the two of us closed our eyes and felt the silence of the pond.
It was because of that.
“Also, men who are impatient are prone to being hated by women. For example… “Something like a ’empty’ instructor.”
I flinched at the name that came out of nowhere, and an electric charge ran through my body. I was so embarrassed that my voice came out stammering.
“No, why did that story suddenly…?” … !”
“What, wasn’t this someone you were worried about? “It seems like you have formed quite a deep connection in the secular world.”
At the old woman’s subtle remark, I had no choice but to huff and clear my throat. Perhaps because I hit the nail on the head, I felt a slight feeling of heat coming from my cheeks.
“Actually, we had a good senior-junior relationship.”
“Is that all?”
“I think the relationship was a little better than that…….”
At the end of my blurred words, the old woman couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. Even to me, it was an awkward testimony.
The relationship is a little better than that.
How on earth can you define the relationship between me and Seria? Good senior/junior? The object of one-sided courtship? Or, something else.
Now that I was acting like this, it was ridiculous. If you had been nice to me when I was around, I would have had something to say.
It was then that the old woman gave another lesson.
“I was pushed.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you know? ‘Push and pull’… These are the basics of love. Rather than blindly approaching, sometimes you have to push the other person away. Wouldn’t that make the other person pay a little more attention? “Just like you are now.”
It was a new perspective.
To me, ‘love’ was originally close to a story from another world. When I was attending the academy, I wasn’t particularly interested in girls, and it was more fun hanging out with Leto.
Also, when I thought someone might be interested in me, Celine would cling to me to the point where it was annoying.
I never thought a technique called ‘push and pull’ would exist. No, I think I heard it from Leto once.
After contemplating for a while, a short conclusion came out of my mouth.
“Then, is it possible that Master Gong was deliberately trying to get my attention…? … ?”
“No, that’s not it. “Because the gate of Heavenly Sword Mountain is not wide enough for you to climb it with that much determination.”
Negative at once.
Then yes, Seria’s will seemed firm to me. There was no way he was going to stage a grandiose runaway just to get my attention.
I returned to reality in an instant and sighed for an unknown number of times.
Is there really no way to restore her relationship with Seria?
The answer came out again from the old woman’s mouth.
“But the opposite is possible.”
“…… ?”
The old woman, who received my puzzled gaze, smiled.
“I’m telling you to push from your side. Anyway, I’ll have to stay in the coffin of pleasure for a while…….”
I thought, keeping this meaningful advice in mind.
How on earth?
And the next day.
“Today, it is our turn to check the results of our training.”
Seria, who had called us back to the training hall after a long few days, declared with her usual cold expression on her face.
“Please come out one by one and spar with me.”
What did I think of at this time? Well.
Funny enough, I remembered our first meeting. The day Seria asked me to spar during her swordsmanship lecture.
It was time to reset our relationship again.