25 – Graduation – 1
I took So Wol as my disciple around the end of spring.
So, it was almost 9 months ago from now.
I had thought when I first saw So Wol.
Ah, she’ll learn everything in a year.
As if proving that, So Wol grew rapidly.
“Heuk… Heuk…”
Even on a chilly winter day, So Wol’s pretty face was covered in sweat.
That’s how passionate her training was.
Now that she can effortlessly use Moonlight Wave and Moonlight Flash, it’s about time to pass on my third form.
“Master. Pheewww… Is this good enough?”
I examined the traces left by Sowol.
The forest where we come to train every day was littered with trees as if a skilled woodcutter had been here.
All of this was the trace created by Sowol.
“Excellent.”
It has only been a year since I started wielding the sword, and to have grown this much is beyond my expectations. I am glad that my predictions were accurate.
“Heh. It’s nothing special.”
While making a scoffing sound in response to my praise, Sowol’s face still held a sense of pride.
Yes. I am proud of you too.
Of course, that doesn’t mean I will give you a sticker for praise.
“Well then, let me teach you my third form.”
“Yes!”
“The third form of the Moonlight Sword is Moonlight Dance. It is an adaptation of the Moonlight Swordplay that was used at the Moon Rock Mountain before.”
“Is that true?!”
Sowol, who seemed quite delighted, came running towards me with sparkling eyes.
I appreciate her passion for learning.
After patting her head, I began the explanation.
“The flow of magic in the Moonlight Dance is based on the Moonlight Waves and the Moonlight Islands. You need to combine them to maintain the aura on the sword.”
“But last time, Master’s sword couldn’t form the aura, right?”
“We are not releasing the aura. We need to completely confine the aura inside the sword. There should be no wastage of magic power at all.”
“Ah… I see.”
“In other martial arts, this process is called the Unity of Sword and Body. It is about merging the sword and the body as one.”
“It sounds difficult.”
“It’s not just any ordinary swordsmanship. Now, let’s begin.”
After teaching Sowol the flow of magic in the Moonlight Dance, I explained every movement to her.
At first, she seemed awkward as usual, but after a few tries, she started to accept it skillfully.
Indeed, she has a remarkable talent.
“Hmm… Is this good enough?”
Sowol, who had attempted the Moonlight Dance once, fiddled with her wooden sword and tilted her head with uncertainty.
“Is that good enough?”
It’s excellent.
“The rest is just about improving your proficiency. Practice diligently.”
“Yes!”
It was when So-wol responded with a bright expression.
From the sky, small white snowflakes began to fall slowly.
It was the first snow of the year. So-wol, who had been staring at it blankly, let out a slight cough.
“Ugh…”
After sweating for a while, it must be quite cold.
I wrapped the coat I was wearing around her.
“I’m fine…”
“It’s okay. I can maintain body temperature with magic.”
If she catches a cold and training is delayed, I’ll be even more tired.
Stopping So-wol from taking off her clothes, I buttoned up and said while grabbing my sword.
“Let’s go. Let’s rest while having something warm to eat today.”
“How about some warm liquor?”
“That’s not a bad idea either.”
After finishing training and returning to the Eastern Peak, people were bustling around.
Is it because of the snow that has started to fall in earnest?
Looking around at those who were putting waterproof covers on their belongings or bringing them inside, I sent So-wol back to her room and headed to my residence.
In front of my usually quiet and clean place, there was a letter placed.
“A letter has arrived from the church.”
A passing maid informed me while holding it.
The church?
It can’t be an invitation to the year-end Mass, right?
With a trembling heart, I opened the envelope with the church’s emblem neatly attached.
“Oh.”
Fortunately, it wasn’t a letter urging me to attend the Mass.
Serin.
My friend and the high-ranking priestess of the church, who will play a crucial role in the upcoming religious war, sent this letter.
[This letter begins in the Thehoran Empire…]
Let’s ignore this.
[…Enough with the jokes. How have you been? I’ve been doing well too. It’s a daily struggle against the heretics, but it’s very rewarding. I wonder if my disciples are growing well. Oh, the most interesting thing. The list of talented individuals we found in the church is attached. I’ll share that too.]
Satisfactory. Upon checking the last page, there were profiles for five individuals.
Hmm… These are the ones I’ve seen before. They have talents similar to Laila, so there’s probably no need to pay them much attention.
[In addition… I can consider the local heresy suppression completed by the time this letter arrives. However, while suppressing the heretics, I made an interesting discovery. I found traces of the Asura Sect.]
The Asura Sect.
A heresy that claims exclusive devotion to a single deity, dismissing all other gods as mere illusions.
It is a place with formidable power, performing human sacrifices at every mass, making it the worst of the heresies.
[I thought the Asura Sect had been completely wiped out. It seems to be a misconception on our church’s part.]
It’s a misconception.
Since the leader of a hostile religion during the Religious War event is the Asura Sect, they absorb all other heresies and become stronger, revealing themselves to the world and defeating them is the essence of the Religious War event.
I calmly examined the contents of the letter.
There are various details, but in essence, it mentioned that the place that was targeting the Eastern Top last time seems to have been a faction of the Asura Sect.
Hmm. The Asura Sect.
This is an unexpected statement.
[Maybe it’s not over yet. Just in case, please take good care of the Southern Top Lord. I’ll report to the higher-ups and send knights there.]
That’s a reassuring story. Then, how many days do I need to hold on?
I put the letter into my pocket and immediately went to find Soujongyang.
After all, I should know about it.
“Welcome, Master.”
Soujongyang, who was working in the office, greeted me, and I immediately talked about the main point.
The heresy, especially the Asura Sect, considered the worst, is targeting him. Soujongyang smiled bitterly at the news.
“When dealing with business, there are things like assassinations or kidnappings. These are just one of many incidents in that category.”
“That’s one way to see it.”
“They say they’ll send someone from the church. It’s something to be thankful for.”
“It will take a few days. It would be best to be cautious until then.”
“Thank you.”
“I will minimize the occasions of going outside the upper ranks as much as possible. That way, I can respond promptly no matter what happens.”
“I feel like I’m burdening this master too much.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Since it’s come to this, how about you establish yourself in our Eastern Upper Rank?”
While my name is listed in the Eastern Upper Rank, it’s almost like holding a temporary position or no different from that.
What Sojoongyang is suggesting is that I formally become a person of the Eastern Upper Rank.
But that’s not something I can do. I have to find the next disciple immediately, teach the next disciple, and then go to the Tower of the Sage to obtain the qualification of a sage.
After that, I have to become an instructor at the Academy.
I have too much to do to be tied to the Eastern Upper Rank.
“It’s regrettable.”
“Still, I will continue to teach Sowol, so don’t worry.”
“…Your words sound a bit strange. Teaching Sowol as if you will teach him everything and then leave as if you have completed your task.”
“Yes. Once I’ve taught Sowol everything, there will be nothing left for me to do here.”
“No, no. How can that be? Even if you insist on finishing that task, please continue to stay as a guest of our Eastern Upper Rank. Thanks to you, the warriors of our Eastern Upper Rank have also become stronger. So…”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Haha. I appreciate your words. I also have my own goals that I am pursuing.”
“Ah… If you say so, there’s nothing we can do.”
It seems he realized that he couldn’t hold on any longer.
Sojoongyang sighed heavily and looked at me.
“Our Eastern Upper Rank will always welcome you, Master. Please show your face to us from time to time, even if only occasionally.”
“I’ll try.”
I don’t know when that will be.
After that, there were no special stories.
After talking about various things around me and recent business stories, when I left Sojoongyang’s room, it was quite late.
Ah, I should go and sleep…
“…Oh, it’s already beginning.”
I thought it would take some time.
In response to the suddenly tense atmosphere, I reached for my sword.
Clouds began to cover the sky, obscuring the moonlight.
The torches inside the upper ranks started to go out one by one due to the strong wind.
And the unpleasant feeling mixed in the wind. There’s no way I wouldn’t know what it means.
I smiled as I drew my sword and spoke into the darkness.
“It feels like you’re hiding, but I saw your hair. Come out.”
In response to my words, figures in black clothes started crawling out one by one from the darkness.
In that moment when I was about to use magic, I heard a sharp scream. It was So-wol’s cry.
“Aaah!!”
Sharp cries. So-wol’s shout.
“I’ll deal with you later.”
It’s more important to take care of So-wol than to deal with you.