The Villains I Taught Became Heroes chapter 30

30 – Catalyst of a Hero – 1

Unable to comprehend his words, Sowol couldn’t part her lips.

Taught everything?

Leaving?

“W-What does that mean?”

Perplexed, Sowol forced her mouth open.

Is he joking? Is it a prank?

She expected Hyun to say something with a cheerful smile, as always, but the response shattered her expectations with a statement that crushed her hopes.

“You have nothing more to learn. There’s nothing left for me to teach. Since I’ve passed on all the Moonlight Sword techniques, there’s no reason for me to stay here.”

“….”

“Excellent. You’re my disciple. You make me proud.”

“…Is that so.”

So, this is the result of her hard work?

Her heart wavered. Her eyes moistened, and a resentful feeling welled up inside her.

“I didn’t know that!!”

If she had known, she wouldn’t have worked so hard.

If she had known, she would have been a bit lazier.

“I hate you, Master!!”

Her efforts to please her teacher, Lee Hyun, ultimately only hastened their parting.

With tears streaming down her face, Sowol turned away and retreated to her room.

“Miss?!”

Laila was shocked to see Sowol, who had gone to confess, return in tears. Was it a rejection? If so, how should she comfort her?

“M-Master, sniff, sob, huu… Master…”

She was rejected. She had been rejected. Laila embraced Sowol, who was crying.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. Maybe Master just couldn’t appreciate a woman properly…”

Sobbing… Master… Sigh. Please don’t curse.

What should I do?

Is it not the answer to simply embrace her at a time like this?

Laila comforted Sowol, and after a while, as Sowol, who had been sobbing in her arms, finally calmed down, she recounted what Ihyeon had said.

“…So. Master Ihyeon is leaving?”

“…Yeah. Sobbing.”

Ihyeon is leaving.

It was something she had never considered, but it was something that should have been anticipated.

Sowol always hoped for Ihyeon to officially take his place in the Eastern Chamber.

However, he always declined, keeping a distance from the Eastern Chamber, as if he could leave at any moment.

It was for this.

“I can’t understand.”

“Sobbing… Well, you see…”

Wiping away tears, Sowol spoke resolutely. It seemed that with the disappearance of sadness, resentment surged.

“Fool! Idiot! Blockhead! Really…!!”

“….”

“Do you hate me so much??”

“…Uwaaah!”

He couldn’t bring himself to say he hated her.

Even in such a situation, his feelings towards her remained steadfast.

Sowol burst into tears again, and Laila hugged her tightly.

-Knock, knock.

It was then. The sound of knocking on the door.

After consoling Sowol, Laila opened the door slightly.

Before her stood Ihyeon, wearing an awkward expression.

“Is Sowol inside?”

“She’s inside, but it seems like we can’t talk right now.”

Peeking inside, Laila noticed Sowol lying on the bed with her face buried, pretending to be dead.

It was a mix of not wanting to show her messy face, filled with tears and mucus, and a behavior blended with resentment towards Ihyeon.

Having understood Sowol’s feelings, as she had been serving her for a long time, Laila gently stepped outside and closed the door.

“Why are you leaving?”

“Because I’ve finished everything I need to do here.”

“But… there are many people here who care about you, not just the young lady…”

“Still, I have to go. Staying here will only hinder So Wol’s growth.”

“Not to mention we need to find new disciples.”

From Hyun’s perspective, this was going according to plan, but Laila, who had no idea about it, felt her frustration bubbling up inside.

She never expected her master, and the person she admired so much, to be so frustrating.

“So… when do you plan to leave?”

“Right now.”

“Isn’t that too soon? We’ve been serving under you, this master, for a while. At least give us some time…”

“It’s often best for farewells to be as quick as possible.”

“It would be better to wait until So Wol is a little more open-minded…”

“Well, she seems to be in a foul mood again, so I came to cheer her up.”

Taking a deep breath, Laila opened the door again.

So Wol was still playing with the corpse.

Laila could tell that So Wol had been sulking for at least a week.

“With her in this state, I don’t think we can have a proper conversation…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Give her a week, or at least two…”

“I can’t afford to spend that much time. I have a long journey ahead.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m not sure.”

“If you don’t have any specific plans…”

“I do have plans.”

He intended to meet with the people the church recommended.

Since the church was also recruiting talents, they needed to go and confirm before they were snatched up. It would be better to go as soon as possible.

Hyun raised his head, and Laila looked at him with a plump expression.

“… Can’t you reconsider and stay?”

“No.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“He’s incredibly stoic.”

“Well, that’s just the way I am. I do what I want, just like you do what you want.”

Hyun raised his hand to Laila’s head.

Puffy cheeks, teary eyes.

Laila also seemed displeased with Hyun leaving.

But even so, there was no intention to change the plan.

“I may be leaving, but it doesn’t mean we’ll completely lose touch. We might meet again in the future.”

“Meet again?”

“When Sowol becomes an adult, he’ll have to enroll in the academy, right? By that time, I’ll be thinking of going to the academy too.”

“Why? Why go to the academy?”

“I have my reasons. I’ll explain later. Well… before that, if I have time, I’ll come visit. Don’t think too sadly about it.”

“…Sigh.”

“I told Sowol’s adoptive parents. Tell Sowol I said to speak well.”

“I’ll do my best, but… I don’t know if it’ll go well.”

Even if they said they would meet again,

the fact remained that they were parting.

And to say it would be when Sowol became an adult.

It seemed like a story from many years later.

Laila couldn’t erase her chubby expression as she looked at Hyun. After patting her head once more, he slowly surveyed the surroundings.

“Even though it was just a year, it was a really good place.”

“….”

“And they were good people too.”

“This master of yours.”

“You’re one of them too. It was enjoyable all this time. I hope you’ll be even more beautiful when we meet again.”

“……”

Truly a person hard to resist.

To shake someone’s heart with just a few words.

Watching Hyun, who seemed to have become somewhat solitary, Laila let out a deep sigh.

***

Some resistance was expected, to some extent.

However, even so, it is a task I cannot ignore my plans for.

Getting entangled in trivial emotions is not to my taste.

It’s regrettable that I couldn’t soothe Sowol’s annoyance, but some things are unavoidable.

It’s not like I can always calm him down when he’s upset.

“Are you leaving?”

As I returned to my dwelling and finished packing, I sensed a presence.

It was precious Yang.

With a solemn expression, he looked at me and let out a heavy sigh before speaking.

“Do you really have to go?”

“Yes. I’ve finished what I need to do here.”

“It’s a pity. If it’s you, sir, you don’t have to work, you can stay here…”

“Hahaha. That’s not the meaning, right?”

“It can’t be helped. Then, take this…”

He held out a pouch filled with gold coins.

This should be enough for travel expenses.

“Why all this…”

“Compared to what I received from you, this is far from sufficient. So please feel free to come back to us anytime.”

“Haha. I understand. Oh, and…”

I took out a letter from my pocket.

It was a letter I wrote after passing on the Moonlight Sword technique to Sowol.

Originally, I should have given it to him directly, but since that guy is completely upset and won’t even look at me, I have no choice but to deliver it like this.

“Could you pass this on to Sowol?”

“That guy. He’s been quite stubborn.”

“Yes. He hasn’t even looked at me.”

“Sigh… It’s my fault for raising him wrong.”

“If you put it that way, it’s also my fault for teaching him wrong.”

“It’s not that kind of meaning… I understand. So, are you planning to leave around tomorrow evening? Perhaps a farewell ceremony…”

“No. I plan to leave right away.”

“At this late hour? How about resting today and leaving tomorrow?”

I checked the time. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Ding. Midnight had passed.

“So, today has begun.”

“Sigh…”

“The faster the farewell, the better. The longer it lasts, the more regrets linger between us.”

“If you say so… I suppose there’s no other choice. I hope you achieve everything you desire, and I wish we can meet again next time.”

With precious Yang’s farewell, I turned away.

As I headed towards the main gate of the Eastern Summit, some warriors greeted me with smiles.

“Where are you going, Lord? Let’s have a drink tomorrow! I’ll buy!”

“Sure, sure.”

I gave them a casual smile, shook hands, and moved my steps into the darkness.

How far had I traveled like that?

I left the territory and arrived near Mount Wolah.

“…What’s this?”

There was a subtle energy coming from Mount Wolah. A gathering.

Was the earlier attack just a prelude?

Even without actively checking, I knew they were heading to the Eastern Summit.

So, I drew my sword and unfolded the Moonlight Sword.

Darkness spread around, and the moon rose in the sky.

Whether it was due to the strange feeling caused by them or the harmonious energy from Mount Wolah, the sense of connection was getting stronger.

It seems they’re going all out this time.

Smirking, I gazed at the monsters and elite soldiers of the Asura Sect descending from Mount Wolah.

Dealing with these guys was a bit of a hassle.

Well, let’s consider it a gift on the way.