Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Mondegreen (3)

In fact, looking at Mondegreen’s proposal with a calmer mind, it could be seen as a mere formality.

Once he knew I had any connection to Rudehrn, he would have been reluctant to touch me.

And when viewed coolly, he would have realized that this incident wasn’t enough to harm us.

Although we had handled the sword, we had buried the body, and the justification we blurted out as an excuse was sufficient.

‘Honestly, if it weren’t for his disciple’s affair, he would have said that’s exactly what should be done.’

While touching someone else’s belongings is incomprehensible by Earth’s common sense, it’s not the case here.

Especially for swordsmen, swords are even more so.

It was for the same reason that I didn’t object when Denif handed over the sword a few days ago.

How could it be any different for a Sword Master, called the swordsman among swordsmen?

Anyway, it didn’t seem like he was lying, and while it needed to be verified, I thought he might have said that because he offered the sword first.

If it were someone with talent like me or Denif, he might have felt the desire to teach us.

‘That’s how masters usually are.’

In this world, it’s considered shameless for someone skilled in swordsmanship to pass by a talented person without notice.

Is this what they call the way of martial arts? That’s why Rudehrn also proposed a duel to me.

However, we couldn’t receive Mondegreen’s teachings right away.

He said he would do it after holding his disciple’s funeral. As a courtesy to his youngest disciple, he said.

We were in a position to be grateful if Mondegreen would duel with us anyway, so we agreed. There was nothing to worry about.

We had cleared all traces near the ruins and buried the body as we said. We didn’t pester him unnecessarily.

‘Even that Denif was behaving himself.’

Of course, that’s in comparison to his usual self. At least he didn’t cling directly.

However, he kept glancing around and openly swinging his sword in front of Mondegreen.

Although he didn’t call the sand because I had strongly urged him not to… it was essentially a silent demonstration.

Anyway, even in this situation, Mondegreen seemed to have realized that Denif was more or less obsessed with martial arts.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean he offered any advice.’

Throughout the journey, Mondegreen rarely opened his mouth. He just maintained a taciturn and solemn face.

His disciple’s death, our group also quietly followed behind. Aron and Jofor seemed slightly frustrated. They were usually very talkative children.

In any case, Mondegreen, while moving silently like that, didn’t forget to check on Namir when we stopped by Sonora.

He was quite thorough.

And at the end of our short journey, we were standing in front of the rock pillar where we had discovered the ruins. It was a bright night with a full moon. �

Carefully digging out the sand to confirm his disciple’s body, Mondegreen knelt on the desert, bowed his head, and closed his eyes.

Even though I was standing at a distance out of consideration for him, I realized he was crying.

He wasn’t really shedding tears. Nevertheless, the man called the pinnacle of swordsmanship, the Sword Master, was crying.

He remained motionless like a statue for a while in the silence.

Just then, a wind blew from somewhere. The sound of “swoosh” tickled our ears. Sand flowed quietly down the dunes.

The middle-aged man looked up at the sky.

“You should have just stayed by my side as the cute youngest, why did you become a painful memory……”

It was an exceptionally bright moonlit night. The stars lined up like the Milky Way next to the full moon, dyeing the sky a chilly blue.

Beneath it, Mondegreen gazed at the night sky for a long time.

How much time had passed like that? Mondegreen, who got up from his spot, buried his disciple’s body in the sand and called us.

“Let’s have a drink.”

It was as expected. When we stopped by Sonora, Mondegreen had bought crates of alcohol.

I continued, watching his mood.

“I’ll send the kids away.”

“Do that.”

Given the situation.

Mondegreen wasn’t particularly interested in the kids anyway, and it seemed like we were going to have a sincere conversation, so it didn’t feel right to have everyone crowded around.

Rina and Osten were also somewhat wary of Mondegreen.

Rina’s reason was obvious without asking, and Osten showed signs of slight fear.

Although Aron and Jofor were a bit disappointed, they withdrew without much fuss. The ones left were me, Denif, and Namir.

Mondegreen silently emptied several glasses of alcohol by himself. We drank along quietly. He turned his gaze back to the night sky.

“The sky is so beautiful.”

It didn’t seem like he was talking to us. As silence fell again, Mondegreen was the first to speak.

“Do you know why Chiabbi came to the desert?”

Although it was a name I was hearing for the first time, it must be referring to his disciple. I shook my head.

“I don’t know.”

“He said it was almost my birthday, and he was going to bring something good for my health.”

He must have had quite an affection for his master. Just looking at how sad Mondegreen was.

Didn’t he say he was the youngest disciple? Maybe that’s why.

“I tried to stop him. He was my sore finger. I took him in not because he was talented, but because I pitied him.”

So there was such a circumstance.

Well, even the strong can die in dangerous places, but it’s different when it’s a Sword Master’s disciple.

That was also the point that baffled me when I encountered Mondegreen. Mondegreen emptied his glass again.

I quietly refilled his glass.

“So he left at dawn. I was so protective that I let him go out into the world once. His skills weren’t that bad either.”

Regret was visible in Mondegreen’s words.

It’s almost impossible to escape a Sword Master’s senses, so it means he knew but let it slide.

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s not your fault, Sir Mondegreen.”

“Well… I’m not sure.”

Instead of Denif, who was just staring at the sand with his gaze lowered, Namir raised his glass.

We all emptied our glasses together.

How many glasses had it been in such a short time? I felt like there would be consequences tomorrow. Suddenly, Mondegreen laughed.

It was closer to sadness than laughter, though.

“Do you know what my youngest disciple said he was going to bring?”

“What was it?”

“A desert scorpion. The one you guys found. He said it’s famous as an aphrodisiac, but also good as a tonic.”

We unnecessarily looked around. We weren’t at fault at all, but the situation was delicate.

Abruptly, Namir opened his mouth.

“Are you perhaps… lacking?”

And there was about 2 seconds of silence.

Is this guy crazy? I looked at Namir with shocked eyes. Surprisingly, his expression was calm.

“You little bastard.”

Fortunately, Mondegreen burst into laughter. Though he did splash the drink in his glass onto Namir.

Namir, hit by the alcohol, smiled faintly.

This works? Honestly, I couldn’t understand. If it were me, I would have hit him on the back of the head.

Well, it’s not like I know everything about the ways of the world.

Even before, when Orhen’s nanny died, Denif comforted her better than I did.

I’m not sure if I’ve lived longer than Namir even including my life on Earth…

I thought the people here might have more experience than me in losing close people.

As the brief laughter subsided, Mondegreen, who had emptied his glass, let out a deep and sad sigh.

“The world is so cruel.”

To be honest, while I could feel his sadness, it didn’t resonate deeply in my heart.

I don’t know the person called Chiabbi. I’ve never had a disciple either.

Hmm. Would I feel the same emotion if Denif died?

I’m not sure. I’m close with Denif, but… I view this world from a slightly different perspective.

Nevertheless, I needed to pretend to be sad. To learn a bit more from Mondegreen.

And for any possible future.

Mondegreen wasn’t a figure who actively fought when the devil worshippers covered the continent.

He did kill those who blocked his path though.

If we become close through this opportunity, we might gain a potential ally. I quietly refilled the glass.

***

‘Actually, it’s quite a pleasing composition.’

As the misunderstanding with Mondegreen was resolved better than expected, I was thinking about what to do next.

The recruitment of talent was actually better than expected.

Denif, Namir, Aron, Jofor, and then Rina, Mary, and Osten.

Every single one of them was loyal and capable. I was very satisfied.

Things had unexpectedly gone well, resulting in better outcomes than I had initially planned when leaving the empire.

However, human greed knows no bounds.

‘It’s a shame there’s no mage.’

Aron, Jofor, and Namir are combat-oriented, Rina is administrative, and Osten is a researcher.

It would be perfect if there was a mage.

But I can’t just bring anyone from anywhere. Mages are hard to find.

Exceptional mages need both money and status.

It’s dangerous for the organization’s secrecy to recruit separately, and there aren’t many people who would be swayed in the first place because their foundations are good.

‘I wish one would just fall from the sky.’

Most of the mages I could think of were people with firm positions. Those who were recruitable had ambiguous skills or personalities.

Orhen would be perfect, but it’s impossible to bring in a spy with a count’s status.

‘Well, let’s look for one slowly. I might remember someone I had forgotten.’

Anyway, Mondegreen’s teachings began from early the next morning. We decided not to rush our travel.

Although our plan to go to Chenarus was delayed, it was none other than the Sword Master’s teaching.

It’s an affair that more than offsets the loss and is far more beneficial. Considering we were lucky to find the ruins when we did, it’s not a big deal.

We originally thought it would take much longer to find them anyway. That means we’re not that delayed.

I yielded the first turn to Denif.

Because I know how much he’s been watching and wanting to show his sword over the past few days.

-Carlyn, please. It’s shameless of me to say this after gaining Mystic Power. But I’m begging you. You’ve already dueled with a Sword Master once.

Of course, there was also Denif’s earnest request. So I decided to yield generously.

Well, I didn’t think the difference in order would create much meaning.

‘I might get one more lesson in turn…’

No matter how good Denif or I are, it’s not easy to immediately grasp and master the Sword Master’s teachings.

It will take considerable time to interpret and decide on the clues gained on the first day.

It will probably be the essential direction of development in swordsmanship that we should pursue.

There was also the reason that my physical condition wasn’t that good.

Neither Denif nor I are weak to alcohol, but we couldn’t keep up with the Sword Master’s drinking capacity.

The old man drank so well. Anyway, I was quite looking forward to it too.

‘Considering how much I’ve improved since the duel with Rudehrn, I’m quite excited.’

I quietly watched the duel between Denif and Mondegreen. Along with Namir, Aron, and Jofor.

All the sword users were gathered.

“Your passionate movement is good. But soon you’ll have to choose.”

“By choice, you mean……”

“Whether to move even more passionately, or to embrace coldness within passion. There is no correct answer.”

At those words, Denif opened his mouth as if he had received some kind of shock. I think I roughly understood what he meant.

Denif’s swordsmanship is aggressive.

But it’s not blindly charging like a berserker. Nor does it contain sharp coolness.

It might seem excellent to me, but to the Sword Master, it might have seemed ambiguous.

I guess he means to choose one between those. After saying that, Mondegreen showed an example himself.

Seeing that, Denif fell into deep thought.

Next was my turn. After several exchanges, I heard words I never expected.

“You… as I felt last time, you have a lot to change.”

Because I had been full of expectations, my bewilderment was that much greater. It certainly wasn’t the answer I was expecting.

I had only received praise until now.

I felt a bit wronged too. A lot to change? Even Rudehrn didn’t say such things.

But this too was the Sword Master’s words. Mondegreen wouldn’t be saying such things out of some grudge.

“And if you change that, you can grow tremendously.”

Maybe I had been self-conceited. Maybe there were problems I didn’t know about.

That’s what I thought rationally, but my heart was beating fast at the unexpected answer.

“I will listen attentively.”

I waited for Mondegreen’s mouth to open.

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