Chapter 418: The World is Crazy About Him (3)
dJtD6The Day of the Event.FWZEl
54Ohw5“Waaa…!”dQdqUaO
Yuq3ZqMedia looked around, exploring the festival scene, a bag of popcorn in her hand.wGa3Upl
h5qThe one accompanying her, the Sword Master, muttered with disinterest.7OxiT4
wrX7z“Isn’t this the same academy you’ve been at for decades? What’s so different that you’re gaping like that?”I14b
uHjNAyTsk.dz4
rUH3TC“Seriously, the insensitivity of old men… Hey! The atmosphere is completely different! Can’t you feel it? Even the decorations!”tUYH
74WwThe Joaquin Academy, true to its Western name, had European-style architecture as its motif. This was only one of the countless lines of the world, but this one proclaimed the “Miracle Blessing M.” The distinction between Eastern and Western cultures was not that sharp.9vD
VwYX4CaEven so, the lanterns that lit the night always carried a special flavor when they came from the East.hHufhu
uOjZ5“…Well, yes. It’s beautiful.”oAw
Sev“Sieg, you’ve always been like this. Never admitting anything outright.”8oz
VqdIt was the hour when the sun seemed to graze the horizon. The sky glowed with the splendor of sunset.kRric6B
HCWBt“It’s just… keeping composure.”GYoC0
Sjw“Composure, you say…? Hey! Are you going to keep stealing my popcorn? You said a while ago it was old people’s snacks and you didn’t want any!”EmJ
EA6The Sword Master, who was reaching out his hand, suddenly froze, as if he had been caught red-handed.12mrYtS
ZdbUtn“The world is dangerous lately, I had to check they weren’t poisoned.”sIAfd2
9jkK“I’m an ancient. Immunity to poisons is passive in me.”B9j
POFKc8“That’s true… seeing you eat that junk as if it were real food…”1LZ3P
6RJMedia furrowed her delicate brow.zWbF
N7H“Confiscated.”YfibVH9
4yXt“You! Is it necessary to hide it like that? I only have one arm! This is abuse!”je7inJ
pLi“When kindness is repeated, some people think it’s a right.”K84jY5
FbidqQl“…!”39z
KcFNcRbTheir bickering faded into the sounds of the surroundings. Students and visitors enjoyed the festival without paying attention. The atmosphere was too enchanting.uh3xp
fbqnq4uAs the sun fell, lanterns lit up around the area. What, in isolation, could seem like a lonely, sad flame, now resonated across the whole space, wrapping the atmosphere in an oriental air full of melancholy.bSFeJF
W1vlJkj“Huuh…”GzgftZy
Q8l5NQJThe Sword Master ran his hand through his hair with his single arm. Abandoning the popcorn, he cast his gaze around.z5odem
aIs“The academy, which seemed unchanging, shifts quite a lot just with a new name for the festival.”nr72
8ar“Exactly.”bnuV
JJN4XrGIn Media’s glasses, the small flames of the oil lamps reflected.4zw
Sa4“When I’m at Joaquin Academy, sometimes I feel the illusion that time stops. And for someone of my ancient race, that illusion comforts me deeply.”MZmn
5jEThe ancients and humans were different, starting from the most basic thing—lifespan.YYSe
skyBgCYTo the ancients, human life seemed as fleeting as a melting candle. Too short. Sharing life was difficult, since the innate limits of existence were different.5gHjl
sIpgEven so, Joaquin Academy had gone seven hundred years without changing much—neither in prestige nor appearance.LXAzyu
Mff“…”vhId5m
U8tThe Sword Master observed Media’s profile. The lanterns split her face into light and shadow. He couldn’t find words. Since their student days, they had been together.uLNJr
VjL‘She may be the only person I can call a friend.’CYFwFAJ
Y0gThough heroes lived longer than humans…HVWmD
2HSd‘The ancients live nearly a thousand years, if they fulfill their cycle.’7bHm
a2dHe himself, or Changseong, someday would leave earlier, and Media would remain alone. That feeling of abandonment.9fSh
6XrInThe Sword Master shook his head, casting away those thoughts. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the funerary festival, but emotions overwhelmed him.rAedZG
3raN7So he said something nonsensical.yW0sFA
1Hs9rm“…This year, a lot has changed. Joaquin’s graduate school, this commemorative festival…”avc1Cu
14X3OL“Yes.”Dj92eA
iR5Media smiled softly.r4B0n
T13pW“And I like it better this way.”oYeWk
8MGHyKA“You don’t seem saddened.”VWRP
IbNCyyJ“Saddened? Are you confusing me with yourself?”9xM
gPjYgl“…”xxd
E6Qw“In the past I wished everything around me would stay the same, that no one would age. But now…”2Zj9YQ
8O2ZY0At that moment, a child accidentally let go of his lantern, which floated up into the sky. Far from crying, the boy watched the light disappear in the distance, shining more beautifully for being extinguished before its time.R1mUB80
tmYMedia did not miss it. She handed the child her own lantern, and when he bowed deeply, she responded with a smile before continuing her walk with the Sword Master.GYJouk
Bf0yKvThey walked aimlessly. Few young people recognized them; once, even in a department store, they caused crowds.LHa9tFc
X56zfBut even the Seven Stars were heroes of an era. Every few centuries, new powers arose, and their titles would end up just pages in history, like lanterns devoured by the night.2Y8rj
Zp2kcMedia spoke again.gRxFWgH
1LGi0t“With these changes, I feel life is fuller.”SQfEcvQ
uf3w“You think so?”Ncs31
KwwnR“Of course, and in a positive sense. Sieg, you know it too. With the nobles we lived everything, the best and the vilest. And now…”Bfw7U
FUY“The appearance of Kang Geom-Ma changed everything.”sDsk7yL
qgnmOa9The Sword Master smiled with pride.KqfuRG
dvOQcUB‘My disciple. My precious son-in-law.’OnPqVWE
VmYMHe would not allow anyone to take him away, not even Balor Joaquin, the founding hero.CSy4
b6O2UHe remained silent about Balor’s identity. Balor himself didn’t seem to care, but the Sword Master preferred not to speak, because he feared the struggle for Kang Geom-Ma would fall into Balor’s hands. That thought alone made him desperate.eDE
6t6T1O‘If Media finds out…’MbmX5Y
FyhaInsults would rain on him—petty, selfish, vile. He would endure it.Hosgk
2GsgB‘Geom-Ma. My precious!’Odz
7aihzyBut a bad feeling invaded him. He couldn’t see either Kang Geom-Ma or the founding hero.AkqXXxt
LjmmbcpWere they speaking alone?w7Wzxf
x0bGHA‘…I must find them.’3F5hCD
jC57lvUnaware of his agitation, Media continued.vzVEXb
M6H3z“Thanks to Geom-Ma, the world moves each day toward a better tomorrow than yesterday.”GDnQG7K
H5VMKhs“I admit it. In the past, though we carried the great title of Seven Stars, we never managed to change the world.”gYA
Q7qA“Perhaps that very title was a shackle that limited our movements.”FE6nNW
akTYU“How shameful to think of it.”tBX
469bFdFThe Sword Master made a bitter gesture.l4s
14uO0H“There is no shame. Geom-Ma is also one of us, one of the Seven Stars. We should be proud.”QINFpv
0fPFqw“Ah, now that you mention it… I’m thinking of retiring from the Seven Stars soon.”OhHAuE
eB2se“Last week Richard told me the same.”gxH
LsEN“That guy… well, his time to step down has come too.”MAMwn7
dxTTIn truth, neither the Sword Master nor Changseong were weakening; on the contrary, they continued to grow in strength. The reason for retirement was to send a message—the change of an era. If they occupied the seats forever, the heroic world would stagnate. And now, with Geom-Ma leading the new era, it was the perfect time to step back.nyIbo
xLw3SZThough they hadn’t spoken directly, the Sword Master and Changseong shared that thought. Rivals or not, both desired the same thing—a healthier world of heroes.47r85
5XZFootsteps resounded among the crowd. While they talked, a huge sphere rose before them.U8yc
JtA“Uoooooh!”BGuWD
M0FhaPThe people applauded and shouted.yy7Lk
nxHxjlAn instant later, the sphere revealed its nature.NZQztw
iog59fA hot air balloon, with a massive globe on top.jIa
G0B“Were hot air balloons in the program?” asked the Sword Master.Nv1fDHs
PbTJzr8Media answered uncertainly.6DSQCqQ
0uXuC“I heard that, since today is Joaquin’s anniversary, they couldn’t skip it. Maybe they’re using it to enhance the festival’s mood.”PLs
cFpE“Indeed…”hNqr6gQ
NQ9jk“Want to see it up close? I know you love those things.”4t8e
9nv“Hmph!”JaDs
vHqmThough he grumbled, Media pushed forward, making way through the crowd. The Sword Master followed reluctantly.KTY
7kd“Ugh!”9HMy
Bna4A panting voice greeted them. It was Rachel.HdUcql7
OZo3u“I’m going to die!”lbnIU8
YC7“Just a bit more!”6ZoKx
CYG“Cheer up, Rachel-nim!”Klj
GrobA61The crowd cheered. Rachel, exhausted, once again brought her mouth to the balloon’s valve and blew air inside.e0VES
pcV7“…?”enF
ATkSeriously? Is she inflating that by lung power?LCveeY
WRoA revered heroine like Rachel turned into an air pump… the Sword Master blinked in disbelief. Rachel was strong, no doubt. But to rely on her in these circumstances was another matter.27WWU7
DTil4HSwallowing hard, the Sword Master muttered.hXIffV
TKm“Media.”BDmw
9in1Dl“If it’s to retract your retirement, I won’t allow it.”3F3
o239cRk“….”fjUdrxf
KfspRegret filled me.k0LsfFg
czF***Egoy
M1AeKjCIt was the first day of the festival. Some time had passed and the sun had already collapsed beyond the horizon. Ryozo, Abel, and I walked, the grass crunching beneath our feet.k5Jo
CAJ5“It’s really crowded down there.”aXLB
l0rf“That’s why I like this side better.”fCHTAac
xQG0Abel spoke first, and Ryozo picked it up.p2rtU
VHqp“If the commemorative festival only had a gloomy atmosphere, it would be heavy.”BL6spU
cfNm8x“Exactly.”EoDlQ
I6JitI added something too.kQiATN
jq1vCi“It’s like when at funerals they sometimes play cards or go-stop. They say that if you only cry, the deceased doesn’t like it.”QLFJG
cSR“Kang Geom-Ma, that comparison…”0VAlK
uq5uNrCThe words Abel left hanging, Ryozo immediately caught.3DQTp
bgfTh“You sound like an old man.”Z4BeZM
kJpkYr“….”N4Ig9qS
VMw9x“But really, Kang Geom-Ma, you’ve always been like that. As a cadet, you seemed like an adult-child and at the same time a three-year-old brat.”HSP
ljtJ2Abel’s warmth surrounded me from one side.63eHmS
A7B4yC“Your father told me that as a child you were even worse. You misbehaved so much they first thought you were mute.”BLENR
EYKCBO“That man really… Ugh!”X6p
8kmOGc7Pain stabbed my other side. Through tears I looked, and saw Ryozo pinching me while scolding.DG6WdAQ
ik52aG“How can you speak of father like that?”CB2f0J
mtSBig“No, I… fine, I was wrong.”pHP
QBp8“You must always be respectful to father.”fRgO
Z3B2YY“Yes, yes.”0qnfFw
Ae1dVThe boss had Ryozo and Abel’s absolute support. Even I didn’t receive as much. It felt like the blessing of the hypnosis app wasn’t mine, but his.YzOw
TXm“By the way.”GZ0T
gNJThe low grass tickled my ankles.K8PMv8
1xU“Why are we going there?”v8v
qphYWe climbed the small hill behind the academy grounds. Anyone who knew, already knew—we were heading toward the bench I often visited, and where, in my first days, I had met Abel for the first time.QT6
BmO0“There are too many people down there. Besides, Kang Geom-Ma, you like quiet places.”5T00
3ZTp“That’s true… but.”ddyS
dZh“Does it feel sudden to you?”1Kox1X
oIqu8N3I nodded. Ryozo answered.x5w5J
ALbrOKK“I’m INTP and Abel is ESFP. Both of us have the P trait, improviser. Even if it’s sudden, we understand, right?”NwamPHs
RZnI…Not exactly the angle I had in mind.V1MD
atrXS“Ah, wait a moment!”HKXyIu
CgTAbel quickly stepped away from me.J5MTyiA
OhO“I… I. I left something at home!”J8bQ3PM
XJUxkWhat was with that tone of such forced acting?TSR
yKIYjwr“What did you leave?”yrm
kYQk“T-t-that… my wallet!”oKWcg7
OZ79cba“What do you need a wallet for, just to go to a bench?”hkas6
8mFlO“…Maybe there’s a fee to use it!”dmLeO
woo8x0AA fee to use a bench?nk2GUi
malhnxWhat a broken academy.319N4FR
1woq“You two keep walking for now.”8dIpH8
52oLFgAAbel went down the hill without looking back. I was left open-mouthed watching her leave, when this time Ryozo spoke.3WUUL9
ZRrvP“I also forgot something.”VUB
A2sORaG“What did you forget, Ryozo…?”AW8
DjbIRo1“My sweet yokan.”Ll8
NI8OWell, that made more sense than Abel’s.EnGy8Eo
25umSM“I’ll be back soon.”Ib3E
wdbFKWith a similar excuse, she too left.qL41aaQ
cxKh78‘Obvious as day.’7ax
gLMovI scratched my chin and continued toward the intended place. Before long, the bench appeared. And beside it, someone was occupying it.n17Yw6W
D01LKDzHe only turned his eyes toward me.OBdWi
BcT“You’re here.”tRPH6l
1rF5“Boss.”yK7
HjkiLUI squinted at him and sat at his side. Suddenly, I found myself alone with him.U5H9DJU
BGrtd“….”Nwr
1z0O“….”p4ru
h7LZjSilence fell between us.iye
VRBIBYt‘Why so awkward?’oOZ08
5v6Eq52I spent years with this man fighting in my previous life. Back then, I just thought of him as some bald old man.cN65U7X
Tkv05Zk‘But ever since I came to this world, my perception changed.’U6D
8I8JET7The founding hero.UK6ij8
0aEzBalor Joaquin.c0XMjq
v1rEoPWhen I discovered the boss’s identity, I was pretty shocked. Maybe that feeling stuck with me. For some reason, with him, who had returned here without me really understanding why, there was this distant atmosphere.0em8E
30wrd35Even when I wanted to talk, there were always too many obstacles, too many interruptions.cIUgD12
qgKp‘Excuses, nothing more.’VB7
6GxCTgKEach of us had gone through our own things. The past where we had shared so much was too far away now. That’s why ordinary conversations didn’t come naturally.Vqf
wGS2HCSomeone had to muster the courage.uqEeD
f8MfK“What is this ridiculousness about inventing a Buddha’s birthday?”DVhSi
w5vAnd, as always, that someone was the boss.HtKR
1Xt0“I said they shouldn’t make a festival for my birthday, but in the end, the academy’s second director instituted it…”4DKBUO
n5eDy“Well.”G5uyN
bmtlAI laughed.yukW
XWbiLE“I thought you were a historic egomaniac.”044EQ
Hmj“And aren’t you one?”9TC
IulzJT“….”TY2VPwL
ON4SdsHe shut me up.YShPmNJ
dSrL7Ov“I’ve returned in time so many times that the concept of birthdays almost doesn’t exist for me.”6g1mx
MmBRcSpeaking like that, the boss leaned back against the bench. The lanterns began to rise at that very moment.lMje
0RO“Did you know? The day you came to this world was exactly today.”5YneweP
NQSsC7a“If even I forgot, how do you know?”K4U
O9jIk2“Because the day of your disappearance was today. And I was your legal guardian.”HPA
aPTUeAh.YlLY
GQjiThe boss moved his lips.sbu9
vkRn9rB“How is it for you, being in this world?”X02k4Hs
JEjHis fingers curled into a fist.p4iRQk8
ofnK“Doesn’t matter if you resent me. After all, it was like throwing my obligation onto you…”zaqk
aG21“I’m happy.”hdWN
pX0XH9I looked at the countless lights swaying. Each one of them was a human heart.Z1dVdj
rMFThe wish to comfort civilians caught in tragedies.eaX7
rRsThe wish to honor the birth of the founding hero.4M3S
yWIha“…I see.”txt
sGthClap.Ch3X
GdHEHis broad hand covered my head.qFm
U3o“Happy birthday.”kDo0c9
bmzvNAll those emotions seemed to bless the soul of a son.cJ1
X8e5“Happy birthday to you too, father.”QkmQMPd
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