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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Master-Disciple Journey (6)
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"So, what? The rest, you already know. I followed Director Lina to the Velvet Hunter Academy. I trained and organized the Demon Slayer Squad to hunt demons."
"..."
I gazed intently at my Master.
My Master subtly averted her gaze, as if telling her own story felt quite awkward.
It felt like the first time I was hearing such a personal story from my Master.
I also understood how and why she came to lead the Demon Slayer Squad, a group that professionally deals with demons in the shadows.
'It's because of that memory back then.'
Because she had already experienced how terrible it could become when humans with great power lorded over others.
It was no wonder she came to abhor such individuals.
And I also learned how she became so close with Director Lina.
From Lina's perspective, it would have been a waste to let Master go.
An insane talent that overwhelmed villains the moment she picked up a sword.
She must have felt like she'd found a gem rolling around on the street.
After I fell into this world.
Among the characters who didn't have separate backstories in the game, she was the only one I had grown close to, so every story Master told felt new to me.
'As expected, this world isn't just a game.'
I realized anew.
If this truly were just a mobile game, there's no way they would have given such a backstory to a character like Baek Seol-hui, who wouldn't even appear in it.
Anyway.
"Then, your sense of taste too, back then...?"
"Yes. Because of the poison that woman fed me, I haven't been able to taste anything since."
I couldn't help but look at my Master with a sympathetic expression.
To have completely lost one of the five senses that she once possessed.
How could that be a trivial matter?
Every time she ate and consumed food, she must have felt a deep sense of deprivation and loss.
As if she noticed my feelings.
Baek Seol-hui let out a small chuckle.
Unlike her usual stiff demeanor, her expression was much more natural.
"You don't need to worry so much. I could feel your sincerity in caring for me very well."
"..."
*Stroke, stroke—*
Baek Seol-hui reached out and stroked my bangs.
"It's true. After eating the dish you made for me, I feel much warmer and lighter than before. This must be because you cooked it with such care, thinking of me."
My Master tried to comfort me, saying it was fine.
But how could I feel at ease with just that?
'Is there no way to restore Master's sense of taste?'
What if I made extremely stimulating dishes and kept having her eat them?
I have a knack for experimental cooking, and I also know many ingredients that exist in this world.
'Rejected.'
I shook my head internally.
If it could have been solved by something like that, Director Lina would have already taken care of it.
Something more was needed in addition to that.
Something that could restore a lost sense…
'Ah? Restore a lost sense?'
Something flashed through my mind at that moment.
It wasn't certain yet.
But it was definitely worth a try.
"Master."
"Hmm?"
"I will definitely cure you, Master."
"No, you don't need to do that. I've lived like this for so long that there's nothing particularly inconvenient anymore."
"No. I absolutely must have you eat my cooking and hear you say it's delicious."
As I spoke to her seriously, Master let out a shallow sigh.
"It seems I've said something unnecessary..."
Master shook her head, as if she didn't want to talk about this anymore.
Well, I was just making a resolution for now, and I had no intention of persisting, so I changed the subject.
"Oh, but I have a question. What about your parents...?"
"Hmm, they're both alive and well. It's been over five years since I last saw them, but... given the nature of my work, there are more than a few who hold grudges against me."
"Ah..."
It seemed the more I talked, the more I stepped on landmines.
"My apologies. The reason I suddenly brought up this story today is because, coming to Jeju Island so suddenly, I couldn't help but think of it..."
The look in Master's eyes, as she said that, held a hint of wistfulness.
Seeing that, I suddenly realized.
'Couldn't help but think of it...?'
"So, was your hometown Jeju Island, Master? And your parents are here too?"
Master's eyes widened in surprise, then she let out a chuckle and pointed at me.
"Now there's one more person who knows my weakness. Director Lina and you. Just the two of you."
"Ah...?"
"Yes, that's right. This is my hometown. And my parents run an accommodation business here, on Jeju Island."
Then, Master expressed her gratitude to me.
She said that because she had consciously kept her distance, she hadn't known Jeju Island was in such a dangerous situation. She thanked me again, saying I had prevented that from happening.
Well, honestly, Master's family probably wouldn't have been in real danger. There's no way Lina wouldn't have taken any precautions for Master's family.
However, what concerned me was something else.
Namely, the fact that Master hadn't seen her parents in five years.
"Master. I have a request."
"Hmm. What is it? Tell me."
"Let's go tomorrow."
"Where...?"
"You said it's been over five years since you last saw them. So, let's at least go see them."
Master's eyes widened, as if she had heard something unimaginable.
"Wait. Don't you have something you need to do here?"
"Thanks to you, Master, I think I can finish everything by tomorrow afternoon. And anyway, the deadline for the request was three days. So, from tomorrow until the day after, let's just rest there for a day."
"Ah, no, I..."
Seeing her hesitate, I urged her again.
"Let's go together. Hearing that they're well is different from seeing them in person, isn't it?"
I knew what Master was worried about.
She was infamous among demons as the 'Slaughtering Madwoman' of the Demon Slayer Squad.
She wouldn't want to give them a pretext to discover her weakness.
"I know what you're worried about. But, I insisted on coming to Jeju Island in the first place. And you said your parents run an accommodation business, right? If the place we stay happens to be there, no one would suspect the instructor's relationship with her parents, would they?"
At my words, Baek Seol-hui wore a flustered expression she'd never shown before.
***
And so, the next day dawned.
The gate subjugation began again.
*Whish—*
*Whish—*
*Swoosh—*
Jin Yu-ha wielded his sword as if possessed.
In contrast, Baek Seol-hui's sword was slower than the day before.
But it perfectly balanced Jin Yu-ha's increased speed, maintaining the dungeon subjugation pace at roughly the same as the previous day.
*Swish—*
I wiped away the sweat running down my face and shook the blood from my sword.
"Phew, this is the last one."
"..."
Master had initially agreed to my stubbornness, but her face still looked troubled.
'No matter what, living apart for so long without even seeing their faces doesn't make sense.'
I had been an orphan even before I fell into this world.
And since I was an orphan here too, I honestly didn't really know what kind of warm bond existed between family members.
But I knew well that they were precious people who formed the very foundation of Master's being.
Because I had such people too.
The Utopia party members, and beings like my Master.
If I had to be separated from them for five years... honestly, I think it would be agonizing.
"So, now that we're done, shall we go?"
I knew Master was troubled, but I pretended not to know and spoke.
***
Seolhwa Garden
It was an accommodation business on Jeju Island with a fairly good reputation, catering to hunters who emerged from dungeon raids.
At Seolhwa Garden, groups of hunters had gathered and were raising their voices.
"No, ma'am! We said we're not staying here! Some weirdos cleared out all the dungeons, so we're just canceling!"
"If, if you're canceling on the same day... there's a 30% cancellation fee..."
"No! I don't care about cancellation fees or anything! We said we're not staying here, so why are you asking for money? Are you really going to run your business like this?"
"W-well..."
"Honestly. Treating hunters like this and then running a hunter accommodation business? Jeju Island is peaceful now thanks to whom—!!"
The owner of Seolhwa Garden,
Baek Seon-hui bit her lip firmly.
Of course, she hadn't forgotten her gratitude towards the hunters.
In fact, after the Gate incident occurred, Jeju Island, being an island, was completely cut off from public safety, becoming a lawless zone where villains ran rampant.
The fact that this place was now as peaceful as it was, was only possible because various hunters, including Director Lina, never gave up and worked tirelessly day and night.
And how could she hate hunters?
Though she couldn't even speak properly about it to anyone.
Though she was always anxious because her daughter did such dangerous work.
Her own proud daughter, Baek Seol-hui, was a hunter.
That child was never a vessel that she and her husband could contain.
That's why she entrusted Baek Seol-hui to Lina.
And she and her husband, wanting to provide even a little help to the hunters who worked with Seol-hui,
Opened a guesthouse that offered preferential treatment and affordable lodging to hunters.
They had done so without regret until now.
However, every time something like this happened, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of doubt.
Because the world wasn't only filled with excellent hunters like Director Lina.
Rather, there were many who demanded even more preferential treatment simply because they had been granted power.
That's why it was common sense for Awakened individuals who were formerly hunters to run businesses like this.
Because when troublesome customers like these showed up, if the owner was a former hunter, they would at least think twice.
But for Baek Seon-hui, a powerless civilian, resistance or defiance was not easy.
"Alright. I'll make it free—"
It was just as she bowed her head, about to appease those hunters.
"Wow—. So these are the troublesome hunters I've only heard about?"
A man's voice cut in from the side.
It sounded quite young.
"Who the hell are you, you little—! Huh?"
As he lifted his head.
Baek Seon-hui's eyes widened.
There stood a man with black hair, unrealistically handsome.
A Hunter whom no one in Korea could claim not to know.
"Me? I'm the one who just cleared out all the dungeons you guys were talking about."
It was Jin Yu-ha.
"..."
And behind him, the one she had missed so much,
Her own daughter.
Baek Seol-hui stood there with a terrifying expression.