Chapter 504 – The Master

Dreams, hopes, all relinquished…the breath he had drawn by my side.

“……”

Did the afterlife truly exist? Even if I relent my shoulders and wait, my body feels unbearably heavy.

The surroundings are shrouded in darkness, and my body is cold. Could it be the pitiful souls I extinguished who have come to claim me?

– Thud.

From the impenetrable darkness, the past lightly brushes by. The figure standing before me, his back turned, is the silhouette I’ve yearned for more than anything in the world. His presence is comforting and steadfast; I yearn to grasp his robust hand at once… but he remains forever out of reach, no matter how desperately I strain. His face is indistinct, his memories and actions elusive, yet the emotions he stirred within me were unmistakably tender.

Si-heon.

I dreamt for the first time in a long while.

Oddly enough, the man I used to revere bore an uncanny resemblance to you, although the ending was less than fortuitous.

‘…Astonishing.’

Awakening from the dream, it becomes laughable who it was I revered for all those long years. Just who was it I was attempting to protect my connection with?

– My Master.

– Master, please wait.

If you were to hear this dream, you might be quite startled or even enraged. Perhaps you’d scoff, questioning why it even matters. Why would you be curious about the past of this disgraceful master? Nonetheless, your heart is warm, and I believe you would embrace me, leaving behind the disciple you cherished most and asking if I still dwell on the past.

Si-heon.

All I was left with was an abundance of emptiness.

‘I apologize for failing to keep my promise.’

I implore you not to cling to my memory in death. Build a happy home with those who cherish you, and set aside any thoughts of me.

– Master, I have come again today.

Don’t dwell on this gravesite, but move further away, where no one can harm you, where your kind heart will never bear another bruise.

– Master.

– When you awaken, Master, it will all be over. Please, wait.

Yet, foolishly, you persist in seeking me out. Your voice, heard repeatedly, is so deeply missed…. It seems inevitable that my lingering affection will only deepen.

‘Cowardly.’

I never anticipated that the past’s regrets would be enshrouded in you. It was a scenario I hadn’t even dared to imagine. Somehow, it started to seem increasingly significant.

If, as you say… If I were to awaken…

– Flash.

Then, once again, I would desire to share a drink with you as a priest.

“Finally, you have awakened.”

Ha.

“…What a peculiar miracle.”

The dream I had just dreamed still flickers before my eyes.

The affair concluded with astonishing swiftness.
Upon awakening, I had expected to find myself in that same one-room apartment.

【 Quite the sight. 】

Why are you here?
Seated upon his throne in a pristine chamber, the King’s favorite gazed down at me.

“…….”

I spread my hands, reliving the sensations of moments before.
No residual blood, no viscera, no remnants of tears were left on my palms.

It was all a fleeting dream.

-I love you.

Cheondo’s voice, still lingering in the air, felt so real no matter how many times I replayed it.
Because of that… it seemed unlikely I would forget it easily.

“Your Highness.”

All thanks to you.

【 Accept the trial, Lee Si-heon. Bow your head, beg me. If you do… I will grant you the power of the crown to overcome the tribulation. 】

Ignoring the prince’s words, I rose from my spot and began to ascend the immaculate staircase.
The one who had been affecting the atmosphere, now flustered, swiftly untwisted his legs and abruptly stood from his throne.

【 Aren’t you supposed to kneel? 】
“…….”
【 Halt! 】

A translucent wall erected itself before the stairs.
When I reached out to feel it, it was thin but impressively sturdy.

【 I reside at the top of this tower. You can touch me, but you cannot kill me. And I offer you the key to overcoming the tribulation. Do you desire to fail? 】
“…….”
【 I don’t particularly care if you die. I just need to meet the next king. Or my mother – 】
“…….”
【 Lee, respond!! 】

A shriek! The prince was screaming.
His thoughts and appearance were so immature that I couldn’t even muster a smirk.

Well, it’s possible.
Honestly, it wasn’t much of a blow.
Now, no matter what is thrown at me, I remain unperturbed.

-Ah!

I infused my hand with magic and shattered the thin barrier.

-Crash!

With a surge of strength, the barrier fragmented, its pieces disappearing as they hit the floor, just like a collapsing glass window.
The startled prince, caught off-guard, slumped back onto the throne.

“Jaemin.”
【 Hiccup. 】

Approaching him closely, I stretched out my hand and grasped the prince’s shoulder.

“How should I punish you?”

I needed something to alleviate my sour mood.
I swept the prince up in my arms and took a seat on the throne. There was nothing around us, making my actions unimpeded.

【 P-punishment?! Surely not… that again? 】

Exactly that.
With a swift motion, I pulled down both his skirt and underwear, the prince letting out a horrified scream.

I gave his smooth buttocks a couple of taps.
It was somewhat soothing.

【 No!! 】
“If you didn’t want this, you shouldn’t have messed about.”
【 It wasn’t me… it was the tower. Aaaahhh! 】

-Slap!

A soft cheek.

“About this dream. If I had dreamt this three years ago, I would have frothed at the mouth trying to find a way to kill you.”
【 It hurts! It really hurts! 】

-Smack!

“You ought to count yourself lucky,” I began.

【 No, no!! I despise you, Lee Si-heon!! 】

-Slap!!

【 Aaah!! 】

The behind of the creature—in Korean, an ‘inja’, meaning helper or servant—had turned a bright red, even a tad swollen, and it wailed pitifully. To verify whether the creature which had irked my nerves had any intention of emerging, I struck it again.

-Slap!!

This one was out of pure spite.

-Smack!

“It’s a real pity that I need you to exert the power of the king.”

The inja couldn’t even respond to my words, whimpering instead.

It had been some time since I’d resorted to such brute force. As I had said earlier, this inja should consider this a stroke of good fortune. It frequently intrudes on my consciousness, often causing trouble while involving my child or my people.

【 You, you… you. I will never surrender power to you…. Aaah! 】

-Smack!!

That one went in a bit harder than intended. The inja bit and smacked my thigh, but powerless as it was, it couldn’t do anything of consequence.

“You are nothing but a catalyst.”

The inja was necessary in order for me to receive and wield power from the crown, thereby adjusting its output. Thus, the inja was simply a conduit for magic and strength.

It listened only when disciplined.

【 Sob… hiccup. 】

The inja started to fade. It appeared as though it had indeed been briefly dispatched from the upper floors.

A key to overcome the trials? There was no need for such a thing.

【 I will never return to you… sob. 】

One last strike before it disappeared.

-Whack!

【 Aaaaah! 】

The inja retreated, weeping.

‘However.’

Observing the inja fleeing in tears, I found myself questioning the intentions of the tower.

Expressing regret while disciplining it. Was it my imagination, or could I see a hidden agenda?

‘Are you being ill-treated there too?’

It was pointless to worry about it, but if my suspicions were correct, I did feel a bit sorry for it. The inja was so naive, an easy target for manipulation.

My vision blurred, as if I was slowly awakening from sleep. I sat on the throne and momentarily closed my eyes.

-Flash.

‘…Wait.’

The power of the crown, connected to me, could be felt from the highest level. I was able to sense that power because the crown and I were bound by a contract.

For a fleeting moment, I felt a sense of disconnection.

‘Crown.’

The power of another crown was emanating from the top of the tower.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

This time, I had truly returned to the real world. As I opened my eyes to the heavy sensation in my stomach, Ebony, who was perched on my body, froze, her hand trembling.

“Is that you, Ebony?”

She had her hand in my lap, fumbling with something.

Upon awakening, I clasped Ebony’s hand, discovering something clenched within her grasp.

“…Huh?”

Ebony, with a sheepish expression, slowly detached herself from me. Her hand was plastered with a multitude of master stickers.

“You, how dare you!”

I sprang up, cradling my hungry belly, and gave Ebony a light tap on the forehead. I had assumed her to be honest and straightforward, not the type to sneak around. But here she was, like a quiet cat climbing onto the hearth, quietly misbehaving behind my back.

“And to think, how much I trusted you.”

My Ebony, who was as precious to me as the heavens themselves!

“….”

As I teased her like I usually do, her response felt somewhat lackluster. Ebony pressed her lips shut, her eyes, swirling with emotions, darted back and forth.

Come to think of it, she was always the quiet one. In my dreams, she was quite the chatterbox, playful and vibrant. I found myself missing those moments.

“Your hand.”

Upon my request, Ebony extended her hand towards me. Accepting the crumpled sheet of stickers from her, I roughly estimated the count.

This girl, she had pilfered five stickers. While others accumulated them one by one through good deeds, here she was, getting a boost all on her own.

“Why did you do it?”
“…”
“Answer me, and I’ll give you a grape.”
“…I wanted to learn more, faster.”
“Why?”

I took a seat and lent an ear to Ebony’s story. It seemed that during her time in the dream, she had thought of an old friend. The intensity of her longing had led her to this act.

“Speaking of, you were quite talkative in your dreams. So why not with me?”
“…I had nothing to say.”
“Two stickers.”
“It’s too difficult… You call it a master-disciple relationship, but I don’t understand it.”

With two stickers, one can hear the untold stories of others. The master-disciple sticker system seemed to be working well.

I chuckled lightly, patting Ebony on the head.

“But you’ve spoken quite a bit more than last time.”
“…”

Surprised by my words, Ebony nodded in agreement. She hadn’t realized she could communicate so much.

“Let’s leave the term ‘mister’ behind. Can I call you ‘brother’ instead?”
“…Mister.”

Ebony blinked at my teasing suggestion. I laughed and continued the conversation with renewed enthusiasm.

“Is ‘brother’ too much? But you know, considering my age—”

Suddenly, Ebony reached out and wiped my eyes with her sleeve.

“Tears. They’re falling.”
“…”
“Why, are you crying?”

It seemed that my body had responded to something while I was in the dream. I froze momentarily, then regained my composure, and smirked.

“I don’t know.”

It wasn’t like I was particularly sad. Perhaps it was my body responding before my mind could catch up. I sighed, roughly ruffling Ebony’s hair.

Upon her small face, traces of recent tears were still visible.

It seems we’re the same after all.

“Ebony.”
“Yes?”

“I don’t know if you’ll end up in the same predicament, but don’t flounder and procrastinate like I did.”
“Yes.”

Ebony nodded in comprehension of my words.
I gave her a pat on the back and rose from my seat.

Rising after such a long time made my head spin, but I was still able to move adequately.

“What about food? What’s your plan?”
“Ah, Master.”
“Hmm?”
“This.”

Ebony, with her eyes wide and blinking, extended towards me a meal ticket that had been crumpled in her pocket for days.
It wasn’t one of mine… .

“Did you work while I was unconscious?”

Ebony’s head bobbed up and down in affirmation.

Ah, commendable.
As I reached out to stroke her hair, I reflected on the words Ebony had just spoken.

“But, what did you just call me?”
“Ah. That, Master….”

At my remark, Ebony stiffened slightly.

“Is it too much?”

Could it be?

“Come here, let’s embrace.”
“Eek! You, sir….”
“What?”
“Ah, um, Master.”
“Good girl.”

I lavished her cheek with kisses.
I decided to leave the five ‘Master’ stickers that Ebony had sneakily collected as they were, a token of her gift.
She was indeed sly, like a fox in disguise.