novelraw Chapter 485: Little by Little
Chapter 485: Little by Little
As the two men entered the inn, the innkeeper and his wife welcomed them warmly.
"Oh my! You came with the handsome young man again? The atmosphere was so frosty last time that I thought you two would never speak again. I'm glad to see you've reconciled."
"Don't say useless things to the customers. Just show them to their seats... OWW!"
SMACK!
The husband let out a yelp as his wife's sturdy palm thwacked his back. Without another word, he guided the pair to an empty seat. Since it was late, the restaurant was nearly empty.
Lowering his voice, the man glanced at his wife. "My wife has never been told that her cooking is lacking before. You don't know how upset she was when you left without taking a single bite last time. She said she's going to show you what she's made of today no matter what you order, so she'll definitely dish out her best."
Baek Suryong chuckled at the innkeeper's good-natured brazenness. "I see. We'll make sure to order plenty of dishes today."
"The big guy paid for everything last time. Are you buying today?"
"...Ahem." Baek Suryong cleared his throat in embarrassment at the unexpected remark.
Come to think of it, he had unintentionally made Number Four foot the bill last time. Since Baek Muheun had shown up, he had left in such a hurry that it hadn't occurred to him that he hadn't paid.He looked at Number Four sheepishly. "I'll settle the bill today. Order whatever you want."
"......" Number Four merely stared intently at Baek Suryong's face.
The tension was so thick that the husband couldn't help but break the silence. "Young man, did you eat all the meatbuns we packed for you this morning?"
Number Four silently nodded, and a satisfied smile formed on the innkeeper's lips. Saying that he understood Baek Suryong's order to bring the best items on the menu, he hurried into the kitchen.
Does Number Four like meatbuns?
Baek Suryong suddenly realized that he had no idea what kinds of food his former trainees liked.
So Number Four likes meatbuns.
He committed that fact to memory, thinking that he should include meatbuns in the snack bundle he prepared for Number Four next time.
Glancing toward the kitchen, he shouted, "Innkeeper! Could you serve us some wine for starters?"
A moment later, a bottle of alcohol and two cupes were placed on the empty table.
GLUG GLUG...
Baek Suryong's crimson Blood Demon Eyes glinted harshly.
Baek Suryong filled his and Number Four's cups. Number Four didn't touch the wine, but he didn't press the matter, understanding the reason for it.
FWOOSH!
The ground shook with the impact.
He created a qi sound barrier around them, then surveyed the inside of the inn.
"Is this where you've been staying?"
He had naturally assumed that Number Four would find proper lodging elsewhere rather than stay in an inn indefinitely.
"......" Number Four remained silent, much as he had the whole way here. He seemed deeply lost in his own thoughts, to the point of looking somewhat dazed.
SLIDE...
Finally, he took a notepad out of his chest pocket and pushed it to Baek Suryong.
Why did you waste your time on such an untalented martial artist?
He still hadn't received an answer to the question he asked before.
"Since many people come and go here, I think it would be better to talk in a quiet place."
His old instructor had postponed his answer like that, so he had brought the man back here.
Only a few days had passed, yet the instructor and trainee were once again seated facing each other with wine cups in front of them.
THUD!
Number Four slapped his palm on the table, signaling that since they had come to a quiet place as Baek Suryong wished, he should give his answer without further delay.
"An untalented martial artist, you say?" Baek Suryong muttered bitterly as he reread the sentence written on the notepad. Looking back up at Number Four, he asked, "Since when have you been watching?"
Even for him, it wasn't easy to sense Number Four's presence, as his energy was perfectly concealed. He had only guessed that Number Four was watching from afar, but he didn't know exactly when the surveillance started.
When I went to the academy, you were walking around with a girl.
For Number Four, who was mute, the style of his handwriting matched the tone of speech he would have used. Compared to the first day, his handwriting had become much rougher, indicating that he was agitated.
Baek Suryong replied, "Ah, you saw Tang Soso too, huh."
"......"
Why aren't they scared of him? My old instructor was the most outstanding martial arts instructor in the Blood Cult.
Countless Blood Cult masters were born under his old instructor's guidance, and among those masters, the four of them apostles were praised as the most perfect. The Demonic Strategist had even evaluated them as Instructor Number 27's greatest masterpieces. While he never felt pride in that fact, that didn't mean he could understand why his old instructor was being so lenient now.
"...Instructor, what happens if we give up?"
"The Cult has plenty of replacements for you. You'll be abandoned and left to die... discarded like worthless trash."
Number Four remembered the conversation between Number One and his old instructor from a long time ago. Even now, the vivid memory of the menacing eyes looking down on them as they lay collapsed and bleeding profusely haunted him.
"If you don't want to be disposed of after being deemed useless, then struggle as if your lives depend on it."
He had told them that back then, even though he could have shown them the technique repeatedly until they fully understood it, so that they wouldn't be discarded. Just like he had done with the senior student moments ago.
Why are you acting like a hypocrite now?
RUMBLE...!
Violent vibrations began spreading in all directions, centered on Number Four. His expression remained indifferent, but his eyes gleamed like those of a fearsome beast as he glared at Baek Suryong.
"E-Earthquake!"
"Customers! Please evacuate outside!"
The building began to shake as if it were about to collapse. Screaming, the few customers fled outside.
"Young men! It's dangerous, so get out quickly!"
The innkeeper shouted at them to get out, but the two men locked eyes and ignored the chaos around them.
"...Just leave them and let's go."
Fortunately, the quick-witted wife grabbed her husband's arm and dragged him outside.
"Stop that," Baek Suryong demanded firmly.
The inn, now empty except for the two of them, rattled as if it would collapse at any moment. For now, the aftermath was limited to the immediate vicinity, but if this continued, the Murim Alliance martial artists were likely to swarm here.
SWISH!
The brush moved by itself and wrote words down on the notepad.
Answer me!
Number Four fought to hold back his fury, clenching his fists so tightly that he could only write with telekinesis. He could have turned the area into ruins with a single punch if he wanted to, but he suppressed his mounting feelings because he had to hear his old instructor's answer.
"...You could have just asked me directly." Baek Suryong smiled bitterly and let out a low sigh. "What you really want to know is why I'm being so soft now, even though I taught you guys through abuse and violence, right?"
"......" Number Four gave Baek Suryong a withering look.
Still, Baek Suryong met his gaze. "I've changed a lot after reincarnating. Little by little, slowly, ever since I came to the Azure Dragon Academy."
He began to tell his old student about all the events that had transpired since the instructors' exam.
About the bewildered stares he received from the students the day he confidently declared that he would lead the Azure Dragon Academy to victory at the Heavenly Martial Festival.
About his fellow instructors and how he became friends with the bad-tempered Star Instructor of the Azure Dragon Academy, who reminded him of his past self.
About all the big and small incidents that occurred during his classes and the things he learned from his students.
About today, when he learned about the Student Council from Tang Soso and observed Mok Hyungwoo's intense training.
He talked about the incredible journeys he had gone on and every new experience he had encountered.
Standing up from his seat, he took something out of his chest pocket and placed it on the table.
"It happened little by little, but I think they made me change."
"......"
"And, the day the tip of this sword touched your heart..."
Baek Suryong unfastened the Divine Azure Dragon Sword from his waist and placed it on the table, then rubbed the scar on his chest awkwardly. To be precise, it was the day the sword had skewered through his body and reached Number Four's heart.
Taking a deep breath, he continued, "...You weren't the only person stabbed by the sword. Isn't that enough experience for a person to change?"
"......"
RUMBLE...
The earthquake slowly subsided as Number Four relaxed his tightly clenched fists. His eyes, which had looked like those of a beast, slowly returned to normal.
[Phew! I don't think he'll attack,] the Divine Azure Dragon Sword sighed in relief.
Baek Suryong answered inwardly, [I expected something like this might happen.]
Number Four was like a child discovering emotions for the first time. Although he was actually an old man, his heart and mind had been suppressed for a long time by a vicious combination of the Blood Cult's surgical techniques, brainwashing, and the Blood Demon's sorcery.
His body has grown, but he's still a child mentally and emotionally. I'm sure he's really confused right now.
Baek Suryong knew that all too well. Up until recently, he wasn't much different from Number Four.
"Ah, your cup is empty. I'll refill it," he muttered, noticing that the wine in the cups had spilled from the tremors.
Number Four didn't drink this time, either. He simply stared blankly at the cup.
Baek Suryong rambled on, "Previously, you said you hated me."
"......"
"That's good. You should hate me more. You should feel free to get angry, throw things, and attack me until you've worked through your frustration. You have the right to do that."
Number Four lifted his head and stared at Baek Suryong, as if to ask if he really could do that.
Baek Suryong downed his wine and chuckled. "Well, don't expect me to go down without a fight, though."
Standing up from his seat, he took something out of his chest pocket and placed it on the table. It was a jade plaque carved in the shape of a coiled blue dragon, his personal Azure Dragon Emblem.
"If you have this, you'll be able to enter the Azure Dragon Academy whenever you want."
"......" Number Four was puzzled. He could sneak into the Azure Dragon Academy anytime he wanted, so he didn't really need an item like this, yet Baek Suryong nonetheless handed over his Azure Dragon Emblem.
Why is he doing this? Is this an attempt at reconciliation?
For a long time, the teacher, who felt he had no right to ask for forgiveness, and the student, who was not accustomed to expressing his feelings, stood and stared at each other.
"Let's meet again next time," Baek Suryong finally said, walking outside to find the innkeeper couple. He paid them a huge sum of money, enough to rebuild the shop with some left over, and requested that they take good care of the young man inside.
While doing so, he added one more request.
"If there are any meatbuns left, could you please pack some for me?"
He wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Yes? Ah, wait just a moment! I'll bring you whatever's left!"
Long after his old instructor had left, Number Four sat staring blankly at the alcohol cup placed in front of him. Suddenly, as if a thought had occurred to him, he reached out and emptied the cup in one gulp.
He furrowed his brow. He rarely touched alcohol, but this wine was extremely bitter and dry. Even among the few liquors he had tasted, this was the poorest quality one by far.
And yet, for some inexplicable reason, he wanted to drink more.
GLUG GLUG...
The echo of footsteps faded into the distance.
Number Four repeatedly filled and emptied the cup as he fingered the Azure Dragon Emblem his old instructor had left behind.