Episode 4 – My Master

I still can’t forget the moment Master passed away. When I was young, immature and stupid.

Believing that he was a friend and disguised as an enemy, he fought with Master who told him to be wary of that friend.

“How many times have I said that bitch has a bad feeling! Don’t get close!”

“What kind of a master is he swearing at my friend! Stupid master, I hope he dies with his head broken!”

I said that and ran out of the house. It wasn’t once or twice that I wanted to rip out my mouth in the past for uttering such words.

“How are you?”

“To abandon even the teacher and come back like this… It’s stupid.”

The friend I found after a long runaway betrayed me. When the shadow of death covered my body, I was about to give up everything. Regretful for ignoring Master’s words.

“Tsk… He’s a guy who needs a lot of hands…”

“Light, be my shield.”

Master suddenly appeared and withdrew the shadow of death from me.

However, the trap created to kill me was too elaborate, and Master was not free from the effects of the trap.

Master had dealt with all the enemies, but he was tired, so he allowed the surprise attack.

Master, who was bleeding from his forehead and was dying, stroked my hair until the end.

“Why are you crying… Stupid disciple… You’re a bad teacher who always pampers and bullies you.”

What do you mean, you always stayed by my side… always saved me… and filled my parents’ empty seat. Why don’t you rebuke me? Rather, please curse at me saying that this happened because of you.

“Ah… Master… don’t tell me… hurry up and get a cure…!”

“It’s okay. You’ve been hurt a lot too, so don’t waste your magic…”

“Please don’t tell me! I’ll drive you to the clinic!”

I carried Master. His body, which exuded energy like the sun, trembled. The warm body was getting cold.

“It seems I ate the wrong thing, Airi…”

“Wrong! Wrong! Please don’t leave me alone!”

Tears came out of their own accord. it’s my fault it’s my fault I was so pathetic to myself as an idiot. I couldn’t allow Master to die just for me.

“Iri…you’ve grown a lot…”

“Master, please…”

Those words seemed to signal the end, so I didn’t want to hear them anymore. I couldn’t accept the fact that Master’s voice, which had always been powerful, was trembling weakly.

“You’re a good kid… Go visit your parents now… My older brother will definitely love you…”

“Please Master, please…”

“Become a great adult different from me… Airi, I always loved you…”

With those words, Master’s breath stopped. Because of my foolish behavior, because of my immaturity, Master passed away.

Because of me. All these results are made by me. It was as if someone whispered that it was all my mistake. Even if I wanted to deny it, I couldn’t deny it.

“You’re kidding, Master…? You’re kidding, aren’t you…?”

I continued to ask Master, who had stopped breathing. But Master gave no answer.

“You’re upset, right? A cute disciple will beg you like this, so please answer me…”

Master’s body was cold. I just cried endlessly for a long time until I passed out.

[I hope the stupid master dies with a broken head!]

He kept slapping my lips as I spit out those words. Master’s forehead was broken and passed away.

For a while, I didn’t even want to speak, so I didn’t speak. My father, who had been searching for such a long time, was indifferent to me.

“Are you here? I’m sure I entrusted you to Werner, but where is he?”

However, his father’s pupils were shaken when he heard the teacher’s death.

“Werner… no, our youngest… is dead…?”

My father did not believe in Master’s death. And all of Master’s colleagues who heard of this hated me.

“You let our youngest brother die and you carry around such a mug. No matter how much you say you are the boss’s daughter, I will not acknowledge you.”

“Get out of here. Are you going to disturb us after being like a burden to poor Werner until the end?”

“…Get out of the way. Who are you planning to kill after Werner?”

“My daughter must be sad… I won’t hold you accountable, but you’re uncomfortable. Let’s not face each other outside of our duties.”

“To think our youngest died like that…”

In this way, they mourned Master’s death or blamed me. There were also people who were grieved by Master’s death and attacked me. My father stopped everything, but even my father didn’t look at me very well.

“…I’m only sorry for the youngest. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

In the end, I had to work twice as hard to be recognized by everyone. Then, little by little, everyone acknowledged me.

But still, the empty space in my heart was not filled. Without Master, every sound was like noise, every creature was like a pest, and every smell was like a stench.

After all the wars, I was given a palace-like house. I was able to live with both my father and mother.

But still, I missed the old house where I lived with Master. I missed the piece of rye bread I shared with Master more than my mother’s cooking. I missed Master’s arms more than my parents’ arms.

Then one day, I read the story of a man who turned back time in a magic book. Normally, it was an absurd story to be passed on as a joke, but I needed hope even if it was a lie.

Leaving home and living in seclusion, he studied the magic of turning back time. I skipped meals and didn’t sleep, just immersed myself in my studies.

It has everything you need. However, even if time was turned back, Master’s soul had already left for another world. I don’t know if it’s a normal person’s soul, but Master’s soul is special and has already left for another dimension.

But I wasn’t the type to give in like that. Master was not someone who could just give up on the dimensional wall. If Master had been reincarnated in another world, I just had to call the spirit of the reincarnated body.

“Time… please grant me a second chance.”

My plan worked.

Darkness, like eternity and like an instant, came. As I lifted my eyelids, I began to see the familiar ceiling. An old magic lamp in the wrinkles of an old wooden ceiling. It was a scene in everyday life that I dreamed of every day.

As I was looking at the familiar ceiling, I heard a familiar voice.

“The sun is in the middle of the sky, but what are you doing, you stupid disciple?”

The shock of the familiar honeymoon rang in my head. Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw Master’s face that I missed so much.

“Hey, why are you crying…? You’re not sending a letter to your father…? This is a joke, Airi…”

Ah Master… My one and only Master. This soul belongs to Master. Although the memories are different, the souls have the same essence. In addition, I adjusted my memory about myself and common sense about this world to some extent.

“You hit my cute student’s head… I really hate it.”

I hated you for abandoning me and leaving me. I really hated you for making me a loner.

He hugged Master’s arms tightly.

“Hey, breath! I can’t breathe! He looks like a centipede’s father, so his strength is ignorantly strong…!”

“It’s a bee that hit the cute disciple’s head!”

It’s your punishment for leaving me behind, so please accept it sweetly.

“I’m sorry, what can I do to relieve my anger?”

Please stay by my side forever.

“Then teach me some swordsmanship!”

He had already mastered everything, whether it was swordsmanship or magic. However, the time spent with Master is itself a great reward.

So I had to be a weak and stupid disciple in front of Master. The Adventurer’s Guild’s measuring tool? You can do as much as you want to manipulate junk like that.

“Yeah, okay, okay.”

Master stroked my hair as always. Just the warmth of that hand seemed to compensate for all the hardships so far.

“What are you doing, slow disciple? Aren’t you coming out quickly?”

“Yes, go now!”

I felt like I could fly as I moved in sync with my master.

—–

Late at night, Master had a drink and fell asleep soundly.

You probably won’t wake up no matter what you do. It’s because alcohol has a strong sleep magic attached to it.

As I touched Master’s cheek, which I so desperately wanted to touch, the memory of touching Master’s cold face came to mind.

“Master, I actually made a big mistake with you.”

I kissed Master’s cheek.

“So, I’ll protect you this time.”

I will never let Master die this time.

And please stay by my side. Give Master’s attention only to me. You have to give your heart to me.

i love you my master