Nonexistent Disciple

Yuri placed his hand on Asha's head.

"You asked why I saved you, didn't you?"

"…Yes."

Asha was trembling.

"That's because…"

Because you're someone worth saving.

Just before Yuri could answer, Asha's pale lips parted.

"…My family, my clan, and everyone who cared for me are all dead. No one will save me anymore. So I don't even ask to be saved."

"Asha."

"I'm someone who shouldn't hope for salvation. My wishes only ever bring misfortune to those around me. So you too—"

"Asha!"

Yuri cut her off.

He wiped his bloodstained hands on his black robe and pulled her into an embrace.

"It's not your fault."

"…"

"Your family, your clan, the people who cared for you—their misfortunes weren't because of you."

*Sniff.*

Asha lifted her head. The lifeless blackness in her eyes began to fade, replaced by vitality.

"…Really?"

"Yes."

"…It's really not my fault?"

"Yes, Asha. It's not your fault."

Asha finally burst into tears.

"It's okay."

"…What should I do now?"

Asha Rita.

At this moment, she was only eleven years old.

In her previous life, Asha had lost her family to the Demon God's Cultists and had been utterly broken by them before she met Yuri again.

-Sometimes, I feel regretful.

-About what?

-If only I had met the Captain earlier, if only I had encountered you on that day when all my misfortunes began at the age of eleven, what would have happened?

Yuri responded like this at the time.

-Both you and I would have been better off than we are now.

Through a deeper conversation, they pinpointed a specific date.

The day before he met the Young Lady.

That moment was now.

Yuri lifted his head.

"Asha Rita."

Though his back was to the moonlight, leaving only a shadow, his expression shone dazzlingly bright.

"From now on, I will protect you."

He was moonlight.

A presence that quietly cast light over a life that had been filled with nothing but darkness for so long.

Asha cried for a long time. She cried until she was so exhausted that she was on the verge of fainting.

Just before she lost consciousness.

Asha gently touched Yuri's cheek.

"Me too."

"Hm?"

"I'll protect you too."

Leaving those words behind, she fainted. Yuri held onto Asha's small hand.

"I'll be counting on you again this time."

It was the moment when a past life connection was rekindled.

***

Step, step, step.

I carried the collapsed and tear-stricken Asha on my back, walking toward the predetermined destination.

After walking for quite a while, I arrived at the front gate of a massive mansion.

The wall, long overdue for repairs, had cracks here and there, and overgrown plants filled those gaps.

"I knew it would be like this."

Tap.

I lightly leapt over the wall. The interior wasn't much different from the exterior.

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

Stepping over dried and withered plants, I walked toward the enormous floor-to-ceiling window.

Creak.

Without much effort, the window opened.

Just as I was about to set the sleeping Asha down in a suitable spot and break the window.

"Quite the rude guest, aren't you?"

A deep voice came from the middle of the chaotic garden right behind me.

"While I'm still speaking kindly, just leave."

It was a very polite suggestion. If judged by the voice alone, it truly sounded that way.

But contrary to the composed tone, there was an aura of extreme vigilance.

"There's a child here too."

"And you're no different, are you?"

"Tsk, that's not working."

After moving Asha to a slightly safer spot, I raised both hands.

"Could you ease up on the killing intent?"

"Stop the chatter and state the reason for your visit."

It was an insight born of experience. I had no choice but to get straight to the point.

"Please take care of this child."

"…That child?"

He was referring to Asha.

I nodded and added.

"For about three years."

"What?"

"I'm asking you to take her as your disciple."

The killing intent was so intense it made my entire body tingle.

My heart began to pound wildly, as if I were face-to-face with a beast at close range.

"…I don't know."

Creak.

As if making a decision, he stopped his rocking chair and stood up.

"Why should I?"

The bluish dawn light bathed the entire figure of the sturdy old gentleman.

His expression was deeply grim, yet every external detail about him was impeccably neat.

Seriously, this old man.

He's as troublesome now as he was back then.

As the silence stretched on, the killing intent grew even thicker.

"Your answer?"

Now, I had to say something, anything.

I spoke the answer I had prepared in advance.

"Because it's a request from your disciple."

"Ridiculous. I've never had a disciple."

"That can't be true."

Tap.

I kicked up a tree branch at my feet and held it to my waist as if it were a sword.

"I'm your first disciple."

"Nonsense."

"It's not nonsense."

He rubbed his temples as if frustrated.

"You're impossible to talk to."

"Am I?"

"Do you even know who I am?"

Suddenly, an old memory surfaced. The Young Lady had once said this.

-Yuri, if you ever find yourself in a situation where words don't work, just throw a punch first.

-…Please don't say things like that as if they're wise sayings.

-Hehe.

Back then, I had responded curtly, but as I lived on, I realized the Young Lady was right.

When words fail, force is the answer.

I spoke the old gentleman's name.

"Ian Estevan."

"Huh?"

He was startled.

But that wasn't my concern.

"Clench your teeth."

If he didn't believe me, I would just have to show him.

"I'll make you believe."

A half-hearted attack wouldn't do. I quietly summoned all my strength.

"Impressive momentum. Well, since you've gone so far as to claim to be a nonexistent disciple, you'd better show me something of that caliber."

Ian crossed his arms and smirked at me with a slanted gaze.

"But with just that much—"

Rumble!!

The sound of the mansion and its surroundings trembling cut Ian's words short.

"That… level of power."

Crrrk!

Gripping the aura-enhanced tree branch tightly, I stepped forward with my right foot.

"W-Wait!"

For a moment, Ian's brow furrowed.

"That swordsmanship—"

I interrupted Ian's words with a swift motion of my hand.

"Iai."

With all the strength I could muster at this moment.

Bang!

It was a clean strike.

"Guh…!"

Ian, caught off guard, staggered backward while clutching the spot where he had been hit.

"Such insolence—no sense of rank or decorum…!"

I shrugged as I looked at him.

"See? You should've believed me when I said it."