Chapter 19: The Master Who Chose to Die

“I’m here, Master.”

The girl responded to Bisus with an expressionless face.

A strange girl in this cabin.

No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like a dream related to Princess Claudia.

Bisus scanned his surroundings, trying to make sense of the dream.

He was dressed like a hunter, and the girl had two small horns protruding from her head.

The small cabin they shared only deepened the mystery.

I can’t figure it out.

Where the hell am I?

“Did you complete the task I gave you?”

“Yes,” the girl answered softly.

Clang

In the next moment, she lunged at him, swinging a dagger.

But Bisus’s body instinctively caught the blade with his hand.

“It’s dangerous to swing weapons indoors, Bel.”

“Tch.”

The girl clicked her tongue and tucked the dagger back into her clothes.

What was that?

Did I see that right?

Isn’t this supposed to be a master-disciple relationship?

“You’ve got a long way to go if you want to kill me.”

“Hmph! Don’t worry, I’ll kill you soon enough!”

What kind of relationship is this?

Bisus was bewildered by the bizarre dynamic between the two.

Slurp

His body picked up a teacup from the table and took a sip.

“Judging by the dagger’s material, you chose well.”

“…You’re not taking it?”

“It’s not for me to use. It’s yours.”

“For me?”

“Yes. You said you wanted to get stronger, didn’t you?”

His body stood from the chair.

“Are you going to teach me how to use a dagger?”

“Exactly.”

“…If you teach me, I’ll use it to kill you.”

The girl glared up at him.

“Hah. Do it if you can. I’m looking forward to it.”

A disciple… who wants to kill her master?

And the master is excited about it?

What is going on here?

Bisus had expected a dream tied to Claudia, but this completely unfamiliar scenario left him utterly confused.

Over the next few months, the owner of Bisus’s body taught the girl how to wield a dagger, survive, and employ techniques for real combat.

Clang

The girl clashed swords with him.

Thud

Bisus’s body kicked her in the stomach, sending her crashing into a tree.

“Urgh!”

“I told you not to fight fair. That’ll get you killed in a real battle.”

Crackle

As the girl struggled to stand and collapsed again, Bisus’s body lit a cigarette and brought it to his mouth.

“Hoo… Killing me is even further out of reach.”

The months passed like a panorama in Bisus’s mind.

Unlike his previous dreams, which were short and ended quickly, this one dragged on.

Why is this dream so long?

While teaching the girl, his body would secretly take medicine and cough up blood whenever she slept.

Even Bisus, who knew nothing of medicine, could tell his body’s life was nearing its end.

Am I watching this until he dies?

While the girl recovered in bed, Bisus’s body left the cabin and headed to a nearby castle.

He slipped into an alley and approached a small, secluded door.

Knock knock

When he knocked, a peephole above the door slid open.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me.”

“What? V, it’s you?”

Creak

“What brings you here this time?” a burly bald man asked, opening the door.

“The medicine’s not working anymore. I need something stronger.”

“Ugh, fine. Come in. She’s waiting.”

Bisus passed through a long corridor into a small room.

The room exuded a mystical aura, filled with strange items: small animal skulls, taxidermied creatures, and vials of monster essence.

“V, you’re here,” greeted a woman with purple hair.

“I’m here for medicine.”

“Yeah, you said that. But didn’t I tell you last time?”

“Not to use magic anymore. That I don’t have much time left.”

“You used magic, didn’t you?”

“…No.”

“Don’t look away! You said you’d stay in the cabin! Why’s your condition this bad?”

“Well…”

“It’s that girl, isn’t it?”

“…”

“I knew it. Hah.”

The purple-haired witch lit a cigarette.

“What’s so special about her? You got that weird disease saving her from that demon-worshipper den!”

“Got a light?”

Bisus’s body rummaged for a cigarette.

“Hey! You trying to die tomorrow?”

“…”

He quietly tucked the cigarette away.

“Haa, seriously! Just leave her be! She should be grateful you saved her at all. Last I saw, she was all about killing you, not thanking you!”

“…What happens to her after I die? With those horns she was born with, the demon-worshippers wanted her as a sacrifice. Without me, some creeps will exploit or harm her.”

“What’s that got to do with you? She’s not even your kid! Why waste your last days on some brat? What, does she remind you of yourself as a kid or something?”

“…”

“Haa.”

“They say sighing too much ages your skin.”

“Shut it! A great witch doesn’t age!”

“For someone who doesn’t age, you’ve got a lot of makeup on…”

Thwack thwack

“I! Said! No!”

The witch smacked his head with her staff.

“Ugh, why am I even helping a guy like you?”

“Anyway, I need medicine. Something to ease these symptoms.”

“What for? Got a fight coming up?”

“…”

“Not telling me, as usual? Fine!”

Argh!

The witch ruffled her hair in frustration, then snapped her fingers.

Click

A small pocket dimension opened before her.

She pulled out a vial of medicine.

“Here.”

Bisus took it.

“This is the strongest medicine I can make. It’ll probably suppress your symptoms completely.”

“Thanks.”

“But that’s it. This is for terminally ill patients with no hope left. Like I said before, if you want to die peacefully, stop using magic. Got it?”

“Got it.”

It doesn’t matter.

As long as it holds for one night.

After thanking the witch, Bisus left her hideout.

“Probably the last time we’ll see each other.”

Tears streamed down the witch’s cheeks as she stood alone.

“…You jerk.”

Gulp

Back at the cabin, Bisus’s body downed the liquid from the vial.

Tonight.

That’s when they’ll come for her.

Reliable information from an old contact.

He pried up the floorboards and retrieved his gear.

Click

It’s been a while since I geared up like this.

Fully prepared, he glanced at the girl sleeping soundly in bed, then stepped outside.

“Silence.”

He placed a hand on the cabin door, casting a simple spell.

Clank clank

Leaning against a tree, Bisus waited for hours until the sound of dozens of knights approached.

“There.”

A blond man at the front called out.

“Are you the owner of this cabin?”

“And if I am?”

“We’re looking for a girl with horns on her head. We know she’s in there. Hand her over, and we’ll spare your life.”

Spare my life, huh?

I’ve never seen anyone who says that actually keep their word.

“What if I refuse?”

Shing

The knights drew their swords.

“If you choose the hard way.”

Hum

Sword aura flared from their blades.

“As expected of the empire’s royal knights. Quite the skilled bunch.”

Sending this much force just for a frail girl, even if she’s got the Demon King’s bloodline?

The emperor’s insane.

“Attack!”

At the lead knight’s command, the knights charged.

Crunch

“Argh!”

“Guh!”

Suddenly, massive spikes erupted from the ground, piercing the knights’ bodies.

“What the…!”

As about ten knights fell, the rest retreated in panic.

“Welcome…”

To my domain.

Thud

Thud

Thud

“Ugh… what’s that?”

The girl rubbed her eyes and woke to the ongoing vibrations.

“…Master?”