Kopi began to wander to Elder White Beard's residence.
His emotions were still boiling, so it was a bit arduous for him to have a clear perception while walking.
In the end, after walking at an anxious pace for five minutes, his emotions somewhat calmed down.
Kopi was finally struck by conscience.
"I'm sorry, Father," he mumbled with a crestfallen expression.
After some time, he resumed his walking and shook his head.
"Forget about that. I must head to Elder White Beard's house and chat with him.
I want to know if he is looking for a successor or what.
But I must act ignorant."
Kopi was determined to get that Divine Rank Gift.
He didn't know when he would encounter such a high-ranking Gift.
Normally, a Divine Rank Gift is a one-in-a-billion Gift. Hence, one could only imagine how rare it was for an existence to possess it.
Kopi even deemed that meeting Elder White Beard was a stroke of luck.
He was resolute to claim it… even if he was to resort to offending such a legendary person.
Of course, there could be a possibility of dying, too.
Therefore, he selected a meticulous approach.
…
An elder with wrinkles on his forehead ceased to furrow his eyebrows.
His snowflake eyes gleamed with azure light.
He gazed on the horizon, where the sun was setting.
Standing before the open windows, fluttering his long, silky, and snowy hair, he sighed as he turned around and began to saunter on a wooden rocking chair.
He leaned his back in a comfortable position, closed his eyes, and moved his body slightly to rock the chair.
He wondered:
'Why is Kopi not here? It's Saturday, so he doesn't have schoolwork.
On a day like this, he always visited to chat with me.
Did something go wrong?'
Elder White Beard couldn't help but be worried about his loving grandchild's situation.
He already treated Kopi as his family member, so if something happened, he would not remain static.
'Should I look for him?'
Soon, when he discerned his mind became free from anxiousness, he shook his head.
'Kopi is not a child anymore. He has ambition and is ready to face the challenge of his convictions.
Now that he must have awakened his Gift, it's time for him to stand up for himself.'
Elder White Beard couldn't restrain the smile forming on his face.
He recalled Kopi's jubilant expression as he trembled in excitement while shouting he had finally received his Gift.
Elder White Beard couldn't be happier than him.
'However, with a high ambition that even a person like me couldn't hold a candle, I wonder what Gift he received for him to be so over the moon.
An idea popped up in his head, dispiriting him.
'Maybe he was only excited that he had finally received his Gift and was now suffering from the reality that his Gift could not satisfy his ambition?'
'After all, that child always hoped to become the strongest-'
He couldn't even hold his guffaw and bursted into laughter when he remembered Kopi when he claimed his desire.
It was really amusing for him since even he, boldly proclaiming the strongest in the world, couldn't show it off against an existence stronger than him.
He had already accepted the fact there was a higher existence than Heaven.
'I'm already old, and even though I have an almost immortal lifespan, this disease will kill me soon.'
Elder White Beard was crestfallen, not at the thought he would die soon, but the fact he couldn't look for a successor to succeed what he had not.
Before the apocalypse, he was already 50 years of age, and through his family's unity, they survived after the calamity…
But they couldn't resist the apocalypse.
In the end, when he desired to die, when the frozen bite was eating his body, his Gift manifested after the thought of freezing the infernal creatures who seared his family.
It was how he came to be and became the hero of the…
He quickly tossed the thought of his past, shaking his head once again.
He sighed for who knows how many times?
He forced himself to smile.
'Really? How optimistic of me to believe if I find a successor, he will accomplish my desire.
It's not like he will not follow his own desire.'
Elder White Beard finally realized and couldn't help but titter.
Disregarding his thoughts, enjoying the rocking of his chair, he opened his eyes abruptly and froze.
He saw him… he didn't expect to see him wandering in his direction.
He ambled with a resolute gaze.
He knew those eyes well.
It was the eyes of the ice that were difficult to break.
Not even the searing heat of hell could melt it.
Not even the hammer of Thor could break it.
He beamed a smile.
He mumbled; his voice was as deep as his wonder.
"Well, well, well. Who would have thought that this child, no, I shouldn't call him a kid anymore, this boy could carry the gaze of someone ready to carry the heaviness of the mountain?
It seems his Gift has not dispirited him."
He smiled and waited patiently for Kopi to arrive.
He sensed him, taking a deep breath as he stopped before his door, causing him to giggle adorably.
If one who knew him well saw him, they would be shocked to the core.
Prior to Kopi knocking on the door, the echo of a voice he was familiar with froze his movement.
"Come in."
Kopi didn't hesitate and was shocked no more.
He was already aware of how strong Elder White Beard was, and his action shocked the latter.
After all, he demonstrated his power and believed Kopi would be amazed and then requested to be his disciple.
However, nothing changed aside from the quick action that was replaced soon with a solemn countenance.
It deeply shocked him.
Elder White Beard resumed rocking the chair, now gazing at the appearance of Kopi standing behind the door.
He smiled and said with his usual gentle voice, "What is the reason my dear Kopi is visiting me?
You should be elated to see me before I vanish."
Kopi's eyes widened.
Although he did expect Elder White Beard wouldn't stay long, surmising it based on his circumstances, he didn't anticipate it to be this soon.
The memories of his bonding with Elder White Beard ever since he was a child materialized in his head.
He couldn't help but tear up.
Elder White Beard bursted into laughter and said, "You should not be surprised. You know, this old man will not last long.
I, at least, hope to visit my family before passing away.
Friends, families, and those I held dear."
'I will accompany them soon.'
Was what he wanted to continue.
But he restrained since Kopi was staring at him, holding back his tears at his best, and asked with sharp eyes,
"Then, may I request something before you leave?"
Elder White Beard didn't let the stun descend the silence and quickly replied, "What is it?"
He was even more surprised to witness Kopi suddenly kneeling, bending his head to the point his forehead touched the cold floor, and shouting, "Please teach me!"
It was the only solution he formulated.