"Can I call you Master?"
"Stop talking nonsense. Just deal with the magical beast in front of you."
"B-But, how can I not call you Master?"
After teaching him a few axe techniques, the guy has been clinging to me creepily since earlier. I don't mind that.
I don't plan to see him after today anyway.
But calling me "Master" is a completely different matter.
The title of "Master" is not something to be used lightly.
At least, not for me.
"I'm not some Hong Gil-dong. Can't I just call you Master?"
"First of all, why would I be your master? All I taught you was how to swing an axe."
A master is not just someone who teaches you a skill.
If that were the case, then all the professors at the academy would be called masters.
A master-disciple relationship isn't just a formal relationship.
A master is a guide who leads their disciple on the right path.
That's what I consider a true master.
I, too, studied under such a master.
"Since you taught me that, I should honour you as my Master!"
"With that attitude, you'd call every professor at the academy 'Master.'"
"Ah, but the professors and you are different."
"How are they different?"
"Well, the sincerity is different. The professors at the academy don't even really pay attention to me."
The elite among the elite.
The best of the best gather at Seven Stars Academy.
Every year, 2,000 new students enter, and there are no transfers or dropouts. In contrast, the number of professors is limited.
For them, it's more efficient to focus on teaching only the most promising among the brightest.
Thus, the professors encourage competition among the students.
Among the shining students, there are always those who shine even brighter. The professors bestow much knowledge and privilege upon those students.
An educational system designed to cultivate powerful hunters who will elevate the academy.
Yes, it may be efficient.
But it can never be called "education."
"You were the first, Master. The lectures were excellent, but no one ever paid attention to me as an individual."
"I said I'm not your master."
"Even if I can't call you Master, can't I still honour you?"
"...Sigh, I didn't expect this just from teaching you how to swing an axe."
It was an unexpected reaction.
Given how rude he usually acts, I didn't think he'd go this far.
If I taught him some advanced techniques, he'd probably offer me his liver and gallbladder.
What should I do?
I'm not someone who deserves to be called "Master."
I may have the knowledge to teach, but I don't have the ability to guide someone on the right path.
'I'm not like my Master.'
The one who taught me the sword.
Even now, when I close my eyes, I can vividly recall them.
A sword engulfed in red flames and my Master. On the days they took to the battlefield, the entire area turned into a fiery hell.
Despite their fiery combat style, they always taught and guided me.
Unlike my Master, I lack both character and ability.
"Um... Master."
"If you call me Master again, I'll kill you."
"...Assistant, can I ask you one question?"
I threatened him because he kept calling me Master.
I'm not someone who should be called that.
I absolutely don't want to hear the word "Master."
Then he said he wanted to ask me something.
I nodded.
"Then can I call you something else?"
"What, what are you planning to call me?"
"Is 'Teacher' okay?"
"Assistant" is too stiff, and "Master" is something I dislike.
He suggested "Teacher" as a compromise.
Certainly, the title "Teacher" is less burdensome than "Master."
Of course, there is one Teacher in my life who guided me.
But I can tolerate being called "Teacher."
After all, some students call assistants "Assistant Teachers" or "Assistant Sir."
"Fine, call me that from now on."
"Yes! I won't go back on my word later."
"Good, now deal with the magical beast in front of you. You're going to get hit at this rate."
"Huh? Oh, w-wait...!"
Crash!
A giant turtle-like magical beast swung its front leg with a sluggish motion.
Yet, perhaps due to its weight, it carried tremendous physical force.
Lee Ji dodged to the side and threw his hand axe, engaging in a fierce struggle.
While I was amusingly watching their struggle.
Something entered my field of vision.
The shadow swayed with movement, but its end looked slightly off.
"Hmm..."
A strange presence emanating from the shadow.
Actually, I already sensed it.
But seeing it with my own eyes made it even clearer.
'It seems the bait has been properly set.'
I need to lay the groundwork properly.
Thinking that, I moved closer to Lee Ji.
He was holding a hand axe in his right hand, breathing heavily.
Right beside him was the corpse of the giant turtle. Its thick shell had been split open by the mana-infused hand axe, completely shattered.
"If you're done confirming the kill, let's go."
"Ah, yes, Teacher."
At my words, Lee Ji caught his breath and stood behind me.
Now that I think about it, it feels like I've gained a loyal dog.
While gauging the location of the "traces" carved into the cave, I moved forward.
Confident steps.
Lee Ji, puzzled by this, asked.
"Um, Teacher. By the way, where are we going?"
"Didn't I tell you?"
"No, you didn't say anything."
I walked toward the cave and calmly replied.
"To clear this dungeon."
"Huh? But isn't this dungeon unclaimed for four years?"
One of Korea's three unclaimed dungeons, Efnell's Garden.
Though it has now been reduced to a low-level dungeon where beginners gather herbs, it holds a history of being impregnable.
Even S-rank players and A-rank guilds who came determined to clear it failed.
At the time, even after killing all the magical beasts and burning all the plants, the dungeon remained unaffected. There are records stating that the ecosystem regenerated on its own within a few days.
Unless the entire dungeon is wiped out.
The legend says it's impossible to clear 'Efnell's Garden.'
Behind it lies an old conversation with Eve.
"You know, what about a growth-type dungeon?"
"Again with that novel talk. Can't you stop already?"
I was on night watch with other team members.
My partner, Eve, was basking by the campfire, chattering about the novel she was writing. By now, I was bored from hearing it so much.
"Of course not. I'm planning to create a dungeon now, and I just had a great idea."
"What is it?"
"You have to grow the dungeon to clear it."
Eve showed no intention of stopping.
Even if I tried to shut her up, she'd slip away using her unique magic.
With experience, I realized that humouring her was the most efficient way. Really, having the wrong friend makes night watch so exhausting.
"What do you mean by growing it?"
"Specifically, you grow the magical beasts inside the dungeon and feed the dungeon as a whole."
Eve said with a smile.
A mischievously innocent smile.
It was an expression rarely seen on the battlefield filled with death and bloodshed.
That day, I just nodded blankly and stared at her.
***
In the shadows, there were eyes watching Lee Ji and Baek Seung-woo.
Three pairs of eyes meticulously tracked their every move.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
'Il-young, what should we do?'
When Baek Seung-woo was burning the monster, one shadow spoke to another. They communicated not through voice but directly in their minds, conversing secretly.
'Yi-young, stand by. It's not time yet.'
The orders from above were to subtly push the family head into a crisis. The plan was to make it so the family head couldn't blame the elders for any sudden accidents, done secretly and cleverly.
That was the core of this operation.
'But Il-young, what's so special about that kid that it's not time yet?'
'You fool, look closely. Whose uniform does that look like?'
'Seven Stars, right? What's so great about the academy that we have to be cautious?'
Swoosh!
The shadow elongated and turned into a sharp scythe.
The scythe secretly aimed for Lee Ji's blind spot. It was in a position to decapitate him at any moment.
'If you're stupid, just stay quiet!'
'Ugh...'
Just then, Il-young shouted.
The shadow scythe targeting Lee Ji dispersed at the intense shout that echoed in their minds. Yi-young looked at Il-young with a resentful expression, but his gaze was icy.
The orders from above were only to threaten the family head's life.
A light scratch would be fine, but causing a fatal wound or permanent disability would be a disaster.
'We are shadows. We must not act beyond our orders.'
Assassins do not make their own judgments.
They only follow their master's commands.
In that regard, Yi-young lacks the qualities and experience of an assassin.
Targeting an academy student would likely make the family head suspicious. Not to mention, it could create a rift with Seven Stars Academy.
'Why not just cleanly take care of both...'
'Sigh, you still need more training. Yi-young, stay put.'
At Yi-young's still clueless tone, Il-young grabbed the back of his neck.
He's too emotional for an assassin.
I'll have to give him extra training later, Il-young resolved, as he followed the shadows of Baek Seung-woo and Lee Ji.
Yi-young reluctantly followed behind.
Sam-young, who had been silently watching the scene.
'....'
Said nothing.
Like a stone, he remained silent.
In a way, it's the natural stance.
Shadows don't need mouths.
Nor do they need the intelligence to think and judge for themselves.
Shadows simply move as their master moves.
That is the duty and meaning of a shadow's existence.
Sam-young mindlessly followed Baek Seung-woo and Lee Ji.
Waiting for the moment when the two would separate and Baek Seung-woo would be alone.
Meanwhile, Baek Seung-woo was walking toward the cave.
Lee Ji followed closely behind.
A remote location far from forests and fields.
It was damp, with no noticeable plants in sight.
Despite heading into such a gloomy cave, Lee Ji continued to follow.
It seems he plans to keep following.
Baek Seung-woo, seeing this, asked a question.
"Do you know about 'Gu'?"
"What's that?"
"If you don't know, it's better to keep your eyes closed."
At Baek Seung-woo's question, Lee Ji tilted his head.
He had never heard of the term "Gu."
So Lee Ji confidently admitted he didn't know.
Well, it'd be weird if a kid like him knew.
I only know because I've heard about it in the original work.
It's natural for ordinary people not to know.
"We're going to find that now."
"But Teacher, didn't you come to clear the dungeon? Ah, is there a clue in this cave?"
"Well, if I had to say, clearing the dungeon is more of a side task."
Baek Seung-woo's goal in coming here was singular from the start.
Clearing the dungeon is just a byproduct. The most valuable thing here lies deep underground.
I'd like to take it right away, but you can't skin a flea for its liver.
To feast, you need to fatten it up.
Luckily, three good prey have walked right into the cave, so it's a great opportunity.
I chuckled inwardly and moved deeper into the cave.
'That thing' lives deep in the cave, so I need to bring the prey right to it.
***
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