The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 175

175.

“Before deciding on this matter, there’s a place I need to go. A place I also want to go. Would you mind taking me?”

It was the next morning.

Seline, who had walked out onto the cabin’s terrace, supporting herself by gripping the wall and staggering, suddenly said that.

“If it’s a guided tour of the afterlife, I’ll pass.”

“It’s not that.”

I could tell from her voice, which was calmer than yesterday, that she had made some important decision.

“Where do you want to go?”

“My hometown.”

“Hometown, hometown, hometown.”

In the mountain depths where stars swirled around the curtain of moonlight, we arrived at Hwayeon Peak in the Crimson Mountains.

As if hinting at the two battles that had taken place here, the Cheonhwa Sect’s [Heavenly Blossom Sect] dojang [martial arts training hall] was in ruins.

The dojang’s interior had been almost completely blown away, and the outer structures were melted, burned, or demolished, making it difficult to discern their original form.

Seline, who had been lifted here by Valenci’s telekinesis, now began to walk on her own, leaning on her staff.

“This used to be the training grounds.”

The witches who had cleaned up the aftermath had created numerous burial mounds on the site of the old training grounds.

Seline’s eyes, looking down at the tombstones without names, at their unjust and futile deaths, glistened sadly in the moonlight.

Perhaps because I didn’t know what comforting words to offer, or because I didn’t have the right to do so even if I did, all I could do was clasp my hands together and pray.

‘Please forgive my unworthy disciple…….’

If Friede were here instead of me, she would have soothed the spirits unable to reach heaven in their resentment with her prayers.

Haa…….

A short sigh mixed with deep lamentation escaped me, and immediately a cute voice next to me mimicked the sigh, making it sound more adorable than mournful.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Aki with her eyes closed, praying with her hands clasped together, in the same pose as me.

“You don’t have to copy this.”

“Apuu.”

I ruffled her hair with a weak smile, and Aki purred as if she felt good.

Perhaps Seline saw a lost connection in that sight, as she gave a faint smile and led us to the next place.

“I’ll stay here.”

Valenci remained in front of the burial mounds.

I had no way of knowing what was in the guy’s heart as he knelt respectfully, his calm eyes examining each tombstone one by one.

What was strange was that Pipi also landed on his head and stayed in front of the burial mounds.

“When you perform the entrance ceremony to the dojang, you must show your face to this person when you are accepted as a disciple.”

“This person?”

At the northern end of the dojang, in a place that had suffered relatively little damage from the fire, a tree stood tall and majestic.

When I saw its dignity, shaking new shoots in the breeze, I couldn’t help but exclaim.

“The Red Sacred Tree……?”

The Red Sacred Tree was the sacred tree of the Crimson Mountains, a tree with the mystical power to absorb and purify negative energy.

The fact that its circumference was larger than the cabin on the outskirts of Aurelinople where we were staying was truly a miracle.

It was larger than any Red Sacred Tree I had seen in the Red Sacred Forest when I went there with Miria.

“I’ve never seen one this big in my life.”

As if it had absorbed even the rampage of the Abyss that had taken place using this dojang as an altar, there was not a single trace of rot on the tree’s trunk where the moonlight permeated.

“Martial arts were born from the belief in becoming a being like a dragon through mental and physical training—that is, from the desire for ascension.”

Seline placed her hand on the trunk and spoke, looking at the quietly swaying leaves.

“Great and noble… but martial arts, as much as anyone can gain great power through training, could also be reduced to a tool to harm innocent people depending on who uses it.”

“……”

“So our sect always carefully selected the people to teach—that is, the disciples. This sacred tree was the one who made that decision.”

Perhaps recalling the time when she was led here by her master in the past, a sad smile lingered on Seline’s lips for a moment.

“This sacred tree can see into people’s hearts. How pure their souls are.”

“Even if it knows that, how does the sacred tree make a choice? It can’t speak.”

“I asked a similar question. The answer is that the tree will give you a sign. See for yourself. Seeing is believing, they say. Aki… was it?”

“Akirea.”

“Yes, have that child put her hand on this trunk.”

Having felt something from the tree, Aki, who had been staring at the tree while sucking her finger, walked over and placed her hand on the trunk without me saying anything.

For a moment, nothing happened.

In the silence of the night, the leaves suddenly began to rustle even though there was no wind… and then something unbelievable happened.

Whirr…….

……Whirr, whirr…….

…………………Whirr…….

Suddenly, all the leaves of the sacred tree turned into flames, burning beautifully.

Strangely enough, the leaves did not burn at all but only illuminated the world warmly like lanterns.

I was넋을 놓고 바라보고 있는데 [넋을 놓고 바라보고 있는데 is Korean for ‘staring blankly’], a dazed murmur came to my ears.

“I’ve never seen all the leaves turn into flames; I’ve never even heard of such a thing……”

Was it because the Dragon race has no inner evil, or was it worshiping the return of the mountain lord after 300 years?

I didn’t even have time to think about the answer; the sight before my eyes was so beautiful.

Later I heard that even if only one leaf turned into a flame, they would be accepted as a disciple, and from more than twenty, the head or elders would directly guide them.

“A disciple who is chosen by this sacred tree with more than thirty flames, and who has both skill, character, and popularity, is called Cheonhwa Illyong (天火一龍) [Heavenly Fire One Dragon].”

Seline knelt on one knee and placed her hand on Aki’s head.

“The great tree has chosen, so there’s no way to disobey now. Maybe it’s telling me not to give up.”

“Up-tayyo?”

“Good. I, Seline, the first disciple of the Cheonhwa Sect and Cheonhwa Illyong, accept you, Akirea, as a disciple of the Cheonhwa Sect. Great tree, be a witness to today’s events and lead Akirea to the path of ascension.”

Ascension… she was born into the ranks of ascenders from the moment she was born, but wouldn’t it be okay to train her spirit?

Perhaps her blessing had reached, the flames of the sacred tree began to burn even more gracefully and beautifully.

But the moment Seline grabbed Aki’s shoulders, Aki ran away and hid behind my legs.

“She’s still young and very shy, but she’ll get used to it soon.”

I guess it won’t be like with Miria.

She became friends with Miria right away, even when I, her guardian, was asleep, even when she was in a younger infant state than now.

Still… after seeing a series of initiation processes, I also gained considerable trust in this ronin [wandering samurai] named Seline.

‘She’s not just good at her skills, but her attitude towards martial arts is also upright and excellent. Not just as an apology, but enough to trust and leave her in charge.’

Seline, who looked at me and Aki alternately, let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

“I thought she ran away because she realized she was being dragged into a sect without a dojang because it was destroyed.”

* * *

Aki took a deep breath of the wind blowing across the river, smiled brightly, and pointed to the end of the horizon with her fingertip.

“Ah-bah, th-ere, the wa-ter mee-ts the sky.”

Because the draft was low, the water droplets splitting at the bow of the ship splashed up to the deck, and Aki laughed every time.

Although she would get scared and cling to my legs whenever fish leaped out of the water or herons landed nearby…

Seeing this makes me think we have a long way to go… But who cares? Aigo~ My baby is so cute I could die.

“Yeah, the water and the sky really do meet.”

“Neungi, neungi, neungi, neungeeeungi, neungi neungi neungi.”

“You be quiet for a bit.”

PiPi, who was teasing Aki, ran towards the stern to avoid my grasp.

It was a boat with only a sail and no oars.

Three sailors steered the boat with poles and sails. It wasn’t a boat that went out to sea, but one that moved between riverside village ports.

Two days by merchant ship, half a day by sailboat.

By this evening, we will be completely out of the Aurelianople area, the city of purple.

“Listen carefully, Aki.”

“Aki, lis-ten-ing.”

Oh my, is that a tear?

Seeing her grow so much lately, mastering the art of human speech, fills me with a tidal wave of emotion.

It feels like only yesterday I was teaching her to sit and lie down.

“From now on, this person is Aki’s teacher.”

I pointed to Seline, who was sitting cross-legged on the deck, practicing her breathing exercises.

Perhaps she saw a glimmer of hope in Aki’s life. Seline, who had started eating and practicing her breathing again five days ago, was gradually regaining her complexion.

Since she said she would focus on her own recovery first, it seemed like Aki was awkward around her, probably because they hadn’t had a chance to bond.

Hiding behind my legs, Aki peeked out and asked again.

“Tea-cher?”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Tea-cher-nim [term of respect for a teacher].”

“That’s right, there’s a saying that the king, teacher, and father are one. So now you have to follow this person like you follow me.”

Aki looked back and forth between Seline and me, shaking her head wildly.

“Aki, no-like.”

“Aki, doesn’t like it.”

“Aki, no-like-it.”

“Good, good.”

As I stroked her head, Aki rubbed her head even more as if asking for more affection.

“You have to act cute like this with your teacher too. You have to follow her the same way. Got it?”

“Aki Ah-bah [Dad] is Ah-bah-only.”

Everything is good, but why does she put her name in front like PiPi? I guess it doesn’t matter since it’s cute, oh well.

If Alakish were here, what would he say? He’d probably be saying, ‘Let’s go for another round of Aki’s cuteness~’

In fact, judging from this trembling that pulsates fiercely deep in my heart, in my soul, it seems like Alakish is also happy.

“You’re impossible. I don’t mean follow her as your father, but act similarly to how you act with me.”

“Si-mi-larly?”

“Yes. Similarly. Now, say hello. Bow~ Hello~ I taught you yesterday, right? Now, say hello to your teacher~!”

Aki, who came out from behind my legs, gathered her hands neatly around her belly button and bowed vigorously.

“Aki, hel-lo-says-o.”

It wasn’t just me who had a smile on my face that seemed like I was ascending to heaven at that moment.

Everyone who watched it… the sailors who were steering the boat from the stern and handling the sails that were filled with wind, closed their eyes as if savoring that voice and shook their heads.

Even Seline, whose face was still listless even though she was regaining her strength, had a momentary glow in her eyes, so there’s no need to explain how much her cuteness affected her.

“Shall we say hello to the sailors too? Now, hello~!”

“Sail-or Ah-jus-shis [uncles], hel-lo-says-o, hel-lo-says-o, hel-lo-says-o.”

As Aki bowed politely to the sailors in three directions, the sailors were so moved that they exclaimed and even applauded.

“Aigo~ How can a little one be so cute? If my wife gave birth to such a wonderful daughter, I wouldn’t be able to say anything even if she ran away.”

She’s not my daughter… and more than anything, I don’t even have a wife.

I was about to protest to the sailors who were laughing heartily, but I stopped. There’s no point in explaining, and it’ll only be exhausting.

After saying hello, Aki hid behind my legs again. I guess she’s thinking of recharging her Ah-bah gauge.

I turned to Seline and said.

“She’s still shy, so how about we start in earnest after we stop by the next port village?”

Seline, who was staring at Aki with a slightly dazed face, even stopping her breathing exercises, nodded her head right away.

Around the time that small and adorable commotion was settled, Valen Cidith, who had been preparing for possible pursuers or attackers at the stern of the ship, walked over here.

PiPi was sitting on his head, dozing off, probably because they had become quite close during the last joint operation, and Valen Cidith was being very careful not to wake him.

“Are you really planning to stop by all the riverside villages on the way to Terbenople?”

“Only the villages that don’t belong to the territories of the two major cities. Help me if there’s anything you need. There must have been problems here and there as the number of Red Witches has drastically decreased.”

It is true that Tureina led the last revival of the Republic by implementing good policies.

But it is also true that she sowed disasters all over the world with unspeakable atrocities behind the scenes.

It’s a mistake made by my inadequate disciple, so it’s my job as a teacher to take responsibility for it. Just like the headmistress bowed her head for me in the past.

It may not be of much help, but I want to make up for the accidents caused by my disciple, even if it’s not enough.

“Are you going to atone for it instead?”

Valen Cidith sharply pointed out my intentions, and his voice was not very friendly.

Come to think of it, unlike Yuliana, this guy has been hostile to Tureina from beginning to end. He didn’t even come to the funeral.

I didn’t ask him why, and Valen Cidith didn’t pry into how deep my relationship with Tureina was.

Was that our sense of distance?

“No.”

I have no intention of doing anything presumptuous like atonement. I can’t stop by every city or village, and it’s questionable whether the victims will gladly accept it.

“It’s just self-satisfaction.”

Because that’s the only way this sad and frustrating heart will feel a little better.

Because that’s the only way that Hanshim’s soul, who will start a new life in the body of Mirngardia, will be able to find some rest.

At that time, I think I was wearing a really sad smile without even knowing it.

“I thought you were hurrying on your journey.”

Valen Cidith said, glancing at Aki.

“It’s okay not to rush that much.”

“Who said that?”

“Someone.”

“Hmm.”

“And in the first place, I was going to teach martial arts in Terbenople. It’s much better to move around while getting some fresh air like this than to be stuck there for months.”

“Hmph.”

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“No.”

Valen Cidith smiled slightly more transparently than usual and closed his eyes. Just like he did during the school festival that I enjoyed for the first and last time.

In the river breeze that coolly shook his light brown hair, he said quietly.

“I think it wouldn’t be bad.”