DEB 77

“…”

Time passed in silence.

In truth, it was an apology that should have been made long ago. 

Since realizing his disciples had been searching for him for ten thousand years without giving up, Huiyun should have apologized the moment he began to regain his memories, even if just faintly.

He knew it was too late, and a bitter taste lingered in his mouth. 

He thought he would have no right to speak if they cursed and blamed him to his face.

BOOM!

A deafening noise shattered the awkward and barren silence, bringing life back into the training room. 

Without a moment’s hesitation, Vita had drawn his sword and struck the ground, looking directly at Huiyun with eyes regaining their sparkle.

Rumble.

The fourth disciple smiled broadly above the vibrating training room, a smile bright enough to make Huiyun feel dazed.

“That’s enough. I do have more questions, but… isn’t there something more important right now?”

Vita, speaking brightly and energetically as if dismissing past matters, knelt on one knee.

“Since our bodies have changed, it’s only right to renew our vows. I agree.”

“…Vita.”

“Yasha, your knight Vita requests to become your disciple.”

His voice, which had been lively moments ago, now turned solemn, creating a serious atmosphere. 

Following her twin’s quick action, Zenith also joined.

“Master Yasha, your former disciple wishes to reconnect with the bond from a previous life.”

Her green hair flowed softly down to the ground as she knelt in a full bow. 

Before Huiyun could even process this, Ash was already kneeling. 

The overwhelming emotion of seeing three disciples kneeling before him almost brought Huiyun to tears.

A profound emotion and regret swirled from his heart to his head, an emotion that wouldn’t be eased no matter how much he cried out.

Seeing Huiyun’s troubled expression, Ash raised a corner of his mouth.

“I never expected an apology in the first place.”

Ash, speaking cheerfully, pulled out the sword at his waist and laid it on the ground. 

Closing his eyes in prayer, he bowed his head.

“Yasha, your former disciple Ash wishes to repay your past kindness and requests to become your disciple.”

“……”

“Just because it’s a bit late, don’t think about taking away my position as the first disciple, okay?”

Ash added playfully, winking. 

Huiyun opened his mouth but eventually couldn’t say anything and just smiled faintly.

Superimposed over the grown Ash kneeling before him was the image of young Ash, who always struggled with spelling, constantly causing trouble with his fires. 

Seeing how much he had grown, Huiyun felt the same deep emotion he had felt when Ash became his disciple and ventured into the world.

…Vita, Zenith, Ash.

Murmuring their names internally, he bit his lip. 

At that moment, the red-haired man lifted his head and drew a heart with his hand. 

Forgetting the swelling emotion for a moment, Huiyun chuckled.

Right.

He’s always been like this.

Other disciples might have shown some changes, but Ash remained nearly the same as he was in the past. 

The cunning and cold demeanor he had when he suspected Huiyun’s identity felt unfamiliar, but when addressing his master, he was unmistakably the Ash from ten thousand years ago.

Despite facing resentment that could have crushed him, he was just as dependable and strong, much like Vita. A sense of fullness filled Huiyun.

Ash’s witty joke slightly eased the tense atmosphere. 

As Huiyun exchanged glances with the three disciples who had just reaffirmed their vow, Moot began to move slowly.

“I never expected to hear you apologizing. As long as I am by your side, it doesn’t matter what you do.”

“Moot.”

Upon hearing his name softly called, Moot maintained his usual expressionless face and knelt.

“So don’t die and stay by my side. I never want to go through that again. If you’re going to die, at least leave your body to me.”

…That’s a bit much.

It was an irreverent statement that disrupted the serious mood. 

Huiyun’s expression turned slightly awkward as Moot chuckled and bowed his head.

“Yasha. Moot, the one who received a name from you, requests to become your disciple.”

Kneeling close, his long black hair touched Huiyun’s feet. 

Despite this, Moot maintained his prostrate position, his head almost touching the ground, as if in worship.

His irreverent demeanor usually masked his deep loyalty to Yasha. 

Huiyun, overwhelmed by emotion, turned his head away.

Now, only one remained.

The one who would be the hardest to convince and most confused by this situation.

“…Vina.”

He softly called the name of the disciple standing with clenched fists. 

The man with that old name flinched and looked at Huiyun.

His eyes darted to the four disciples who had already pledged their loyalty before taking a deep breath. In that breath, ten thousand years were encapsulated.

Resignation, irritation, anger, sorrow, resentment, joy, confusion.

Various emotions hid behind different names, but ultimately, all his feelings converged into one.

Affection.

He resented Yasha, missed him, and even hated him, but he also still regarded Yasha as his master with affection.

That sentiment was deeply embedded in his breath, making him awkwardly smile as he slowly knelt before Huiyun and began to speak. 

His gaze remained intense.

“…Yasha. I resent you.”

The direct expression of his feelings drew varied reactions from the other disciples. 

Ash and Vita almost jumped up but restrained themselves, taking cues from Huiyun. 

Zenith looked understanding, while Moot remained in a worshipful bow at Huiyun’s feet.

Huiyun met Vina’s blue eyes, calm despite the unrestrained emotions. He had no right to rebuke Vina for his feelings.

To rebuke him, he first had to prove himself worthy as a master.

“I understand.”

So he replied with resignation, causing a slight tremor in Vina’s eyes. 

It was as if the mask of indifference he wore was slightly cracking.

“…I also hated you.”

“You have every right to hate me.”

“Sometimes, I want you to be as broken as I was. I thought about disappearing in front of you, making you miss me as painfully as I missed you.”

Small affirmations fueled a flood of confessions. 

Once Vina started, he didn’t hold back any of his long-held feelings.

Huiyun remained silent, finding the specific, lingering resentment more intense than he had imagined. 

He thought it wiser not to offer any clumsy comfort or apologies.

Perhaps this was the right choice.

Jiwook lost in thought, sighed and let go of the bitterness in his eyes.

“All those negative feelings still remain. They aren’t light or simple enough to disappear with a single apology. But I’m not saying your apology is insincere. It’s just that… I can’t erase what I’ve felt for so long.”

“…That’s not strange at all.”

How could emotions cultivated over ten thousand years disappear so easily? 

He didn’t expect that reuniting with them would erase all his past deeds. 

This was just the beginning of correcting his mistakes, not the end.

Nodding as if to say it was okay, Vina closed his eyes.

“Even so, if you accept me, I will become your disciple again.”

“……”

“Yasha. Vina, who received a name from you, wishes to be your disciple once more, as your wisdom.”

To atone for past rudeness, Vina grasped Huiyun’s hand and kissed his hand. 

The faint resentment in his eyes lingered as he glanced at Huiyun’s face before looking down again. 

Huiyun stared at the lingering warmth on his hand, accepting the disciples’ pledges to him, not Yasha’s body.

Yasha’s power slowly began to seep out.

“If your heart is true, show your respect with nine prostrations.”

Imposing his will with a force they could resist if they chose, Huiyun commanded them to prostrate. 

All five disciples added their will to the command and bowed.

Thump, thump.

Huiyun’s heart pounded loudly.

[The power of the honorable savior has manifested in you across the ages. Would you like to awaken?]

A golden notification appeared like a warning. 

Huiyun ignored the pressure, taking a deep breath.

If he reconnected with his disciples, if all six disciples, including Verita, recognized and affirmed his presence, the world would faintly perceive Yasha’s resurrection.

This would mean the balance would tilt, accelerating the revival and resurgence of the demons, potentially hastening the outbreak of war.

Knowing all this, he still chose this path.

If these events were inevitable, at least he shouldn’t make any more foolish mistakes. 

He had to correct his past errors.

Whether this would lead to progress or retreat, Huiyun couldn’t know, but he was ready to take the plunge.

In this moment, the greatest comfort he offered his disciples transformed into his resolve.