Chapter : 97
Although my master spoke lightly of handling curses or running through dungeons, I couldn’t think of these tasks as lightly as they did.
“If it’s truly what you want,”
It wasn’t for me, but for my master.
Looking at the temple’s movements so far, it was true that we couldn’t fully trust them. Yet, we were wizards who couldn’t live without a cleric.
With my master now cursed, it was necessary to have at least one reliable cleric to prepare for any unforeseen situation. If Everett accompanied me, he would surely be trustworthy.
‘Who knows how far this curse might reach?’
What if the curse affected even my master’s mana core, which had barely stabilized? What if my master’s mana core became as unstable as mine?
If that happened, my master might feel a pain incomparable to anything I could experience. Pain doesn’t become familiar simply because one has endured it, and I worried for my master.
‘…I have to try harder.’
Yet, I couldn’t help feeling resentful about my master’s choice.
Even if I had acted recklessly, couldn’t my master have trusted me to survive the dungeon and waited? I am their only disciple. Couldn’t they have believed I would succeed and waited?
Was I really that untrustworthy in my master’s eyes?
“…You should’ve just waited. Then you wouldn’t have been cursed.”
Words escaped my mind before I could censor them.
My master frowned as if puzzled, then looked at me and laughed, almost incredulously.
“Themis, I was saddened thinking perhaps I was an untrustworthy master to you.”
Their voice, locking eyes with me firmly, settled over me with a chilling gravity.
“I clearly told you I would handle this dungeon, and you should wait outside. If my memory serves, you nodded in agreement back then, didn’t you?”
My master bit their lip gently, staring at me as if urging me to answer.
*”…That’s because…”
If I offered to go in instead, my master wouldn’t have allowed it. In fact, they had already been cursed once for forcing their way through the closed gate.
“You deceived me, Themis. From the beginning, you intended to go in without me.”
Their words left no room for excuses. I felt as if I had dug my own grave.
“You’ve never hidden anything from me or schemed behind my back. And yet, you went this far…”
My master paused, catching their breath.
The way they spoke, hurried and tense, was unlike the composed person I usually knew.
“…That far… you love Everett that much?”
My master assumed I had done all this because I loved Everett. They had misunderstood my relationship with Everett before, and seeing—right before entering the gate—a scene where Everett and I supposedly kissed (which wasn’t true) made such an assumption natural.
I had even left that misunderstanding uncorrected because it served my plan. But…
“…”
Despite knowing I brought this on myself, I felt sorrow because my master would never know how much I endured for them. It was sad that all I bore for my master would only be perfect if they remained unaware. But I had no choice. If they knew, they would… stop me.
“Was that trivial love so important?”
Yes. My love for you was blind and unconditional. I endured all misunderstandings and blame merely to avoid seeing you hurt.
Perhaps Deshua’s dungeon—the one in the original story—wasn’t meant to sadden my master. But the mere possibility of my master being hurt meeting an old friend was unbearable to me.
“Do you love him enough to risk achievements and danger just to be with him?”
The feelings I had suppressed so long surged up to my throat. Yes. Enough to do all that. Enough to give my life willingly. I wanted to say it—to confess my love for you, Akilan Teikan.
‘Calm down, Themis Moon. You’ve come this far, don’t ruin everything now.’
I couldn’t let a single emotion ruin everything. I wanted my master to live happily.
“Yes, Master.”
Considering what’s ahead, it was better to let my master misunderstand me for now.
‘Until I lift my master’s curse and give my mana core to Aria… my master must not know my feelings or my plan.’
Even if I hid my feelings, I couldn’t hide unconscious actions. Both Everett and Aria quickly noticed my heart. I thought I was hiding it well.
“So please let Everett come along.”
Everett was the only trustworthy person among the temple officials—a fair and just protagonist, and the cleric who had treated my master diligently.
‘There’s something to finish first…’
I wouldn’t accept Everett’s confession—not just for my love for my master but also out of concern for him. I didn’t want him to be too sad if I disappeared. I didn’t want to hurt someone who sincerely cared for me.
“You’re cruel, Themis.”
I looked up, startled. My master’s voice sounded lower, raspy, and full of pain despite their youthful voice.
‘Why are they saying that?’
What could possibly be cruel? Did I miss something my master said while lost in thought?
“No, how could I dare call you cruel? That would be shameless of me.”
I said nothing, but my master continued softly.
“Perhaps I am being punished for my past mistakes.”
Seeing my master appear almost melancholic, my resentment melted away. My master hadn’t done anything wrong! Even if they had, I would make it as if it hadn’t happened.
“Master, you’ve done nothing wrong. For now, let’s just focus on lifting your curse.”
I clenched my fists and reassured my master, who smiled in relief.
“Yes. So instead of dwelling on past regrets, focus on the present.”
So they meant we should focus on lifting the curse…? Their behavior today was unusually different, making me more puzzled.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have acted stubborn after suggesting Everett accompany us first.”
My master looked far more relaxed than when the conversation began.
“It’s okay.”
It was a relief, though the change in their feelings was subtle and hard to pinpoint.
Afterwards, my master planned to interrogate the servants of the lord’s castle, and I decided to meet Aria and Everett. As I left my master’s room, the butler waiting for me delivered unexpected news.
“Um… what should we do about the lord’s funeral procedures…?”
“Pardon? Whose… what?”
It was news of the death of Deshua’s lord, James. It seemed he had been killed by Arlen.
No, Master! Shouldn’t you have told me this first?!
After Themis left, Akilan pressed his throbbing forehead, lost in thought.
Wanting to take Themis along for investigating and dungeon conquest was purely selfish. He wanted her by his side, even a little.
He knew it was his selfish desire, a desire he shouldn’t have. He knew he had no right to be jealous of Themis caring for Everett.
Yet he couldn’t stop.
He would scold Themis for acting so boldly out of love, then feel ashamed and discouraged at his own jealousy, only to have his heart melt at one comforting word from her.
All emotions he thought had long weathered away surged with her words and actions.
‘You only see Everett; you don’t know my heart.’
After centuries, discovering that first love could feel like such a tragic unrequited love—could this be real?
Yet seeing Themis, one thing became clear:
‘I cannot give you up.’
What choice did he have?
If he could neither cut off this heart nor give up Themis, only one way remained:
‘It’s enough if our hearts are the same.’
He would make Themis love him.
