News of Zepdas' death quickly travels across his subordinates still within The Iron Peak Range. The lack of a leader pulls back all manpower out of the mountains, giving me ample space and time to traverse without raising attention.
At night, my shadow footwork increases in efficiency, bolting my body across the mountain range in the form of darkness.
The essence of Morja's style is darkness. The basics consist of fusing mana into a shadow and manipulating it like a solid cup holding water but that's easier said than done. Without Darilyus' Mana Control talent and my physique reconstruction, learning his techniques is near impossible. As the footwork involves coating myself with shadow mana and becoming one with the darkness, my body needs to resist the crushing mana.
...
Controlling and materialising shadows is all I can do for now.
After I step past a certain point, my footwork falls and forces my physical body out. This means...the darkness here is fake. I'm in the Trap Formation!
I retrace my steps from memory, walking carefully through the snow and trees. Finally, I see smoke, possibly from a chimney and head towards it.
Hajin steps out of the cabin before I reach it. "You've returned."
"Yeah."
His eyes widen and he instantly appears before me, grabbing my shoulders. He injects mana into my body and gasps.
"Huh? What the fuck! Why do you have a Martial Body? And the parasite...is gone!" Hajin exclaims.
"Does it matter? I'm back anyways."
"T-That's true..."
Hajin retreats and glances at the cabin. The bright golden boy, the future's hero, opens the door and emerges.
"Boy...come here."
The boy walks to Hajin. Hajin lowers himself, placing a knee on the ground. "I've taught everything I know for the past few years. It's time for you to leave."
!!
The boy widens his eyes and exclaims. "D-Did I do anything wrong?"
Hajin shakes his head and puts on a gentle smile. "No. You always said you wanted to see more of this world. This is your chance. Unfortunately, your master cannot leave with you but this man can help you."
"Why not?! Neither you nor I know him well; What if he is a bad guy!" The boy says.
Hajin chuckles. "Hehe..." He turns his head slightly back. "An enemy of the Martial Masters cannot be a bad person."
He investigated me...?
"Besides, you are stronger than him, boy. You can easily kill him if he tries anything," Hajin says with confidence.
Out of curiosity, I decided to verify his remarks, attempting to use my powers on the boy.
A churning headache instantly bombards my mind, sending me a few steps back.
------------
Error!
You are unable to extract from the son of the "Absolute Being".
------------
Huh?! There's someone who my powers don't work on!?
Who the fuck is the Absolute Being?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
...
I sigh in defeat.
Ugh...damn it.
The boy looks at me. His gaze seems to pierce through all.
"No, he is a bad person. He killed many for his own."
Hajin scratches his head. The boy is being very persistent.
"Listen, a bad person may not be entirely evil, just like how a good person may not be saintly. It's difficult to explain in words. That's why you need to leave and experience the world, my dear friend here will guide you on your path."
The boy lowers his gaze and furrows his brow.
"Besides, you called me a bad person when we first met years ago," Hajin adds.
"Hajin, I will head in first."
I leave Hajin to talk with the boy and head for the cabin. The first step through the door boasts a larger interior than I expected. So that's how so many were able to live under one roof. I step back and take note of the exterior size before going back in. I wasn't imagining it. Another formation?
I can feel many presences awake.
Entering the main room, I see my subordinates and Gary scattered. They are preparing to leave, gathering their tools and baggage.
They immediately stop and stare at me.
"Sir..." Says Issac.
"...How is everyone?" I say.
"..."
...
I nod at the silence and take a deep breath.
"We are leaving," I head for the door.
"Should we rest for one more night, boss? You've come a long way." Kaden asks.
"I'm a wanted man. I can only move at night."
"What?!" Masoc exclaims. "Captain, what happened?"
I sigh with my back turned. "Many things..."
...
I turn to Gary, who is staring solemnly. "Gary, your status should save you from any trouble. I want you to take care of my subordinates. When I return, I can teach you how to grow stronger."
"..." He nods.
However, I didn't realise these experiences already impacted Gary. My interference became the catalyst that grows his maturity on the outlook of things. His time spent with my subordinates, who shared their life and troubles, opened a new world to his vision and he understands how weak his true strength is.
When we are going to leave, the boy walks to me with a glaring gaze and sulking demeanour. His baggage is small and little, fitting a small sack and his figure.
His gaze is enough to scare an ordinary person unconscious.
He walks past me and clings to my subordinates, except for Gary, who prefers them more.
Hajin brings me aside for a final chat.
"Although the boy is stronger than you, he is still a child. A child with a precious childhood. Deep down, he is a kind boy without the courage to hurt anything. That's why he was betrayed..."
Hajin stops and looks at the boy from far away. "I...don't think you should hear about it from me. Ask the boy of his past in the future."
He hands me a large tattered book with unknown symbols on the covering. "It's my hometown language. Ask the boy to teach you. Everything here documents all the knowledge I have."
!
I carefully receive the book and put it in my magic storage ring I found months ago in the old Vanriem, filling up the last spare space.
Hajin smiles and grabs my shoulder. "Take care of the boy for me...and yourself."
I nod.
"What are you going to do?" I ask.
"Me?" Hajin looks at the snowy sky. "I will tend to unwanted visitors."
...
I figured none of it to be my business and left with the group.
Hajin stares at my back and smiles. Three figures emerge from the roof of the cabin.
Not long after I left, the drums of explosions play through the air. Everyone appears more anxious and speeds up except for the boy, who stops and looks back.
"Master!" He screams. I pull him and wrap my arm around his waist, carrying him.
"Stop! Don't waste your master's effort!" I shout. "Unless you want to return to kill them? You have the strength to."
The boy furrows his brow mixed with frustration and hesitation. His lips are pressed into a thin quivering line as he fights back the tears.
!!
A needle shoots through the air and I catch it and throw it back.
"KEGH!?" a voice echoes from the darkness behind the trees.
I can hear lots of rustling and breathing. More are chasing us.
"Issac!" I shout and throw the boy into his arms. "Run! Gary, protect everyone."
I halt and draw my sword.
The first assailant dives from above, his dagger enveloped in some purple aura. I step forward and one slash decapitates him. Another two ambushes from different angles. I launch myself with one foot, spinning my body vertically and cutting both attackers into two.
!!!
The rest avoided me and split apart, running away.
"Tch."
I chase after my subordinates. We quickly meet up and leave The Iron Peak Range. We never stop running for a whole day, only resting after we travel a considerable distance from the fallen Lorain.
...
"Now it's time to part ways," I say to my subordinates lying on the ground lifeless, panting and flushed, on the white snow.
"W-Wait...but..."
"We can't stay together. I'm a criminal."
"Still..."
"All of you have families. Do you want anything to happen to them?!" I exclaim.
...
"Gary, I entrust them to you. Kid, let's go," I say and walks away. The boy hesitates to leave but remembers Hajin and reluctantly drags himself along.
The boy is not breathless and completely fine. His strength...doesn't complement his personality.
"Hey, what's your name?" I ask.
"I don't know."
"Then what do you want me to call you?"
"..."
...
The sound of awkward crunching snow and insects replaced our conversation.
Haah...
I decided to leave him alone because of my experiences with my younger brothers.