Part 6: The Master (4)

The word “confession” is truly strange.

It carries two completely opposite meanings. (confession = gobaek 고백 aka 고(go)백(back))

Is it telling you to go?

Or is it telling you to back out?

Fei found herself lost in such pointless thoughts as she made her way to Carl’s tavern.

The tavern was quieter than usual.

Lunch hour had passed, leaving almost no diners or drinkers.

Fei erased the “back” from “confession (gobaek).”

And then, she rushed toward Aiden.

Carl, the tavern owner, and Aiden both stared at Fei.

Maybe it was just her imagination, but it felt like they already understood the meaning behind her steps.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

“Fei, it’s been a while,” Carl greeted her first.

Aiden raised a hand in a casual wave.

“Hello, sir. Hey, Aiden.”

Standing before the two, Fei hesitated.

The “go (go-)” blurred, while the “back (baek)” became clear. Turning around and leaving seemed like the much wiser choice.

The conclusion had already been made.

Trying to change something unchangeable was nothing but foolishness.

But was it really okay to leave it like this?

How long was she supposed to ignore this fire burning inside her?

If she let it be, she would be consumed.

Reduced to nothing but ashes.

“Aiden, I need to talk to you. Can we step outside for a moment?”

Her mouth moved on its own.

She had done it.

Aiden nodded, and Fei led the way out of the tavern into a nearby alley.

The two stood face to face.

Every time she looked at Aiden, Fei couldn’t help but think—

He was really good-looking.

It was as if the term “sculpted features” had been coined just for him.

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? I heard you got into a fight with some rude mercenaries.”

“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

Aiden shrugged.

“That’s a relief. I also heard you handled them effortlessly… but I still worried.”

“Worry, huh… That’s a word I keep hearing a lot today.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Nothing important. Don’t mind it.”

A short, awkward silence followed.

Fei hesitated for a long moment before stepping forward toward her inevitable fate.

“Aiden… you see…”

Twisting her body anxiously, Fei finally forced the words out: “I’ve had feelings for you for a long time. Every time I see you, my heart races, and whenever I’m lost in thought, all I can think about is you.”

“……”

“We may not know each other well yet, but… what if we started getting to know each other from now on?”

“Are you asking me out?”

“…Yeah.”

“I have no intention of dating anyone.”

It was the rejection she had fully expected.

Even Sylvia had been turned down—there was no way Aiden would accept her.

Still, it hurt.

Having one’s sincerity unreciprocated was both painful and heartbreaking.

“Why did you confess? You knew I wouldn’t accept it.”

Aiden’s voice was calm, unreadable.

“Of course, I knew. But I couldn’t not do it.”

“Why not?”

“Because the more you speak the truth, the lighter it becomes. But the more you lie, the heavier it gets.”

“……”

“My feelings for you were real. And because they were real, I had to let them out. If I hadn’t confessed today, I would’ve agonized over it every single day.”

Fei looked Aiden in the eyes and smiled as brightly as she could.

Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she was smiling properly.

She just hoped she didn’t look pathetic.

“If it’s real, shouldn’t you hide it even more?”

“No. I think it’s the opposite. Unspoken feelings fester and eat away at you.”

“Wouldn’t rejection hurt even more?”

“The pain of being rejected lasts only for a moment, but the pain of not confessing would last far longer. For me, this was the better choice. But what am I even saying?”

A bitter smile appeared on Fei’s lips.

Her words sounded confident, but deep down, she knew—

This was all just her desperate attempt to lessen the sting of rejection.

“Aiden, you must have a hard time, huh? Getting confessed to by people you barely know and having to reject them all the time?”

“What if I had accepted your confession? Then what?”

“I wouldn’t feel happy at all right now. Because that would be a lie. Living a lie would only make you suffer, Aiden. I… I’ll be going now.”

Fei hurried out of the alley.

The sunlight, signaling the arrival of spring, was warm. Like a cozy blanket wrapped around her.

But inside, Fei was trapped in the rainy season.

Her heart was damp and heavy.

And then, as if on cue, thunder rumbled within her chest, and the downpour began. Her shoulders trembled, and unstoppable tears fell.

Rain from the sky could be avoided with an umbrella.

But the rain in her heart—

There was no shelter from that.

Her summer-hot, one-sided love—

Ended today.

Meanwhile, Aiden silently watched Fei’s retreating figure.

For the first time, he began to understand something Carl had once told him—

That love, too, required courage.

As an assassin, Aiden had never fought a battle he knew he would lose.

If his opponent was stronger, he would train until he could match them before making a move.

He only fought when there was at least a chance of winning.

But Fei had walked straight into a battle she was destined to lose.

It was something Aiden himself could never do, no matter how many lifetimes passed.

“Another rejection?”

“Yeah.”

Back at the tavern, Carl gave him a knowing look.

Aiden recounted the conversation with Fei in its entirety.

“Still, kid, you seem different today.”

“In what way?”

“You seem… shaken. Like you’ve gained some new insight.”

“I learned that confessing to a one-sided love takes courage.”

“So, does that mean you can love someone now?”

“That would be difficult.”

Aiden shook his head.

Loving someone seemed far more exhausting than assassinating a dragon or a high-ranking demon.

That was his honest opinion.

“Why do people confess when they know they’ll be rejected? I still don’t get it.”

“Fei told you herself, didn’t she? That the truth becomes lighter when spoken.”

Carl grinned.

It was the same kind of smile his master used to show him sometimes.

The kind only those who knew something deeper could wear.

“You wouldn’t understand yet. You’ve never been truly sincere about anything in your life.”

“……”

“I look forward to the day you are. The day you truly love someone. It’ll be a sight to behold.”

“That will never happen.”

“As an assassin, maybe. But as a retired one? I wouldn’t be so sure. You’ve already changed a lot.”

“Break time’s over.”

Aiden stood abruptly.

He had no interest in continuing this conversation.

“I’ll be stepping out for a bit.”

“Where to?”

“That shop where you bought Lucy’s robe.”

Something about that store still bothered him.

A high-end boutique in a small town like Centum—

It didn’t sit right.

*  *  *

Bellato’s General Store.

Bellato, the shopkeeper, stood nearly two meters tall, his entire body packed with solid muscle.

He was dusting off the items in the storage cabinet with a feather duster.

“Haaaam.”

Bellato let out a massive yawn, stretching his mouth wide.

Centum is a boring town.

Most customers are drifters, and the goods they buy are mostly junk.

Even though “VIP business” is the core of my trade…

This is just too much.

The location is a disaster.

Would a VIP really go out of their way to visit such a remote place?

There was no telling when he would get a proper customer. It had already been a month since he opened the shop.

Jingle!

The doorbell chimed.

A young man entered the shop.

He was exceptionally handsome.

Mysterious silver hair.

Large, clear eyes.

A finely sculpted nose and jawline.

Judging by his noble appearance, he is no ordinary customer.

“Welcome to Bellato’s Shop.”

Bellato greeted the young man with a bright smile.

“Is there something you’re looking for?”

“I’ll take a look around first.”

“Yes, yes. Let me know if you need anything.”

Bellato returned to the counter.

The young man casually scanned the shop before turning to face Bellato.

“Do you have Kato’s Compass?”

At those words, Bellato’s mouth fell open. He never expected anyone in this backwater to know about Kato’s Compass.

Could it be…?

“Are you a VIP?”

“Not quite. I just figured this place might have one.”

“And why is that?”

“That storage room over there is sealed with a barrier. A fifth-class illusion spell, to be exact. You also have a financial tattoo on your hand.”

“……”

“You’re a merchant of the Abaris Trading Company, aren’t you?”

Bellato was stunned for the second time.

This young man had identified his affiliation and status in an instant.

The Abaris Trading Company.

A secret organization with only twelve branches across the continent.

A company that sold everything—except what didn’t exist.

The problem was that this young man, who wasn’t even a VIP, had recognized the company and his identity at a glance.

This was serious.

It could mean that the company’s information had been leaked.

“Who are you? How do you know about the company?”

Bellato’s voice changed completely. It was now imposing, laced with a subtle threat.

“Just know that I was introduced.”

“By whom?”

“I can’t say. But does it matter? Without an introduction, it’s impossible to find this shop,” the young man countered calmly and logically.

He wasn’t wrong.

The Abaris Trading Company only conducted transactions through VIP referrals.

Especially in a newly established branch like Centum.

There was no way he had stumbled upon it by accident.

“If you want to trade with us, you need to pass the VIP test.”

“Then let’s proceed.”

“Fine. We’ll do it right now. Follow me.”

Bellato led him to the reception area and took a seat at the table.

The young man sat across from him.

To Bellato, the young man looked frail. He didn’t exude the aura of a strong warrior in the slightest.

Which meant he was as good as dead.

Either he became a VIP… or he died.

Those were the only two choices, and Bellato highly doubted he’d qualify as a VIP.

Given that he has noticed the barrier… he is likely a mage.

If that is the case, he has come to the wrong place.

Each of the twelve branches had its own VIP test, determined at the discretion of the shopkeeper.

“What kind of test is it?”

“It’s simple. An arm-wrestling match.”

Bellato smirked and placed his elbow firmly on the table.

He was Bellato, the embodiment of brute strength.

There was no way this young man could defeat him in arm wrestling.

Not unless the heavens collapsed…

Thud!

“……!”

Bellato’s eyes widened in shock.

The young man had slammed his arm down effortlessly.

Before he could even exert any strength, it was over.

“Am I a VIP now?”

“Actually… I’m left-handed. So that was just practice. Let’s go again.”

Bellato made a feeble excuse and prepared for round two.

He had realized the young man relied on speed, so this time, he infused mana into his arm in advance.

Thud!

His wrist was pinned down again.

He had been thoroughly prepared, yet he lost once more.

The dull ache in his wrist and forearm assured him this was no dream…

Had he really lost an arm-wrestling match?

To this seemingly delicate young man?

With sheer strength?

Bellato gaped at the young man, who remained utterly composed—bored, even.

“Who the hell are you?”

“A VIP.”

“That’s not what I meant. How did you overpower me?”

“You still don’t get it, do you?”

A terrifying killing intent radiated from the young man’s body.

For the first time in a long while, Bellato felt fear. The hairs on his arms stood on end, and a chill ran down his spine.

“Are you strong enough to question me?”

Arrogant words.

But undeniable truth.

This wasn’t just an arm-wrestling match.

It had been a direct contest of strength.

Bellato had been proven weaker.

Admitting it was difficult, but…

“I apologize. Welcome as a VIP of Abaris.”

Bellato quickly understood his position and treated the young man with utmost respect.

He entered the barrier-protected storage room and retrieved Kato’s Compass.

At a glance, it looked like an ordinary compass, but it was actually an S-rank artifact.

Its function was astonishing.

By simply holding the compass and thinking of someone, the needle would point in their direction.

It was the ultimate tracking tool.

Even the trading company struggled to keep it in stock.

The young man paid for the compass with a large diamond, proving that his wealth was as shocking as his strength.

As he took hold of the compass…

The needle spun rapidly before pointing straight at Bellato.

“What are you doing? The compass only has three uses.”

“Run your business properly. Make sure the town doesn’t suffer any damage,” the young man replied indifferently.
 

To be continued

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