CH 61

While adjusting to life in Benjamin Village, Hydra came in contact with many sages and continued to learn and train with them.

She decided to set out once more on a journey.

Instead of going back to the Hero’s party, she decided to try to follow the path to defeat the Demon King of her own volition, and grew more powerful than ever.

However, what she wanted to do most right now was apologize to Seto.

It has taken her a long time to grow as strong as she had, but without first apologizing to him, she could not declare that she has moved forward.

She decided to leave the village, hoping to make up for all the time she spent in it.

On this day, she woke up early in the morning, then after her usual workout, she went to meet a certain person.

The one who, even among the numerous sages, taught her so much, Gendar the shaman.

[Good morning, Sir Gendar.] (Hydra)

[Oh, you’re early. Oh well, have a seat. I’ll make you some tea.] (Gendar)

Gendar boiled some water and brewed tea.

During that brief waiting time, he spoke quickly.

[You look full of determination. Like a bird taking off at dawn in full force. …So you’re going, huh. There’ll be danger.] (Gendar)

[Gendar-dono, I’ve become fully aware of my own weakness. The only way for me to overcome this is to walk with my own feet, see with my own eyes, hear with my own ears, touch with my own skin, and feel for myself. Instead of thinking, I must feel things as they are. I have met countless sages and masters in this village, and I believe that it broadened my horizons more than ever before. Which is why…!] (Hydra)

[Indeed. You have grown stronger than ever. Now your martial art is unparalleled. …Which is why I think it’ll be dangerous for you. In proportion to the power you have gained, a great amount of impatience has emerged in you. You are trying to rush the results.] (Gendar)

[…Do you mean to say you understand me?] (Hydra)

[I do. With your level of skill, you could defeat any monster. And maybe even the Demon King. …But is this really what you want to do? You should look into yourself one more time first.] (Gendar)

Admonished by Gendar, Hydra hung her head in sadness.

While she painfully realized that she still had much to learn and experience, the delicious black tea aroma rose up.

The old man poured the tea into a cup and placed it on the table in front of her.

[Anyway, have a drink. Let my tea soothe your soul.] (Gendar)

[…Thank you for the drink.] (Hydra)

She blew on the surface of the tea and sipped it slowly.

The flavor permeated through her throat, she let out a sigh, and could feel her body relax.

[Is my resolve actually so weak that it’s swayed by a cup of tea? …I may have gotten stronger physically, but it seems I haven’t changed at all on the inside, have I…?] (Hydra)

[Don’t worry about it. It’s the same for everyone. We think we have a strong will, but it only takes one little thing to make it waver. Dieting is a good example, you know? There’s always a gap between reality and ideals.] (Gendar)

[…And that’s exactly why my former sense of justice was so severely off the mark, wasn’t it. The justice of a little girl who can’t distinguish between reality and ideals… is worth less than a cup of tea.] (Hydra)

Hydra felt her former self being swayed like the shimmer of a candlelight.

Right when she thought that she still lacked training, Gendar sat in front of her with a gentle look on his face.

From what he learned by watching her, she seemed to be the type to be pretty strongly prejudiced.

Whether it was in a positive or negative way, it tremendously blurred her judgment.

[Hmm. You put too much faith in justice. This makes it no different than a curse.] (Gendar)

[Eh? But…] (Hydra)

[Listen. Justice is a truly whimsical and wanton thing. It can be born out of compassion and charity, or it can be born out of hatred and jealousy, as a matter of course. In some cases, it can be determined by the number of people on either side. Therefore, everyone continues to seek absolute justice. Justice that is immutable in this world, promises eternity; and protects us. …But alas, such a thing doesn’t exist. Nay, to begin with, there is no such thing as justice in this world. Only a myriad of interpretations masquerading as justice. And you take those countless interpretations much too seriously.] (Gendar)

[G-Gendar-dono, don’t you think this is a rather irrational argument? Besides, I’m… Umm, well…] (Hydra)

Gendar chuckled at Hydra’s dismay, but proceeded.

[Maybe so. But have you ever witnessed justice in the mountains? Or justice at sea? The bounty of the sea is undoubtedly beneficial to mankind, but the raging sea quickly swallows people up. So is this justice? …There is none. Whether it’s for wind, water, fire, or earth, there is no such thing as justice in nature.] (Gendar)

—-In nature, justice was the most unnatural thing in the world.

He sipped his tea as he muttered these last words.

After this conversation, Hydra felt as if a cool breeze had passed through her heart.

This was great knowledge for her, who believed that justice was absolute and was struggling with the gap between justice and reality.

[You mustn’t pursue justice so impulsively. Or you’ll end up living an unnatural existence. No living soul can bear such a thing. Now you might wonder what a soul is, then. Well, it’s a title of honor designating “the instinct to remain one with nature”. …And you mustn’t forget that. Your soul will always be a part of heaven and earth. Keep moving forward without losing sight of yourself, and heaven and earth will meet your demands.” (Gendar)

Gendar smiled as he said that.

His speech was somewhat philosophical, yet filled with compassion for life.

Hydra took a deep breath through her nose, and exhaled slowly through her mouth.

The interior of Gender’s house was somewhat dimly lit, and combined with the array of tools from the Yeller tribe around them, it looked eerie at first glance.

However, as she interacted with and talked to him, she found the darkness in there calming.

Rather than feeling like in a haunted space, Hydra felt something like the peacefulness of the earth at night.

As one living soul, the conviction that this was how it should be began to grow in her.

[Gendar-dono. As you can see, I’m still a novice who has gained nothing but strength. There’s still so much for me to learn. I’m sure that if I study here for the next decades, I may be able to come closer to your level of wisdom.] (Hydra)

[I’m sure you will.] (Gendar)

[However, I do not have enough time. As you said, I’m in a hurry. My mind remains unchanged in spite of our conversation just now. …Which is why I request something of you.] (Hydra)

After speaking in a downcast but clear tone of voice, Hydra looks straight at Gender’s face.

Gendar knew right away.

That she was about to walk into her own death.

[I have met many people in this village, and heard many stories. —-Gendar-dono, please give me permission to undergo the “forbidden trial”!] (Hydra)

[…You mean to undergo that? If so, then you’ll expose yourself to even greater dangers. It will be a much harsher and more brutal path than your journey to defeat the Demon King, you know? Can you stand between the sacred and the wicked, and overcome your fear?] (Gendar)

[It doesn’t matter! …I have to become stronger no matter what, both physically and mentally, and continue my journey. …And I have to apologize to him. To Seto.] (Hydra)

[You might die before then, you know?] (Gendar)

[How does my future look to you, Gendar-dono?] (Hydra)

This time, Hydra smiled back at him.

She did not have the air of a martial artist this time, and the way she sat in her chair with the cheerful tenderness of a little girl was a far cry from the way she looked a few moments ago.

She was willing to accept any kind of fate.

Even if death lied ahead, she was willing to face it.

[…Perhaps this is also in accordance with the totems’ guidance. Let’s go see the village mayor. We must tell her as well.] (Gendar)

Thus, Hydra and Gendar headed to the village mayor’s residence.

So she could overcome the forbidden trial, and spread her own wings like the birds in the sky.