After going through a few more procedures since that day, Wol-yeong truly became my priest.

The name he received was indeed “Ha Hyun,” just as I had first thought when I heard his name.

“It feels like things are finally back on track.”

Odd as it was, it really felt that way.

Until now, if there had been a slight feeling of going off track, now it felt like at least the basic framework was in place, should I say?

In the midst of one climax unfolding, it seemed like all the characters I knew had appeared. Upon scrutiny, that wasn’t entirely incorrect either.

In any case, time kept flowing even after Wol-yeong, or rather Ha Hyun, became my priest.

Unlike when I had entered, Ha Hyun had separately taken a test, and the results were also verified by Jang Mun-in, so he didn’t face issues like me, where talk came afterwards.

In fact, maybe because Ha Hyun and I were both involved in descending the mountain and coming back up, it felt more like avoiding further mention. About both Ha Hyun and me.

“Yes, this is what I came down for.”

The results were satisfying in various ways.

…And Ha Hyun began basic training peacefully. It wasn’t much different from when I first came, but the starting difficulty level was a bit higher than mine.

Moreover, as befitting a protagonist, his progress was subtly faster than mine in everything from building stamina to understanding the martial arts techniques. He probably also benefited from originally being healthy and having good stamina.

So before spring even came, when the plum blossoms on the plum trees planted inside the mountain gate were about to bloom, Ha Hyun was able to hold a wooden sword for the first time.

Watching this, I thought,

“Did Ha Hyun’s original talent equate to the special favor of my possession?”

Indeed, a protagonist.

Yes, I decided to just think of him as the protagonist.

And apart from the issue of talent, at this age, a year or two makes a pretty big difference. My body was thirteen and Ha Hyun was fifteen, so it wasn’t surprising that he was more advanced than me.

I didn’t pay much attention to his superiority and continued to refine the six combined swords and consistently practiced the Jade Maiden Sword and the Seven Plague Sword.

A hassle-free sworn-sibling relationship, a peaceful daily life.

The most important part was fulfilled, so there was no need to look elsewhere.

“I’ve done all I needed to do.”

I had also managed to repair the initially ruined first impression and made sure he passed the entry test without injury. That should be good enough.
Contrary to how I thought and lived, the adults subtly observed me for a while. I knew why. As soon as Ha Hyun arrived, he stood out, and the time the master spent on him increased.

‘They seem worried that I might be jealous of Ha Hyun, or think that the master’s attention has been stolen from me.’

Well, it was a legitimate concern. In the original work, ‘Ha Hyun’ did behave that way.

‘Despite having so many attentive adults, I hated the priest till the end.’

Was it because I had already become irritable?

In any case, since I was not ‘Ha Hyun,’ I consistently went about my tasks, pretending not to know what they were worried about. After a while, the adults who had been observant eventually looked pleased and averted their gaze.

Seasons changed, and suddenly it was spring.

The splendidly blooming plum trees began to drop petals on the ground, the trees were covered with green leaves, and the weather noticeably warmed up.

It was precisely a year since I had come to the volcano.

During training, the master briefly left.

He said it wouldn’t take long and I could rest until he returned, but I was contemplating a specific part of the sword drawing, so I didn’t sit down.

Then Ha Hyun, who had been sitting nearby and watching me, suddenly called out to me.

“Master.”

“Yes.”

Lowering the sword that had been raised to eye level, I looked back at Ha Hyun. He had an odd expression on his face; it looked half admiring, half bored.

Ha Hyun mumbled.

“Master… you really only train, huh.”

Hmm, that’s random. Why call someone over to spout nonsense?

“What else is there to do at the top of a volcano?”

I asked nonchalantly.

“You saw it on the way up, this place is a high and rugged rock mountain.”

“…Yes.”

Taking advantage of Ha Hyun initiating conversation, I briefly set down my wooden sword.

I leaned the wooden sword against my leg so it wouldn’t fall over, retied my slightly disheveled hair, and added,

“It’s good to get better if you’re going to hold a sword anyway.”

“But people don’t usually train as hard as you for such vague reasons.”

Well, that’s true.

But I had no specific words to explain that, so I simply looked back at Ha Hyun and asked,

“Is that so?”

He looked at me intently, his elbows on his knees and his chin resting on his palms, and asked.
“Yes, is that so. Or is there something you want to do because you’re doing well? Like a goal.”

“…Goal?”