"Then let's compromise on 'old man'."

"That's fine. My disciple calls me that too."

I nodded and lifted my teacup.

"So I've heard."

Saul asked with interest, "Did my disciple talk about this old man?"

"Well, yes. From time to time."

"What did she say?"

I looked at the old man's expectant eyes and... decided to tell a white lie for Shushruta's sake, and for Saul's. It was a white lie, not a black one.

"She said you were a sky-like master whom she respects very much."

The old man's eyes widened.

"Is that really true?"

"I am a person who does not know how to lie."

"Hmph."

Saul cleared his throat as if he were happy. ...The more I looked at him, the more he seemed like Shushruta. His tone, actions, and even his habits. They were a perfect match. Is this what Shushruta will be like when she gets old?

The old Shushruta, with a smile on her face, asked as if changing the subject.

"By the way, how did you see through my cute little prank?"

I used the words the Heavenly Demon had said to me.

"You can tell just by looking, you fool."

"...Fool?"

"Ah, sorry. I thought I was talking to Shushruta, so I said it without thinking."

Saul laughed heartily.

"That one does resemble me a lot. She would follow me around and observe and imitate every little thing I did."

Looking at him this way, he was just like a grandfather bragging about his cute granddaughter.

Saul brought the tea to his lips and said.

"I've heard a lot from Shushruta."

"She talked about me?"

Saul nodded.

"She came to visit after a long time and talked about you all night. For some reason, the recent stories of just a few months were more than the stories of the past few years she spent in Akenaten. It seems she had more fun then."

I pictured Shushruta chattering away to her grandfather.

"The reason I wanted to see you today was to hear your true feelings."

Saul suddenly stood up from his seat, went over to the place covered by the cloth, and slowly took something out of his pocket. It was something like a long stick, and Saul brought it to the candle and then stuck it in the small brazier next to it.

Smoke began to rise from the brazier.

"It's incense."

I stared at the smoke coming from the brazier and asked.

"Why the incense all of a sudden?"

"Do you know that my disciple has good hearing?"

"I know it well."

"She's probably eavesdropping on our conversation right now. That would be meaningless. I called you because I wanted to have a man-to-man talk."

So that's why he had guided me to this deep part of the house.

The incense began to fill the room. It was a strange feeling. How should I put it? It felt as if this space was completely cut off from the outside. It was hard to explain.

Saul sat down opposite me again and looked at me with serious eyes.

"It seems Shushruta has given you her heart."

I looked back at him silently.

"A thief giving her heart. But that was an indispensable procedure to steal a person's heart. Because the heart is more precious than anything else, so you can't just take it. To take it, you have to give it first. Shushruta has finally gathered her courage. She has grown a step. But what's important here is..."

"...."

"Whether you have also given your heart to my disciple."

Saul looked into my eyes.

"Did the wolf's child finally succeed in stealing a person's heart?"

I slowly nodded.

"Your disciple has become a great thief."

Saul stared at me as if to read the sincerity in my eyes. I did not avoid his transparent eyes.

Saul, who had been staring at my eyes silently for a long time, opened his mouth.

"...You."

"Speak."

"Your eyes have gone mad."

"...?"

"They are eyes that are incomparably ruthless. I'm afraid they'll appear in my dreams."

"No, why the sudden curse?"

Saul continued to look at my eyes carefully and said.

"But I don't see the monster I saw in the arena."

"You were at the arena?"

"It was a historic event, so why wouldn't I go? I hid in the crowd and watched. It was an amazing display of martial arts. To be honest, I was impressed."

"Hmm."

It seemed Saul was trying to find traces of the Heart Demon he had seen in the arena that day, rather than trying to figure out if my words were true or false.

"It's all thanks to you that the Black Prince sat on the throne. Thanks to you, we were able to avoid a great disaster."

"Don't mention it."

"And, personally, there is something I must express my gratitude for."

Suddenly, Saul straightened his clothes and bowed his head so low that his forehead almost touched the table.

"Thank you for saving this worthless old man's disciple. Not just once, but several times."

"...."

"Even though Shushruta was after your life, you let her go once, and when my wicked disciples were after her, you fought with her, and when the Knight of Frost came, I heard you fought him alone. I know you didn't do it for any reward or gratitude. But as a master, I can't show my face without bowing my head like this."

I looked at Saul's completely white hair and said.

"Do you know what Jack and James called Shushruta?"

"...What did they call her?"

"They called her a thieving bitch."

"...."

Thump!

Saul slammed his forehead on the table.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

He slammed it a few more times before raising his head. Blood was trickling from his forehead.

"I have no face. It is clearly my fault."

I stared at the blood trickling down his face and said.

"As long as you know."

Saul wiped the trickling blood with his sleeve and then said.

"If there's anything you want, just say it."

"There's nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"The one who has the legacy of Ophosis has no reason to want anything."

Saul slowly nodded his head.

"That's true. You were a man who asked to share all the treasure you had obtained with difficulty. You didn't even have any lingering attachment to the ninth sword. In many ways, you are a rare man."

It seems Shushruta had also told him about my request when I gave her the dagger.

"Then is there anything you're curious about? One thing. I'll answer whatever I know."

I thought for a moment, then asked.

"That old compass that Shushruta carries around. Do you know what it does?"

Saul blinked and asked.

"Are you sure you want to go with that? There are many things you could get from me."

"I can't stand being curious."

"Well, I'll be. I can't figure you out at all."

The old man laughed heartily and explained.

"It's an ancient treasure. One that has only been passed down in legends. There were only records of it, and at some point, its whereabouts became unknown, so it was dismissed as a made-up story."

"Oho."

"That compass does not point north."

"Then?"

"It points to what its owner desires."

"Anything?"

"Anything. A person, an object, a place. I heard it doesn't discriminate."

"There's something like that?"

"That's why it's an ancient treasure."

"Aha."

My curiosity was satisfied. So that's what it was.

"Are you done?"

I nodded with satisfaction.

"I am."

Saul stared at me blankly.

"What are you looking at?"

"I heard you have no desire for material things, but the more I look at you, the more I can't figure you out. You're the first person I can't figure out more than Shushruta."

"Don't mention it."

"It wasn't entirely a compliment."

"...."

"I heard you're going back to Maia soon."

"That's right."

"Are you really just planning on going back to Maia?"

I nodded.

"I have no more business here."

"Then can I ask you a favor?"

"Let's hear it."

"Please take her with you."

I stared at Saul, who was asking me for a favor.

"The reason?"

"Her expression has brightened. She was a girl who would just hide in a corner and cry silently."

"...."

"She belongs by your side. Much more than staying by the side of an old man on the verge of death. That's a much better sight. What fun is there in a life spent wandering in the shadows?"

"I can't force her to go. It's up to her. If she wants to go, we'll go together. If she wants to stay, she can."

Saul had a satisfied expression.

"That's enough. Please take good care of her. She has a dazed side to her, but please look at her kindly."

"? She hasn't even made a choice yet, what are you talking about?"

Saul smiled brightly.

"Her heart had already tilted a long time ago. As a master, wouldn't I be able to read my disciple's heart?"

"...."

"She was just worried about this old man."

I exchanged a long gaze with Shushruta's master.

"Once again, please take good care of her."

"...The pleasure is all mine."

We drank our tea at the same time.

Saul put down his teacup and said.

"When are you leaving?"

"I don't know. I'm planning on leaving as soon as the teleportation magic circle is ready. That Black Prince fellow is dragging his feet."

Saul stroked his chin.

"Hmm. As far as I know, the court magicians have already been selected. They are currently coordinating."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? If you want, you can leave tomorrow."

"Oh?"

"But you'll have to accept the margin of error. I don't recommend it. There's a more important problem."

"A problem? What problem?"

Saul looked at me.

"As far as I know, the Black Prince doesn't know where you came from. Of course, he doesn't know where you're trying to return to either. Am I right?"

"Yes. You are."

"And you're trying to go to Maia in one go using the teleportation magic circle?"

"That's right."

"Hmm... so a problem is bound to arise."

"...?"

He shook his head.

"What problem, you ask? You should ask the Black Prince about that. I don't want to get caught in the crossfire."

I didn't know what that problem was, but anyway, it was unexpected news. To think that I could leave as early as tomorrow. I was excited at the thought of nagging the Black Prince as soon as I got back.

"Thank you for the information."

"Compared to what you've done, this is nothing. By the way, wasn't your knight investiture ceremony today?"

"That's right. It's scheduled for the afternoon, so I have some time."

"Then would you like a drink? I happen to have some good liquor."

"Sounds good."

***

Shushruta paced back and forth in front of the gate, anxious. They had arrived when the sun was just beginning to rise, but now the sun was high in the sky. It was a situation where she couldn't guarantee that they would arrive on time for the investiture ceremony even if they left now.

Shushruta, who had been pacing in front of the gate, pounded on the gate and shouted at the inside.

Thump, thump, thump!

"Jean, you bastard!"

Jean, who was sweeping the courtyard inside the gate, sighed.

"What is it now, ma'am?"

"What on earth are you doing in there that's taking so long? And why did you light the incense? I can't hear what you're talking about at all!"

"It was probably lit so you couldn't hear."

"This won't do. Open the gate right now. I'll go in myself."

"...."

"You bastard, Jean! Can't you open it!"

Still, Shushruta didn't think of climbing over the wall.

"You don't seem to know, but I am the legendary phantom thief, the Shadow Phantom Shushruta. If you keep acting like this, I can make your night very painful!"

"...What are you going to do."

"I'll steal the pillow you sleep on without a trace! If you don't want to lose sleep at night because you don't have a pillow that fits your head, open the gate right now!"

"...."

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Just as Shushruta was pounding on the door as if to break it, the sound of the inner house's door opening was heard. She immediately ran to the wall and jumped up to look inside.

Ashuban and the old man were walking out of the inner house side by side.

Shushruta's face brightened.

"Ashuban! Are you alright!"

At Shushruta's voice, Ashuban looked that way. Ashuban, who had spotted her peeking her head over the wall and jumping up and down, came over with a happy expression.

"Oh, our thieving cat. Have you been well?"

But his gait was a bit strange. Staggering. It looked as if he had drunk a poison that paralyzed his lower body.

Seeing that, Shushruta clung to the wall and shouted.

"Old geezer! What did you do to my companion! Did you poison him!"

Saul looked at Shushruta, who was peeking her head over the wall, and laughed.

"It's a poison, a poison."

"What?"

"We shared a little bit of cold fire."

Ashuban, who had approached in an instant, patted Shushruta's head, which was peeking over the wall.

"Hehe."

"Eek! You smell of alcohol! Don't touch me!"

Shushruta, holding onto the wall with one hand, swatted away Ashuban's hand, which was roughly stroking her hair, with the other.

Saul, who was watching the scene with a pleased expression, said.

"I've held you for too long. You may go now."

Ashuban, who had been dodging Shushruta's swatting hand and stroking her hair, turned around.

"I enjoyed the precious liquor."

"I'm glad you liked it."

Ashuban shot up into the air in an instant and landed on the wall.

At that, Shushruta shouted.

"You fool! You're not supposed to climb over the wall here!"

"Why?"

"It brings bad luck!"

Shushruta still firmly believed the words Saul had said when she was a child.

Ashuban, who had grabbed the back of Shushruta's neck, reached out and put her inside the wall.

"Now you're an accomplice too."

"...."

Shushruta, dangling, glared at Ashuban.

Ashuban said to the now calm her.

"Now, say goodbye to your master."

Shushruta glared at Saul.

Saul spoke first.

"Child of the wolf. I have confirmed what you have stolen."

"...How was it?"

Saul gave a gentle smile.

"It was excellent."

"Really?"

"Congratulations on becoming a great thief who can steal anything."

Shushruta raised one corner of her mouth and smiled.

"Hmph. Of course."

The king of thieves and the child of the wolf looked at each other and smiled.

Thump!

"Meow!"

"What are you grinning about? Say goodbye to your master. We have to go."

"I was about to!"

"You should have done it sooner."

Shushruta, who had been having a staring contest with Ashuban for a moment, looked at Saul.

"Old man. I'm leaving."

"When will you be back?"

"I'll come when I have an interesting story."

"Do that."

"Drink less, and don't get sick."

"I will."

Shushruta glared at Jean, who was holding a broom on his shoulder.

"You bastard, Jean!"

"Yes."

"Take good care of the old man while I'm gone. Whether I'm here or not, it doesn't change the fact that I'm the old man's favorite disciple, so don't get cocky."

"I will keep that in mind."

Shushruta, who had finished her goodbyes, turned to Ashuban.

"Are you done?"

"I am."

"Let's go."

Pat!

The two became a single gust of wind, kicked off the wall, and disappeared to the other side.

Saul watched the wall they had left for a long time.

(End of Chapter)