Chapter 49

"Mr. Hisashi! What do you do?" Aime asks as she paints on her canvas (paper).

"I... serve for the shogun. Though that was before. For now, I wanted to go around the continent until…"

"Until what?" Aime asks. "Nothing."

"Ehhhh! You're doing that again."

"Hahaha. You're too young." Aime cutely pouts at how Hisashi dodges her question again. It has been a week since she started her lessons. She improved greatly but it was still very much the work of a beginner. The most noticeable aspect Hisashi can comment on is her arms, as they looked rather stiff.

As if limited by some kind of movement, her arms don't move as smoothly as they can. Still, she did well for her level and her diligence enables her to improve quite fast.

"It looks pretty good." Hisashi compliments her as he looks at her paintings. It was her friend's, not Aime's father as she want to practice on other people's faces. Since they are facing each other, Hisashi has to stand up to her work.

Seeing Hisashi look at her work, Aime also stood up and wanted to look at his work. However, Hisashi lifted her by her armpits and prevented her from doing so.

"That's not fair! Let me see!" Aime said, pouting at her teacher.

"No. Hahaha. I'm not finished yet! Don't look at it." Hisashi said.

"You're lying. I saw a girl! A beautiful one! Is that your sister? Or daughter?" Aime said as she saw a rather young girl.

"None of your business," Hisashi said in a more serious tone.

"Ehhh! Grumpy Old Man!" Aime said as she returns to her work. Hisashi just looks at her before.

"Why don't you tell me more about the town? Or maybe your father this time?" Hisashi said.

"Okay! I'll tell you about Father!" Aime then enthusiastically told Hisashi about her father.

According to her, her father was an expert doll maker. When he was young, he used to wander around the country selling dolls for little girls and boys like him and it was always the best. Although he wasn't rich, being able to see little children play with the dolls he made fulfilled him with so much joy that he didn't need any material gratification.

But if there's something that made him happy more than before, it was finding the love of his life. One day while on the town, a single mother asked him for a doll for her daughter. However, the mother didn't have any money to pay him. Nonetheless, he happily gave them one without needing to pay for it. He also shaped it to look like her daughter as her daughter was always alone.

That girl was Aime. After their first interaction, her father and mother met many times again and eventually fell in love with each other. They even had a wedding and her father decided to settle in a smaller town.

Unfortunately, fate is a cruel mistress as one day, Aime and her mother became ill – terribly ill. No matter what her father did, Aime and his wife didn't get better. It lasted for a short four days before his wife passed away while Aime returned to normal.

Since then her father became quieter and he almost stopped making dolls, if not for Aime.

"Even though I am not father's real daughter, he still loved me and take care of me. So I wanted to give him a present and draw him." Aime gloomily said as she look down.

"How old are you back then?" Hisashi asks. However, Aime became slightly uncomfortable.

"Nevermind that." 'I shouldn't have asked. It's not like it matters."

"I am more little then. Father only told me what happened because I can't remember. Father said that it was a child- childhood anmesia? Amsenia?" "Amnesia." Hisashi corrects. He became even more curious about her but he maintain focused and continued teaching her.

"Tomorrow, I may be late. So, do you like to study at an earlier time or later?" Hisashi asks.

"Early. Where are you going, Teacher?"

"I have somewhere to be. Adult stuff." Hisashi simply answered and Aime didn't question him more.

"Okay."

…

Ryuya sits down as someone serves him tea. Compared to before, he now has an eyepatch on his right eye. Even though his scroll is now non-existent, he still has a katana by his waist as a weapon. In front of him, Jozou is now wearing a different mask from when he was back at the dojo.

"I'm sorry about yer master. I hope he didn't make it hard for ya guys." Ryuya said as he talked about Hisashi.

"She passed away in peace. But that man, Gozu, right? He's a demon in human skin. I would've got some chronic injuries if he didn't have the generosity to heal me." Jozou said.

'Haha. That seems about right. I never saw him train someone, but at least I know that he won't let them die. I wonder if he changed though.' Ryuya thought to himself.

"Then, what about my offer? Do ya accept?" He asks Jozou.

"I'll take a look first and give you my answer after." "Okay!" Ryuya said with a smile as he drinks his tea.

…

"This should be the entrance." Hisashi ponders as he looks at the vines. He's been looking around the town just for this place and it was worth the weeks. That was also the reason why he took in Aime's offer.

If he successfully unveiled this dungeon, it'll probably be a great discovery. According to the town's people, this used to be a famous spot for adventurers and hwarangs centuries ago. However, one day, a bunch of those people never came back from their expedition. So, people started to come less and people eventually forgot about it.

Using a wind blade, Hisashi held his hand out and cut down all the vines revealing a small hole. He moves it all with his bare hands and there, a massive stairs led downstairs. When he got there, it was pitch dark and a fire came out of his palm. He lights up the torches by the wall and what greets him is a massive 20-foot gate with intricate design patterns on it.

"Here I come," Hisashi said as he secures his straw hat and he pushes the massive gate with his raw physical strength.