ALL NOVEL As I was bickering with Nameless while walking down the street, the atmosphere around us began to change.
The sounds of conversations from the people around started to fade, replaced by an increasingly potent stench.
“We must be nearing the slums,” I said.
“Yes, but before that, Master,” Nameless replied.
“Hm?”
Nameless shoved her half-exposed right arm into my coat, smirking with satisfaction like she’d just aced an exam.
This is uncomfortable…
My clothing was just a tad too large since I miscalculated the size when I made it, making it cumbersome to wield the sword if I didn’t leave one arm out.
I had intentionally kept this style after that, though.
“Why are you suddenly doing that?” I asked.
“It seems those who live in the slums have nothing to lose and might recklessly charge at you just based on your looks, Master.”
Hmm, I didn’t think my appearance was that outstanding…
I pouted in protest, trying to catch her eye, but seeing Nameless’s serious expression made me relent and just nod.
Seeing my compliance, Nameless’s smile widened.
After walking for about three minutes, I blinked at the sight before me.
“This place is…”
The slums.
Filthy, polluted streets. The well people were drinking from emanated a nauseating odor, and rats scurried about as if they owned the place, evading sight like it was a game.
People clad in tattered clothes with emaciated bodies bore scars all over, perhaps from untreated injuries, while crows circled in the sky, cawing as if waiting for their next meal.
I frowned.
Not because of the stench or the filth, but because I couldn’t bear to look directly at this scene.
“…”
I had come with a light-hearted thought of helping those in need, but was met with disillusionment at their dire state.
There was no light in their eyes; in other words, the gaze of one who had given up everything.
Even those who seemed to fare a bit better had a venomous glint in their eyes. Could I really help them change if I tried?
My motivation ebbed right at the start.
I wondered how Nameless was holding up, stealing a glance at her. Surprisingly, she appeared quite calm.
…Perhaps she was used to such scenes?
I shook my head.
Now wasn’t the time to ponder Nameless’s past.
Turning my gaze from her, I looked back at the street.
If my disciple was so composed, I, as her master, shouldn’t be shaken.
“Haah…”
Taking a deep breath, I slapped my cheeks.
“Master?”
“Alright, let’s give it a go,” I declared, stepping forward with resolve.
…
Though Nameless and I had discussed for quite a while, we hadn’t really come up with anything concrete.
Honestly, I’ve got no talent for this, and Nameless was only 19 – how was she supposed to know how to form a group?
So, what we decided was the voluntary work Nameless had mentioned: to create an environment wherein those filled with hatred could step out of it and follow me.
That’s why we’re here in the slums, aiming to gain their trust.
But that doesn’t mean I plan to help everyone in the slums.
I’ll pick and choose whom to help.
I don’t believe in the innate goodness or evil of people; I think a person’s nature is shaped by the environment they’re raised in.
Of course, there are exceptions, but based on experience, most of the time I’m right.
After all, the people in the slums must have been born and raised here; what could they have learned?
Sure, some might rise from humble beginnings, but even humble beginnings come with limitations.
If I were to describe this place…
It’s a muddy mixture of filth, wouldn’t you say?
Still, I won’t give up on helping them change—flowers can bloom in mud, after all.
Someday, they might even help me out.
Hmm, am I overthinking this whole helping-people thing?
A bitter smile crept onto my face.
As I mentioned before, I’m not inherently virtuous.
I think of my own well-being first; I’m naturally a coward and reluctant to take the lead.
The reason we’ve come to the slums is merely to use them to fulfill my personal desires, gathering souls for my own ends, right?
Sure, I’ll use other methods too, but the essence of my motivations isn’t exactly pure.
A sigh escaped my lips.
Using these poor souls…
I used to think I was pretty good at heart, but what I’m considering now is undeniably wicked.
“Tsk, these wandering thoughts won’t quit,” I muttered, shaking my head.
For the sake of my goals, it’s time to get to work.
– Cheon Mu-myeong
Honestly, I didn’t want to come here.
Look around right now; aren’t there some who dare to cast disrespectful glances at my Master?
I’d love to just go over and poke their eyes out, but I knew that would just disappoint my Master, so I held back.
I don’t want to be on her bad side.
I glared at those disrespectful guys, then looked at my Master again.
She was rummaging through a bag larger than herself, seemingly searching for something.
“Hm, I brought some food… Ah! Here it is!”
Food, huh?
Surely, the people in the slums have probably never even seen decent food, so they’d rush over like moths to a flame.
But if that was a good choice?
Well…
Some here were born in this place, but most are likely those who overreached their means and ended up here.
Did those types really have no greed left?
Even now, the smell of food wafting from my Master’s bag was attracting some with venomous eyes as they approached slowly.
“Tsk.”
If they cross a line, I won’t hesitate to hit them.
With a wooden sword, they won’t actually die, and I’m sure my Master would understand.
As I placed my hand on the wooden sword, I kept a cautious eye out when something nudged against my side.
I looked down at my Master.
“Nameless, put the wooden sword away.”
“Yes, Master.”
I quickly withdrew my hand from the sword and found a better stance.
No need to question it.
My Master always makes the right decision; I just need to follow her lead.
She took out a handful of bread and scattered it on the ground.
It was as if she was forcing them to compete.
“Those who are hungry, come eat,” she said, stepping back to stand next to me.
As soon as my Master’s words hung in the air, the people in the slums rushed towards the scattered bread, their hunger overwhelming any hesitation.
However, there weren’t nearly enough pieces of bread compared to the number of people rushing in.
Glancing back at the bag, it was still full of bread.
Could it be that my Master’s small stature limited how much she could scatter at once?
“Master, it seems there’s a shortage of bread compared to how many people are rushing in.”
I asked this, planting a seed of doubt in my mind, but my Master simply kept staring straight ahead as she spoke.
“I did that on purpose.”
Am I still lacking in understanding?
I racked my brain, trying to make sense of her intent, but nothing was coming to me.
Swallowing my embarrassment, I decided to ask her the reason anyway.
“Well, what happens when starving people see food?”
Turning my gaze away from her, I took in the sight of two people fighting as if to the death over a single piece of bread.
I had anticipated this scene, so it didn’t move me, but was this truly what my Master desired?
I shook my head.
It can’t be.
Yet, it seemed I still lacked insight into my Master’s thoughts, leaving me to merely state the obvious.
“…Won’t they hurl themselves at the food like this?”
Without hesitation, my Master answered.
“Exactly, they are being true to their desires.”
My Master nodded thoughtfully and continued.
“People reveal their true nature when faced with their desires, and those at the bottom particularly exhibit this trait.”
“True nature…?”
“Yes, I want to see their true nature.”
My Master pointed at something.
“Look over there.”
Following her finger, I spotted a scene that widened my eyes.
“Do you see? Even after days of hunger, there are those who will still share their food with others.”
My Master wore a bright smile.
“The person receiving the food might be their family or a valued friend, but their relationship doesn’t matter.”
She turned her gaze from the scene and looked at me with a smile.
“But what’s important here is that they shared what they had.”
Ah, I see.
“A person who can think of others before themselves.”
So that’s what my Master was aiming for—trying to broadly discern the traits of the people living in the slums through such a simple method.
“I want to gather those with that kind of benevolent nature and help them shed the hatred that doesn’t suit them.”
Once again, my Master is someone truly deserving of respect.