ALL NOVEL Chapter 100
100. My True Self
“The sea? Why here?”
The seawater seems to have absorbed the color of the sky. The enchanting sound of the waves and the cries of birds. Irena said she wanted to bring me here.
“…This is the place where I decided to become a blacksmith.”
With her hands on her hips, Irena murmured while gazing at the sea. Seeing her illuminated by the sunlight, I also turned to look at the sea.
“Was there a reason? Seeing the sea and deciding to become a blacksmith?”
“Long ago, a samurai was here. The samurai showed me how vast the world is. This place is special.”
…Is that really true? Knowing Irena, it feels like she might be exaggerating.
As she said that, she turned towards me.
“Arx, thank you. I really wanted to say that.”
Irena smiled. Her full, lively smile made me look away instinctively.
“…Aren’t you slipping back into your old way of speaking?”
“It’s fine. It’s just the two of us here. Besides, here, I feel like I can truly be myself.”
“Is that why you chose this place?”
Irena nodded. She crouched down and started talking while watching the waves.
“You know, I really do appreciate it. Without you, Arx, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“That’s not true. You completed Scarlet Blossom on your own.”
“No, if I had been alone, I wouldn’t have made it. I almost gave up many times.”
Maybe that’s true. But I couldn’t completely agree with her.
“But—if I had been more dependable, you might have won.”
“Hey!”
Suddenly, Irena stood up and flicked my forehead. I was so startled by the sudden action that I couldn’t help but be surprised.
Seeing me hold my forehead, Irena laughed in satisfaction. After laughing for a while, she let out a breath.
“You know—I was scared. What if I couldn’t win? I knew I was the least skilled among the master’s apprentices. If I couldn’t win, I’d just be a dropout.”
“All the more reason—”
“But now, I think it’s fine.”
She caught me off guard.
“Thanks to you, Arx, I realized something important. I was so focused on doing well that I forgot what really mattered—being myself. This place is my beginning. It reminds me of when I first dreamed of being a blacksmith.”
Not winning—that’s a fact and perhaps a missed opportunity.
But hearing Irena’s words, the regret I felt disappeared.
Because—her smile was genuinely joyful and beautiful.
“Thank you, Arx. For fighting with me. For reminding me of what’s important. And— I love you.”
At that moment, Irena stood on tiptoe and kissed my lips.
The sound of the waves silenced the world. It was just a brief moment, but I felt like I could see every nuance of her expression.
Irena pulled away and smiled mischievously. The sea reflected the light, and her beaming smile sparkled like it was adorned.
—We hadn’t missed anything at all.
I gave it my all. I didn’t win the competition. But—the girl in front of me looked happier than anyone in the world.
“Irena, that just now—”
“Alright, we did what we came for, so let’s head back! Master said there’s a ‘post-competition party’ today!”
Just as I was about to ask her true intentions, she was back to being the usual Irena.
“Wow! You switch gears fast!”
“Yeah! That was just a short break! I’m going to be the best blacksmith in the world; I can’t stay still!”
Irena, fully energetic again. What happened to her saying “It’s just the two of us”?
“Hey! You’re slow, Arx! Let’s race to the town to see who’s the real samurai!”
Irena started running ahead. I suppressed the urge to sigh and followed her.
Looking back, the waves kept moving, repeating their motion.
The spray at the water’s edge glittered in the sunlight, looking almost like sparks.