Blessing Curse (Curse of Blessing)
43. Determinants of Beginning and End

I'm still hurt by Hyujin's departure, but I can't just stop here. They said that the snake monster managed to be conquered, but we also ran out of energy and manpower to capture it, until he managed to escape. Very unfortunate.

And now I have returned to the little hut where I met the recluse's grandfather. I wanted to ask him a few things, but he also did not come, whereas I had no way of calling him.

"Huh...is there any other way that I can meet him in person?" my murmur refers to the recluse's grandfather.

I had asked the princesses how I could meet the old hermit, but they shook their heads.

"We're not allowed to meet you and don't know what's going on inside the hut" Mozhawa said.

"When should I wait?!" I stood up from my seat and continued to grumble, annoyed at waiting for him.

"SWUUUUSSHHH!!!"

Suddenly a fairly long stick-like wood shot rapidly towards my face, causing my eyes to wide and quickly try to dodge it. I slightly bent my body back until the wood just hit the wooden wall behind me and I immediately saw it fall.

"Almost!" my mumbling was still frightened "what surprise is this?" add me with rage.

But not yet here, the wood again floated and stood in the air. Not too long but enough to give a feeling of goosebumps if you imagine the resulting blow.

I took a few steps back from the flying wood. Still wondering who the owner of this damn wood is.

Not long after, the wood quickly came back to attack me, delivering its punch. I was prepared to take the attack.

When the brown wood attacked me like an object used to hit someone, I swiftly turned around and avoided it. Back he attacked with another punch and I managed to speed up my movements to get back to dodging. Until the moment I let my guard down and the wood managed to make a follow-up attack. I can only protect my body with my arms crossed in front of me.

"BAKKK!!!"

"OHHH...!!! IT HURTS!"

I rubbed both of my arms that were hit by the blow from the damn brown wood while grimacing in pain. It really hurts, who is this damn creature that is currently playing me!.

"Show yourself! don't just scare me with a piece of ugly wood!" I screamed around me, hoping that the person or figure showed itself.

Not long after that the wood again stood floating in the air, and after that the figure of an old hermit was seen standing next to him and holding the brown wood that had attacked me.

"Hahahaha.." chortled the ascetic grandfather who followed the tremors all over his body, following his laughter.

"It turns out you.." I'm annoyed.

"Hahaha... hahhhh.." looks like he took a breath because he was tired of laughing "I didn't expect, you're slower than I thought.." continued to put on his smile teeth.

"I was pretty quick in dodging your attack earlier!" my mouth does not accept his statement.

"Yes.yes.yes.., but you were injured on the last attack, it's a sign that you haven't been able to focus your attention.." he explained patiently to me.

I have to admit, I really liked this recluse's grandfather. I feel like I'm with my own grandfather, or maybe I just miss my family? even I myself have never felt how to be in the affection of a grandfather. Huhh.

"But you attacked without my knowledge?!" I'm looking for a logical reason for my carelessness.

"Your enemy won't tell you when he will attack" he replied briefly and appropriately.

He has a point

I just watched him walk and sit on the edge of the wooden bed holding his cane.

"As I recall, you never used a cane to walk?" I was wondering at him.

"This wand?" one of his eyebrows shot up as he asked back to me.

But with the blink of an eye, the stick he had been holding suddenly turned into a sword. Not too good, but enough to amaze me.

"Is that one of your magic powers?" I'm interested in him.

"Wait a while, young man. You seem to have forgotten your primary purpose for calling me?"

Oh right! I want to ask you something else. But his ability dazzled my eyes.

But I was curious about his abilities. And as I recall, I was saved by a golden bird before falling from Dayeon's ice hill. Is possible-

"Well.well.yahh, enough to just think about it in your head, you need to express it out so that the people around you understand"

True, he also has magic like Mizhawa who can hear the thoughts of others.

I slowly sat down next to him without my knowledge.

"Just-who are you?" I asked again the end of every curiosity.

"One day you'll understand who I am, but for now I can't help you directly. There will be times when we will exchange ideas, but that is until the time comes. And to wait for that moment, you have to continue together with the nine lights, you have to lead them, you have to unite, because that is all that can help you" with patience he said all that. But I'm still me, it's hard to digest things I don't understand.

Ninth light? does it refer to the nine Daegun princesses?

"I really don't understand, can you explain it to me? I'm not that smart to catch every sentence of yours!" maybe I sound rude, but to hell with it, I just want everything to be clear in my head.

"Moon Gi Tae, son of Moon Youngjae, grandson of Moon Ha Jin and son of the shadow of darkness. You are destined to be the beginning and the end."

"The beginning and the end? the son of the shadow of darkness? wh-what-what do you mean all this?" I asked again with an expression of my irritation. Even without me noticing my hands were floating in the air in frustration.

"Slowly, you will understand it. And they are the bridge of your knowledge. You will need and help each other because you are destiny." The old grandfather slowly stood up at the end of his sentence and turned around to look back at me.

"Save this sword, use it when you need it. Don't forget to keep practicing so that you can control the powerful force that is on you. Because you almost destroyed everything before!" he continued by giving me the sword that is now in its sheath. He looked at me sharply as if threatening me when he said I had almost harmed the nine princesses, and I also did not forget that I had lost one of the most valuable people.

His advice made me stoop. I realized how bad I had done before.

"You don't need to feel guilty.this is the beginning of all the trials you will face, so prepare yourself and strengthen your heart!" by putting his hand on my shoulder, he tried to strengthen me.

I just slowly understood his words.

Then he turned his back and prepared to disappear. But before that "And don't worry, the poison I gave you was the antidote to both of your previously out of control energies" after his last gaze he lost through the wooden walls of this room.

A moment after the recluse's grandfather had completely disappeared, I fell back down lamenting my carelessness.

How could I ask all of them to sacrifice themselves in the presence of a savage monster? what has taken my mind?! do I want to act like a hero?!

I couldn't go back to showing them my face. I have no heart to think about the safety of others. They're Daegun's would-be leaders, and I almost harmed them.

Moments later, I just locked myself in this little room. I was so embarrassed, I was sure that when I was unconscious, they were also having trouble returning their energy. And I, by his discretion, walked here and there and thought it was normal.

The day changed and I didn't think it was raining. This room has no windows, several times I heard knocking on the door and they called my name, maybe they were worried. But who am I to return to show this selfless face before them.

Until morning I sat on a wooden bed. Doubt to step foot.

I should how? am I really a coward?

Almost two months we were together, but I stayed like this, there was no progress. I'm sure they're disappointed in me.

"God...what is my punishment?!"