Chapter 31: The Apprenticeship Talk
After Amy left and the door closed, the room suddenly fell silent.
I sat on the wooden bed, while Himmel sat with his legs crossed, staring at the window for a moment before speaking.
"So... your name is Ren, correct?"
"Yes," I replied succinctly, my face turning serious.
Himmel turned, his smile thin but his gaze sharp as always. "Well, well, you don't mince words, do you?"
Then I remembered something and said to him, "Oh, before you ask further, how long was I unconscious, old man?" I asked him.
The old man, Himmel, tilted his head, looking slightly annoyed. "Hey... I'm not that old, brat!"
I quickly waved my hand, not wanting to prolong this conversation.
"My apologies, my apologies, Sir, or—Grandpa? So, how long was I unconscious?"
He nodded his head in acceptance of my word, "That address is better."
Hearing that, I muttered internally, 'But isn't a person who has a granddaughter already old? And the term 'Grandpa' proves it...'
Then Himmel's heavy voice sounded in front of me. He leaned back in his seat. "You've been unconscious for two days."
"Two days??" That surprised and astonished me greatly.
"Yes, two days," he continued, stretching out two fingers very casually as if it were a common thing.
I frowned slightly, not expecting it to have been that long. "It turns out it's been that long..."
"Your question has been answered," Himmel said, still leaning back. "——so, brat, shall we continue to the original discussion, okay?"
I nodded slightly and looked into his eyes with resignation. "Go ahead, old man."
Himmel's mouth twitched slightly at being called that again, but he wasn't angry, only sighing. "I see, well..."
He mumbled something, but I didn't hear it. He looked at me again and cleared his throat softly.
"Ahem—alright, let's stop beating around the bush. I'll be honest with you," he said, then pointed at me with his finger, "Brat, you have extraordinary talent."
I looked up and tilted my head with the most innocent gesture. "I know, so?"
Seeing my reaction, his eyebrows furrowed, and his mouth twitched harder, like a wave. A vein bulged on Himmel's forehead.
'This boy...', Himmel fumed internally. But he remained silent. 'Just be patient for now. He's still a child, yes, a child!'
Himmel looked at me, still silent on the bed, waiting for him to speak. He sighed softly and said.
"And if I may say so—" Himmel said to me seriously, leaning his body forward.
"—Your lightning energy... is wild, but pure. That's not something just anyone possesses."
I was silent for a moment, then casually leaned my back against the headboard of the bed.
"So what do you want, old man?" I asked, already knowing where this was going. I wasn't foolish enough not to recognize this cliché situation.
'I want you to—'
Himmel crossed his arms. "I want to take you as my disciple."
Hearing his words, I sighed softly internally. 'Predictable.'
I looked at him, feigning surprise. I straightened my back, which had been leaning, and said.
"You mean me?" I asked with a shocked expression.
Himmel chuckled, seeing my expression. He leaned back in his own seat again, and looked at me with a playful smirk that made me want to slap him.
"You know what I mean, brat," Himmel said, tapping the armrest of the chair he was sitting in. Then he turned toward me.
"Previously, I never had a disciple and didn't want one," he said, pointing at me again, "So you're lucky to get a master like me who has never accepted a single disciple."
I stared at him in silence for a few seconds. "But, why me?" I asked, this time genuinely.
"Because you are strong—" Himmel replied. "And when I saw you fighting that pest, I was honestly very surprised."
Hearing him call the person I fought a 'pest,' my eyes widened. I leaned forward, asking in a slightly urgent tone.
"Old man, who are you, really?" I asked, truly curious.
He tilted his head, looking surprised by my question. "You don't know who I am??"
I just looked at him with a flat gaze, saying nothing. Seeing that, he straightened his back.
"You seriously don't know me??" Himmel asked, pointing at himself.
"No." I quickly shook my head, truly having no idea who this old man was.
Himmel stared at me for a long time, his face slowly changing from confused to... offended? Then he let out a long sigh, closing his eyes while rubbing his face with one hand.
"Ugh... kids these days, no sense of history," he muttered quietly.
I leaned forward slightly, "History?"
He opened one eye, looking at me as if seeing something unbelievable. "You really don't know who I am?"
I shrugged, a little curious about who this person was. "Maybe I would know if you gave me a hint, Old Man."
A low laugh escaped his mouth—a deep laugh, but with a tone that sent shivers down my spine.
He stood up from his chair slowly, placing both his hands behind his back like a respectable old figure—though he was indeed old.
"Listen closely, brat," he said, staring straight at me.
"I am Himmel Logan, the Demon Sword."
My eyes widened, but that was all. I quickly tilted my head, looking at Himmel with a blank expression.
"Who?" I asked quickly, "I've never heard that name before..."
I met eyes with Himmel, who was staring at me as if I were the stupidest person in the world. He raised his hand slowly, pointing at me.
"You..." he spoke with a vacant look.
"...What??" I asked, genuinely not knowing what he would say next.
Seeing my utterly clueless expression, Himmel sighed and slowly slumped his shoulders. He said to me while massaging the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah... I just remembered now, you're the kid from the orphanage," he murmured softly.
I nodded. Then I tilted my head and looked at Himmel. I said in a teasing tone.
"But, that nickname, honestly—it's very cool."
Himmel sat back down in his seat, rubbing his hair. The corner of his lip curled into a soft smile, and he nodded.
"It is," he said, then crossed his arms and looked at me sharply. "So, after hearing my title, do you want to be my disciple?"