I Became the Martial God's Youngest Disciple

Episode 293

"What bullshit..."

I trailed off and tried to cool my head. I didn't know if this was a good thing, but perhaps due to the cold, I was able to regain my composure relatively quickly.

So if I interpreted Ymir's words correctly, it meant that at least two people were needed to leave this place, and one would be left forever in this cold land. It was a malicious arrangement.

I tried to hold back harsh words before asking, "Is there any other way?"

—Isn't this the other method? It is another way to get out without drawing Mjolnir.

"Is there a more normal way than sacrificing a person?"

—You are saying strange things. How many things in this world can be obtained without a sacrifice?

It was as if a sharp icicle had dug into my skin. His form wasn't visible and only his voice could be heard, but for a moment, I felt as if Ymir had pressed a sharpened axe to my throat.

—I've finished saying everything I have to say. Now you will have to answer my questions.

I fell silent.

—My consciousness has returned, which means my messenger is somewhere in this body. I will ask. Where is my messenger?

"If it is your messenger, I have a hunch." I spoke the name of the giant kid that even the Martial God was particularly concerned about. "Could you be talking about Mir Giant?"

—Who is that?

"A mutant giant with blue hair and great strength."

To my surprise, Ymir shook his head this time.

—I don't think so. My messenger isn't a giant.

"Huh? But—"

—If you meet my messenger... Guide them here... Mjolnir... has to meet its master... then it will drive away this darkness of the Golden Horn...

Ymir's voice gradually faded before disappearing completely. A cold wind blew. It seemed to be the last trace left by Ymir's consciousness as he left.

"Young Master."

The moment I heard his voice, I regretted bringing Ramon along. Of course, I didn't show it. I kept up appearances and spoke as if nothing was wrong. "It looks like that guy is still groggy from a long nap. Let's just ignore the nonsense of that big lump, Senior."

"Do you really think it is nonsense?"

"Of course it was. In the first place, it might not be Ymir. The church members got swept away with us, but I don't see a single one of them. Is there any guarantee that this isn't some illusion they created?"

Ramon didn't respond. I looked back and saw that his expression was deeply troubled. I said, "Senior, don't think useless things."

"You are saying something strange. Do you know what I am thinking?"

"I can tell by looking at your face."

"Is that so? Then how about we consider the worst case scenario?"

"What?"

"No matter what, the time of choice will definitely come. We don't have much time left. In that case, between the two of us, who should be sacrificed in order to be most helpful to those left behind—"

"Don't talk nonsense." I deliberately cut off Ramon. I glared at the goblin senior before continuing, "I'm used to situations like this. Guys like that always talk the same way. They make it seem like there is no other choice and then force you into a false choice. There is no need to listen. There is still time."

"Is there really? Do you really think so?"

I was speechless for a moment. Then I realized that I wasn't supposed to react like this.

Ramon stared at me with a piercing gaze and said, "Young Master, from the moment I decided to follow you through the stone door, I was prepared to risk my life. Do you know? I didn't come here reluctantly or because someone forced me. I chose this."

His sharp voice gradually calmed down.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind. How old was this goblin? Normally, the lifespan of a goblin was less than half that of a human. How many years had he lived for him to show such a detached attitude toward his own life?

"It isn't easy, but everyone has the right to risk their own life. Heroes implicitly respect each other's rights. Young Master, don't you respect me? Do you still see me as a small, weak goblin? You entered Corrupted and called me a senior, but you still don't think of lesser races as heroes?"

I wondered if Ramon had always been so talkative. It wasn't like he had ever been quiet. But right now, Ramon was staring at me with an expression that was completely different from what I usually saw from him.

Still, that didn't mean I could shut my mouth now. I replied, "I think you are the one who is confused, not me. Do you know? From where I'm standing, you look like someone desperate to throw your life away. You just asked whether you look like a small and weak goblin to me."

I shook my head before continuing, "I've never thought that way since meeting you. Senior, aren't you the one who thinks of yourself that way? You don't think you can help in a normal way, so you want to sacrifice your life to contribute to this mission. Isn't that right?"

"That..." This time, it was Ramon who was speechless. He looked at me with a complicated gaze.

He was no doubt amazed that someone like me actually understood the mindset of the weak.

However, I was someone who had been much weaker and worse than Ramon. There was a time when I'd thought it didn't matter if I died, as long as it helped the Badniker family or I left a mark on that Great Family.

I said, "Life isn't something consumable, and every person has a role to play. Don't waste it."

Ramon looked at me with wide eyes before suddenly laughing. Could it be that he'd suddenly gone crazy? I blinked in confusion.

Then Ramon said, "I'm sorry. That is so similar to what Lanfero said to me before."

"Really?"

"Yes. I felt it from the beginning, but you really resemble him."

Was that so? I briefly recalled Lanfero, but I couldn't think of any resemblance except the color of our hair.

At that moment, the smiling Ramon suddenly reached out to Mjolnir. "Hey, this hammer is even bigger than me. Is there anyone who can wield this? Ah, right. It was originally a giant's weapon."

I watched quietly.

"Let me grab it. I think something will happen." Ramon jumped up and grabbed the handle of the hammer as if he was hanging from some type of iron bar.

It was so ridiculous that I forgot about the situation and burst out laughing. "Puhaha."

"Groan. As expected, it didn't work. I thought it would be fun if I could become the master of the hammer at a time like this. A goblin being the master of a giant's weapon. Wouldn't everyone be shocked?"

"Even if you became the master, you wouldn't be able to swing it with your strength. It would be faster for the hammer to swing you instead."

"That's true." Ramon laughed. "Huhu. By the way, it is so cold here. Should we go back to the building where the campfire was earlier? It will warm up my body a bit."

"Let's do that."

I nodded in agreement and we left the largest building—no, we left the building that seemed to be a temple.

Meanwhile, the snowstorm outside had become much more intense. It didn't take long for my body to start freezing.

"You must hurry, demon king's adversary. In this eternal winter, the snowstorm won't stop, but will only intensify."

Ymir's words vaguely came to mind. It was already hard to move right now, and it would get even worse. If so, Ramon's remaining time likely wasn't the only thing to consider.

I wanted to use the First Fire Technique, but I couldn't waste my remaining internal energy, so I held back.

We managed to return to the building. Surprisingly, the campfire was still burning.

I slowly warmed up my cold body while Ramon rummaged through his bag. He asked, "Come to think of it, do you like tea?"

"Huh? Well, I don't hate it."

"I see. It will taste better to you starting from today. Tea always feels special at times like this."

I wondered what he was pulling out, but Ramon produced a teapot. Dumbfounded, I asked, "Senior, did you bring this too?"

"You never know what will happen. There is nothing wrong with being thoroughly prepared."

I was speechless.

"What kind of tea do you like? There are many different kinds."

"Um, is there anything sweet?"

"Of course." Ramon pulled out a sugar cube and grinned. "Sugar is a companion for any hard task."

***

We didn't even have proper tea water. We just melted the snow nearby. In addition, there was no heat control, so we scorched the teapot over the campfire.

Still, the nameless tea that Ramon brewed was truly special. The first taste was sweet. Then after swallowing it, a bitter taste remained on my tongue.

I lifted the cup again in an attempt to wash away the lingering bitterness, but I found myself finishing the entire serving in one go. The residual warmth in my throat and stomach slowly spread throughout my body, as if thawing me from the inside out.

"It is definitely special," I remarked.

"I'm glad you think so," Ramon said.

"What is the name of the tea?"

"There is no name. How about Ramon tea?"

"Kukuk. It is a funny name."

However, the Ramon tea had an unexpected side effect. Maybe it was because it warmed my body and filled my stomach with liquid, but drowsiness started to overcome me.

"Senior, how long has it been?" I asked.

"The time?" Ramon opened his pocket watch and replied, "It has been around ten hours since entering. There is still some time. Rest your eyes a bit. I will wake you up."

I yawned while feeling slightly uncomfortable. It was hard to understand why my head was dizzy and I felt sluggish. I tried to say, "I can't do that. By the way, aren't you tired?"

"Young Master, wasn't I unconscious longer than you? Thanks to that, I am still doing well."

That seemed plausible.

I yawned again. Eventually, I rubbed snow all over my face to force myself awake. The cold touched my eyelids and the drowsiness seemed to subside a bit.

Ramon said, "You don't have to go that far..."

I changed the topic. "I was thinking about it while we drank that tea."

"Yes."

"Isn't the temple big? In the past, this place was used by Ymir's monks. I'm sure there must be a manual somewhere for situations like this."

"That might be true. However, didn't Ymir himself say that there was no other way?"

"If people were always the best judge of their own bodies, why would medicine exist? The giant monks are the ones who actually lived in Ymir's stomach. It wouldn't be strange if they knew other methods that even Ymir doesn't know about."

"That makes sense." Ramon smiled slightly. "Young Master, you are really amazing."

"Really?"

"Yes. You don't know how to give up even in this situation."

"I don't know. Is it really wise not to give up?" My honest feelings suddenly flowed out. I was a bit surprised.

Ramon looked at me with wide eyes as if he was also surprised. Then he soon chuckled and replied, "Do you think it is foolish to not give up?"

"Sometimes."

"Well, that might be the case. However, I think it is the basic quality of a hero." Ramon stared into the fire and continued, "A person who doesn't give up under any circumstances becomes a beacon of light just by existing. It doesn't matter if it is just words and you feel different inside. It is because in a truly hopeless situation, saying things like 'things will be okay,' or 'everything will be fine,' or 'there is another way,' is an incredibly hard thing to do."

I listened quietly.

"Sometimes, just that is enough. Young Master, you will be a wonderful hero."

I felt like Ramon was getting too carried away, and was a bit embarrassed. However, saying things this cheesy without blinking was one of his characteristics.

"Senior Ramon," I began.

"Yes?"

"Let's survive together and go out."

"Of course, Young Master. I have no intention of giving up on my life either." Ramon laughed. "Let's survive together." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

***

Suddenly, as my blurry mind regained consciousness, I realized that I had fallen asleep.

I immediately jumped up. A chill ran down my spine as I looked around.

Ramon wasn't here anymore.