I silently watched as my father descended the stairs.

‘Father. Do you know when, in my previous life before regression, I thought of you the most? When you passed away? When I was gathering materials dreaming of revenge? When my body and mind were exhausted? Or when I was lonely? None of those. It was when I was about your age.’

Since I had never truly opened my heart to my father even once, I thought I wouldn’t miss him. I expected only vague longing, nothing more.

But strangely, as I grew older, he came to mind from time to time.

Now, I felt like I could have a deep conversation with him.

Now, I felt like I could understand him better. Now.

My father stopped a few steps ahead of me.

Our gazes intertwined in midair. Though I had met his eyes many times, never had there been a moment as tense as today.

At last, my father spoke.

“Did you say you were jealous because my Majeons look so cool?”

His first words were meant for me. He was telling the others that I had said their Majeons were impressive.

I glanced at the Majeons standing on both sides.

I briefly met each of their eyes. The emotions behind their gazes watching us differed.

As always, Kwonma’s eyes were heavy. Beside the calm Ilhwageomjon was Chimma with half-lidded eyes concealing complicated feelings. Mabool’s gaze was full of interest, Dokwang was indifferent, and Hyeolchendomma’s eyes burned hot. Seophon Majeon looked confident, and Geugak Soma was smiling.

“Yes. I’m jealous enough to want all of them as my Majeons.”

The first to respond was Hyeolchendomma.

“Little Pill Master, please do not say such things even as a joke.”

Today, Hyeolchendomma had clearly taken it upon himself to reprimand me. He knew that someone had to play that role here today. I was grateful to him.

“What can I do if they’re cool?”

Hyeolchendomma shot me a stern look. Really now? I suppressed my urge to tease him and respectfully bowed my head.

“I’m sorry. I will be more careful with my words and actions from now on.”

As I apologized, I saw Mabool smiling at me. He was the most delighted among the audience today.

Since lately he’s been carving statues and staying out of trouble, this must be exciting for him.

As if answering my thoughts, Mabool’s radiance deepened.

Still, I mustn’t be careless. It’s one thing to joke around when alone with a Majeon or among them, but clumsy jokes before my father could be a great disrespect to the Majeons.

Knowing when to hold back is more important than the act of joking itself.

I looked back at my father.

“Father, I have one question I want to ask.”

All eyes focused on me. Amid the tense atmosphere, I finally asked my father.

“What is your dream, Father?”

I sensed everyone flinch. Surely they were thinking, You’re really going to ask the Sect Leader that directly?

Naturally, everyone’s gaze shifted to my father. They weren’t waiting for an answer — no one here didn’t know his dream. They were curious how he would respond. Would he answer calmly, or would he get angry?

My father said nothing.

His silence intensified the tension. He neither exuded dark energy nor hardened his expression, but still made everyone uneasy.

The one who broke the swelling tension was Chimma. With his slurred voice, he spoke up. At moments like these, the only one who could intervene was a drunkard.

“Before asking the Sect Leader’s dream, you should reveal the Little Pill Master’s first.”

“That’s only right. I was shortsighted. My dreams change often, so if you ask again later, I might give a different answer.”

I deliberately said this loud enough for my father to hear. Not to have just one dream. Dreams can change.

At that moment, Chimma kindly asked.

“Does our Little Pill Master’s dream really change often?”

Quick-witted Chimma knew what I meant by that remark.

“A dream doesn’t have to be just one, does it? We live only once; sometimes we dream this, sometimes that. What if we have no dream at all?”

I looked at Chimma but was really speaking to my father. Of course, he understood.

I didn’t just let the drunk intrude on the stage.

“Chimma, do you have a dream?”

He would’ve laughed and said that he’s meant to drink his whole life.

“To unify the martial world under the Sect Leader.”

Chimma spoke the phrase for my father. He knew my father wouldn’t say it himself.

“Let me say it for you. Use me to speak to the Sect Leader.”

He was repaying his guilt for siding with my father.

“Do you think the world will improve if martial artists unify?”

Well, I couldn’t ask my father that directly.

“At least it would be better than now.”

“No, I think it will get worse.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Imagine a world where Demonic Martial Artists, righteous «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» sects, and heretical sects are all united. Demonic Martial Artists, feeling the unity, would try to oppress the righteous and heretical sects. The defeated heretical sects would commit even worse evils in despair. The righteous sects would try everything to restore their martial world, causing countless sacrifices along the way. In the end, it would be a world full of dissatisfaction.”

My father and the Majeons quietly listened.

“Can’t we just control that chaos strongly?”

Chimma spoke on their behalf.

“Is a martial world ruled by oppression and control the world you want to unify?”

I said this to Chimma, but it was meant for my father.

I’d actually experienced it. The martial world where the balance of dark sects collapsed. The nature of power never leaves a void.

Another power called the Twelve Zodiac Kings took that place, making the martial world even harsher.

It would be the same here. The Palma Majeons would replace the Zodiac Kings.

“I think it’s a world that should never be unified.”

Thanks to Chimma’s help, I could say everything I wanted.

Now that the drunk was sent off the stage, I looked at my father. I didn’t know what meaning my words held for him.

He looked at me with the same unchanged expression as before.

“Father, putting everything else aside, I don’t want to lose anyone here.”

“No one here fears death.”

“Yes, I know. I know you are all brave. I know you would risk your lives without hesitation at your orders. This is purely my personal feeling. My selfish desire not to lose these people.”

I looked around the Majeons with serious eyes.

“I don’t want to lose a single one here. If one person dies, you say seven remain? No, I’ll miss that one person my whole life.”

My father probably couldn’t understand. Why I want to save so badly. He wouldn’t know about my previous life’s efforts to save those who needed saving.

My gaze shifted from the Majeons back to my father.

“To be honest, this is my effort for my own life. Yes. It’s my desperate struggle not to live a life longing for the dead.”

“Is that your dream?”

“No, that’s my personal wish. Just my selfishness.”

“Then what is your dream?”

My father allowed me to say everything on this stage. As if he made me the protagonist here.

“Say all you want to say in front of me and the Majeons.”

Maybe that’s why this fight might be even harder.

“My dream is to live pondering in the Taesa Hall.”

My father, and everyone else, showed puzzled expressions. They wouldn’t understand from just those words.

“I will sit in the Taesa Hall and ponder. Which Majeon should I visit today? What dish should I ask the Heavenly Demon Hall’s cook to prepare?”

“Do you think that seat is so leisurely?”

“I know better. I know how much you handle from that seat.”

Seeing his expression questioning why I said that, I calmly asked him back.

“Isn’t that why I need to ponder more? I can’t live my whole life just working.”

“!”

Depending on perspective, it was a clear provocation to my father, so the atmosphere fell again. My father just stood quietly, but the Majeons’ reactions shaped the mood.

“How can I efficiently handle work? How can I maximize my time? I’ll ponder every day. When I get bored, I’ll visit the Martial Alliance Leader. If teasing that earnest person tires me out, I’ll go to the Apostle Alliance Leader and ask if their dancing skills are still good. That is my dream.”

My real dream is to not be trapped in the Taesa Hall. To roam the world freely — that is my true dream.

But I couldn’t say that in front of my father. He lived his whole life in the Taesa Hall for the main sect. Even for my older brother pushed out of the hall.

So what I say now is a compromise of my dream. Father, can’t dreams be compromised? If you treat them too preciously, you might never achieve them.

“What about you, Father? Don’t you want to live such a life?”

My answer and question tread a fine line. But if I don’t speak so firmly, I can’t face my father on this stage. I can’t persuade him.

But the reality my father believed was cold.

“That earnest Martial Alliance Leader you mentioned will one day stab you in the back and say it couldn’t be helped. Because he was the leader. And he’ll look down at your dying eyes, spouting worthless agreements.”

Kwonma, Ilhwageomjon, and Mabool nodded. Hyeolchendomma and Chimma didn’t react but wore expressions not much different from my father’s.

They didn’t trust the righteous sects, regardless of their relationship with me. And that distrust wouldn’t be limited to just the righteous sects.

“How long can the Apostle Alliance Leader keep dancing? When will an ambush come from that dance? Do you really believe humans won’t change? That they’ll stay steadfast before circumstances or interests?”

I didn’t answer. I could have argued, but I didn’t. This was my father’s conclusion from his long life and experience.

I sighed lightly and spoke softly.

“Maybe that’s true.”

Then I looked around the Majeons.

“Isn’t there someone here to step up and help? Sect Leader, it won’t always be like that! Someone, please!”

Hyeolchendomma said with his eyes, “Don’t mess around, you fool. Be serious!”

Mabool was genuinely amused and grinning ear to ear.

Ilhwageomjon’s eyes said, “Sorry,” and Chimma pretended to be drunk.

And then someone I never expected stepped forward.

“The Little Pill Master won’t go down easily.”

It wasn’t Geugak Soma. The person who stepped up was the one you’d never expect to — Kwonma.

“He only looks like that on the outside; the Little Pill Master doesn’t trust people easily.”

“Indeed! Master knows his disciple well. But is that a compliment or an insult?”

I spoke to my father again.

“Even if I’m betrayed by them, it’s okay. I’m training martial arts like crazy for that moment. The knives behind my back won’t pierce my skin, and in the end, the dance will end as a dance.”

“Do you intend to waste the martial arts you trained so hard for?”

“I intend to enjoy life with that skill.”

“Just worrying about what to eat and where to visit?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

My father slowly moved forward.

He headed toward Geugak Soma.

Geugak Soma’s gaze was calm, but I felt tense.

“Will you still support the Little Pill Master?”

It was a burdensome question. The question itself implied I should answer no.

But like his pure white mask, Geugak Soma’s heart was united.

“Yes, I support the Little Pill Master’s will.”

My father asked him again.

“Even if you can never wear that Immortal Flame Mask again?”

The Immortal Flame Mask was the mask Geugak Soma wore when going to war. When the Majeons stepped forward for me before my father, Geugak Soma wore that mask and asked my father.

Because it was his most treasured mask, it was the most painful place to strike.

But Geugak Soma spoke to my father more politely than ever.

“Fortunately, I have several masks.”

His gaze shifted from my father to me.

“I will live wearing the Mask of Joy with the Little Pill Master for life.”

The Mask of Joy was worn at major school events or banquets.

Though he gave up his favorite Immortal Flame Mask, his eyes behind the mask were clear and deep. That gaze when he revealed his sincerity.

In front of my father, not anyone else, that sincerity was all I could repay.

I will make that banquet the grandest ever.

All the Majeons looked at Geugak Soma. Each gaze carried different emotions.

My father said no more to Geugak Soma. Could he really have asked without knowing that reaction?

My father now stood before Seophon Majeon.

She was confident even in front of my father. Everyone knew he didn’t like Dokwang and Seophon Majeon. That’s why she tried to be even more confident.

I thought he’d ask why she sided with the Little Pill Master, but he asked unexpectedly.

“How is your training going?”

Surprised by the gentle question, Seophon Majeon answered politely.

“I’m training diligently.”

I thought he would just encourage and leave.

“Don’t forget. You are my Majeon.”

This time Seophon Majeon was surprised and moved. She thought she was out of favor with my father.

“Still, will you stay here?”

Seophon Majeon was startled. She looked at me.

I often don’t know what my father thinks, but one thing I do know.

He is not the kind to pressure a young Majeon in a situation like this to bring her under his wing.

Which means? This is not my father pressuring me, but caring for her.

She’s not ready to rebel yet. It’s my father’s wish and consideration that she quietly grows among the Majeons.

I sent my feelings to her with my eyes.

You may go.

Seophon Majeon politely bowed to me.

“I will serve you well in the future.”

She crossed the red carpet to stand on the opposite side.

Of course, what I said to her with my eyes was completely different.

“How shameless! Did you really think carefully and decide who you’ll live longer as a Majeon with? Where in the world is such a spineless ghost?”

Mabool, standing beside her, smiled brightly.

“Not easy, right?”

On this stage, my father was strong.

He led this stage, taking care of me, Geugak Soma, and Seophon Majeon.

He never lost his temper. My father’s fight was dignified and noble.

All the Majeons’ eyes were on me. Their gazes asked the same question.

Little Pill Master, what will you do now?