Her delicate frame trembled slightly as she endured the sharp pain in her bottom, clenched her teeth, and Lily repeated,

"Lily... shouldn’t... shouldn’t trouble Master!"

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

Hand raised high, Ink Ash mercilessly delivered three more slaps.

"Wrong. Say it again." His voice was calm but brooked no argument.

Tears swirled in her reddened eyes. Biting down hard on her snow-white wrist to hold back sobs, Lily whispered,

"Lily should... independently resolve... the trouble."

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

Three crisp slaps echoed. Ink Ash, scowling, increased the force.

Staring coldly at his stubborn disciple, Ink Ash—head throbbing—finally played his trump card.

"One last chance. Fail to answer... and don’t blame me for what comes next."

"W-wah... Lily... Lily doesn’t know. It’s all Lily’s fault. Master, please don’t be angry..."

Convinced he’d expel her, terrified of abandonment, Lily clung to Ink Ash’s leg, tearful eyes wide.

Helplessly pulling the sobbing girl into his arms, Ink Ash murmured tenderly,

"Silly girl. How could I ever be angry with you?"

"But... but Master’s expression just now... wah, my bottom hurts so much..."

Pitifully covering her burning rear, Lily mumbled through choked sobs.

Poking her inflexible little face, Ink Ash snapped irritably,

"You feel the pain yet stay stubborn as stone? Why so thick-headed?"

"No way! I really... truly searched myself for the cause."

Blushing, nestled in her master’s warm embrace, Lily felt cozy all over as she spoke softly.

"Idiot! That’s exactly why I’m furious."

The angrier he grew, the more words stuck in his throat as he glared at the underage girl.

"Self-reflection is fine—but know your limits. You... take every burden alone!"

Lily jerked her head up, retorting loudly, "I don’t!"

*Thwack!*

The moment her voice faded, the pitiful girl covered her reddened forehead and shrank back obediently.

Feeling his authority challenged, Ink Ash fixed a burning gaze on his disciple and demanded coldly,

"Still defiant? Don’t pout. Why didn’t you seek my help earlier?"

"This..." Lily guiltily averted her eyes, speechless.

Snorting, Ink Ash lashed out mercilessly,

"Unwilling to trouble me? Afraid to burden me? No—you simply don’t trust me!"

"I—mmph!"

About to protest, Lily clamped a hand over her mouth at the sight of his raised finger.

"Smart move... You saw those famed mages, feared I’d get hurt, feared I’d lose—so you fled to lure them away."

"But Lily, good intentions aside: had I arrived one second later, you’d be dead. Understand?"

Warmth flooded her heart until it nearly overflowed. Gazing dazedly, Lily declared firmly,

"I... I worried Master might get hurt because of me. If that happened, Lily’s conscience would never rest!"

"Silly girl. In your eyes... how strong am I?"

Stroking her silky hair, Ink Ash asked abruptly.

Stealing a glance at him—braced for another slap—Lily mumbled hesitantly,

"Hmm... I used to think Master... just boasted. But today... I know you’re truly, truly strong."

Amused by her fearful timidity, Ink Ash—radiating quiet confidence—gazed at the endless horizon and said lightly,

"To stop you from such foolishness, I’ll say this plainly: wherever I wish to go in heaven or earth, none can bar my path. Among countless strong beings, so long as I refuse death, none can kill me."

Exaggerated? Arrogant? Yet spoken by Ink Ash, the words held a magic that compelled belief.

*If it’s Master... he’d never lie to me!*

Blinking adoringly, Lily—too young to grasp such power—gasped in awe,

"W-wow... Master’s that strong?!"

"Of course!"

Basking in his disciple’s praise, Ink Ash puffed out his chest proudly.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves. As they spoke, Lily’s injured arm healed silently, her other wounds fading.

His gaze pierced the clouds. Ink Ash, now deeply attached to this disciple, foresaw her fate: dying unyielding on the battlefield, sword shattered, bleeding her last drop; betrayed by all, the world her enemy.

A hero’s lonely end.

*No. My disciple won’t meet that fate.*

*It should be me, peaceful in her arms, whispering "You’ve finally defeated the Demon King," then passing gently under her tearful gaze.*

Our Great Demon King resolved then to shatter this destined path.

"Lily, I know your strength—your will to endure every hardship alone. It’s your flaw... and your greatest virtue. I won’t change that."

"But extremes reverse. Piling all burdens on yourself? You’ll break."

"I’m your master. Leaning on me when tired isn’t shameful. Understand?"

Nodding thoughtfully, Lily murmured, "Mm. This disciple understands."

"Good. Now—what do you do against an enemy you can’t defeat?"

Seeing his ominous gesture, Lily—eager to avoid slaps—blurted, "Uh... try first... ask Master for help!"

"Correct! What if you accidentally provoke some reclusive old monster?"

"Ask Master."

"Bullied by someone?"

"Ask Master."

"Trouble you can’t solve?"

"Ask Master for everything!"

"Teachable! Survival first—glory’s an illusion. What’s a master for? Shielding you from trouble! Whoever harms my disciple, I’ll dig up their ancestors’ graves!"

"Um... Master, isn’t that excessive?"

"Oh, slip of the tongue. Someone as kind as me? Never do such a thing."