Atop a Tree That Reaches the Clouds (16)

It's already been a year since I began staying at Old Man Gon's house.

Though I can't say I've completely mastered this country's forging techniques, I've reached the point where I should be able to manage the rest through my own study.

I've been a blacksmith for a long time, after all, so I can apply what I know in various ways.

Since I'm being treated as a guest rather than an apprentice, I should handle whatever I can on my own.

I also learned a great deal from Mizuyo's stories.

No matter how knowledgeable she is, knowledge doesn't spring from her endlessly.

Recently, I found myself spending more time simply chatting while gazing at the moon.

More than anything, I didn't want to take any more time away from Old Man Gon and Mizuyo.

By now, the memory of an outsider named Eisa had probably been etched deeply enough into both their minds.

...There is, in fact, a small part of me that wants to see it through.

Mizuyo had probably remained in this house so she could see Old Man Gon through to the end.

Ah, no. That's not quite right.

More precisely, she wanted to spend the time until that moment as close to him as possible, share it with him, and etch it into her own heart.

Just as I had done with Kaeha.

I could never interfere with that.

Because I empathized with her, I wanted to see it through, but even I understood how intrusive that would be.

I simply didn't know what Old Man Gon thought about it all.

Why had he brought me to the dojo and introduced me to Mizuyo?

I didn't know why he had gone out of his way to let me stay at the dojo, either.

Apparently, the current master of the dojo wasn't a child descended from Old Man Gon, but the most capable of his disciples.

Apparently, Old Man Gon had no children to begin with.

So, precisely because I cared about them, I decided I should leave the dojo now.

If they had another ten or twenty years ahead of them, having me spend a few of those years with them might even be a refreshing change, but... the end of an old human's life arrives in the blink of an eye.

I sympathized with Mizuyo's feelings, not Old Man Gon's.

With Mizuyo, who would likely live a long life carrying those memories.

Therefore, it was almost time for me to leave.

"What, you're leaving already? You should stay and take it easy a while longer."

As I prepared to leave, Old Man Gon said that to me.

What a troublesome old man.

Not that I had any room to talk, but I wished he would be more honest.

But their relationship was theirs, so there was no need for me to offer any unnecessary advice.

I didn't know how much time they had left, but they should treasure whatever remained in their own way.

"I've had plenty of time to take it easy. If I stay like this, it'll be too comfortable and I'll really put down roots. I need to go see the Fusang Tree before that happens. Old Man Gon, Mizuyo, thank you for everything. Thanks."

I slapped my own leg as I said this, then smiled.

Mizuyo was another matter, but this was probably a final farewell to Old Man Gon.

Neither of us said it aloud, but we both understood.

Our paths had happened to cross, and we had become acquainted, but Old Man Gon and I had always lived in vastly different places and times.

If we'd met earlier, I might have spent a great deal of time with a kindred friend.

No, in that case, I would have lost some of the most important time of my life—the time I spent with Kaeha—so that hypothetical could never have existed.

"We can avoid the whirlpools, and we can also live protected by them. You need only be yourself, just as you are. We already know that Eisa is a good person."

In short, Mizuyo was encouraging me to choose whatever path I wanted.

Whatever impact I might have on this land, she was saying, they could adapt and continue living.

Old Man Gon wore an expression that said I was making a big deal out of nothing, but I was grateful for Mizuyo's concern.

Still, I thought Mizuyo was being a little dramatic too.

At least, as things stood, I no longer intended to split this island in two from north to south and pull the halves apart.

Since things were balanced as they were, I was even beginning to think there was no need for me to interfere.

Of course, there was no guarantee that balance would continue to hold in the future.

Just as the appearance of a hero named Takato had allowed the human side to recover, if another hero emerged among the oni, the current balance could easily collapse.

But whether I ought to think that far ahead... the answer was probably no.

Even if the oni were formidable opponents, humans, winged folk, and merfolk were by no means weak.

Even if the balance temporarily collapsed and they fell into hardship, I felt that the people of Fusang had the strength to deal with it somehow.

"Mizuyo, as thanks for everything, I'll leave this with you. You decide how to use it."

Finally, I handed Mizuyo an immortal peach I had brought from the Huanggu Empire.

She would understand its meaning.

If used well, it should make the time Old Man Gon and Mizuyo had left together just a little better.

I hoped the ending awaiting them would satisfy them both.

If I ever met Mizuyo again, I would ask her to tell me that story.

I left the Central Capital and followed the road straight north.

The name of this highway to the front lines was the Warrior's Road.

On this road, far more people headed north than returned south.

Yet most people traveling it did not wear looks of despair, nor did those around them pity them.

That was the strength of the people of Fusang.

They themselves decided whether their way of life was fortunate or unfortunate, and at least the people of Fusang lived without considering it unfortunate.

By their own reasoning.

I walked that road alone.

To avoid standing out, I sometimes strayed far from the road.

I did not mingle with those traveling the same road.

That's right, I had no intention of entering Chinju, the town ahead.

That town was for people aspiring to become soldiers defending Fusang or for mercenaries; I was neither.

I had no intention of joining the army and being placed under its control.

I was aiming only for the Fusang Tree I could see beyond it.