eting my master again after so long, I couldn’t help but notice how unchanged he seed—just as I rembered him.
He looked like a carefree vagabond on the surface, but inside, he had the presence of a sage nestled deep within the mountains.
A man without clear goals, yet never idle. That’s how I’d describe Master Rou Hua.
He was like a celestial hermit.
Wherever he went, he’d observe nature, constantly reminding to focus on the process rather than the results.
Now that I think about it, all of that advice feels utterly pointless.
“And here you are, spouting nonsense again. It doesn’t suit you.”
Clicking his tongue, Rou Hua widened the distance between us. Watching him, I clenched my fists.
I really wanted to smack him. This was the guy who made suffer through so much just to get here.
"I’ve achieved my goal, so technically there’s no reason for to stay here."
I shifted my gaze to my master, scratching the chin of Cerberus as it sat beside .
This creature had a sad story of its own. In many ways, it was second only to Sara in terms of tragedy.
“You’re aware that I’ve been going around restoring the masterpieces, right?”
“Yes. I figured you’d do that soday.”
So he had anticipated this even before his reincarnation.
"Well, of course."
There had always been a sense that my master could see right through .
It turned out his predictions were correct once again. Though I was mostly following the path he had left behind, it didn’t feel like a loss.
After all, this journey had allowed to reconnect with old ties. That alone made it worthwhile.
“Sara is still a work in progress. Gumiho and Seiren are complete.”
“You’ve improved. Your skills have grown at least twofold compared to before.”
“What can I say? I’m just naturally gifted.”
I shrugged and sighed. There were plenty of questions I wanted to ask, but none were urgent.
“Why have you been hiding? You could’ve just greeted when I arrived.”
I gave Rou Hua a disgruntled look as I asked.
“That, too, is a kind of pleasure. Don’t you agree?”
“Sure, and it gave plenty of trouble. Thanks for that.”
“Heh. That’s unfortunate.”
What was this? Did he want to start sothing?
Raising an eyebrow, I gave him a pointed stare. He sighed in response.
“I wasn’t confident. I didn’t know how to face you.”
“You just talk to , that’s all. What’s so hard about that?”
“Exactly. What was I so afraid of? I ended up hiding in this place... how pathetic.”
His self-deprecating smile told he regretted his actions.
It had been a month since he regained his mories. He could’ve co to see at any ti during that period.
“Excuses are just excuses. Whatever you say, it’s my fault.”
“Fine, let’s just call it an overseas trip and move on.”
I grabbed the back of my neck and twisted it to loosen up.
Lately, my body hadn’t been cooperating. I felt stiff and heavy all the ti.
“Why don’t you take over restoring the masterpieces? You might as well do it in place of your disciple.”
“You fool. Do you think these are just ordinary paintings? I can’t even touch them.”
His scolding left dumbfounded.
“Why not? You created this entire world, didn’t you?”
“If it were the sa, I would’ve done it long ago.”
He clicked his tongue and gave a pitying look. So, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to restore them—he genuinely couldn’t.
“Every painting has an owner. Without the owner, a masterpiece cannot be restored.”
“You’re still full of cryptic nonsense, I see.”
“You’re too young to understand, you brat.”
He looked at with a faint smile, his gaze filled with pity.
“Even Sara knows you’re dead.”
“...Huh? Did you tell her? I didn’t.”
I crossed my arms and tilted my head, trying to piece things together. Both Miho and Seiren also rembered as Sanya, but they didn’t know I had died.
“No, I didn’t tell Sara or the one beside you. But still...”
He hesitated, furrowing his brows as if pondering sothing.
What could possibly make him act this way?
“It seems that during your long absence, the masterpieces have been communicating among themselves in ways I didn’t anticipate.”
“Oh, so—”
“Yes. Even without saying anything, they’ve been sharing information.”
Now it made sense. Even Cerberus had been excessively happy to see . It must’ve thought I was dead.
Poor thing.
I scratched its back as I asked, “Sara hasn’t killed anyone, has she?”
Among the seven masterpieces, Dragon was the most violent, but Sara was the most lethal.
Anyone who unknowingly entered her domain would experience the excruciating pain of having their mind torn apart.
Wounds inflicted in the illusory world could affect the physical body to so extent, and there had been nurous casualties in the past—people who had actually died.
"Granted, that was in my previous life."
Still, just because it happened then doesn’t an it couldn’t happen now.
“That’s why I’m here—to prevent that. But I can’t bring myself to enter Sara’s domain...”
So he was here to monitor her but was too afraid to confront her directly. So master he was.
Watching him fidget, I let out an exasperated sigh.
“She’s still a child.”
“She’s had more than enough ti to beco an adult.”
Her appearance might still resemble a child, but she was anything but.
Our idle chatter continued until I eventually stood up.
“Are you staying here? I didn’t see your body at the exhibit.”
His physical form wasn’t in the gallery. It must’ve been moved sowhere else.
“There’s no need to rush. As Rou Hua, I still have mories of my parents, and the shock of their loss hasn’t faded.”
“Oh. Is that so?”
This guy always knew how to leave speechless.
“Are you mocking for being an orphan?”
“What the—no! I never said that!”
He was sharp-tongued as ever.
Realizing he was joking, I shook my head in disbelief.
“You’re even throwing self-deprecating insults now. Terrifying.”
“Well, you’re only 18. The years you’ve lived in this life feel far smaller than the ti you spent in your past one.”
What was he even talking about? I waved Cerberus over and gestured for it to follow.
Even without formal training, the creature sohow always understood my commands.
“You’re leaving?”
“What’s the point of staying here? I just want to finish my work and rest.”
I gave him a casual nod and waved.
“I’ll bring you sothing next ti. Your body—it’s in a hospital, isn’t it?”
“You’re too perceptive, as always.”
It was obvious. The reason no one had found Rou Hua at school must’ve been because he had arranged it that way.
“Collapsed from malnutrition while looking at paintings, I suppose? Your staff seem to follow your instructions well.”
I couldn’t begin to understand how this man operated. Thinking about it too much would only give a headache.
“I’m off. Not sure when I’ll be back, but let’s et in the real world next ti.”
“Heh. Very well.”
God, I’ll never get used to that tone of his. It gave goosebumps.
Taking Cerberus with , I left the cave behind.
eting my master had been a stroke of luck, but it didn’t feel like much of a gain.
I’d only resolved so of my lingering questions. The rest of my work awaited outside.
Restoring paintings and finishing my tasks—that alone was enough to give a headache.
“Sit. Stand. Bang-bang-bang.”
After walking for a while, I found a flat spot where Cerberus lay down, panting.
It clearly wanted to play, but I couldn’t stay in the illusory world for long. I planned to say my goodbyes quickly and leave.
Of course, leaving was easier said than done with this creature around.
Rolling onto its back, Cerberus wagged its tail, its tongue lolling out happily.
I sat down beside it and began rubbing its belly.
“Do you rember? We first t in a junkyard.”
The dump was covered in gray bags of garbage. That’s where I first encountered this creature.
Back then, it was different—just a tiny, scrappy puppy.
Yeah, it was no bigger than a Poranian. Its little face could fit in both of my hands. It was unbearably cute.
“What the hell happened to you? I was going to raise you, but—”
The puppy hadn’t lasted even a week after I found it.
It was already sick when I t it, but that wasn’t what killed it.
“Didn’t your parents teach you to cross at the crosswalk?”
That day was the last ti I saw it alive.
I’d prepared everything to take it ho—snacks stuffed into both pockets, food bowls, and kibble—only for it to get hit by a car before it could reach .
The first ti I saw it, I’d been wandering aimlessly, feeling empty after Sara’s death.
On a whim, I went for a walk and spotted the puppy gnawing on trash bags in the dump.
Its frail appearance made dig through my pockets, though I wish I hadn’t.
If I’d just ignored it back then, I wouldn’t have painted this piece.
But no, I just had to notice it.
“You idiot.”
Smiling faintly, I kept scratching its belly. It tilted its head but panted happily under my touch.
“Be grateful, you mutt.”
No one had cared when it died—not a single scream, not even a call for help.
After watching the blood-stained road for a mont, I picked up its lifeless body and took it to the park where I used to et Sara.
There, I made a small grave for it in the corner.
I still had its snacks in my hand, so I placed them in the grave.
It deserved to leave with a full stomach, at least.
I hoped it was having fun playing with Sara in heaven.
“Sniff.”
If only it hadn’t rained that day.
The grave would’ve stayed intact, and I wouldn’t have collapsed in front of it.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I closed my eyes.
I couldn’t play with it back then, so now, I’d give it everything it wanted.
At least until my body gave out.
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