Chapter 2: The Three Masters
Around the time I became aware that my name was Will, the gods began to quarrel.
Differences in their educational policies had started to surface.
My adoptive parent, the Almighty God, the Faceless God Reus who can take on any form and whose true appearance no one knows, spoke in the form of a stag.
“Will is a gentle child. I wish to raise him freely. Here on this mountain, unbound by anything, I want him to grow up innocent and carefree.”
The other gods agreed with that policy at first, but then the Sword God Ronin spoke up.
He is the god who governs the sword, a deity of swordsmanship, dressed like an Eastern samurai.
The curved blade hanging at his waist was a samurai blade.
Ronin raised his sword and said,
“Raising him freely is fine, but a man needs strength in his arms. Especially swordsmanship. I want this child to learn the sword and become the finest swordsman.”
With that, he placed a handmade wooden sword in my hands.
I happily swung the wooden sword.
Seeing that, Miria snatched the wooden sword away and hugged me close.
“What are you saying with such barbaric ideas? This child will be surrounded by the animals of the mountain and become a healer who tends to their wounds. He will live a peaceful life as a healer of beasts. Swordsmanship is barbaric.”
“What did you say!”
“What about it!”
Ronin glared at Miria, but it was like punching into a curtain.
Though she is the Goddess of Healing, her strength rivals that of the Sword God.
And despite being a woman, Miria has an exceptionally strong will.
The Goddess of Healing, also known as the Goddess of Abundance, now lives in seclusion on this mountain, but in the age of the gods she stood at the front lines against evil deities and struck down countless evils.
Even the Sword God had nothing to fear from her.
Watching the exchange between the two was a one-eyed old man wearing a pointed hat.
He looked every bit the part of a wizard, and in truth, he was one.
His name is Vandal.
He is the God of Magic.
In pursuit of the ultimate truth of magic, he secluded himself on Table Mountain and buried himself in mountains of books while conducting his research.
He is the type of researcher so absorbed in magic that, according to him, the last time he shaved his beard was several years ago, but he too had something to say about my education.
“This child is bright and intelligent. I would very much like him to become my successor. I shall educate him to be the strongest sage.”
His voice was hoarse, yet firm and filled with resolve.
In other words, the gods’ educational policies had split.
Ronin, the Sword God, wanted me to master swordsmanship.
Miria, the Goddess, wanted me to become a healer.
Vandal, the God of Magic, wanted me to pursue the path of magic.
None of the three would yield an inch.
Sparks flew between the gods.
The situation grew explosive, like a powder keg, but someone stepped in to mediate.
It was the Almighty God Reus.
He is the chief deity who oversees the gods of Table Mountain.
Though he is a god of infinite forms, in the shape of a stag he spoke with dignity in both expression and voice.
“Do not quarrel in front of the child! If you continue fighting, I will take Will and depart for another world.”
Whether it was because they were scolded by the chief god or because they feared losing the child they loved, the three stopped pressing their claims.
Only for a moment, however.
Ronin briefly showed signs of backing down, then casually placed the wooden sword beside me, reigniting the dispute.
Miria placed medicinal herbs near me, and Vandal set down a magic book.
The cunning Vandal even placed candy on top of the magic book, which enraged the other two.
As it looked like it might turn into a fistfight again, Reus spoke.
“Enough, you fools. Why are you so determined to force your own opinions?”
Ronin answered.
“Because the child is adorable, Reus. When you love your child, you want them to inherit your path. Besides, swordsmanship is the best. It will surely protect him in the future.”
Miria also replied.
“I completely agree with the first half. But what will protect this child is a gentle heart. The power to heal others will surely sustain him.”
Vandal nodded.
“Indeed. However, what will save this child is knowledge. The knowledge of all things will surely bring him happiness.”
I could tell that each of them loved me, but at this rate nothing would be resolved.
Thinking so, Reus made a declaration.
“Very well. If you insist that much, so be it. However, fighting is forbidden. If you quarrel again, I will take Will away.”
After a brief pause, Reus continued.
“Will’s education will proceed on a rotating basis. You will take turns.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Miria asked.
“It means exactly what it sounds like. Each of us will educate our child Will. Ronin will teach swordsmanship, Miria will teach healing, and Vandal will teach magic.”
Upon hearing those words, the gods all wore expressions that said, “So that was an option!”
Seeing their faces, Reus murmured,
“Then it is decided. This child will receive the finest education from the mightiest gods. He will grow into an adult one day, but what kind of adult will he become?”
He continued thoughtfully.
Perhaps he will possess swordsmanship surpassing the Sword God, healing power surpassing the Goddess of Healing, and magical power surpassing the God of Magic.
Or perhaps he will grow into a mediocre adult whose swordsmanship falls short of Ronin, whose healing is inferior to Miria, and whose magic cannot match Vandal.
But such matters did not truly concern Reus.
What mattered was what kind of person the child called Will would become.
More than physical strength, Reus wished for him to possess strength of heart.
A heart strong enough to never yield to any formidable enemy.
A heart of justice that would not tolerate evil.
A compassionate heart that would show mercy to the weak.
If he possessed those qualities, then even if he became the weakest man in the world, it would not matter.
Reus resolved to raise Will that way, but his concerns were blown away within a few years.
As I grew from an infant into a young child, I began to display glimpses of outrageous strength.
One day, Sword God Ronin was training me.
From morning until night he instructed me in swordsmanship, and then jokingly said,
“Will, if you can slice apart that giant tree in front of you, I’ll give you the dagger you wanted before.”
“Really?”
Delighted, I immediately tried to cut apart the giant tree.
I attempted to release a blade of light from the tip of my wooden sword like Ronin did, but it was not something that could be done so easily.
It was not supposed to be possible, and yet after swinging the wooden sword three times while imitating Ronin, I released a blade of light from its tip.
The golden blade of light shot from the wooden sword and struck the giant tree.
The tree shattered.
Watching this, Ronin said, “Well done. As promised, the dagger is yours,” and handed it to me.
Overjoyed, I ran off to show the dagger to my companions in the mountain, the animals.
The Goddess of Healing appeared and stood beside Ronin, lavishly praising me.
“What incredible talent. Not only as a healer, but as a swordsman as well.”
Of course, I will make him a healer, she added, but Ronin was not listening.
More precisely, the words did not reach his ears.
He was stunned by my overwhelming talent.
Walking to where the tree once stood, Ronin muttered to himself.
“…I told him to cut the tree. But that brat Will shattered it.”
Gripping a fragment of the shattered wood, Ronin grinned.
Miria wanted to make me a healer, and Vandal wanted to make me a mage, but Ronin wanted to make me the strongest swordsman.
Seeing my extraordinary talent, he renewed his resolve.