# Chapter 8
Just as the term “self-defense” doesn’t exist for no reason, Levi’s thinking couldn’t be called wrong. No, rather, Ion thought he was right. Whenever Ion thought of how his mother had been brutally killed at the hands of slave traders, he too wished they would all die.
But still, for the young Ion, the death of anyone was quite repulsive. Besides, no matter how reliable Levi was, one never knows what might happen. If Levi were to die or get hurt because of him, he felt he wouldn’t be able to bear the guilt.
“Anyway, it’s wrong. From now on, don’t kill people unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.”
Levi lowered his eyes as if organizing thoughts in his head, then slowly nodded. Seeing this, Ion patted Levi’s head with a bright smile.
“You’re a good boy.”
Adorably, Levi kept his black head of hair still. Ion felt somehow at ease and happy every time he stroked Levi’s head.
The laundry was soon finished, and the vegetables they had brought were neatly stacked in the wooden bucket, looking shiny and fresh. Ion looked down at them and took off his tattered top.
“Now let’s wash up here and change into those clothes we brought. Ah, one set is for me.”
Saying this boldly, he tossed his torn top onto the ground. A black garment fell beside it.
In an instant, Ion was naked and jumped into the pond with a liberated expression. While his wounds were self-healing, it was better not to get them wet for faster recovery, so he had stayed put, but now with not even a scratch remaining, there was no need to avoid bathing.
“Ugh, it’s cold!”
Despite shivering from the pond’s chill, Ion grinned. After washing his face with the sparkling clean water that reached up to his solar plexus, he then dunked his head completely.
Just as he was brushing back his soaked hair that had fallen forward.
A ripple in the water, not made by Ion, reached him.
“Levi, hurry up and wash…”
Ion, turning his body toward Levi, swallowed his words as his gaze was captivated by him.
It wasn’t because of the blackness that rose from the tips of his right fingers to his elbow. Beyond the slender and white body that had been completely covered as if wrapped tightly in black clothes, the black eyes and hair that completely contrasted with it particularly caught his attention.
Above all, because Levi’s hand had not yet touched the water, it looked as if the sparkling water was illuminating him brightly from below. Perhaps because of this, Levi’s already handsome face appeared even more beautiful.
After staring blankly at this sight, Ion suddenly came to his senses and approached Levi with large strides. Then he grabbed Levi’s black hand and plunged it into the pond.
Confirming that the subtle light particles had completely disappeared as if they had never been there, Ion muttered quietly.
“I almost got entranced.”
Only then did Ion relax and wash his body with a cheerful face again.
After boldly borrowing Levi’s clothes and thoroughly cleaning the tent, Ion was finally able to rest when the sun had completely set. As always, after devouring cabbage and potatoes, he comfortably lay down on the soft fur spread on the now clean floor of the tent.
Although Levi was quite slim, for Ion, who was only thirteen years old, the clothes were quite large, requiring him to fold the sleeves twice. Thinking the pants would be hopeless, he deliberately chose a longer top, making him look as if he was wearing a dress.
Lying in the tent and quietly looking up at the low ceiling, Ion soon became lost in thought.
Now that both his body and mind seemed to have found peace, he found himself thinking about many things.
How should I live from now on? Is it okay to stay here like this? If I stay, what should I do?
Ion contemplated, repeatedly thinking without finding any answers. Then he just turned his head to look outside.
Levi, sitting in front of the campfire, was already roasting his fifth potato on a stick. His emotionless eyes looked so serious, perhaps because of the light from the campfire, that Ion couldn’t help but smile.
‘He’s so diligent.’
Until now, Levi had only eaten potatoes with soil still on them, and it seemed he had never thought of roasting them as he was doing now. Well, someone who didn’t even know to dust off or wash food probably wouldn’t have imagined cooking it with fire.
‘How did that person who supposedly knows him leave Levi in such a state?’
Though he hadn’t met them yet, it was obvious how insensitive this “acquaintance” Levi mentioned must be. Though they did seem to have an eye for choosing clothes that suited Levi.
Ion lay on his stomach, watching the potato at the end of the stick Levi was holding. Looking at the surface browning in the flickering flames, he seemed to hear his mother’s faint voice beyond them.
“Ion, come here. The potatoes are already this roasted.”
“Mom, that’s not called roasted, it’s called burnt.”
“Wouldn’t it be fine if we peel the skin?”
“You’ve pushed it so far into the fire that there’s no skin left, and it looks like it’s going to burst into flames.”
He recalled the times when he roasted potatoes with his mother. His mother was excessively enthusiastic about strange things, and instead of waiting patiently, she would always rush ahead and create failures. Compared to her, Levi was doing so well that Ion wanted to pat his head.
‘Levi does well when instructed, but I couldn’t entrust anything to mom.’
His mother was completely inept at housework. Anyone who saw her might have believed she was from a noble family, raised delicately, but in reality, she was an orphan who had just been tossed around here and there, knowing nothing. Even after learning, she could only do a little when someone was there to guide her, but on her own, she would fumble around and ruin everything.
That’s why Ion had taken over the household chores in place of his mother since he was eight. Of course, he did all sorts of work that a young child like him could do and also went out to earn money. Because of this, he was often told he was excessively mature for his age.
It would have been nice if he had a father, but he reportedly died when Ion was two years old, after being attacked by bandits outside. So, thinking there was no one else to work but himself, Ion did all sorts of jobs efficiently with his naturally good mind. It was also easier to adapt because he had seen a lot over his mother’s shoulder while following her around.
Every time he toddled off to work, his mother would sincerely apologize, but knowing that expressing it made her uncomfortable, he would cheerfully smile every day. Of course, she would hug him warmly and wasn’t hesitant to show affection to the extent that other children would be envious. Ion loved this so much that he worked even harder.
His mother was a good person. Too good, which was the problem.
“I wanted to be someone who helps others. Someone who saves people on the verge of death, treats those who cry in pain, and protects those who might get hurt.”
“That’s what you already do.”
“Right. I’ve been consistent since I discovered my ability until now. You know I only know how to go straight ahead, right?”
“That’s why you always get lost. Sometimes I wish you would put yourself in the position of the person looking for you.”
Although he responded sarcastically, far from being upset or grumbling, his mother smiled bitterly.
“Yes… I often got lost. I realized that going straight ahead isn’t always the right thing to do.”
His mother then smiled brightly and hugged Ion.
“So, whatever your ability is, our son doesn’t need to go around looking for what’s right or who to help. Originally, the world is such that you live well by being selfish.”
Ion was about to retort, “That’s why we’re so poor,” but closed his mouth at her strange atmosphere. Since he was being hugged, he couldn’t see her face, but she seemed to have an expression different from her usual cheerful self.
“Don’t just try to help unconditionally, live coldly. You need to be calculating. Instead, if there’s something you want to protect, make sure to protect it.”
The words of his mother, which he had only half-heard at that time, were now clearly imprinted in his mind.
He thought he always listened well to his mother’s words and prided himself on it, but he failed to keep the advice he had been given then.
Ion occasionally went around helping injured people with his ability. At first, it was just because he happened to find them and thought they would die if he didn’t help them right away, but as those who were treated revered him and gave unexpected rewards, it was quite fulfilling. So, he even started to actively look for injured people.
But among those he had helped, there was someone who sold information about Ion to slave traders. Ion had asked those he healed not to tell anyone about his ability, as they were so grateful, and everyone promised to keep the secret.
‘I was too naive.’
Ion was quite shocked at that time. He belatedly recalled his mother’s words, but by then, both of them were already being dragged away by slave traders.
