As Lena’s large eyes began filling with tears, I embraced her.
“Len, I’m not planning to leave right away.”
First, I needed to hand Lena over to the Ivory Tower.
That would put my mind at ease.
Despite my gentle words, the tears flowing from Lena’s eyes wouldn’t stop.
“Hu-huaaa! Uwaaaaa! M-Masteeeer! Whyyyyyy! St-stay together! Wahhhhh… Uwaaaang~!”
No matter how much of a genius she was to be able to use advanced magic, a child was still a child.
In the most desperate moment, all she could do was throw a tantrum.
Holding her tightly while she cried loudly.
After crying like that for a while, I lightly carried the exhausted, limp Lena on my back.
“This kid. Light as a log. Are you eating properly?”
“If-if you’re going to fight the Asura Church… I’ll…sniff, I’ll fight too…”
“At the Ivory Tower, you’ll rise to Chamber Master within ten years. A Chamber Master of the Ivory Tower would receive treatment equivalent to at least a count in any country.”
“… D-don’t need it…heuk… such things… I-I just need Master…”
“Haha. This kid. Are you a child or something?”
“…I-I am still a child…”
Lena grumbled softly in a tone that revealed her sulkiness.
.
.
.
Departing from the forest and passing through Greenhild, we arrived at a place with a dimensional magic circle.
It was operated by the Ivory Tower and was a place one must pass through to reach it.
“Wh-where is this…?”
Afraid that Lee Hyun might abandon her and leave, Lena held his hand tightly.
Yet Lee Hyun didn’t stop her.
Lena clung to him even more while acting spoiled in a way she usually didn’t.
“This is a place with a dimensional magic circle connected to the Ivory Tower. Two people to the Ivory Tower, please.”
“That will be four gold coins.”
Gold coins?
While Lena’s eyes widened in surprise at the unimaginable price, Lee Hyun took out and handed over the gold coins.
After receiving them, the receptionist said something while looking inside, and mages came out.
As Lena watched in wonder as they attached themselves around the magic circle and channeled mana, she startled and grabbed Lee Hyun.
“We-we’re going to the Ivory Tower?!”
“Yes.”
She became urgent.
Lee Hyun had said he would leave her at the Ivory Tower.
He was serious.
Frightened by this, Lena hugged him tightly lest he slip away.
As if doing so would prevent her from being separated from Lee Hyun.
“W-woah…”
Lena unconsciously exclaimed as the dimensional magic activated and the surroundings began to change.
“Is-is that… the I-Ivory Tower?”
A tower so tall its end couldn’t be seen appeared before their eyes.
Just as Lena swallowed hard while standing before the tower that seemed to reach the sky’s peak—
“Ah?! Mister! Lena!”
An energetic girl came running out as the tower’s door opened.
It was Yuria.
Seeing her friend appear, Lena happily waved in greeting.
“What brings you to the Ivory Tower?!”
Asked Yuria, who was holding Lena and jumping up and down with joy.
Looking at her, Lee Hyun asked seriously.
“Where is Bella?”
“Master? She’s inside. Let’s go to the Red Chamber!”
Following Yuria’s guidance into the tower, Lena’s eyes widened again.
She was surprised by the numerous doors inside the tower.
Just as she fidgeted, thinking she would surely get lost here, a small disc appeared before them.
“To number 31123!”
“Uwaaaah!”
As soon as they stepped onto the disc, Yuria shouted cheerfully.
The disc then rose into the air and began moving at high speed. Startled by this, Lena sat down and grabbed Lee Hyun’s hand tightly, and Yuria laughed brightly.
“Ahaha~! Everyone does that their first time~”
“Eek… W-won’t we f-fall?”
“We won’t fall! We won’t fall!”
Looking completely delighted, Yuria took Lena’s hand and helped her up.
Meanwhile, the moving disc stopped.
Lena trembled as she realized they had risen so high the ground couldn’t be seen, and Yuria opened the closed door.
“Ah…”
Lena gasped at the sight beyond the opened door.
It was an endless plain. On the plain so vast a horizon was visible, there was only one large house.
This should be inside the tower, but how could such a horizon be visible?
No, why was there ground when they had risen so high?
It was completely incomprehensible.
Yuria watched Lena’s bewildered expression with an amused look.
“This is the power of the Ivory Tower~!”
The place where all magic converges.
It seemed one could uncover the secrets of mana and explore the truth here.
‘But…’
But she didn’t want to do it if it meant parting with Lee Hyun.
Lena unconsciously gripped Lee Hyun’s hand tighter, and he glanced at her gently.
“What brings you here?”
The one who appeared was none other than Bella.
When the Red Chamber Master of the Ivory Tower appeared, Lena hurriedly bowed.
Pleased with that reaction, Bella nodded slightly after glancing at Lee Hyun’s face.
“Seems like a troublesome matter has occurred. Follow me.”
The house interior they entered following Bella’s guidance was wider and cleaner than expected.
Perhaps the pleasant fragrance emanating from the numerous books on the walls helped Lena settle her mind.
“Drink.”
A teapot and a set of cups moved through the air.
The teapot moved through the air, pouring tea though nothing was there. While Lena marveled at this wonderful skill using telekinesis, Lee Hyun spoke calmly.
“I’ve taught Lena advanced magic.”
“!!! Heuk–”
Bella, who had been elegantly drinking tea, coughed.
Her startled gaze fixed on Lena.
“…From what I heard, this child has been learning magic for about a year?”
“That’s right.”
“And you say advanced magic?!”
“Yes.”
“Un-unbelievable… So?”
“I’d like you to teach her the rest. As you know, what I can teach is limited to certain advanced magic. But you’re different.”
“M-Master! I-I…”
“Shh.”
Unlike usual, there was no smile on Lee Hyun’s face.
Faced with that infinitely serious expression, Lena hung her head low.
She had said she didn’t need any of that.
She just wanted to stay together.
Though Lena’s sobbing gradually grew stronger, Lee Hyun didn’t stop speaking.
“I cannot take Lena where I must go.”
Because Lee Hyun stated it so definitively, Lena finally couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.
.
.
.
Due to Lena’s wailing, we couldn’t continue the conversation.
Though I tried to comfort her somehow, Lena’s crying wouldn’t stop.
Finally, when she collapsed from exhaustion while gasping, I laid her down in the room Bella had prepared.
“Let’s continue our conversation. Lee Hyun, do you plan to keep fighting the Asura Church?”
‘The Asura Church? Well, I do plan to fight.’
I couldn’t take Lena along because I needed to spend several years struggling at the Sage Tower to become a Sage, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t fight the Asura Church.
My goal was to reach the true ending.
And to get there, I had to clear the Religious War.
Since the condition for clearing it was defeating the Asura Church, I would ultimately continue fighting the Asura Church.
“Yes.”
“It won’t be easy. The Asura Church’s power is by no means small. Even the Ivory Tower cannot fully understand their power.”
“Still, I must do it.”
“Why?”
“Well. Perhaps because they’re evil?”
Bella frowned.
“Why are you always like this? We know you hate them, but why can’t you tell us why?”
Bella glared at me momentarily before turning her gaze to Lena.
“What do you plan to do with that child? She seems like she won’t be able to do anything without you.”
“Don’t underestimate her. Len is my proud disciple. One who can move forward even without me.”
“Well. Seeing her crying earlier, it doesn’t seem that way.”
‘But that doesn’t mean I can take her along while getting the Sage qualification.’
After all, Lena wouldn’t even be able to enter the Sage Tower to begin with.
Of course, she could enter once he obtains the qualification, but is there any need for that?
I shook my head.
“The path I must take is difficult and painful. I cannot take her along. Lena doesn’t need to experience hardship that isn’t necessary. Len has a path of blessing and glory ahead of her… I don’t want to make her give that up.”
I gently stroked Lena’s silver hair.
***
Receiving that affectionate touch, Lena thought with her eyes closed.
‘…Be-because I’m weak… Master… thinks I can’t go along when he takes the difficult journey of fighting the Asura Church…’
Regret and sadness about her own weakness were overwhelming her.
‘I want to become stronger… Strong enough to stand beside Master… And…’
Pausing her thoughts briefly, Lena gritted her teeth.
‘Asura Church… because of you… Master is leaving…’
Absolutely.
‘…I won’t forgive you.’