“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Won’t you talk with Lena before leaving? That child follows you so devotedly…”
As she said, Lena had strong dependent tendencies toward me.
But for the future and Lena’s sake, it would be better to correct such tendencies.
“Len is strong.”
I spoke while looking at Lena, who hadn’t yet regained her senses.
No, actually, she had regained consciousness earlier but was pretending to be asleep.
How foolish.
Someone of my level can easily discern another’s state through mana detection.
Not knowing this, she’s pretending to sleep while eavesdropping on our conversation.
Well then, I should say what Lena wants to hear.
It’s not even a lie, really.
“That kid has never disappointed me.”
“Oh…?”
“Always has been that way. When learning magic and in daily life, too. Though she might seem weak-hearted, she actually possesses very strong determination.”
“In what way?”
“When I suggested running away, she said she would fight instead.”
“Oh. I see.”
A smile played on Bella’s lips.
It seems she too had noticed Lena was pretending to sleep.
Being her friend, I’m grateful she’s playing along with my intentions.
“Lena will miss you terribly. What do you plan to do about that? No matter how strong she is, you are her precious master. She’ll be deeply hurt when she realizes her master left without a word.”
“It’s alright.”
I approached Lena.
As I approached, I could see her body stiffen.
Looking down at her, I smiled silently and patted her head.
“Len will understand.”
Right? You’ll understand, won’t you?
I slowly stroked Lena, who had stiffened awkwardly.
It was amusing how she would twitch each time, seemingly wanting to get up.
“Are you leaving right away?”
“Yes. I’m planning to head toward Greenhild first, then continue from there.”
To reach the Sage Tower, one must travel to the continent’s edge.
That means passing through many places. Greenhild is just one of them.
“I see. Very well. Take care.”
This kid still won’t get up, huh? I stopped stroking Lena and looked down at her.
“Len. We will definitely meet again. So don’t be too sad.”
After patting Lena’s head one more time, I stood up.
Then I handed Bella a letter I took from my chest.
“Also, please give this to Len. It’s proof of graduation.”
I took out a robe from my bag.
The Shadow Robe is a high-grade artifact with a high magic defense that enables the special skill ‘Shadow Evasion.’
Bella seemed surprised, knowing its value, but nodded readily.
“Well then, I’m off.”
After saying goodbye to Bella, I immediately left the Ivory Tower.
“Oh~! Mister! Where are you going?!”
When I reached the Tower’s entrance after leaving the Red Chamber, I saw Yuria playing with Canon.
It puts my mind at ease to see her maintaining her characteristic cheerfulness while greeting me.
“Be good friends with Len.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“I’ve left Len with Bella. I’d like you all to help her.”
“Oh… That’s fine, but what about you?”
“I have things I must do. And I can’t take Len with me for that.”
“You seem so serious! Hmm… Alright. Got it. Don’t worry too much. Do what you need to do well!”
I waved goodbye to Yuria and Canon, who gave such cool farewells and immediately set off.
After taking the portal to Greenhild, I immediately got a room at an inn.
It’s the same inn I stayed at during the magic competition before.
I’ll unpack here, stay for a day, then take a carriage.
That was my thought as I came down from the inn.
“Haa… haa… haa…”
At the inn’s entrance, I saw Lena breathing heavily.
“M-Master…”
***
Even seeing Lee Hyun get up, Lena couldn’t move.
How could she stop him when he had such expectations for her?
She could only lie face down, trembling, trying to ignore her master’s departure.
Drip, drip, drip.
Tears fell.
Even in this situation, I’m being a coward.
Too afraid he might come to dislike me if I ask him not to go, I can’t even speak.
Lena cried while trembling with intense self-loathing.
A warm hand touched her back.
“Will you be alright?”
“…”
“If you go now, you can still catch him.”
Bella deliberately asked where he was going for Lena’s sake and spoke gently while stroking her.
Receiving that touch, Lena swallowed her tears with a sniff.
“…If M-Master… comes to… h-hate me… wh-what should I… do…”
“Well, I don’t think he would hate you just for being clingy… Ah. Yes. Why don’t you read this letter first?”
Lena raised herself sluggishly. Bella wiped her pretty face, which was a mess of tears, with a handkerchief and held out Lee Hyun’s letter with a calm smile.
[To my proud disciple Len.
It feels a bit awkward writing a letter like this when we usually speak face to face.
First, congratulations. If you’re receiving this letter, it means you’ve mastered advanced magic.
All masters wish for their disciples to surpass them.
And I am no different.
I wish for you to surpass me and become an even more excellent mage.
For that, you need to step out of my shadow.
If you remain trapped in my shadow, you won’t be able to become the excellent mage who surpasses me.
That’s why, though it pains me, I must leave you. I hope you can understand this.
Of course, I don’t plan to remain idle while you grow.
I too must grow to become a master who won’t shame you.
So please understand why we must part like this.
Just because there’s a parting doesn’t mean it’s farewell forever.
People grow more through repeated meetings and partings. We will definitely meet again.
And when we meet again, I hope to see how you’ve grown.
Please live happily while I’m gone.
Your proud master, Lee Hyun.]
The hand holding the letter trembled.
Her heart swelled, knowing her master cared for her so much yet overflowed with regret.
Watching this, Bella maintained her gentle smile and said:
“Are you sure you won’t go after him?”
“…C-can I… go?”
Can I go meet Lee Hyun now?
Me, who pretended to be asleep when he left earlier?
“Do you think he would dislike you for that?”
“…Ah, um. No…”
Lee Hyun had always reassured her.
That he wouldn’t dislike her no matter what she did.
Then wouldn’t he understand this much?
Lena jumped up from her seat and ran outside.
“Ah?! Lena!”
“Where are you going?”
When she rushed out of the Ivory Tower’s entrance, she met Yuria and Canon.
Out of breath from running, her face not properly composed, Lena grabbed Yuria and asked urgently:
“M-Master! Did you s-see Master?”
“Huh? Saw him ea~rlier.”
“He said he was going to Greenhild.”
“Th-thank you!”
After quickly bowing to them, Lena went to where they created dimensional magic circles.
But she belatedly remembered something.
Using dimensional magic requires gold coins.
But how could she pay when she didn’t have a single coin?
As Lena panicked, not knowing what to do,
“Oh my?! Aren’t you, Lena?! Why are you here?!”
The owner of that sharp voice was none other than Rowin of the Blue Chamber.
The blonde magic user with rolled hair, looking like a typical noble mage, tilted her head at Lena’s nearly crying appearance.
“Um… C-could you… l-lend me some gold coins…?”
“Gold coins? Why…?”
“I… I need to m-meet Master…”
“Ohohoho! If that’s the case, of course, I should lend them! Here! Quick, go!”
Though she didn’t know what was happening, seeing Lena’s expression made it seem urgent. If so, lending some gold coins was no trouble.
Using the coins Rowin gave her, Lena paid the fee, safely arrived in Greenhild, and entered the city.
‘Will… will he be there…?’
Lena ran desperately toward the inn where they had stayed when they visited Greenhild before.
Opening the inn’s door while fervently praying to the gods that he would be here, Lena could breathe a sigh of relief.
Because she found Lee Hyun coming down the stairs.
“Oh? Lena.”
Lee Hyun smiled gently as always.
Seeing that smile made her strength leave her.
As Lena finally collapsed to the floor, Lee Hyun hurriedly approached and caught her.
“Why are you sitting here? Stand up.”
“N-no strength…”
“Oh dear.”
Lee Hyun smiled wryly and picked Lena up.
As Lena blushed slightly at being carried princess-style, Lee Hyun sat her down at the inn and wiped her disheveled face.
“…You’re cruel. L-leaving without… saying goodbye…”
“Haha. I thought my heart would waver more if I saw you. But you got my letter, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Can’t you wish me well on my journey?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Len.”
Lee Hyun held Lena’s hand tightly.
Thump.
Her heart jumped.
Her chest was pounding wildly at that large, warm hand enveloping hers.
“I have to go.”
“…Do you… really have to go?”
Lee Hyun’s gaze was straight and firm.
So firm that even she couldn’t break it.
Therefore, Lena hung her head before him.
“Len. As I said, I want to be a master you can be proud of.”
“M-Master is always s-someone to be proud of. So… so…”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
Lee Hyun stroked Lena’s head.
Actually, she knew.
She understood what Lee Hyun meant.
She had always been weak. She wanted power to change.
And now Lee Hyun wanted power.
She couldn’t stop that.
“Please send me off with a smile.”
Lee Hyun gently embraced Lena, and in his arms, she sobbed softly.
After staying in Lee Hyun’s embrace for a while, when Lena finally calmed down, Lee Hyun took her hand and headed for the Ivory Tower’s dimensional magic circle.
Lena didn’t let go of his hand. Glancing at the hand that held on tightly, she shook her head as if wanting to feel him even a moment longer.
‘I love Master…’
She loves Lee Hyun who always smiles gently.
She loves Lee Hyun who always treats her kindly.
She admires Lee Hyun’s strength that never backs down before any enemy.
‘So… I can’t throw any more tantrums…’
“Now. Go back. Learn as much as you can from Bella.”
“…Yes.”
“Len.”
“…Yes?”
“I’ll be back.”
Saying this, Lee Hyun turned away. Watching him gradually disappear into the distance, Lena clenched her fists.
I’ll be back.
It means he’ll return to her side.
‘I-I’ll let you go for now. Be-because I’m… w-weak.’
Yes. For now, she has no choice but to let him go.
Because she’s weak.
Weaker than Lee Hyun.
But hadn’t Lee Hyun said it?
If you don’t like something about yourself, you can change it.
To change herself who has no choice but to let Lee Hyun go, she needs to cultivate power.
‘After I gain power. A-after we meet again…’
Lena watched Lee Hyun disappear into the distance and tightened her clenched fists.
“Then… I will… never let you go.”