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“Huh? Zich and Lyla?” From the other side of the hallway, Leona waved her hands eagerly at the two and approached them.

“Did you go outside again?”

“Yup! If I return to the forest, I won’t be able to enjoy the humans’ festival. Furthermore, I heard that this festival is an especially big one because of the Bellids’ defeat. I have to enjoy it until the end.” Leona then took out a couple of items from her magic box and showed them off. They were all souvenirs sold at the festival, and it seemed like she was rigorously trying to collect all of them.

“You sure bought a lot.”

“I got a lot of money as payment. All this human money is going to be useless if I return to the forest anyway. It’s much better for me to buy these interesting items when I have the chance.” Leona looked back and forth between Zich and Lyla.

“Are you two also going out to play? Then, can I…!” Then, Leona seemed to be struck by a sudden realization and said, “Ah, won’t I be intruding then?”

Lyla stopped Leona from backing away. “No, it’s fine. We aren’t going around to play right now. We are making our preparations to leave.”

“Huh, already? Why don’t you go after playing a bit more?” Leona wanted to enjoy the humans’ festival for longer, especially with her friends.

“We’ve rested more than enough. It’s about time for us to move now.”

“Did you become bored because you couldn’t torment villains?”

Zich smiled at Leona’s comment, but in comparison, Lyla’s shoulders slouched a bit lower.

“Kuh! It’s as you say! I became a bit bored.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter to me, everyone you torment is trash anyway. I’m telling you just in case, but you can’t do the same thing to ordinary people.”

“I won’t. I will only torture bad people.”

“Then, that’s fine. Promise me one thing. Promise that you’ll come to the Droud Forest later.”

“Yes. I was planning to go there again anyway.” Zich was planning to find out what kind of changes happened after the World Tree’s clones disappeared from his travels across all the ruins in the world.

“That’s all I need,” Leona said, and the three continued to converse for a bit longer.

“Are you going to greet the others, too? Walwiss, Snoc, and Elena are all in the garden outside. I saw them on my way here, Walwiss was bullying Snoc again. That guy is unbelievable. I know he thinks quite well of Snoc in his heart.”

“I suppose that is a grandfather’s complicated heart,” Zich said. For Walwiss, Elena was his only remaining family member. It was only natural that he was strict with a guy likely to be his granddaughter’s lover.

“The fact that Walwiss’ teasing ends there shows that he is fond of Snoc actually. If you think about it, the Dwayne family is very prestigious, and it is only expected that Walwiss wouldn’t go easy on a potential addition to their family. Yet, Snoc doesn’t come from an established background, nor does he have a family to speak of.”

Even if Walwiss felt guilty toward Elena for his past actions, he couldn’t easily accept a lover with just any skills or status. Snoc was someone who basically came from nothing; he was a parentless mine laborer—prerequisites that would’ve normally prevented him from being acknowledged as the lover of a high-class lady forever. Thus, if Walwiss hadn’t truly acknowledged Snoc, he would’ve gone beyond just teasing and thoroughly blocked Snoc from ever meeting his granddaughter again.

“Yet, it’s fine either way since social class isn’t a barrier for Snoc any longer,” Zich added. Snoc was a contractor with the mythical beast of the earth and a world-renowned fighter thanks to Zich’s tremendous training and the experience he had accumulated. Besides, one couldn’t forget that he was also one of the dragon slayers, an established hero from all his wins over the Bellids, and a disciple of Zich, who could be said to be the world’s greatest hero. The fact that he had received the title of Karuwiman Honorary Knight after annihilating the Bellids was just a plus now. And considering all these factors, those people simply born into good backgrounds couldn’t even hold a candle to Snoc.

“Above all, he is the guy Elena likes, so Walwiss won’t be able to provoke him too harshly. Well, he doesn’t mistreat Snoc all the time, so I think we can leave him be.”

Walwiss didn’t only torment Snoc. He also took care of Snoc in different ways and taught him useful skills from time to time. Although Walwiss’ and Snoc’s expertise was different, Walwiss was a mage with great knowledge. Although his main expertise was in fire magic, he was also adept at earth magic and had all the skills to help Snoc.

“Still, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s petty,” Leona said, and Zich didn’t disagree. It was true that Walwiss’ behavior looked a bit small-minded to an outsider.

“Furthermore, he’s totally overstepping boundaries. Those two aren’t even dating yet in the first place.” Snoc and Elena simply thought of each other as friends and didn’t even realize their emotions yet.

Leona added, “Though it’s really a matter of time.”

“Honestly, I bet it’s only those two who don’t know,” Lyla chuckled.

“Anyway, I hope you will stop that guy when you see him,” Leona said.

“As I said before, I think it’s fine to let him be. I’m sure he will stop when it’s time to say goodbye,” Zich replied.

After Zich and Lyla separated from Leona, they walked to the place that Leona pointed out to them.

“There they are.” Inside the Karuwiman garden which was meticulously cared for every day, Zich and Lyla saw three people. The closer Zich and Lyla approached, the more realized that the mana around the three was moving abnormally. Lyla stretched out her hand and waved it like she was trying to touch the mana.

“Are they practicing mana control?”

“Probably. That will probably help Snoc a lot, especially since it’s Walwiss’ specialty.”

The three people’s mana moved precisely and accurately. However, one person’s mana soon began to shake and freed itself from control to scatter everywhere. It was then that the three opened their eyes.

“Tch, tch, tch! You can’t even do that,” Walwiss said in a disapproving voice that pierced Snoc’s heart. Snoc was the one who had lost control over his mana, and he slouched his head like a turtle going back inside its shell.

“What are you saying, Grandpa?! Snoc’s specialization is in earth mana, so it’s only natural that he has a hard time controlling normal mana!” Elena defended Snoc, but her words didn’t appear to be too effective. Rather, Walwiss’ mood seemed to worsen as Elena sided with Snoc.

“I am well aware that he specializes in earth mana. No matter how proficient he is with earth mana, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s fundamentally mana. If he can control pure mana as well as you, his proficiency with earth mana will jump several levels.”

“I know that, but Grandpa, the problem is that you’re asking him to perform at a level that is way too high for him right now!”

“What do you mean too high?! You’re easily able to do this much!”

“How can a mage like me and a magical beast contractor like Snoc be the same? Seriously, Grandpa! Why are you so mean to Snoc?”

“I’m not being mean to him. I’m just worried about him so…! Ah, what the hell is this blasted mole biting?!”

Kooo!

“Ah, no, Nowem!”

Nowem had attacked Walwiss since he was being mean to Snoc, and Snoc tried to hurriedly stop Nowem. By contrast, Elena looked at this scene with slight satisfaction, and it seemed as if she had no intention to stop Nowem. The place where Snoc was quietly training his mana became chaotic instantly.

“What a mess.”

“Yeah.”

Zich and Lyla watched them from a short distance.

* * *

“Teacher!” Elena, Snoc, and Walwiss noticed Zich and Lyla when they approached the group after the chaos had somewhat died down. The first person to react was Elena. She ran to Lyla in a hurry.

“You were practicing mana control,” Lyla said to Elena.

“Yes!”

“You’re even practicing during a festival. I’m amazed, but remember that resting is also part of training. In times like this, you should also relax.”

Elena’s expression changed, and Zich immediately understood the reason for it. Zich said, “Snoc must have been forced to train by Sir Dwayne, so you also participated to monitor the training.”

“…Yes.”

Everyone’s gaze moved towards Walwiss, and he let out an awkward cough. “Snoc still has a lot of potential for development. Moreover, since it’s really rare for someone to have made a contract with a magical beast, I might have gotten a little, a tad bit excited…”

Koo!

“You still haven’t let go yet! Why is a magical beast so narrow-minded?!”

This was the former master of the magical tower and still the world’s strongest mage. It did not take long for the disturbance to be over. The five of them sat comfortably on the grass, and Nowem climbed on Snoc’s shoulder, which was his designated seat. Zich and Lyla informed them that they were leaving soon.

“Y-you’re leaving?” Snoc asked in surprise.

In comparison, Zich’s response was very calm. “I’m not even an official Karuwiman Holy Knight, so there’s no reason for me to stay here in Yuras.”

“Yes, that’s true.” However, Snoc looked clearly nervous, and it was the same for Elena as well.

“What’s up? You’re nervous that we’re leaving? You’ve both been doing well since you became independent.”

Even after their status had risen from disciple to comrade, Zich had continued to stay next to them. Although there were times when they separated, like the mission on the island last time, it had only been for brief periods of time. However, it was different now. This was a real farewell, and they wouldn’t be seeing each other for probably a long time.

“I-I…! I still have a lot to learn from you, Teacher!” Elena slightly raised her voice. “Moreover, I only heard from Sir Zich that I was graduating! I still haven’t heard from…!”

“Elena.” Lyla interrupted Elena with a calm voice. “You’ve grown enough. I taught you everything I can teach you. From now on, it’ll be more helpful for your growth if you figure out your path on your own.”

She quietly held Elena’s hand. “You’re an extremely talented person. I assure you, if an existence like a Demon Lord ever appeared in this world, you would surely be one of the few people who would knock them down.”

Zich smirked as he listened to Lyla.

Lyla continued, “So there’s no need for me to teach you anymore. And don’t worry. It’s not like we’ll never see each other again. I’ll visit you sometimes.” Lyla softly said to Elena, who was starting to cry, “Elena, congratulations on graduating.”

* * *

Elena cried for a while, and Lyla and Snoc comforted her. Nowem also climbed on her shoulder and licked her cheek. Zich and Walwiss watched them from a short distance.

“Sir Dwayne, is it all right for you not to join them?” Zich asked.

“I’m not stupid enough to interrupt a tearful goodbye between a student and a teacher. Only a half-witted guy like Snoc would stick so closely to them.”

“That seems like an unfair assessment when Elena seems to feel significantly more secure with Snoc.”

Walwiss let out a groan; he made it very obvious that he was dissatisfied.

Zich laughed and said, “Sir, it’s not like you dislike Snoc. Rather, you like him very much, but you still act so mean-spirited with him. I guess the position of a grandfather is very complicated.”

“What do you mean, mean-spirited?! What I’m doing is just and proper…!” Walwiss was in a fit of denial, but he shut his mouth after seeing Zich’s sly expression. “…Hmph! You’ll know how I feel when you have children.”

“Yes, I might.”