Chapter 69 Senior Disciple
After my mentor finished speaking, she gave a wry smile and said it was time to call it a day. Her face showed deep exhaustion, and Arnold and I immediately got up from our chairs, exchanged a few comforting words, and left the inn.
The moment we stepped out of the inn, an overwhelming sense of fatigue washed over us. Just listening to the story had drained me, but the mental strain on my mentor, who detailed his painful memories from that time, was immeasurable.
On our way back to the royal castle, Arnold lightly tapped the bag slung over his shoulder – the bag containing many notes written by my mentor – and then spoke.
"I'd like to read through everything eventually, but honestly, we're short on time. Let's split up and start reading."
I nodded with a bitter expression.
Facing the raw pain of my mentor and her granddaughter Annette, chronicled in real-time back then, was truly tough. But hidden within it might be a significant clue.
I glanced at Arnold's expression. Though there were deeper lines on his forehead than usual, his complexion wasn't too bad. However, his voice seemed less energetic than usual. Was it just my imagination?
"I'll call Elvira over soon. We need to make time to visit Flaria. Show us around."
Arnold said, and this time, I nodded vigorously.
Tomorrow, we would listen to my mentor again, but the top priority after that would be taking Elvira to Flaria. We needed to see the results of administering The Drinking Water of the Spirits. After all, without knowing the outcome, we couldn't plan ahead.
However, the issue was finding the time. Of course, I have to write a report on the expedition training, but I also need to submit detailed information about The Drinking Water of the Spirits, as I discovered a new synthesis material. In addition, I need to read my mentor's notes, and there's one more thing to worry about. With frequent monster attacks happening now, we didn't know which city would be targeted next, making our regular duties increasingly busy.
(There's not enough time for everything.)
Despite being gently advised by Luisa-san not to overwork myself and promising Lukas the same, I knew I had to tackle each issue one by one.
* * *
The next day, even though I should have been physically and mentally exhausted, I found myself waking up earlier than usual. Since I didn't feel like going back to sleep before the time I had promised to meet our mentor, I decided to go for a morning walk without waking up my roommate, Chelsea.
Stepping out onto the outer corridor facing the courtyard, I was greeted by the pleasant morning sun. As I stretched and enjoyed the crisp air,
"――Oh, it's you, young lady! Early bird!"
A hearty laugh shook my eardrums, followed by a voice.
Recognizing the voice, I turned around to greet the person who had returned to the royal capital without my knowledge.
"Good morning, Vake-san."
Vake, with a bandage covering his right eye, responded with a slight nod.
"When did you return?"
"Just recently. But I'll be leaving again soon, this time heading north."
Despite having visited various parts of Ostria in a short period, Vake's smile didn't betray any signs of fatigue.
Vake had also visited my hometown, Emme Village, to strengthen the protective magic – alongside the young magician Flor, who would later be possessed by the demon king.
Although I had thanked Vake when he returned to the royal capital with Lukas, I had been busy with my expedition training at the time. Now that my schedule was more settled, I straightened up and bowed deeply to Vake.
"I want to thank you again for your help with Emme Village. I really appreciate it. Thank you."
The strengthening of the barrier magic in Emme Village allowed Lukas to leave the village for an extended period, leading to the discovery of "The Drinking Water of the Spirits." From Olivelle-san's tone, it seems that Vake recommended him as our escorts.
I've only been receiving from Vake and haven't been able to give back anything. Of course, I don't intend to leave it like this and plan to repay him in some way in the future.
Suddenly, when Vake crouched down, he peered up at me with my bowed head. Startled, I reflexively raised my head, and he laughed heartily again. And...
"Girls aged fourteen or fifteen shouldn't be so considerate of adults. Isn't that lonely?"
He said, changing his hearty smile to a somewhat lonely one.
"A simple guy like me is happy to be relied on."
Vake stood up and looked into my eyes. He seemed to be reminiscing about the past, looking somewhere far away.
Vake, who lost his parents at a young age, might have been a child who couldn't rely on adults. Although I don't think he's projecting his past onto me, seeing my discomfort with relying on others, he might have some thoughts.
Whatever the reason, the kindness akin to unconditional love from Vake was simply delightful, comforting, and spread throughout my body. Even in "Last Brave," he was admired by many as a person of integrity, and it's easy to understand why they want to follow Vake and admire him.
"If anything happens, come talk to me. I'll help."
Vake tapped his chest firmly and I nodded in response, albeit modestly. He then smiled satisfactorily.
The conversation paused for a moment. I thought he might be on his way somewhere, but Vake spoke again, as if to detain me.
"Oh, right. By the way, that person is here now, right? You know, your mentor."
Caught off guard by the unexpected topic, I froze for a few seconds.
How does Vake know that my mentor is in the royal capital now? Only Arnold and I should know about it. We haven't kept it a secret, but it's unlikely that Arnold mentioned it. He's not someone who talks a lot, and it's unlikely he would tell Vake, who isn't that close to him.
So, the possibility is...
"Uh, um. Do you happen to know my mentor... Berta?"
Maybe, Vake and my mentor have known each other for a long time, and perhaps the mentor informed Vake about visiting the royal capital.
However, Vake quickly denied this possibility by shaking his head.
"I only know about it. By the time I joined the Savila Knight Order, your mentor had already quit being the Royal Alchemist. I heard rumors about a talented alchemist. I thought I could greet her when I went to Emme Village, but it seems she was out."
Although I've never heard about my mentor's active days, it seems she was a renowned figure even within the castle. Having lost everything and left in despair, the famous alchemist became the subject of many rumors.
"Did you hear it from someone?"
The royal castle is my mentor's old haunt. There are still old acquaintances around, and Vake must have heard from one of them. When I asked, it seemed to be the right guess, as Vake nodded vigorously.
"Yeah. I heard it from Kasper."
――However, the name that came out of Vake's mouth was a name I hadn't expected at all.
Kasper. Kasper is likely my boss, Kasper Claesen. There shouldn't be another person with the same name.
It was instantly understandable, but Kasper-san and my Mentor didn't connect. Maybe Kasper-san is older than he looks, and he used to be a new alchemist during my Mentor's active days, or maybe the studious Kasper-san followed my retired Mentor—
"It's been a while since your Mentor came to the royal capital, so I suggested him to show at least his face, but he stubbornly refused to nod. Surprisingly, he has quite a stubborn side. Hey, say something to your senior disciple, young lady. It's sad that despite being mentor and disciple, they have a bad relationship, isn't it?"
――Senior disciple.
Without a doubt, I froze at the word that shook my eardrums.
According to Vake, Kasper-san's Mentor is also my Mentor, Berta, and for me, Kasper-san was a boss and—apparently—a senior disciple.
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