“I will leave now.”
After reuniting with her former mentor Tristan and having a reunion, Bella told Yuric that she was going to part ways.
He had sensed for some time that the moment of their parting was approaching.
“Is it alright for me to leave like this?”
Bella smiled faintly.
“The time has come for me to leave. My role ends here.”
“Sister.”
“Yuric, do not worry. It’s not because of guilt over an accident. This path is the most comfortable for me. You are a smart child, so you will understand what I mean without my having to explain further.”
Yuric stared at Bella intently for a moment.
“In any case, we won’t be permanently separated. We’ll part ways for a while and then meet again soon.”
Bella approached Yuric and gently kissed his forehead, which he found endearing.
His soft hair, smooth forehead, steady gaze, prominent nose, and kind smile…
…she would never forget him.
“…It’s embarrassing, but I am a coward. A coward who cannot easily bring out what’s inside… But thanks to you, I was finally able to meet my master. It wouldn’t have been possible without your help.”
“Not at all. Sister, you are braver than anyone.”
Her eyes softened. Only he could look at her with unbiased, true eyes.
Therefore, she could only love him.
“Thank you, Yuric. The time I spent with you was truly happy.”
“Me too, Sister… Let’s definitely meet again.”
Before Bella left, Yuric gave her a gift. It consisted of two drawings. One depicted her, and the other showed them both laughing together. Her eyes deepened as she looked at them.
“Thank you. I will look at this when I miss you. I will keep it forever… Goodbye, my lovely Yuric.”
Then, she kissed his forehead once more, hugged him, and left.
Standing at the entrance until her figure disappeared, and on his way back upstairs, Yuric encountered Tristan in the corridor.
“Did she leave?”
“Yes.”
“…I see… Don’t worry about that child. She knows better than anyone which path she should take.”
Yuric smiled. He knew Bella was a strong person.
“I’m not worried. I believe Sister will do well, as always.”
Returning to the room, Yuric found a letter left by Bella. It expressed her gratitude for enduring with him and listed those among the Lisi who needed caution.
– The Lisi are a group of misfits, but they are not inherently evil. However, there are always bad people in any group, and the same goes for the Lisi.
– Be especially cautious with the Alchemist Baquins and the Illusionist Grakarid.
– The Reinforcement Mage Andaric is a peculiar individual; even if you meet her, avoid provoking her.
– Although I will use my power to ensure no one touches you, there are those who will ignore my warnings. So, you must be careful.
– I will always think of you. Take care until we meet again.
– My Yuric.
Yuric carefully kept Bella’s warning about the three names in his mind and cherished her letter.
The next day, Yuric, the verification team, and the volunteer team left the city.
Bella watched from afar as they departed, then turned around.
*
Upon arriving at their destination after passing through the city of Pryanor, the verification team couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of Verzig, standing proudly atop a cliff. From the snow-covered landscape below, Verzig looked magnificent.
“Finally, I get to see this in my lifetime…”
Moreover, the Wingless Wyvern Ashborn flew over and gracefully landed before them. The dragon knight researchers were thrilled to witness such a rare event firsthand.
The wyvern allowed itself to be observed within reason, knowing humans’ intellectual curiosity was considerable.
The verification team and volunteers immediately began preparations upon arrival and entered Verzig’s interior, where they continued to express their awe.
In truth, the verification team was most curious about how such a massive structure as Verzig could move. Therefore, Yuric decided to demonstrate its operation.
The management room on the top floor wasn’t overly cramped, but it was somewhat narrow to accommodate everyone. They decided to split into two groups to observe the control process separately.
Once the preparations for the first group were complete, Yuric stood before the mana device and placed his hand on it. Having demonstrated it several times, he managed to control it more smoothly this time, although it was still challenging.
Soon, the walls of the management room became transparent, revealing views in all directions. The wizards were swept up in excitement.
And then, Verzig slowly rose.
“Oh—”
The wizards exclaimed in disbelief, marveling at the advanced technology of the ancient weapon. Given that they couldn’t even create proper golems yet, such technology seemed like something from another world.
Yuric circled the cliff lightly before carefully landing back in his original position. Due to its size, even slight movements caused significant noise and vibration.
“You can touch it if you’d like.”
Yuric gladly offered his place at the mana device. The wizards took turns touching it, but none dared to attempt controlling the complex flow of mana. To control Verzig, one needed to perfectly understand and manipulate thousands of mana streams.
“How did you do this?”
Even the circuitry experts from the mage tower were stunned. The reaction of the former mage tower master, Elder Tristan, was similar. Only then did they vividly feel Yuric’s overwhelming genius.
Of course, if the first group reacted this way, the second group would react similarly.
No one present even attempted to control Verzig. Frankly, they hadn’t thought it possible. Even among demons, only a few could move such a thing.
After the demonstration, the verification team began a thorough investigation and research of Verzig. While they had originally come to verify a thesis, the verification was essentially complete. With the defense force of Duke Morifrid set to arrive in Verzig by spring, this was clearly the best time for research without interference.
“It would be good to send wizards from the mage tower to Verzig.”
The verification team unanimously agreed with Elder Tristan’s suggestion. Studying Verzig could help them understand the characteristics of the surveillance towers seen on the southern front. The Dawn Society or the Holy Magic Guild would likely send many wizards to Verzig as well.
Of course, from the eastern perspective, the large-scale deployment of magic groups was welcome. The more skilled wizards there were, the safer the east would be.
Thus, the verification team and volunteers conducted investigations and research inside Verzig during the winter, living and sleeping in its accommodations. During this time, Elder Tristan was responsible for their supplies, traveling back and forth between the city.
Yuric also stayed with them for a while before preparing to leave. His work in the east was done.
When Yuric informed Tristan that he was leaving soon, he felt a tinge of sadness.
Although he knew that both his former student Bella and Yuric himself had to leave, saying goodbye was still difficult.
“Where are you going?”
“To the far east. There’s supposed to be a stone tablet there.”
At the far eastern end of the continent, humanity’s reach currently ended at Verzig, but ruins remained there. Yuric wanted to visit that place with the help of the wyvern.
“When the defense force arrives in Verzig in spring, we will return to the mage tower. Come visit anytime. I’ll be waiting. Send letters occasionally.”
“Yes, Grandpa. I will always pray for everyone.”
Finally, the day of farewell arrived.
On a quiet winter morning, Yuric stood beneath the dimly lit dawn sky, breathing in the cold air deeply amidst the snow-covered ground.
In silence,
Yuric silently bowed deeply to Tristan and called for the wyvern, Ashborn. The wyvern, sitting quietly on the peak of Verzig, descended gently onto the snow and carried Yuric on its head.
Ashborn shot up rapidly. Yuric felt a fierce wind.
From such a great height, the scenery was always awe-inspiring. Ashborn must have longed for this for four hundred years without wings.
Soon, a reddish glow appeared beyond the horizon. It was dawn.
The world gradually regained its color.
Like a poet feeling poetic inspiration, Yuric felt a sense of beauty in the scene.
Ashborn flew continuously. However, reaching their distant destination in just one day was impossible, so they had to spend a night in the Demon Mine.
Yuric nestled between the wyvern’s body and wings to sleep. Despite the Demon Mine being filled with monsters, they spent a peaceful night. No matter how dangerous the Demon Mine was, no monster dared to challenge a dragon race.
Thus, after spending two days together between the Demon Mine and the continent, they finally reached their destination.
A barren land where no one lived, once a human continent, now stood alone with a single stone tablet marking humanity’s reach.
Yuric copied the tablet. To record that such a thing existed.
Having finished his work, Yuric stood alone in this silent place, exhaling white breath.
Winter days were short, and the sky already turned red. Yuric realized he would have to spend the night near here.
Ashborn took Yuric back up into the sky. As they flew, Yuric spotted a village from above. It was clear that the village had been uninhabited for a long time.
They landed in the village. As the day darkened, the abandoned village felt even more desolate.
At that moment, Yuric felt the Index Finger reacting. Ashborn seemed to sense something in the village as well.
– There’s a demon here.
Soon, a demon appeared before them. Tall, pale-skinned, and expressionless.
The demon, Langrid.
“…What is a human doing here.”
The demon assumed Yuric was another demon since Ashborn had arrived, but seeing only a human puzzled him.
However, his confusion didn’t last long. Non-slave humans were simply exterminated.
The human riding the wyvern was no ordinary person.
The demon shot a mana ball at Yuric, but he effortlessly deflected it with the Index Finger.
‘Look at this?’
Langrid finally prepared for battle. However, Yuric instantly appeared right in front of him and pierced his body with the Index Finger.
?!
