Spring came to Bardlan, and the scent of fresh wildflowers spread throughout the city.
Yuric met with Baron Ollinger and informed him that he would soon leave the city. Upon hearing this, the baron looked very disappointed, as Yuric was both a good advisor and a dear friend to him.
“I’m sorry it has to be this way.”
“The sea of Bardlan will never be forgotten. I will definitely visit again.”
“Yes, do so. I will eagerly await your return.”
The baron gave Yuric an expensive quill pen as a token of their friendship, hoping that every time Yuric used it, he would think of Bardlan.
Of course, Yuric also told Lady Rani about his plans to leave. Her face darkened when she heard the news but then returned to its original state.
“…I see…”
“This place will be greatly missed.”
After finishing what would likely be their last history lesson, Rani suddenly declared to Yuric.
“I… will go to the Mage Tower later. Like you, I want to explore the wide world and learn more. And I will meet you again. No, I will find you.”
As Yuric listened to Rani’s declaration, he slowly smiled.
“Yes, that’s a good decision. I will always support you in my heart, Miss.”
“I will become a great mage. As great as our ancestors… and, and!”
Rani couldn’t finish her sentence and swallowed the rest. Yuric held her hand tightly.
“You will have the guidance of the universe.”
“Teacher…”
Unable to hold back any longer, Rani hugged Yuric tightly. He also embraced her gently.
Three days later, Yuric left Bardlan early in the morning with Tristan.
Looking at the misty coastal city, Yuric recalled the precious people who had been in his memories.
He knew he would miss everything.
After arriving back in the Salt City, Shahalburza, in just a month, Yuric went to Lynnet’s shop with Tristan. Seeing him after a long time, she couldn’t hide her joy.
“Yuric, you’re here!”
“Grandmother.”
Yuric introduced Tristan to Lynnet and decided to stay at her shop for a few days, partly to clean up the store.
When the village girls heard he was there, they all rushed to the shop. Seeing this, Tristan looked at Yuric with a disgusted expression. How many women’s hearts had this boy set ablaze without even knowing it!
“I can finally show off my skills again!”
Yuric made a lot of herbal bread and distributed it evenly among the villagers. The elderly welcomed him warmly, bringing salted herring, salted mutton, and plenty of goat’s milk. This filled the kitchen of the shop with ingredients.
Tristan surprisingly enjoyed the herbal bread, especially when paired with the salted fish or meat.
After staying three days at Lynnet’s shop, Yuric and Tristan left again. She insisted on giving Yuric some money for travel expenses, despite his repeated refusals.
Watching this, Tristan thought deeply about human relationships. Reflecting on it, even he, who was thoroughly calculating, did not consider gains and losses when it came to Yuric.
Of course, there was no need to think too much about it. Yuric had already poured endless affection and care into Tristan… If Tristan were in Lynnet’s position, he would have wanted to give Yuric even more, without a hint of regret.
This was the kind of relationship where they supported and cared for each other.
To have someone willing to do something for you in this world, and to be able to do something for another person willingly…
That fact gave Tristan a sense of great strength and comfort.
Leaving Shahalburza, the two arrived at Eulmash, the holy city of the Holy-Magic Guild, passing through the underground city of Chiazhand.
Yuric visited the Holy-Magic Guild’s research facility for curse studies once again, bringing Tristan along. Anton, Gerbus, and Lucius welcomed Yuric warmly after their long separation.
They talked all night, and before they knew it, two days had passed, and they left the city again.
They traveled through several cities and finally reached Lagzan, the gateway city between the West and Central regions.
‘Almost two years.’
Yuric felt the swift flow of time like a river while watching the bustling gateway city, where enormous amounts of goods were constantly exchanged.
It seemed like only yesterday since he left Arphenheim, yet he had already grown into a mature twenty-four-year-old man.
While the Peddler of Everything was busy selling bundles in the city, Yuric continued his focus on circuit analysis research. Starting from winter, he had spent five and a half months traveling from the farthest northern coastal city to here, completing twelve out of fifteen papers. After analyzing three more, he would complete the final synthesis of the remaining papers.
“I wonder what’s inside.”
“This experience is a valuable treasure, isn’t it?”
“That would be the worst.”
They laughed out loud.
After spending a comfortable week here, they boarded a carriage heading towards the Central region. It was truly time to part ways with the West.
‘Thank you for everything.’
Yuric bid farewell to the West as he watched the gateway city fade away.
Upon reaching Crelton, known for its magical artifacts, the two realized it was time to decide their separate paths.
“I want to go north. It’s been over ten years since I’ve been there.”
“I’ll head to the Mage Tower.”
“Alright, then it’s time for us to part ways.”
Reluctantly, Tristan and Yuric had their own journeys ahead.
Tristan patted his bag and said to Yuric,
“We should seriously discuss what to do with this bag next time we meet.”
“Understood.”
Then Tristan hesitated and gestured for Yuric to follow him into the warehouse.
The Peddler of Everything standing in the warehouse handed Yuric an item.
“This…”
What Tristan gave Yuric was the moving cane, Fertika.
Although it had a number, Tristan believed it belonged with its master rather than left in the warehouse.
He remembered how Yuric and the Golden Hand had returned the unicorn horn to the unicorn.
“This is yours. The cane wants to go with you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. The cane wasn’t meant to be locked away. …If it found the right master, it should be given to them.”
Yuric respectfully accepted the cane from Tristan.
“Thank you very much.”
“A successor of the warehouse should have such a token.”
Holding the cane, Yuric cautiously stepped outside. After centuries, the cane, Fertika, seemed lively with the fresh air outside.
Tristan worried the cane might fly off somewhere, but Yuric let it move freely without interference. Thankfully, the cane returned quietly to Yuric’s side.
The next morning, the two said their farewells at the carriage station.
“If I want to see you, I’ll contact the Mage Tower.”
“Understood. I’ll come running if you call me, Senior.”
After a warm embrace, they boarded carriages headed for their respective destinations. While Yuric would now have to carry heavy iron chests himself, he was content with engraving a magic seal to lighten the load slightly.
With Fertika by his side, Yuric embarked on his journey and arrived at Ronadium, the city of the Mage Tower, after twenty days.
Ah.
As soon as Yuric got off the carriage, he breathed in the familiar air of the city deeply.
Finally.
They had departed from the coastal city of Bardlan in spring, and now it was midsummer. People’s clothing had become lighter and shorter.
Seeing the wizards in pointed hats on the streets reminded Yuric of Tristan. He wished his seniors well in his thoughts.
Yuric walked leisurely through the unchanged streets of the city. However, wizard fashion trends changed frequently, and everyone now wore pointed-toe shoes.
Arriving at the Mage Tower, Yuric showed his silver badge and passed through the gate directly. He then rode the automatic elevator to the floor where the councilors’ offices were located.
Naturally, since it was an important floor, another inspection was required after getting off the elevator. With his silver badge, Yuric passed through easily.
Entering the office of the former Mage Tower Master and current councilor, Tristan, the old man put down his pen immediately and embraced Yuric in joy.
“Yuric!”
“Sir.”
Tristan, forgetting about his secretary, hugged Yuric tightly, his eyes moist with happiness.
“How are you? How was the West?”
“I’ll tell you everything.”
“When they hear you’re back, they’ll be shocked. Oh, and I read your treasure analysis paper. You’re quite remarkable.”
“Haha, not really.”
“Anyway, you must be tired from the journey. Was it hard?”
“I took breaks whenever I could.”
Tristan told his secretary they would leave early for the day and left the office with Yuric. They headed to Tristan’s house.
Seeing the familiar yard and house, Yuric felt his heart tighten.
“You don’t stay at the Mage Tower?”
“I need to sleep at home.”
The house still held many traces of Yuric. Looking at the framed pictures on the wall, he reminisced about the past.
“Are you hungry? Let’s eat.”
While they were having an early dinner, someone knocked on the door. Yuric went to check and found it was the wizards from the Mage Tower.
“Mr. Yuric! We’ve been waiting for you, practically dying of impatience!”
“…”
“Could you please give us a briefing? The verification is done, but there are a few parts where experts disagree.”
Tristan stepped forward, cleared his throat, and addressed the wizards gathered in the yard.
“These people. Yuric just arrived. He needs rest and time to organize his thoughts, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, Master Tristan. That’s why I came to ask if we could postpone until tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll see how he feels. Go back now. It’s dinner time.”
“Understood. Then, Mr. Yuric, please, um, I’ll go now. Enjoy your meal.”
The wizards left, and Yuric and Tristan resumed their dinner.
“They didn’t even give me a moment to breathe.”
“It’s fine. They must have been waiting for a long time.”
After finishing their meal, Yuric and Tristan enjoyed tea and delved into deep conversation, eventually retiring late into the night.
But Yuric stayed awake and left the house to head to the underground area.
The underground area, now closed for business, was dimly lit. Occasionally, one or two shops had lights on.
Yuric entered a deserted alley and stood still, taking several deep breaths to clear his mind and body.
Finally, the time had come.
The time to find the headquarters of the Dragon Knights, Arcanum.
“Open.”
Yuric called out, and Alaldur the Earth Dragon urged him to shout with more determination.
“Open!”
However, the burst of mana dispersed uselessly once again.
Yuric clenched his fist and shouted with all his might.
“Open!”
The incantation shook the space.
The stones of the alleyway began to move, creating an opening.
Ah.
Without even realizing it, he felt dizzy from the incredible sight.
Soon, an arch-shaped entrance appeared. Yuric swallowed hard and cautiously entered the pitch-black corridor. The entrance closed with a loud sound behind him.
Yuric created a light sphere in the air. The reflected light illuminated the vast passage, reminiscent of a dungeon.
After walking for a while, Yuric finally reached the end of the passage.
Before his eyes, an astonishingly large space unfolded.
As he stepped into the space, a bright light exploded. The chandelier hanging from the high ceiling and dozens of magical artifacts on the walls lit up simultaneously.
An ancient, spacious area came alive.
Yuric.
He had breathed new life into the headquarters of Arcanum, which had lain dormant for two hundred years.
