Chapter 69

After the master finished speaking, he smiled wryly and said he wanted to call it a day. His face was heavily lined with fatigue, and Arnold and I immediately stood up from our chairs, offering words of comfort before leaving the inn.

The moment we stepped out of the inn, an overwhelming sense of fatigue washed over my entire body. If I felt this way just from listening, the mental strain on the master, who had recounted his painful memories in detail, must have been immeasurable.

On our way back to the castle, Arnold lightly tapped the bag on his shoulder—containing the many notes the master had written—and spoke.

"Ultimately, I want to go through everything, but frankly, we don't have the time. We'll have to divide the work and read them."

I nodded with a bitter expression. Accepting the raw pain of the master and his granddaughter Annette, who had written in real-time, was incredibly difficult. But there might be some significant clues hidden within.

I glanced at Arnold's expression. His forehead was more deeply furrowed than usual, but his complexion wasn't too bad. However, his voice seemed to lack its usual vigor. Was it just my imagination?

"I'll summon Elvira soon. I want to find some time to visit Flaria. Can you guide me?"

I nodded vigorously in response to Arnold's words. We would hear the master's story again tomorrow, but the priority after that would be to take Elvira to Flaria. Without knowing the results of giving the spirit water directly, we couldn't plan for the future. However, the problem was when we could find the time. We needed to write a report on the expedition, submit detailed materials on the new ingredients for the spirit water, and read the master's notes. Moreover, with the frequent monster attacks, our daily work was becoming increasingly busy.

(There's not enough time for anything.)

I had just promised Louisa that I wouldn't overwork myself with Lukas. I started to mentally organize my schedule, determined to solve each task one by one.

***

The next day. Despite being physically and mentally exhausted, I couldn't sleep deeply and woke up earlier than usual. There was still time before my appointment with the master, but I didn't feel like going back to sleep. I decided to take a morning walk and left the room without waking Chelsea.

Stepping out onto the corridor facing the courtyard, I was greeted by a pleasant morning sun. I stretched and savored the fresh air when a boisterous laugh echoed in my ears.

"Hey, it's you! You're up early!"

I recognized the voice. Wondering when he had returned to the capital, I turned around and opened my mouth to greet him.

"Good morning, Wake."

I bowed slightly, and his left eye narrowed. His right eye was hidden behind an eye patch.

"When did you return?"

"A few days ago. But I'll be leaving again soon. This time, it's the north."

Despite traveling to various parts of Osteria in a short period, Wake's smile showed no signs of fatigue. He had visited my hometown, Eme, to strengthen the barrier magic, along with the young magician Flor, who would later be possessed by the Demon King.

I had thanked Wake when he returned to the capital with Lukas, but it was a busy time with my expedition report. Now, with a more stable schedule, I straightened my posture and bowed deeply to him again.

"Thank you again for your help with Eme. I really appreciate it."

The strengthening of Eme's barrier magic allowed Lukas to leave the village for a long time, leading to the discovery of the spirit water. From Oliver's words, it seemed that Wake had also recommended him as our escort.

I felt I had only received from Wake and had nothing to give back. Of course, I didn't intend to leave it at that and planned to return the favor in some way.

Suddenly, Wake squatted down and peered up at my face, which was still bowed. Surprised, I reflexively raised my head, and he laughed heartily.

"A fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl shouldn't be so considerate of adults. It's sad, you know?"

His smile, which had been boisterous, turned somewhat melancholic.

"I'm a simple man, and I'm happy when someone relies on me."

Wake stood up and looked into my eyes. He seemed to be reminiscing about the past, looking at something far away.

Wake had lost his parents at a young age and might have been a child who couldn't rely on adults. Although I didn't think he was projecting his past onto me, he might have seen something in me that reminded him of his own struggles.

Regardless of the reason, the unconditional kindness Wake showed me was heartwarming and comforting, spreading through my entire body. In "Last Brave," he was respected by many people for his character, and I could understand why they wanted to follow him and walk in his footsteps.

"If you need anything, come to me. I'll help you."

I nodded modestly but firmly in response to Wake's chest-thumping. He seemed satisfied and smiled.

The conversation paused for a moment. I was about to leave, thinking he was on his way somewhere, but Wake spoke again, stopping me.

"Oh, right. I heard that person is here, right? Your master?"

I froze for a few seconds, surprised by the unexpected topic.

Why did Wake know that the master was in the capital? Only Arnold and I knew about it. I hadn't told anyone to keep it a secret, but it seemed unlikely that Arnold would have mentioned it to Wake, who wasn't that close to him.

If not, the only possibility was...

"Y-Yes. Do you know the master... Berta?"

Perhaps the master and Wake were old acquaintances, and the master had informed him of her visit. However, this possibility was quickly dismissed as Wake shook his head.

"I only know her one-sidedly. When I joined the Schwaria Knights, the master had already retired. But I heard many times that there was an excellent alchemist. I thought I might meet her when I went to Eme, but she wasn't there."

I had never heard about the master's active days, but it seemed she was a well-known figure in the castle. After losing everything and leaving in despair, the famous alchemist must have been a subject of many rumors.

"Who told you about her?"

The castle was the master's old workplace. There must still be old acquaintances, and one of them must have told Wake. My guess was correct, as Wake nodded.

"Kasper told me."

However, the name that came out of Wake's mouth was unexpected.

Kasper. Kasper must be my superior, Kasper Clausen. There shouldn't be anyone else with the same name.

I understood this instantly, but I couldn't connect Kasper with the master. Perhaps Kasper was older than he looked and had been a new alchemist during the master's active days, or perhaps the studious Kasper had sought out the retired master...

"It's been a long time since the master came to the capital, and I suggested he should at least show his face, but he refused. He's quite stubborn, you know. Hey, can you say something to your fellow disciple? It's sad that they don't get along, despite being master and disciple."

—Fellow disciple.

The word that shook my eardrums made me freeze.

According to Wake, Kasper's master was also my master, Berta, making Kasper my fellow disciple.