Chapter 68 - Preparing to Leave

Noir, who was lingering around, raised his ears and quickly came nearby. He walked very proudly. Largo, who was not called, dropped his ears and whined. Seeing that, Azriel asked.

“When we get the house, will the familiar spirits live with us too?’

“If you want.”

“I want to live together. Like before.”

Largo’s drooped ears were raised dramatically. Azriel smiled toward Largo. Its tail swayed busily.

*

Rhema left for Modjankle after handing over Azriel’s luggage that was restored as if it had never been wet. Azriel took out the money she had saved and the book she was translating.

“Noir, I’m going out. Do you want to come with me?”

“Of course, I’m coming with you.”

The black cat nodded largely and puffed out his body. Noir soon transformed himself into a black-haired lad with casual attire. Azriel was surprised when she saw Blanchet changing but she was not this time. Since her memory came back, Noir’s human mimicking was familiar.

She came out of the inn with Noir and headed toward the bookstore.

People kept glancing at them on their way. It was because Noir, who was much taller than normal men and who had brown skin, was unique. The human form that he mimicked was a handsome man of the southern part of the Kingdom of Aucandor, which was rarely found.

Since a man who seemed to be a southerner was escorting a pretty girl who seemed to be a northerner, people could not take their eyes off them once they looked back at them. Curious eyes continuously followed them. It was too much even for Azriel who was used to these kinds of attention. She lowered her voice and asked.

“Noir, can you be in a different form?”

“I can, but I feel comfortable in this since I’m used to this. Why? Should I change?”

“No, never mind.”

They could lose people’s attention only after they entered the back alley. Azriel left Noir waiting by the entrance of the bookstore and went inside.

“Grandpa Warden, it’s me.”

“… Azriel?”

The old man’s eyes were widened. Warden looked like he was seeing a ghost.

“Oh God, goodness, you are alive! Good gracious!”

He hurriedly stood up and held her hands. Seeing his eyes welling up, Azriel was startled.

“You thought I died?”

“Of course, the castle was ruined! I don’t know what on earth happened over night. Some say that the punishment of heaven fell upon it…”

“… Did many castle people die?”

“Some went missing and some were buried to death, you know. It’s such a strange incident that I heard an investigative party will be sent from the capital. What about you, are you all right?”

“I’m all right. Oh, I came to give this back.”

Awkwardly smiling, she handed the book together with the pocket that had almost all of the money she had raised so far.

“Please take this too, Grandpa.”

“What’s this?”

“I’m going to leave Colte soon. Thank you so much for all this time.” 

“You are leaving? I see. Since the whole Colte family became that— Okay, go where nobody knows that you were asl*ve. That’s a great plan, yes, you should go.”

Warden patted Azriel’s shoulder, showing a smile on his wrinkly face, and handed her back the pocket.

“One who leaves needs more money, what’s this? I won’t take this.”

“You trusted me, who was only a 14-year-old girl and a formersl*ve, entrusted your valuable books, and gave me jobs. Please let me repay you a little bit.”

“You think there are a lot of people who could use Lemm text so freely like you? It’s because you were talented. I didn’t do much for you.”

“I know you asked around to get translation jobs for me on purpose and paid me more than enough. Please accept this, please?”

“Oh please, just take it back, quickly. Life won’t be easy for someone as young as you to live alone. You should have enough money.”

“No, I’m not alone now—” she was momentarily lost for words.

How could she call Rhema in relation to her? A sponsor? A master? Any of the terms did not seem to fit perfectly. He was rather closer to master, but that was not accurate either.

Rhema was too respectful and did not have much will to teach her to consider her as his pupil. It was rare for him to teach her first if he was not asked beforehand. He could not be a sponsor because there was no desired result for her. He was too distant to consider her as a daughter. He did not discipline her at all for a guardian either. He never scolded her nor tried to modify her behaviors. It was not that he neglected her completely or did not give her enough attention.

‘Can he be described as… the only person of my kind?’

He and she both were humans, not of a different kind, but that must be the closest feeling. Azriel decided to vaguely define their relationship that way. However, she could not explain this to someone else. She just simply said.

“… I’m not alone anymore, Grandpa. I met my master.”

“Your master?”

“He’s a wizard. I’m also going to be a wizard.”

Warden looked at her with a surprised face and soon nodded.

“Well, I thought there was something about you since you knew Lemm so well. A wizard, that’s great. Very good…” 

“So, please take this. It’s a token of thanks,” Azriel at last pushed the pocket to Warden who was waving it off. “Oh, Grandpa, have you heard about the ruins that were discovered near this area?”

“The ruins? Are you talking about the ruins that collapsed?”

“What? It collapsed?”

“It was getting ready for excavation at the height, but a landslide struck it not long ago and now no one can enter it.”

“A sudden landslide…”

“Weird, right? It’s not that it rained or anything but a sudden landslide— On top of the castle turning into a sand hill, the area is chaotic these days,” saying so, Warden clicked his tongue.