The Villains I Taught Became Heroes - Chapter 53



52 – Farewell – 2 (Revised)

***

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Won’t you at least talk to Lena before you go? That child seems to depend on you quite a bit…”

As she said, Lena had a strong tendency to rely on me.

But for the future, and for Lena’s sake, it would be better to correct that tendency.

“Ren is a strong one.”

I still haven’t come to my senses.

—

No, in fact, I spoke while watching Lena, who had just regained her senses but pretended to be asleep.

How foolish.

For someone like me, it’s easy to gauge the state of another through magical perception.

Not knowing that, she must be eavesdropping while pretending to sleep.

From noble mtl dot com

In that case, I should just say what Lena wants to hear.

It’s not even a lie.

“He has never disappointed me.”

“Oh…”

“It’s always been that way. It was the same when I was learning magic, and it was the same in life. He may seem weak-hearted, but in reality, he possesses a very strong will.”

“In what way?”

“He said we should run, but he insisted on fighting back.”

“Oh. I see.”

A smile lingered at Bella’s lips.

It seemed she had also noticed Lena’s pretense of sleep.

Perhaps because we were friends, I appreciated her understanding my intentions.

“Lena will miss you a lot. What do you plan to do about that? No matter how strong you are, you are a precious mentor to her. She will be deeply saddened to know that such a mentor left without a word.”

“It’s okay.”

I approached Lena.

As I drew near, I could see her body tense up slightly.

Looking down at her, I silently smiled and gently patted her head.

“If it’s Ren, she will understand.”

Right? She will understand, won’t she?

I slowly stroked the awkwardly stiff Lena.

It was amusing how she twitched as if wanting to get up each time I did.

“Are you planning to leave right away?”

“Yeah. For now, I think I’ll head towards Greenhild. And then I’ll need to move from there.”

To reach the Tower of the Sage, I must go to the edge of the continent.

There are many places I need to pass through to do that. Greenhild is just one of them.

“I see. Understood. Be careful.”

This girl still hasn’t gotten up. I stopped stroking Lena and looked down at her.

“Ren. We will definitely meet again. So don’t be too sad.”

I patted her head one more time and then stood up.

I handed a letter I had taken from my pocket to Bella.

“And give this to Ren as well. It’s proof of graduation.”

I pulled a robe from my bag.

It was a Shadow Robe, a high-level artifact that provides strong magical defense and allows the use of the special skill ‘Shadow Evasion.’

Bella looked surprised, as if she understood its value, but she nodded obediently.

“Then go.”

After saying goodbye to Bella, I immediately left the Ivory Tower.

“Oh~! Mister! Where are you going?!”

When I stepped out of the red chamber and arrived at the entrance of the ivory tower, I saw Yuria playing with Kanon.

Seeing her greet me with her characteristic cheerfulness eased my heart considerably.

“Please befriend Ren.”

“Huh? All of a sudden?”

“I’ve entrusted Ren to Bella. I hope you two can help out a bit.”

“Oh… I don’t mind, but what about you, sir?”

“I have things I need to do. I can’t take Ren with me.”

“You seem a bit serious about this. Hmm… Alright. Don’t worry too much. Just make sure you handle what you need to do well!”

Waving goodbye to the coolly greeting Yuria and Kanon, I immediately set off.

As I took the portal heading to Greenhild and arrived, I quickly secured a room at the inn.

It was the same inn I had stayed at during the magic tournament.

I would unpack my things there, stay for a day, and then take a carriage.

Just as I was thinking this and came down from the inn, I saw her.

“Haah… Haah… Haah…”

At the entrance of the inn, Rena was gasping for breath.

“M-Master…”

***

Even seeing Lee Hyun wake up, Rena couldn’t move.

How could she possibly tell him not to go when he was relying on her like this?

She could only tremble and lay down, turning her face away as if to ignore her master’s departure.

Drip. Tears streamed down her face.

Even in this situation, I find myself paralyzed by fear.

I wanted to tell him not to go, but I couldn’t even say a word for fear that he might come to dislike her.

Shaking with intense self-loathing, Rena cried.

A warm hand rested on Rena’s back.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“…Sniff.”

“Right now, you could chase after him.”

Bella, who had asked where she was going on purpose for Rena’s sake, spoke in a gentle tone and stroked her hair.

Accepting that touch, Rena swallowed her tears.

“…If, if Master… h-hates me… what should I do?”

“Well, I doubt he would come to dislike you just because you’re throwing a tantrum… Ah. How about reading this letter first?”

Rena slowly lifted her head. Bella, with a calm smile, handed her the letter left by Lee Hyun, wiping Rena’s tear-streaked pretty face with a handkerchief.

[To my proud disciple, Ren.

It’s a bit embarrassing to write this letter after always talking face to face.

First of all, congratulations. The fact that you received this letter means you have mastered advanced magic.

All masters hope their disciples will surpass them.

And I am no different.

I hope you will surpass me and become an even greater magician.

To do that, you need to step out of my shadow.

If I am trapped in the shadows, you cannot become the great magician who surpasses me.

That’s why, though it pains me, I have no choice but to leave you. I hope you can understand that.

Of course, I won’t just sit idly by while you grow.

I too must grow more, so that I can be a master you can be proud of.

So please, understand that this is how we must part.

Just because there is a farewell doesn’t mean it’s a forever goodbye.

People grow by meeting and parting with one another. We will surely meet again.

And when we do, I hope to see the grown version of you.

Please live happily while I am not around.

Your proud master, Lee Hyun.]

The hand holding the letter trembled.

The fact that the master was thinking of her filled her heart with emotion, yet a wave of regret washed over her.

As she watched, Bella maintained a gentle smile and spoke.

“Are you really not going to go?”

“…C-can I go?”

Is it alright to go see Lee Hyun now?

After pretending to be asleep when he left earlier?

“Do you think he would dislike you for that?”

“…Ah, n-no…”

Lee Hyun said.

No matter what she did, he wouldn’t dislike her.

Then, wouldn’t he understand this much?

Rena suddenly stood up and rushed outside.

“Ah?! Rena!”

“Where are you going?”

As she exited the ivory tower, she ran into Yuria and Kanon.

Breathless and unable to tidy her appearance, Rena grabbed Yuria and urgently asked.

“M-Master! Have you seen the master?”

“Uh? I saw him earlier.”

“I heard he was heading towards Greenhild.”

“Th-thank you!”

After bowing to them, Rena hurried to where the dimensional magic circle was set up.

But at that moment, she couldn’t help but be startled.

To use dimensional magic, one must pay with gold coins.

But how could she, with not a single coin to her name, make a payment?

Just as Rena was at a loss, she heard a voice.

“Oh my?! You’re Rena, aren’t you?! What are you doing here?!”

The sharp voice belonged to Rowin of the Blue Tower.

The typical noble magician, with his blonde rolled hair, tilted his head at the sight of Rena, who looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“Um, um… could you… lend me some gold coins…?”

“Gold coins? Why…?”

“I, I need to… meet my, my master…”

“Oh ho ho! If that’s the case, of course I should lend them to you! Now! Hurry along!”

I don’t know what’s going on, but judging by Lena’s expression, it seems urgent. If that’s the case, lending her some gold coins shouldn’t be difficult.

With the gold coins that Rowin gave her, Lena paid the fare and safely arrived at Greenhild.

‘W-will he be there…?’

Lena hurriedly ran toward the inn where she had stayed during her previous visit to Greenhild.

Praying fervently to the gods that he would be here, Lena opened the inn’s door and let out a sigh of relief.

She had spotted Lee Hyun coming down the stairs.

“Oh? Lena.”

Lee Hyun smiled gently as always.

Seeing that smile made her feel weak.

Eventually, Lena collapsed onto the floor, and Lee Hyun rushed over to help her up.

“Why are you sitting here? Get up.”

“I-I can’t…”

“Oh dear.”

With a bitter smile, Lee Hyun picked Lena up.

As she was cradled like a princess, Lena’s face turned slightly red while Lee Hyun seated her in the inn and wiped her disheveled face.

“…You’re too much. You, you didn’t even greet me…”

“Haha. I thought seeing you would make my heart waver even more. But you did receive my letter, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Can’t you at least say goodbye to me properly?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Ren.”

Lee Hyun held Lena’s hand tightly.

Thump. Her heart fluttered.

The sensation of his large, warm hand enveloping hers sent her heart racing wildly.

“I have to go.”

“…D-do you really have to… go?”

Nod. Lee Hyun’s gaze was steady and resolute.

No matter how much she wished otherwise, it was unbreakable.

So, Lena bowed her head deeply in front of him.

“Ren. As I said, I want to be a proud master to you.”

“Y-you are always a, a proud person. So… so…”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

Lee Hyun gently stroked Lena’s head.

In truth, she understood.

She knew what Lee Hyun was feeling.

She had always been weak. She had wanted strength to change.

And now, Lee Hyun was the one who needed strength.

—

It is something he cannot stop.

“Please send me off with a smile.”

Lee Hyun gently embraced Lena, and in his arms, Lena quietly sobbed.

After a long while nestled in Lee Hyun’s embrace, Lena finally calmed down, and he took her hand, heading towards the dimensional magic circle of the ivory tower.

He did not let go of her hand. As if wanting to feel him just a little longer, Lena glanced at the hand that held her tightly and shook her head.

‘I like my master…’

I like how Lee Hyun always smiles gently.

I like how Lee Hyun is always kind to me.

From noble mtl dot com

And I admire the strength Lee Hyun possesses, one that does not retreat in the face of any enemy.

‘So… I can’t throw a tantrum anymore…’

“Alright. Now, you should go back. Make sure to learn as much as you can from Bella.”

“…Yes.”

“Ren.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll be back.”

With those words, Lee Hyun turned his body. Watching him grow increasingly distant, Lena clenched her fist.

He’ll be back.

It means he will return to her side.

‘I, I will let you go for now. I, I’m… weak, after all.’

Yes. For now, I have no choice but to let him go.

Because I am weak.

Weaker than Lee Hyun.

But didn’t Lee Hyun say?

If I dislike this version of myself, I can change.

To change the part of me that has to let Lee Hyun go, I must grow stronger.

‘After I grow stronger. After we meet again…’

Lena looked at the retreating figure of Lee Hyun and tightened her fist.

“At that time… I will never… let you go.”