May, Eris, and Eve stepped over the academy’s main gate, having engaged in a rather heated discussion. For the moment, they decided to form an alliance out of necessity.
Fixing her bag, May asked, “In the end, the problem is finding Rin, right?”
“That’s right. Finding Rin is where it all begins,” Eve replied.
The top priority was to locate Rin. To resurrect Daniel, they needed to meet the Goddess of Death, and the one closest to her among humans was none other than Rin.
“It probably isn’t a fond memory for her, sorry about that,” May said.
For Rin, memories of the Goddess of Death were undoubtedly uncomfortable, if not torturous. The reason she was living in hiding, evading capture, was exactly because of the Goddess of Death.
Having run away in an instant, Rin left Eve and May without a proper chance to help her, and that regret lingered deep in their hearts.
“But is there any way to find Rin?” Eve asked.
Eris, casually fixing her windblown hair, replied, “I don’t think so. May, on the other hand, lets her mana flow freely, so we know she’s in Elgrid, but Rin really is hiding tight.”
Having previously ventured alone to find Rin, Eris was confident in her response.
“Even if we bravely showed up, we’d be at a dead end.”
“Exactly.”
May and Eve frowned, pondering the situation. Eris, who had a plan in mind, was about to smile and speak when suddenly the professors came rushing over.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going, Dean Assistant?”
“Ah, I’ve been caught.”
As if it were no big deal, May scratched the back of her head, but the professors had a menacing aura as if cursing at any moment.
“What is this letter about?!”
One of the professors, missing half his head, shoved May’s letter forward, which simply said, “I resign.”
“Resign? Are you kidding?! You’re the Dean Assistant! Do you think it’s possible to just quit like this?”
The gazes of Eve and Eris simultaneously turned to May. In the midst of this, Eris whispered with a sly smile, “If you can’t keep up, it’s fine to stay behind. I’ll bring Sherpa back for fun later.”
“You should go back to Yggdrasil. It’ll be over quickly, so don’t worry.”
May brushed off Eris’s hand on her shoulder and stepped forward. She was about to engage in a conversation, but her previously passionate and lively eyes suddenly dulled.
‘So that’s what the eyes of a working adult look like.’
Seeing May’s work-worn eyes, Eve decided to jot it down as a reference for her future work.
“I really don’t understand what the fuss is about. Do professors really need to make such a big deal about me resigning?”
“Are you kidding?! What about the piled-up work? What about tomorrow’s meeting? We have a meeting with Pales Academy regarding the competition!”
“That’s their responsibility, isn’t it? Do they not have the ability to handle that?”
“Dean Assistant! Are you joking right now?!”
The professor’s face turned red as he sputtered, practically spraying saliva. Yet, May replied with her characteristic calmness.
“I already finished my work ages ago. Let’s just postpone the next tasks till the Director comes back.”
“This is truly irresponsible! You finished your work? What about all those piled on your desk…?”
“That’s not my work, is it?”
With a cold ferocity in her voice, May berated the professors.
“Did you forget that I worked as the Director’s secretary? Once I became the Dean Assistant, the workload doubled. Yes, it must have been frustrating for you since a fresh graduate barely a year out of school took the interim Director position.”
The professor, who had just been feeling high and mighty, suddenly fell silent. In reality, May had taken on tasks she didn’t even need to handle.
Irresponsible? Just don’t push her buttons.
“A meeting with Pales? I know the Director is not coming in person. The venue is fixed at Bairn Stadium, so do I have a reason to go?”
“…”
“The academy will run just fine without the Director for a while. I made sure of that. And…”
Clenching her fist, she lightly tapped the professor in the chest.
The professor froze, his face going pale, but May’s sharp gaze warned him.
“Firing a secretary is at the Director’s discretion. I’ve already been fired by him. So, don’t speak carelessly in front of me; it could lead to your demise.”
“…Y-yes.”
The professor, standing agape, started to hiccup in shock. May felt a slight satisfaction from seeing this and gave a small smile.
“I’m off to get married. Won’t send any invitations, so let’s not meet again.”
Raising her hand in a dismissive gesture, May smoothly turned and walked over to Eve and Eris. Eve was hastily jotting something down, alternating between her notes and May, while Eris crossed her arms, looking dissatisfied.
“May can’t get married, you know?”
“Shut it, if Daniel hugs me right when he sees me, I might just cry.”
“If I call you Sherpa, you’d jump right into my arms, right? Besides, hugging May would probably be stiff and not that pleasant.”
“…You little brat.”
With visible differences, there were no excuses to be had.
*
“Ugh, we really should switch to a mana boiler.”
Sen McLean, burdened by a heavy load of firewood, sighed under the weight pressing down on her shoulder.
This was Palem village.
A village built on the Palem Plain, plentiful with beasts, and it was said to have originated from hunters.
Thus, while there were many beasts around the village, the citizens also knew how to hunt well.
It was the hometown of Daniel, Rin, and Ares, but now, there was no one left there.
After unloading the firewood at the outdoor shed, Sen stepped inside. The house was warm and inviting, likely because of the last of the firewood that had been burned, and the aroma of baking bread filled the air.
Sen’s earlier complaints melted away as the delightful smell of bread became one of her favorites.
“Good job! I made an apple pie, and when you’re done washing up, I’ll slice some for you.”
“Wow! Apple pie!”
Once called the witch of the Black Forest, Adriana now wore an apron where her robe should be and donned oven mitts where she once held a staff.
Recently engrossed in the art of baking, her skills remained sharp from making magical potions, allowing her to master it quickly.
“I want one right away.”
As Sen hurried to wash up, the Grand Witch, sitting on the couch reading a book, spoke up.
The witch village, completely wiped out by the Time Priestess.
In reality, only Adriana and the Grand Witch remained, with the Grand Witch being retired, leaving only Adriana.
Adriana had no intention of reconstructing the unorthodox village. Once they fled to the forest to evade the gods, now there were no gods with the power to intervene.
Over the years, witches could escape the forest and grasp freedom.
But where would they go?
Daniel McLean was dead, and Diana McLean served at the Dragon’s Boundary. With Sen left to guard the house alone, Adriana and the Grand Witch lived here together, having received Diana’s cheerful permission.
Daniel’s wish for Sen to not be lonely was somewhat fulfilled.
“Here you go.”
Handing the pie over, Adriana sneakily checked the book the Grand Witch was reading. To be precise, it was more of a diary than a book.
It recorded the Grand Witch’s life up to this point.
With nostalgia glimmering in her eyes, the Grand Witch slowly spoke.
“I never imagined the end of my life would be in such a warm room.”
“What are you saying? You still have a long way to go!”
“Hehehe.”
The Grand Witch, whose lifespan was immeasurable, seemed like she could easily live another decade at least, as Adriana believed.
“I’m back from washing up!”
Sen jumped over the couch and landed next to the Grand Witch. Three years later, she had grown a little taller, but contrary to her height, Sen had become a bit more childlike.
Feeling like she had regained the lost childhood of being part of the Chokugen Faction wasn’t a bad change at all.
In the McLean household, a former witch and a retired assassin spent time enjoying pie. Money was not a concern.
After clearing out the village, the money the Grand Witch possessed, along with Daniel McLean’s fortune he amassed from plundering pirates, landed entirely with Sen.
She firmly believed that the warm time gifted by one man would continue unchanged.
slick, sizzle.
Suddenly, the space tore apart.
A cold wind burst through the gap.
Before the three could react, a person emerged from the tear, with long silver hair that almost covered the entire living room floor.
“C-can you help me?”
A shockingly thin figure, hollowed cheeks, and deep dark circles. The girl looked like a recluse, without a doubt.
“Don’t you miss Daniel McLean?”
It was the Goddess of Time.
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