Episode 16

I returned to the shop after purchasing a gift, which was odd because the store had closed early. Breaking through the entrance, I found Miss Heliet lying on the floor, blood oozing from her mouth.

"Teacher, are you alright?"

I immediately wrapped my arms around her.

"Aksa, is that you? I've just had a fall."

I knew she was lying, but I had always known that my teacher was hiding something. All this time, I had pretended not to worry.

I cradled her in my arms and laid her on her bed on the second floor.

"Thank you."

"You must be hungry, teacher; I'll make some porridge for you."

She held my hand and just shook her head.

"Having you here, I'll heal, but my head feels quite heavy."

I stroked her hair until she chuckled softly, silly her. I knew she was feigning strength.

I took a small wrapped box out of my trouser pocket and handed it to her.

"Are you proposing, Ara?"

"Not at all, this is just my way of saying thanks."

"I'm a tad disappointed."

"What did you expect from me?" I said weakly.

"May I open it now?"

"Of course."

Her face lit up with joy as she unwrapped the gift I had prepared—a ring fashioned like a butterfly.

"Isn't this ring awfully expensive?"

"When you were in the city, you always admired it, right? I thought it suited you well."

"I'm taking that as a proposal."

She could joke even in such a moment.

"Honestly, I once eagerly wished to marry, but the person I liked fell for someone else before I could confess."

"Ahhh... I didn't hear anything," I yelled, covering my ears while Miss Heliet just laughed softly.

She asked me to place the ring on her left ring finger, and I understood her intention.

She had decided long ago never to marry anyone.

I sighed softly, and my teacher continued to gesture with her finger towards me.

"It fits perfectly, doesn't it? Oh, why am I crying... perhaps from happiness."

I smiled faintly and said.

"Today I'll cook anything you want, teacher. What would you like?"

"Then, the same as yesterday."

"Certainly."

As I closed the door, Miss Heliet's face showed a downturned expression of sorrow.

The next day at a tavern, I beckoned Vivia to talk one-on-one; actually, it was I who had insisted she come.

Whenever it was about my teacher, she was reluctant to share anything, yet I pressed her.

Despite hesitations, she eventually opened up.

"Actually, Heliet and I served in the same kingdom several hundred years ago."

"I had suspected that Miss Vivia was immortal."

"Though I have been deceiving you from the start."

"Truthfully, I was surprised at how kind you were to me."

"Consider that a time when I wanted to fool you, well, even though I did want to help."

I sipped my tea then queried.

"What if I had stayed at your place, what would have become of me?"

"Simple, you'd have lost your virginity."

"Thank goodness I didn't come then."

"Really, you feel thankful? Though I'm blunt, my figure is quite choice among the city's maidens," to which I could only grimace.

Nothing shocked me more than her true nature, such was the demeanor of someone nicknamed the dragon slayer.

"What's happening with my teacher?"

"Ah, that'd be a curse."

"A curse?"

"It's an old story. You received her staff, didn't you?"

I nodded in agreement.

"That's her mentor's invaluable relic entrusted to you, which means Heliet won't have long now."

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