Chapter 373: I've Come to Say Goodbye
Inside the research room, Kurtz was conducting research. He did not put down his work until the sound of knocking arrived alongside Flamme's voice. "Professor Kurtz."
"Enter."
The door opened, and Flamme appeared in the doorway. She was still wearing that neat white mage robe. Her red hair was perfectly arranged, and her expression was unusually serious, as though she had something important to say.
"Professor Kurtz," she said calmly, as always, "I've come to say goodbye."
Goodbye? Kurtz raised his head, his gaze falling onto Flamme's face.
She lowered her eyes slightly instead of looking directly at him, making it difficult to read the countless emotions hidden within them. However, her straight posture and tightly pressed lips revealed an unmistakable solemnity.
For a fleeting moment, Kurtz felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
This scene... felt oddly familiar. Then he remembered. A similar moment had happened decades ago.
Back then, Flamme had left his side for the first time to travel the world on her own journey. At the time, he had even used memories from his previous life to answer her questions.
He had not realized so much time had already passed. Memories of the past surfaced in his mind, making Kurtz feel somewhat sentimental.
He still remembered how Flamme had found Frieren during her travels. In order to save her, she had not hesitated to break into the temple and use the enormous amount of magic stored within to forcibly open a portal and teleport Frieren to his side.
All Flamme needed to do was send him an urgent magical message.
After all, he had already left a mark on her body long ago. He could easily open a portal and locate her position from anywhere.
But from Flamme's perspective, her actions at the time were understandable. Even urgent magical messages required time to arrive. By then, Frieren might not have survived long enough for help to come.
And shortly after that, the demon army had attacked the city...
Realizing his thoughts had drifted too far, Kurtz quickly refocused and began considering the meaning behind Flamme's farewell.
Now, Flamme could already be considered humanity's second-strongest mage after himself. She could handle most situations without difficulty and was no longer the little girl who needed protection.
Temporary departures to handle dangerous missions were not uncommon for a mage of her level.
Moreover, Flamme had carried out many missions over the years, so Kurtz did not immediately suspect anything unusual.
"Really?" Kurtz deactivated the magic circle in front of him. "What kind of mission is it this time? How long will it take? What's the danger rating?"
He habitually began asking questions. Although he had complete confidence in his disciple's abilities, concern still came naturally to him.
Flamme raised her eyes and met Kurtz's gaze. Her eyes were still as clear and bright as beautiful green gemstones, but deep within them, Kurtz caught a faint trace of something different from before.
"It's not an Association mission, Master." Flamme gently shook her head, her voice remaining calm. "It's a personal matter. I need to leave the capital and travel somewhere far away. It may take quite a long time."
A personal matter? A long journey?
That answer surprised Kurtz slightly. Flamme's life had always revolved around the Magic Association. She rarely handled private affairs, much less something requiring such a long trip.
Still, he did not pry further. Everyone had their own private matters. Even someone as close as Flamme did not need to report every detail to him.
"Hm." Kurtz nodded. "Do you need my help? Or should I inform Serie?"
"There's no need to trouble Master Serie," Flamme replied immediately. Her tone quickened slightly before returning to normal.
"It's only a small matter. I can handle it myself. I've already handed over my work in the Association to Senior Sister Ayla. She'll be responsible for things while I'm gone."
A full handover? Had they even completed the follow-up arrangements?
The sense of unease in Kurtz's heart deepened slightly. Why did this sound so much like someone preparing their final arrangements?
But that should not have been possible. According to his calculations, Flamme should still have some time remaining.
Then again...
Olivia had recently mentioned wanting to return to the Heavenly Kingdom, and now Flamme was suddenly preparing for a distant journey.
Could the two matters be connected?
Kurtz recalled Olivia mentioning that Flamme once hoped to rest forever within the Heavenly Kingdom.
"Since you've already arranged everything, proceed according to your plan," Kurtz said slowly. "If you encounter any problem you cannot solve, contact the Association or me immediately."
It was an ordinary instruction from teacher to student: concern, trust, and a proper amount of distance.
Regardless of what Flamme intended, Kurtz would naturally understand everything once he saw Olivia off himself.
Flamme listened quietly. A faint glimmer seemed to flicker in her eyes before she gently nodded. "Yes, teacher. I'll keep that in mind."
Then, as though she had finally completed an important report, her body relaxed almost imperceptibly before tensing again.
She looked at Kurtz silently. Her gaze lingered on his face slightly longer than usual, as if trying to engrave this moment deeply into her memory.
"Well then, teacher... I'll be leaving now." She bowed slightly in a standard greeting.
Kurtz looked at her lowered red hair and the fair curve of the back of her neck, and the strange sense of déjà vu surfaced once more. Decades ago, she had bowed in almost the same way before leaving to begin her own journey.
"Hm," he responded softly, seemingly with nothing more to add.
Flamme straightened up, gave Kurtz one final look, then turned and walked toward the door.
"Flamme." Kurtz suddenly called out to her just as her hand touched the door.
Her body trembled violently. Could it be... that he had realized something?
She did not want Kurtz to know her true feelings. If she spoke them aloud now, the farewell would become unbearably heavy, and her resolve might collapse completely.
That was why she had chosen to leave quietly. That was enough. That was already enough.
"Is there anything else, teacher?" she asked while forcing herself to remain calm.
Kurtz stared at her silently for several moments. Just when Flamme thought everything had been exposed, he finally spoke.
"Goodbye." Those two simple words instantly loosened the tension throughout her body.
"...Yes. Goodbye, teacher." Flamme genuinely hoped she would see him again someday, even though she already knew that was impossible.
The door closed softly behind her, separating them completely.
Kurtz remained standing there, his gaze fixed on the closed door for a long moment before he finally sighed.
This child had never been good at lying. Nor had she ever been good at hiding her true feelings.
Outside the room, the corridor was empty. Flamme walked away one step at a time, her footsteps echoing softly through the silence until they gradually disappeared beyond the staircase.
She never turned back. And she would not turn back.
[End of Chapter]