"Cough... forget it, I'm fine the way I am."
Garlan struck a pose, showing off his solid arm muscles with mock bravado. "I might not have talent for magic, but a healthy body is the foundation of any revolution. I think being a tough, thick-skinned warrior suits me just fine."
Denken glanced at him sideways. It was likely the first time he'd heard a warrior describe themselves that way, and he found it oddly amusing.
"Speaking of which," Garlan continued, "Lia seemed to have a good handle on things at first. Why did she lose control so suddenly?"
At the moment he saw her zipping toward the cliff, his heart had skipped a beat. Fortunately, his long-term physical conditioning had pushed his stats to a new peak—far exceeding his initial baseline when he first arrived in this world. That was the only reason he'd been able to cover that distance in time to save her. Now, he had fully inherited the original host's strength; if he faced Zaras again, his chances of a successful escape had increased significantly.
"I saw you freeze up there. You were distracted, weren't you?" Denken adjusted his monocle and looked sharply at Lia. He looked every bit the stern veteran teacher scolding a student.
Garlan felt a shiver of nostalgia. Terrifying. That's the exact same look my homeroom teacher used to give me when I messed up.
"...I'm sorry... I won't get distracted again..." Lia mumbled, scurrying behind Garlan and peeking out with only half her head visible. "Denken is so strict today..."
Strict as he was, Denken truly cared for her. Whether in daily life or in her studies, he was nurturing her with everything he had. And Garlan could feel the change in her—not just in her magical proficiency, but a fundamental shift in her aura. She was transforming from a naive girl into a mature individual.
It is said that it takes ten years to grow a tree but a hundred to grow a person. In just a few months, Denken had managed to make this 300-year-old "sapling" show signs of growth. The effort he put in was palpable.
"It's not easy, is it, Denken...?" Garlan rubbed the back of his head, offering an apologetic smile. "Even though I used a bit of trickery to keep you here, you're still taking this so seriously."
"Hmph." Denken gave a small huff, clearly still harboring some complaints about being swindled. "However... I have my own selfish reasons. This child... she's too much like Lektüre..."
Garlan blinked, falling silent. Lia, not understanding the weight of those words, just looked back and forth between the two men with a confused expression.
"So... have you made up your mind yet? About taking the First-Class Mage Exam? This year's is over, but there's always an opportunity three years from now."
Denken paused. A visible hesitation flickered in his eyes—a stark contrast to his usual decisive and efficient nature. "...Only regarding that matter, I cannot make up my mind. Perhaps I am running away... but I want to think about it more."
"I see..."
Garlan didn't press further. Having crossed over, he knew exactly what "thinking about it more" meant. It wasn't a single night of deep contemplation or a sudden epiphany. It would be a sudden realization decades later, after a lifetime of drifting through the tides of political bureaucracy, that would finally drive him to drop everything and chase his obsession.
But only that Denken could truly fulfill the long-held wish in his heart. Garlan didn't want to interfere with the natural flow of the story. Human life is so short—short enough that at a few critical junctures, we are pushed to make decisions that define our entire existence. These were Denken's most important crossroads; it wasn't Garlan's place as an outsider to intervene.
Fortress City RohguriAdventurers' Guild
The massive bulletin board was plastered with various commissions. A crowd of people swarmed the wooden board, their eyes scanning for a decent job. Occasionally, disputes broke out when two parties laid eyes on the same request.
While solo adventurers usually solved things by grouping up, two organized parties eyeing the same prize often led to conflict. Adventurers weren't always saintly; many lived on the edge of a blade and had blood on their hands. To prevent brawls in the lobby, guards were stationed nearby to maintain a semblance of order.
"Yo! Garlan, over here!"
Garlan navigated the crowded hall, wondering where Glenn was, when he heard that familiar booming voice. In a corner of the guild hall, four people sat at a long table, huddled in discussion. They were well-equipped—a mage with a staff, a swordsman, and someone clutching a holy scripture. A balanced party.
"Hey!" Glenn was at the table next to them, waving a massive hand.
"Being giant has its perks; I spotted you instantly," Garlan joked.
"Haha, you brat!" Glenn laughed, slapping Garlan on the back. "This time, we're collaborating with the party next to us. We're heading out to subjugate a monster group that's recently occupied Windmill Village."
Glenn pulled out a parchment stamped with the Guild's red seal. It detailed the mission specifics and the reward.
"The reward is fifty Strahl silver coins? That's quite a lot..." Garlan frowned. "But shouldn't a task like this be handled by the army? Why pass it to adventurers?"
"Because of the frequent activity of the Demon King's remnants lately. Most of the army has been deployed for encirclement missions. Many famous adventurers have been conscripted too. The only reason I was able to come back..." He pointed to his healed right arm. "...was thanks to that demon I encountered."
"I see." Garlan nodded thoughtfully. He looked at the other two at their table. Like the neighboring party, they had their roles.
"This is Theresia. She's a very experienced Second-Class Mage. We've worked together many times; she's completely reliable," Glenn introduced.
The girl named Theresia was very young, with fiery red hair reaching her waist and a youthful face. She looked about Garlan's age.
"Don't let her age fool you. She's only twenty, but she's steadier than most veterans... uh..." Glenn leaned in, lowering his voice to a "secretive" stage whisper while nudging Garlan with his elbow. "I hear she's still single, and she's quite a beauty. Hey, Garlan, I think you're a good match. Want me to set you up?"
Garlan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He's an old bachelor himself, and he's trying to play matchmaker for me? This guy...
Despite Glenn's attempt at whispering, everyone at the table heard him. Theresia's face turned bright red instantly. She sat there in awkward silence, completely flustered by the boisterous man's suggestion.
___
There's a few advance chapters on my P@treon
Usually upload 2 Chapters a day in there, except Saturday and Sunday
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