Determined to Move Forward

Norn and Aisha gradually began to grow up.

When they had just been born, they were infants who could not even open their eyes. In the blink of an eye, several months had passed, and they could already babble while nestling in their mother's arms.

At this rate, it would probably take another year or so before they learned to call out "big brother" and "big sister," but it was still something to look forward to.

By the time Rudeus and Hilde turned ten, the two children would probably be running all over the place.

Not long afterward.

A letter from the Shirone Kingdom arrived at the Greyrat household.

The Shirone Kingdom lay in the eastern part of the Central Continent, separated from the Asura Kingdom by the narrow Red Dragon Mountains, situated between the King Dragon Kingdom and the Disputed Territory.

The Greyrat family had never dealt with anyone from the Shirone Kingdom, but the moment they saw the sender's name, they understood the purpose of the letter.

The sender—Roxy Migurdia.

It was a letter reporting on her recent circumstances.

During the two years since leaving the Greyrat household, Roxy had resumed traveling the world. She returned to her old profession, earning travel expenses as an adventurer while making a name for herself.

When she arrived in the Shirone Kingdom, she heard of a famous nearby labyrinth and attempted to conquer it alone.

She succeeded in one go.

Having made a name for herself as the "Mage Who Conquered a Labyrinth Alone," she unexpectedly received an invitation from the Shirone royal family and became a court magician of the Shirone Kingdom. After that, she found King Rank magic in the Shirone Kingdom's library and devoted herself to studying it for a long time.

She had now become a Water King Rank magician.

After reading it, Hilde was filled with emotion.

"A Water King Rank magician... I heard that was a level capable of holding off thousands of soldiers on a battlefield. Naturally, they would be treated with respect wherever they went. The Shirone Kingdom may have a history of over two hundred years, but it still falls somewhat short of a nation like the Asura Kingdom. They must be thrilled to have recruited a Water King Rank magician as a court magician."

"Still, I never expected our teacher to become such an important figure. It doesn't feel real."

Hilde could not help saying so.

However, after reading the letter, Rudeus wore a complicated expression.

"Teacher Roxy has already become a Water King Rank magician... Compared to her, I've spent all these years standing still. What am I even doing?"

Rudeus leaned against the large tree behind him and muttered to himself.

The afternoon sunlight was still bright, filtering through gaps in the leaves and falling over his hair and Sylphy, who lay across his lap. It was the transition from spring to summer, the best season of the year. Beneath the azure sky stretched an endless green plain. Yet Rudeus felt only gloom.

"Have you made up your mind, Rudeus?"

Hilde, sitting on a branch, looked down and asked.

Rudeus looked up.

Their eyes met, and Rudeus saw the same familiar smile in Hilde's eyes.

"Yes. Everyone else is improving. I can't keep wasting my time."

Rudeus spoke wistfully.

"Come to think of it, the school Teacher Roxy mentioned before was called Ranoa Magic University, right?"

"Ranoa... Magic University?"

Sylphy, lying on Rudeus's lap, suddenly realized something and slightly raised herself. "What is that?"

"It's a school where you can learn all sorts of things. My teacher graduated from there. Before she left, she recommended that I go there for further study as well."

"Where is it? Is it far away?"

"Very far... If I went, I probably wouldn't be able to come back for two or three years."

Ranoa University of Magic was located on the Northern Continent, separated from the Asura Kingdom by the Red Dragon Mountains. Moreover, it was covered in snow for more than half the year, leaving little time when travel was possible.

If he wanted to attend school there, there would be travel expenses, living expenses, tuition...

Taking all that into account, it would probably be no small expense.

There was also the matter of time.

Taking all that into account...

"Don't!"

Sylphy's sudden shout interrupted Rudeus's thoughts.

"Sylphy?"

"Don't... Don't! I don't want you to leave, Rudi!"

Before Rudeus could react, Sylphy had already wrapped her arms tightly around him, sobbing loudly as tears streamed down her face.

"I-I don't want to be separated from you, Rudi!"

Her tears soaked the front of Rudeus's shirt.

He stared at the tearful Sylphy in astonishment, momentarily frozen.

"Rustle—"

Hilde jumped down from the tree branch.

She watched Sylphy cling to Rudeus and cry, her brows knitting slightly.

She was about to say something when she saw Rudeus subtly shake his head, signaling that he wanted to handle this himself. So she said nothing more.

Sylphy cried for a long time, until her eyes were swollen.

In the end, Rudeus reassured her that they would not be separated, and only then did Sylphy finally calm down.

When the sun set and it was time to part, Sylphy still reluctantly clutched Rudeus's sleeve, asking again and again if they would see each other tomorrow. Rudeus would not suddenly leave, would he? Her attachment and reluctance nearly spilled out from her chest.

After seeing Sylphy off, Hilde could not help teasing him.

"I couldn't tell, Rudeus. You've got some skills, huh?"

"What?"

Rudeus paused in confusion.

"Look at what you've turned your little girlfriend into. The moment she heard you might leave, she clung to you and refused to let go. Judging by how she looked, she practically wanted to cook the rice while it was still raw and take you right there." Hilde suppressed a laugh.

Rudeus: "..."

What kind of wild nonsense was that?

Then he sighed. He had not expected Sylphy to be so dependent on him.

Perhaps it was because he was the only person her age in this village whom she could really talk to.

But no matter what, he had to find a way to resolve this.

With that in mind.

At breakfast the next day, Rudeus brought it up.

Rudeus's idea was to take Sylphy to school with him. Of course, her family definitely could not afford her tuition, so his family would have to pay it as well. She could repay it later—after all, once Sylphy became a capable magician, earning money would not be difficult.

But Hilde felt that was unlikely.

She knew roughly how much Paul earned. Supporting the entire family was not a problem, and there was even a little spare money for buying things, but attending school in this world was a luxury. If it was only Rudeus, it should be manageable, but with Sylphy added in...

"No."

Sure enough, after a brief moment of thought, Paul answered decisively.

"There are three reasons. First, our family finances are not that generous. If it were just you attending school, it might be manageable, but adding Sylphy is absolutely impossible. And then there's Hilde. Do you think that if the family had money, we would prioritize Sylphy over Hilde?"

"Second, you're still too young. Your magic is already excellent, but you're ultimately still a child. The Northern Continent's environment is much harsher than the Asura Kingdom's. As your parents, we can't let you travel so far while taking such a huge risk."

"Third, your swordsmanship training is still only half-finished. If you give up swordsmanship now, you probably won't be able to improve any further in the future."

"Taking everything into consideration, no."

Paul stated his reasons for opposing it.

He was not refusing casually. He truly could not agree for those reasons.

However, Rudeus had considered those problems too, so he had prepared countermeasures.

"As for swordsmanship, please continue training me, Father. And regarding my age... when do you think I'll be able to travel far on my own?"

"Fifteen... no, twelve." Paul considered it carefully.

"Twelve?"

"Yes. Because I left home when I was twelve too."

"Understood."

The atmosphere at the table was as serious as if they were negotiating.

No, this really was a negotiation.

From the very beginning, Hilde had been staring at Rudeus without blinking.

Rudeus really wanted to take Sylphy to school with him.

It was a little...

Irritating.

"And regarding the cost of school, please introduce me to a job, Father. Since I can read, write, and do arithmetic, I can work as a tutor, or do something related to magic. Preferably something with higher pay."

Rudeus readily accepted the twelve-year-old limit Paul had proposed.

"Oh? Why?"

"I want to save up Sylphy's tuition."

Rudeus said it with the expression of someone preparing bride money to marry a wife.

Hilde no longer wanted to listen.

She glanced at Rudeus and spoke coldly.

"What you're doing won't help Sylphy. If she has to rely on you even for something like this, it won't be good for her."

Rudeus looked at Hilde in astonishment.

He had not expected Hilde to oppose him at this moment.

He had originally expected Paul to object, but thought he only needed to persuade him.

But why was Hilde against it?

Still, he immediately replied, "It may not be good for Sylphy, but I think it's good for me."

"..."

Hilde silently turned her gaze away.

The atmosphere at the table grew so heavy it seemed as though water might drip from it.

Paul glanced at the two of them and, after a brief moment of thought, said,

"If that's the case, it should be fine."

"I'll ask around."