The next morning.
Bright sunlight streamed through the glass and fell across the elf's face.
Yet Serie, standing by the window, kept her gaze fixed on the city gate bathed in sunlight.
There, the party led by Hero Himmel stepped out through the gates amid the cheers of the people, heading into the mountains to welcome the heroic spirits who had once guarded them.
Serie watched from the window for a while. Only after confirming something did she turn away from the sill and look at her disciple Guter, who had lingered in her room since early morning under the pretense of asking questions.
"Why didn't you join the Hero's party?"
"They invited you to their farewell banquet last night, didn't they? I could tell you were tempted."
"Yes."
Guter nodded and replied firmly, "After all, he's the Hero who defeated the Demon King. Who wouldn't be tempted by the chance to travel with him?"
"But I keep feeling that if I leave you and act on my own, something very bad will happen."
"Hero Uncle could probably keep me safe, though."
"But they're a large group carrying out an important mission. A variable like me shouldn't go in and cause trouble."
"Of course, the most important reason is that I want to stay by your side, Teacher."
"Reading Magic Books comfortably beside you is obviously much nicer than trekking over mountains behind some uncle."
"Heh."
Serie gave a soft snort, ignoring her disciple's flattery. She pulled over a chair and sat down beside Guter.
Her bare feet, which disliked being constrained by anything, lifted up right in front of him.
"Hiss—"
Guter quietly sucked in a breath. As though he had activated an auto-aim system, his eyes drifted away from the dull Magic Book toward something far more wonderful.