Roxy's departure

Roxy left the day after the graduation exam, and everyone gathered at the door to see her off.

"Roxy, you can stay with us forever! You don't have to leave! Besides, there are still so many dishes I haven't taught you..."

Zenith looked a little sad and was very reluctant to see Roxy leave.

"That's right! Everyone in the village loves you. I've even handed over my title as the village's most popular person to you. Give it some thought!"

Paul was also a little at a loss over Roxy's departure.

And what was this about being the village's most popular person? With Roxy simply standing in the village, Paul already had no standing left.

Come to think of it, did that title even exist?

"Thank you, but I'd like to travel the world for a little while and hone my magic again."

Roxy was still deeply touched, and she smiled at the two of them as she spoke.

Hearing Roxy's words, Paul rubbed his head, looking embarrassed.

"How should I put this? I'm really sorry. It's our children's fault that you lost your confidence..."

Hey, hey, Dad, that's a little too blunt!

Paul's baffling remark left Rudeus sweating with embarrassment.

"Rad, Rudeus!"

Roxy crouched down slightly and stroked their heads.

"Although I've done my best to teach you, my abilities are still a little lacking. I'll keep improving my magic and become a teacher you can be proud of!"

Hearing Roxy's words, neither of them looked sad. Instead, they smiled.

This was the first time Roxy had formally acknowledged herself as their teacher!

Did you do something? Rudeus asked, looking at Radeus.

Just a little talk therapy. What really made Roxy do this was the bond between us! Radeus replied to Rudeus.

Looking at their smiling faces, Roxy couldn't help smiling too.

"We won't lose to you either, Teacher!"

"Then let's all do our best!"

"Oh, right. These are for you two!"

Roxy took out a necklace and a bracelet and gave them to Radeus and Rudeus.

"These are..."

Radeus and Rudeus looked at the two gifts in their hands.

"These are the graduation gifts I prepared for you-protective charms I chose very carefully!" Roxy explained as she looked at them.

Rudeus received a necklace, while Radeus received a bracelet, which also had an azure crest engraved on it.

"Then this is goodbye..."

Roxy took one last look at the house, then turned and walked away.

Watching Roxy leave, Rudeus still felt a little sad and reached out, wanting to ask her to stay.

Just then, Radeus suddenly shouted, "Teacher Roxy, may we still be the best teacher and students when we meet again! Make sure you teach us your newest magic then!"

Roxy's steps halted at Radeus's words, and she turned back to give them an absolutely dazzling smile.

"I promise!"

Radeus stared at Roxy's smile, stunned. He swore he would never forget this moment for the rest of his life. For an instant, he even thought Roxy was a god, and he finally understood why believers were so devoted to their gods.

They watched Roxy go until her retreating figure vanished from sight.

After returning to their room, Rudeus looked at the composed Radeus and spoke.

"Aren't you sad?"

"Why?" Radeus looked puzzled.

"Because Teacher Roxy left..." Rudeus's eyes still held the reluctance of parting.

"Partings do make people sad, but Roxy left; she didn't die. As long as we keep traveling, we'll definitely meet again. Tearful farewells don't suit us, because it'd be embarrassing when we meet next time!"

"All of the above came from the collected sayings of Himmel the Hero."

Radeus smiled as he comforted Rudeus.

"That hero called Himmel must be an especially great man!" Rudeus remarked after hearing Radeus's words.

"Of course. He's one of the few people I consider worthy of respect. You could already call him my mentor in life," Radeus said proudly.

At that moment, Rudeus's respect for Radeus rose to a height only a god could reach, until...

"Huh?"

The day after Roxy left, Rudeus happened to discover a small wooden box in the room, only the size of a palm. He was trying to open it when Radeus, who had just returned from the toilet, happened upon the scene.

"Stooop! Don't touch that box."

Radeus's voice was hysterical, but he still couldn't stop Rudeus. The box was already open.

"Oho!"

Rudeus looked at the pure white sacred object inside the wooden box with contempt.

"These are Teacher Roxy's, aren't they? You really are a freaking pervert!"

"Actually, Teacher Roxy left them here by accident. I just happened to pick them up, then accidentally forgot to give them back to her..." Radeus explained guiltily.

"All right, all right, I get it. Save it for the police!"

With that, Radeus lost the respect Rudeus had held for him.

Several days passed after Roxy's departure before everyone shook off their sadness.

Rudeus was grateful to Radeus for pulling him out of his psychological trauma time and again, until he had now completely overcome his shut-in ways. But Rudeus discovered that being a shut-in didn't disappear-it only transferred to someone else.

"Go outside and play! What are you always staying in the room for?"

Rudeus spoke to Radeus, who was reading a storybook in bed.

"Huh? It's so sunny outside. I don't want to go out!"

Ever since Radeus had gotten that storybook from Paul, he hadn't left the house.

Helpless in the face of Radeus's shut-in behavior, Rudeus snatched the book from his hands.

"Which one of us was the shut-in in our past life, anyway?"

"Come on, I worked my ass off as a corporate slave for so long in my past life. Now that I can afford to, why shouldn't I be a shut-in? Huh! Look me in the eyes!"

Radeus stared at Rudeus with wide eyes.

"Then what about Teacher Roxy?"

"With Teacher Roxy's abilities, she'll definitely be back soon!"

Radeus lay lazily on the bed.

"Yeah, I get it. You're just hooked on reading that storybook, aren't you?"

Seeing Radeus's state, Rudeus understood at once.

"All right, confiscated!"

"Huh? What gives you the right?"

Radeus couldn't believe it. How dare a mere Rudeus do this?

"I do!"

Paul walked in through the doorway and stood behind Rudeus.

Seeing Paul come in, Radeus sprang off the bed and stood straight at attention!

Rudeus looked at Radeus with a wicked grin.

Thought I couldn't handle you, did you?

"How long has it been since you went outside? I'm confiscating the storybook. You can only read it once a week. Now go out with Rudeus and buy a few things on your way back!"

Paul took the storybook Rudeus handed him and carried it away, leaving them with a task.

"No!!!"