"Huh?"
Immediately afterward, before Roxy could even react, the boy who had spoken behind her rushed forward.
Caught completely off guard.
Roxy was picked up and lifted high, and spun around many times in one go, with the sea breeze blowing.
Until the moment she became completely disoriented.
The man then put her down and pulled her into a tight embrace, so strong it felt like he wanted to meld her into his bones.
Roxy's face was flushed red with a suffocating expression. Suddenly, she used all her strength to push the other person away violently. "Ugh, no!"
She took a couple of deep breaths, looking at the boy in front of her with a face full of confusion and wariness. "Excuse me... who... who are you?"
"Ah?"
"What?"
"What the heck?!"
To be honest, Luo Ge was a little confused for a moment. What kind of question was that? Who was he?
He is Rog Greyrat, of course.
However, when Luo Ge noticed that Roxy was constantly looking at him with the eyes of someone looking at a stranger...
With a loud bang!
It was like a bolt from the blue, a thunderbolt striking from the blue.
????
Luo Ge stumbled and staggered, unable to help but back away, even clutching his injured chest with his hand.
Could it be?
It's only been seven years! Has Teacher Roxy already forgotten him?
Although he didn't feel utterly hopeless, Luo Ge felt as if something had stabbed him in the chest.
Luo Ge smiled, but it was a bitter smile.
"... Teacher?"
"Don't you recognize me? I'm Luo Ge. You used to be my tutor in Buena Village, teaching me magic... You were that genius student who was both talented and charming, loved by everyone, made flowers bloom, and even caused cars to get flat tires when they saw him."
" Luo Ge?!"
"Huh? You're Luo Ge?!"
Upon hearing this, Roxy began to carefully examine the other person.
Roxy's eyes went from wary at first, then confused... and then suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she instantly showed a look of great surprise.
The moment she covered her mouth with both hands, the wand clattered to the ground, and her blue eyes widened in disbelief.
Seeing this, Luo Ge couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, after all, this was exactly the kind of reaction his teacher should have.
With a smile on his face, Luo Ge stepped forward again and said, "Yes, it's been a long time, Ms. Roxy."
"Let me reintroduce myself! I am your disciple Rog Greyrat..."
Roxy had fully realized what was happening, but she still looked at the other person repeatedly with an incredulous expression.
The young man before her, half a head taller than her, with slightly squinted eyes, looking gentle and handsome, was actually that disciple?
Honestly... isn't this change a bit too drastic?
So much so that she almost didn't recognize the other person's identity.
This reunion suddenly made Roxy feel a sense of unreality. She murmured, "Ugh! Luo Ge, you're still alive..."
"I... I must be dreaming?!"
No, that's not it.
Luo Ge smiled and stepped forward, then suddenly took Roxy's small hand in his, as if he had made up his mind.
"If you don't believe me, you can try hitting me. If it hurts, then you're not dreaming."
As he spoke, Luo Ge grabbed Roxy's little hand and gave it a quick peck on his cheek.
Roxy didn't use much force to begin with; what looked like a hit was actually a gentle caress.
" Luo Ge, it really is you! You're not dead!"
Roxy could no longer hold back and suddenly hugged Luo Ge tightly, burying his head against her chest.
Having prepared himself mentally, Luo Ge simply half-squatted down to better coordinate with her movements.
This scene is just like when I was a child...
A nostalgic trip down memory lane to my childhood in Buena Village.
Back then, I was just a three-year-old child, but now I've transformed into a sunny and handsome young man.
When the bright afternoon sun fell on the master and apprentice, they couldn't help but look into each other's eyes and exchange knowing smiles.
Time passed, and I don't know how much time has gone by.
"Teacher? You've been hugging me for so long... isn't it time to let go...?"
"Um, sorry!"
Roxy then realized what was happening and, like a startled little rabbit, quickly let go of her hand.
"While I wouldn't mind being held by the teacher all the time, it's broad daylight, and there are other people around watching, aren't there?"
Upon hearing this, Roxy glanced around and noticed that Badigadi and Nanahoshi were sitting next to her with expressions of amused curiosity.
Roxy's face flushed red instantly... and she lowered her head unconsciously.
I wanted to say something more, but in the end, all the words stuck in my throat, and I couldn't utter a single one.
We've been apart for so long.
Over the years, she had so many things she wanted to tell this disciple. She thought that if he were still alive, she would hold him and say so many things to him.
But when they finally reunited, in front of a large crowd, Roxy became reserved and felt somewhat embarrassed.
Just as Roxy was feeling a little lost, she carefully fiddled with her braids, her fingers twirling around the ends of her hair.
For a moment... I didn't know what to say.
Luo Ge broke the silence first, smiling slightly, "Teacher, we've finally met again."
"Hmm... Luo Ge."
A sea breeze blew by, and Roxy's voice was gentle and very pleasant to hear.
On a sunny afternoon at the western harbor of Krasma, several seagulls circled on the beach, their cries seemingly witnessing the reunion of the master and apprentice after seven years.
The master and disciple looked into each other's eyes, and at the same moment, they both smiled in perfect unison—the joyful smiles that come with reunion.
Inside the tavern.
When the group of four returned to the tavern, it was already dusk.
On the other side of the tavern's main hall, by the window, two groups of people sat down in turn.
On one side were Luo Ge and Roxy.
On the other side were the Nanahoshi, Badigadi, Elinalise, Talhand.
They sat alone at a table.
Although no one spoke up, everyone tacitly left the extra space to the master and apprentice next door.
Since the two sides were not too far apart, only a few steps away, Nanahoshi could easily see what was happening next to him.
When Nanahoshi saw Luo Ge actually pouring water for other women, they were shocked... utterly shocked.
She said it was unbelievable, like seeing a ghost.
Is it fake?
Is this still Luo Ge?
He's unbelievably gentle and considerate... he even goes so far as to pour water for girls? Seriously... could it be that Luo Ge, this stereotypical straight man, has been replaced by some kind of evil spirit from another world?
Something's not right... something's really not right.
At this moment, Luo Ge and Roxy were sitting facing each other by the window in the tavern.
Sunlight streamed in obliquely through the window, falling on the table and making the steam from the two cups of hot water rise in wisps.
" Luo Ge..."
"Um, you don't need to pour me any more hot water. I'm actually not that thirsty anymore."
"It's alright, girls should drink more hot water, it's good for their health..." As he spoke, Luo Ge poured another cup of hot water for Roxy.
The disciple is too enthusiastic.
Roxy was really struggling to keep up... She could only hold the cup with both hands, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the cup's surface.
"Hey, Luo Ge, long time no see."
"It's been a long time indeed... Wait! Didn't we already say hello before?"
"Um... yes... I've already said hello. So... are you planning to return to the Millis Continent now? Are those two people next to you your companions?"
"Yes, teacher."
"The demon beside him is His Majesty Badigadi, known as the Wise Demon King. As for the black-haired girl... her name is Nanahoshi Shizuka."
"Oh, I see."
Roxy glanced at Nanahoshi beside her, and for some reason, she suddenly paused for a few more seconds.
"What are you looking at, teacher!"
"Huh? It's nothing!"
"By the way, you can continue."
"Um, teacher... I was just about to tell Paul and the others that Zenith is still alive. Actually, if I hadn't run into you, I might have already left the Demon Continent."
"Oh, I see. Will I be disrupting your schedule?"
Luo Ge didn't reply immediately, but stared at her intently. "Teacher, how could that be? After all, you're as important to me as family, and in this world... you're one of the people I cherish most."
Thank you, Luo Ge!
"You don't need to thank me. To be honest... I'm the one who should be saying thank you. After all... without you, teacher, I wouldn't be where I am today, and I wouldn't be alive and talking to you."
"Teacher!"
"I am so grateful... so grateful for your guidance, and for saving my life."
" Luo Ge has become so polite. You've changed; you're a bit different from when you were little."
"... Has it changed?"
"Has he become even more handsome?"
"Huh?"
Roxy paused for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle, "Forgive me... I take back what I just said. Although you seem more mature now, you still like to joke around just like when you were a kid."
"Joke?"
"Does it seem funny, teacher? Am I not handsome?"
As Luo Ge asked a question, Roxy glanced at Luo Ge furtively before quickly looking away.
Then she couldn't help but murmur softly, "Hmm... Luo Ge, he really is quite handsome now."