On the shore of Lake Gran in Milcaster.
A young girl from the Migludian tribe had just paid a merchant in town and boarded a carriage she had rented to set off on her journey.
The blue-haired girl was none other than Roxy Migrudia, a renowned Water King Rank magician.
A few whooshing sounds.
A gentle breeze blew by, causing her blue, wispy bangs to sway in the wind. She adjusted them with her hand.
Unconsciously... she would still reveal a hint of disappointment, giving the impression of a kitten that had been abandoned.
Feeling empty inside, Roxy kept recalling her memories of Buena Village, those little moments.
Back then... in the Buena Village.
That child who almost got poisoned by a pufferfish on our first meeting has now grown into the Sword King, a colossal figure... reaching a height that even I could hardly attain.
So remarkable, so powerful... he was simply the most outstanding disciple Roxy had ever taught in her life.
He's grown up.
In other words, he no longer needs me as his teacher.
Although she felt somewhat disappointed, she was never the kind of person who was sensitive and fragile, or who would lose faith in life if things didn't go her way.
Despite her delicate appearance, Roxy possesses a strong and resilient inner strength.
She was not happy in her family of origin, not because her parents treated her badly, but because they loved her very much.
However, having been disabled since childhood, she couldn't speak or communicate with others in the village, and gradually became isolated.
She has always felt like an outsider.
Later, by chance, she left her hometown and began adventuring throughout the Demon Continent.
After the team disbanded due to an accident, she embarked on a new journey, crossing the ocean to the Millis Continent and the northern part of the Central Continent Ranoa University of Magic.
... I went to school and did odd jobs.
One can imagine how difficult it must have been for an ordinary demon girl from the countryside to get to where she is today.
But Roxy was never defeated by life; she was independent, she persevered... and she was also very brave.
To have reached this point today, becoming Water King Rank magician, Roxy has walked on thin ice.
However... none of these are things to brag about.
Her only claim to be worthy of pride is that this Water King Rank magician actually personally trained a Sword King, a Sword King capable of defeating a Demon King.
Even Roxy felt proud of Luo Ge when she thought about his achievements.
She took a deep breath, clearing her mind of those distracting thoughts, and then carefully dragged the luggage into the carriage.
She drove the rented carriage herself, preparing to leave the city today and embark on a new journey.
She checked the reins.
He placed the backpack next to the seat, and after making sure nothing was left behind, he gently shook the reins.
The carriage slowly began to move, its wheels making a rumbling sound as they rolled over the stone pavement.
However, the carriage had only been moving for a short while.
An unexpected incident occurred just as they left the city.
"Please wait a moment!"
Someone on horseback hurriedly caught up and blocked her carriage's path at the city gate.
The sound of horses' hooves grew rapid, approaching from afar... until finally cutting in front of the carriage, forcing Roxy to tighten the reins.
Curious, she stopped the carriage and turned to look at the person who was blocking her way.
He was immediately stunned.
Because the person who chased after her and tried to stop her was none other than her most prized disciple, the Demon Sword King Luo Ge.
"Huh?"
" Luo Ge?"
"It's you?!"
Roxy stopped the carriage, her gaze falling on Luo Ge, her face full of confusion.
She didn't understand why Luo Ge had chased after her.
Didn't we already say goodbye?
After all, this time she didn't just leave a letter; she solemnly bid farewell to him and his wife, Lara.
Everything that needed to be said has been said.
Those who deserve blessings have received their blessings.
What reason would he have to chase after us?
Just as Roxy was wondering what was going on, Luo Ge had already dismounted and come to her carriage.
He moved swiftly, his boots leaving a small dent in the dirt road as he landed, and then he walked quickly to the carriage.
That face, though only thirteen years old, already looked like that of a young adult, yet at this moment it was filled with an undeniable domineering air.
Without any preamble, he went straight to the point. "Teacher, come back with me."
Just as Roxy was wondering how to respond, Luo Ge said to her again, "... Teacher, are you still angry with me? If you are, then hit me a couple of times to vent your anger."
No.
Roxy finally spoke.
Her tone was calm, as gentle as ever. " Luo Ge, I'm not angry with you."
"Can the teacher stay?"
" Luo Ge, I'm sorry... I can't be of much help to you anymore. Staying here will only be a burden... an unnecessary extra person."
"No! Teachers are not troublesome, much less superfluous..."
"But Luo Ge, if I stay, won't Lara mind? After all, I look exactly like her... and we've had a conflict before..."
"I'm afraid your wife, Lara, will misunderstand..."
As Roxy spoke, her voice lowered, and she shifted her gaze from Luo Ge's face, her eyes landing somewhat guiltily on the road in front of the carriage.
Luo Ge covered his forehead, looking helpless. "Teacher, you're overthinking it."
"And is it possible... teacher, you've misunderstood?"
"Is it a misunderstanding?"
Roxy tilted her head, seemingly trying to understand the meaning of these words.
"A real teacher!"
"Think about it carefully. I have never publicly acknowledged Lara as my wife. It's all a lie she made up from the beginning."
"And even if that were the case... then my feelings for her were just for show. The only person I've ever truly cared for is you, teacher."
"..."
Roxy.
Even though Luo Ge has now shown the utmost sincerity, his attitude couldn't be more genuine.
But Roxy did not change her mind.
She paused for a moment, then spoke, " Luo Ge..."
"What's wrong?"
"There are some things I've kept in my heart for a long time, and I really don't know whether I should say them or not."
What is the teacher trying to say?
"..."
" Luo Ge... do you know?"
"Ever since you were a child, I knew you would one day become extraordinary, a truly remarkable person, a very important figure."
"Compared to someone as skilled as you, I'm just a Water King Rank magician with very poor talent."
"Actually, I... I've always known in my heart... that one day you will surpass me... and with my current level, I can't teach you much more."
"Especially when Luo Ge was in danger, I, as your teacher, couldn't be there to protect you. I felt so guilty, and I even thought about..."
Even if I were by Luo Ge's side, I guess... I wouldn't be able to help Luo Ge much anymore, would I?
"You will face an enemy as powerful as the Dragon God, and I... I am destined to be nothing more than a burden to you."
Listening to Roxy's heartfelt monologue, Luo Ge fell silent.
Gradually...
Then he seemed to understand something.
From that moment on, Luo Ge suddenly began to re-examine himself, and then Roxy as well.
He felt that he had never taken the initiative to learn about Roxy before.
Standing before her was never a puppet, but a flesh-and-blood Roxy with her own thoughts and a unique soul.
perhaps.
Lara was not the trigger for Roxy's departure; the root cause of it all stemmed from her inner contradictions.
Teacher Roxy is very likely.
She wasn't as great as she imagined; she would get angry... feel inferior... and have her own little moods.
If we set aside the sacred aura of being a teacher, in essence, Roxy is just an ordinary demon girl.
Even because she was a demon, she had a slight inferiority complex in her personality.
turn out to be.
... Lara wasn't the one who drove Roxy away.
It was himself.
Luo Ge felt he had finally figured something out, something he had been pondering for a long time before he arrived, but had never been able to find the answer to.
And at this moment, he finally found the answer.