Chapter 13: An Unfamiliar Ceiling and a Promise for the Future

It was an unfamiliar ceiling.

‘I survived.’

Looking up at the unfamiliar ceiling, I let out a sigh of relief at the thought that I had somehow managed to survive.

The chances of the rescue team arriving before my life’s flame went out were low, so it seemed Marine had ultimately cleared the ruins.

I thought it would be fortunate if Marine alone survived, but for her to even conquer the ruins…

I felt genuinely grateful to Marine.

I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn’t obey, perhaps because I hadn’t fully recovered yet.

At least I could move my neck, if I endured the pain.

“Ugh.”

Enduring the pain, I moved my neck to check my body parts.

Fortunately, visually, all my body parts were normal.

Next, I decided to check my mana circuit.

I suspected my mana circuit might be broken, but I tried to move my mana, just in case.

Woo-woong.

The mana accumulated in my body was still there, but unfortunately, it wouldn’t move according to my will, as if the mana circuit had completely malfunctioned.

‘Haah.’

It was certainly a relief to be alive, but losing the powerful force of mana left me feeling disheartened.

‘How long will it take to recover?’

It is said that for an adult mage, recovering a mana circuit takes an average of 10 years.

Even after recovery, it becomes difficult to handle the same output as before.

Since this body is still young, the recovery period would be shorter than for adult mages, but I’d have to expect at least 5 years.

“Haah…”

Drrreuk.

As I let out a deep sigh, the door to the hospital room opened.

I forced my stiff neck muscles to move and confirmed the face of the person who opened the door and entered.

The person who came in was Marine, along with her father, the Grand Duke of the North and a Sword Master.

As soon as I saw the Grand Duke of the North, sweat trickled down my back.

I had survived in the end, but it was an incident where his daughter’s life had been in danger.

The Grand Duke’s anger must be considerable.

As I was wondering how to make an excuse, the Grand Duke of the North gently took my hand.

“I heard from my daughter.”

“She said our little troublemaker caused an accident and got entangled in the ruins.”

“Yes?”

An unexpected response.

I naturally assumed he would be furious that his daughter had faced a life-threatening crisis.

But the Grand Duke of the North wasn’t angry and maintained a gentle demeanor.

“I also heard what happened inside the ruins.”

“When death is imminent, it’s easy for a person to lose their reason, but you handled it well.”

“Th-thank you.”

A reaction far more favorable than I had imagined.

Thankfully, it seemed Marine had spoken well of me to the Grand Duke.

“I heard your mana circuit was damaged.”

“That’s very unfortunate.”

“Still, you’re young, so you should be able to recover fully.”

“Yes…”

“Our family will also actively help if there’s anything we can do to aid your mana circuit recovery.”

“However… unfortunately, Marine must return to our family.”

“Ah…”

Indeed, regardless of who was responsible, it was true that Marine had faced a threat to her life.

No matter what the Grand Duke personally thought, from the Derfoger family’s perspective, it was right to recall Marine.

My head understood, but having spent a not-insignificant amount of time together, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“She departs tomorrow.”

“I, as an adult, will step aside, so I hope you make good memories in the remaining time.”

Once the Grand Duke of the North left the room, Marine approached me hesitantly.

Fortunately, Marine looked healthy, without any serious injuries.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… Hendel got hurt because of me…”

Marine hugged me, shedding tears.

I gently stroked the head of Marine, who was crying.

“Hey, it’s thanks to you, Young Lady, that I’m alive.”

“I don’t know what happened in the ruins, but I’m truly grateful, Young Lady.”

“Hwaaaang…”

I silently comforted Marine, who was shedding tears like chicken droppings.

---

“And then, beyond the wall, there was a dinosaur!”

“Oooh.”

After a round of tears, I asked Marine about what had happened while I was unconscious.

Then, Marine excitedly boasted about her heroic deeds.

But as I listened, Marine’s story was quite fascinating.

“So, what happened?”

“At first, I imbued the staff with mana and clashed with it once! It was an even match!”

Even if she had utilized my mana, for an 8-year-old girl to be evenly matched in strength with a dinosaur…

It was utterly unbelievable, but looking at Marine’s eyes, it didn’t seem like she was exaggerating.

“Sword aura, can you show me your sword aura?”

Marine grinned and raised her index finger.

Wiiiiing.

Pure white mana enveloped Marine’s hand.

“Waaah…”

“Heehee, cool, right?”

When I expressed my admiration, an excited Marine showcased various tricks using her sword aura.

She made a ball with sword aura, and even a flower.

“You’re truly… amazing!”

I didn’t have much interest in swordsmanship, so I lacked knowledge, but sword aura was ultimately mana.

Knowing how difficult it is to handle mana precisely, I couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Hmph.”

Marine’s shoulders puffed up with pride.

That day.

---

When dawn broke, the Grand Duke of the North visited, accompanied by my parents.

Thankfully, I heard that my parents had been considerate yesterday, thinking of me and Marine who would soon be parting.

“Oh dear, look at our son, his face has become half its size.”

“Haha, I think I’ve actually gained weight from eating well…”

My mother, still possessing her beautiful looks, burst into tears as soon as she saw my face.

“Thank you for coming back alive.”

“Truly, thank you.”

My father, though choked up, held back his tears and hugged me.

“Hwaaaang.”

Having just been calmed down yesterday, Marine burst into tears again upon seeing me hug my parents.

She threw herself into my arms.

“Sniff… I don’t want to go…. I want to play with Hendel…”

I stroked Marine’s cheek.

“Young Lady.”

“Young Lady, you’ll be coming to the Academy later too, right?”

“The Academy?”

“Yes, the academy that children of noble families must attend for three years.”

Marine’s mouth fell open as if she understood.

Nobles of the Empire are obligated to receive education at the Academy for three years when they turn 16.

Though it was called compulsory education, it was actually intended to hold the children of local nobles hostage to prevent them from having any foolish thoughts.

I skillfully tidied Marine’s hair.

“So, we will meet again then.”

“When we’ve both grown enough.”

“Sniffle, really?”

“Yes, it’s set by law, so we have no choice but to meet.”

“Pinky swear that we’ll meet again when we’ve grown up.”

“Of course.”

Marine smiled brightly as we linked fingers and made the promise.

Looking at Marine, I said playfully.

“Young Lady, you won’t pretend not to know me later if you’ve grown up to be incredibly beautiful, will you?”

Marine shook her head fiercely.

“Never.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Thank you, Young Lady.”

Marine covered my mouth with her small hand.

“No more ‘Young Lady’.”

“From now on, call me Marine.”

Marine blushed, perhaps embarrassed by her own words.

It wasn’t a big deal, but seeing Marine so embarrassed made me feel a bit shy too.

“Ahem… Marine…?”

After a year of calling her ‘Young Lady,’ the new address felt incredibly awkward on my tongue.

Marine beamed, as if my calling her by her name brought her immense joy.

“Yes!”

---

“Hwaaang. No, no, I want to stay with Hendel!”

“…”

Although Marine and I had prepared for a beautiful farewell, when the moment of parting actually came, Marine burst into tears and activated her skill: [Plopping Down on the Spot].

Even the world-renowned Sword Master seemed to be witnessing such a technique for the first time, his flustered fingertips unsure what to do.

“Marine, this will make it harder for Hendel. Okay?”

“Hwaaaang.”

“Let’s visit Count Edgar’s family together once a year, okay?”

The Grand Duke of the North, flustered and unsure, began to negotiate.

Seeing my father’s expression stiffen beside him, it seemed this wasn’t something agreed upon with my father.

“Sniffle, sniffle, huuu.”

Marine paid no attention to the Grand Duke’s bait, shedding tears copiously.

“Alright, once every six months!”

“Sniffle, for how many days?”

“Uh… a week?”

“Hwaaaang…”

“Marine, really, any more than this is difficult.”

Marine, while still crying, peeked at the Grand Duke of the North, scheming to get more out of him.

‘This should be enough.’

I had noticed from the start, by reading her expression, that Marine was acting.

However, I also wanted to see Marine often, so I pretended not to notice her act.

Still, demanding more here would be inconsiderate to both my father and the Grand Duke.

Therefore, intending to cut it off here, I called out to Marine.

“Marine.”

“Uh… yes!”

The tearful Marine was gone in an instant, and seeing her smile brightly as soon as I called, a look of disappointment crossed the Grand Duke of the North’s face.

“We’re definitely parting this time, but didn’t we pinky swear to meet again when we’ve grown up?”

“W-we did.”

“I don’t like a Marine who doesn’t keep her promises…”

Startled by my words about not liking her, Marine exclaimed.

“I’m sorry… Please don’t dislike me. I won’t be difficult anymore.”

The Grand Duke of the North slightly bowed his head as if to say thank you.

To think I’d live to receive a thank you from the Grand Duke of the North.

I looked at Marine gently.

“Shall we say our goodbyes now then?”

Marine still looked reluctant but said in a small voice.

“Hendel, thank you so much for everything.”

“Mhm.”

“I! I will never forget the memories I made with Hendel!”

Marine leaped into my arms.

“Hendel… you won’t forget either, right?”

I grinned.

“Of course not.”