Ch.120Retirement Ceremony (2)

“She looks really busy…”

At first, they had declared they would hold the grandest retirement ceremony possible, but honestly, I hadn’t expected much.

How grand could it really be? Probably not much different from other Magic Towers, right?

To be fair, even that level would be considered grand for Blood Mages who had struggled all this time, so that’s what I had thought.

But…

“This is too much…”

I broke into a cold sweat as I looked down at the statue from my office.

First of all, the very idea of making a statue of me using solidified blood was absurd.

Even though it used Blood Magic, Blood Mages voluntarily donating their blood to create a blood statue was truly insane.

I told them not to do it, but faced with their near-manic insistence that as Blood Mages they had to do at least this much, I reluctantly gave permission.

I shouldn’t have…

“Wow, that is excessive.”

I gave Seria an incredulous look as she slid up beside me and casually dropped that comment.

“…Shouldn’t you be managing the Green Tower?”

Why isn’t she at her own Magic Tower instead of being here?

In response to my question, Seria casually brushed her hair and answered nonchalantly.

“Who knows? If they have a problem with it, they can fire the Green Tower Master.”

“…So you’ve decided to go rogue now.”

What on earth is happening at the Green Tower that’s making her act this way?

Then again, if I think about it, after working hard for the Magic Tower for a thousand years, if all you hear are complaints about yourself, even I would have an existential crisis and want to flip everything upside down.

I should be grateful I’m not treated like Seria…

“That’s not the only thing… The Blood Mages seem to be going all out this time…”

The blood statue in front of me is just the most shocking thing visible right now, but there are even crazier things than this.

The only consolation is that they’re not misusing public funds, I suppose.

I don’t feel too bad because I can sense their sincere desire to give me the best send-off possible, but honestly, they don’t need to go this far…

“Come to think of it, you’re the type who really hates this kind of thing. Why didn’t you tell them to stop?”

“If you were in my position, could you tell your subordinates who are passionately trying to give you the best send-off possible that it’s annoying and they should stop?”

“Hmm… I guess not.”

She nodded as if she finally understood my feelings.

As long as she understands, that’s fine.

“So are you just going to watch this happen?”

“I don’t care about the rest, but I wish they’d do something about that blood statue…”

Why is it so huge?

More importantly, won’t someone die from donating that much blood?

Seeing them happily working while their blood was being drawn was starting to feel disturbing.

“Still, I’m looking forward to the retirement ceremony. Can I attend too?”

“Why would you…?”

“Vladi… are you saying I can’t even attend your retirement ceremony now?”

Seria asked with a disgruntled tone.

No, I’m not saying you can’t attend, but isn’t it strange for the Green Tower Master to attend the Blood Tower Master’s retirement ceremony?

“Looking at you, it really seems like you’ve abandoned the Green Tower.”

“I’m thinking about retiring too. Seeing you makes me want to retire.”

“Hmm…”

Well, she has been at it for a thousand years, so that’s a long time…

But isn’t it a bit much to say she wants to retire right after I announced my retirement?

“It’s your decision, but are you really okay with that?”

“To be honest, I’ve been doing this partly out of a sense of duty for the past thousand years, but now I’ve lost my motivation… More than anything…”

Seria turned to look at me.

“I want to spend more time with you.”

“…”

I turned my head away.

Please don’t say such embarrassing things…

“Say that kind of thing to someone you like… I’m a woman now.”

“I don’t mind, you know?”

Well, I mind.

I think being good friends is enough.

Back then, our relationship was closer to that of a little sister and older brother, but who would have thought our relationship would change like this over a thousand years?

I’m still stuck in that era because I slept for a thousand years.

While she grew up all on her own.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Has your taste gotten weird?”

“No? Did I say something strange?”

This is ridiculous.

I waved my hand dismissively.

Seria asked me with an amused expression.

“After you retire, want to live together?”

“Why go that far…”

“Shouldn’t you know by now?”

Hmm… what does she mean…?

I genuinely pondered.

“What’s with that confused expression?”

“Well… um…”

Is this a confession?

I know she likes me.

I’m just flustered.

I feel like I’ll get scolded if I ask if she’s confessing to me now.

Saying “let’s live together after retirement” along with that kind of comment clearly indicates it’s related to that.

But…

‘Did she really confess before?’

Thinking back, she did flirt with me saying she wanted to stay with me.

“I asked you once before.”

“What?”

“You didn’t even answer and just disappeared.”

Hmm…

Did she ask in the past…?

I sank into thought, trying to recall the past.

Since the Hero’s party days were quite long ago even for me, it was a bit difficult to recall from memory, but I could somehow remember.

Well… let’s see…

We had so many conversations that it’s confusing, but I do remember having a similar conversation.

It was right before we defeated the Demon King, so it’s impossible not to remember.

‘What will you do after we defeat the Demon King?’

‘I’ll go home.’

‘Vampires have homes? Can I come with you?’

‘You can’t.’

‘What! That’s mean!’

That doesn’t seem right.

At that time, I was filled with the belief that I would return home right after defeating the Demon King… I was so focused on defeating the Demon King and going back that I told Seria she couldn’t follow me anyway.

Even though I learned I couldn’t return home after defeating the Demon King, I was so devastated that I didn’t say anything and just shut myself in.

If I had known a thousand years would pass, I wouldn’t have done that.

‘I didn’t even say goodbye properly.’

The Hero, the Saint, the Warrior.

Though called a Warrior, he was actually a reliable guy who blocked all attacks.

The Hero too, and the Saint as well.

They all must have grown old and died with the passage of time.

They’ve already turned to dust and become part of nature, and their souls might have ascended to heaven and reincarnated somewhere in the world.

I’m suddenly curious.

Come to think of it, I never asked until now.

“Seems like you don’t remember.”

“I’m just not sure if this is right.”

“Well, it wasn’t exactly a confession. I was just begging you to take me with you to your home.”

“…”

Could it really have been true?

As Seria chuckled with a casual expression, saying “that’s how it was back then,” I glanced at her and let out a sigh.

Thinking about the past, I couldn’t help but ask.

“It might be strange to ask this now, but…”

“Yes?”

“Did they… live well before they passed?”

At my reference to “they,” Seria’s expression became contemplative.

She seemed to recall who I was referring to.

After a moment of silence, Seria glanced out the window.

“Well…”

For her, it was such an old memory.

Although a thousand years is a long time, the memories of defeating the Demon King as part of the Hero’s party during her youth were impossible to erase.

So…

“They lived well. That’s not just empty words, it’s true.”

“…”

“But… they missed you a lot.”

As Seria said this with a bitter smile, I silently turned my head away.

I know it couldn’t be helped.

My thousand-year sleep was literally an accident.

But… I regretted giving in to that momentary emotion and entering the coffin.

I should have at least left a farewell message for them.

“I’m grateful that at least you’re still here.”

That’s why I couldn’t help but feel grateful to Seria.

I’m thankful she’s an elf.

Considering an elf’s lifespan, she still has thousands of years left.

It really hits me how long they live.

Humans only live for about 100 years.

If Seria had died too and no one was left…

‘I would have been… very lonely.’

Those guys were the only ones I really knew.

I met them as soon as I came to this world… and immediately overcame all sorts of hardships together to defeat the Demon King.

I realized how comforting it is to have someone who can share memories with the person I was back then.

“Don’t you care about my feelings? Do you know how long I’ve waited?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you came back while I’m still alive. We’ll see each other for a long time to come, so don’t say things like that.”

“Alright.”

At Seria’s words, I nodded with a small smile.

And so, we watched the preparations for the retirement ceremony for a while.