Ch.59Return (1)

Life in the Great Forest was honestly satisfying.

The students were happy because they could learn practical survival skills.

And I was glad to be able to take a leisurely rest, having been told not to overexert myself after collapsing.

However, aware that staying too long would be an inconvenience, I set a return date as soon as possible.

The students all seemed disappointed, but they understood it couldn’t be helped and agreed with the decision.

And today.

“Thank you so much for everything.”

I bowed my head to Elin’s mother, representing everyone.

Though elves are a long-lived race, she barely looked older than Elin, but the atmosphere she gave off was completely different.

How should I describe it? A certain charm emanated from her—the allure of a mature woman that Elin didn’t possess.

With such looks and having a daughter like Elin—if she had been human rather than an elf, I would have been shocked enough to fall backward.

Elin’s mother smiled and responded.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, please take good care of our Elin.”

Embarrassed by her mother’s words, Elin tugged firmly at the hem of my clothes.

As her mother said, Elin had decided to come with us to the Royal Capital.

At first, I tried to refuse.

No matter how accustomed she was to human gazes, it would feel different than when she was with our party.

But in the end, I couldn’t refuse.

Even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop her from following us, and she had mustered her courage to ask—I couldn’t ignore that.

Above all, the most important reason was…

‘Because I wanted it.’

In a corner of my heart, I was imagining the four of us enjoying time together like before.

Even knowing we could never return to those days, I simply couldn’t shake the thought.

But things have a way of working out somehow.

Despite many twists and turns, the Black Crow had reunited, with Elin being the last to join.

That fact alone was enough to satisfy me.

“Then we’ll be going now. I wish you good fortune.”

“Yes, it’s been a pleasure.”

With that final exchange, we left the Great Forest and set out on the road back to the Academy.

And naturally, the evaluation wasn’t over yet.

“We’ll resume the evaluation now.”

It seemed harsh under these circumstances, but there was no helping it.

We came all this way for the evaluation in the first place.

Lael, who had been standing beside me, stepped to the front and began leading the students as their leader.

“Everyone will maintain the same formation as before. Since we have fewer potions now, we’ll avoid combat with monsters as much as possible.”

The students formed their ranks in perfect unison at Lael’s command.

Their appearance was completely different from when we first departed.

They all seemed more dignified. They were no longer childlike students.

Though still rookies, they definitely gave off the aura of adventurers.

Moreover, because of my injury forcing us to take a break, everyone was full of determination.

“Let’s move out!”

The formation departed first.

Elin, Derin, and I followed from a slight distance behind.

The return journey was, of course, not smooth.

Monsters jumped out from all directions to harass us, and students frequently got injured in the process.

Derin and I, already accustomed to such sights, remained unfazed, but…

“Ugh… is that okay?”

Elin apparently wasn’t.

She frowned while looking at Ed, who had received a large wound from a Horn Rabbit’s teeth.

“Of course it’s not okay. It hurts.”

“Shouldn’t we help him?”

She was probably saying this out of her gentle nature, but…

‘This is what the evaluation is about.’

Since every aspect of the adventure was part of the evaluation, I had no intention of intervening unless an A-rank or higher monster appeared.

And that too would be reflected in the evaluation.

If they faced a monster they couldn’t possibly defeat and chose to fight rather than flee, I would have no choice but to give them a low score.

Recognizing an opponent’s strength and fleeing is the most important survival skill.

Anyway, since the monster they were currently facing was C-rank, there was absolutely no need for us to step in.

Of course, if it was life-threatening, that would be different…

But speaking from experience, having your shoulder bitten won’t kill you.

“Elin, get used to it. We’ll have to watch this for another week.”

“I suppose so…”

Even as she said this, Elin continued watching the students with a worried expression.

It would clearly take her quite some time to get used to this.

By the way…

“Elin, didn’t I tell you to leave that bow as an heirloom?”

Elin had a massive bow strapped to her back.

When I asked her about it before, she definitely said it was an heirloom, so I naturally thought she would leave it behind.

“Ah, Mother told me to take it. She said it would be better to use it than just leave it sitting around.”

“Well, that’s true.”

I probably would have said the same thing.

Even if you have an expensive magical tool, if you don’t use it, it’s not a magical tool—it’s just a decorative bow.

If that’s the case, something more elaborate and beautiful would be better than this plain appearance.

“Next time, I’ll send her a decorative bow as a gift. We can choose it together.”

“Really? You’ll choose it with me?”

Elin responded with a bright smile.

While I wondered if simply choosing something together could make her that happy, thinking about being with someone you love made it understandable.

“Then we can eat together, choose a bow, and spend the whole day together.”

“What?! You agreed to eat together, just the two of you?!”

Derin, who had been silent until now, reacted intensely to Elin’s words.

Seemingly surprised by her own outburst, she quickly covered her mouth, but words can’t be taken back.

Receiving both my and Elin’s gazes simultaneously, Derin turned her head away.

“You promised when we defeated the Great Red Bear. To eat together, just the two of you. Crow, isn’t that right?”

“Well… yes, that’s right. At that time, Elin seemed to lack confidence, so as encouragement…”

“What! I want to lack confidence too! I want to eat together too!”

Derin began whining like a child.

Her jealousy was somewhat cute, but it was also disruptive, so I couldn’t just leave it be.

Besides, I rather enjoy eating together with others.

“Since I promised Elin first, let’s eat together another time. How about that? I promise.”

“I worked hard too…”

“Okay, okay, I get it.”

Originally, I had planned to invite all three of them to dinner as a token of appreciation for their hard work, but it seems I’ll need to modify my plan.

I’ll have separate meals with each of them.

I hadn’t heard Lael’s opinion yet, but I suspected she would feel the same way.

And…

That thought proved to be absolutely correct.

As darkness fell upon the world, the students began setting up camp in a suitable nearby location.

After a simple dinner, everyone collapsed from fatigue, and only Lael and I, on watch duty, sat side by side facing the campfire.

Crack—the firewood sparked and made a sound. And at that moment, Lael broached the subject.

“I heard you made dinner plans with Elin and Derin?”

Her voice was cold in contrast to the hot campfire, but knowing it was due to jealousy, it didn’t feel that way at all.

Rather, it was cute.

Like a child begging their parents to buy them the same doll their friend has.

Feeling that way, my answer was naturally…

“Yes, I did. Is there a problem?”

The night is long, and watch duty is longer.

I wanted to see more of her acting this way.

“A problem? There’s no problem at all. How nice for you to have dinner alone with beautiful women. Twice, even.”

Lael sharply turned her head away from me.

Based on her behavior until now, I thought she would express her feelings honestly.

Something like “I’m envious” or “I want to eat together too.”

But she didn’t, which made me wonder if Elin’s appearance had affected her feelings somehow.

“Originally, I planned for the four of us to eat together, but it seemed better to do it separately. Do you think differently?”

When I spoke honestly, Lael finally turned to look at me.

“I prefer that too. Just the two of us. But it’s not possible. With you, Professor…”

“Have you finished the plan you were working on before?”

The secret meeting plan.

It was the assignment I had given her before the second semester evaluation began.

She seemed to have forgotten about it, as her eyes widened.

“Yes! I finished it!”

“Then it’s settled. We’ll have dinner together, just the two of us.”

Lael nodded with a bright smile.

Speaking of meals…

‘I wonder if Master is eating properly.’

I’m worried about Master being alone.

Well, she managed fine while I was away as an adventurer, so it’s probably an unnecessary concern, but…

I couldn’t stop worrying.

When I told her I was leaving for the evaluation, she almost cried, not wanting to let me go.

I hugged her then to ease her worries, but thinking about it now…

…I might miss her a little.