Thank You for Everything

I received a call from the editorial department.

They said that the number of subscribers was steadily declining, and since there was no improvement, they wanted me to stop the serialization.

I thought about saying that I would make some improvements and work harder…

But I felt like I had begged like that more than five times already, so I said I understood.

Thankfully, the editorial department lent me space to say a final farewell to the readers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the editorial department once again.

Where should I begin?

I suppose I should talk about the recent installments.

At some point, it became difficult to meet the serialization deadlines.

As the readers have probably noticed, the quality of the installments wasn’t very good either.

[It feels like someone else is writing it.]

[It falls far short of the previous work.]

I received many comments in letters.

Some said I was getting old, and others said I was washed up.

After reading your concerned comments, I felt that the time had come for me to be honest with you.

The truth is, I haven’t been remembering things well lately.

I can’t remember what I ate in the morning by lunchtime, and when I look at what I wrote the day before, it feels new.

I feel like I only took a short nap, but three days have passed.

I wonder if this is what happens when you get old.

Fortunately, I am mentally clear today, so I can say my final farewell to you.

My beloved readers.

I think it’s time for me to step down.

Although I’m not stepping down from the top spot with applause, I think it’s a blessing to step down while there are still people who like and cherish me.

Oh dear, I’m getting old, so I’m talking too much.

Well then, I’ll step down now.

A new writer will be serializing from next week, so I would appreciate your interest.

I am truly sorry that ‘Elmuse,’ which I was serializing, will be left unfinished.

I sincerely hope that you are always happy and that only joyful things fill your lives.

Sincerely, Evan Dale.

“Master, is it okay to send this as is?”

A bob-haired maid who came up to her shoulders spoke, looking at her aged master.

“Yes. Please do.”

An old man with deep wrinkles around his mouth rose from his desk.

Even though it was a short distance from the desk to the bed, it took the old man quite a while to walk.

The old man barely reached the bed and got into the covers, and the maid came over and pulled the covers up to his chin.

“A nap… are you going to take?”

“I’ve been sleepy a lot lately. I need to get some sleep. Send the manuscript right away.”

“Don’t worry.”

The maid smiled kindly and kissed him on both cheeks.

In that short time, her master had fallen asleep, closing his eyes and breathing evenly.

“Sleep well. My beloved master.”

With a face mixed with sadness and joy, the maid murmured, looking at her master.

The maid finished preparing to go out and left the mansion.

The mansion, as old as her master, looked a little worn on the outside, but its nobility was still intact.

The maid walked down the street with an unruffled demeanor and stopped at the post office in the middle of the city.

“Oh, Emma. Is it a manuscript again today?”

The receptionist with a splendid mustache greeted her.

“Yes. Please send it to Lohid Vissen Weekly. The recipient is….”

The woman called Emma handed over the manuscript given to her by her master.

“Ricardo from the editorial department, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Evan’s writing still seems interesting. I’m always waiting for the weekly magazine to come out.”

Chuckling, the employee stroked his mustache, and Emma smiled with her eyes and greeted him.

“Oh, by the way, how is Inho doing these days?”

“Recently, Master Inho seems to be sleeping a lot. Other than that, there are no problems.”

The loyal maid did not mention her master’s dementia.

“Hmm… he’s certainly getting on in years…. Actually, at Inho’s age, it’s about time….”

The employee, who was about to talk about old age as naturally as talking about the weather, closed his mouth when he saw the face of the maid in front of him.

“It’s about time for what?”

Pale eyes were staring straight at him.

“Ah, no. Never mind. Anyway, I’ll take care of this quickly.”

The employee cleared his throat and left his seat, and the maid, who had been staring at his retreating figure, turned around.

Her steps were still unruffled, but Emma hurried her pace more than when she came in.

‘It’s already been 30 minutes since I left Master. 30 minutes. I’ve been away for too long.’

‘Ah… I miss him. I miss him. Master. Your breathing, your voice, your scent… it’s already fading. I’ll be back soon. Emma’s coming, Master.’