episode_0003

1.

There are various ways to part ways.

Parting with a smile, feeling good.

Parting with tears, feeling sad.

Parting with anger, feeling bad.

Levyn also had multiple options.

Certainly, there must have been other good ways, not just this unilateral method.

But one thing is certain.

If he had tried to explain the situation nicely and seek understanding, even if he had chosen a different method, Evan would willingly give up his dream and choose Levyn.

Knowing his personality well, Levyn chose to part on bad terms.

“Why…? What’s wrong…?”

Evan tightly grasped Levyn’s wrist, preventing her from leaving.

The touch that used to be gentle when he comforted her was rough.

“Is it because of the letter yesterday?”

When Levyn thought about the reason for his sudden change, the letter she received yesterday seemed the most likely cause. Aside from receiving the letter, everything else was the same in their daily lives.

“…No.”

Levyn lowered her head.

“Then explain properly. Why are you acting like this? Huh?”

Evan grabbed Levyn’s shoulders and shook her, pressing for answers.

“It’s strange. Until yesterday, everything was fine, but suddenly, overnight, you’re acting like this. Is it a joke?”

“…”

“If I did something wrong, I’ll fix it. So tell me.”

“…”

Levyn avoided Evan’s gaze.

It was a habit when she was hiding something.

She also clenched her lips tightly.

“If I suggest breaking up after leaving a letter, do you think I’ll break up too?”

“Let go of this.”

“At least give me a reason. Huh?”

Levyn swallowed hard, as if suppressing her breath.

“…Fine.”

Levyn met Evan’s gaze directly.

Her golden eyes reflected his trembling blue eyes.

“There have been several things that I haven’t liked for a while.”

“…What?”

Levyn took a long breath, as if sighing deeply.

“I don’t like your voice that sounds like a child. I don’t like your soft hands like a girl. I don’t like your girlish personality or your hobbies. I don’t like how you always rely on me during battles and do nothing when entrusted with tasks. I don’t like that you’re not good at using magic. I don’t like that you can’t utilize mana properly. And above all, I dislike that you’re weak.”

Lewen spoke.

Harsh words pierced Evan like thorns.

“……Uh, uh.”

Evan’s pupils trembled intensely.

Amidst the pouring blades, he could only widen his eyes without uttering a word.

What did he hear?

He doubted his ears.

What Lewen said was about Evan himself.

“…I hated everything.”

As if to confirm that it wasn’t a misunderstanding.

As if thinking about it was correct.

Lewen passed judgment.

“…Is, is this for real?”

“Yeah, it’s for real.”

The response was resolute.

Could it be a lie?

No, it wasn’t.

Lewen stared directly at Evan with clear eyes.

“…Then why didn’t you say anything until now?”

“…Because I pitied you.”

“I, I pitied me?”

Lewen nodded her head.

“Yeah.”

“What aspect of me is pitiful?”

“….”

“What aspect is pitiful?”

“….”

Silence flowed.

Evan waited for Lewen’s answer.

Lewen, who tried to avoid answering, eventually spoke up.

“…You’re pitiful for not knowing that.”

Evan swallowed a breath with a “huh.”

He clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his contorting face. But his emotions kept bubbling up, causing his face to twist.

Even if someone is inherently kind, can they not get angry when faced with such harsh words?

“…One last question.”

Evan expelled a sigh and asked.

“Are you really breaking up because of that?”

“…Yeah.”

“…For real?”

“…It’s the last straw.”

Evan’s hand, holding onto Lewen’s shoulder, slipped away.

“Got it.”

Lewen’s body trembled slightly.

That one word hurt more than anything else.

She had to endure it.

This was the path she chose.

It was all for him.

He wasn’t a talent that would rot away in the countryside.

He had to go to Matop.

He had to go there and fulfill his dreams.

If he had the ability and determination, he could certainly seize such an opportunity.

“Phew….”

Evan let out a deep sigh and smiled softly.

“It was enjoyable being together until now.”

“….”

“Not for you, though.”

“….Ugh!”

Lewen closed her eyes and bowed her head.

“I will make the weak and pitiful disappear now. Let’s forget each other. You forget me, and I’ll forget you. It would be terrible if we remained as each other’s nightmares. Still, before we truly part ways, there’s one thing I hope you remember.”

Evan whispered in Llewelyn’s ear.

“…Was it nice having someone?”

It completely twisted.

You can call it a foolish choice.

You can certainly argue that there could have been a better way.

But this was Llewelyn’s best.

Evan turned his back and left.

Llewelyn climbed onto the carriage.

People’s gazes poured down.

She lowered her head and ignored their stares.

However…

While she could ignore everything else, she couldn’t ignore the burning emotions welling up in her eyes.

“…Ugh.”

She covered her face with both hands.

The sadness of leaving the person she loved most mixed with the guilt of hurting the person she loved.

…Should I tell the truth now?

No, I can’t.

Let go of lingering attachments.

Llewelyn decided to only think about her trembling siblings in the ruined village.

The girl inexperienced in love was also clumsy in parting.

2.

“Aaah!!”

Evan roared like a beast.

He kicked the ground and pounded the wall with his fists, then slumped at the entrance of an alley.

He couldn’t control his emotions.

Intense heat churned inside him.

It felt like his organs were melting and mixing with blood.

He still didn’t know if Llewelyn’s words were sincere.

But the fact that those words came out of her mouth infuriated Evan.

Was it enjoyable for her alone?

Did she consider it just a memory?

To think he had foolishly laughed all this time without knowing.

-Slap!

Evan slapped himself as if punishing his own stupidity.

His anger wouldn’t dissipate.

He struck everything that caught his eye like a ruffian.

Even if his flesh was scraped and blood flowed from his fists, he fiercely hit the wall.

-Thud!

He hit his head.

The more he got angry, the more Llewelyn’s image flickered in his mind.

We said we would forget each other, but how could I forget?

Even if Llewelyn claimed it wasn’t sincere, Evan was sincere. He truly loved and cherished her.

That’s why he’s getting angry like this, isn’t it?

If it were a lie, he would have been relieved.

“…Poor guy.”

I know very well how pathetic I am. “Compared to Llewellyn, I’m truly nothing.” Llewellyn is brave and strong. With exceptional swordsmanship, she effortlessly defeats demons. Her skills are recognized, and she receives love calls from various parties. “…I must have felt like a burden.” There was no need to form a party together. So far, Llewellyn has handled all the requests alone. Evan’s role was only to dabble in magic from behind or prepare meals after battles. If they hadn’t formed a party together, Llewellyn might have already joined a famous party and made a name for herself in the world. Evan was blocking her path. “…If I were strong, would things have been different?” A guy who can’t even properly use a low-level spell. A guy with poor stamina who can’t even run away from demons. A sloppy and foolish bastard. Even thinking about it, he’s truly pitiful. “What’s the importance of theory… In the end, what matters is practical experience.” If I had practiced using magic while studying magical theory, it would have been more helpful to Llewellyn. Even I relied on her too much. “…” Evan stood up from his seat. Thump, thump. Blood dripped from his palm. It stings. It’s been so long since he had such a small wound. Until now, Llewellyn had always taken care of any injuries. Evan was about to use healing magic on his palm but stopped. “…Does it even matter?” Evan’s dream is to create a healing magic that can cure all diseases in the world. Creating miracles is his one and only dream. Let’s give it up now. How long can he live immersed in dreams? Clinging to the impossible won’t make the dream come true. That’s just foolish. He knew from the beginning that such magic couldn’t be created. Curing all diseases in the world? It’s a ridiculous notion. That’s the power of gods. If such magic existed, he would be called a god, not a magician. “…The healing will be taken care of by the clergy.” Evan flicked off the blood on his hand. “Weak…” The words of parting are deeply embedded in his heart. They’ll probably stay with him for a lifetime.

Good memories can somehow be forgotten, but bad memories are not easily forgotten. No, they are rather vividly etched in the mind, making us recall them over and over again. They will follow like a curse.

Evan left the inn, taking only his cane, and escaped from the village.

He left everything else behind at the inn. However, his torn heart intertwined like a rope, dragging along the things he left behind like shackles.