I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 727: Epilogue

Hans unfolded the newspaper. 

The newspaper was buzzing with all sorts of incidents. It would probably be the same if he turned on the radio.

This was a world where new events occurred one after another every day. A new continent beyond the giant's spine. Enormous dragons occasionally spotted beyond the clouds. Trade agreements between the Elf Kingdom and the Empire.

However, no matter how carefully he read the articles, there wasn't a single word about the execution of Demon King Heathcliff.

'Well, that makes sense. What demon king in times like these.'

It had been a noisy affair at the time, but even that was quickly forgotten. Now, a year later, that day's events weren't even properly circulated among gossip enthusiasts.

Hans felt inexplicably melancholy.

'Brother.'

After the holy war ended, when Hans heard news that Rudger could be found, he spent all his money supporting dimensional magic.

Rudger actually did return. But Hans couldn't actually face him. Hans was also a war criminal from the holy war that had occurred three years ago.

No one would connect the Beast of Gevaudan with Hans, but when he moved, other people would be on high alert.

'Well, I have no such intention anyway.'

One year after the Demon King's death. The world was still peaceful.

Hans folded the newspaper and placed it beside the table. The rocking chair he was sitting in moved on its own.

Hans' gaze turned beyond the wooden railing. There, the golden wheat field of his dreams spread out.

Hans picked up the beer mug with water droplets condensed on its surface that was placed next to the newspaper. The cool beer refreshingly quenched his throat.

The sun setting in the west burned hotly, dyeing the wheat field orange.

Yes, this was it. This was exactly the scene Hans had dreamed of.

In a peaceful countryside, building his own house, and spending a comfortable retirement there drinking beer.

He had finally achieved his dream.

'But what is this? I've achieved the dream I wanted so much, yet it seems like there's an unfillable emptiness in my heart.'

Hans missed the old days. The times when he was active with his colleagues at Owens.

It had certainly been difficult. There were many cases of overwork and headaches from work. Sometimes he even had to risk his life. Yes. If he had to be honest, it should have been something to shudder at.

But why was it? Why did the scenery of those days always flicker before his eyes?

'Perhaps what I truly wanted wasn't this peace that's boring to the point of tedium.'

Hans, who had set down his beer mug, let out a self-deprecating smile and leaned back against the chair. But what could he do? He had to live like this anyway.

It was when he was trying to steel his weak heart.

-Kwaaaang!

From the deserted warehouse came a huge explosion, and the sturdy door of the warehouse was flung out and rolled across the ground.

The incident happened so suddenly that Hans had to flinch. Hans' eyes turned toward the warehouse, and soon his expression became endlessly distorted.

"No, I gave you so much warning just recently, and you can't even last a day!"

I can't stand it anymore! Hans got up from the rocking chair and strode toward the warehouse. Black smoke was flowing out from the warehouse beyond the broken door.

"What did you do this time!"

When Hans shouted, a small shadow slowly walked out from inside the warehouse.

"Cough. Oh my, I was sure it would work well this time, but it's strange."

Brown skin and snow-white hair. A petite build and overalls full of grease. Seridan Ironfeet wiped her soot-covered face with a handkerchief and laughed.

"But it's okay since I didn't die, right?" 

"Okay my ass! Can't you see the warehouse door flew off just now? Today it makes over three digits for warehouse repairs I've commissioned!"

Seridan pouted her lips.

"That's because the warehouse is too weak. Next time, build a bigger and sturdier one." 

"What's the warehouse supposed to be for in the first place! It wasn't made for you to experiment with explosives!"

Hans flew into a rage, but Seridan didn't listen with even half an ear.

"Tch. You have so much money yet you're so petty." 

"You have money too! How much did you get as severance pay!" 

"I don't have money! I spent it all!" 

"That's something to be proud of!" 

"So give me money! If not, I'll blow everything up!" 

"Now you're even threatening me!"

Hans squeezed his eyes shut. This damned dwarf girl had followed him all the way to where he was.

Did she just follow him? She had arbitrarily remodeled someone else's warehouse, used it as an explosion laboratory, and even made a nest there.

That's right. Hans wasn't living alone in his dream-like paradise. He was stuck with one parasite named Seridan.

'Oh God. Why such trials for me? Oh, God is dead, isn't he?'

Hans let his shoulders droop. What could he do? This was all his karma.

Just then, a window inside the mansion opened and someone shouted loudly.

"Dinner is ready! Come inside!"

It was Arpa who stuck his head out and shouted. It wasn't only Seridan who lived with Hans. Naturally, Arpa was also staying here, depending on his care.

Was it only Arpa?

"Brother. Those two people bickering isn't just a day or two thing, so just ignore them."

Betty's words from beside Arpa reached Hans' ears clearly. She could have said it quietly, but speaking so openly like that meant she wanted him to hear it. When he asked her why she did that before, she said it was because she was annoyed by the sight of the two of them being all lovey-dovey.

'Damn. She's Arpa's younger sister and she's a kid, so it's hard to say anything to her.'

Betty, that is, Arpa's younger sister, had finally regained her memories with Arpa. Betty had suffered considerable mental confusion as a result, but now she had returned to normal under Arpa's devoted care.

Betty chose to quit her job as Casey Selmore's assistant and stay with Arpa. Casey also gladly let Betty, who had been his assistant, go.

-Yeah. I thought this moment would come someday. Now you too, live the life you want.

These were the words Casey had said to Betty as she was leaving. Of course, Betty didn't shed tears of emotion or anything like that at those words.

-What do you mean just let me go! Give me severance pay! For all the work I did!

......Anyway, being such a spirited child, she was taking the position of the head of the household who ruled this house. Even Hans, the homeowner, sometimes had to watch Betty's mood.

"Wow! It's rice, rice! Today's a feast and a party!"

Seridan, apparently too bothered to deal with Hans' nagging, immediately went into the house. A moment later, Betty's venomous shout of 'Where are you just walking in! Go wash up quickly!' echoed from inside the house.

Hans let out a bitter smile and headed toward the house. His dream house, his very own.

Since it wasn't a place where he lived alone, it was naturally bigger than the modest two-story house he had originally envisioned.

But he didn't dislike that liveliness so much. There was even a dining room for days like today when they invited guests.

Hans, who had opened the door and entered, looked at the bulletin board attached right next to the entrance corridor.

It was something Betty had made when she came here, saying she would write down the rules that must be followed in the house.

However, as time passed, that became vague, and instead the purpose of this bulletin board changed to something else.

Namely, photographs.

"Well now."

Hans couldn't hold back the laughter that flowed out. On the top of the large bulletin board, things called photographs were fixed with pins and stuck closely together.

Color photographs, they were called. There had been something like photographs before, but they were black and white things where you couldn't even properly distinguish people's faces.

But now they came out in color, and with clearer image quality too. It wasn't magic, but power created through science.

In the photographs imbued with various colors, the faces of various people were captured.

"You sent a bunch of photos again."

Hans checked the package placed next to the bulletin board. When he opened the package and checked the contents, there were several newly sent photographs inside.

The sender was Aidan.

"Well now, that kid who was learning under brother has become like this."

Aidan had become an explorer who traveled around the world after graduating from Theon. Of course, there were many ups and downs before he became that way, but Aidan, who had unwavering persistence and passion, managed to achieve it.

As a young man exploring various parts of the world and using his newly acquired camera to photograph still-undiscovered magical realms, he was gaining considerable fame.

Of course, by his side was Tracy Priad, a noble young lady who now stuck to him almost like a constant companion.

Tracy's dream of reviving her fallen family had been fulfilled. She too was a talent counted among the best at Theon, so with her excellent abilities and fiery personality, she made great contributions to rebuilding the family.

And finally, when she had some leisure, she now traveled the world with her husband Aidan Priad to support him.

Hans moved to the next photograph.

"Oh. Did they go here this time?"

The sea with the harsh fjord terrain of the north. There, Pantos' back was visible holding a harpoon.

After the war ended, Pantos said he would go hunting again and roamed the north. And finally, he achieved his dream.

This photograph was like that too. Pantos no longer rode around on a small boat. Instead, he roamed the seas riding something like a huge whale, the Water Elemental Lord, a being whose very existence could cause tsunamis. 

He had become friends with the ultimate spirit after a bloody battle.

'Well, he was originally a monster-like person.'

Hans turned to the next photograph. There, Alex was captured holding a newborn baby, and Enya Joiners was sitting in a hospital room receiving postpartum care.

The child born was a healthy son. Having met knight parents, the child would grow up well without any trouble.

Incidentally, Alex was now working as an instructor at the knight officer academy. The knight officer academy had also changed a lot. After the war ended, thanks to Luther Wardot digging up all sorts of corruption and completely overhauling the system.

Hans carefully pinned the photograph and looked at the next one.

There, Bellaruna was visible. Beside her was Chris Benimore, a teacher at Theon.

"Ugh. Just looking at it makes my skin crawl."

The appearance of the two people looked so passionate that it was enough to give goosebumps even when seen through a photograph.

Maybe it was because he had only seen Bellaruna's gloomy appearance, and now seeing her dressed up brightly for the man she loved through the photograph.

It was beyond surprising to the point of shock, and even felt somewhat terrifying.

It seemed like wedding invitations would fly over soon, and he was deeply troubled about whether to accept them or pretend not to know.

Hans hurriedly moved to the next photograph.

There sat Violetta in the mayor's office. Although she had been severely injured in the holy war, after becoming a colour mage, she shook off her injuries and returned to Royal Street.

She had always been capable, but whether she had undergone some kind of evolution after becoming a colour mage, she instantly took control of the surrounding business area.

Enormous amounts of money gathered, and her position grew day by day. Then she even ran for mayor of Leathervelk.

Having the title of a woman from the underworld caused quite a shock, but Violetta didn't care about such gossip and proudly achieved victory.

Now, as a proper mayor, she was diligently contributing to urban development. She was probably the most successful among the Owens members in terms of advancement.

He looked at the next photograph. There, a young boy with light green hair was sitting quietly wearing clothing characteristic of the beastmen.

It was Leo, who had been Aidan's friend and one of Rudger's students. Beside Leo, Iona was sitting demurely together in similar clothing.

Only then could Hans realize. This clothing was what beastmen wore when holding wedding ceremonies. Leo had married Iona and became the son-in-law of the next beastmen chief.

Not only that, there were more photographs of various people. Hans carefully pinned those photographs to the bulletin board.

Seeing the fairly large bulletin board bustling with photographs made him feel proud for no reason.

"Hans! Come here and help carry the plates!"

He heard Betty calling from the kitchen beyond the corridor.

Where would you find a tenant who used the homeowner like this? Hans trudged toward the kitchen as if he was now used to it.

Soon the sunset faded and night arrived. The lights inside the kitchen turned on, and guests for the dinner began to arrive one by one.

"I'll get to eat delicious food after a long time." 

"Let's go in quickly, Sedina." 

"Ah, wait a moment. Since we're here, let's do this first."

Sedina Roschen and Julia Plumhart pinned their photographs to the bulletin board.

After the two went in, new guests arrived one after another.

"Senior. Welcome." 

"Hmm. Rene, now that you've graduated too, calling me senior is a bit much, so wouldn't it be okay to just call me sister?" 

"Ahaha. Is that so? I'm just used to this." 

"......Well, it's not bad to be called senior either."

Rene and Erendir von Exilion also hung their respective photographs on the bulletin board before going in.

Rene had become a proper magic researcher, and Erendir was studying hard to find her own path, unable to bear her sister's nagging.

"Huh, what? It looks like we're a bit late? Flora, that's why I told you to hurry." 

"Hmph! As a noble, having a long preparation process is natural, Sheryl." 

"For that being the case, you really worried about what to wear today." 

"Be, be quiet."

Flora and Sheryl also hung their pre-taken photographs on the bulletin board.

"Hehe. I never thought I'd be invited to a place like this. More than that, are you okay? Wolf Prince." 

"Please don't be like that, Duke Kadatushan. Even now my head hurts from receiving education for family succession." 

"Hehe. You're talking about being well-fed. Still, it's okay since you have a reliable friend by your side. Right, Henry was it?" 

"Yes. I'm Henry Presto. I'm honored that you remember my name." 

"Enough with the honor, what honor. Anyway, these young folks these days are more than in our time. It's not easy. Now, let's go in quickly. I heard Duke Lumos is already here first, so we can't be late." 

"......Yes, that's right."

Heiback Kadatushan, Freuden Ulburg, Henry Presto. After the three left, other people visited.

"Oh my, it looks like many have already come." 

"It's a rare dinner after all. There are guests coming today too." 

"That's right. Oh my, look at the photographs. There are many nostalgic faces." 

"More than half of them we still see now though." 

"Mr. Wilford too. I'm just saying. The photographs go here, right?"

Elisa Willow and Wilford.

"Merilda! Come quickly. We're late!" 

"Selina. You look especially happy today. Hm? Your outfit is also really put together." 

"But it's a rare meeting. It's natural." 

"Hmm? Is that so?" 

"What's with that reaction! Anyway, let's go quickly! Oh my goodness, look at me. I almost forgot this. Here, the photograph!"

Selina and Merilda also pinned photographs.

"Heh, hehe, it's been a while here too." 

"Mm. Honestly, I'm not sure if I should be included here." 

"Don't worry. It's a place for everyone to enjoy." 

"I'm not worried. My love. Because you're by my side." 

"Ah. Chris."

Bellaruna and Chris Benimore.

"Mm. It's already bustling. Let me see how well our Betty is doing?" 

"Casey. Don't act pathetic and behave yourself." 

"Ah sister. I said I'll handle it myself."

Casey Selmore and Marias Selmore.

"Aidan! What are you doing now! Come quickly! Everyone's gathered!" 

"Tracy. Don't be like that. We came as quickly as possible too." 

"Geez, I don't know when that laid-back personality of yours will change, Aidan. I thought it would get better after marriage, but it got worse." 

"Haha. Leo, you're saying that too? But you seem to have gotten a lot better. Should I say you've become more honest?" 

"Right. Leo, you're unexpectedly a spoiled child." 

"Iona! Stop saying unnecessary things! More than that, Aidan, what are you doing now?" 

"I have to hang the photographs. I took them and sent them by delivery, but there are a few I haven't sent yet."

Aidan hung the photographs he had taken on the bulletin board.

It was a photograph of a dragon flying in the sky beyond the clouds. There were rumors that a woman with half white and half black hair was seen on the dragon, but it was circulating like an urban legend. The photograph was also taken from far away and was blurry, making it hard to confirm.

The other one was a photograph of Catherine working in the villagers' fields.

She had returned to the Unsho family and was living vibrantly there, helping with the villagers' work.

"All done!" 

"Let's go quickly! We're the latest!" 

"Hey, that can't be."

With the group of four as the last, the bustling noise continued from the kitchen area. It was a natural reaction given the people who had gathered.

Just when he thought all the guests had arrived, the front door opened and a man entered, making the sound of his shoes.

"Hmm?"

He looked at the photographs attached to the bulletin board and soon let out a chuckle.

Then, in the center of the bulletin board, in the empty space that seemed to have been left for someone, he fitted the last remaining puzzle piece.

The man had once been Heathcliff, but was now Rudger Chelici.

It was a photograph of him with his long hair cut short, smiling gently under the sun and turning to look back.

"Appropriate."

The man muttered and soon headed to the banquet hall where everyone was waiting.

Shortly after, the door opened and the sound of everyone joyfully welcoming him echoed through the air.

~Main Story END~