I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 736 - Side Story 9: Honoring Those Who Have Left (1)

"Thanks for the advice. My head feels clearer thanks to you." 

"You're readily saying thank you." 

"Did you think I was such a rotten person that I wouldn't say thank you even in a situation like this?" 

"......" 

"I know. I know. I wasn't like that with you."

As if feeling guilty, Cassie slightly averted her gaze and pursed her lips. Rudger smiled at the sight.

"Still, it's good to see you've changed." 

"What's with you suddenly? Giving compliments you never used to give." 

"I guess I've changed too." 

"You?" 

"If you're human, it's only natural to change."

Right. He gave up all omnipotent power and opportunities of his own accord, choosing to live as a human. Someone's teacher, someone's colleague, someone's child, someone's precious person. That had more value than a throne lived in solitary loneliness.

"So what are you going to do now? Heathcliff is dead, and you're going to live as Rudger Chelici. You've gained a new identity, so have you decided what you'll do?" 

"I have some vague ideas. But among them, what I want to do most is still......" 

"Want to do most?"

Rudger answered with a mischievous smile.

"I'll keep it a secret." 

"What? Why are you suddenly being like this?" 

"Wouldn't it be boring if I told you everything? Watching what that person will do later is part of the fun too." 

"You...were you always this kind of personality?" 

"Still, I've decided what I'll do right away. It's a short-term goal though."

Before they knew it, they had reached the edge of the park. People were gradually becoming visible one by one. The time for the two of them to talk like this was also running out.

"Can you tell me that?" 

"There's no reason I can't. I'm going to meet people. Because I couldn't do anything for the past 3 years. I want to see how and how much the people I knew have changed during that time." 

"How should I put it? That's such a you answer. Maybe this part of you hasn't changed."

"If too much changes, wouldn't that be ridiculous in its own way?" 

"That's true too."

Their conversation ended there. With a smooth sound, a thin ripple rose from the ground. The water slowly wrapped around Cassie's body like a cocoon, distorting the light and gradually concealing her appearance.

"Hey."

It was then that Cassie, who was about to leave, opened her mouth. Rudger, who had been quietly seeing Cassie off, asked.

"What?" 

"Ah, no. It's just......"

As if embarrassed for no reason, Cassie twisted her hair around her index finger. Her cheeks, with her eyes half-lowered, were flushed red, perhaps from embarrassment.

Toward Cassie who was hesitating and unable to speak, Rudger said the words she wanted to hear, and wanted to say.

"Let's meet again next time."

At those words, Cassie's expression brightened completely.

"Yeah! See you later. Definitely!"

Swooooosh.

Cassie's body was completely swallowed by the water, and her figure disappeared like a mirage.

Rudger quietly watched the spot where Cassie had disappeared. She was probably going back to conclude the story. No, depending on how you looked at it, maybe she was going to write a new story.

"Thank you for waiting."

When Rudger said that, the shadow that had been quietly watching until now revealed itself from beyond the tree.

"Haha. Did you know?"

Pasius approached Rudger with a laugh.

"Of course. No matter how much freedom you allow me, there's no way you wouldn't assign someone. And if you were to send someone in a way that doesn't touch my nerves, I thought it would be you." 

"Well now. I hid thinking I was hiding, but I don't know whether to be pleased about this or hurt in my pride." 

"At least Cassie didn't seem to notice, so don't be too disappointed."

Pasius was a Sword Master who had reached the realm of Sword Completion. However, rather than the knight's method of facing opponents head-on fairly and squarely, he preferred to move quietly like an assassin.

That's why he could operate while hiding his identity in the darkness as Aileen's faithful dagger.

"So, did you come to take me back?" 

"No. Her Majesty the Empress only told me to just watch." 

"Even if she said that, she attached a watchful eye because she didn't know what I might suddenly do." 

"Hahaha. That's not something someone who's lounging around like this with that watchful eye should say. And even if I watch you, it's not like I can do anything about it anyway."

During the period Rudger was gone, Pasius had grown so much he was unrecognizable. He too was a veteran who survived the Holy War and a sword that protected the Empire.

He wasn't at Luther's level yet, but surely the day would come soon when he would stand on the same level as him.

But even such a Pasius couldn't stop Rudger. Well, of course, even with a 3-year gap, he was a mage who used 8th circle magic for the first time in human history.

To order surveillance on such a person? He thought watching was fine, but the moment he was caught even doing that, his thoughts changed.

"So what are you going to do now?" 

"Hmm. Well, since it's a rare outing, it would be a shame to return right away." 

"Ah. Then shall we have a meal? I know a delicious restaurant." 

"Rather than that, I want to meet someone. The Saint's location. You know it, right?"

At Rudger's question, Pasius looked troubled.

"Um. Well, in my position, I received orders to absolutely keep silent about the Saint's location?" 

"Before you could ignore Aileen's words if you wanted to, and now you're saying such things."

When Rudger smiled playfully and said that, Pasius also laughed saying that was true.

"That is true. But rather than just telling you as soon as you ask, saying I refused at least once like this gives a bit more justification, doesn't it?" 

"I can't argue with that." 

"But how did you know the Saint was here?" 

"Just by intuition. I can feel it vaguely. Although most of the divine power was lost, that lingering resonance doesn't easily disappear. Even after 3 years."

He couldn't know the exact location of where the Saint was, but he could feel that she was here in the Empire's capital.

At those words, Pasius shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn't win.

"Since it's come to this, I'll guide you properly." 

"Please do."

Rudger followed Pasius' guidance toward where the Saint was. Perhaps because the Empire had also undergone much development over 3 years, there were many more transportation lines he hadn't seen before.

Rudger and Pasius boarded a tram heading to the suburbs. The two men dressed appropriately drew people's gazes because of their appearance, but it didn't develop into a particular problem.

As the traces of the city became a bit more distant and quiet fields came into view, Rudger arrived at his destination.

"That's it."

Pasius pointed to a church on a hill.

"I'll wait here. No matter what, if I appear, it would inevitably create some problems position-wise." 

"It won't take too long."

Rudger left Pasius behind and climbed the hill path.

With each step, the sound of sand and grass crunching underfoot echoed. A moderately blowing wind glided over the grassland, bringing and gifting a sweet flower fragrance from somewhere.

Rudger felt the touch of nature as he walked. It was spring.

Climbing the hill, he saw a small wall and a wooden front gate. Perhaps because it was consistently maintained, the condition was good.

He thought it might be locked, but when he pushed lightly, it opened easily. It seemed they didn't particularly mind visitors coming.

Going inside, there was a wide courtyard near the church, where more than twenty children and one woman were.

The woman had her back turned this way and was telling the children an interesting story.

When Rudger approached that way, all the children who had been absorbed in the story turned to look at Rudger.

Even at the sight of a suddenly arriving guest, the children showed no signs of fear, just silently turned to look at the woman.

"Oh my."

The woman turned to look at Rudger and let out an exclamation.

"Children. Sister needs to talk with the guest for a moment." 

"But what about the story? It's not finished yet!" 

"Don't be too disappointed. I'll continue it later. Understand?" 

"Yeeees."

The children were disappointed but didn't strongly object. More than twenty children got up from their seats and entered the church.

Of course, they didn't completely go in, but curious about what relationship the new guest had with Sister, they peeked their heads out through doorways and windows.

"It's been a long time." 

"Yes. It's been a long time." 

"I didn't know you'd be living in a place like this. Arche......" 

"No."

When Rudger tried to call her name, the nun cut him off.

"I abandoned that name. From that day 3 years ago." 

"......Is that so? Then what should I call you?" 

"Surnia."

She who was once the Saint. Now Sister Surnia, who cared for children at an orphanage, smiled kindly and said.

"Please call me Surnia." 

"That name is......" 

"Yes. It's that name you're thinking of. It's the future I received from him. So to honor his name, I use it like this." 

"Is that okay?" 

"Why wouldn't it be okay? He was pointed at by the whole world and covered in shame. So at least I want to extend a hand to him."

Surna had committed all those acts over a long time for the sake of only one person. He never denied that he was doing evil. He also knew how insane what he was doing was.

He did it knowing. The reason he deeply empathized with Rudger while conversing with him was the same.

"I understand. Sister Surnia." 

"Thank you. Ah right, I heard the news. Are you okay?" 

"I have no reason not to be okay either. Please call me Rudger Chelici." 

"I see. So you chose that name."

Rudger looked around. A church situated in a quiet place where bright sky and green plains were visible. It was a peaceful place, peaceful enough to be seen in a picture from a fairy tale.

"Are you satisfied with life here?" 

"Yes. I'm satisfied." 

"The Empire must have offered better conditions." 

"I didn't want that. I'm content now just listening to stories of the world and telling stories to the children like this."

Although she had lost most of her authority, the existence of the First Saint could cause great ripples just by that alone.

Instead of trying to elevate or use her, the Empire hid her identity and let her live quietly.

"What brings you here?" 

"Since I returned, I had a familiar feeling and it came to mind so I came to visit. I'm relieved to see you're doing well." 

"Fufu. Is that so? Everyone's such good people, I think I'm receiving consideration." 

"I see." 

"Do you have another question? You seem like it."

Indeed, Surnia was quick-witted befitting the First Saint. Even if most authority and divine power had disappeared, that experience hadn't disappeared.

"Is Catherine doing well?" 

"Fufu. I thought her name would come up. Yes, that's right. That child Catherine is fine." 

"I see." 

"If you're really curious, you could visit her yourself, couldn't you?"

At those words, Rudger scratched his head.

"I thought it might be a bit much for me to visit now." 

"That can't be. Catherine would be delighted to greet you. Of course, her emotional expression is a bit intense."

At the word intense, Rudger recalled when he first met Catherine. A chuckle escaped as he could relate.

"Still, I'm glad to hear she returned to her original family." 

"That's right. All the brainwashing was undone, and she was reunited with her separated parents. Now she's living helping with the family's work together with her parents. Now that it's come up, it wouldn't be bad to visit." 

"I'd like to do that too, but I still have many things to do." 

"Ah, that would be so. Since 3 years have passed. You must be very busy trying to handle accumulated matters." 

"Still, I've gained freedom for the first time in a while."

Rudger looked down at his palm. Nothing was grasped, but it was more unburdened than any moment.

"I should calmly settle things one by one that I couldn't do for 3 years." 

"Fufu. I'm sure everything will go well. Because they were all strong people." 

"Yes. I think so too, so I'm not worried." 

"I'm glad to hear that. Ah right, could you also convey to the person waiting at the bottom of the hill? That I'm grateful for the consideration."

Surnia seemed to know that Pasius had come too. 

Rudger nodded with a faint smile.

"I will. I feel I may have taken too much of Sister's time." 

"What are you saying? I was glad too, so it's fine." 

"I'll be going now. Sister, please take care as well." 

"Yes. Goodbye."

After exchanging farewells, Rudger left the church. Belatedly, the children who had been watching the situation from inside came rushing out and gathered around Surnia.

"Sister! Sister! Who was that handsome man just now?" 

"Right. Is he Sister's boyfriend?" 

"Oh you. How could that be?" 

"But he matched well with Sister." 

"That person is too popular, Sister couldn't even dare. Now, what story were we on?"

At the mention of telling a story, the children returned to their places and sat down.

"Ah, right. I was going to tell this story."

Surnia continued the story in a sweet voice pleasant for the children to hear.

"There was a foolish man who sacrificed everything for one person."

Today too, she lives honoring that man.