Chapter 12 - The Childhood Friend Returns

Kailyn, my childhood friend.

To me, Kailyn was just an irresponsible woman. How could she abandon her child and run away to pursue her dream? No matter how precious a dream was, I had absolutely no good feelings towards her for not fulfilling her duty as a parent.

I thought she could live however she wanted, it was no longer my concern. I believed I could raise the child alone without Kailyn.

Why is she coming back?

But now they say she was returning. They say she was coming to this village from the magic tower where she was training.

For what reason?

What sudden wind had blown to make her come here? I thought about the reason, and for a brief moment, I couldn't help but wonder.

Has Kailyn finally felt a sense of responsibility?

Maybe Kailyn had finally realized what responsibility meant. After studying at the magic tower for a few months, did she start thinking about the child? Had she finally become able to give up her dream for the child's sake?

I was having such hopeful thoughts, but...

"They say they're looking for some spirit at the magic tower."

"A spirit?"

"Yes. They're sending people to investigate and find it. And Kailyn is included among them."

I couldn't help but feel deflated. The reason for Kailyn's visit wasn't personal. It seemed she was coming here on an official mission from the magic tower.

If it's a spirit, is it that one?

A spirit that the magic tower is looking for... I do know what it is. Was it an ancient spirit?

I remember the magic tower searching for that spirit throughout the story. At this point when magic beasts had just appeared, it wasn’t strange for the magic tower to stop by here. But that wasn't the important thing right now.

The important thing was that Kailyn's return was ultimately meaningless.

"Is that all?"

"Yes, for now."

"..."

In the end, she was just stopping by because of a task from the magic tower. I thought Kailyn was finally returning, but it turned out to be like this. It felt so disappointing.

Unless she was returning because of the child, she probably hadn't changed at all. She'd likely still be chasing her futile dream, having thrown away any sense of responsibility.

I shouldn't have expectations.

I felt truly pathetic for having harbored hope at the news of Kailyn's return. Kailyn was absolutely not that kind of person.

"Brother... Um... I understand what you're thinking, but it probably isn't like that."

As I was feeling somewhat discouraged, Levia held my hands and tried to comfort me. She probably understood my feelings, knowing the current situation.

"What?"

"Your wife will probably come to see you while she's here."

"Hmm... Do you really think so?"

"Yes, definitely. If that happens, try to work things out. She must be thinking a lot about the child too."

Levia told me to keep having hope. She said that although Kailyn was coming because of the magic tower, she wouldn't just do the tower's work and leave. Levia comforted me, saying that Kailyn surely won't act completely irresponsibly.

"..."

Of course, it wasn't particularly comforting. I knew better than anyone what kind of person Kailyn was. There was no way Kailyn would come here and look for the child.

She would absolutely not feel any sense of responsibility. I denied it with silence. In this atmosphere, Levia looked at me and said, "...The people from the magic tower are coming in a week. Would you like to welcome them with me, Brother?"

Levia, the nun in charge of this village, was to welcome the people from the magic tower. She asked me to meet the magic tower people with her. Her intention in saying this was probably to have me meet Kailyn.

"No, it's fine."

"I see..."

I refused. I didn't particularly want to meet my childhood friend. There was no point in meeting, we'd just end up embarrassed.

There was nothing more to say to a childhood friend who left irresponsibly.

"I'll be going now."

"I see..."

With Levia's words, I stood up.

***

After leaving the church, I immediately went up the mountain. And I focused on training while swinging my sword.

"Let's just train."

Originally, today was supposed to be a rest day from training. But hearing that Kailyn was coming had put me in a very irritated state. At times like this, there was nothing better than training.

After swinging the sword hard and working up a sweat, I felt a bit refreshed.

"Phew..."

I caught my breath and shook off distracting thoughts. Then, I heard a voice. It was the Spirit Sword's voice.

[Hmm. It's quite admirable to see you so devoted to training even on a rest day. Is this Kailyn woman your wife?]

"Yes, that's right. Well."

[I see.]

The Spirit Sword seemed to have many questions about Kailyn. Probably because the Spirit Sword, sharing my experiences, was curious about my circumstances. It had asked a few times, and I had explained a few times.

However, it wasn't particularly a pleasant story, so I didn't want to talk about it.

"By the way, Master. Didn't you say you'd teach me swordsmanship?" I asked, changing the subject. 

It just occurred to me when the Spirit Sword spoke to me. Come to think of it, didn't the Spirit Sword say it would teach me swordsmanship if I became its disciple?

I became the Spirit Sword's disciple after hearing that, but I hadn't properly learned any swordsmanship. Of course, the Spirit Sword had said it wouldn't teach swordsmanship until the body was perfected, so I had been waiting.

"My body is perfected now, so why aren't you teaching me?"

Even at this point when my body was completely perfected, it hadn't taught me swordsmanship. At this point, one couldn’t help but question it, right? I had to ask the Spirit Sword why it wasn't teaching me swordsmanship.

And I received quite a concise answer to that.

[That's right.]

"But why aren't you teaching me?"

[Because I don't feel the need to teach.]

What does this mean? It doesn't feel the need to teach?

"Can you explain in more detail? What do you mean by that?"

[Hmm... I intended to teach at first, but your talent for swordsmanship is more miserable than I expected.]

"What?"

[I'm saying your talent for swordsmanship is so miserable that I can't teach you. No matter how I teach, I don't think I can make you better than third-rate. So I decided not to teach.]

The words I heard from the Spirit Sword were quite shocking. 

Do I really lack talent in swordsmanship that much? 

Of course, I didn't expect an extra's body to have talent in swordsmanship, but was it that miserable?

I didn't expect to show amazing swordsmanship like Tigna, but... What should I do about this? 

I couldn't help but feel discouraged hearing the Spirit Sword say it had given up on teaching me altogether.

[But it's okay. You have one outstanding talent. In that aspect, you might be able to become first-class or better.]

But then the Spirit Sword said another shocking thing to me.

[That's also why I'm not teaching you swordsmanship. It might be like forcing a bird that flies high to swim in the sea.]

The Spirit Sword was saying I had talent in something other than swordsmanship. I had such a talent? This was news to me.

The first thing I did when I possessed Davian's body was to check for mana, swordsmanship, and holy power. And I had despaired when I found out Davian had no talent in any of those. 

What could this talent be that I supposedly have?

"There's such a thing? What is it?"

I had to ask the Spirit Sword.

[Well, that...]

"Yes?"

[I've decided not to tell you after all.]

"What? Why suddenly?"

[Just because.]

It didn't give me the answer. 

Are you joking right now?

"Are you trying to tease me?"

[Not really... You'll find out soon anyway.]

"No, don't say that."

[That's the end of today's conversation.]

Although I tried to force an answer, the Spirit Sword wouldn't tell me. It only said I would find out soon, so be patient. The conversation with the Spirit Sword ended with just those meaningful words.

***

Anyway, a week passed surprisingly quickly. And finally, the people from the magic tower arrived as scheduled. The village was already bustling, it could be felt.

People were probably gathering here and there to see the visitors from the magic tower.

Three people in total?

There were three visitors in total. New mages who had entered the magic tower.

The top student of the magic tower, my childhood friend Kailyn.

The second-ranked student, Daphne, who would become the mage of the hero's party in the future.

The third-ranked student, Alex, a male mage with talent no less than the other two.

As I expected, it was these three.

So the mage of the hero party came here too?

I came to see them as well. I was worried that the story might have changed significantly due to my interference, but it seemed nothing like that had happened.

They're doing well.

I let out a sigh of relief, and with that, my business was done. Now that I had confirmed, I was no longer interested. As I was about to leave...

At that moment, Kailyn and I made eye contact. We clearly recognized each other.

This was unexpected. An awkward moment passed, but it didn't last long.

"..."

Kailyn quickly turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.