Tenkomori Chapter 126.3

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Chapter 126.3. The Third Year at the Academy - Each of Their Paths (3)

Chapter 126.3. The Third Year at the Academy - Each of Their Paths (3)

The moment we returned to the living room, Quince suddenly collapsed, perhaps from accumulated fatigue.

The New Year celebration came to an end, with the women heading to Dana's house, while the rest of us sprawled out to sleep in the living room.

Lambert, Ted, and the others, who still had some energy left, sat by the fireplace, listening intently to Markant and his group recount their adventures.

As one by one they fell asleep, it wasn't long before only Markant's group and I remained awake.

To avoid waking the others, Markant and his group moved to a corner, quietly sipping their drinks.

Listening to their hushed voices, I gazed absently at the fireplace.

"Got a moment to talk?"

After a while, Markant gestured toward the backyard with his thumb.

I nodded silently, and the four of us stepped outside.

The freezing midnight air enveloped us entirely.

Amid the sporadic sounds of magic, we seated ourselves at the table.

"You already know, don’t you?"

"More or less… yeah."

I nodded at Markant’s question.

"We've hit a wall. Two years since entering the Deep Forest, and we’ve barely grown."

Danil and Ose also nodded silently.

We hadn’t appraised ourselves, yet we knew.

When you face someone strong, you can feel it — this one’s powerful.

Compared to before, Markant and his group’s presence felt diminished.

That was because I had grown significantly, while they had stagnated.

"Stats aren’t everything."

"Even so, they’re the foundation. A slight difference can be overcome with experience, but what comes after that? If it’s just to survive, there’s no reason to cling to being adventurers."

"You’re retiring?"

"Yeah. The Battle Axe of Destruction is disbanding."

The three of them wore satisfied smiles.

If Valerie were here, she’d surely share the same expression.

"I always thought you lot would stay adventurers no matter how old you got."

"That was the plan, but there’s a time for everything."

"What will you do after disbanding?"

At my question, Markant suddenly hesitated.

He scratched his head awkwardly, his face flushing red.

"Well… Valerie’s pregnant."

I was surprised but quickly understood.

Valerie hadn’t participated in mock battles and had been talking extensively with Dana.

She must have been asking her, a senior mother, for advice.

Looking slightly bashful, Markant continued.

"You know Valerie and I are from the same hometown. We’re thinking of going back for this."

"A village somewhere, wasn’t it?"

"Yeah, a small village called Clenslee. The local lord is Viscount Ezdoor."

I searched my memory.

"Ezdoor… Near Keten, right?"

"Sort of. Northwest of Keten, but it’s surrounded by mountains and forests, so it’s not exactly close. If you take the highway south past the town on the way here, you’ll reach Ezdoor, and our village is further west within the territory. Considering mountain passes, Selene might actually be easier to get to than Reedwald."

As he spoke, Markant glanced toward Dana’s house.

"Clenslee is still home to our families. Valerie, as confident as she may seem, is also anxious. After discussing it, we decided it’s best to be near family for the childbirth."

"That’s a good decision. Valerie’s peace of mind is what matters most."

"Yeah, I think so too."

Markant nodded with a smile.

His expression evoked both joy and a hint of sadness in me.

I shifted my gaze to Danil and Ose.

"What about you two?"

"After escorting the leaders to the village, I’ll return to my hometown, Ilkenek. I’m considering becoming a merchant."

"Danil, you’d definitely succeed. What about you, Ose?"

"I’ll go back to Reedwald."

His unexpected answer left me momentarily speechless.

Go back—he’s from my hometown?

Seeing my expression, Ose elaborated.

"I was born in the slums."

"Sorry, I didn’t know."

"No need to apologize; it’s not a cheerful story anyway. I’m an orphan. The folks in the slums were like siblings to me."

Saying this, Ose bowed his head.

"I’ve been meaning to thank you but never got around to it. Alter-sama, thank you for playing with the kids in our area."

"I don’t remember anything like that…"

"You used to visit the hunter’s house a lot, right? It was back then."

The hunter—Nerio’s house?

Ah, those kids who used to kneel with Nerio in apology.

It had all started when I visited Nerio to request gathering materials for the Gray Vomit Disease.

Every time I went after that, they’d mysteriously appear to kneel with him.

I’d always wondered why they showed up—it seems they were just playing.

"Some of them have even become adventurers now. I’m thinking of going back to Reedwald to train them. I want them to be of use to you, Alter-sama."

"That’d be a huge help. If you’re training them, their future is assured."

"No, no, it’s not that big a deal…"

Ose looked flustered, and we all broke into smiles.

"You know, I was planning to return to Reedwald with you later—"

Markant trailed off and looked up at the dark night sky.

"The baby’s due after spring. By then, Valerie won’t be able to move much. On top of that, this winter looks harsh."

In other words, they wouldn’t stay long.

I shook my head.

"Don’t worry about it. Prioritize the safety of the mother and child."

This year’s winter was harsher than the last.

The year I left Reedwald had been tough, but this one might surpass it.

It was only natural for Markant to be cautious.

Of course, staying in Selene was an option.

There were holy magic users, the Mirad Temple, and an abundance of potions.

But Markant and Valerie had decided to return to their family.

It wasn’t my place to interfere.

"By the way, you’re thirteen now, right?"

Out of the blue, Markant changed the topic.

"With the New Year, I’ll be thirteen soon."

"Then about two years until adulthood? By then, the baby will have settled down. We’ll come to visit."

"In that case, I’ll join you. I’d like to see the leaders’ child, too."

Danil immediately raised his hand.

I couldn’t help but smile at the two of them.

"Yeah, I’ll be waiting. You too, Ose."

"Yes. I’ll be there."

Ose nodded beside me, smiling.

For a while longer, Battle Axe of Destruction stayed in Selene.

I enlisted the help of the headmaster and Lackendale to procure things like Sislas Grass nectar, and I focused on crafting potions.

In this world, with its underdeveloped medical practices, and in a remote village at that, potions were the lifeline for mother and child.

Then, several days later, Battle Axe of Destruction departed Selene, carrying a large supply of potions.

I stood on the eastern highway, imagining their figures fading into the distance, watching them off for as long as I could.

Two years had passed, and their circumstances had changed dramatically.

It wasn’t a bad thing—it was a new beginning.

I idly imagined their yet-unborn child and chuckled.

Their child, huh? Raising them will probably be a handful.

I’ll meet them again in two years, along with the child.

I wonder what kind of person I’ll be as an adult.

Turning back, I looked toward the streets of Selene.

Whatever happens by then, I need to live a life I can be proud of, one that their child would admire.