Science/Magic

"You don't seem happy to see me, Mr. Bloed." Charise giggled amusedly when she saw Bloed's difficult expression.

Bloed could only sigh with a bitter smile.

Of course, he was not happy. Every time he met Charise previously, it was related to a troublesome situation.

It was a fact that Charise had helped Bloed a lot, and she had supported him since they met in Diadel Duchy, but Bloed could not help but associate Charise to the word troublesome.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm your friend, right?"

"… I guess you are. Then, Miss Charise, why are you here?"

"Can't I come to visit you?"

"You are not the kind to visit others without a reason, right?" Bloed rolled his eyes. "Just tell me what you want to tell me."

"Well, I came to bid you farewell," Charise said with a smile.

A surprised expression appeared on Bloed's face. He then looked at Charise and narrowed his eyes.

"What happened?"

"Nothing much. It's just that some old men at the headquarters are dissatisfied after I interfered with the situation in Academy City, so they asked me to go back."

Bloed was stunned. Then, he looked at Charise guiltily.

"Sorry, it's because of me."

"It's good that you are aware." Charise giggled. She then smiled mischievously. "You owe me a lot of favors, you know. When do you plan to pay them?"

"If one day you need my help, I won't hesitate to help you," Bloed said without hesitation.

Charise smiled playfully.

"I know."

The saintess then looked at Bloed for several seconds before sighing.

"You know Bloed, you are like my little brother. A troublesome little brother that always needs the help of his big sister when he is in trouble. I think I will miss you."

Bloed was speechless.

But at the same time, he felt warm in his heart.

The truth was that Charise also occupied a special place in his heart. Perhaps he did not think of her as a sister, but he considered her a good friend.

Seeing his reaction, Charise giggled again, but then, she put on a complicated expression and sighed.

"I would have liked to continue traveling with you, but unfortunately, I have to leave. Bloed, your future will be filled with ups and downs. The world is about to fall into chaos, and for some reason, it seems like fate is pushing you to the center of the storm."

Bloed fell deep in thought, trying to understand the meaning behind Charise's words.

But the saintess did not explain them. She just stood up from her seat and walked towards Bloed. Then, she patted his head gently like a big sister spoiling her little brother.

"Be careful, okay. Your next trip will be filled with darkness, but it can be an opportunity for you. Also, trust the old man wielding the sword. He will help you in your path."

Bloed was stunned.

"… Is it a prophecy?"

"Perhaps." Charise smiled and ruffled his hair roughly. "See you later, little brother. I pray that fate is always with you."

After saying these words, Saintess Charise turned around to leave.

Before leaving, though, she heard Bloed's speak.

"Be careful… And good luck."

Charise chuckled. Then, she left the tower.

Outside, Kallevang An was waiting for her.

"Did you bid farewell to the boy, Saintess?"

"I did." Charise's expression immediately became stern, a stark difference to the benevolent expression she had in front of Bloed. "Let's go back, Kallevang. It looks like some insects have forgotten the will of the goddess. It's time to exterminate them."

"As you will, Princess." Kallevang bowed respectfully.

At the same time, his eyes became ice-cold.

It seemed that Mount Fate was going to be dyed in blood.

…

Charise's departure was unnoticed by most in Academy City, but it unexpectedly made Bloed feel sad.

At the same time, her words before leaving made him realize that perhaps this trip to the Boerner Forest was not going to go as smoothly as he expected.

Just the fact that Charise told him that it was going to be filled with danger meant that his life could be at risk.

However, Charise also told him that it could be an opportunity.

Bloed was not sure what kind of opportunity it was going to be, but he had a hunch.

'A-Grade.'

He had reached the peak of B-Grade for a while now, but he still did not know how to breakthrough to the next grade.

He had several ideas, but none of them seemed useful in the short run.

Perhaps, this trip to the Boerner Forest was going to give him the clue to take that next step.

If so, it was another reason to go.

'I guess I need to hurry up my preparations, huh.'

With that thought, Bloed walked to his laboratory. He planned to stay there until the day of the departure.

At that moment, a thought appeared in Bloed's mind.

'By the way, what did Charise mean about the old man wielding the sword?'

…

Meanwhile, in a certain human country.

A shabby old man entered a tavern and asked for a jar of beer as he sat down at a table.

The old man was wearing worn-down clothes. He seemed like he had not shaved in years, and he was holding a sword on his lap. His age was around eighty years old, and his eyes expressed tiredness and fatigue. He seemed like a tired traveler that had seen everything the world could offer.

At that moment, the old man heard a conversation at a nearby table.

"Did you hear? There is a rumor that a Heart of the Forest appeared in Academy City."

"Really? Is that true?"

"It looks like it's true. I heard that several Churches already communicated with the city to ask for it."

"Damn. It must be worth a fortune."

"You bet. You can live in luxury for the rest of your life if you sell it."

"Hahaha, a shame it's not in our hands."

"Right, a shame."

The two drunkards chuckled in disappointment before continuing their conversation. However, the old man did not pay attention to the rest of their words.

"A Heart of the Forest huh." He muttered to himself before looking at his sword. "Little girl, it looks like our next destination has been decided."

Any person looking at the man now would have thought that he was senile.

However, as soon as the man finished talking, the sword hummed in answer.