Perhaps I should also be more frank…
Alan, he… —
The scratching of the pen stopped. Roxy stared at Alan's name for a long time.
Frank…
She blinked and pulled out another piece of letter paper.
She took a deep breath.
Do I need to praise Alan…
If 'desire' manifests as swordsmanship, could it be something like confidence?
Mmm.
Then I should strike while the iron is hot.
My Dearest Alan! (The handwriting is very flamboyant)
The moment she wrote it, Roxy hissed and drew in a sharp breath, then immediately tossed the paper aside and grabbed a new sheet.
My Dearest Alan,
How have you been lately?
According to your letter, life at the Boreas estate these past two months has been very rich and colorful.
I'm a little envious of you.
Is the notoriously difficult-to-handle young lady's arrogant and reckless image really just on the surface? You say that once she accepts someone in her heart, she's frank but also a little cute? I'm a little curious.
And that renowned Sword King of the Sword God Style, Ghislaine, who is ranked fourth, is actually a little dazed in daily life?
But why did you compare her to my clumsiness?
And you even said that her dazedness and my clumsiness are two different feelings, that mine is more… charming?
Alan, what are you even talking about…
If you… keep this up, I might get angry, you know.
Alright…
Just kidding…
Mmm.
From your description, Mayor Philip is a politician as cunning as a forest fox? To be honest, I'm not very good at dealing with people like that. Lord Sauros, the lord of the domain, however, fits my imagination. You said in your letter that he walks like a Saber-Toothed Tiger, and also like a Maned Wolf… Mmm… describing people with monsters… it does give one an immediate and direct impression.
Roxy paused her writing here.
Alan's latest letter didn't mention the lady of the house at all… This indeed confirmed some of what Sylphie had said in her letter.
She was stunned for a moment, then shook her head.
She silently chanted to herself: Don't think about other things… praise… I need to praise him…
She blinked, and an image instantly appeared in her mind.
She continued writing.
This reminds me of our time together. Do you remember when I used to read the story of the Red Dragon and the Maned Wolf to Sylphie and the others?
You've probably forgotten.
At the time, I said—"The dragon's wrath ignited a great flame, and not even the bones of the Maned Wolf were left."
It's funny, but two weeks after that, in the 'Red Dragon's Beard' outside the city of Rikarisu, I think I really saw that scene.
It was only afterwards that I belatedly realized.
That night, in the forest, the flames from the Hellfire spell were burning fiercely on the ground, the smell of burning corpses so pungent…
You were standing beside the flames.
I was looking at you, but I felt as if I couldn't smell a single thing… [hastily scribbled out]
It reminded me of that sentence…
If I were to describe you with a monster.
It would be a Red Dragon.
At least, that's what I think.
Roxy scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed after writing this.
Her gaze fell on the scribbled-out sentence, and she immediately looked a little dejected…
Her deep blue eyes flickered, and the sound of her pen continued.
The speed was very fast, as if she were no longer consciously thinking about how to praise Alan.
Sorry, I'm reminiscing again.
Let me tell you about my recent life as a teacher in the royal capital.
Last time, I told you that, on your advice, I adjusted my educational policy for the prince—Pax.
The effect has been outstanding.
He has become calmer and much more respectful towards me.
It seems…
Alan not only has a talent for swordsmanship, but even as a teacher, he has more talent than I do.
I'm a little jealous of you…
But what's funny is, why do you always say on one hand that you want me to see the prince's talent, and on the other hand, tirelessly remind me in every letter not to hesitate to use Fire Circle on him?
Hehe…
Mmm.
I did use it.
And many times.
The reason is simple. For the past two months, the prince seems to have developed an interest in sex, and he is very unfocused in class. But perhaps it's because I have already established the image of an excellent and respectable teacher in his eyes, he has not shown any thoughts towards me beyond that of a teacher…
But in other aspects, something that left me dumbfounded has happened…
He actually…
in my class, right in front of me, repeatedly flirted with and sexually harassed passing maids. His behavior was very bold.
At once, to many people…
And yet, Alan at this age would blush just from holding my hand. [scribbled out]
How could he be like that?
Does he have no shame?
The contract with the Shirone Royal Palace clearly states that if he acts willfully, I can use my own judgment to give him some necessary punishment.
And then I remembered your words.
So every time he does this, I follow your advice and use Fire Circle on him, suppressing my urge to use the more destructive Frost Nova.
Only then did I realize that you, Alan, had already anticipated that this might happen in the future, and deliberately emphasized that I should use Fire Circle to prevent me from going berserk.
As expected, you are always so methodical in everything you do, Alan.
Truly excellent.
No, I can't keep thinking about this, or it might make my impression of Prince Pax even worse…
Speaking of his punishment…
Once again, something unexpected happened.
After many such 'punishments,' Prince Pax did indeed restrain himself a lot. Even when those maids passed by, he would still look at them with an uncomfortable gaze like a leopard looking at a rabbit, but he had indeed restrained himself.
The number of maids he touched has also changed from several to being devoted to just one…
Alright.
I am very helpless about this.
But…
The King of Shirone has greatly praised my teaching ability because of this. Because I heard that apart from one rather strange prince, all the other princes are fond of women.
In this way, Pax actually seems quite 'excellent' among them…
He greatly praised my teaching ability…
This was completely unexpected…
And others in the palace also show me a clear look of respect when they see me…
Is it really something to be praised for, going from harassing a group of maids in broad daylight to only harassing one maid at night?
Forget it. In the end, this is still Alan's achievement.
Perhaps in the eyes of others, Pax's behavior is already considered a kind of 'talent.'
Speaking of talent… let me tell you a secret.
To be honest, before I taught Rudeus, I was a little… complacent about my own magic ability.
This also led to my argument with the teacher at the University of Magic, and my subsequent departure.
After that, I met Rudeus.
His performance completely shattered my complacency and often made me feel frustrated. His talent for magic is truly breathtaking.
But then I met you, and then Sylphie.
One talented person after another appeared before me, but instead of feeling further挫折, I realized that 'people's talents are different.' Perhaps in the eyes of my teacher, who had seen all kinds of geniuses, he was very helpless about my complacent state at the time.
If I have the chance in the future, I should apologize to him…
I may be someone with some talent in magic, but I'm still a long way from being a true genius.
Thinking back now, I met a few too many geniuses two years ago.
In magic, Rudeus is a true genius.
Sylphie is also quite talented.
And you.
Without a doubt.
You are a genius in swordsmanship…
Even if I don't understand the realm of swordsmanship.
But a nine-year-old Saint-rank swordsman must be considered at the pinnacle of swordsmanship, no matter how you look at it… —
Roxy paused her pen, scratching the hair on her forehead in embarrassment.
Is it not good to praise him like this? It feels a little… like I'm boasting about myself in a strange way.
Strange, why do I have this feeling?
Roxy grabbed her hair in frustration, peeking at the letter through the gaps.
Is it because I subconsciously favor Alan?
Is he actually not as excellent as I imagine?
But Alan also said in his letter that Ghislaine's attitude towards him is very friendly. She's the fourth-ranked master of the Sword God Style. Her opinion should be more convincing, right?
So my view should still be considered objective? Even if someone says I'm biased, it shouldn't be too far off.
Mmm.
Roxy nodded, intending to continue her praise, but when her eyes glanced at something on her desk, she paused, then suddenly stopped her pen.
Then she couldn't help but sigh.
Actually, using Fire Circle on Pax as 'punishment' didn't fit her personality.
She had been forewarned by Alan in a letter about the absurdities of the royal palace before she even entered, so she had been somewhat prepared.
In fact, there was another purpose behind her actions…
— If she kept doing this, and went 'overboard.'
Would the King of Shirone think she lacked the ability to be a teacher?
Would he, in a fit of rage, expel her from the royal palace?
Then she would have a reason to return.
And she wouldn't have to pay the penalty for breaking the contract and leaving early…
And she would have a good reason to see Alan and the others again…
This thought had occurred to her when she was writing to Sylphie last time.
When she wrote 'One year? Two years?' 'Or perhaps longer?', she realized that her occasional reminiscences of the past were not because of the unfrank excuse of getting old.
It was because she missed Alan.
And Roxy was indeed worried about Alan's state.
So she immediately took action…
However, two months later, today, the reality was harsh, even cruel.
At this moment, in Roxy's line of sight, was a whole bag of gold coins on the desk.
One hundred of them…
For her, who once had a monthly salary of two silver coins, it was an incredible amount.
But now, she only felt troubled.
"Sigh…"
Roxy grabbed her hair in frustration, making it messy.
Then she slumped onto the desk.
These gold coins were a reward from the King of Shirone for Roxy's teaching achievements.
Her reward.
In other words, her strategy of using strict to the point of harsh corporal punishment to get herself kicked out…
had failed.
It had failed completely.
And such a large sum of gold coins made it even more impossible for her to break the contract and leave. If she really did that, wouldn't she be seen as someone who just took the money and ran?
Roxy was too thin-skinned to do something like that.
And the situation at the Boreas estate was not yet critical enough for that…
She lay on the desk dejectedly for a while before she propped herself up again and looked at the letter in her hand.
She couldn't help but pull at the hair on her forehead again.
The wording in her letter to Alan and the wording in her letter to Sylphie were too different…
Lately, when she wrote to Alan, she couldn't help but use a lot of colloquial terms…
By the way…
They wouldn't compare their letters, would they?
As expected, being frank is so hard…
In this regard, Sylphie is much better than I am…
Thinking of this, Roxy blinked and continued to write.
She finished the letter to Alan with just one sentence.
Lately, my mind has been filled with memories of the time I spent with you all. [crossed out]
with you.
Alan.
Lately,
have you been doing okay?
— Roxy.
After finishing, Roxy rewrote the letter, deleting all the scribbled-out parts. The wording was more refined and more formal. Only then did she let out a long sigh of relief.
She turned her head.
And stared at the half-written letter to Sylphie on her desk.
She squinted and looked at it for a long time.
Then she smiled faintly.
Alan is still so charming…
That child Sylphie's mind is full of Alan now.
Speaking of which, Alan will be twelve in two months…
So much time has passed in the blink of an eye…
Thinking of this, Roxy paused.
Wait, Prince Pax developed an interest in sex at the age of twelve…
Then what about Alan, who would blush just from accidentally holding my hand? Could he also…
Roxy swallowed hard.
She looked down.
Her own body was still as 'shabby' as it had been for the past twenty-six years.
Her expression froze. After a moment, she sniffled slightly.
"At this rate…"
"Sylphie might catch up to me in two years…"
"Ah…"
"What should I do…"
In her characteristic 'cool' mumble, the moonlight of Shirone streamed into the window.
Not long after, the sound of a pen touching paper sounded again…
Time slowly walked away in the sound of the pen.
Moonlight and sunlight took turns flowing across the desk.
In a daze, the texture of the desk had changed.
No, it wasn't that the desk had changed.
It was that this was now the Fitoa region, the Boreas estate, and the desk in front of Sylphie's bed.
The white-haired girl stood up from the desk, looking at the letter from Roxy she had just received.
Her hair was now perfectly shoulder-length, very smooth, as if it were carefully combed every day. She had also grown half a head taller than she was ten months ago, and her demeanor was much more mature.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Sylphie! Eris is skipping class again!!"
It was Rudeus's voice.
Sylphie tore her gaze away from the letter on the desk and put it down. She walked towards the door.
The last few lines of the letter, written by Roxy on an August night in Shirone, were illuminated by the sunlight.
Amidst the sound of carriages, the time had already come to October.
Sylphie, why do you think it would be effective if I praised him?
Putting what you want to say into words is always so pale.
I can't see his face, and he can't see mine.
And so much time passes between letters.
How effective could it be?
I miss you all very much.
But… I can't leave the Shirone Royal Palace for the time being…
So, I want to ask you a favor.
You, who are by Alan's side.
You, who can see his condition at any time.
Help him.
Because…
Don't forget, the adventurer team belongs to all of us together.
Whether it's you, or Rudeus.
Or Alan, who is in a difficult situation.
In the future, we will inevitably encounter situations where we are not together.
Then the remaining people must take on the responsibility, right?
Although it seems like I'm evading responsibility by saying this.
But you must believe…
I am with you all.
I miss you.
I miss Rudeus.
And I miss Alan.
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