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"Easy, easy there buddy." – said Ariava.
"I've told you that I will answer all your question I can while I'm still here, but calm down buddy."
"And if you think by asking me nonstop random questions will make me stay here longer, fat chance. I'm not falling for that."
"…"
(Damn.) – thought Thauma.
"…"
*Sigh*
"Look. I know you are attached to me and everything, but if you don't let go, you will pretty much depend on me for everything and the moment I'm gone you will pretty much destroy yourself."
"So stop right now."
"Anyway, enough of your questions for today from you."
"Now you listen to me."
"Before I leave, I will have to tell you about the current situation outside world."
"The war between the two kingdoms… Well, it is still going and it doesn't look like it will end anytime soon."
"However, the war already lasted for quiet sometime, so one of the sides will end up being exhausted."
"This will result one of them pushing forward and allowing them to start taking over bigger chunks of territory."
"In short, you still have peace, but that peace is slowly running out."
"And before I say anything, yes I'm leaving you in worst timing, but if I'm honest? Me being here could put you in more danger."
"I mean, I'm extremely powerful dhampir succubus. If they find out about me, they will get terrified and will make sure to hunt me down, and in turn your dungeon that I would be using as hiding place."
"Nobody knows about me, since I hid and covered up the truth."
"Neither kingdoms knows about me or about my ability to shapeshift."
"But all it takes."
"All it fucking takes."
"Is just one look."
"They see me, they find out about me, and you are fucked."
"So, me abandoning you also have benefits."
"And once I do leave you behind, you will have to survive all on your own once again."
"But obviously I won't leave you empty handed." – said Ariava as she gotten up from her chair and opened up her pocket space.
"You see… I wasn't only going out so often recently to scout out the situation outside…. But also go around…. And buy the stuff for you." – said Ariava as she started taking out books from her pocket space, before then putting them on the table one by one.
"I've promised you a reward for beating the beast dungeon, so here I'm keeping my word…. And done." – said Ariava as she was done taking out books from her pocket space.
"I will probably go out once again to get you few more books, so this isn't all…. But this reward is something you desire, isn't it?" – said Ariava as she picked up one of the books and walked towards Thauma.
"Knowledge."
"This is what you want, isn't it?"
"This isn't obviously some "extremely secret of the world knowledge" or some shit, but instead regular books."
"Basic knowledge."
"Nothing special."
"But… For you? This is something you desperately wanted."
"Use these books to learn about the world."
"And here, this book here I've written myself." – said Ariava as she handed over an untitled book with greenish cover and little heart symbol.
"?"
(What is this?) – thought Akrema as he took the book and opened it.
"You remember how you asked me about magic and stuff once before?" – asked Ariava.
"I know you should just focus on your earth and arcane magic…. But here is a little present from me."
"This book you are holding right there? It contains basic knowledge about space magic."
"A high tier form of magic that you saw me use many times."
"!?"
(Wait, space magic?! The one where she open up the space and takes out stuff?!) – thought surprised Thauma.
"…"
"But why?" – asked Thauma as it took out its notebook and written down a question.
"0h please." – replied Ariava.
"Do you think I didn't noticed you gazing whenever I've opened up my pocket space? Your child like curiosity?"
"You wanted this, didn't you?"
"Or maybe you didn't realized that you wanted it?"
"Either way, here. You have it."
"By the way, the space magic isn't exactly some weak ass magic…. No. If anything it has different paths and usages." – said Ariava as she took book back from Thauma.
"However, for now?"
"Forget it." – said Ariava as she put the book back on the table.
"At your current level, you won't be able to use even use the weakest spell or form a skill."
"Not only that, but the space magic isn't….. Well, it isn't really good."
"Even high ranking mages have hard time operating it, which means that the best they can only make a pocket space like me."
"So don't worry if you suck at this, since a lot of people suck at it and are only able to make pocket spaces. Hell, you may not even like or have no talent for this thing, so don't force yourself like idiot, thinking that the "pocket space" is must or something. I mean, you are not leaving this dungeon any time soon, so why would you even need that blood thing?"
"But hey, choice is yours."
"Anyway, these books will be my parting gift."
"Once I've secured the second batch, I will be leaving you."
"…"
"Heh."
"I've told you before, you have to survive on your own if you want to improve." - said Ariava as she noticed puppet acting up.
"And you won't stop me from leaving you."
"…"
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"Well then…. I guess this time will be a goodbye." – said Ariava who prepared herself to leave without any hesitation as soon as she took out the last book from her pocket space.
"And fucking stop writing right in this moment!" – said Ariava as she noticed Thauma trying to write something.
"No fucking begging or anything like that."
"Don't be a kid….. Wait, you are quiet young….. Anyway, don't act spoiled."
"If you want to say something that isn't goodbye, then say it now."
"…"
"…"
Thauma with bit of hesitation picked up his pen, before then slowly writing its question.
"Will I ever see you again?" – Thauma asked.
"…"
"Huh… Welp, you can't be a spoiled child forever, can't you?" – said Ariava, almost bursting into laughter.
"I've told you before, I may or may not comeback."
"…"
"Welp, I guess this is the end of this chapter." – said Ariava as she started walking past Thauma who didn't even tried to stop the demoness.
"I know it maybe sudden or we won't be holding some sort of farewell part…. But this will do."
"And since you can't say it, I will."
"Goodbye Thauma."
"May you live the life you chose yourself." – said Ariava before then walking away, leaving the dungeon master room as the puppet just stared.
…
Thauma did nothing.
It didn't gave chase nor it tried to order its monster to attack Ariava, trying to stop her from leaving with a use of force.
No…. It knew it couldn't do anything even if it tried.
It knew that the puppet could be still destroyed in its current state, it knew that its strength was nothing compares to hers.
But even so, it didn't wanted the woman go.
It wanted to stay longer with the woman, like a child to their mother.
But even so, she did not stopped.
She didn't looked back…. She only walked while smiling.
She knew how Thauma felt, but she didn't bothered.
She didn't hesitated or anything, unlike Thauma who was still unsure if it really wanted to let the woman go….. it hesitated between going or stopping back and forth, straight up going crazy not knowing what to do.
….
But in the end, it gave up and it tried to chase after her…. Only to realize that Ariava was already gone from the dungeon.
…
It was alone.
The dungeon master was alone again.
All by itself.
The person that taught it, the person that raised it, the person that saved it.
If it wasn't for her, Thauma would be just nameless puppet nobody that would just be a slaves to the adventures, made to produce monsters forever in order to just have them hunted down.
Thauma would never exist if it wasn't for her.... And now she is gone.
Like that, she just said "goodbye" and walked away.
….
However, like she said before.
This is the end of this chapter.
The chapter that was written by her and Thauma.
But now? Thauma will have to write its own chapters of his own story without any support.
(There is no such thing as destiny my little puppet.)
(Nor the future is set in stone.)
(The one who writes our own stories are we in the present.)
(The ones with the pen are us, not some gods or devils.)
(Us.)
(This is the truth.)
(So write.)
(Write a interesting story, why don't you?)
(Because who knows?)
(I will maybe comeback and read it.)
{{End of volume 1}}