“Ollie.”

The elderly woman wearing a thick shawl over her outer garment looked around. She smiled as if she had grasped the situation at once.

It was the smile of someone who knew a great many things, causing the noisy people around to close their mouths. Ollie had that kind of power.

“Go well, Jade. Don’t worry, I’ll convey your final greetings.”

Ollie spoke very gently, but very firmly. At that voice, Jade choked up.

“But…”

“Jade. Those who need to leave must leave.”

The old woman was wise as always, clearly defining her place.

“Don’t forget your position because of a moment’s hesitation.”

Her clear eyes, without a trace of cloudiness, seemed even clearer today, giving an austere impression. It felt as if she wasn’t the Ollie that Jade knew. She was like a stern judge who had already passed judgment.

“I, for greetings…”

“Some things can be conveyed without seeing directly. I’ll take care of the wrap-up. The young magician should go now. You’ve faithfully spent the time that was meant to be let go, so it will serve as some foundation out there.”

The line was clear. Jade tightly closed her mouth and then took out the key she had put in her pocket. Although her fingertips were cold from the chilled blood, there was no trembling.

That was fortunate at least. It made her appear to have composed herself.

When Ollie held out her hand, Jade carefully placed it on top.

“Please convey it.”

“Yes. Anything else?”

“Please tell them I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye in person. Make sure to add that I was in a great, great hurry.”

“Alright.”

“Please also tell them I’m grateful for everything until now, and that I’ve learned a lot.”

“I’ll make sure to convey that.”

Jade swallowed dryly.

“Please also tell them that I’ll miss them very, very much.”

Ollie nodded. Her wrinkled hand grasped Jade’s, patting it gently before quickly letting go.

There was no time to pack belongings. As soon as Jade finally turned around, people rushed over and threw a thick fur cloak over her. An unnamed knight immediately put her on a horse and they began galloping away.

Everything became distant in an instant.

Two days were expected, but it took four.

The hunt took longer than anticipated. The bear maddened by humans, which was the purpose of coming here, was simple to lure and wasn’t much of a problem. The real issue was the traces of monsters discovered while passing by.

Strangely, the frequency of monster sightings in the Athanase Forest was increasing.

The hunter from the west was in the business of setting traps based on the tracks left by moving creatures. The hunter, who called himself the best hunter in Athanase, soon found a place teeming with monsters.

Axel jumped in without hesitation. And before dawn broke, he walked out covered in blood. He was fine except for a few scratches.

The hunter, looking at him with a pale face, quickly handed him clean water. Axel poured the water over his head to wash off the sticky substances.

“Looks like things aren’t good outside. That’s when monsters tend to increase.”

What was it again? Was there a severe famine in the neighboring country?

The hunter muttered with an uninterested face. Axel too had a face that seemed to be half-listening.

“I see.”

“Is that your answer?”

“Why the sudden change in speech?”

“Oh my, a slip-up.”

Axel was looking down at the things lined up below with an expressionless face.

“So you don’t need this meat?”

“It just smells and isn’t much. Not my taste.”

“Still so noble, I see.”

The hunter chuckled, but his tone wasn’t mocking. It was just a tone of curiosity.

“It’s been well over five years, but you haven’t changed. Even in this forest, your core remains the same.”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Not a problem, just. I think you’re quite different from guys like me. It seems such a waste for you to be here. It’s strange that even I, who was just a mercenary who briefly worked with you, think this way.”

“Unnecessary thoughts.”

“Well, I’m not one to romanticize the past. But it really was impressive, you know? I’d never seen a knight leading the charge more than the mercenaries. And that from someone in a position who could have just given orders from a distance.”

Saying that, the hunter squatted down and rummaged through the things on the ground with a satisfied face. Unexpected harvests were always a joy.

“Anyway, you don’t want the meat? Then what do you want to take?”

“I’d like the leather tanned and sent… and that.”

What Axel pointed to were several items cut from the monsters.

If the one caught by the lake recently had a shimmering light attached to its tail, these creatures had strange pouches. When shaken, odd sounds came from inside.

While it was common for monsters to develop characteristics as they grew, it was unusual for such small ones.

“What are you going to do with that? You don’t even know what it is. It might be poisonous.”

“There’s someone who likes things like this.”

Jade was a magician and truly lived up to that name. The attitude of constantly looking around and exploring was what completed a true magician.

Even in a forest with nothing to do, she would gather herbs on her own, scrape roots, and make potions.

She said she made them to sell when people needed them, but seeing how she hurriedly gave them away as soon as someone said they needed it, it was clear she just made them for the sake of it.

Now his house’s cupboard was lined with all sorts of potions. On the wall hung a ‘Flora Map of Axel’s House Vicinity’ that she had diligently drawn herself, which seemed questionable in its future use but showed her dedication.

So if he brought this unknown thing, she would surely be delighted. Axel inwardly assured himself.

“There’s someone like that? Where?”

“What do you want to know for?”

The hunter grumbled.

“Is it a crime to be curious? Well, it was a crime outside… Anyway, I’ll process the leather well and bring it to you. Take the venom yourself. Want something for those scratches?”

Axel looked at the scattered scratches on his skin. It was natural without proper armor.

“It’s fine. There’s someone who likes to treat those too.”

“Someone who likes unknown poison pouches and wounds…?”

That’s quite a strange person.

Leaving the puzzled hunter behind, Axel quickly washed up. The hunter’s house, inhospitable to guests, had little warm water, but he had no intention of complaining.

He just wanted to quickly return and face Jade. Having sorted out his thoughts to some extent during the days apart, he felt that seeing her face would make something certain.

Of course, he was also worried about how Jade had been doing, having left her alone for too long.

Once clean, he came out and whistled.

“Atila.”

His horse, which had been resting while eating the provided hay, approached with lively steps. Atila, seemingly in a good mood from having run a lot after a long time, showed affection by bumping its head against Axel’s chest.

Axel also chuckled and gently stroked between the beautiful beast’s eyes. The pitch-black eyes blinked docilely.

“My, you’re still as sturdy as ever. This fellow must be quite old by now, but it doesn’t show at all.”

His horse, Atila, was the only thing Axel had claimed ownership of when he decided to leave everything behind.

It was magnificent from any angle. Not only did it have excellent intelligence that matched Axel’s movements like one body, but it also had long, muscular legs, a sturdy body, and a beautiful mane. And what about the coat that transformed from black to a subtle gray when light shone on it?

In other words, it looked like no one would feel that the name Mimi suited it.

Axel suddenly laughed involuntarily and wiped his cheek.

Mimi, how awful. How on earth did he come up with such a name?

Unaware that the hunter might be looking at him strangely, Axel, wearing a faint smile, stroked the mane and body a few more times before mounting the horse in one swift motion. His field of vision suddenly rose.

“So, have you sorted out what you were pondering about?”

The hunter, who had expected a farewell, grinned and asked something else.

“To some extent.”

Axel agreed readily.

“Hey, I’m good at seeing these things. That’s definitely…”

Before he could finish speaking, Axel pulled on the reins. Atila raised its front legs and began to gallop without hesitation.

The hunter standing behind got covered in a cloud of dust and shouted.

“It was a woman problem, wasn’t it!”

But there was no answer. Atila had disappeared into the distance in an instant.

The weather was so nice that it felt good to run. Atila, as if reading his mind, changed direction instantly with just one stroke and picked up speed again. The irregularly grown trees were no obstacle.

The passing scenery was damp and desolate, mixed with melting snow, but held expectations for spring. Like the round winter buds of the trees.

What would she say when they met?

Jade would probably look worried and pant, but soon show happiness. No, she might try not to show her joy. Rather, she might try to prove how well she had managed without him.

Should he then say she did well, or that he’d have to check? Either way, the reaction would be interesting.

Axel tilted his head askew and then chuckled. White steam rose and dispersed through his slightly parted lips.

Atila too must have known where they were going. As the path home is enjoyable for everyone, the horse seemed to get faster and faster as it ran.

They ran for a long time. But they didn’t seem to tire. Through the bare branches, the lakeside could be glimpsed in the distance. The sun that had been heating their heads had tilted slightly, and the sparkling waves stung their eyes.

He turned completely to the right.

It was really soon now.

He couldn’t hide his rising curiosity, or perhaps expectation.

Would he really realize something the moment their eyes met?

Whether this was simply human affection, or what he had anticipated.