Epilogue: To That Person Three Years Ago

To put it simply, the commotion settled down without any major issues.

With Zelos’s declaration of surrender, the rampaging Royal Guard was pacified.

And then, Alicia delivered a speech before the academy students about the incident that had befallen her.

She spoke of falling into the cowardly trap of a terrorist organization opposing the imperial government, and how, thanks to the heroic efforts of a brave magic instructor and the academy students, the situation was resolved safely.

It was fortunate that Celica’s barrier ensured that the conversations between Glenn, the queen, and others didn’t leak. By subtly glossing over the dangerous parts tied to national peril and deliberately embellishing the glamorous aspects, the queen’s masterful oratory, befitting a ruler facing the world, brilliantly deceived everyone present.

For a moment, unease and agitation gripped those in attendance, but it quickly subsided.

Despite the final uproar, the Magic Tournament concluded safely here.

And then—

“…Jeez, it’s finally over. Me, getting the Silver Hawk Sword Third-Class Medal? No thanks.”

Trudging along, Glenn walked through the streets of Fejite, now fully enveloped in the curtain of night.

After the chaos, there were emergency meetings with the academy’s administration, scheduling for the medal ceremony as a key contributor to resolving the incident, and debriefings with the Royal Guard, which had eaten up a ton of time.

“Man, we’re the victims here… and they’re summoning us again later? What a pain in the ass.”

Not even trying to hide his dissatisfaction, Glenn grumbled, while Rumia, walking beside him, gave a wry smile.

“It can’t be helped, you know. We were at the center of the incident, after all.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true…”

“But, it’s kind of nice that things seem to have wrapped up neatly, right?”

“…Yeah. When you think about it, there wasn’t any real damage.”

In the end, it seemed the Royal Guard, despite their blunder, wouldn’t face severe consequences. If it was Her Majesty’s direct judgment, there was little to be done. Besides, Eleanor’s betrayal was a failure of the personnel office that appointed her, and the guards were merely following Zelos’s orders.

As the commander, Zelos would inevitably face strict disciplinary action for appearances’ sake, but since his actions were all to protect Her Majesty, there was ample room for leniency.

(That said, not everything’s been resolved…)

The critical point was that the mastermind was Eleanor, the queen’s chief lady-in-waiting and secretary. Albert and Re=L had pursued her, but she apparently managed to escape.

The fact that the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom had infiltrated as far as the queen’s chief lady-in-waiting, a position with a fourth-rank title, was likely to cause significant upheaval in the imperial government moving forward. Just how far did that organization’s reach extend? Imagining it based on this incident alone was terrifying.

(But… Rumia, what exactly are you…)?

Glenn glanced sideways at Rumia, walking beside him.

A Sympathetic Amplifier. Rumia’s ability.

A living magical circuit that supercharges the magic and mana of anyone she touches.

It was certainly a rare and extraordinary power.

But—

(Would a magical society like the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom go to such lengths to control someone like that?)

He’d heard the details from Albert, who’d returned earlier. Apparently, the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom were desperate to secure Rumia’s person, dead or alive.

(Sure, a Sympathetic Amplifier is a rare ability, but it’s not unique to Rumia. There are others out there if you look. For an organization like theirs, finding another shouldn’t be that hard. Plus, rituals and techniques to enhance magic have long been established. It’s rare, but it’s not an ability with absolute magical value. So why are they so fixated on Rumia? What is it about her?)

On top of that, the “dead or alive” part made no sense. If she died, she couldn’t use her ability. That was obvious, wasn’t it?

Either way, there was something about Rumia.

Something that an organization like the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom wanted to control.

But what that was… no matter how much he thought about it now, he couldn’t figure it out.

“…Jeez, looks like the trouble’s just gonna keep piling up…”

“Sensei? Is something wrong?”

Rumia looked up at him with concern.

“Nah, it’s nothing. I’ll deal with the annoying stuff later.”

For now, he’d managed to protect her today.

He’d just keep protecting her going forward. That was enough, wasn’t it?

“Oh, Sensei! Look, there it is! That’s the place, right?”

Snapping out of it and looking ahead, Glenn saw the shop Rumia was pointing at.

It was a popular eatery among the students of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy. A well-known spot in the northern student district, it was often used for student parties and gatherings. While many students came from noble or affluent families, the place had a certain elegance that satisfied even their refined tastes.

“Oh, right. That’s where our class is holding the after-party, huh?”

“Yeah, Sistine mentioned it, didn’t she?”

Sure, things had gotten messy at the end, but a win was a win. Glenn had earned a special bonus, and he’d won his bet with Halley. Feeling flush, he’d told the class, “I’ll treat you guys, so go wild and throw a party or whatever.”

“At this hour, they’ve probably already wrapped up and gone home, right?”

“Well, let’s at least peek inside, Sensei.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Glenn and Rumia stepped into the shop together.

“…Talk about lively.”

The moment they stepped inside, that was the only way to describe the scene.

The interior was tastefully decorated with polished oak, exuding refinement. Round wooden tables were packed tightly together, and beyond the stylish counter at the back, shelves lined with neatly arranged glasses and liquor bottles came into view. The flickering candle flames burned brightly, casting a unique ambiance—neither too bright nor too dim.

Glenn’s students had reserved the entire place, indulging in a raucous feast of food and revelry.

Despite the chaos at the end, the thrill of winning the Magic Tournament clearly hadn’t worn off. Everyone was clutching food or drinks, animatedly recounting the day’s events.

“Yo, Sensei!”

Noticing Glenn’s arrival, Kash raised a hand and called out to him.

“We started without ya! So, Sensei, how was my duel today?!”

“Tch. You got your ass handed to you in the finals. Think that’s worth praising?”

“Don’t say that…” Kash shot a sour look at Gibul, who was sitting smugly at the edge of the table. Cecil stepped in, trying to calm Kash down with a “Now, now.”

“Um, Sensei… thank you so much for today…”

“Hmph. I’ll thank you, I guess. Your advice helped us win, after all.”

Lynn flashed a shy smile at Glenn, while Wendy turned away with a huff.

The other students chimed in, calling out to Glenn one after another. The atmosphere was noticeably different from the cold reception he’d gotten when he first started teaching, and it brought a slight grin to his face…

“…”

Suddenly, Glenn picked up a bottle from a nearby table.

The old-fashioned label looked familiar.

Ryu-Saphir. A premium wine made from hand-picked grapes from the finest vineyards in the Saphir region. Its flavor was refined, rich, and pure—a favorite even among snooty nobles. In short, it was expensive. Insanely expensive.

The sight of countless empty bottles of it rolling around was nothing short of a nightmare.

“Th-this… that’s that super expensive famous wine… right?”

Even Rumia, witnessing it, looked slightly shaken.

“…Oi. How the hell did this happen?”

Feeling the blood drain from his face, Glenn groaned as if squeezing out the words.

All the students suddenly averted their gazes.

“Haha… maybe someone accidentally ordered it, and someone else mistook it for grape juice or something, drank it, got hyped up, and then… kept opening more?”

“Um, can I leave? Like, can I just run away?”

Trying to suppress the sensation of his heart freezing, Glenn counted the empty bottles rolling around.

The conclusion: the bill would likely eat up his special bonus and three months’ worth of his salary. In other words, after all his hard work today, he was breaking even.

He just wanted to cry.

“Damn it! Who the hell chugged all this stupidly expensive stuff?!”

As Glenn trembled, pale and teary-eyed, it happened.

“Sensei~!”

“Whoa!?”

The sudden impact to his side made Glenn stagger, but he barely held his ground.

Looking down, he saw Sistine. Apparently, she’d flung herself at him, practically tackling him in a hug.

“Haha! You’re finally here… Sensei… hehehe…”

She was clearly drunk. Her upturned eyes were glossy, her face flushed red, and her legs seemed unsteady, as she leaned her full weight against Glenn.

“Ugh, you reek of booze! Wait—you’re the culprit, aren’t you, you delinquent?!”

A quick glance around confirmed it: Sistine was the only one who seemed drunk.

Case closed. What a shocking twist.

“Geez… where were you, Sensei…? I… I was so lonely without you… Making a girl wait like that… that’s just cruel…”

“Ugh, enough! Stop clinging to me, stop leaning on me, your face is too close! You’re annoying!”

She was so plastered that lecturing her felt pointless, and it probably wouldn’t even register.

Resigned, Glenn gave up, while Sistine, fueled by the alcohol, only grew clingier.

“I… today… I totally saw you in a new light, Sensei…”

“…Huh?”

“You’re, like… way more aware of us than I thought… I don’t really get it, but… you saved Rumia again, didn’t you…? You know, when you transformed…? I knew it was you from the start… but I played along and pretended not to notice… pretty great of me, huh?”

“…Yeah, sure, you’re great.”

Honestly, Glenn could barely make sense of Sistine’s slurred rambling. It was probably safer to just go along with it.

“Hehe, hehehe! Sensei’s great! So I’m giving you the right to marry Rumia…”

“…Huh?”

“But, like… I’d kinda prefer if you picked me instead… Ugh, why’re you making me say this, you idiot! Hahahahaha!”

She tried to shove Glenn, but the momentum sent her tumbling to the floor instead.

“…You are such a pain.”

Glenn looked down at Sistine, rolling on the floor laughing, with utter exasperation.

“Oi, Rumia. What do we do with her?”

“I’ll get Sistie to a seat for now. She’ll catch a cold if she sleeps on the floor.”

“Alright, I’ll grab some water. You handle her.”

“Got it.”

Nodding, Rumia slipped her arms under Sistine’s sides, who was still curled up on the floor, and helped her up, guiding her to an empty seat.

“…Sensei’s leaving… even though he just got here…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Sensei’s not going anywhere.”

“…Really? Like, really really?”

“Geez, Sistie, you’re such a clingy drunk.”

With their sisterly banter behind him, Glenn headed toward the back of the shop.

The energy of a banquet always fizzles out at some point.

Glenn’s students were no exception.

After the feast.

“Haa… finally quieted down…”

Glenn slumped at the counter, cradling his head and sighing.

He’d sent the students home in groups. The shop, once buzzing with noise, was now eerily silent.

It was past closing time, but the shop’s master had taken pity on Glenn, who’d arrived late. He’d locked up the kitchen, pantry, and liquor shelves but left the place open. He’d even brought out a blanket for the passed-out Sistine.

Glenn was told he could drink a bottle of brandy he’d ordered in a fit of frustration and leave through the back door whenever. That kind of flexibility was unique to a shop in the student district.

Glancing back, Glenn saw Sistine.

She was sprawled over a round table, wrapped in the blanket, breathing softly in her sleep. She seemed to be having a pleasant dream, a faint smile on her face as she slept soundly.

“…Hmph.”

Clink. Glenn rattled the glass in his hand. It was some cheap liquor he didn’t bother remembering the name of, and it wasn’t getting him drunk at all. With the day’s food and drink tab, expenses, and everything else on his mind, it was no wonder.

“…Good work today, Sensei.”

Rumia, who’d been diligently tending to Sistine, returned.

“Mind if I sit here?”

“Go ahead.”

With Glenn’s permission, Rumia perched delicately on the stool to his right.

The soft glow of the lamp on the counter gently illuminated their figures in the dimness.

Considerately, Rumia picked up the bottle in front of Glenn and poured for him as he sipped slowly, brooding.

“Is the liquor good?”

“…Tastes like crap.”

Rumia gave a wry smile at Glenn’s sulky reply.

A quiet, gentle time passed slowly.

It was a soothing moment, easing the frayed nerves from the day’s overwhelming events.

Rumia kept a calm smile, silently keeping Glenn company as he drank into the night.

Eventually.

“So… did you sort things out with your mom at all?”

Tilting back his glass, Glenn muttered softly.

“Yes.”

Rumia smiled brightly.

“After everything, I talked with Mom about a lot of things. All the frustrations I’d been holding onto, everything I’d wanted to say… and somehow, it just felt so refreshing. Haha, I’m such an idiot. Why was I so stubborn about it?”

“…Everyone’s like that.”

Clink.

Glenn swirled the ice in his glass again.

“Everyone’s got something they can’t let go of. Hell, until recently, I was hung up on something stupid too— refusing to move on, just shutting down my brain…”

“Really? But… I only worked through my issues because of you, Sensei.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

Brushing her off, Glenn thrust his empty glass toward Rumia.

With a gentle smile, Rumia poured the amber liquid into it.

And then.

“Hey, Sensei… when did you remember? About saving me… that incident three years ago.”

“…No idea what you’re talking about.”

Glenn, who’d been sipping slowly until now, downed his glass in one gulp.

“A promise.”

Rumia murmured softly, undeterred by Glenn’s dismissal.

Glenn set his empty glass quietly on the counter.

“Back then, I didn’t know what it meant… but I figured something out.”

“…”

In that moment, both of them were thinking back to three years ago. The time when Rumia had been exiled from the royal family, handed off to the Fibel family, and then… kidnapped by vile sorcerers.

—Please. There are still enemies out there. You can’t handle this if you’re like that.

—I don’t care if you’re scared of me or hate me.

—But if you stop crying… I’ll be your ally.

—Even if the whole world turns against you, even if everyone hates you, I’ll always, always* be on your side.*

—Anytime, anywhere, forever and ever.

—So please… don’t cry.

“I never would’ve thought that little trick to get me to stop crying would still hold true. You’re so dutiful, Sensei… or maybe just awkward.”

“…A promise is a promise.”

Glenn turned away, sulking.

“But it’s not as big a deal as you think.”

Propping his cheek on his hand, he clinked his glass again.

“Back when you got caught up in that kidnapping, I was part of a… special unit in the Imperial Court Mage Corps. Your mom—Her Majesty—begged me, tears and all. ‘Please save my daughter. I know I have no right to ask. I know I shouldn’t push such a dangerous task on you. But please, save her.’ So I did. That’s all.”

Yes. The tears of a resolute queen, shed for a daughter sent far away.

That’s why Glenn knew Her Majesty wasn’t lying.

“You seem to have some misunderstanding about me… but it was just a job. I’m no righteous mage, no hero, no nothing. Just a… filthy assassin.”

“Even so.”

Rumia gazed deeply at Glenn’s somber profile and said,

“That promise saved me back then. And this time, too…”

“Is that so?”

“Hehe, you’re kind of sneaky, Sensei… in a lot of ways.”

“Don’t say weird stuff.”

Sighing with exasperation, Glenn poured himself another drink.

And then.

“Hey, Sensei.”

Rumia leaned in close, resting her head gently on Glenn’s shoulder.

“…Rumia?”

Pausing mid-sip, Glenn shot a puzzled glance at Rumia, who was snuggling up to him.

“Just for tonight.”

Softly, with her eyes closed, Rumia whispered.

“Just for tonight… let me be a little spoiled… Sensei…”

“…Do whatever you want.”

A quiet, tender moment flowed by.

The flickering lamp’s flame, the swaying shadows.

The girl’s soft breaths, her gentle warmth. The occasional clink of the glass.

Maybe the liquor was finally hitting him, as a faint warmth and numbness spread through the back of his mind.

It was so comforting… enough to make him feel that everything he’d done today was absolutely worthwhile. A sublime sense of relief enveloped his weary, heavy body.

And so.

The night passed quietly, gently, into the deep—