Epilogue: Until We Meet Again Someday

Thus, the series of disturbances that unexpectedly struck Re=L concluded.

Marianne was urgently arrested for train robbery and kidnapping for profit. The female students who followed her showed traces of having been subjected to brainwashing magic that extremized their thoughts, which allowed for some leniency. They received only temporary suspension and probation.

However, the psychological issues harbored by the female students who sided with Marianne were undeniably real, and the stifling atmosphere pervading the academy’s culture, which contributed to these issues, came under scrutiny due to this incident. Consequently, a new headmaster was dispatched from the capital to address and reform the academy’s insular environment. Everything was set to be resolved amicably.

Of course, some aspects remained unresolved. There was the matter of the “Heaven’s Cross” that Marianne had mentioned.

After the incident, the Ministry of Military Affairs rigorously interrogated and condemned those involved, but top officials in the Ministry of Magic completely denied any connection to Marianne or the existence of the “Heaven’s Cross.” The Imperial Court Mage Corps searched frantically for any trace of the “Heaven’s Cross,” but their efforts ended in vain. Even using confession magic on the now-deranged Marianne yielded no new information to substantiate her claims.

In the end, whether Marianne’s words were true or mere fabrications—

The truth was buried in the darkness.

Nevertheless, it was an undeniable fact that the root of the incident was Re=L’s excessively harsh “expulsion for failure” disposition, which significantly weakened the influence of the anti-military faction within the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy. With Re=L successfully completing her short-term study abroad, the pretext for her “expulsion for failure” vanished.

As a result, Re=L would continue to serve as Rumia’s immediate bodyguard.

And then—

Under a clear, sunny sky.

At the train station within the grounds of St. Lily Magic Girls’ Academy.

With a clatter and puff, a new steam locomotive slowly pulled into the station, its chimney belching smoke. Instantly, the faint smell of coal smoke began to waft through the air.

And in front of the train’s boarding platform… a crowd had gathered.

It was Glenn and the students of Class Moon, Year Two.

Today was the day Glenn and his group would finally return to the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

The students of Class Moon had all turned out to see them off.

“Ugh… Renn-sensei… it’s finally time to say goodbye…”

“Thank you for your hard work. It was a short time, but we’re truly grateful for everything.”

“Hey, Sensei. How do I put it… I’m glad I got to meet you.”

Francine, Ginny, and Colette, representing the female students of the class, took turns shaking Glenn’s hand and offering farewell greetings.

“Sistine and Rumia, too. It was kinda fun going head-to-head with you guys, you know?”

“I suppose we could say the same… or should we?”

“Haha… yeah, we made some wonderful memories too. Thank you.”

Sistine and Rumia smiled brightly.

Though their time together was brief, a genuine bond of friendship had formed between them.

“Sure, we fought a lot, but now that it’s time to part, it feels kind of lonely…”

“Indeed, it does…”

Sistine spoke reflectively, and Francine nodded in agreement.

Then, Colette spoke up.

“Hey, Sistine, Rumia. What if I studied abroad at your school… the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy someday?”

“!”

“I don’t know, I just got curious. I want to see what kind of place it is where you guys and Renn-sensei spend your days.”

“Ohohoho! That’s a brilliant idea for you, Colette! Yes, when that time comes, Ginny and I shall accompany you!”

“Ugh… sounds like a hassle…”

Francine laughed haughtily at Colette’s suggestion, while Ginny muttered expressionlessly.

“Haha! That sounds great!”

“Yeah, we’ll all welcome you when the time comes!”

Sistine and Rumia laughed cheerfully, but…

“And, you know, there’s that…” Colette said, blushing as she clung to Glenn’s left arm…

“If I go to your academy… I could, you know… see Renn-sensei again…?” Francine added, her face flushed red as she clung to Glenn’s right arm…

“I don’t know when it’ll happen, honestly, Sensei…”

“Please, do wait for us…”

“Uh, sure…”

Pressed by the two girls’ fervent advances, Glenn could only twitch his cheek and sweat nervously.

“Haha! On second thought, maybe you shouldn’t come!”

“Yeah, we’ll be sure to scatter salt if you do!”

…For some reason, Sistine and Rumia’s cheerful smiles were utterly terrifying.

“Ha… you guys really never change, do you?”

Ginny, indifferent as ever, shrugged with an exasperated look.

“A-anyway!”

Sensing something fatally dangerous if this continued, Glenn shook off the two girls.

“You guys, I really owe you for everything this time! Thanks!”

“Um… thank you, everyone…”

Re=L, standing behind Glenn as if hiding, muttered her thanks softly.

“I don’t really get it, but… thanks to everyone, it seems I won’t be expelled.”

Glenn placed a hand on Re=L’s head with a gentle pat.

“You did great this time, really. I’m proud of you.”

“Mm…”

Re=L let Glenn ruffle her hair, unresisting.

“I… worked hard so Glenn wouldn’t have to worry…”

Though her eyes were half-closed with sleepiness, Re=L looked somehow deeply pleased.

Seeing Re=L’s quietly content demeanor…

“Hmph…”

The bespectacled girl, Elsa, puffed out her cheeks in displeasure, grabbed Re=L’s arm, and yanked her away from Glenn.

“…Elsa? What’s wrong?”

Re=L blinked at Elsa, who clung to her arm, in confusion.

“…Nothing.”

Elsa’s cheeks flushed faintly as she turned away with a huff.

Then, with a complicated expression, she glared at Glenn…

““……?””

Re=L and Glenn tilted their heads in puzzlement at Elsa’s behavior…

Sistine, Rumia, Francine, Colette, Ginny, and the other surrounding female students, as if sensing something, grinned silently.

And so, time passed quickly, and the moment of parting drew near.

“It’s about time to go… See you guys!”

“Let’s meet again someday!”

“Yes, take care!”

“Stay well!”

With final farewells exchanged…

Glenn and his group picked up their luggage and boarded the train.

“Re=L!”

As Re=L was about to board the train, Elsa called out to her.

Re=L turned her head, and Elsa shouted.

“Thank you, Re=L, truly! I… I’ll get stronger!”

“…Elsa?”

“I’ll get stronger and stronger… so that one day, I can stand side by side with you in battle! So I can protect someone too…! So…!”

To Elsa’s desperate, pleading expression,

Re=L’s lips curved into the faintest smile.

“…I’ll be waiting.”

With those brief, murmured words,

“Let’s… meet again someday, Elsa.”

“…!? …Yes!”

Elsa with tears faintly welling in her eyes, smiled like a sunflower.

—And then.

“…Man, I’ve got a ton of stories to tell now.”

Just as on the journey there, Glenn and his group occupied a private compartment.

Glenn, leaning on his hand by the window, gazed at the pastoral scenery drifting by, muttering to himself.

With a glance, Glenn looked around.

Across from him, Sistine and Rumia sat side by side, leaning on each other’s shoulders, breathing softly in sleep.

And Re=L, curled up in the seat beside Glenn, was fast asleep using his lap as a pillow.

Was she having a pleasant dream, perhaps?

Re=L, sound asleep, wore the faintest smile.

“…You really did great, you know.”

Glenn gently placed a hand on the sleeping Re=L’s head.

“Mm…”

Whether half-asleep or acting unconsciously, Re=L nuzzled her head against Glenn’s hand as she shifted in her sleep.

“Well, then…”

To pass the time until they reached the capital, Glenn pulled a book from his travel bag.

The book, which he hadn’t had the chance to read on the way there, was… The Magician of Melgalius.

“…Not a bad way to spend the time.”

With the pastoral scenery flowing past the window,

Glenn immersed himself in the story for a while.