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"How about making it into a sphere to prevent it from breaking easily and attaching it inside a ring or armor? There\'s no need to expose it, right?"

"Aoi... were you a genius all along...?"

While having such conversations, before I knew it, I had mastered most of the magic and magical tools, as well as the chantless techniques that Owen had taught me.

Now, Owen was no longer teaching me, but rather, he was talking to me as if we were conducting magic research together.

One day, as we were sitting in our favorite chairs after dinner, Owen said quietly, "... Twelve years, just twelve years. In that short time, you\'ve made my hundred years your own."

With this murmur, Owen narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance.

"... You can\'t compare it like that. You did research from scratch on your own, while I was just shown the finished results."

I tried to cheer him up, thinking that he might be feeling down, but Owen brought his glass of wine to his lips and swirled it gently.

"It\'s not that I\'m feeling down. I\'m just not having any fun."

"Look, you\'re sulking."

When I pointed it out with a troubled look, Owen snorted and shook his glass lightly.

"You\'re wrong, Aoi. It\'s not fun that your growth has stagnated. If I can keep teaching you new things, how powerful a magician will you become? Maybe you can even master magic in the true sense and reach the Abyss of Magic," Owen said with a hint of excitement.

Abyss of Magic. This was a term that had appeared in grimoires and magical texts since ancient times. It was said that those who mastered magic could fully understand the source of mana, the theories of magic circles, and the chants necessary to use it.

But since no one had ever reached this level, most people thought it was just a fabrication.

However, Owen discovered the possibility of reaching the Abyss of Magic through his research on chantless magic circles.

"The Central Continent is said to be superior to the Western and Eastern Continents in terms of both civilization and magic. It has the world\'s largest magic academy, created jointly by the Six Great Nations of the Central Continent---Fiddiq Magic Academy."

"... What are you talking about? Don\'t tell me I\'m going to that academy...?"

Hearing my question, Owen exhaled through his nose. "Naturally. Teachers and students from many countries gather at the academy from the Six Great Nations. There must be magic that even I don\'t know about yet. In addition, there is active research on magic in the academy, and there\'s even a saying that new magic is born from Fiddiq Academy."

"So, you\'re saying that I still have something to learn there?" I asked to confirm.

Owen nodded slightly. "Whether you\'ll encounter new magic is something you\'ll only find out by going there. Also, at Fiddiq Academy, I have a friend. It should be easy to arrange."

I paused for a moment, taken aback by his words.

Owen tilted his head. "What\'s wrong?"

"... You have a friend...?"

"Are you making fun of me?" Owen\'s face twitched at the question.

"Ah, I\'m sorry. It\'s just that you seem to have been living alone in this forest for thirty years..."

"... Indeed. I\'ve never considered if he\'s still alive. Well, he\'s the type who won\'t die even if you kill him, so he\'s probably fine." Owen sighed with a troubled expression.

"So, what\'s your friend\'s name?"

"Hmm, Glenn. He should be the head of the academy. He\'s a half-elf and around a hundred and thirty years old, so he should still be alive," Owen said casually.

"... The head of the academy... I guess it should be fine. So, I\'ll just ask him and become a student?"

Owen burst out laughing. "What are you saying? It\'s meaningless for you to be a student learning basic magic and its applications. Instead, you should become a teacher, get to know teachers from various countries, and learn the magic they\'re researching on their own."

Owen said that as if it were nothing special, but I frowned.

"Suddenly becoming a teacher?"

Owen closed his eyes for a few seconds in thought and tilted his glass. "It should be fine. You are good at teaching others. Besides, what students learn is the foundation and applications of chanted magic. Since you\'ve already dismantled and analyzed everything related to creating magic circles, that will be too easy for you."

Owen chuckled.

His squinting eyes and shoulder-shaking laughter had a hint of his age.

"... Alright. But how do I get to the academy?" I asked.

Owen answered nonchalantly, "I\'ll guide you to the road. If you head straight out of the forest, you\'ll reach it in about two days. After that, just follow the road."

"On foot?"

"Using flight magic near this forest might attract dragons. Dealing with one won\'t be a problem, but two or three might be tough, even for you. Well, I can handle five with ease, though."

"I didn\'t ask about that,"  I retorted with a flat tone at his casual boast.

Letting out a small sigh, I continued, "So, I\'ll just be walking the entire time after reaching the road? I guess convenient things like teleport magic don\'t exist."

With a sigh mixed with frustration, I mentioned teleporting.

Owen\'s face lit up with sudden realization. "Teleport? Magic for travel? What do you mean? Such magic... no, the possibility is quite high. There\'s magic to create spirits from nothing. When the magic is complete, the spirits disappear... This is similar to summoning spirits from another space and then returning them... So that means..."

He completely switched to researcher mode after my careless remark and already forgot all about me going to the academy.

---

After two days of walking through the forest with breaks in between, we continued heading south after reaching the road.

"This area is full of strong magical creatures and has poor security. We won\'t easily find a regular carriage here."

"Why do you live in such a place?" I asked in disbelief as we continued along the road together.

Whenever magical beasts appeared, we defeated them, and whenever thieves emerged, we drove them away together. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a tough journey, but it wasn\'t too difficult with the two of us walking together.

And so, we arrived at the trading city of Haywood.

The cityscape reminiscent of Eastern Europe was fascinating, and I was moved by seeing the people of another world and their way of life for the first time. Owen\'s house, on the other hand, was so modern that it was less impressive. The fact that Owen himself was a disappointing elf who was obsessed with research and magical tools also played a large part.

"You seem to be thinking something rude."

"It\'s just your imagination."

After that exchange, Owen shrugged and said, "Alright, it\'s time to part ways. There are thirty gold coins and thirty silver coins in this pouch. It\'s enough for you to travel leisurely for a few months. Go to the merchant guild over there and ask to join a group of merchants heading to Fiddiq Academy."

"Are you leaving already? You should stay overnight at least."

"I have a new challenge ahead of me, researching teleport magic---"

"I get it. That\'s enough," I said with a wry smile at Owen\'s typical response and then let my gaze wander for a few seconds.

Owen wasn\'t a parental figure, and it was awkward to call him a friend. The roles of mentor and disciple, or research partners, suited us better.

So, what should I say for our parting words?

"Thank you for everything until now. I\'ll do my best," I said with a smile.

It felt like the most appropriate thing for us.

But Owen nodded expressionlessly and placed his hand on my head. "Thank you too. It may be selfish of me, but I think of you as my only daughter. If anything happens, come back."

These words, spoken in an awkward but sincere voice and demeanor, struck a deep chord within me.

I felt Owen\'s warmth slowly radiating from his palm, and I realized that this was the first time he had patted my head.

Tears welled up in my eyes naturally, and my nose tingled. "I\'ll come back as soon as I gain knowledge that is useful for your research."

"... You fool."

In the end, Owen replied with his usual sarcasm, and that was how we bid farewell.