The Second Farewell
The second farewell had come—the day before Lana was to leave. A whirlwind of emotions swept through my chest, but the one that stood out most was a deep, lingering regret.
Lana was a Saintess. She wasn’t someone you could meet easily. Now that I had been granted the title of Honorary Monk, the chances were slightly better than before, but it was still far from likely. A Saintess’s position left little room for idle time, and more than that… Lana has no particular reason to go out of her way to see me.
In other words, our relationship was simply that of a healer and the one who had been healed. Despite that, we had spent quite a lot of time together, and Lana had shown me a great deal of care. But that had simply happened naturally. It didn’t mean there was anything special between the current me and Lana.
Of course, given her personality, she wouldn’t ignore me entirely. Still, I doubted she would carve out precious time just to meet me. The Church probably wouldn’t look kindly on it either. Which meant that from now on, seeing each other would become incredibly difficult.
So I couldn’t help but feel regret at this parting.
Within that heavy sense of regret, I made up my mind. I should at least give her a proper goodbye.
With that decision, I left the dormitory.
After walking the now-familiar path, I reached the meeting place and found Lana already waiting for me.
“You’re here.”
I was slightly taken aback. “You’re early.”
I hadn’t expected her to be waiting. Until now, I had almost always arrived first. It wasn’t that Lana was ever late—I had simply made a habit of coming a little earlier on purpose. Even today, following that habit, I had arrived quite early, yet she was already here, waiting.
“Were you surprised?” she asked with a smile.
“…Yes. A little.” I nodded honestly.
“Hehe. I’m glad. I was hoping you would be.”
At those words, a warm feeling spread through my chest. They reminded me of the days before my death, when I had been Gunter, living in the forest with Lana and the other children. Though that life hadn’t begun by choice, I still missed those times. The memory alone was enough to fill my heart with warmth.
But it wasn’t only positive emotions that surfaced. Even though I had achieved the outcome I wanted, I was once again reminded that I couldn’t share that joy with her. I found myself gazing at Lana with complicated eyes.
“Actually, there’s another reason too,” she added in a small voice.
“Pardon?”
What did she mean by another reason? Curious, I started to ask, but—
“Well then, shall we begin the treatment?”
Lana smiled gently and changed the subject. It seemed she had no intention of explaining. Since it didn’t seem worth pressing her, I quietly set my curiosity aside, sat down, and let her begin.
Soon, a brilliant light radiated from her hands and enveloped my body. A warm sensation spread through every limb. As I sat within that now-familiar warmth, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
This will be the last time I receive her treatment.
It wasn’t because Lana was leaving the Academy tomorrow. It was simply that this would truly be the final session. Yesterday, she had told me that one more treatment should completely cure my body. So both situationally and practically, this was the end.
The realization brought another wave of deep regret. I was glad I would no longer burden her, yet the sorrow was still overwhelming. After this, it would be very difficult to see Lana again.
Feeling that heavy regret and bitterness, I began to recall everything that had happened since reuniting with her.
There was more than I expected.
Objectively, the time Lana had spent at the Academy hadn’t been all that long. Yet within that short period, so many things had occurred. We had sneaked out together, rumors had spread and earned us the hostility of Ernen and Sebastian, I had nearly been expelled, and then suddenly been appointed an Honorary Monk. In the end, I had even dueled Sebastian—and won.
None of it was something I had anticipated before Lana arrived. Or even after. These were events and accidents that had never existed in my predictions or plans—things I had never even imagined.
Even so, I didn’t view that string of incidents negatively. At the time, I had certainly felt flustered, but the results had brought better outcomes than I could have hoped for. I had been granted a title I had never expected in my wildest dreams, and by defeating Sebastian I had gained enormous rewards.
Those were tremendous benefits on their own, but the greatest gain of all was something else entirely.
The fact that I had been able to heal my body.
In truth, I had wanted to fix this body as quickly as possible. But I couldn’t. The “trace” left in it was far too vicious. It was so severe that I suspected even the few elixirs existing in this world might not be enough to erase it completely. I knew how to obtain an elixir, but I had no way of acquiring one yet. I had been left with nothing but idle frustration.
Then Lana had appeared and healed me. Thanks to her, I had escaped a body that was little better than that of a cripple, and I could now move my plans forward.
After gaining such incredible benefits, how could I possibly view that time negatively?
…No.
Even if my connection with Lana had brought only negative results instead of positive ones, I still wouldn’t have thought of our time together that way. Simply being able to spend time with her was reward enough for me. If the price was a series of incidents and accidents, I could accept them all with a smile.
That was precisely why this parting felt so bitter.
The fact that I had no choice but to part from Lana.
“The treatment is finished.”
Lana’s clear voice pulled me from my thoughts. I naturally shook them off and looked at her.
“The trace has been completely erased. Sir Kyle’s body is now fully healed,” she said with a gentle smile.
“Thank you.” I bowed my head toward her.
“S-Sir Kyle?”
Hearing the surprise in her voice, I continued.
“Thanks to you, Saintess, I was able to heal my body. Without your help, it would have been nearly impossible.”
I might have managed it eventually, but it would have taken a considerable amount of time. Moreover—
“Not only that, but you’ve looked after me in so many other ways. I’ve received a great deal of help from you.”
Because of Lana, I had been appointed an Honorary Monk and, as a result, obtained enormous compensation from Sebastian. I had truly received so much.
“I’m deeply indebted to you for everything. Thank you. I will definitely repay this kindness.”
I spoke from the heart, conveying my sincere gratitude. The promise to repay her was genuine as well.
Of course, I didn’t think Lana would simply accept it. Knowing her as I did, she would probably say she hadn’t done anything extraordinary and that there was no need to repay any debt.
But instead—
“…Hmm. I look forward to it.”
Her response was slightly—no, quite different from what I had expected. I reflexively lifted my head.
Lana was smiling in a way I had rarely seen before, a hint of playful mischief in her expression.
“When we meet next time, may I receive that repayment you mentioned?”
“……!”
My eyes widened. I was surprised. Not only by the fact that Lana had said such a thing, but by what it implied.
She was thinking about a “next time.” She was telling me there would be a next time.
The realization was both astonishing and joyful. Before I knew it, I was smiling.
And so, Lana Flor finally left the Academy.
“Saintess! Please come see us again!”
“We’ll be waiting for you, Saintess!!”
She waved with a smile to those who had come to see her off, then turned and climbed into the carriage. The carriage began to move immediately.
“It’s over.”
Not long after the carriage had begun its journey, Anne, who had been sitting with a consistently indifferent expression, spoke up.
“It is,” Lana replied briefly in agreement.
Anne said nothing more. Instead, she quietly observed the Saintess’s face. It was different from usual. Clear regret was visible on her features.
It wasn’t a fabricated expression. Lana was genuinely feeling regret.
The reason was clear. She had finally found the answer to her question.
Why she had felt interest in that man, Kyle Berwen.
Why she hadn’t felt any rejection toward him.
Why she had instead felt a sense of closeness.
She had discovered the answer.
He resembles him.
Because that man resembled the one who had changed her life. Even though their appearance, voice, and manner of speech were all different, that was how Lana felt.
She had felt it instinctively.
So that was why.
At the same time, she realized why Julia had taken an interest in him and paid him so much attention. It couldn’t have been helped. Julia must have felt something similar to what she had felt.
That was why she felt regret. A new question had arisen, and she wanted to know more. She wanted to find out why she felt he resembled that man.
So she thought to herself—
Again.
Someday, she wanted to return here to meet him once more.
The Saintess’s gaze turned toward the scenery outside the carriage. Her eyes were as soft and beautiful as always, yet they now held a different light.
“…Is that so?”
A woman’s voice echoed through the room. It was a beautiful voice that could captivate anyone who heard it, yet it carried a sharpness far removed from warmth.
“Both Julia and Lana…”
The woman muttered the words as if chewing on them, her displeasure blatantly evident. Then she spoke again.
“…I don’t like it.”
Eyes resembling flickering flames burned with a fierce intensity.