Chapter 338
Chapter 338
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 338
>Chapter Title: The Most Precious Thing
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They wouldn't be able to attend the graduation ceremony together.
At that realization, Evelyn's lips quivered.
‘……So soon?’
It was an unexpected turn of events. She had naturally assumed the four of them would make it to graduation.
“So…… when do you have to leave?”
Chenbi pondered the timing in response to Evelyn's question. When would be the best time to depart from the academy?
“Probably next week at the latest.”
“Next…… week?”
“Yeah, I need to see my family too. And there's a bunch of preparations to handle. Time might be a bit tight.”
“Oh…….”
Evelyn let out a faint sigh.
The farewell had crept up on them.
Only now did it truly sink in.
And perhaps because of that?
Evelyn narrowed her eyes against the stinging in them.
To be honest, it felt too sudden.
For some reason, she had taken it so much for granted. That their parting would come at graduation.
So, she had even made secret plans.
What if they all went on a short trip together during break, if schedules aligned?
It had been wonderful. Last year's trip. The sea they had all gazed at together. And that sea breeze.
Lately, she hadn't even shown up at the academy, buried in work, all for that reason. To make memories with everyone.
But the farewell came sooner than expected, and Evelyn couldn't hide her regret.
And she wasn't the only one feeling it.
“So soon?”
“Yeah, a bit sudden, huh?”
Damian looked unusually downcast.
After all, he had assumed the four of them would stick together until graduation.
With Damian sinking into gloom too, the atmosphere—which had been buzzing with excitement just moments ago—plunged into a heavy pall.
It was clearly good news, yet they couldn't bring themselves to celebrate fully.
“Haha…….”
Chenbi gave an awkward smile at his two dejected friends, and that was when Aster stepped in.
Snap!
A crisp snapping sound rang out.
“Ow!”
Evelyn clutched her forehead and yelped. Aster had flicked her.
The quick-witted Damian had already stepped back a pace, and Aster shot him a regretful glance before shaking his head.
“Why'd you hit me?!”
“Who's to say? Anyone would think Chenbi's off to die or something.”
On a day like this, why were they all moping around like that?
Well, he could understand.
Even for Aster, this parting felt abrupt.
But no matter how rattled they were, on a good day like this? Leaving the star of the show in such a bind?
“Regret's regret, but this is still a happy occasion. Right?”
“……Y-Yeah?”
Evelyn, about to snap back, missed her chance and nodded along. Damian switched gears even faster.
“Evelyn, you can't put Chenbi in a tough spot.”
“I-I…….”
He played dumb but always wriggled out somehow. One day, he'd make him pay for it.
But such petty thoughts were fleeting.
‘Whew.’
Evelyn sighed and composed herself.
As Aster said, today was a good day.
Just as things settled down,
“Thanks, everyone. But that's why I was thinking…….”
Chenbi spoke up.
“How about we make a time capsule today?”
Of course, no one objected.
* * *
The four left the cafeteria and went to gather items for the time capsule.
Aster arrived at the meeting spot first and sat on the bench, checking his prepared items.
“Let's see…….”
Three letter envelopes. And three gifts.
Nothing missing.
Just to be sure, he checked the contents of each envelope. Fortunately, no pages were missing.
He placed the three letters and gifts into a small box.
Then Aster leaned back leisurely on the bench and gazed up at the sky.
‘Good thing I prepared ahead.’
He had agonized over it plenty.
What to write in the letters. What gifts to choose.
The letters had been especially tough.
‘……Not like I've ever written any before.’
He wrote the first line, erased it…… repeated that countless times. The discarded drafts alone could fill a book.
Fortunately, he managed to finish them, completing all three just a few days ago.
But honestly.
This was embarrassing.
Still, wait.
‘I bet I'm not the only one feeling that way?’
They were probably all the same.
Damian was a question mark, though.
So he imagined it.
Ten years from now.
When the four gathered again, how to make it the most fun.
The answer came quickly.
‘Read them aloud.’
Unfold the letter addressed to me, read every word, clear and deliberate.
They'd love that for sure.
What? You think the others would just sit there if I did?
I've taken it myself—I know a solid hit to the solar plexus makes talking tough. And I know how to land one hard.
The problem was Damian……
‘……His growth lately has been insane.’
Look at earlier.
He tried to flick him just like Evelyn, but somehow he sensed it like a ghost and dodged.
This went beyond quick reflexes—it meant his senses had sharpened tremendously.
Anyway, lost in such trivial thoughts, how long had he sat there?
In the distance, the silhouette of idiot No. 2, Chenbi, appeared.
“You're here?”
“Surprising.”
“What is?”
Chenbi replied calmly.
“Thought you'd be the last one.”
“…….”
“Kidding.”
Didn't sound like a joke at all.
Normally, he'd test if it was a joke with his fists, but today was Chenbi's day. He'd let it slide.
By the way.
“That it?”
“Yeah.”
Chenbi held a box at least twice the size of Aster's.
What kind of gift required a box that big?
“Curious?”
“Wanna see?”
“Nah. We're opening the gifts in ten years, remember?”
“True.”
Letters and gift openings—in ten years.
That was the deal.
No fun spoiling it early.
“But man, it's really coming down.”
“Yeah.”
At Chenbi's words, Aster looked up at the sky again.
The light snow had turned into a blizzard. Like a hole ripped open in the heavens.
As Aster watched the flurry, Chenbi brushed snow off the bench beside him and sat.
Snow piled softly on their heads, but they sat still, as if oblivious to it.
A brief silence.
Chenbi spoke first.
“Feels…… bittersweet.”
“Why.”
“Just, feels like it's really the end.”
“Bad vibe?”
“No, good. The Valpukart Society…… honestly didn't expect it. Even with Sir Tohoman's recommendation, my grades weren't great.”
“Not bad at all.”
“Thanks.”
Chenbi chuckled ‘haha’ and continued.
“Turns out the training method Sir Tohoman taught was Valpukart's core theory. That helped a ton.”
“Oh, really?”
“Not that interested?”
Chenbi grinned and glanced at Aster before looking back up. Snow fell, but odd mana flows scattered the flakes.
Another brief silence.
Chenbi spoke again.
“Aster.”
“Yeah.”
“I'm grateful.”
“……Huh?”
“Feels like it's thanks to you.”
Chenbi recalled his first meeting with Aster long ago.
So much had happened it could have faded, but that day's memory was vivid as yesterday.
- Hey. You're Aster, right?
- And?
- I'm Chenbi. You're famous. Heard you made the Doranpega second son kneel?
Looking back, what courage.
Daring to talk to this hot-tempered guy. A friend of the Blandoga young patriarch, no less.
“Wonder what I was thinking, talking to you like that.”
“…….”
“Oh, not an insult.”
Chenbi clarified. Surprisingly, Aster didn't mind. He was reminiscing too.
“Good call starting that conversation. Honestly, uh. At first, I just did it 'cause I had no one to hang with…… but now, feels like the best thing I did at the academy.”
He never imagined back then.
That he'd get this close to these friends he started hanging with just to avoid being alone.
So much happened after.
- ……Uh, Aster?
- What the hell is this? Hold on. Let's do intros after I handle this.
The Trial Chamber incident.
“Seriously thought I was done for.”
He still couldn't forget that back then. Probably never would.
Of course, not all good memories.
“The Damian model student project…… that was brutal for me. Thought I'd lose my mind.”
“…….”
“But you bailed before interpersonal combat training.”
How much he cursed then.
He still carried those letters in his subspace. Pulled them out when things got tough, reliving that misery.
And endured by remembering it.
……If I survived that……
It worked surprisingly well.
And after that.
“Damian's birthday, right?”
“First year?”
“That was fun too.”
Probably when Aster first decked him.
Never dreamed a prank would earn such a punch……
Anyway.
Plenty more fun times after.
Baharmut.
‘That one…… really thought I was dead.’
Learning Damian had kidnapped him? Not that shocking.
Just Damian being Damian.
A bit mad, but still a memory.
Thanks to it……
[Contractor, you seem happy.]
‘……Yeah, I am.’
He met his good friend Gaius.
Gaius, drained from Baharmut, started moving properly soon after.
So, parting with friends wouldn't feel so lonely.
Anyway.
Cocarta and the coastal regions were great too.
Truly……
Beyond big events, every little academy moment was a treasure.
Like these snowflakes.
Each insignificant alone, but piled up, a heap of joy.
Savoring memories, Chenbi smiled at Aster.
“Thanks.”
He meant it.
All his joyful academy memories started that day he spoke to Aster.
……Those times that could have been just hardship became joy because of that day.
“These three years…… I'll never forget them.”
They'd come to mind in tough times.
When he wanted to collapse, these memories would reach out. Get up. You have plenty of good ones.
Three years at the academy.
Among what Chenbi gained, the Jenion Academy diploma, the tie to the Blandoga young patriarch, the Valpukart Society job—none of it.
Just……
Aster.
Damian.
Evelyn.
Memories with his three friends.
So, Chenbi could only say it once more.
“Thanks.”
……This was Aster's second farewell.