Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Divorce
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It was Kailin, my childhood friend and wife, whom I was seeing after such a long time.
Our eyes met briefly, but there was nothing special about it.
She didn't say a word to me.
'What a letdown.'
I hadn't been expecting anything in particular, but her utterly bland reaction left me feeling a bit off.
I figured she'd at least say something, but she didn't utter a peep.
Of course, she might not have even noticed me.
In any case, my brief reunion with my childhood friend ended on a terribly anticlimactic note.
'They're drawing a magic circle in the church to search for spirits, right?'
The people from the Magic Tower seemed incredibly busy.
Including Kailin, the three of them headed straight for the church.
After meeting with Levia and exchanging some words, they started drawing the magic circle.
Is that the magic circle for finding spirits?
Levia had told me about it.
They planned to activate it near the church.
To search for any spirits that might be in the area.
'It won't work anyway.'
Of course, that plan was doomed to fail.
The reason was simple.
They never found any in the original story either.
'If it had worked, the original story would've had spirits from the get-go, right?'
Even by the original story's standards, spirits never showed themselves once.
The Magic Tower had been searching tirelessly, but there was never any word of success.
They were just a MacGuffin-like existence. No way drawing that circle would summon one.
'What a pointless waste of time.'
Yet watching them diligently draw the magic circle in pursuit of something that might not even exist was just pitiful.
Abandoning their child to chase after a spirit that may or may not appear.
Maybe that's why she dumped the kid on me and ran off.
I let out a sigh and headed home.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Once I got home, I immediately started looking after Eleana.
Levia usually takes care of her, but she looked swamped with the Magic Tower mages right now.
So it fell to me.
Still, playing with my daughter after so long was incredibly fun.
"Ah-ba."
"Say 'daddy.' Daddy."
"Ah-ba."
Just then, Eleana, nestled in my arms, looked up at me.
How could she be so bright already? It's only been a short time since she was born.
Even her baby talk of "daddy" brought a strange smile to my face.
"Ha. My little girl. You're so cute."
"Wa?"
And her looks were already unbearably adorable.
She'll probably grow up to be a stunning beauty.
I doubt she'll ever be looked down on for her appearance.
But that's what worries me.
"She takes after Kailin, so she'll grow up pretty, no doubt."
With a mother like that, Eleana was bound to inherit Kailin's beauty.
But I hope she doesn't take after her in anything else.
"Eleana. Promise you won't turn out like your mom."
"Ah."
"If anything, take after Levia."
She really shouldn't end up like Kailin.
I hoped she'd become like Levia, who was always there taking care of her.
Of course, Eleana couldn't understand a word I was saying.
As I spent this joyful time with Eleana, thoughts of Kailin inevitably crept in.
"Hey, Eleana. Do you think your mom will come back?"
"Waa."
With Kailin in the village right now, she could drop by this house anytime.
I might even be waiting for her here at home without realizing it.
"Levia said to wait it out, and that's what I'm doing, but honestly, I have no idea."
Of course, I knew the chances of Kailin returning were slim to none.
If she were coming back, she never would've left in the first place.
And I wasn't joking when I said I knew what kind of person she was.
Still, Levia had told me she wouldn't have forgotten the child.
I'm just taking her word for it, like a fool clinging to hope.
"Your mom probably won't come back, huh?"
But Kailin was Kailin, through and through.
No matter how long I waited, there was no sign of her.
She'd probably forgotten all about the kid and was busy scribbling away at that pointless magic circle.
"Daddy's giving up on Mommy."
I'm done hoping.
Even the tiniest flicker of optimism I'd held onto vanished.
It felt like I'd finally shaken off any lingering attachment to Kailin.
'I wanted her to come back for the child's sake, at least.'
Truth be told, I'd thought that if Kailin returned, I'd take her back.
She'd irresponsibly dumped the baby on me and left, and I still couldn't forgive that.
But the child's perspective was different.
No matter how hard I tried, a mother's presence was crucial for a child's emotional development.
Even if I hated Kailin, even if I despised her.
For the child's sake, I wished she'd at least play the role of a mother.
That's why I couldn't let go completely.
"But it's okay, Eleana. Even without a mom, Daddy will do double duty. Grow up well, okay?"
I can't keep clinging to someone who won't come back.
I'll just have to try my best.
Gazing at the now-sleeping Eleana, I resolved to do everything for my daughter's sake.
'Let's give it our best shot.'
It'll work out somehow, right?
Lots of kids grow up fine without a mom.
If I put in maximum effort, it'll be okay.
Just as I was steeling my resolve again...
Something completely unexpected happened.
Knock knock.
"Davian? You there?"
A voice came from outside the door.
An all-too-familiar voice.
I knew exactly who it was just from the sound.
It was Kailin.
"What the...?"
Kailin had come?
That Kailin?
It was truly unbelievable.
Is this for real?
Just moments ago, I'd been convinced she'd never show up here.
She's an incredibly selfish person.
But here she was.
Unbelievable as it was, it was fact.
Thoroughly flustered, I composed myself and opened the door.
"Kailin?"
"Long time no see, Davian."
And there she was, my childhood friend, greeting me calmly as she looked at me.
It felt like I was seeing her anew somehow.
With my heart pounding, I faced Kailin.
And we started talking.
"What brings you here?"
"I figured if I came to this village, I'd need to talk to you at least once."
"Talk?"
"Yeah. I have something to say to you. I'm super busy right now, but I made time."
Kailin said she had something to tell me.
What could it be?
What was so important she'd abandon the magic circle drawing to come here?
'No way...?'
Could I dare to hope?
It felt like the hope I'd extinguished was reigniting from a single ember.
Maybe Kailin had been thinking about the child deep down?
Even if she couldn't give up her dreams, maybe she came to take some responsibility as a parent?
I'd thought there was no chance she'd do that, so now I was filled with considerable expectation.
What would Kailin say to me?
Brimming with anticipation, I waited for her words.
And that anticipation shattered into nothing.
"Davian. Thinking about it, there's something we should've done all this time but haven't."
"What's that?"
"Divorce."
Kailin was the same as ever.
The reason she'd come here wasn't anything else.
It was divorce.
"Let's get divorced. Being married isn't good for a mage's reputation. It's seen as lingering attachment to worldly affairs. It'll probably hinder my path to becoming a great mage."
Kailin, thinking only of herself.
The purpose of this divorce was simply to get one step closer to her dreams.
Nothing else mattered to her.
"So, divorce me. You don't have any reason to stay married either, right?"
"..."
Kailin demanded a divorce.
Looking at her, I felt utterly drained.
I thought I'd given up hope.
But I'd harbored it unconsciously again.
I knew she wouldn't, yet I kept hoping. Why?
'What a profound disappointment.'
This time, I'm making it final.
No more hoping.
One last question for her.
"... Is that all you had to say?"
"Huh? Yeah. Why?"
I asked her with a cynical tone.
Nothing else?
Kailin looked at me like she had no idea what I meant.
"Aren't you going to ask about the child?"
I said it more directly.
Ask about the child you gave birth to.
"Not curious if she's eating well? If she's healthy?"
I asked again, saying even something trivial would do—didn't she want to know anything?
Hearing me, Kailin stared blankly for a moment.
"Oh... that? You still have that?"
She finally seemed to remember.