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A huge gate could be seen outside the window. I was certainly stopped there by a robust man. |
Fran-sensei followed my sight and nodded. |
"That's right. The gatekeeper told me when I returned to academy. "A young Witch with ashen hair tried to enter here. She might be a spy from a foreign country." – Is what he said." |
"A spy......" |
That was quite a leap in logic...... |
"I realized it the moment I heard about your characteristics. "Aah, that's undoubtedly Elaina," I thought. I then swiftly went to the gate guard and confirmed whether you had really entered the country." |
We came to the end of a corridor. |
Fran-sensei turned around the corner and went upstairs. I also followed her. |
"There was indeed your name in the country entry records. You came to this country this morning, right?" |
I nodded. |
"......My apprentice came to this country. After realizing that, I couldn't contain myself. So I decided to search for you──by using the students." |
"When I returned to the academy, it was just in time to do extracurricular lessons for just the most prominent students. So, I gave the students the following instructions." |
After climbing the stairs, what appeared was a single door. |
Fran-sensei touched and opened it. Perhaps the fitting was bad as it gave an unpleasant creaking sound. |
"There is a Witch of Ashes in this country. Bring that Witch here without telling her of the circumstances. Or, if you are even able to forcibly drag her here, then I'll raise your grades──" |
"Why did you use such roundabout ways......" |
Wouldn't it be fine if she just normally searched? |
Sensei released a sigh and spoke. |
"Don't you think it's close to impossible to search for you in this vast country by myself?" |
Then, as she stood next to the opened door, |
"Now, come in." |
She said. |
While urged, I passed by her and entered inside |
It appeared to be a room that served as both reception and a study room. |
In the middle of it was a sofa across the table. Opposite of it was a desk, and various documents and books were piled up on it without order. |
I heard the door behind me closing. Again, it was an unpleasant sound. |
"What's wrong? Sit down." Sensei passed before me and went towards the sofa. |
"Ah, okay." |
I sat on the sofa in a way to face Fran-sensei. It was soft. |
"I was really surprised when I discovered that you came to this country, you know? Although I knew that you became a traveler." |
......? Oh? |
"You knew it?" |
“Yes. Of course I knew." |
"I don't believe I've talked with Fran-sensei about becoming a traveler." |
To begin with, I’ve just met her for the first time in several years. |
The people who know about me becoming a traveler only include my parents and the residents of the Peaceful Country of Robetta. Fran-sensei knowing about it is really strange. |
Fran-sensei told to me who was bewildered, |
"Elaina, do you still remember what I told you when the training was over?" |
──Goodbye, Elaina. I will come to visit again someday. Please look forward to it. |
No, well, she certainly said that, but... |
She revealed an impish smile. "I had business so I went to Robetta once more in the year following training. Then, Elaina's parents told me, "She left on a journey"." |
"So you met with mother?" |
"Yes──she was really worried about you. If you pass close to your birthplace, please visit home once." |
"I plan to do so." |
However, I have come quite far from it, so meeting them once more is still a thing of future. |
"Then that's good." |
Then, Fran-sensei paused for a bit, |
"That reminds me, Elaina, why did you think of becoming a traveler? Was it your mother's influence after all?" |
She asked me. |
Why did mother appear here? I inclined my head. |
"No, that's not it...... I read the novel called "Nike's Tales of Adventure" as a child. It had the biggest influence on me." |
"............Oh." Fran-sensei raised her eyebrows just a little, "Hmm...... I see," and started to ponder on something. |
That was a strange reaction. |
"Um, what is it?" |
Fran-sensei shook her head towards my question. |
"No, it's nothing──rather than that, "Nike's Tales of Adventure" was it? You have a nice taste. That book is also my favorite." |
"Ufufu. I have read it so many times that I can recite all five volumes of short stories from my memory." |
I boasted. |
"Oh my. ......By the way, which was your favorite story? My favorite was the last story "Apprentice Witch Foula"." |
"......! That's also my favorite." |
If I remember correctly, that story was about a Witch Nike visiting a certain country and taking an Apprentice Witch girl called Foula as an apprentice and raising her to be a Witch. |
At the end of that story, Nike abandoned her way of life as a Witch spent her life in a rural area as a simple woman. Then, Foula, who had become a Witch, became a new traveler──that was the content of that story. |
"Apprentice Witch Foula, by the way, could be talking about me." |
Fran-sensei said something strange. |
"What are you saying?" |
"Now, I wonder what indeed." Ufufu, Fran-sensei smiled. ""Nike's Tales of Adventure" is a masterpiece, and is greatly popular even in this country." |
"But, it's quite an old novel, right?" |
"Good works live long." |
"......That's true." |
As an old fan, there's nothing as delightful as that. |
If something, personally advertizing "Nike's Tales of Adventure" as a link to my journey might be good. ......It would probably fall into a setback due to budgetary reasons. |
"That reminds me." |
Breaking my thought process, Fran-sensei said abruptly, "Elaina, when do you plan to leave this country?" |
"......I was thinking of departing on the morning the day after tomorrow." |
"Day after tomorrow huh?" |
I can't stay for too long, after all. |
──All the more if Fran-sensei is here. |
"Do you have plans tomorrow? Is there something you have to do?" |
"Tomorrow? No, nothing in particular......" |
"Then, do you have free time?" Fran-sensei nibbled. |
What is it? |
While being slightly in a loss, "Well, I do have...... free time." I replied so. I don't mean that there is nothing to do, but it wouldn't be mistake either to say that I don’t have a free time because I'm just going sightseeing. |
"That's good." |
Fran-sensei smiled. |
"What's the matter?" |
"Well, there's something I want your help with tomorrow." |
"Ah, okay. I don't mind──What is it you need help with?" |
"I want you to help me with guiding the students." |
It sounds somehow suspicious. |
I was told that twice for some reason. |
Super suspicious...... |
After that, we talked about lots of things. We forgot the time and engrossed ourselves in talking. |
It was a talk about various people I met across the journey. The tales of countries I had visited. Tales of some others, even names of some whose I didn't know. |
On and on, our conversation didn't know of interruption. |
How good it would be if time stopped like this? I thought of such thing. However, it seems the fun time passed in the blink of an eye, and before we noticed, the outside darkened as if it was painted over. |
"Oh. It's already this late. Shall we head home for about now?" |
Honestly speaking, I wanted to keep on talking some more. |
"Do you want to stay at my house?" I was invited by Fran-sensei when we got out from the academy building, however I refused. |
Because I'm sure that more I get spoiled by her, the more difficult I would find to return back to journey. |
The parting would become painful. |
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