The Villains I Taught Became Heroes

*

“Well then, I guess I’ll be on my way.”

“Aren’t you going to talk to Lena? That girl really looks up to you…”

Just as she said, Lena was quite dependent on me.

But for the future, and for Lena’s sake, it was better to fix that tendency.

“Ren is strong.”

I said that while still dazed.

Actually, I had noticed Lena pretending to sleep earlier.

How foolish.

If I’m capable enough, I can easily sense the state of my opponent through magic detection.

Not knowing that, she pretended to sleep while eavesdropping on the conversation.

If that’s the case, then I just need to tell her what she wants to hear.

It’s not a lie, after all.

“That kid has never disappointed me.”

“Oh hmmm…”

“It’s always been that way. When she was learning magic, and even in daily life. She may look weak-hearted, but in reality, she has a very strong will.”

“In what way?”

“Even when I suggested running away, she insisted on fighting back.”

“Oh hmmm, I see.”

A smile appeared on Bella’s face.

It seemed she also noticed Lena’s little act.

Being a friend, she understood my intentions and went along with it, which I appreciated.

“Lena will miss you a lot. What do you plan to do about that? No matter how strong you are, you’re still Lena’s precious mentor. If she knows her mentor left without a word, she’ll be heartbroken.”

“It’s fine.”

I approached Lena.

As I got closer, I could see her body stiffen.

I silently chuckled down at her and gently patted her head.

“She will understand.”

Right? She’ll understand, right?

I slowly stroked Lena, who was awkwardly stiff.

It was funny to see her squirm, as if she wanted to get up.

“Are you planning to leave right away?”

“Yeah. For now, I’ll head to Green Hild. After that, I’ll have to move on.”

To reach the Sage’s Tower, I need to travel all the way to the continent’s edge.

There are plenty of places to pass through. Green Hild is just one of them.

“I see. Understood. Take care.”

This kid is still not getting up. I stopped stroking Lena and looked down at her.

“Ren, we will definitely meet again. So don’t be too sad.”

After giving Lena one last gentle pat on the head, I stood up.

Then I handed Bella a letter I had taken out from my belongings.

“And deliver this to Ren too. It’s evidence of her graduation.”

I pulled out a robe from my bag.

It was a Shadow Robe, a high-grade artifact with high magical defense and a special skill called ‘Shadow Evade.’

Seeing its value, Bella looked surprised but nodded willingly.

“Then I’ll be off.”

I waved goodbye to Bella and immediately stepped out of the Ivory Tower.

“Whoa~! Mister! Where are you going?!”

As I exited the tower, I saw Yuria playing with Kanon.

Seeing her cheerful demeanor made me feel relieved.

“Please get along well with Ren.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“I’ve entrusted Ren to Bella. I hope you can help out a little.”

“Oh… well, that’s fine, but what about you?”

“I have things to do. I can’t take Ren with me.”

“You seem awfully serious about something. Hmm… fine. Don’t worry too much. Just do whatever you have to do well!”

Waving at the cool Yuria and Kanon, I moved on.

I hopped onto the portal heading to Green Hild, and as soon as I arrived, I booked a tavern.

The same tavern I stayed at during the magic competition.

I would unload my things, stay for a day, then take a carriage from there.

Just as I was thinking that and came down from my room—

“Hah… Hah… Hah…”

Outside the tavern, I saw Lena, breathing roughly.

“S… Master…”

*

Seeing Lee Hyun get up, Lena couldn’t move.

How could she possibly stop him when he was counting on her like this?

She could only tremble and lay face down, pretending to overlook her master’s departure.

Drip. Tears flowed down.

Even in this situation, she was paralyzed with fear.

She couldn’t say anything out of fear that he might dislike her for asking him not to go.

Shaking with intense self-loathing, Lena cried.

Just then, a warm hand landed on Lena’s back.

“Are you alright?”

“…Sniff.”

“Right now, you could go chase after him.”

Bella, who had deliberately asked where Lee Hyun was going, said gently while patting her.

Receiving that touch, Lena swallowed her tears.

“…W-What if… the master hates me…?”

“Well, I don’t think he’d dislike you just because you’re throwing a tantrum… Ah, how about reading this letter first?”

Lena rose, disheveled. Bella handed over the letter Lee Hyun had left, smiling softly as she wiped Lena’s tear-streaked pretty face.

[To my proud disciple Ren.

It’s a bit embarrassing to write this since we’ve always talked face-to-face.

First of all, congratulations. You receiving this letter means you’ve mastered high-level magic.

All mentors wish for their disciples to surpass them.

And I, too, wish the same.

I hope you surpass me and become a more outstanding magician.

To do that, you must escape from my shadow.

If you’re trapped in my shadow, you’ll never become an excellent magician who surpasses me.

That’s why, it pains me, but I must leave you. I hope you understand that.

Of course, while you grow, I won’t remain idle.

I will also need to grow more to not be ashamed of being your mentor.

So please understand that we must part ways.

Just because there’s a parting, it doesn’t mean it’s a forever goodbye.

People grow through repeated meetings and farewells. We will definitely meet again.

And when we meet again, I hope to see a grown-up you.

Please live happily while I’m gone.

Your proud mentor, Lee Hyun.]

Her hand holding the letter trembled.

Knowing that her mentor thought of her this way filled her heart with both pride and sadness.

Bella, watching her, continued to hold her gentle smile.

“Are you really not going to chase after him?”

“…C-Can I go?”

Can she still meet Lee Hyun now after pretending to be asleep when he left?

“Do you think he’ll dislike you just for that?”

“…Ah, um. No…”

Lee Hyun had said it.

No matter what she did, he wouldn’t dislike her.

Then surely he would understand this much?

With renewed determination, Lena sprang up from her seat and rushed outside.

“Ah?! Lena!”

“Where are you going?”

As she rushed out of the Ivory Tower, she bumped into Yuria and Kanon.

With a frazzled look, Lena urgently pulled Yuria and asked, “M-Master! Have you seen him?!”

“Oh? I saw him earlier.”

“I heard he’s heading toward Green Hild!”

“Thank you so much!”

After a polite bow to them, Lena dashed toward the Dimension Magic Circle.

But just then, she felt a shock.

To use Dimension Magic, one must pay with gold coins.

But how could she manage to pay with not a single coin to her name?

As she panicked, unsure of what to do—

“Oh my?! You’re Ren, right?! What are you doing here?!”

The sharp voice belonged to Rowin from the Blue Academy.

With typical aristocratic mage features, the blonde mage tilted her head in confusion at the nearly crying Lena.

“Um, c-could you lend me some gold coins…?”

“Gold coins? Why…?”

“I-I need to… meet my master…”

“Oh ho ho! If that’s the case, of course I must lend it to you! Hurry, go ahead!”

Not knowing what was going on, but sensing Lena was in a hurry, Rowin thought lending gold coins wasn’t a big deal.

With the coins Rowin provided, Lena paid and safely arrived in Green Hild.

‘W-Will he be there…?’

Desperately racing towards the tavern she previously stayed at in Green Hild, Lena prayed earnestly to the gods, hoping he was there.

When she opened the tavern door, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

Because she spotted Lee Hyun coming down the stairs.

“Oh? Lena.”

Lee Hyun smiled gently as always.

Seeing that smile made her heart flutter with relief.

Lee Hyun quickly rushed over to her, catching her as she slumped to the ground.

“What are you doing sitting here? Get up.”

“I-I can’t… move…”

“Oh dear.”

Lee Hyun chuckled softly as he picked Lena up like a princess.

As Lena’s cheeks turned pink, he placed her down in a chair and started wiping her messy face.

“…You’re so unfair, leaving without saying goodbye…”

“Haha. If I saw you, I felt like my heart would waver even more. But you got the letter, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Couldn’t you at least give me a proper send-off?”

“Um, um…”

“Ren.”

Lee Hyun firmly grasped her hand.

Thump. Her heart skipped a beat.

Her chest raced wildly as she felt his large, warm hand holding hers.

“I have to go.”

“…D-Do you have to… leave?”

Nodding. Lee Hyun’s gaze was steady and resolute.

As if it would break if she tried to challenge it.

Thus, Lena lowered her head.

“Ren. As I said, I want to be a mentor you can be proud of.”

“Y-You’re always someone to be proud of, Master. So… so…”

“You know that’s not the kind of meaning I’m talking about.”

Lee Hyun gently patted Lena’s head.

She knew the truth.

She understood exactly how he felt.

She had always been weak. She had wanted strength to change.

And now, Lee Hyun needed that strength.

She couldn’t just stand in his way.

“Please, send me off with a smile.”

Lee Hyun embraced Lena softly, and in his arms, she quieted down.

After a while, when Lena finally calmed down, Lee Hyun took her hand and headed towards the Ivory Tower’s Dimension Magic Circle.

He never let go of Lena’s hand. As if wanting to feel him just a little longer, she held his hand tightly, glancing at it.

‘Master…’

She always loved how Lee Hyun smiled so gently.

She loved how he was always kind to her.

And she admired his strength, unwavering even against any foe.

‘So… I can’t throw a tantrum anymore…’

“Okay. Now go back. Learn as much as you can from Bella.”

“…Yes.”

“Ren.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll be back.”

With that, Lee Hyun turned around. As she watched him grow farther away, Lena clenched her fists tightly.

He’ll be back.

He said he’ll return to her side.

‘F-For now, I’ll let you go. I-I’m… weak…’

Yes. She had no choice but to let him leave.

Because she was weak.

Weaker than Lee Hyun.

But hadn’t Lee Hyun said?

If she hates being like this, she could just change.

To overcome the part of her that had to let Lee Hyun go, she had to grow stronger.

‘After I gain strength. After we meet again…’

As she watched Lee Hyun grow distant, Lena clenched her hands tighter.

“When we meet again… I will definitely… not let you go.”

*

---