The Sage that the Sword Saint is Obsessed With

1 – 1. Farewell (1)

1.

Winter has ended.

The warmth of spring begins to color the monochrome world with tender hues.

The ash-gray sky starts mixing with blue energy, and vitality emerges in the dim fields. On the dry trees, small buds have sprouted.

“hehehe.”

Evan let out a youthful laugh, just like spring.

He plucked a white flower and meticulously crafted a flower ring.

His delicate hands, like those of a young girl, skillfully crafted the ring, as if he’d made them more than once or twice.

“…Will she like it?”

With a sly smile, he rose from his spot and walked across the fields.

He ventured into the forest.

Animals that had awakened from their winter slumber, frolicked about.

A tiny squirrel climbed onto his shoulder.

Evan pulled a peanut from his pocket and handed it to the squirrel. As a way to show gratitude, the squirrel rubbed its cheek against Evan’s once before scurrying away with its prize.

It was at that moment.

-Squawk!!

The sound of a scream echoed through the forest, startling the squirrel enough to drop the peanut it was nibbling on and flee.

Evan laughed awkwardly.

“Seems like something flashy is going on again.”

He headed towards the source of the scream.

There was a girl.

A black-haired girl.

She wore leather armor and held an iron sword in her right hand.

Crimson blood dripped down the sapphire blade.

The girl shook off the blood from her sword.

“Weren’t you taking a nap?”

Evan said, laughing as he approached the girl.

“…It wasn’t me; this guy woke me up.”

The girl, Rwen, pointed with her sword to the large beast corpse lying on the ground. It had been cleanly bisected.

Rouen brushed back her flowing hair and looked at Evan.

Her expression, cold as winter even though winter had ended.

It seemed as if her emotions were frozen.

However, Evan knew. It wasn’t that Rouen lacked emotions, but that she was just clumsy at expressing them.

“Are you hungry?”

Rouen nodded her head slightly.

“Let’s eat. I’ll prepare it right away. Can you gather some dry branches for me?”

Rouen nodded again and began to pick up the fallen branches around them.

In the meantime, Evan began to prepare the meal.

He took out the ingredients from his bag.

Potatoes and barely edible-looking lamb.

“…I’ve gathered them all.”

As he prepared the ingredients, Rouen returned with an armful of dry branches.

“Thank you.”

Evan gently stroked Rouen’s head with a faint smile.

Rouen’s cheeks puffed up a little.

It’s a reaction that comes out when she’s in a good mood.

Instead of showing emotions through her expression, she revealed them in this manner.

“Just wait a bit, I’ll make it right away.”

“Okay.”

Rouen sat on a tree stump.

Swinging her legs back and forth, she stared blankly at a butterfly flying in front of her face.

Evan smiled affectionately as he watched her lovely appearance and lit a fire.

He held the wand to the branches.

Fire.

He lit the fire with a low-level magic that any magician could use. The magic might not be very useful in killing magical beasts, but it could be used effectively for things like this.

“Let’s eat!”

They had a late lunch.

The menu was sautéed potatoes and lamb.

Seasoned with salt and pepper, it was simple and savory.

“Is it good?”

Leowen nodded her head.

After finishing their meal quickly, they leaned against a tree to rest.

The spring breeze blew pleasantly.

It was a bit chilly, but refreshing and pleasant.

Evan gently embraced Leowen, who was resting on his chest. He then buried his nose in her forehead and sniffed the scent.

“…Don’t smell.”

Leowen shook her head.

She must smell of sweat since they had been fighting a beast earlier.

“Why? It only smells nice?”

Leowen, who seemed to have given up shaking her head, obediently offered her forehead.

They held hands and playful intertwined fingers.

Tumbling around like they were wrestling.

Then, naturally, their fingers became entwined.

Leowen looked back.

And then.

They gazed into each other’s eyes and shared a light kiss.

These two were lovers.

They had met during their lives as adventurers.

Fate began when Leowen rescued Evan as he was fleeing from a beast.

Leowen surrendered to Evan’s relentless courtship, and now they had formed a party together to solve quests.

“Ah, right. This.”

Evan pulled out a flower ring from his pocket.

“There were pretty dandelions in the field over there. I made this because I thought it would look good on Leowen.”

Leowen’s golden eyes captured the white dandelion flower ring.

“Give me your hand.”

As Evan held his hand out, Leowen placed hers on top of it.

“Next time, I’ll prepare an even prettier ring for you.”

He put the flower ring on her fourth finger.

“It suits you.”

Evan contentedly held Llewelyn’s palm in his hand.

It was rough and had calloused skin.

The hand of an inspector.

Llewelyn gently nibbled on her lower lip.

Her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush.

Despite his gruff exterior, Evan secretly enjoyed such moments.

The two young lovers enjoyed a delightful time amidst the refreshing spring.

Evan pulled Llewelyn closer, embracing her tightly.

Llewelyn, feeling shy, nestled even deeper into Evan’s embrace.

May this moment last forever.

The two prayed together.

2.

“Lately, it seems like the number of monsters has significantly increased.”

Returning to the village after completing a request, Evan exhaled tiredly.

Recently, there had been a surge in requests to subdue monsters.

While it was a good thing for adventurers who earned their living through such requests, the increase in monsters was far from favorable.

Villages under monster attacks had also increased, and adventurers getting injured or killed during monster subjugation due to the monsters turning more aggressive had become more common.

“…If we catch them all, it should be over.”

“Llewelyn is strong.”

“…You’re strong too.”

“Thanks for the compliment, even if it’s just words.”

Although they tackled requests together, Llewelyn handled almost everything.

Llewelyn, skilled with a sword, bravely took down the monsters. No matter how dangerous the monster, it eventually succumbed to her blade.

On the other hand, what about Evan?

Honestly, he could be called a baggage carrier.

Despite being a wizard, he couldn’t use magic properly.

Even lower-level spells had a long casting time, and their effectiveness was truly weak.

During monster subjugation, all Evan could do was cheer for Llewelyn.

“I want to become stronger too.”

Evan spoke as if complaining. While he became a wizard because magic seemed cool, it seemed being a wizard wasn’t his destined path. He couldn’t use even lower-level magic properly.

“I just need to become stronger.”

Leuen spoke calmly.

“I’ll protect you for a lifetime.”

As a man, hearing such words from a woman was embarrassing, but it still felt reassuring and pleasant.

If you’re lovers, you should complement each other’s shortcomings and unite your strengths.

“So, does that mean I have to support Leuen for a lifetime?”

Leuen nodded her head firmly.

Companions for life.

They promised to be together for a lifetime even today.

As soon as they arrived in the village, they headed to the Adventurer’s Union.

“We’ve completed the request to subdue the monsters. Here are the monster crystals.”

After subduing the monsters and extracting the crystals from their bodies, they handed them to the receptionist.

The receptionist checked the crystals and rewarded them. It wasn’t a huge sum, but they earned a decent amount.

“How would you like to proceed with the next request?”

“We’ll take it in two days.”

“Alright.”

There was no need to rush, especially since they received more requests from the Union than as individual adventurers.

Shall they eat something delicious at the inn today?

As they confirmed their reward and prepared to leave the Adventurer’s Union, the receptionist called out.

“Just a moment.”

The receptionist beckoned Evan over.

“This is a letter for Miss Leuen.”

“For Leuen?”

“Yes, it was sent from her hometown.”

Leuen’s hometown.

It was said to be a small village at the southern edge of the empire.

They had once planned to visit it together.

“I’ll make sure to pass it on to Leuen.”

“Yes, please do.”

Having received the letter from the receptionist, Evan left the Adventurer’s Union.

Lewen was waiting outside.

He was chasing a butterfly with his eyes.

His half-opened mouth, smiling faintly, was lovely.

“Did you wait long?”

Lewen shook his head vigorously.

“Here.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a letter from Lewen’s hometown. It came through the Adventurers’ Union.”

Lewen unfolded the letter and read it right away.

“…..”

He silently looked down at the letter.

Lewen’s expression was emotionless as he read the letter.

He didn’t seem happy, nor did he seem upset.

“What’s it about?”

Evan tried to sneak a peek at the letter.

“…Nothing.”

Lewen immediately folded the letter and put it in his pocket.

“Just a greeting.”

“Really?”

“Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”

Lewen turned towards the inn.

His steps seemed a little hurried.

“Are you really hungry?”

Evan followed him closely.

They ordered expensive food with their compensation from today.

It was roasted pork leg, which Lewen loved.

They also ordered a few pints of ale.

Evan wasn’t good at drinking, but Lewen loved alcohol. He drank well, too.

“Cheers!”

They divided the glass and enjoyed a pleasant evening meal.

Evan chattered, and Llewelyn listened attentively.

Oh, how they wished such simple happiness could last forever.

But…

Nothing lasts forever in this world.

Everything must come to an end.

And the end always comes suddenly.