The Sage that the Sword Saint is Obsessed With

16 – 4. Reunion (4)

1.

The knightly order that returned victorious from the battlefield held a feast until late at night.

Evan stood a few steps away, sipping his drink and observing the joy of the feast.

Naturally, Evan couldn’t blend into that atmosphere.

He wasn’t the type to exchange drinks with strangers or become close with them.

He didn’t want to join in the laughter and chatter between them.

After all, he would leave this place in six months.

These were faces he would never see again.

So, it would be enough to maintain a proper distance and deal with them in a businesslike manner.

Even though they fought together on the battlefield for six months, was it necessary to exchange words?

He thought about it and abandoned the idea.

He was reluctant to give affection to others.

Because he had once been deeply hurt.

Since then, it became difficult for him to open his heart to someone.

It was the same in the Tower of the Sage.

Even with the maid, Crona, who always took care of him to the point of being annoying, there had never been a friendly conversation.

“How was your day today?”

Not once had he asked such a casual greeting.

It was the same with the sage.

The relationship between the teacher and the student was not close.

They referred to each other as “mentor” and maintained a certain distance. Apart from conversations about magic, they did not engage in personal discussions. If the sage asked a question, the student would simply provide an answer.

There’s a saying that wounds inflicted by humans should be healed by humans…

But for Evan, it wasn’t that easy.

-Jeobak

As he returned to his room and contemplated sleep, Evan felt a stealthy presence approaching from behind, like a cat burglar.

Evan turned around.

“…Uh!”

The woman, who had been quietly and sneakily approaching as if she had not expected him to turn around, trembled and huddled her shoulders as if protectively.

“…”

Evan immediately put on a polite expression upon seeing Ruen.

She was an unwanted guest.

Just when he was starting to feel somewhat intoxicated from the alcohol he had consumed, he suddenly snapped back to his senses.

If he had been in a corner, it was unlikely that she would have just happened to pass by. She must have come to him on her own.

“W-well…”

Ruen, with food in her hands, stammered and hesitated as if she had something she wanted to say.

Time had passed indeed.

She had never been this cowardly in character before.

If she had something to say, she would have said it boldly in the past.

The Ruen that Evan remembered was emotionally restrained and cold.

“Hmm…”

Evan breathed out through his nose.

He had nothing to say and nothing he wanted to say.

Performing a slight bow, Evan changed his stride.

“Ah…”

Ruen let out a small sigh.

What is she trying to accomplish now, at this point?

You can’t pick up spilled water.

Since she thought they would never meet again, she had not even imagined regretting her own mistakes and continuing on.

But now that they had met again, selfish thoughts kept coming up to her mind.

“Can I never start again?”

She knew how severe her actions towards him had been.

It was tearing apart his pride.

Yet, resisting the urge to hold his hand again and run her fingers through his hair was difficult.

I know it’s selfish…!

Trying to reconcile after selfishly parting is even more selfish.

Truly the worst.

Doing that would be like rubbing it in his face once more.

Nevertheless…

Nevertheless…

Levyn had never once forgotten Evan.

She tried to forget, but it was impossible.

Even in this moment, she longed for him, holding him within her heart.

She doesn’t want to return to being lovers.

…It would be better if she didn’t.

At least through this chance, she wants to apologize to Evan.

She’s already being punished.

Every time Evan grimaced at her or ignored her, her heart clenched.

It’s a pain she must endure.

She really wants to apologize.

If she misses this chance, who knows when another will come.

It might never come.

Thinking about apologizing and imagining Evan’s reaction makes her breathless, but compared to the hurt she caused him, it’s a small price.

“Hey, wait…!”

Levyn called out to Evan.

He paused on his way back to his quarters.

Just for a moment.

Ignoring her, Evan continued on his path.

“Just a moment…!”

Summoning her courage, Levyn called out to Evan once more.

He squeezed his throat, struggling to produce a voice.

“This, this, this…!”

Leuen stopped once again and hurriedly approached Evan, extending the food he held in his hand.

Evan, glancing back, looked down at Leuen with a cold expression.

Leuen bowed her head deeply.

Then, with trembling arms, she reached out further.

“I, I heard you didn’t eat dinner… so, this…”

When you think back, even during their moments of love, you realize how selfish you were.

Always on the receiving end from Evan.

Was there ever a time when she took care of him first?

There wasn’t.

This was the first time.

“…”

Evan left without a word.

Leuen bowed her head deeply, biting her lower lip painfully.

The aftermath of foolishness was now beginning to sweep over her.

The rough storm violently swirled Leuen’s heart.

Her eyes became warm.

It felt like tears were about to come out.

But she couldn’t cry. More precisely, she didn’t even have the right to cry.

2.

The next day.

Evan tossed and turned as he woke up.

“Ha…”

He hadn’t slept a wink last night.

Part of it was because of the changed sleeping arrangement, but the main reason was undoubtedly Leuen.

What the heck?

He recalls her actions.

Her pitiful appearance, hunching her shoulders and trembling like a soaked puppy as she extended the food.

He couldn’t understand the meaning behind that behavior.

Could it be that she wants to apologize?

He doesn’t think so.

Even as she ruthlessly poured out cruel words, saying things like, “Let’s never see each other again,” does she now have a reason to apologize?

Evan is convinced. Leven hates himself.

So, it’s probably not of her own will that she’s apologizing.

Distinguishing between duty and personal feelings.

Anyway, for the next six months, they’ll have to face the battlefield together, so he thinks she’s being kind to him despite the awkwardness.

It’s understandable to feel embarrassed.

After all, it’s a situation where she, who abandoned him, is now seeking help from him.

How could that not be embarrassing?

It might even be shameful.

Anyway, without such a reason, there was no way to explain Leven’s actions.

Evan picked up the bottle of liquor at the head of the bed.

The brown liquid sloshed around.

To soothe the stifling feeling inside, he gulped down the alcohol.

The hot liquid burned his esophagus and went straight into his stomach.

“Phew….”

He let out the stifled feeling in the heat of the alcohol.

He could have quit relying on alcohol.

But since yesterday, he kept thinking about it.

Evan put on his robe and prepared to leave.

There’s a meeting scheduled for the morning.

It’s not about the battle but a gathering with the leaders of the knighthood.

Naturally, he’ll meet her too, won’t he…?

He doesn’t want to.

He doesn’t want to see her face.

He doesn’t want to hear her voice.

Just like she felt that way, Evan does too.

“Ugh… damn….”

Distinguishing between duty and personal feelings.

Due to his own emotions, he couldn’t neglect the mission.

Evan heaved his heavy body and donned his robe.

The knock came then.

– Knock, knock.

At the cautious knocking sound, Evan frowned from his face.

Although he hadn’t confirmed who knocked on the door yet, the first image that came to his mind was Llewelyn’s, because of course it was.

Evan swung the door wide open.

“Surprise!”

As the door swung open, the woman who had been about to knock again jumped back in surprise.

But she wasn’t the one Evan had expected.

“Why did you open the door so forcefully?”

A woman with her hair tied back.

Neatly dressed, standing with a poised posture.

A face Evan had seen while watching the party yesterday.

A woman who, with a smiling face, sipped on her drink while watching the members chatting and laughing. The woman who was more fitting to the image of a commander than the other.

“…What is it?”

“What’s the matter with people?”

Not that kind of talk.

“Nice to meet you.”

The woman extended her hand.

“Not the commander… the vice-commander, Karen.”

Evan shook hands and lightly exchanged greetings.

“I’m Evan. So, what brings you here so early in the morning?”

There was still an hour until the scheduled meeting time.

“Oh, well… I just came to check if you were awake. You might not have gotten up in case you drank too much last night.”

Although it seemed like she was making up her words as she spoke, Evan let it slide.

“Yes, I’m up.”

And then followed the silence.

Standing awkwardly as if they had nothing to say to each other.

“Oh, right!”