Chapter 482: Tie Loose Ends

The sound of a brush precisely inscribing on the dirt echoed in Azalia's chamber. Occasionally the sound would stop as Ed needed to get a second opinion but otherwise runes were being drawn fluidly.

Immersed in the runes, its shapes, and the new knowledge that Azalia was helping him figure out and understand on his own, time passed hastily and before Ed knew it, the array was done.

[Single Source Tree Sustaining Array]

{ An array made by the elf Ed that maintains a tree at a peak healthy state or aids in its initial growth }

"This is different from what I first wanted but…" With the help of Azalia, the array became something that fit the divine tree's needs. Ed had no complaints about this adjustment since in the end, the goal was to help her.

'Azalia, do you remember the elves that existed here before?' Ed asked the tree through the link. The array was almost too good, he was starting to think the elves must have constructed something similar before.

'Yes!' Azalia responded, she knew the answer to this question!

'Did they make an array like this before?' Ed asked planning to probe further into the divine tree's wealth of knowledge.

'Hmm…' Azalia seemed to be thinking, Ed expected her to ponder on it for a good minute but not even a second later...

'Nope!' Ed got back a blunt reply. But he wasn't disappointed, he formed a new conjecture instead.

'So they investigated how to create one, right?' If they were merely performing experiments then it made sense that there were no remnants at the tree's base. They most likely did not get to finalize the design.

The odd part was that looking at the array as a whole, Ed believed it to actually be rather simple to make.

'No!' The tree responded causing Ed's pensive posture to falter.

"What!?" Ed did not at all expect this response. As usual, he thought too highly of his conjectures.

'Then…' How!?! Ed wanted to ask Azalia how she as a tree could know so much on their own but after taking another look at the array he stopped.

'You can't see me' Ed declared. He was not making any motion with his hands when he made this declaration yet his confidence in it suggested a deeper meaning.

'I can!' Ed nearly choked when he heard this. There was something wrong here!

'What do I look like then!? What color am I!?' How was it possible for all of his confident guesses to be wrong.

'...color?' The tree was finally confused by the inquiry. Ed formed a wide smile when he heard this.

"I knew it!" The tree couldn't see, or more specifically it couldn't see in a normal sense.

'This has to be something like my sixth sense' But given that the tree could help him with his array it was most likely some sort of mana or energy sense. With such a sense the divine tree would still be able to provide him help.

'What Azalia did was correct me when the array's flow would be irregular' The rune he drew at the time must have been drawn poorly or displaced in a manner that would affect the array's potential effectiveness. If Azalia could see the subtle flow of the inactive array she would feel the need to point it out thanks to their link.

It was that or she was disgusted by Ed's ineptitude but giving Azalia's innocence she probably didn't feel insulted by his sloppy penmanship.

'At least I hope so…' Ed's ego would take a hit otherwise. A hit from a tree…

[Recalling Champion's Soul]

'Huh!? I haven't activated the array-!' Before Ed could protest his thoughts grew distant and his body flopped to the ground, it was as if his bones suddenly turned to spaghetti.

The desperate cries of the divine tree never entered Ed's ears as his mind was being moved to a more distant place, the dungeon space.

By the time he awoke, he was greeted by the usual darkness and a ten-minute timer. All Ed had to do now was wait patiently.

'I hope I can meet W soon' The dungeon may or may not grant him that wish.

***

In Arbor Town's freedom union branch, Jasmine had been overcome by a hidden sense of unease. As Samuel's secretary, she was well aware that something in Samuel had changed ever since his return from the capital.

While the change was not negative, she felt as though she was about to lose something important.

It was early afternoon, Jasmine decided to check on Samuel as a result of her worries. She opened Samuel's office and was welcomed by the sound of meticulous scribbling. It was evident that Samuel was putting great care into whatever he was writing.

"Sir…" Jasmine said in a low voice. Samuel instantly looked up, he looked very casual.

"What is it?" He asked curiously. But before Jasmine had a chance to answer Samuel appeared to have made some sort of decision and sped up his writing.

"If you are busy then…" Jasmine could tell Samuel wouldn't giver her his full attention under this circumstance.

"No worries, I'm almost done" Samuel said quickly before finishing his writing and promptly sealing the letter in an envelope.

"See? It was quick" Samuel said before then gesturing the letter towards Jasmine. She struggled at the door for a brief second as she made her decision but she entered and grabbed the letter.

Against her usual code of conduct, she looked at the address on the letter's envelope. It was addressed to the freedom union's headquarters.

"But aren't headquarters in the capital…?" Jasmine blurted out confused.

Samuel didn't chastise her for reading the address considering he didn't intend to hide it. He also had no problems speaking about the contents of the letter if the conversation ended up going in that direction.

"Yes, the headquarters building has probably been destroyed but… it doesn't matter" The boss of the branch, Richard, was still alive and someone would deliver him the letter Samuel was sure of that.

Even while visiting Pith Samuel did not once visit the freedom union's headquarters, his relationship with them was cold. As for branch managers outside the capital... They had nothing to talk about either and henceforth, Samuel would have no reason to even cross paths with anyone from the union again.

"I'm resigning, they can sort that out themselves" Samuel didn't know when the freedom union  would manage to process his resignation, what he cared about was leaving this job.

Samuel was not the type to hold grudges but his enmity with the freedom union ran a bit deeper than even he cared to admit. The main reason why he felt so strongly about this now was probably because of a sense of liberation.

His goal of helping reduce the mortality rates of adventurers as well as increase their education levels was previously reliant on the freedom union. Now however he could establish an academy and work towards that goal without interruption.

Samuel's goal sounded quite lofty, and it felt equally insurmountable. But Samuel was not the type to back down, he fought a dragon! Why would he be scared of creating an academy?

While Samuel's thoughts ran free, Jasmine was frozen stiff from shock. Her expression was priceless but she managed to regain her wits after a couple more seconds. She noticed the subtle smile Samuel held as he thought about leaving and felt deeply pained.

He was moving on.

"Sir… What will you do then?" Jasmine said hoping to maybe follow Samuel on his next adventurer.

Unfortunately for her, Samuel saw right through this, and he didn't just frown in response. He became angry.

"I won't tell you" Samuel stood up and said sternly.

"What why!?! I'm just hoping I can help-" Jasmine said becoming somewhat defensive. She was just a woman full of goodwill, what was there to get angry about?

"I don't want to hurt you but… It's getting ridiculous" It was fine to want to remain by his side but what if he said he would be staying at home? Would Jasmine move in with him? Samuel's wife would not take to that kindly.

"I am married, I have a son, my life's set. I don't mind being friends but… you have to let go of this obsession" Samuel didn't even know what he did to reserve such nice treatment from Jasmine.

"I- I'm not obsessed! I just care for you Samuel!" Jasmine said refusing to acknowledge Samuel's words.

"Jas…" Samuel said with a pained expression. He wanted to find the right words but none came to mind.

"I am building an academy, I will use it to help people just like those we met in our adventuring days" Samuel and Jasmine went through a lot of struggles together, and through these struggles they met many people.

"That's good I can still be your-!" Jasmine now knew why she had been uneasy and she also now knew she was being stupid but…! She couldn't lose Samuel like this… 

Otherwise, what would be the point of her staying by his side up to this point? Wouldn't she be admitting to having wasted her years?

"I am hoping you can help me, but not at the academy. I recommended you to take over this branch in the resignation letter. You can help me know what's going on here" Poaching talented adventurers would be easy thanks to the class system but it was still good to have some insider. Talent alone was not enough to become a great figure.

"Also, I hope you try to live without me for a little while" Samuel wanted to start a new phase of his life. For this new beginning, he needed to tie up loose ends. 

Truthfully as Samuel was painfully aware of Jasmine's feelings he always felt secretly uncomfortable. He had to feign nonchalance however as he was afraid to offend this childhood buddy of his.

Jasmine did not respond this time, she could find comfort in the idea of at least helping Samuel. Plus, maybe she did need the distance to clear her head.

"I'll try that…" She would try to live without her guiding beacon for the first time.