Chapter 446.3, The Philosopher’s Students Scenes 5, 6, 7 (Split Part 3/4)

Chapter 446.3, The Philosopher’s Students Scenes 5, 6, 7 (Split Part 3/4)

“Wait, for real!? You two barely talked to each other for five whole years!?”

“Yeah, and whenever he does, his eyes’d sparkle and he’d shout my name at the top of his lungs...”

“Oh, Master Tūs, you exaggerate. Surely my voice was never THAT loud...”

Melchi, Tūs, and Gaspard were having a casual chat over a meal — and by ‘meal,’ it was mostly just unseasoned herbs wrapped around other wild plants, meat, or even monster parts.

“Just look, Mel — He acts all high and mighty when he talks to you, yeah? But whenever he’s with me, he’s like this — all prim and proper. I can’t tell which one is the real Gaspard anymore...”

By this point, not only Gaspard, but also Tūs, had started calling Melchi ‘Mel.’

In response to Tūs’ comment, Gaspard spoke with a somewhat exasperated tone,

“I’m still learning from you, Master Tūs, so it’s only natural to be humble. Mel, don’t waste the food. Finish them.”

“Nahahaha! It’s like you’ve turned into a different person between sentences!”

Melchi tossed the leftover monster meat up into the air and effortlessly caught it with her mouth.

“Well, I guess many people in this world have two sides to them. I remember one of the Holy Warriors was like that, too.”

“Ohh! Please, I’d like to hear about them in detail–“

“–Naaahhh, it’s a pain in the ass.”

Her enthusiasm promptly deflated, Melchi slumped her shoulders.

Wild thoughts swirled in Gaspard’s mind as he listened intently to Tūs.

[The Holy Warriors — as far as I know, they were a trio that each possessed a special title — one a Hero, one a Fighter, and one a Mage. The power one can gain from those titles must be incredible...!]Vissit novelbin(.)c.om for updates

Tūs did not fail to notice the passionate look in Gaspard’s eyes.

[Loos like Gaspard’s desire for power is stronger than ever... I should be careful when he has that look. Mel will be a good friend to keep him in check, though. Well, maybe I don’t really have to think about this too hard...]

Tūs was half concerned, half hopeful. And indeed, Melchi’s presence had helped alleviate Gaspard’s desires. The fact that the three of them had been able to live together out in the wilderness for over a decade was in part thanks to her being here.

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“...Ngh.”

A gigantic boar was on its knees.

This boar was none other than Bull, a fearsome monster known as the King Happy Killer, and the Familiar of Tūs.

As Bull wore an exhausted expression and closed his eyes, Tūs’ first ever student stood before him.

“You knocked me down despite being lower than level 100... Now that’s what I call strong...”

“It’s not just about levels and numbers, you see — since I have tools like magic and magecraft, I won’t be beaten by a Familiar who’s only good at blasting breath attacks.”

“Heh, you’ve grown quite audacious, Gaspard.”

Bull shot Gaspard a menacing glare, but the latter had already turned his back to him, instead gazing calmly at his mentor — Tūs, who stood some distance away.

[Maybe Tūs was right... He’s dangerous...]

“Huh!? Why!?”

“Some time ago, Master Tūs told me about a magecraft that allows one to raise their level above 100. It’s an art long lost to time, apparently. Maybe he won’t ever find it even if he searches every corner of this world...”

“And you’re gonna go look for it anyway!? Well, I’mma come with–“

“–No.”

Gaspard’s words sounded as if they were meant to restrain Melchi.

She intended to argue against it, but the look in Gaspard’s eyes would not allow it.

“Now, MELCHI, it’s not like you’re totally powerless. I just think you’ll be in the way.”

While Gaspard had made sarcastic comments in the past, this time his words were far worse than that. They were merciless, rejecting every aspect of Melchi’s existence.

Without saying another word, Gaspard vanished into thin air, leaving behind everything — Melchi, Tūs, and the Far East Wasteland...

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“I don’t get what he’s even trying to do!”

“I should be the one saying that, you little hag!”

“What?! I’m still in my forties, dammit!”

“Yeah, and a human’s average lifespan is 50 years! That makes you OLD!”

“That’s ancient history! It was true a long time ago — before YOU were born — but not anymore!”

“You must’ve lived a long time to know that! HAHAHA!”

“What the hell!? While we’re doing this, Gaspard is getting farther away!”

“Oops, my bad! I should have killed him!”

“Are you seriously saying that!?”

“HELL YEAH!!”

Despite Tūs’ confident stance, Melchi confronted her without backing down. She was deeply concerned about Gaspard’s well-being, and Tūs shared her worry in his own way.

[Tch... I was wrong about Gaspard. I thought he’d stop if I explained my point to him, but he’s too passionate to keep under control. Maybe he concealed it from me and Melchi, and has actually been this power hungry from the beginning... Playing nice and cozying up to me and Melchi while honing his claws? No, he started showing a different side of him after he met Melchi. What has he been hiding? He’s been saying some nonsense about eliminating conflict from the world, but is THAT what he actually wants? No, back when he said that, his eyes were pure. That was no lie. But, wait...]

Toos, feeling increasingly uneasy about Gaspard’s words, turned to look at his second student, who had been glaring at him this whole time.

“...You know what? I’ll let you leave here — Go to the Regalia region and gather as much info on Gaspard as you can.”

“YEAAAHHH! NOW we’re talkin’!”

Tūs’ concern eventually turned into reality.

Gaspard was continuously improving himself by traveling to various places and absorbing pure and impure arcane energy.

However, the Far East Wasteland was never a place where one could gather information. It was a place practically sealed off from the rest of the world.

As someone who had lived a life akin to beasts and monsters, Melchi could not gather information efficiently. By the time she finally obtained a lead in one place, Gaspard had already moved to somewhere else.

Nevertheless, Tūs trusted Melchi to keep her promise and return with information, so he decided that from then on, he would send Melchi to the places where information on Gaspard’s whereabouts could be found.