"Why did you co back so late? I sll smoke on you. Did sothing happen?"
Leon asked as soon as Kael stepped into the house. He had no idea how Leon had known he was back, but the hero had been fast enough to co and get him before anyone else could.
The hero was looking at Kael with a look that asked, What did you do this ti? and it felt unfair.
’Hey, shouldn’t I be the one with that look on my face? I am the teacher and the older one in this relationship.’
"Tsk, forget it. I doubt you will tell us what happened even if we keep bugging you. Co inside for now and take a bath. Dinner is ready, so co down and eat as soon as you can."
Leon was faster than Kael could keep track of. One second he was asking Kael questions, and the next he had gone back inside.
Kael could only blink and sigh as he followed after the hero. He put Lyra down and decided to use magic to clean himself up.
Lyra gave him a look for his laziness, and Kael felt like he had to instantly defend his choices.
"As much as I want to take a bath, it is going to waste ti. Magic is much more convenient. And does it really matter whether I take a bath or not as long as I am clean?"
The judgntal look did not go away, and Kael decided it would be better for his ntal health to pretend he did not notice.
Everyone else was already sitting at the table, and Seraphina was bringing out the food from the kitchen. It looked good, and it tasted good as well.
He took a few enjoyable bites before he got grilled by Leon.
"So, care to tell us where you were the whole day? You said you would be back in a few hours. Did...sothing happen?"
Leon sounded worried, and Kael imdiately answered him.
"I decided to take care of a pest before it could trouble us. It just took so ti because Lyra kept getting distracted during our task. It’s nothing to worry about."
Kael assured the trio, but their expressions kept telling him that they did not believe him.
Moreover, he was even getting dirty looks from Lyra for using her na without permission. But Kael kept a smile on his face, showing that it did not bother him one bit.
"I see. Can’t you tell us more-"
"Leon, I think that is enough. If Kael says it’s nothing important, then it likely is nothing important. Let’s learn to trust him a little, alright?"
Seraphina asked in a low voice. Was it Kael’s imagination, or did she sound a little authoritative as well?
Even Leon noticed the mood Seraphina was in and dropped the topic.
There was only one person who said nothing, and that was Iris. She seed lost in her own thoughts while eating.
It was not Kael’s style to call out people who were thinking, but sothing about the look on Iris’s face made his instincts react.
He had seen that detached look on his patients’ faces before. It was the look of soone being consud by their thoughts, and not in a good way.
So he imdiately called out to her to make sure she was fine.
"Iris, is everything alright? If sothing is bothering you, then we can talk about it."
Kael spoke to Iris, and she imdiately looked at him with a shocked expression on her face.
"I...it’s nothing like that. I was just a little lost in my thoughts. I was actually planning what to teach Leon next. He is learning everything I teach him too fast, so I need to keep up as his teacher. After all, that’s what I promised you."
Iris was speaking too fast, but her words were at least clear enough for Kael to understand.
He blinked at her, and it took him a few seconds to realize what she was saying. But once he understood her worries, he realized that Iris was doing her best not to burden him.
"I see. I don’t think it is sothing you need to worry about. Isn’t it a good thing that Leon is learning things quickly? This way, you can finish your side of the contract sooner and beco free as well."
Iris’s face fell slightly, and her eyes wavered. She slowly nodded, but sothing still seed to be bothering her.
Kael was about to ask what was wrong, but Leon decided to speak up and grab his attention instead.
"Actually, I think I am ready for field training now. I have gotten the basics down, but there is only so much I can do through practice alone. I want to gain real experience fighting monsters as soon as possible."
Leon sounded determined, and Kael was surprised by this.
The Leon he rembered had been a shy person who would never have made such a request. In fact, it had taken him two years under his previous teacher to even consider going out to hunt monsters. And that had only happened after Kael brought it up first.
But this Leon was taking the initiative himself, which showed that he was much more confident and comfortable around Kael.
Sohow, it was a bittersweet feeling mixed with a hint of regret.
’Is this how Leon would have turned out if I had paid attention to him as a teacher before?...Not that I can do much to change the past. I will just have to make sure I take care of him during this life.’
Kael let out a sigh and turned toward Iris. She was Leon’s teacher as well and a better judge of his progress.
"Iris, what do you think? Should we let Leon try slaying monsters now? You have been training him, so I will listen to whatever decision you make."
Kael gave Iris authority over the matter, and she hesitated before looking at Leon.
"I...think it should be alright for him to start hunting monsters. Honestly, he has progressed to the point where it would be better for him to gain experience than to continue practicing."
Then it was decided. Leon would go on his first monster hunt.
"Uhm...Can I participate as well? I was reading about the saintess’s duties, and it says that one of them is monster purification. I know I am not at the sa level as Leon, but I can practice as well."
Seraphina interrupted, not wanting to be left behind, and Kael agreed to bring her along as well.
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