"Your request has been approved."
Those few words were enough to drag me back to reality.
Yes... I had sent a request to Captain Shin, asking for permission to enter the Fairy Realm. There was only one reason behind it.
I wanted to see her again.
Not as a contractor.
Not because of duty.
Not because of fate.
I simply wanted to stand before Bell once more... and finally say the words I couldn't bring myself to say back then.
The moment Gray finished speaking, my eyes widened. Every sleepy thought disappeared from my mind. I immediately got dressed, grabbed my coat, and headed for the door without wasting another second.
"...Where are you going without eating anything?"
Makima's gentle voice stopped me.
I turned around.
She stood near the dining table, worry visible across her face. It wasn't the kind of concern someone showed out of politeness. She genuinely cared whether I was taking care of myself or not.
I smiled faintly.
"To HQ."
She waited for me to continue.
"There is something I left unfinished... and it's time I deal with it."
For a brief moment, her fingers tightened around the edge of the chair. It was a tiny movement, almost impossible to notice unless someone was paying attention.
After remaining silent for a second, she smiled.
"Then come back safely."
Her voice softened.
"And next time... bring your students too. I want to meet them."
A warm smile naturally appeared on my face.
"Okay."
"I promise I'll bring them."
With those words, Gray and I left the house.
The headquarters was as lively as ever, but Captain Shin wasn't inside his office.
One of the staff members informed us that he was in the garden.
So we headed there.
The garden behind HQ was surprisingly peaceful. Flowers bloomed around a stone pathway while the morning breeze carried their scent through the air. Under the shade of a large tree sat Captain Shin...
...and Lusy.
The two were quietly talking over tea.
I still had absolutely no idea what their relationship actually was.
Friends?
Old companions?
Something more?
Honestly...
I wasn't brave enough to ask.
As we approached, both of them noticed us.
Lusy's eyes landed on me first.
For some reason...
She looked worried.
"So..."
she spoke gently,
"You really intend to go to the Fairy Realm?"
I nodded.
She sighed before continuing.
"Just so you know..."
"It's nothing like what you've imagined."
Before I could answer, Gray suddenly slapped his forehead.
"Oh... I forgot something."
Without another word, he turned around and hurried back toward the building, leaving only the three of us in the quiet garden.
I looked back at Lusy.
"Good morning."
She returned the greeting with a small nod.
"As for the Fairy Realm..."
I took a slow breath.
"I don't care how they see creators."
"I don't care what kind of place it really is."
"I don't even care if everyone there hates us."
"The only person I care about..."
"...is Bell."
My voice never shook.
"She proved that she's worth risking everything for."
"So I'm going there."
"...to make a contract with her again."
Silence settled over the garden.
Neither Lusy nor Shin interrupted me.
Captain Shin eventually crossed his arms before speaking.
"The problem isn't whether you want to go."
"It's that entering the Fairy Realm isn't something anyone can do whenever they feel like it."
"There are rules."
"Old agreements."
"Restrictions made by the rulers of both realms."
He looked toward the sky.
"Only during certain events are creators allowed to enter."
"And..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It seems fate has chosen an interesting time for you."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"The Fairy Realm will soon hold one of its greatest events."
"...The Battle of the Exil Tree."
For the first time, genuine curiosity appeared inside me.
Lusy continued where Shin stopped.
"Only three events allow creators to enter the Fairy Realm."
"This tournament is one of them."
"It's held once every several years."
"Everyone competes."
"The strongest gather beneath the Exil Tree."
She smiled mischievously.
"If you manage to reach the Top Nine..."
"You'll receive a special reward."
She paused dramatically before laughing.
"What reward?"
"No spoilers."
I couldn't help but sigh.
That was a cruel way to end an explanation.
Still...
A tournament.
A chance to enter the Fairy Realm legally.
A chance to meet Bell.
That alone was enough.
"I'll participate."
There wasn't even a moment of hesitation.
Captain Shin nodded.
"Very well."
"We'll contact you once preparations are complete."
For now...
All I could do was wait.
And while waiting...
I had students to train.
Days quietly passed.
Their growth had become visible.
Clay's reactions had become much sharper.
Hussen's sword strikes carried far more weight than before.
Only Nihara remained the same.
Or perhaps...
She was the only one I couldn't understand.
Every reincarnated person inherited abilities depending on the world they originally came from.
Some worlds revolved around systems.
Others around magic.
Some relied on martial arts...
Others on spirits...
Every creator's world followed different laws.
Because Clay, Hussen and Nihara had each reincarnated from completely different worlds...
Their powers developed differently.
Clay possessed an ability naturally suited for combat.
Hussen's talent enhanced his physical fighting style.
But Nihara...
Nothing.
No matter what we tested...
Nothing appeared.
The only clue I had was the world she had come from.
It contained both warriors and magicians.
Meaning...
Somewhere inside her...
An ability definitely existed.
Then why wasn't it awakening?
Eventually...
I reached one conclusion.
She wasn't afraid of failing.
She was afraid of succeeding.
If her power turned out to be magical...
She would most likely have to study under someone like Lusy.
Someone who understood magic.
Not me.
Maybe...
She simply didn't want to leave.
I couldn't force her.
All I could do...
...was hope that when the truth finally appeared...
It would lead her somewhere she truly wished to go.
Several more days later...
Training finally reached a point where everyone looked exhausted.
The three of them collapsed beneath the shade of a large tree after today's session.
Clay looked half dead.
Nihara somehow looked even deader.
Hussen simply stared at the sky while silently catching his breath.
I looked at all three of them before speaking.
"I've decided..."
"I'm giving everyone tomorrow off."
For a split second...
Silence.
Then suddenly...
Clay and Nihara almost jumped to their feet.
Their eyes sparkled with life.
A second ago they looked like walking corpses.
Now they looked ready to celebrate a national holiday.
Only Hussen frowned slightly.
Apparently...
He wasn't very fond of breaks.
Watching the other two happily discuss their plans made me smile.
"...Actually."
"I'll be visiting my master's house tomorrow."
I looked at them.
"Would any of you like to come?"
"Someone there wants to meet all of you."
The conversation stopped immediately.
"Yes!"
Clay and Nihara answered together without even thinking.
Looks like they were just as curious about Master Ben as I had expected.
Hussen quietly stood up and began walking away.
I scratched my cheek.
"...You can come too."
"If you want."
Without replying...
He simply continued walking.
Honestly...
I still had no idea how to deal with someone like him.
The next morning arrived.
Clay was already waiting before I got there.
He had actually styled his hair.
He even wore surprisingly decent clothes.
Not long after...
Nihara came running.
Her hair had been neatly tied up.
She wore a beautiful dress instead of her usual training clothes.
For a second...
I genuinely wondered if we were attending someone's wedding instead of visiting my master.
Only one person was missing.
Hussen.
I glanced toward the road.
Nothing.
After waiting several minutes, I was about to leave.
Then Clay quietly stopped me.
"...Can we wait a little longer?"
"I asked him yesterday..."
"...to come with us."
I froze.
I hadn't realized Clay cared that much about Hussen.
A few moments later...
Footsteps echoed from the road.
Hussen finally appeared.
He looked annoyed.
Probably because everyone had waited for him.
Still...
He came.
That alone was enough.
Without wasting any more time...
The four of us began walking toward Master's house.