Leaving the House

I sat beside mom as we both listened to the sound of the river as it flows continuously without end. After a while, I broke the silence as I asked.

"Can I ask you something?"

"W-What is it?"

I then looked towards her straight in the eye, and spoke.

"Tell me what happened during the past four years." I asked.

That's right. This conversation wasn't about me, this was about her. And whether she tells or not was entirely up to her.

"Will you listen?" Mom suddenly asked.

"Of course I would. That's exactly why I asked."

She paused. It seems she's trying to recall her past. After a while of thinking, she started her tale.

"It happened four years ago. That time, I knew and admired the existence of those who Tread the Path.

"That day, as I was walking back from the nearby forest, I met Randel. He told me I had talent in the Path that his Sect Treaded, so he asked me to accept him as my master.

"Of course, I wanted to live longer and gain power. I mean, who doesn't? So I accepted. Even though I knew I was leaving you and your father behind, I still followed him.

"And so I trained under his guidance, and managed to touch upon the First Wall within three years. However, master told me I was still ineligible to break through the Second Step, so I trained for a year, but even so, it was still not enough, so master decided we wander the lands. And that's basically it."

I see. Selfishness and ambition. How really human of her. However...

"Then...do you regret leaving?" I asked. It was a crucial question.

"If I say no, will you be angry?"

"Nope."

"Then no."

"I see."

'Then I'm relieved.' I added in my mind.

If by chance she had answered yes, or gave even the slightest of implications, I would have destroyed her path right here. The power she gained from regret would only be a curse and a shackle that would bind her from turning back. That's why I was relieved. At least she was doing things of her free will.

"Lancell."

"Hm?"

"How's the village?"

"Terrible. They're in the worst situation. They've got no carpenters, no experience tailor, barely any capable men left, and most of the survivors are children."

"Who's leading them?"

"The gate guard."

"That coward?"

"Well, at least he survived."

The village had no chances of surviving. In their current state, they aren't capable enough for self sustenance, so their only choice is to migrate into another place, but the monsters would kill them even before they reach their destination.

Although I could save them if I lead them, I had no intention of wasting time and carrying useless baggage. Besides, I've seen countless villages get wiped out, heck I even saw the world get wiped out, so this doesn't even bother me.

"Lancell." Mom suddenly called out.

"What's wrong?"

"Take Lina with you."

"I already tried. She refused."

"Then tell her your secret."

"No."

Mom went silent at my refusal. I refuse to carry baggage as I was already struggling by myself just to get stronger, what more if I carry baggage.

"Let's go back now. It's getting late." I said as I stood.

"I'll stay here for a while. You go ahead first."

"Alright. See you tomorrow."

I waved a hand as I returned to the house.

...

"Hey, Randel! Teach me the secrets of the Ancients already!" I yelled as I barged again for who knows how many times it was now.

It was a week after that talk with mom, but everything just went back to where it began. Aside from mom having improved in teaching, Randel just kept playing mysterious as always, and mom was still awkward.

Seriously, this two are birds of a feather, in ways of their own.

As for my demand, it was met with the same answer as always.

"No. Not yet."

"Then when?!"

He just smiled at my question. This damn manwoman...

"Screw this. I'm leaving."

"Oh? You think a disciple can leave just because he wants to?"

"And who exactly is the disciple here?! I'm the one doing all of the teaching! Heck! I even started correcting master's deficiencies in mana control!"

"You taught her on your own accord, so it has nothing to do with me."

"And I quit being a disciple, so it doesn't concern me anymore.

And so, I moved towards the door, but Randel stopped me.

"Wait."

"What?!"

"Leave the Guidance Tomes you have."

"I don't have any copies."

"Then write it down."

"Don't wanna."

Randel's eyes narrowed in my provocation. I knew he was interested in the Guidance Tomes, but he can just eat shit. I won't hand in any.

"You done now? I'm leaving." I said as I turned to leave.

Surprisingly, Randel didn't stop me and let me go. Guess he wasn't a bad guy after all.

...

"Now where the hell am I?"

It was several hours later, and I was walking in some plains of sorts. I didn't recognize this place, so I didn't know where to go.

I just kept walking without regard to what direction I was walking to. Well, I wish myself luck.

...

Another day later.

"Yep, I think I can recognize this place."

I was now seeing a somewhat familiar sight of trees. However, the trees were not standing as the entire forest was cleaved in the middle.

I entered the forest, which was now a large mountain of literal trees, and saw two Murder Troll Kings that were cleanly cut across their abdomen.

"Damn it, joking, he says. Everything that comes out of his mouth is just bullshit."

Randel said he didn't touch the Troll Kings, and yet this happened. Well, at least the cores were intact.

I then went and dug the cores from their hardy chest. It was the size of a baby's fist. And from the mana I am sensing inside, it looks like I could absorb these to break through Level 30. Levelling up sure was a chore.

I put the cores in the bag I grabbed from Randel's house, and then searched for a place to stay.

I'd been lazing around for the past two weeks, and I can't afford to waste anymore time. So I needed to level up.