“So, it’s really true?”
Noa explained how to cure her half-sister, Rudine Arpen, who had become a shell of her former self due to magic overload.
Ulan had acquired the healing potion recipe from Diplyn’s lab, and they gathered the ingredients in the capital.
After the tale came to a close, her golden eyes shimmered with shock. It was a story she never expected, a long-awaited wish suddenly resurfacing, and she stammered,
“R-really?”
“Yep. Here’s the recipe too.”
To ensure she wouldn’t doubt, he handed her the recipe, written in Diplyn’s handwriting.
“So the healing potion really exists…”
Words failed her as she was momentarily speechless.
But the silence didn’t last long.
Once she grasped that the recipe was genuine, it became clear what she had to do next.
A little while later, Helena and the maids showed up with a bundle of medicinal herbs. They had all the ingredients they needed. There was no reason to hesitate anymore.
“I’ll help too.”
Noa also pitched in, ready to lend a hand.
As the two girls immersed themselves in crafting the potion, Ulan stood back watching the scene unfold.
Growwwl!
A thunderous growl echoed from his stomach. He wanted to shove something down his throat immediately, but the tense atmosphere didn’t allow for such casual remarks.
‘Right now, their work is what’s important.’
After all, this was a moment where Delia’s long-held wish might finally come true. Even Ulan, who usually had his head buried in thoughts, was aware of that.
So, he decided to wait a little longer.
As he patted his growling stomach, someone spoke up suddenly.
“Um…”
A brown-haired maid approached. It was Helena, who had brought the herbs as per Delia’s orders. She quickly handed him a large basket.
“Would you like to have this?”
“What is this…?”
“Just some plain sandwiches.”
When she lifted the cloth covering the basket, about a dozen sandwiches came into view. While it wasn’t a feast, it was enough to satisfy his hunger.
“For me?”
“You look really hungry.”
“Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
As soon as Ulan nodded appreciatively, he dove into the sandwiches.
Munch munch! Nom nom!
He devoured them voraciously, and before long, the basket was empty.
“Wow, you really eat a lot.”
Ulan polished off the meal, leaving Helena stunned.
“Should I get more?”
“Feel free to bring more.”
Shortly after his request, two baskets of the same size appeared in front of him. Ulan cleaned them out in no time.
Eventually, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Finally, he felt a bit full.
Once Ulan finished eating, Helena, who had been quietly watching him, approached with careful steps.
“You said you’re a friend of the princess?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, may I ask how life at the Academy is? I haven’t heard anything for the past six months, so I was curious.”
Having received the sandwiches, he figured it was only polite to share.
Nodding without hesitation, Ulan started recounting tales about Delia.
From the first time they met to recent events. Helena listened in fascination, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
“Oh, so besides the two of you, does the princess have other friends at the Academy?”
“Yes.”
“Really? How many?”
Her astounded eyes twinkled like stars.
Faced with such clear anticipation, Ulan began to think of those who could be considered Delia’s friends.
‘Ivella, Laurea, and Ian.’
Though it was still awkward calling them friends, they would eventually stand together against the Abyss. So, he figured it counted.
“F-five?!”
Helena looked shocked, as if she’d just heard something outrageous.
With a blank expression for a moment, she then bombarded Ulan with a flurry of questions.
Ulan answered calmly, and before long, time flew by.
“Oh no, I’m asking too many questions, aren’t I?”
That’s when Helena’s expression changed to one of realization.
She lowered her head, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry. I’ve been taking care of the princess since she was little, and I guess I worry a lot.”
Ulan watched her awkward smile and suddenly recalled something that struck him.
A memory from his past life.
Delia once said that up until she met Ulan and the other heroes, there were only two people she could genuinely trust and rely on.
One was her half-sister, Rudine Arpen.
The other was her devoted maid since childhood.
‘So this must be…’
This must be the maid Delia referred to.
Ulan shook his head slightly.
“Feel free to ask me anything else.”
“Really?”
“I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”
He looked at Noa and Delia.
Their potion-making job showed no signs of ending.
With nothing else to wait for, Ulan decided to keep chatting with Helena.
So they exchanged plenty of words.
Helena wanted to hear about Delia’s friends, and Ulan responded with what he knew.
After a considerable amount of time passed, when their conversation was almost winding down, Helena appeared much lighter.
All the questions she had seemed to have been satisfied.
“Oh, can I ask just one more?”
“Still curious?”
“Just for the last time.”
Helena scratched her cheek sheepishly as if preparing to ask something serious.
“What is your relationship with the princess, Ulan?”
“I told you, we are comrades.”
“Is that all?”
“That’s it.”
Ulan nodded firmly.
Meanwhile, Helena frowned, clearly skeptical. After a moment’s contemplation, she posed her next question.
“So, you’re not in a special relationship?”
“Special relationship?”
“…Your reaction suggests otherwise.”
Helena sighed, a bit exasperated by it all. She muttered while glancing toward where Delia was.
“Well, the princess has no experience in that area, so I guess I’ll have to help a bit.”
An utterly cryptic comment.
While Ulan tilted his head in confusion, Noa stifled a yawn, stretching out her limbs.
With a look of fulfillment on her face.
“Is it done?”
“Yes, it’s complete.”
After an exhausting half day, they finally completed the potion.
The remedy would restore her twisted blood vessels and allow her magic to flow once more.
“Let’s go.”
With the potion finished, there was only one thing left to do. Ulan proceeded to lead Noa and Delia towards the north of the castle, the very tower where Rudine Arpen was imprisoned.
4.
The northern tower of Arpen Royal Castle.
This had originally been the accommodation for the caretakers of the Royal Cemetery. However, with the cemetery expanding, new accommodations arose, leaving the tower vacant.
Before her imprisonment, Rudine Arpen, the ninth princess of Arpen Duchy, had lived there.
Thud thud!
As they ascended the long staircase, the only people they encountered since arriving at the tower were the nursemaid and a few maids. Just six guards patrolled the place.
This was when they fully realized how Rudine was treated.
“…”
As Ulan suppressed his anger over this treatment, they finally reached their destination.
At the top of the long staircase, Delia reached out and gently knocked on the door.
Knock knock!
As the door opened, the scene inside the room came into view.
There was an old bed and a small desk. Delia’s gaze shifted to the girl lying on the bed.
“…Rudine.”
A painfully thin blonde girl.
At fourteen years old, her frail and weak appearance was hard to believe, making Delia bite her lips hard.
Yet, her anger was fleeting.
Regaining her composure, she carefully arranged the stargazer flowers into a vase and placed it by the window.
To let them grow bathed in moonlight.
“Sister, I’m here. Have you been well?”
As expected, there was no response.
Rudine lay there unconscious. Still, Delia didn’t let that stop her from speaking.
After quite some time passed, Delia finished her tale, closing her lips. That’s when Noa, who had been observing the situation, said,
“Let’s get started.”
“…Okay.”
With eyes filled with resolve.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled out the potion she had made with Noa.
After scrutinizing every detail, she nervously opened Rudine’s mouth and poured in the potion.
Drip drip! Plop!
Every last drop slid down.
Almost immediately, change began to occur.
“…!”
Delia’s eyes widened in amazement.
As a high mage, she could see it clearly.
Magic began flowing back through the twisted vessels and once-blocked pathways, and Rudine’s color began to return as well.
“Oh, oh!”
The changes were unmistakable.
Delia trembled in excitement.
This was the moment her long-held wish was coming to fruition.
But then, at that moment…
“…Huh?”
Noa raised her eyebrows in surprise at something odd.
“Wait! This is…!”
It wasn’t just her who sensed something amiss.
Delia, able to see the flow of magic, quickly noticed something strange too. Specifically, the sheer amount of magic entering Rudine’s body.
The amount of magic itself was normal.
But the problem was that Rudine’s body wasn’t in a restored enough state to accept even this normal quantity.
And as a result…
Rudine’s form began to expand slightly.
Like an overinflated balloon. Should things continue this way, the outcome wouldn’t differ greatly.
The two girls’ faces turned pale.
“Get out of the way. I’ll help.”
Stepping forth was Ulan, who had been silent until now.
Although he could not see the flow of magic, he certainly understood the situation.
Ulan summoned a spirit and began to inject it into Rudine.
‘My job is just one thing.’
First, protect her heart with the spirit.
Next, aid the circulation of blood carrying the spirit throughout her body, reinforcing her frail form to accept all the magic.
This was by no means an easy task.
But he plunged in with superhuman concentration. For he was saving the family of a precious colleague.
Time passed as he worked tirelessly.
As the sunset painted the sky a deep orange, Ulan let out a soft sigh.
“Phew.”
“How is it?”
Noa asked, her face tense with worry.
Ulan silently dismissed the spirit he had summoned. Then, he smiled and replied,
“It’s alright now.”
They had surpassed the crisis, absorbing the magic in the process.
As a result, Rudine’s face gradually regained a normal color. Her faint breaths began to fill with life once more.
Noa and Delia suddenly collapsed onto the floor, the tension that had been gripping them melting away.
“What a relief.”
“Oh, thank goodness, really, truly…”
Delia, she teared up in relief.
With thick tears streaming down her face, she gently embraced Rudine.
Thump! Thump!
A clear pulse echoed from her chest.
With the heartbeat returning to a rhythmic tune, Delia finally released the emotions she had held back, tears of joy flowing.
6.
Shortly after.
It took a considerable time before Delia stopped sobbing finally.
She called for Helena to look after Rudine, and after confirming her condition had improved, she finally descended the tower.
“…Thank you so much.”
As soon as she reached the ground.
She bowed her head to Ulan and Noa.
There were countless words she wanted to say, but all that came out was her gratitude.
After all, they had made her most important wish come true. A kindness that she would never forget even if she spent her life repaying it.
“So, I swear to you.”
“Huh? Swear?”
“If you have a wish, anything at all, just tell me.”
Her golden eyes were filled with determination.
“By the power of mana and my name, I swear that no matter what wish it is, I will fulfill it.”
“…!”
Noa’s eyes widened in shock.
And it made sense. Delia was destined to become the strongest mage on the continent. In other words, what she had just said amounted to a blank check.
But Ulan shook his head.
“No need to worry about it.”
“What? But….”
“We’re friends. Friends help each other. So there’s no need for repayment.”
It was a wonderfully simple logic.
His answer felt considerate.
Delia’s expression reflected her momentary touch of emotion, but then she quickly shook her head.
“No. I still want to grant a wish.”
It was too much to just shrug off the substantial benefits she’d received as a mere friendship.
Uncharacteristically stubborn as she was, Ulan hesitated for a moment.
“Alright. Then, I’ll say my wish.”
“Okay. Whatever it is, just tell me.”
She nodded cheerfully, eager to oblige him.
And at the same time, Ulan voiced his wish.
“…!”
Delia’s gaze faltered.
Her face was painted with surprise.
On the other hand, Ulan’s expression was solemn. Noa, watching them, quickly pieced together the situation.
‘Now Delia is a true hero.’
As a hero and a high mage, she was more than adequate as a powerhouse. In the fight against the Abyss, having Delia around would be incredibly advantageous.
‘Plus, keeping her close would make protecting her easier.’
After the incident with the Abyss Worshippers, Ulan and Noa had learned something.
That it was much safer to keep the seven heroes together than to scatter them.
‘So Ulan’s intention is…’
As a high mage and a witch of the stars, he was saying to stay close to confront the Abyss and protect against the worshippers.
Noa nodded in understanding.
Meanwhile, Delia’s bewildered expression flushed as her cheeks brightened.
She cleared her throat and, in a voice no louder than a mosquito’s buzz, whispered,
“…You don’t need to wish for that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t need to ask. I wasn’t planning to leave Ulan anyway.”
Didn’t she already promise before?
That they would remain together.
“So, you should wish for something else.”
“Besides that, I can’t think of anything else…”
“If you think of something later, make sure to tell me.”
“Alright, I promise.”
With that, their conversation drew to a close.
An awkward silence settled in.
That was when Ulan’s voice broke the quiet.
“Well, we should head back now.”
“Heading back? Where to?”
“To Arsen Academy.”
“What? Already?”
Delia’s eyes widened in surprise.
But Ulan nodded nonchalantly. He always intended to return as soon as his business was done.
Though Noa was dismissed for the time being, Ulan was leaving the Academy without any permissions after failing the re-exam.
“Well then, let’s meet when classes resume.”
After a short farewell, Ulan was about to turn around when…
“…No.”
“What?”
“You can’t go yet.”
Suddenly, Delia blocked his path.
With her arms spread wide, she looked almost pleading as she said,
“Since you’ve only just come, why not stay a bit longer?”
“Hmm, but…”
Just as Ulan shook his head, Noa chimed in.
“Delia’s right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Anyway, since you snuck out, you’ll get punished for it regardless. So whether you return now or a few days late, it makes no difference.”
The punishment would remain the same regardless.
This made some sense.
Ulan fell into thought.
Noticing his deep contemplation, Delia’s eyes brightened.
“And we’ll throw a party!”
“A party?”
“We have so much to celebrate! There’ll probably be tons of delicious food too!”
Far more than in the professor’s dining hall.
With this additional reminder, Ulan’s eyes sparkled. His resolve was starting to bend under Delia and Noa’s persuasion.
“Then I guess I’ll stay a bit longer.”
“Yes! Relax and enjoy your time here!”
Illuminated by joy, Delia chattered excitedly.
“Ah, and since the school year will end soon anyway, let’s return together for the start of the new term.”
That statement brightened Noa’s expression as well.
This meant they could return securely on a comfortable carriage.
But just then…
A voice interrupted the cheerful atmosphere.
“No, I cannot permit that.”
A cold, rigid voice echoed as the sound of armored footsteps surrounded them.
Rangers clad in light armor, the pride of Arpen Duchy’s mountain knights.
Just as the tense atmosphere settled in, a man stepped forward.
Delia’s face hardened upon spotting him, and he glared at her intensely, stating firmly,
“You don’t need to return to the Academy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Now that you’ve reached the level of high mage, there’s nothing left for you to learn there.”
Erhent Rune Mond Arpen.
With his ice-cold gaze, he was the lord of Arpen, Delia’s own father, and the one responsible for Rudine’s imprisonment in the tower.
Chapter 39. The Choice is Yours.
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
