Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World
Chapter 135

Chapter 135.2. The Third Year at the Academy - Farewell Party (2)

This farewell party was just a borrowed venue.

Of course, the cleaning, and the cooking led by Dana and Lily, with everyone chipping in for the food and drinks that were lacking. Even those being sent off, Elliot and Nils, are helping out, but since they plan to stay in Selene, and they're practically comrades despite the different parties, it's probably fine.

Anyway, thinking back to the times when we were just struggling to survive, it's truly overwhelming.

The farewell party began, starting with the story of how Ted and I met, which I mentioned in my greeting, and then we got excited talking about how each of us got to know each other.

In my case, I met Elphimia and Ted during the entrance exam, Lambert and Felix on the first day at the academy, reunited with Ted just before the field exercises, and got to know Gemma and Lily as well.

Then during the field exercises, I met Lora and Elliot, and during the break after that, our neighbor Niles came peeking in and got caught by Ted and Gemma.

After that, I met Dana, Nils and Jonas, Quince and Kyle, and finally Emi and Ginny.

It's amazing how many people I've met, but there are still many who aren't here.

At the academy, there's Rackendale, Helena, and the academy head.

Though our interactions were brief, meeting Halvis was also memorable.

Among the townsfolk, there's Samini from the merchant guild, and the craftsmen Katy and Narbano.

Rebecca from the adventurer's guild was a bit of a troublemaker, but it was fun.

Then there's Haleist, Yabusho, and Everlasting Harvest from Serpus, with whom I had various connections.

And this year, there's Tarvit and Harriet.

If I hadn't encountered Tarvit in the forest, I probably wouldn't have known about Harriet until the martial arts exhibition.

Though it's not his words, I wish I had met them sooner.

Including myself, many people's three years would have been quite different.

Also, Tarvit wasn't invited to the farewell party because he only knows the adventurer group. He's stated he'll stay in Selene after graduation, and even if invited, he might have declined.

After sharing our stories of how we met, the conversation turned to the future.

Elphimia, Lambert, and I talked about our plans.

Those leaving are all in similar situations.

Lambert and I will support our families as knights, and Elphimia will continue her magic training aiming to become a court mage.

Those staying listened to these stories with a hint of sadness.

In the future, it's unlikely we'll all be together again.

With transportation not being developed, traveling requires determination.

Each of us has our own status, making it hard to casually enter other territories. Especially for Lambert, whose father seems strict, it'll be difficult.

But I'm a bit different.

I have an adventurer's license, [High-Speed Movement], and the means to persuade my father.

Amidst the somber mood, I showed them the magic bag, Telpas Bag, and started talking about the trading plans I'm considering.

Elphimia only vaguely knows about [High-Speed Movement], so I explained how much easier traveling would be with the Telpas Bag. Without my father's permission, I can't say, "I can return to Selene in about three days."

Still, as they listened, Ted and the others' expressions softened.

"How often will you come back? Once a month?"

"That's too much. It's for trading."

While smiling wryly, I thought about it.

"At most… three or four times a year. My home is in the frontier, so magic tools and potions tend to be expensive. Lowering prices would pressure other merchants and craftsmen, making it hard to sell. In that regard, Selene has an incomparable amount of circulation. It's perfect for selling surplus."

"In that case, please use the Breos Trading Company. Ah, and potions too. We'll make them our flagship product."

With a full merchant's face, Lora said cheerfully.

"I'll let you handle some of the surplus. We'll discuss the details later. So, on the way, I plan to go through Crenzley Village, where the merchants live, and Verene Village, known for its cheese, to Selene. On the way back, I'll take the southeastern road via Keten. Lambert, what are your local specialties?"

Suddenly asked, Lambert crossed his arms.

"It's just a normal hilly area, so there aren't any notable specialties. Agriculture, livestock, and orchards, I guess. Before that, Riedwald is close, right? Merchants probably come and go there."

"That's true. Even if it's not a specialty, if it's a souvenir for my mother, it's a good excuse to stop by…"

"I don't know the details, but there are sweets made from fruits."

"That's good, she'd probably be happy."

Surprisingly, Felix knew the details, so he filled us in.

As we were talking, Elphimia thoughtfully spoke up.

"As I mentioned before—maybe once a year, I could come to Selene. It's easy to get magic tools and materials, and there's Cartilal too."

"Magic tools I understand, but Cartilal?"

"The instructors there are sometimes dispatched from the imperial capital. Deshindo Adal, who teaches military science, is also an imperial knight."

Imperial—knight?

Looking at Lambert, Felix, and Elliot, everyone was surprised.

"Such a person was nearby? I'm shocked."

Expressing my honest thoughts, Elphimia shook her head in disappointment.

"They're not as great as people say. Many are just hereditary and incompetent. Deshindo-sensei is decent, though."

"Leaving aside the reality I didn't want to know—did you know him?"

"No, my father just told me to rely on him if anything happened. He was assigned before I was aware, and he probably doesn't know me either. Also, his wife is from Selene. I don't think he plans to return to the imperial capital."

"Maybe. If he revealed his status, it would be easier to conduct lectures."

Some students looked down on the instructors as commoners and didn't follow their instructions.

They eventually complied since they couldn't graduate otherwise, but if they were imperial knights, such hassle wouldn't be necessary.

But what a shocking fact to come out just before graduation.

If I had known earlier, I could have prepared myself as a knight—oh, we did have those lectures. Maybe I should have taken them in the third year too.

"Well, being an instructor seems tough, so no thanks, but if I propose things like exercise inspections, exchanges with the magic guild, and procuring magic tools and potions, it should be easy to get permission. Mages tend to be homebodies. Until I become a court mage—I'll come for personal visits."

Elphimia shrugged as she said this.

With such exchanges, Ted and the others smiled, knowing this wasn't a final farewell.

Questions flew about when I'd return to Selene and how we'd exchange letters.

As I answered, the sound of wheels came from afar.

It's rare for a carriage to come to the slums.

Niles and his father, Emi and Ginny, looked curiously in the direction of the sound.

When the carriage stopped in front of our house, everyone naturally stopped talking.

"Is someone coming?"

"Yes. There's a reason, so I took the liberty of adding them."

I stood up and opened the door at the knock.

In front of my house was a carriage, more subdued in its extravagance compared to last time.

In front of it, a familiar figure bowed.

"I'm late."

"No, it's fine. Sorry for calling you out during work."

"Not at all. This is also work."

Inviting him in, Samini greeted everyone.

The adventurer group knew him from Emi's incident, but they were surprised by the merchant guild's visit.

"I've known him since before enrollment. He's the one who introduced me to this house."

Hearing this, Ted and the others—especially Niles and the two girls—reacted favorably.

If I hadn't lived here, I wouldn't have met Niles and the others.

"After that, he supported my training in [Magic Tool Creation] and [Smithing]. Without Samini's help, I'd still be half-baked."

"Your words are too kind. Someone like Alter-sama would have found another way."

"Even so, the results of your help are undeniable, right?"

Samini bowed his head humbly.

Now, all the players are here.

I asked Samini to wait a bit and turned to everyone.

"Suddenly, but I'd like to borrow this moment to express my gratitude. When I was in Riedwald, my world was small. No matter how many people I met, the world was confined to one town. My father recommended enrolling in Cartilal to broaden that world."

Pausing, I looked at everyone.

"Now, I'm certain my father's decision was right. Three years have passed, and the world has expanded astonishingly. It's because I met all of you here. If anyone feels I've helped them, I want to return the gratitude. I've also been helped. I've learned from you. Each encounter has shaped who I am today. They say life is a series of choices, and I think that's true. The results of chance and small decisions. That's the present. My three years were not wasted."

Everyone listened in silence.

Ted and the others were teary-eyed, and Lora was crying profusely.

Looking at each of them, I smiled.

"So, the formalities are over. I'd like to give out tokens of gratitude now. Fortunately, a merchant guild staff is here, so if you don't want them, you can sell them. If you don't accept them, I'll sell them myself, so it's the same."

"I'll take it as a lesson."

The sudden turn made the atmosphere tense.

Reading the room well, Samini smiled warmly.