If you don't want to just drift through life, you have to go through time.

After Truman left, Philon timidly approached, clutching the spellbook that had been forcibly shoved into her hands, and handed it to Frilian.

"Lord Frilian."

"No, this was given to you by Truman."

"But……"

"Don't worry. This must have been given to you by Truman. If you don't believe me, you can open it and take a look."

Upon hearing Frillian's words, Philon hesitated for a moment before slowly opening the spellbook, where it was written on the title page:

To Philon

Using the height difference, Frillie easily saw the contents: a letter addressed to Philon. Judging from the handwriting and content, it was undoubtedly written by Truman himself.

"Look."

"real……"

Truman seemed unwilling to let someone have their way; he wouldn't even turn the pages, assuming it was his own decision, but in reality, it was all preordained.

Frillie felt the same way.

Even after a thousand years, she was still guided by her teacher—the legendary human magician Vlame.

Since Truman is so determined, it won't be a problem for 80 years, let alone 800 years.

After reading the letter, Philon hugged the magic book tightly to her chest, as if it were a precious treasure and she was unwilling to let go of it. It's easy to imagine that she will also fall asleep with the book in her arms tonight.

"Oh, it's on the hook. Looks like we'll be having fish tonight. I'm so happy, Philon." Frilian's fishing rod bobbed noticeably.

evening.

Tonight, Haita's family is having fresh fish soup for dinner.

Truman and Philon worked on it together. The other two were either physically disabled or had terrible cooking skills, so they had to leave it to someone else.

"Haha, the fish soup is here!!"

Truman brought a steaming bowl of fish soup into the living room, and with Philon's help, the table was quickly cleared. Besides the fish soup, there were also roasted mushrooms, flatbread, and a variety of vegetables—a rather lavish dinner.

"The taste is so nostalgic..."

Haita closed his eyes and inhaled the enticing aroma.

He said that Truman was the one who cooked for them during the trip, even when they stayed in hotels. It wasn't that the others were unwilling to help or exploit them, but Truman insisted on cooking for himself, saying that only food he cooked himself was safe and delicious.

It has its own unique style.

Truman is actually quite picky about food. Especially after getting used to modern cuisine, delicious taste alone isn't enough to win over his palate. However, he's more than capable of captivating Haita and the others.

The dinner table was rather quiet tonight.

After dinner, Frillie went to the basement to decipher the magic book, Philon cleaned up the mess as usual, while Truman and Haita leisurely drank tea.

It was in this peaceful and tranquil atmosphere that Truman suddenly spoke.

"Haita, I'm leaving."

"……Yeah."

Haita paused for a moment while holding the teacup, then continued drinking the hot tea.

"You don't seem surprised."

"Hehehe, this kind of thing is easy to guess. Truman, you're not the type to take things as they come, otherwise you wouldn't have teamed up with us in the first place. Besides, you're younger now than you were back then, and you're much more enthusiastic, outgoing, and energetic, so it's even harder for me to persuade you."

He looked at Truman calmly.

"You are not like Frilian."

"……Yeah."

Haita seemed to know that his plan had been discovered, but was also grateful that the other party had not exposed him.

But for Frillie, the request to decipher the spellbook was undoubtedly a calculated move, since she had offered to help. And even if she knew the spellbook was fake, Haita could easily have denied any knowledge of it.

Frillie wasn't the type to believe others and conclude that the magic book was fake without even trying to decipher it; besides, a few years was insignificant to her.

"When do you plan to leave?"

"immediately."

"Not planning to stay overnight?"

"No. I'm afraid it will turn into something like 'stay one night and leave tomorrow morning,' 'leave in the afternoon,' 'stay one more night'... and in the end I won't be able to leave even if I want to."

"It won't turn out like that."

"Who knows?"

High Tower is a shrewd and experienced man. Although Frilian trusted him and was thus manipulated, Truman wasn't sure if High Tower had other obstacles, such as the feelings he himself couldn't resist.

"By the way, Truman, next time you come, brew some bubble tea. I haven't had any in 80 years, I'm really craving some."

"...Didn't you say you'd quit drinking? Be careful you don't die after you drink too much."

"I want to drink it before I die. Since I'm going to die anyway, I want to finish the bubble wine before I die."

Haita said this calmly.

Truman wasn't surprised that he knew about bubble wine, but he didn't expect him to accept his death so calmly. He hadn't said that when he was plotting to help Frilian crack the spellbook.

"Haita is a monk, so he must be aware of his physical condition. I have healed you. But..."

Haita's life was like a candle flickering in the wind.

Eighty years have passed since the defeat of the Demon King, and he was nearly 30 years old when he embarked on the journey to defeat the Demon King. For a human who is 110 years old, this age is enough to be considered a peaceful death.

"I know this was bound to happen sooner or later. I wouldn't mind dying right now, but..." He looked at Philen, who was busy in the kitchen. Philen might be partly responsible for what kept Haita going.

Truman spoke again in a low voice.

"I left her a magic book."

"That's the magic book she brought back, the one she didn't want to put down. It seems she treasures it quite a bit," Haita said with a smile.

"Feel sorry."

"No need to apologize, Truman. Although you brought Philonise here, I was the one who made the decision to adopt her, and... it's because of Philonise that I've been able to hold on until now. I'm actually very grateful to you."

This is from the heart.

He had a deeper relationship with Philon.

"Speaking of which," Haita said, somewhat puzzled, "did you know what day it was today, which is why you gave her a gift?"

"What day is it today?"

"you do not know?"

"I don't know. Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me."

"I refuse."

Haita was surprisingly a bit wicked.

In truth, if Truman still couldn't guess after all that, he would be a fool. But not wanting to be led by the nose, he just snorted in feigned displeasure.

Then the Gate of Truth was summoned.

See you later, Haita.

His greeting was as natural as if he were going back to his room to sleep, rather than as if he were leaving this world.

Haita greeted him naturally.

"See you later, Truman. But come back soon, don't wait until I'm dead, or I won't get to drink the bubble tea."

"In that case, I'll pour it on your tombstone, don't worry."

Truman left.

As the door disappeared, Philon's movements in the kitchen paused for a moment, then she continued busying herself as if nothing had happened.

Haita glanced at her.

Then they headed towards the basement.

The basement was dimly lit, casting Frillie's small figure on the wall. She said she was trying to decipher the magic book, but she wasn't actually doing anything.

Because her hand holding the pen didn't move, and her eyes, which were staring straight ahead, were unfocused, she remained motionless as if lost in thought. But the sound of footsteps going down the stairs caught her attention.

"Haita?"

"Frilian, Truman has left."

"……I know."