21st Century Archmage

“Are you leaving?”

“H-Hans.”

It was two days after Aramis and Jamirs departure from the village. Having distributed the goods brought in by the merchants, the village was bursting with vitality. As for me, I had woken up before dawn.

‘How did he know?

My work here was done. I wanted to leave as suddenly as I had appeared, but as soon as I got up, Hans asked me if I was leaving.

“Haha! Im thinking about going on a trip,” I said, putting all my effort into acting like nothing was up and scratching my head. It was my first time actually saying goodbye to someone, so I felt pretty awkward about it.

“Only right to do so. You should travel while youre young… Thank you. If it werent for you, this village would have been lost to history.”

This usually stoic man suddenly had a lot to say.

“This, this is some bread.”

‘Even Cecil…

“How did you know that I would leave?”

“Who wouldnt know after seeing you lost in thought in front of all the food you usually like so much? Even a soulless log would have seen it.”

‘Keh! Because of food!

I tried to leave quietly, but I was caught red-handed because of food.

“The weather is still warm, so please eat the bread before the day ends. Ive put egg in it, so it will go bad easily.”

The bread she handed me was made with egg, a white and soft flour bread, very unlike the daily ration of hard barley bread. At some point, Cecil had begun stuffing a small bag full of bread.

‘Tsk.

Hans broad smile and regretful expression, Cecils sad expression, her face stiff even as she packed the bread… Only the thoughtless kid, Deron, was sleeping peacefully with a loose smile.

‘This is why… Farewells make people sad.

The intent to leave was different from the moment of departure. My heart felt like it had been pierced somewhere. My nose twinged and the corners of my eyes began to sting.

“Kyre, we may only know your name, but every villager here has never thought of you as a stranger. No matter where your travels take you, if you become lonely, come back. Think of this place as your home.”

Hans looked at me as if I were his departing son.

“Yes, please dont worry. I will come back once my travels are finished. Please stay healthy until then, Hans.”

“Alright, you too. Make sure you eat well…”

“P-please be careful. Thank you for everything.”

Hans voice dripped with emotion as he made his last request, and Cecil couldnt raise her head as she expressed her thanks.

“Im the one who is thankful. Cecil, Ill bring a present for you next time so please make me something delicious, alright?”

“Yes, any time… Please come back. Sob.” Unable to suppress her emotions, Cecils face ran with tears.

“Give my regards to Deron. Please tell him to become a cool man by the time his hyung returns.”

“Got it. Ill be sure to tell him the pervert bro sends regards.”

“…..”

The atmosphere suddenly turned weird thanks to Hans joke.

“Then, Ill be back.”

“I wont see you out. There should be a horse tethered next to the village ramparts gate.”

‘So the villagers knew too.

I wanted to leave without anyone knowing, but it turned out that people could see right through me.

On the verge of tears, I opened the door with a strong push.

With a woosh, the autumn wind which I couldnt feel until now came blowing through the opening.

‘Everyone, stay well.

The short but long time in Luna Village was something I cherished. There was no doubt that no matter how long my travels were in the continent, I would never forget my memories here.

‘It all starts now! With that thought, I stepped over the threshold and left the house.

At exactly that moment, the red morning sun dawned, as if God were giving me a small blessing on my journey to achieve my dreams and adventures.

* * *

Clip clop clip clop!

“Ack!”

Horses looked pretty easy to handle. In the movies, the main characters would handsomely ride horses and shoot guns or wield swords, but in reality, my butt burned every time it hit the saddle.

“Stop, you waste of food!”

The horse was galloping without a care for its owners pain.

‘Oh god, will I get hemorrhoids like this?

Up until leaving the village, I had been so happy. There werent that many opportunities to ride a horse in Korea. Only children of rich families would learn horseback riding– a pleb like me never had a chance to ride one.

So, as a complete beginner with no knowledge of horses, I started riding at full speed. For a while, I rode as landmarks whooshed past us and we rushed along the ground, all the while feeling every stride of the horse. But then, my thighs and butt began to complain.

‘Argh, this is why you need a license.

Having gone out for a drive without a license, I was now facing a crisis, but I could only let my tears fall. I was feeling free in the wind, but in the end, the skin of my thighs was worn right off.

Neighing with happiness as I grabbed the reins, the grey beast of a horse came to a stop.

“Ow… ow ow ow. How many times does that make today.”

Its lucky that my mana pool was greater than the average mage and also recovered much faster, because otherwise, I would have gone into mana exhaustion at the rate I was using Heal.

“Heal!” I muttered, putting my right hand on my bum and gently applying Heal.

Bzzt!

Though I turned my head, I wasnt a giraffe and couldnt see how injured my butt was, so I could only see the light of the magic.

“Ah! Thats refreshing.”

It was good I learned magic. Otherwise, my butt would have turned into one giant callus.

‘As expected! Being a mage is the best!

A refreshing and clean feeling flowed around my thighs and butt, and a strange sense of euphoria buzzed down my spine.

“Im hungry, so shall we eat some bread?”

I had left the village at the butt crack of dawn and boldly went on my way. As for the road, well, it was basically just a dirt road covered in grass.

‘Where should I go now… I probably should go into the castle, right?

One of the few important teachings my grandfather had passed down to me was that if a person only did their homework but didnt review or truly study the material, it would be like going to the toilet and leaving a piece of toilet paper on your bum.I have to settle things with that administrator dude. Only then will he stop messing with the village.

I had entrusted the villages safety and development, but this is something I had to take care of myself.

Taking bread out of the bag tied up on the saddle, I chewed my food.

“Strawberry jam or peanut cream would have been nice.” It couldnt be compared to the rock-hard barley bread, but he was still a bit regretful. “At least its nice and soft.”

Having been made with milk drawn from one of the lactating cows Jamir had brought as well as some egg, the bread had its own kind of sweetness. However, my mouth had been spoiled with all kinds of sweets and savory foods, so it hadnt gotten used to this world yet.

“Kya, the weather is great!”

Ripping into the bread and taking sips from a wooden flask, I gazed at the sky. There wasnt a single cloud in the autumn sky, and just looking at it refreshed my spirits.

“This sky without a single cloud, its the same anywhere. But that one bird in the distance, it sure is coming this way fast. Eh? Is, is that really a bird?”

While I was enjoying the autumn sky, I spotted a bird way off in the distance.

No, it wasnt a bird.

It was a creature coming towards me with incredible speed.

“A-archeopteryx!!” I shouted in shock.

The enormous “bird” was undoubtedly something I had seen in dinosaur pictures and a Jurassic-period museum. It had been circling in the sky, but now it was shooting towards my direction on the ground.

“Mommy!”