Stone Mage: Revenge of the Villain System

Ronin had also made another appointment to gain the extra resurrecting machine.

It was actually back at Espinella’s small house that the Academy provides for all the teachers so that they may have a place to stay in after a hard day of work or the Week’s End. They were nestled at the edge of the woods, looking like a peaceful village.

Without Espinella staying there, there was still one more person inhabiting the small house.

The Headmaster. It has been a long while, and Ronin had been caught up in so many developments that he had almost forgotten about this old man.

Almost. He can never really quite forget the person who made the hilarious conclusion that he must be a hero.

He had let the man live because of his Mage Focus to see ‘paths’, and Espinella had been taking care of him so far, using the machine until his wounds and illnesses healed, even up to his blindness.

‘I wonder…..

‘Had this old man also affected Espinella’s decision? Had he foreseen something that also added to fuel to the fire of the burning bridge between us?’_.

There’s only one way to find out.

Once he approached the dainty little cottage house, he saw that the old mam was already at the porch, sitting at a rocking chair. His eyes that were full of cataracts had cleared a little, and he was wearing spectacles over his nose bridge now, warm and calm smile on his face.

But he was not alone.

Right beside him, taking to him while having tea, was Apprentice Calla Lily Naemnaid.

She was in her Lily mode, the one that’s more subdued and shy. But it seems that her Lily mode also matured quite a bit, as the innocent child-like aura was gone and was replaced by a sophisticated woman’s demeanor.

When she was teaching, she uses Calla as she believes teaching was a performance. She does it too when she felt like she would have to need to use her Mage Focus any moment.

But when she’s alone or around people she can trust, she can be her usual self. That’s why it’s curious to see her in this mode alongside the Headmaster.

Her eyes narrowed when she saw Ronin approaching. “I did not expect you to have a visitor, Old Yeshwa.”

Yeshwa Diamant was the name of the current Headmaster. He had this certain changed air to him while talking to Lily, not just because of his regained health.

He stood up, and offered a hand to Ronin.

“Greetings. I am Yeshwa, may I know your purpose for this visit? If you are looking for my son, I’m afraid you would have to look for him for another time as he is currently away.”

Ronin narrowed his eyes. ‘Son?’

He listened to the man’s thoughts to see if he was lying, but it seems that he genuinely believe that Espinella was his son. And not just that….

He genuinely doesn’t remember Ronin at all.

Well, it made sense since he was blind and did not see him. But once Ronin offered a hand and replied with “Nice to meet you, I’m Ronin Willowe” to gauge his reaction….

He just made a warm smile, and simply said. “Have some tea with us. You know them, little Lily?”

“I do. He’s….. A friend of a friend.” Lilly said, he gaze never leaving Ronin’s hand holding the old man’s.

There was a sort of protectiveness like a dog would have over a stranger interacting with its owner in her eyes. Like any second, she believes Ronin will harm Yeshwa and she will pounce to attack him.

The once paralyzed old man can stand up perfectly now and laughed in a lively way. “Oh, wonderful! I would love to have many friends when I was your age, but alas, my family circumstances does not allow it.”

Ronin went forward to ask. “Do you know where Professor Espinella went, sir? And when he plans to return?”

“Oh, Mephisto never told me. Or maybe he did, I have a condition, you see. I get forgetful nowadays, and even mix up several false memories with real ones. There was even once a time that I had completely forgotten he was my son!”

“I see.” Ronin nodded. It made sense now.

Espinella made him believe he had dementia and that he was his child, so that it would be easy to cover up for his existence in his resting house.

But Ronin wondered how far gone his memories were. The problem was he could not ask that without taking caution with Calla Lily around.

“Well, I came here to have a look at the machine that I used to work with another professor, whose research was continued by Professor Espinella and I.” Ronin told him. “This certain machine looks like a normal lavish sofa. Do you recall it still being in your home?”

“Ah, that one! Yes, I liked sitting at that one while warming myself up by the fireplace.” Old Yeshwa said. “I feel as cold as death sometimes.”

“Right this way!” He said, leading Ronin when Lily stopped him.

“Let me support you, Old Yeshwa. You still have your limp.” She said.

Old Yeshwa nodded. “Ah, young apprentice is always so kind. Ever since we met 3 months ago, you had always been looking after me like a nurse. Don’t fret too much, I can handle myself.”

“I’ll support you too, Sir.” Ronin turned to Lily. “You and Lily had known each other for that long already, huh?”

“Yes, she came asking me some very strange questions about….. Wait, was his name something with an L or an R—-“

“I learned about Professor Espinella’s father from Councillor Verita.” Lily interrupted. “And I was worried about leaving an old man to himself all alone, so I managed his weekly food and necessities after his son’s disappearance.”

Ronin knew very well that it was just an alibi. The person she was asking about couldn’t be anyone else but himself.

He had pieced it out together, and not to mention had been hearing Calla Lily’s thoughts for a while.

(He must not know that anyone is investigating him. He cannot be provoked if he was truly a beast that may consume us all.)

(I have always felt that something was wrong with him from the start.)

(If only the Headmaster did not lose his memories, I could have had proof and witness to… To whatever this beast may be capable of.)

Ronin never gets a shortage on challengers, it seems. But he has no worries.

How can a game of chess not be fun without a challenge?