Finally, it was the students' turn as they all entered Azar's room.

"Heh… why do you all look so grumpy? Ahh, am I in the afterlife?" Azar asked with a smile as the students burst into laughter.

With Azar breaking the atmosphere, it became easier for everyone to talk. Most of the students greeted him and thanked him for saving them.

Veya stood at the side, her head slightly bowed. However, Azar did not even mention her or speak to her directly. She felt a strange pang in her heart for no reason, but she still smiled brightly.

Senior brother is safe… that is enough.

It wasn't until evening that Azar was finally left alone and discharged from the hospital. He left with his family.

They believed that even in chaos, there was always a blessing—and for Azar, that blessing was breaking through to Tier 3.

Looking at the large mansion of the Braven Family brought a smile to Azar's face. It had been so long since he was last here, and now he had returned with his parents and other family members behind him.

But as he stepped inside, he couldn't help but remember the words of the red-robed individual.

"I will change the world…" Azar vowed silently as he entered.

He was taken to his room, which was almost exactly how he had left it. It was still clean and neatly arranged.

A sign that his parents had always kept it this way.

Some of his nephews visited him, along with cousins and other relatives.

It wasn't until midnight that Azar was finally able to think properly.

The events on the island replayed in his mind—the red-robed individual, the tree, and even his own recklessness.

But worse still, now that he was awake and aware of everything that had happened, he had come to a single conclusion.

This world was not as simple as it seemed.

Especially the X16 organization that had appeared out of nowhere.

They were responsible for everything.

Even Teacher Tofan had lost an arm because of them.

Everything always came back to one thing.

Strength.

He needed strength to protect his family.

Strength to protect his friends.

And finally, strength to protect himself.

He could hardly sleep as the words of the red-robed individual echoed repeatedly in his mind.

The night passed, and early the next morning, Azar was summoned by his grandfather.

The man who had led the rise of the Braven Family.

Now old, weak, and fragile.

They had no hope of saving him.

They had tried every resource available, but nothing worked.

His death was inevitable.

No spell or amount of mana could change that.

Azar, accompanied by his parents, walked deep into the Braven mansion.

In this area, guards stood watch—peak Tier 2 Magi who respectfully greeted Azar and his parents. Everyone knew what had happened, and they were relieved that he had returned safely.

Cough… cough…

Before entering the room, they heard a series of coughing sounds.

Inside, an old man lay on a bed, his eyes barely open.

A magic array beneath him continuously supplied vitality, yet it was as if the energy was being swallowed by a bottomless pit.

No improvement could be seen.

The man remained weak, hanging on a thin thread between life and death.

"Azar… yo-you are here…" the old man spoke weakly, coughing again.

Seeing his grandfather made Azar uneasy, but he still stepped forward.

Struggling to raise his hand, the old man touched Azar's face and smiled faintly.

Behind them, Azar's parents embraced each other silently, sighing.

This was the man who had taken the first great step for the Braven Family. He built everything from nothing.

But time…

Time was something he could not overcome.

And now, his end was near.

With that thought, the old man began to speak again.

"My life is coming to an end… cough…"

"I want to tell you something, Azar…"

He paused as one of the maids brought forward a contract.

"You have a fiancée… one from a powerful family."

"When you go to Continent A… find her… and marry her. She will be of great help to you," his grandfather said.

Azar froze.

A fiancée? Out of nowhere?

Still, he took the contract and looked at it.

There, he saw a woman's name: Herin, along with her family name and two signatures.

One from his grandfather.

And one from her family.

"But Grandpa—" Azar tried to speak, but the old man coughed violently.

"Child… I am dying… so fulfill my last wish and marry her," he said weakly.

Azar took a deep breath and looked back at his parents.

They simply nodded, unsurprised.

Only then did Azar realize he was the only one unaware of this arrangement.

But why now?

Was it because he almost died?

Because his grandfather was close to death?

Or because he was finally considered old enough?

Azar didn't know.

But he felt conflicted.

His grandfather coughed again, more violently this time.

Finally, Azar nodded.

"Alright, Grandpa…"

Hearing this, the old man smiled brightly despite his condition.

One could still sense his joy.

Azar's parents also smiled softly.

"Take care of her…" the grandfather muttered.

Azar nodded once more.

After a while, his parents continued speaking with the old man before leaving the room.

---

In Azar's room…

Azar lay on his bed, his mind heavy with thoughts.

Not only had he just survived death…

But now his dying grandfather had suddenly arranged a fiancée for him.

"His dying wish…" Azar thought with a sigh.

As much as he wanted to fulfill it…

If she did not want this marriage, then he could not force it. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He would let things go naturally.

But still…

He would try his best.

---

And so, a week went by. His grandfather passed away.

But it had already been expected.

Yes, there was sorrow, but everyone knew it would happen sooner or later.

Still…

Life moved forward.

And now, it was time for Azar to leave for Continent A.

Here, he would not reach his full potential.

He had to go out, leave everyone he knew, and start from nothing in a continent filled with both high rewards and high risks.

Standing on the teleportation circle that led to a place he had never been before made Azar feel unreal.

Yes, he had left home before for the academy…

But this time was different.

He was leaving for an entire continent.

He knew no one there.

He would have to forge his own path.

His parents… his family… they had already helped him enough. They had supported him, pushed him forward—and now it was his turn to carry their hopes.

If he succeeded…

The Braven Family would escape its tragic fate.

One by one, friends and family came to say their goodbyes.

Fortunately, Teacher Tofan and Teacher Vash would be accompanying him. As it turned out, they were originally from Continent A and had been called back by their families.

This meant Azar would at least have familiar faces in an unknown land.

He was grateful for this development.

He smiled warmly as he greeted everyone.

And finally…

The once-annoying girl walked slowly toward him.

"Senior brother…" Veya said softly, her head lowered.

She fiddled nervously with her fingers.

Azar simply smiled.

He stepped forward and hugged her.

She had been one of the reasons he survived the forbidden spell. More importantly, she had played a key role in saving everyone alongside him.

She had been a great help.

And slowly but surely, that "annoying girl" had become something else entirely.

A girl he could call… precious.

"Thank you… and I will be waiting for you," Azar whispered.

Veya's heart skipped a beat.

Her cheeks turned bright red as she felt her heart pounding violently in her chest.

What did Azar mean?

Did he finally notice her feelings?

But before she could respond, Azar gently released the hug.

Veya stood frozen in place as he turned and walked toward Teacher Tofan and Vash.

The teleportation circle lit up.

Veya slowly snapped back to reality.

She took a step forward.

She wanted to confess.

To tell him she liked him.

To tell him she would go to Continent A and find him.

Maybe then…

Maybe they could be together.

But in the end…

She couldn't.

"What are you thinking… you and Senior Brother are from different worlds," she whispered to herself.

And with that thought…

Azar disappeared into the light of the teleportation circle.