Chapter 237: Hope to See You Again...Kim Hajun {END OF VOLUME 2}
The midday sun bathed the quiet park in a soft golden hue.
It was the same spot, a street down from the Brenthall estate, where once two children from noble houses were bound in a formal engagement.
A small stone gazebo stood in the center, surrounded by trimmed hedges and a marble fountain that trickled softly into a clear pool.
But today, the air was stiff with quiet tension.
Maya stood by the edge of the fountain, her hands gently clasped in front of her.
Her dark purple hair fell freely down her back, and her purple eyes remained fixed on the approaching carriage.
She had worn a modest white dress for the occasion, not for beauty but formality.
The carriage door opened.
Noah stepped out.
He looked the same, and yet different.
Something about him seemed drained, like a man worn by too many lifetimes.
His footsteps were slow but sure as he walked toward the stone table where a tea set was already prepared.
Several people were already seated.
Lady Elizabeth Brenthall, Maya’s mother, sat with a poised dignity.
Across from her were two imperial officials from the Bureau of Noble Affairs.
Dressed in clean black uniforms, their expressions were impassive as they nodded politely at Noah.
"Thank you all for coming."
Noah said quietly as he took his seat.
"We should get started."
One of the officials said.
"As requested by Mister Noah Ash... correction, Noah."
The other official said, adjusting the scroll in his hand.
"We are gathered here for a formal termination of the engagement contract between House Ashbourne and House Brenthall.
As the Ashbournes have officially disowned Noah, he is acting on personal will."
Noah nodded, his expression calm.
Lady Elizabeth leaned back in her seat, her tone cool.
"It was unnecessary.
I had already begun legal proceedings to retrieve my estate holdings and sever all ties to the Ashbournes."
Noah smiled faintly.
"I know.
You’ve despised the Ashbournes ever since your husband died.
That’s fine. I understand.
I won’t take it personally... because I’m no longer one of them."
Elizabeth arched a brow at him.
"You’re very candid for someone so young."
She said.
"I think we’ve all had to grow up too fast."
Noah replied.
The officials proceeded to read the necessary terms of the cancellation.
All former estates, trade shares, and investments initially transferred from the Brenthall household to the Ashbournes were to be returned.
No fines or additional compensations would be requested, considering Noah’s decision was mutual and had no political motivation.
They also read an agreement to relinquish any future claims between the two households.
Both Noah and Lady Elizabeth signed the scrolls.
With the matter settled, the officials departed, leaving only the three of them.
Maya hadn’t spoken a word.
Her fingers gripped the edge of her skirt tightly, and her eyes remained focused on her lap.
Noah glanced at her but said nothing.
He turned back to Lady Elizabeth.
"I imagine this relieves you."
He said.
"A little."
She admitted.
"But mostly I’m curious.
What do you plan to do now, boy?"
"I’m not sure.
The future’s wide open now that I’m just me."
"That sounds dangerously vague."
Noah chuckled.
"Then let me be specific.
What do you know about the Northern Continent?"
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.
"Why?"
"Just... curiosity."
She sipped her tea slowly.
"It’s cold.
Always winter there.
Harsh weather and harsh people.
But very advanced.
Steam machinery, railway networks that put even our Empire to shame.
Their energy systems rely on volcanic caverns beneath their land, and they’ve adapted geothermal tech to weaponry."
Noah nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
Elizabeth gave him a skeptical glance.
"Why ask? Planning to run off and become a foreigner?"
"Possibly."
She exhaled sharply through her nose.
"You’re impossible to read."
"I get that a lot."
There was a pause.
"You’re different," she said.
"I’ve seen a lot of people wear masks.
You...
you just keep changing.
Like you’re running through different phases."
"Maybe I am."
Elizabeth stood.
"Whatever you’re doing, be careful.
The Northern Continent is not the kind of place you just wander into unprepared."
Noah stood too and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for the honesty."
He turned to Maya.
"Take care of yourself, Maya."
Still, she didn’t speak.
But her eyes were full, brimmed with words unspoken.
Noah didn’t press her.
He walked to the carriage that had been waiting quietly by the path.
The door shut behind him, and the wheels began to roll.
Lady Elizabeth and Maya remained behind.
The older woman watched the carriage until it disappeared beyond the hedges.
"I never know what that boy is thinking," she muttered.
Maya stayed silent.
Elizabeth looked down at her daughter.
"He’s changed so much since you two were kids.
I feel like I’ve watched him go through different lives, different people, all crammed into one short year.
It’s strange."
She placed a hand gently on Maya’s shoulder.
"May the gods be with him."
Maya simply clutched the fabric of her dress.
And said nothing.
***
The Ravenfall Festival.
It was the final and most beloved event of the academic year at Ravenwood Academy.
Held just before the long four-month break that split the academic cycle into two.
Students from all years gathered in the main courtyards and the expansive gardens, surrounded by colorful lights, floating paper lanterns, booths filled with sweet treats and artifacts, and the distant sounds of music played by enchanted instruments.
With winter nearing, the air was brisk but pleasant, and snow had only just begun dusting the highest peaks beyond the academy walls.
Groups of students filled the scene.
Ariana, ever vibrant, darted from stall to stall with Gloria and Clara close behind.
Gloria tried to maintain an air of elegance while Clara, shy and wide-eyed, followed with cautious curiosity, her arms full of little souvenirs and charms won from the booths.
The trio giggled as Ariana dragged them toward the floating fireworks platform for the upcoming sky performance.
Meanwhile, Roselyn sat by the garden fountain alongside Draven and Elias.
Roselyn, for once, was smiling.
She wore a soft lilac shawl and watched the floating fire spirits in the water while Elias explained something about flame runes.
Draven, arms crossed, kept glancing around as if expecting something or someone to show up, barely listening.
It was a rare evening of peace.
Noah sat alone on the higher terrace of the west wing tower, his legs hanging over the edge as he overlooked the entire festival from above.
Laughter and celebration below, flickers of magic across the skies, and a low breeze rustling through the evergreen trees in the distance.
He wasn’t sure what he felt.
Months had passed since the incident with the Black Vassals, and though the academy had quietly smoothed the aftermath, the scars remained.
The mid-terms had been canceled, which meant the second event that would have triggered Elias’s corruption arc never happened.
A small mercy.
He had gained many things since then.
Freedom. Wealth. Recognition.
But the system was still gone.
And now, as the festival came to a close, Noah found himself thinking about one thing:
Could he really leave this world without finding the good ending he’d once wished for?
He thought about the journal he had discovered—a trail that led to a secret organization in the Northern Continent.
Strange, advanced tech had been appearing: airships, gunpowder prototypes, and mechanical conduits.
None of these existed in the original game or novel.
Someone was influencing the world.
Someone like him.
A transmigrator.
Maybe even the very one who broke the system in the first place.
If he found them, perhaps he could find a way back home.
With a sigh, Noah stood up and brushed the frost from his coat.
He needed to visit the Imperial Bank later to finalize some travel documentation and shift his assets.
It would be a busy evening.
He turned to leave the terrace when the sound of wheels crunching against gravel echoed from the front of the building.
A carriage had pulled up.
Noah stopped in his tracks.
From it stepped Maya Brenthall.
Her black cloak fluttered gently with the breeze, her dark-purple hair spilling over her shoulders like ink under moonlight.
Those familiar purple eyes locked onto his.
She stepped down slowly, the tension in her shoulders apparent.
Her gloved hands clutched at each other, and for a second, it seemed like she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the right words.
"You made it."
Noah said.
"I had to," Maya replied.
They stood there for a second, neither moving.
Then, Maya walked over and lowered her head slightly.
"Thank you," she said.
"For restoring my mother’s status... and everything else that came with it."
Noah raised his hand.
"You don’t have to act sentimental.
You tried to kill me not too long ago... Poisoned me, remember?"
Maya didn’t flinch.
Her gaze remained steady.
"I know.
And I understand why you feel that way. But I still needed to say it.
Even if we’ve been on opposite sides ever since my father died."
Noah didn’t answer.
Maya continued, her voice softer now.
"The real reason I came here is to say goodbye."
He looked at her.
"With the four-month break ahead, I’m returning to Saint Eldred Oracle, the main cathedral in the Southern Continent," she said.
"To continue my training as a clergy.
I’m still one of the Saintess candidates after all."
He nodded, knowing this would likely be the last time he saw her in a long time. Or ever.
She paused, then smiled at him with tears welling up but not coming out.
"W-why are you..."
Noah went to speak but was cut.
"I-It’s nothing..."
Maya said giving a soft chuckle and wiping her tears that were beginning to overflow.
She turned, stepping back toward her carriage.
"Hope to see you again...
... Kim Hajin."
The door closed behind her, and the horses pulled away.
Time stopped.
His breath caught in his throat.
[END OF VOLUME 2: Read Author’s Note below]