I couldn't fathom why he, my junior and Dier's friend, was here.
"Se-Senior... Please, please save me..."
I wanted to ask him something, but judging by his state, it wasn't the time.
We were currently on a ship. Leaving him wouldn't cure his seasickness.
I called Elodie who was next to me, and she sighed.
"It's a bit difficult to do it on others."
Saying that, Elodie formed a magic formula and cast it on Pielott. He then began to float.
It seemed to be a type of levitation magic. Despite the ship rocking back and forth with the waves, Pielott remained in the same position we saw him, without bumping into the walls or ceiling.
After gulping down a glass of water, Pielott spoke.
"I saw the ship arrive and came inside before anyone else. Then, I opened a box containing food..."
He emptied it, hid himself inside, and closed the box.
"Why did you do that?"
"...Because, you would have refused if I said I wanted to come along."
Why would I throw my disciple's bright future into the gutter?
"I believe it's wrong for you to leave the Empire, Senior."
Now that his seasickness was gone, Pielott suddenly put on a cool expression. Of course, considering his near-death expression just moments ago, it was hard to react.
In the game, he was an annoying character who constantly picked fights with Aster, but he had his own kind of cold charm. In this world, however, his image was unfortunate.
"You said you would teach me. I will follow the path I believe is right."
"...I see. I understand your intentions."
I nodded at his words.
"I have nothing more to teach you. You've grown splendidly."
"Get off this ship right now and swim back to the Empire."
Pielott's expression fell into despair.
Selena, who was next to him, spoke with a subtle expression.
"Excuse me, Frondier-nim."
"Even for a Zodiac, it would be difficult to swim through these waves and return to the Empire."
We had already come a long way. Agoris might be closer now.
Such a distance, and these tremendous waves. Swimming was unrealistic. Pielott probably knew that too, which is why he hid and then revealed himself.
...Or maybe he just couldn't stand the seasickness anymore.
"Fly there, Pielott."
This time, Elodie, who had been listening next to us, asked.
"Why not just take him with us? Pielott isn't that weak. If this is a danger that could kill him, then not many of us here would survive."
Pielott nodded vigorously at Elodie's defense.
She was right. Pielott's combat abilities were quite outstanding. I knew better than anyone how much he had improved through training with me.
But that wasn't the problem.
"Did the Ribanche family allow you to be here?"
He quietly averted his gaze. Seeing that, Elodie's gaze, which had been defending him, also cooled down.
"They wouldn't have. You know your position in the Ribanche family."
A rising star, a genius in aura usage, the next generation's hope.
It was unthinkable for the family's pride and joy, their son, to suddenly follow a man branded as a devil.
"I'm sorry, but ask any devil to drop this guy back in the Empire."
Swimming might be difficult, but a devil could surely travel this distance back and forth.
Right then, Pielott knelt down and bowed his head deeply. If it weren't for the levitation, he would have hit the floor.
"You think that will work on me?"
"Anyway, I can't go!"
"Your parents will be worried."
"It's, it's okay! I have someone to tell them."
"Someone to tell them?"
"I, I told Dier, so..."
Hearing that, I looked at Elodie.
"Can I hit this guy?"
"Want to add some flames to your fist?"
Elodie actively agreed. Pielott, in the meantime, spoke earnestly.
"I have to become stronger!"
"I know. Become stronger in the Empire."
"Becoming stronger in the Empire isn't enough!"
"Everyone becomes stronger in the Empire, what are you talking about..."
"It's not enough! No one could protect you, Senior!!"
Pielott's shout. I momentarily froze at his words.
Pielott, seeing this as his chance, lifted his head and looked at Elodie.
"And Senior Elodie ran away from home too!"
"It's unfair to only do this to me! Senior Elodie was an even bigger prospect than me! The Rishae family must be in chaos right now!"
Elodie subtly avoided his gaze.
Honestly, I hadn't expected Elodie to come along either. Of course, the head of the Rishae family, Ortel de Rishae, seemed to have let Elodie go. She had stopped her brother, Revet, from going berserk.
But running away was still running away. It wasn't that different from Pielott's situation.
A question arose in my mind, so I spoke.
"What did Dier say? He must have tried to stop you."
Dier was someone I could trust. Of course, it wasn't that I didn't trust Pielott, but when it came to making important decisions, I needed Dier.
"Dier actually wanted to come with me."
"But he said this to me."
—I want to go too, but I think I should stay here.
—I'll be more needed by Senior Aster than Senior Frondier.
I chuckled inwardly at Dier's thoughts.
Just as Aster and I had separated due to our circumstances...
Dier might have known that too, and thus separated from Pielott.
I finally accepted and nodded.
Pielott, despite appearances, was a level-headed guy. To go this far, he must have made up his mind.
"Permission granted. However,"
I looked at Elodie instead of Pielott, whose expression brightened.
Elodie understood my intentions and snapped her fingers.
Pielott fell from his levitating state.
"Deal with your seasickness yourself."
Pielott's face turned pale even before the seasickness, which hadn't even started yet, could hit him.