I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 685: The Tears of the Leaving

Chapter 685: The Tears of the Leaving

In a single day, these two teenagers had brought more chaos to the order than it had seen in the last two thousand years. Yet amidst his dread, gratitude blossomed.

"Thank you for helping us with the mana and..." He leaned toward Adam, covering his mouth to whisper. "Taking that beast away."

"I’m merely curious to see how he’ll impact his new habitat. Anyway, where are the kids?"

With a solemn nod, Noah guided him to a group of wretched villagers and soldiers cradling toddlers and holding kids no older than six by the hand. "Only these ten children fit your requirements."

Then, he gestured to a second group of seven to twelve-year-olds clutching beast cores, his eyes sparkling in anticipation.

A chuckle escaped Adam’s lips. "Thirty? You know how to make the most of a promise."

Noah scratched his head, forcing a smile. "Are they too many? I can lower the count..."

Adam raised his palm, cutting him off. "Just watch."

Mana danced into glowing symbols on the mountain’s foot. Cores dissipated into ashes, youths inheriting a part of the felled beast’s strength in a mere minute before calm returned, and Adam smirked.

"All done. We’ll leave now, so take care of yourself and the order."

With a snap of his fingers, soft mana tendrils wrapped around the youngest kids. They floated away from their crying parents and soldiers. Emotions were thick; mothers teared up while husbands tried to console them. Yet, even they cried. But both knew their children had no future with them. They had to let them go to escape poverty—to follow an accomplished mage praised by even their powerful leader.

Hoping they would reunite one day with dashing young men and ladies, they sobbed their goodbyes in a heart-wrenching scene that made Misha pause.

A complex expression twisted her features, and her fingers twitched for a second before she sighed and followed Adam. She had already done them an incredible favor by offering their children good lives in their blessed land.

Although she wanted to do more, she also knew responsibilities would burden them. No, those kids would eventually leave to explore the world one day. Therefore, taking their parents would be a cruel way to bind them to her city.

Adam considered the same for half a second, his thoughts more pragmatic. He didn’t know them or owe them. More importantly, he didn’t want strangers to run around his resources. Was he petty? Perhaps. But the crux was that he found the relocation a vast travesty of a heroic deed.

’Noah has to fix the order’s structural issues and provide for them. I can’t import the world’s misery on my lands. They need durable solutions.’

Hopefully, the purification formation he had set up would nudge them in the right direction, but the rest was for them to figure out.

Nothing retained him here anymore, and the sky already took an orange hue. It was time to return.

He gave Noah one last glance, then zipped space open. His palace’s gates appeared on the other side, majestic and filled with lost history.

Everyone gasped for a second, but not William. Instead, he gazed at the few thousand villagers, guards, and mages. They were his family, people he had protected for over a century. Leaving filled his mouth with a bitter taste.

But another glance at the toddlers and crying children hovering behind Adam was all he needed to steel his resolve.

He moved in front of Noah and handed him Pablo’s scepter. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he observed his former disciple’s confused frown.

"You’re truly in charge now, Noah. Guide everyone and break the chain of misery." He turned to hide his quivering lips. "I count on you."

Noah’s eyes widened, the weight of the scepter pressing against his hand. "Wait! You said I’ll inherit it after becoming an archmage. I’m still far! Where are you going? William! Teacher!"

However, William didn’t turn. He couldn’t. He knew he would hesitate if he did. Instead, his voice cracked, reverberating loud and far. "Don’t follow me! The kids need a teacher. I’m going. That’s final."

Noah watched his teacher’s back move further and further away, his lips trembling and his eyes watering. Perhaps this was for the best, but sadness still struck. His pillar of support, the living man he respected the most, was leaving.

Warm tears trailed down his cheeks as he roared. "Thank you for everything. I-I’ll turn the order into something you’ll be proud of. I vow it on our founder’s name, so please, live long enough and return to witness it."

William crossed to the blessed land, finally turning to reveal his tear-filled face. "I’ll try to drag these old bones a bit longer, then. Everyone! Live long and happy lives in our ancestral home!"

The villagers cried out their goodbyes, too. Even the temple’s students, who disliked William’s strict demeanor, wished him the best.

A soft smile spread across Adam’s face as he closed the space. The order’s voices faded, but the sadness lingered in the oldest kids, who didn’t understand why they were separated from their parents.

He watched William bring them into a warm hug as much to calm them as to release his emotions. Misha joined them, whispering soothing words with a gentle smile.

Then, he turned toward the centipede, who eyed the blessed land’s lush forests, mountainous formations, and colossal barriers.

"Not too shabby, right?" He retrieved the poisonous gem from his spatial ring, smirking. "This is a temporary residence, though. The next one will blow your mind."

The centipede’s hand blurred faster than his own eyes could widen. In a heartbeat, he snatched the gem and grinned.

"I feel weaker magical beasts prowling in the forest. So you took me in to diversify your ecosystem?" He tapped on his lips pensively before he shrugged. "Why not as long as no one disturbs me? But I don’t believe you can find a better place. Mana and life force sing in harmony in this blessed land."

His skin hardened into dark chitin, and his body expanded. Thousands of legs sprouted as he scrambled down the palace’s island, his eager chuckles reverberating. Yet, he didn’t forget to leave one last remark.

"Still, you’ve shown me more impossible things today than I’ve witnessed my entire life. I’ll wait for your next place, boss."

"When did I become your boss?" An amused smile curved on Adam’s lips before he turned to William. Noticing the old archmage had somewhat calmed down to show the kids he was fine, he clapped his hands to draw his attention.

"Ready to see your new homes? I’m sure you’ll love the city Misha built."