"In that case, are you asking us to just forget what he did? Because of the academy's mistake, can the betrayal be considered okay?"
"Damian, calm down."
Quirin tried to calm Damian again when the elf cannot control his emotions. But unfortunately, this time, his words did not work for Damian, who was beginning to look dissatisfied with Griffin's answer.
"You were already in a safe place back then, so you probably don't know what it's like to see someone you saved abandon you for their safety. It wasn't just me. Henrik and Elijah would also be upset if he released just like this, right?"
Elijah actually no longer cared about what Gazel did in Latham Ruins. To him, death only meant he wasn't strong enough, and the NPCs' decisions had absolutely nothing to do with it. However, Elijah decided not to say anything because he didn't want to take anyone's side. Elijah's silence was viewed differently by the others. Coupled with Henrik frowning, Griffin finally concluded that no one liked it when Gazel was allowed to leave without receiving any punishment.
"I can understand your feelings. However, the academy still can't punish him, not when the fault is entirely on our side."
"Sir!"
"Even so, I can give him a different grade than the rest of you. Ah, no. Grades alone are not enough to pay for the danger you've gone through, right?"
This time, Damian no longer protested as Griffin continued his sentence with a small smile. The man moved his body forward, then continued his sentence with a more serious look in his eyes.
"I never expect students from the academy to carry their vices with them when they graduate from the academy. Official punishment may not be possible for him. However, I will ensure that Gazel will understand the meaning of cooperation from now on and no longer have the desire to knowingly harm his comrades in the future."
Griffin was only talking. But the tension in the room seemed to change drastically as Griffin spoke seriously. His words succeeded in making Damian and Henrik not protest any more. They were both silent after that. Although there was still a slight frown on their foreheads, none of them raised the issue to Griffin, who had turned serious in front of them.
"Of course, I also can't forget you guys who marvelously overcame something beyond your capabilities. I will give the three of you special tickets to stay in the special class next year. Of course, those tickets are valid no matter how bad your grades are this year."
"Really?!"
Only after hearing those words did Damian and Henrik's faces finally brighten up again. Most special class students had to undergo at least five missions to determine if they were worthy of remaining in a special class. But with Griffin's promise, they could be assured of staying even if they did not take any more missions after this.
Griffin nodded. "That is what I can do to make amends on our part. Quirin, Damian, Henrik, and Elijah. You have done your job well at the Latham Ruins."
After they finished with their reports, one by one they began to exit the room. Elijah had a feeling that he had been called last on purpose. Because when Griffin and Elijah is the person who remains in the room, Griffin did not immediately ask Elijah to rest and instead made small talk first.
"Elijah."
"Yes, Sir?"
Griffin smiled a little. "You did well," he told him. Elijah nodded briefly at the compliment. He did not answer, nor was he complacent, even if the academy head had just praised his hard work.
"I... no. We expect a lot from you."
This time, Elijah frowned slightly when Griffin said that sentence. Elijah didn't remember what he had done was so extraordinary that it had caught the attention of the head of the academy himself. Elijah looked at Griffin, then replied to the words with a very formal answer.
"Just like the others, I will do my best while studying here, Sir."
And with that, Elijah left even before Griffin let him out. Griffin chuckled as he realized he had probably just been rejected by Elijah. His laughter made someone frown, then appeared behind Griffin out of thin air.
"It's not like you to show special interest in one of your students."
Griffin looked at the young woman who had just appeared, then smiled as she recalled her encounter with Elijah.
"Can't you see that too? He's different from everyone I've met so far. If that's Elijah... he might be able to replace me someday."
A frown appeared on the young woman's forehead, a sign that she did not particularly like the way Griffin talked about himself.
"Why do you talk like you're going to die anytime soon? You're the most stubborn person I've ever met. I guess you won't die even if hundreds of people come to kill you."
"Geez... you think too highly of me, Embla."
Griffin complained to the woman called Embla, then slowly had a gloomy expression on his face. Griffin woke up to see the academy's surroundings through his office window. Griffin took a deep breath, signaling to Embla that there was something serious on Griffin's mind at the moment.
"Embla, unlike the elves, humans age very quickly and die in a short time. No matter how hard I train all this time, in the end, I don't have enough time to become the strongest on the Rhodes Continent."
"You have become the strongest, Griffin."
Embla protested, and Griffin let out a long breath. Embla had never understood the feelings Griffin had been feeling all this time. No matter how hard Griffin trained, he could no longer get stronger than he currently had. Coupled with the restless feeling that grew stronger with age, Griffin finally realized that he had reached a stagnant point that did not allow him to improve any further than this.
"I'm not the strongest, and I'm not going to be the strongest. I fought, but I can no longer move forward, Embla," Griffin told her.
"However, I have a feeling that the boy is capable of it. Even if the Rhodes Continent is struck by danger sometime in the future, he will be there to protect this place from destruction. There is something different about Elijah. I just know that."
As Griffin spoke so, Embla could not help but feel the same way as Griffin. Elijah carried an aura that he was different from everyone else. Elijah might not be the strongest at the moment. But soon, Embla believed that Elijah could surpass what they had been unable to do so far.
"Even so, his presence should not be an excuse for you to slack off, Griffin! Wouldn't you be ashamed to leave everything to that youngster? You saw his gaze too, didn't you? He... he's been through a lot just to be at this point."
Griffin recalled Elijah's blank stare when Embla had mentioned him. That look only belonged to those who had felt despair. Griffin knew that, and he pitied Elijah for it.
"Supporting him is fine. But don't you dare try to burden him with adult problems, Griffin."
Griffin chuckled as Embla said so. Embla says that even though the elf had done the same thing to him in the past. However, she didn't seem to be able to do the same to Elijah or any other youngster.
"Alright. You just want me to work hard in my old age, don't you? You got it. After all, my destiny is to be here waiting for your prophecy to come true."
Griffin's gaze softened as he continued his words in a voice that could only be heard by himself.
"Although, I hope the demon king never rises at any point in time," he said sadly.