"You're finally awake," Avery blinked his eyes twice, taking in his surroundings. He found himself in his room, fully clothed, but with a sticky substance on his face.

Immediately, he glared at the man in front of him before checking his face in the mirror. As he expected, this man had played with his face again. He grumbled and was about to strangle Beau when he rushed outside.

In the bathroom, Avery washed off the ink and took a moment to collect his thoughts. He wondered how long he had been asleep. Despite the long period of inactivity, he was relieved to find that his body was still functioning normally.

After getting dressed, Avery returned to find Beau sipping tea in the room. Curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "How long was I gone?"

"300 years," Beau replied, causing Avery's surprise to grow. Such a lengthy slumber was unusual, even for an immortal like himself.

Confused about what had transpired during his absence, Avery inquired further. Beau explained that a rumor had spread, accusing Avery of committing heinous acts, such as killing trespassers and enslaving and eventually killing his mortal wives. This false accusation had not only turned mortals against him but also caused his clan to lose its standing and reputation.

"I don't even have a lover," Avery muttered, baffled.

"The main problem is, our clan has decreased and was removed from the top three ranking clans because of a rumor that you tried to kill the Daze before heading to the mortal realm to fight against the demon king."

"W-what? How could that be?"

"I don't know. I heard he was terribly injured and has been secluding himself." Avery sighed in relief, knowing his close friend had not died.

"Who could have been spreading those rumors?" he asked quietly.

"Who knows? One thing's for sure though, the culprit has yet to be arrested." Beau replied. Avery sighed and sat next to him.

"Forget that, it's just a rumor."

"But that rumor made all your believers turn their backs on you. Well, not all of them."

"What can I do? Once a rumor starts spreading, it won't stop unless forgotten. Not like mortals 300 years ago are still alive today," Avery replied.

"Well, it's not only mortals who turned their back on you." Avery stared at him for a while before realizing something.

"Did everyone leave?" he asked, referring to the students he had trained.

"Two of your students stayed," Avery smiled sadly.

"That's great. What have they been doing since I was gone?"

"They've been working very hard for the day their master wakes up and allows them to become his disciples. They're at your fighting ground today." Beau smiled. Intrigued, Avery decided to witness their progress firsthand.

Arriving at the fighting ground, Avery was taken aback by the intense match between Scylla and Crater. Their skill and speed surpassed his expectations, and he could not help but applaud their impressive performance. Scylla rushed towards him, overjoyed at his return, followed by the more reserved Crater.

"M-Master, you're back!"

"It seems like you've grown into wonderful fighters," he replied, patting Scylla's head.

Expressing his pride in their growth, Avery declared them his official disciples, leaving them both stunned and speechless. They pledged their unwavering loyalty and service to him, grateful for the opportunity.

After instructing them to rest, Avery expressed his intention to meet with the Lord. He took his time walking, enjoying the scenery, before finally arriving at the Lord's residence.

"Good day, my lord. I am here to inform you that I have returned," he greeted lowering his head.

Lord Eliose's anger was evident as he threw a blade at Avery, who skillfully evaded it.

"Took you long enough! Do you know how hard it was for me to clean up those rumors about you?" Lord Eliose yelled.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you," Avery apologized, his head remaining lowered.

"You should be! Because of those rumors, you were banned from entering the Order. Instead, you'll have to do missions in the mortal realm."

"But my lord, Avery has just returned. Don't you think it's a bit too early for him to work?" Ariel said with concern.

"Don't underestimate him, Ariel. He's the type of guy who can't be confined to a single place," Lord Eliose replied.

Despite being banished from the Order and tasked with missions in the mortal realm, Avery accepted the challenge, accompanied by whoever he chose. Lord Eliose emphasized the importance of rebuilding relationships with other clans and avoiding any further trouble.

Returning to his residence, Avery's actions and the Lord's leniency caught Ariel's attention.

"You really have a soft spot for Avery. You may appear rough and stern, but those missions will serve as his steppingstone to returning to his former job, right?" she grinned.

Lord Eliose acknowledged the truth in her words, recognizing that Avery's talents should not go to waste due to baseless rumors. The once revered hero had become a pariah, and it was time for him to reclaim his rightful place.