#688 Sensei’s Farewell Speech

Spring has come.

I wonder how many springs have passed since I came to this world.

This one feels particularly poignant.

Spring is a season of meeting and parting.

An event emphasizing the “parting” aspect will be held early this season—the graduation ceremony...!

Initially, teens from different races were gathered for various reasons and educated here on the farm.

They’ve laughed and cried, and after completing the entire course, they’ve grown into fine individuals.

There’s nothing left to teach them.

Now, it’s their turn to utilize what they’ve learned for the good of the world and its people.

So, our dear farm students, from today on, you’ll go to different places and fully demonstrate what you’ve learned.

Ritheseus.

Eryngear.

Angel and friends.

And many others.

Having cleared that (literally) hellish graduation exam, they’ve proven that they’ve successfully completed the farm’s entire course.

We must celebrate the beginning of their new journey with all our might.

*    *    *

“The field trip we all went on.”

“FIELD TRIIIIIIIP!!!”

“The fun we had at the sports festival.”

“SPORTS FESTIVALLLLL!!!”

As the graduation ceremony program smoothly proceeds, only a few parts remain.

And appearing towards the end is none other than Sensei, the Lifeless King.

At first, I only asked him for help, but ultimately, this project became something he pushed forward as the centerpiece.

To Sensei, the students he’s sending off today are as dear to him as his own children.

That’s why he’s the person who should be delivering the farewell speech.

Sensei stands on the stage and looks over the graduating students, his face full of emotion.

“...Congratulations on your graduation...!”

His voice trembles with a flood of emotions.

Sensei weeps in spite of himself.

“You all have completed all the tasks I have assigned and have grown admirably. You’re now fully fledged individuals who can stand tall anywhere. Just imagining you all flourishing in different parts of the world fills me with immense pride.”

At this point, you can already hear stifled sobs from the student rows.

Their sense of unity is overwhelming.

“It feels like just yesterday when you all came to this farm. Those innocent young boys and girls have now become impressive individuals before me. Time flies. It doesn’t feel like it has been hundreds of years at all...!”

“Sensei, it was just a few years ago.”

Is his sense of time as a Lifeless King breaking down again?!

Anyway, there’s no doubt that Sensei cherishes the students more than anyone else and is delighted by their growth.

But he’s not the only one deeply moved here.

Just like in a regular school, one teacher can only guide so many students, so many others were involved in teaching at the farm school.

The orcs, goblins, elves, and even Puffer, the current Mermaid Queen who was significantly involved in the teaching until she left the farm to get married, are all present at today’s graduation ceremony, shedding tears and blowing their noses.

“I’m shooooo happy!!! For you guyshhh!!! I really ammmmm!!! Uhuhuhuhu!!!”

Puffer, in particular, is sobbing dramatically.

It reminds me of her master, Zoth Syra, who was overcome with emotion at her disciple’s wedding.

They say like master, like disciple, and it seems that’s true for them.

And then...

Sensei’s speech continues.

“Lastly, there’s something I want to show you all in celebration of your graduation,” he says.

Was this part of the program? Is this an ad-lib on Sensei’s part?

“Since ancient times, it is said that teaching others brings growth to the teacher as well. By being in the position to teach you all, I have been able to see things I couldn’t and learn things I didn’t know. The days I spent with you all have been meaningful for me, too,” he continues. “Those days have brought about growth within me and bestowed upon me a new strength. It was not just I who taught you, but you also guided me in return. Now, I wish to display the fruits of that progress as a token of my gratitude to you all.” 

As Sensei raises his staff, the atmosphere changes immediately.

There’s a throbbing sense of tension, as though something is about to happen.

“Meow, meow, meowww. Time for some commentary, meow!”

And then appears Professor the other Lifeless King.

He is a transcendent being like Sensei, but his appearance is that of a cat.

“Sensei is distorting space. Seems like he’s planning to open a route to another world, meow.”

“A route to another world?”

Come to think of it, Sensei had started to summon gods from other realms when the students were about to graduate, not satisfied with the local gods.

This was a significant change from before.

Is he doing the same thing again?

“This time seems to go beyond that. Looks like Sensei can now open and connect channels with all worlds. It’s crazy stuff, meow.”

Crazy stuff?

“Look, the world Sensei is connecting to right now is a new universe that’s only a few years old. It’s still hot from the Big Bang, with super, super high temperatures with unstable atomic structures. A world filled with temperatures of hundreds of millions of degrees, meow.”

“Hundreds of millions of degrees?!”

The scale of this conversation is too large.

“Now, Sensei can let such super energy flow into this world by connecting it with other worlds and use it. Essentially, Sensei has an infinite amount of energy, meow.”

“It’s hundreds of millions of degrees, after all!”

To us puny humans, the scale is virtually infinite!

“If he wanted, he could easily destroy the whole world... Finally, someone from the Lifeless Kings has stepped into Alexander’s territory, meow.”

“But Alexander would still win, right?”

“Well, yes, meow.”

The one who asked was Veil.

But at the scene, everyone was left speechless by the miracle Sensei had caused.

Sensei, who perfectly controlled the damage to our world while connecting the gate to the super-space of hundreds of millions of degrees, was nothing short of a god.

“I couldn’t have achieved this feat in the past. Thanks to you, I’ve grown with you all and gained holy and light attributes. This is the power you’ve given me. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is your power.”

“It is an exaggeration, Sensei!!!”

One of the students at the graduation ceremony cries out, unable to bear it.

I understand how he feels.

“Even an old bone like me can progress like this by interacting with your youthful power. As the epitome of youth, you guys should be able to achieve even greater growth in the future.”

I wonder about that.

“Now, go forth. A vast future lies before you. I eagerly await the day you show me how much you’ve grown!”

And thus, the farm graduation ceremony came to a close. 

On a beautiful day when the petals of the Sakura Yggdrasil were falling, the students left the nest and returned to their respective nations.

*    *    *

All the farm students returned to their homes, leaving no one behind.

Some, like the new witches in Angel’s entourage, would still continue to work on the farm, but for now, they’ve gone home to report their graduation.

The farm seems to have become quite lonely.

Most notably Sensei.

Staring silently at the sea as if the hustle and bustle up until now was a lie, he remains motionless.

“Melancholia...?!”

Having devoted all his energy to educating the students until now, has he ended up with a gaping hole in his heart now that it’s over?!

I had anticipated this, but the diameter of the hole in his heart seemed to be larger than expected.

“S-Sensei...?!”

“No, this isn’t good, Lord Saint. I’ve been alone for thousands of years, yet just a few years of interacting with children has brought me to this shameful state. Not to mention this place is still bustling with you and everyone else; my students would laugh at me if they saw me like this,” says Sensei, letting out a dry chuckle. 

This can’t go on!

I must put my long-planned project into action!

“...Actually, Sensei, it’s not an exaggeration to say that this project was a great success, right...?”

“Pardon?”

“The Demon King, who’s like our client, was very pleased and has asked us to raise more promising talent on the farm...!”

“?!”

“We’re starting enrollment for the second batch of the farm school!!”

Of course, I’d like to ask you, Sensei, to instruct them!

There will be more children growing with you!

“Is that so... Is that so...!!!”

A light returns to Sensei’s eyes.

“If I’ve been given expectations, I must meet them! I understand! As a Lifeless King, I will produce even more useful talents for the world!”

Sensei cheered up!

Spring is a season of meetings and partings.

I wonder what kind of children will come to learn in place of those who have left.