CHAPTER 521: CHAPTER 256: REJECTED PROPOSAL

"How... did you do it?"

Mrs. Judith was at a loss for words. She had seen many people trying to decipher the contents of the letter. The professors at the academy had exhausted every means at their disposal, but all to no avail. Yet, Lindong seemed to merely trace his finger lightly over the parchment, infusing it with some magic power.

She finally saw the words appearing on the parchment, fulfilling a long-held obsession in her heart.

Cynthia.

That is the name of the Hunting Goddess.

Dean McCarthy Delin hid it well. Even she, as a researcher, had never noticed the relationship between the dean and the Hunting Goddess.

"You were all heading in the wrong direction. The contents of this letter have nothing to do with the magic net."

Lindong read the contents on the parchment. At the end of his life, McCarthy Delin finally managed to write down his purest thoughts on this parchment, "It is merely a detection spell."

"And the other obscured parts..."

"Most likely, they are also related to Cynthia."

Lindong’s tone seemed subdued, a nameless anger rising in his heart. The contents on the parchment were so genuine and heartfelt. If Cynthia were to return to the academy one day and saw the letter, she would know about McCarthy Delin’s constant longing for her, a love that had never changed from beginning to end.

He believed Cynthia would see it, perhaps at his funeral.

Even without the energy supply from the Old Gods, the lifespans of higher and middle-level gods were much longer than those of humans, but now he was a white-haired old man, while Cynthia likely still appeared as a youth.

If McCarthy Delin were still alive, she might be unable to resist giving him a punch.

The letter mentioned their last meeting was after the war ended, and Cynthia missed the academy’s founding ceremony. Many people came to the academy at that time—the Knight Lord, the Goddess of Life... those respected higher gods were all present. He regretted being unable to find Cynthia among the crowd.

McCarthy Delin’s views on Cynthia changed over the various stages of his life.

At first, he could not understand Cynthia’s abrupt departure and even held a grudge because of it. But when he became the dean, burdened daily with official duties, he vaguely understood Cynthia’s choice—humans who survived the long war seemed not to have learned enough lessons. They defined the enemy as the Evil God, and the new faction led by the Knight Lord was called the new gods. They still longed for the existence of gods, initially to promote them, but it gradually evolved into a spiritual quest.

The followers of the middle-level gods found themselves inferior in the new order, with much negative rhetoric about the middle-level gods being rampant.

In the 30 years since the academy’s establishment, many middle-level god followers left in frustration. Unable to cohabit with the followers of the higher gods, they decided to leave the academy to find a home truly theirs.

At this stage, McCarthy Delin vaguely understood Cynthia’s decision. When too many people’s gazes focused on him and when too many hopes became burdens on his shoulders, his life was no longer his own.

The letter mentioned that each morning as he opened his eyes, the unfinished tasks would flood into his mind.

He must use his limited life to lay the foundation for future generations.

The magic net still had too many issues to resolve, and magic addiction remained a major issue plaguing all mages.

McCarthy Delin’s life was fulfilling; not a single day was idle.

Let alone leaving the academy to search for Cynthia’s whereabouts, he didn’t even have time to go fishing on the island.

"He was ruined by the Knight Lord in this life."

Lindong sharply commented and then turned to Ethan, "See, this is the downside of being a dean."

If it were her, she would have long left the academy’s affairs to search for Cynthia.

McCarthy Delin seemed to write his regrets into the letter at the end of his life. But if time could be reversed, he would undoubtedly make the same choice.

Stay at the academy and transform his life into what people expected of him.

The creator of the academy, the greatest Elemental Shaper in human history—not everyone could bear such a title.

"I never imagined that Dean McCarthy Delin had such a past..."

Mrs. Judith bowed her head, overwhelmed by intense emotions.

She had stayed in the memorial hall for years. Dean McCarthy Delin inspired her; whenever she opened those books, she felt like a senior was recounting those past stories for her, but this senior seemed devoid of human emotions.

"If this is what Professor Wabul hoped we would see, he is destined to be disappointed."

Lindong raised an eyebrow.

At the moment when life was nearing its end, McCarthy Delin finally set aside concerns about the magic net and magic addiction, leaving a wordless letter to future generations.

"Ethan, do you know the traditions of the academy’s deans?"

She suddenly asked.

"What traditions?"

"People say it’s the dean’s blessing. His spirit protects every dean, and every successive dean lives a long life, even during civilizational shifts, but this blessing has a downside." Lindong deliberately paused for a moment, "Most of the academy’s deans remain bachelors their whole lives. Even the few who broke this tradition saw their love lives face many tribulations."