"No... where the hell did she go?"
On our wedding day, Kailin told me not to look for her and just left.
It had been three months since she said those words and vanished.
I still had no idea where she was or what she was doing.
'I thought she'd come back soon.'
I figured she'd return anyway.
She'd pulled this kind of stunt before—disappearing for a bit and then coming back. It wasn't the first or second time.
So this time, I assumed she'd show up eventually and didn't bother chasing after her.
'This is driving me nuts.'
But this time felt different.
Three months had passed, and there was still no sign of her.
Honestly, I was starting to get a little worried.
'And she's not even alone.'
I was concerned about her, sure.
But what worried me most was the baby in her belly.
She was pregnant right now—a time when she absolutely needed stability.
'Isn't it about time for the baby to be born?'
On top of that, it was right around when the baby could arrive any day now.
We'd gotten married when she was about six months along.
Three months later, the baby might be on its way.
"Guess I can't just sit here."
I finally stood up.
I couldn't just wait around not knowing when she'd come back.
I headed to the places where Kailin might have gone.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Not here either.'
I checked every place she might be.
Her family home. The library where she'd nurtured her dreams as a mage.
Even the hill behind the house where she'd kept practicing magic even after getting pregnant.
I searched everywhere I could think of.
But nothing.
I couldn't find her anywhere.
'Of course... she's at the Magic Tower?'
In this situation, the last place that came to mind was the Magic Tower.
It was where mages researched their magic, and any talented mage dreamed of entering.
She was no different. Even in the original story, she'd often talked about the Magic Tower when chatting with me.
So maybe I'd find her there?
With that thought, I made my way to the Magic Tower.
"Greetings. I am Reshu, the current gatekeeper of the Magic Tower, to those who seek entry. May I have your name?"
"Davian."
"I see. Are you a mage, then?"
"No."
"I'm sorry, but only mages are allowed inside."
But I couldn't get in.
Right at the entrance, a woman with purple hair dressed in mage robes blocked my path.
She was Reshu, the mage.
Her reason for stopping me was obvious.
Only mages could enter the Magic Tower—and only those with considerable talent at that.
There was no way I, possessing Davian's body with no magic skills or talent, could get in.
But I couldn't give up here.
"I'm not a mage, but I want to check if someone I know is here."
"Hmm. What's that mage's name, and what's your relationship to them?"
"Her name is Kailin Dwenvell. I'm her husband. I just want to talk to her once."
I explained the situation to the gatekeeper.
I pleaded as her husband who wanted to speak with his wife.
"Hmm... her husband, you say."
She looked a bit troubled at my words.
"Not even a boyfriend, but her husband... You're married?"
"Yes."
Even mages, famous for being strict, apparently couldn't ignore a husband-wife relationship lightly.
She thought for a moment, then sighed as if she had no choice.
"Kailin Dwenvell is indeed here at the Magic Tower, the person you're looking for. She entered about three months ago."
So Kailin had joined the Magic Tower after all.
Three months ago, right after she ran off, she'd come straight here.
She was probably studying magic diligently inside.
"I see. I'd like to meet her."
I planned to talk to her first and foremost about the child.
So I asked the gatekeeper to let me see her.
But...
"...I'm sorry, but even if you're her husband, non-mages can't enter."
Unfortunately, the Magic Tower's rules couldn't be bent.
She shook her head, saying it wasn't possible.
I was pretty disappointed by her response, but...
"That said, I can bring her out for you. I'll let her know Davian is here. That shouldn't be a problem."
"You'd do that?"
"Yes. Please wait a moment."
Luckily, the gatekeeper agreed to have her come out.
Well, a mage leaving the tower should be fine.
She told me to wait and zoomed off on her broom with a whoosh.
'Now I can see Kailin again.'
I felt a wave of relief.
My heart had sunk when she said I couldn't enter, but things were working out.
I was thinking how lucky that was.
But.
"Why are you here alone? Where's Kailin?"
"...She said she's not coming."
Why'd you come back by yourself?
A short while later, the gatekeeper returned—alone.
Seeing Reshu shake her head at me, I had to ask again.
"May I ask why?"
"She said she doesn't want to see you."
"What?"
"She just told me to tell you to go home. That's it."
"..."
She didn't want to see me, even after I'd come this far?
It was absurd, but it was the truth.
The gatekeeper looked sympathetic, and I had no choice but to leave the Magic Tower.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
So I returned home without meeting Kailin.
I thought about the situation again.
'This isn't a bad spot for me, honestly...'
To be frank, it wasn't bad for me at all.
Like I'd said before, getting her pregnant and marrying her was just an unavoidable accident.
I didn't particularly love Kailin or anything. In fact, not living with her like this meant less stress and was honestly more comfortable.
'Is she planning to raise the kid alone?'
And the biggest issue—the child—was on her now.
I didn't have to do a thing.
Crassly put, I'd enjoyed the pleasure without the responsibility.
'I'll just live my own life.'
So yeah, this situation was far from bad for me.
She wouldn't even meet me anyway—what could I do?
From now on, I'd live for myself.
'Handle it yourself.'
I'd live ordinarily, as planned.
Kailin could do her Magic Tower research and raise the kid.
We'd each go our separate ways. That felt right.
So it was time for me to stop caring.
I decided not to think about Kailin anymore.
'But...'
There was just one thing nagging at me.
'Wait, can a baby even be at the Magic Tower?'
The problem was the Magic Tower itself.
As I'd said, only mages could enter.
That rule applied even to a one-year-old baby.
No one could be there for any reason other than magic.
So I couldn't help but wonder.
What was she planning to do about the baby?
Did she have some special plan?
I tried not to care, but I kept getting curious about that part.
Knock knock.
But that curiosity was quickly resolved.
There was a knock at the door of my mansion.
Someone had come to visit, but who would come here?
I went to the entrance to check, and the visitor was someone I'd seen at the Magic Tower not long ago.
"Gatekeeper?"
"Good to see you, Davian."
The gatekeeper I'd spoken to at the Magic Tower—Reshu, I think her name was?
She greeted me politely.
Why had she come all the way here?
"What brings you here...?"
I had to ask.
"She asked me to deliver this."
Reshu carefully pulled something from her bosom.
What she held was a baby.
"That child...?"
"Kailin said to give it to you. Along with this letter."
Kailin had sent the baby to me?
I couldn't make sense of it, so I took the letter first.
What the hell was she thinking, handing the baby over to me now?
To find out, I started reading the letter.
"Is she fucking insane?"
I couldn't help but get genuinely angry.