Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Talent (2)
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"Hmm..."
The twins and Siwoo had spread out the draft of the magic circle on the table and were huddling together over it.
In truth, Odile and Odette had no intention of discussing magic with him this seriously.
Even when he confessed that about 70% of the magic circle was complete and he had roughly a year left before unlocking a new "gate," they figured it was just the delusion of an ignorant beginner.
They planned to glance at his obviously messy draft, toss out some casual advice, and use it as an excuse to drag him into Tarot Town for various errands.
"Assistant, why does it turn out like this? There's this weird, twisty diagram here."
"It's calculating the range of effective mana values during the transition from the deployment section to the transformation section."
"How?"
"You can't understand it by thinking of numbers as points on a one-dimensional line. Instead, think of it as the phase changing depending on the rotation angle."
"Aha~"
Siwoo picked up his pen and quickly sketched a simple diagram on the paper.
Odile listened intently to Siwoo's explanation of the equations for Odette, lost in thought.
He had skillfully used the Dispel Pin against her magic.
But that was still within the realm of "possible."
However, it defied common sense that a mere slave with no formal magic training had constructed a large-scale magic circle tailored to his own system.
"Why did you deploy the rune letters in series here? Wouldn't a bridge formation be better for noise rectification?"
"A bridge formation would halve the output. Here, we need to max out mana efficiency to boost stability. You know how a paper airplane flies wobbly when you throw it slowly?"
No matter what question they asked, answers came without hesitation.
And with surprisingly apt analogies, too.
"Doesn't this part seem a bit off? It looks like you selected the mana resistance wrong."
"Ah, you can ignore that part. I deliberately lowered the resistance value—it's a ground to prevent mana backlash if the spell fails."
"That works?"
On top of that, he was completing the magic using methods they'd never heard of or seen.
His magic was like a building constructed in absurdly roundabout ways.
Like a structure dreamed up by wide-eyed kids but actually built using unheard-of techniques.
"Still, it's not without issues. The linkage section is the biggest problem. It's original, but way too risky."
"And since the variable section isn't finalized, there's a chance even you, Assistant Siwoo, might lose control."
"Is that so?"
Even so, they were apprentice witches.
Having studied magic since they could read, the twins were starting to spot the flaws in Siwoo's circle.
"Look here. For example, you set the mana load to 11.26, right? That converts the output to 0.33, so..."
And so the three engaged in heated debate until sunset.
2.
Siwoo's daily routine saw little change.
Fortunately, the twins were quite friendly toward him.
They threatened to tell Amelia or blackmail him, but it didn't seem like they meant it.
If anything, they even showed up the next day to eagerly help with the parts where he was stuck.
"All done for today!"
Siwoo organized the last book scattered in the library and climbed down the ladder.
Tomorrow, he had to head to Tarot Town again.
It was time to "pay up" to Odile and Odette.
Truth be told, if he let his guard down even a little, it could be quite enjoyable.
Sure, full-on game sex was out, but rolling in bed with girls of that caliber wasn't something to take lightly.
Who knew—maybe they'd even flash their breasts this time.
As he indulged in lewd fantasies, a twinge of self-loathing hit him.
-Clack, clack
Hearing the sound of heels, Siwoo straightened his clothes.
He didn't want any unnecessary nagging.
Like how a herbivore instantly recognizes a carnivore, Siwoo could tell who it was just from the footsteps.
"Caretaker."
Ferocity incarnate, the deer that devoured men—Amelia.
She swept her tousled hair to one side and stood before Siwoo.
A fragrant, sweet-yet-salty scent wafted strongly from her.
Today's outfit was a pale aquamarine dress that revealed her sharp collarbone and rounded shoulders.
Her white nape stood out, drawing his gaze there involuntarily.
The slight peek of cleavage left him unsure where to look.
"What brings you here?"
Siwoo bowed politely.
He had one more thing to feel guilty about now, and above all, he remembered Amelia's warning.
"I'm heading to Border Town tomorrow. I need an escort."
"As a porter?"
"Yes."
Did this Amelia like him?
Looking at her face, colder than ice, Takasho's words were impossible to believe.
If she truly favored him, wouldn't she at least smile sweetly like Odette?
"I'll go in the morning, so come to my lab by 9 a.m."
"Understood."
Suddenly, he felt a urge to test it.
If Takasho was right about her goodwill, she'd forgive a comment like this, right?
"But, Lady Amelia."
Amelia's left eyebrow twitched upward.
For reference, that was her body language for confusion.
"Did you come all this way just to relay that message?"
The lab and grand library were quite a distance apart.
It was a subtle probe, implying she might have come to a secluded spot to meet alone—something only noticeable if one had a guilty conscience.
It also showed respect by suggesting she shouldn't trouble herself.
"I decide my own business. Just mind your own, Caretaker."
Amelia replied without a hint of unease.
No guilt whatsoever.
And check out that breath.
"Oh, and one more thing to warn you about."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Have you been having private conversations with the apprentice witches lately?"
Siwoo flinched at Amelia's sudden question.
He racked his brain while hiding his surprise.
The twins had visited his quarters recently, and they'd exchanged small talk in the halls too.
"Private conversations...?"
"I'm asking if you've exchanged more words than necessary between a slave and a witch."
He already had exchanged more than necessary.
They'd debated magic circles and even gotten oral four days ago.
Had she found out?
Where had they been spotted?
Was meeting inside the academy too risky after all?
"No."
He denied it for now.
He didn't know how much she knew, but if his indiscretions with the twins came out, he was done for.
Amelia stared intently at his face.
It was awkward.
Her piercing blue eyes fixed on him, making him feel like she could read his mind.
"Caretaker..."
Amelia hesitated for a moment.
"Didn't you hate witches?"
True to her "ice statue" nickname, her tone and expression showed almost no change.
But Siwoo could tell—unlike others, he noticed the slight hesitation in her words.
"Not... exactly."
Of course he hated them.
How could anyone like magic-obsessed lunatics?
"I see."
"Yes."
"......"
"......"
This awkward atmosphere, this silence.
He had no clue what she knew or why she'd said that.
And why was Amelia—who always stuck to curt, businesslike talk—enduring this silence by standing there?
"If there's nothing else, may I finish organizing?"
"Wait."
She stopped him just as he wanted to escape her gaze.
"Yes."
"...Um..."
This decisive, sharp Amelia dragging her words?
People say sudden changes are a bad omen—had she caught some fatal disease?
"Um...?"
Amelia's lips twitched several times.
Her hesitation was mentally taxing for an impatient Korean.
"Hoo, it's nothing. If you're late tomorrow, you'll clean the lab again. Remember that."
Just like that, she vanished in a gust of cold wind.
"What the hell was that?"
Siwoo blankly stared at the firmly shut grand library door.
3.
Someone blocked Amelia's path as she strode quickly down the corridor.
"How'd it go, Amelia? Date proposal successful?"
"Avenuga, I told you it's not a date."
Bright, vibrant purple hair and black eyes.
Unlike the youthful Amelia, she exuded the allure of a mature woman, down to her ample bosom.
Sophia Avenuga, Chief Professor of Trinity Academy, was the only one Amelia might call a friend—though it was Sophia's claim alone.
"Amelia, want a tip? You call me by my witch name when you're upset."
"Flawed statistics."
"Especially when I hit a nerve."
"You've never hit a nerve, Professor Sophia."
Amelia brushed past the clingy Sophia with clear annoyance.
"What excuse did you use this time? Don't tell me you nitpicked the meeting time like last time and dragged him alone to your lab?"
Amelia glared at Sophia, who cackled "That was too much" with a weary look.
"That wasn't a date either. And I didn't nitpick. I just taught the slave proper conduct. Satisfied?"
"Not at all~ Associate Professor."
Amelia quickened her pace to escape the sticky Sophia, but their strides differed too much.
Tiny Amelia's waddling couldn't outpace Sophia for long.
"By the way, how long will you keep tormenting him? You two haven't even properly talked yet."
"Talk between slave and witch? Fitting for a vulgar witch who can't live up to her name. Do you lose all sense after rolling with slaves in your bed every night?"
Amelia's infamous sharp tongue rang out, but Sophia didn't bat an eye.
If she folded at this level, she wouldn't have stayed friends this long.
"Five years is short for us, but not for a slave. He hates you because you keep bullying and avoiding him."
"I said that's not true."
Sophia threw up her hands at Amelia's raised voice.
Over 60 years as friends, and she was still so childish.
Amelia's biggest flaw was her dishonesty.
"Keep it up, and I'll steal him."
"Do whatever."
"Heading to Border Town tomorrow? Want to borrow my villa there?"
"No need."
"Amelia doesn't even own mature lingerie, right? Black lace-trimmed underwear is essential for a lady."
"Don't cultivate such vulgar essentials."
Amelia scurried away, with Sophia in hot pursuit.
Their banter continued for quite a while.
Siwoo didn't know it, but the one who could most fluster Amelia was none other than Sophia.