Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Introduction to Magic (4)
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Even though I had sent a letter to the Academy, I wasn't holding out much hope.
Based on common sense from my memories, it didn't seem likely they'd dispatch some top-tier tutor for me.
'Honestly, they've probably already written me off as a lost cause. No way they're wasting a real talent on someone like that.'
To hedge my bets, I had offered a slightly higher fee in the letter.
Ridel had insisted that if they didn't send a proper tutor, she'd pull every string connected to the imperial family and lodge a formal complaint with the Academy—but I talked her out of it.
Even if they sent a mediocre mage by Academy standards, that was still relative.
To put it simply, even an average 'Seoul University grad' would have a solid baseline that could help me a ton.
'Supreme Physique has definitely sparked some changes in my mana pathways already. If they just teach me the basics and the tricks, this perk-born talent should carry the rest.'
With that optimistic mindset, I had been eagerly awaiting the tutor.
But the moment I laid eyes on her, a chill ran down my spine.
'What the hell? Why is she here? Is the Academy seriously plotting to assassinate me?'
Because the tutor who arrived was none other than...
"G-Greetings, Your Highness the noble 9th Prince. I am the Summoning Mage Amelin. Th-This here is my familiar, Mikel."
-Grrruuuh!
...the Mad Witch Amelin.
That's right.
The witch from Savior of World who turned me into a freakish horse.
-What's this? Another fresh prey for our Mikel? Aha! Ha! Hahahahaha!
Of course, in the game, she had this seductive, madness-fueled vibe, while the woman standing before me now looked timid and shrinking, clearly nervous as hell.
But my eyes didn't lie.
For starters, her familiar was a griffon named Mikel—but the real giveaway was...
That body screaming its presence, totally at odds with her timid, cowering demeanor.
Amelin had been one of the fan-favorite bosses, just like Ridel.
And the secret to her popularity? Those massive breasts and that plump, juicy ass, obviously.
Especially in her boss fight, where she ditched the full-body robe for a revealing red dress that had countless players drooling.
Of course, from my perspective—knowing she'd turn me into a monstrous steed—that did nothing to endear her to me.
Hell, one reason I even wanted to learn magic was to counter the Mad Witch. And now she's my tutor?
What kind of absurd bullshit is this?
After a whirlwind of thoughts, I said,
"......Can we switch her out?"
"Eek!?"
Amelin's face crumpled like the world was ending.
"Aren?"
Ridel shot me a puzzled look at my sudden demand for a replacement.
It was a knee-jerk reaction, but I could come up with a plausible excuse.
"Summoning magic is way above my level right now. Plus, a prince parading around with a monster? Bad for the image."
"I-It's f-f-fine! No problem at all! I'm a Summoning Mage, but I can handle basic elemental magic up to intermediate level! I'm confident I can teach you well! So please, don't turn me away, Your Highness!"
Amelin didn't just bow flat on the floor—she grabbed my pant leg and begged.
-Look at these pathetic bugs swarming in! So utterly vile! Mikel! Oh, Mikel! Let's watch them dance even more ridiculously together! Hahahahaha!
She was nothing like her in-game lines.
And I knew she could cast intermediate spells, too—one of her attack patterns involved hurling fire magic.
"If I go back now, it'll completely tarnish the Summoning Magic department's reputation! The Dean might even cut my pay over it! Please! Mikel can't go hungry! Waaah! Sob sob sob!"
Now she was bawling her eyes out.
"D-Do you have no pride?"
"Pride doesn't feed Mikel! Waaah! Sob sob! I won't even have money for his food on the way back! Sob sob sob!"
-Kruuuh!
Was this really the Mad Witch?
The one who spouted arrogant, insane lines while her sexy figure stole players' souls?
"Aren, maybe we should see how her skills stack up first before deciding on a switch?"
Even Ridel, who always took my side, pitied her groveling and offered that opinion.
From her standpoint, my complaint sounded pretty unreasonable.
"......"
I had a gut-level aversion to keeping Amelin close, thanks to what I knew in advance.
But setting that aside and thinking rationally...
'This is Amelin before she becomes the Mad Witch.'
Me, Ridel—most bosses like us were born after that incident, when the evil gods started actively screwing with the world.
And Amelin was no exception.
'Maybe keeping her by my side is how I prevent her from turning me into a horse.'
Come to think of it, none of the bosses went mad or fell for no reason.
Item descriptions scattered around hinted that built-up grudges or negative emotions exploded when the evil gods poked at them.
For the Mad Witch Amelin, the details weren't explicit, but...
'Just from what she's said so far, I can kinda guess.'
Is the Academy basically grad school?
Her gripes sound just like someone scraping by on grunt work...
A grad student cracking after years of dead-end tasks, shit pay, and slave-like treatment.
'......Yeah, that tracks. Alright, let's keep her around and observe.'
Thinking of her as a grad student made her kinda pitiful, too.
"Fine, I'll hold off on switching for now."
"Th-Thank you! Thank you, noble Your Highness! Thank you for your mercy!"
"I said it's fine—don't kiss my shoes."
The disconnect was insane.
Amelin felt like she'd narrowly escaped death.
She hadn't expected him to reject her on sight.
But she didn't resent him or find it strange.
Years as the Dean's apprentice had thoroughly crushed her self-esteem.
'Of course he'd see a worthless, fat slob with no real friends as some mediocre mage.'
Thanks to her begging over and over—for her precious griffon familiar Mikel's sake—the tutor swap was on hold.
Amelin wasn't about to let this chance slip.
'I-I have to win the Prince over somehow! Or Mikel starves! P-Praise him! Even if it's fake, praise him! Butter him up no matter what!'
She didn't believe for a second that Aren Eldiad had any talent.
Aren turned to Amelin, whose replacement was now tabled.
"We don't have a griffon perch in the mansion. You okay leaving him outside for a bit?"
"Y-Yes! Mikel's tough and sturdy! On rainy days, though... c-can I cast a spell on the ground for a shelter?"
"Rain's rare this season. If it happens, just restore it later."
"Understood! Thank you for understanding, Your Highness! As expected from the merciful 9th Prince! Heh, hehe, ehehehe."
Aren and Ridel whispered as they watched Amelin force a desperate, wobbly smile.
"She looks so pathetic, Ridel."
"Probably because you asked to switch her right off the bat, Aren."
After showing Amelin to her room in the mansion, Aren asked,
"Want to start lessons now? Or if you're tired, we can begin tomorrow."
"No! Not at all! I'm n-not tired one bit! Full of energy! The thought of teaching a gracious prince like you has me so motivated, I could pull an all-nighter!"
"Good, but don't. Bad for your health."
"Ahh! To think even of a lowly mage like me's health! Your compassionate heart brings tears of to my eyes!"
"......"
Aren felt a sharp disconnect—and a twinge of guilt—watching Amelin tremble as real tears welled up.
Once they moved to the room where he'd receive lessons, Amelin asked Aren,
"Wh-What would you like to learn!? Anything at all—just say the word! Even if I don't know it, I'll study up and teach you!"
"From the beginning. Start with an aptitude test."
"An aptitude test?"
"Yeah. I remember the imperial mages poking around my body as a kid, checking mana flow and all that. Do the same and tell me my current state."
"U-Understood!"
She answered promptly, but cold sweat poured down her back.
A basic talent aptitude check at this point would yield disastrous results, no doubt.
If he asked for simple spells, she could fluff it with endless praise and flattery—but aptitude tests were pure results.
'Gotta spin it positive! No negativity! For Mikel's food money!'
"Th-Then, please remove your top shirt! I n-need to place my hands directly on your back to check..."
"Got it. Ridel."
"Yes, Aren."
Ridel casually removed Aren's upper shirt, as if it were the most natural thing.
And Amelin's eyes fell on Aren's artistically chiseled physique.
'Whoa, those pecs are no joke.'
Unlike abs-loving Ridel, Amelin was all about pecs.