The Master's Promise
Masters are often depicted in legends as legendary figures. That's because the honorific "Master" is so ancient, and there haven't been any new successors worthy of the title in ages. Even today, there are only seven Masters in existence.
The master artisan Hallock, who forged the imperial family's treasured sword, the Heavenly Dragon Blade, and 77 artifacts beyond monetary value. The Sword Saint Atus Lionheart, said to cleave the earth with a single slash. The Romantic Sage Luminus, who wanders the world with naught but his staff. The World Tree's Arm Eight Thousand Bows, Silvina. The Madonna, Lumen, mother to all. And finally, the Shadow of Jet Black and the Unknown.
These figures are still active and can actually be encountered. At their level of greatness, physical age means nothing—they can live for centuries. Of course, not all Masters were still around.
First, the Romantic Sage Luminus, Lumen, and Hallock have vanished from sight. Shadow, who leads the underworld, has never revealed his true identity. And the Unknown Master, whose very ascension to Master is a mystery, is simply recorded as having "existed."
[Siel]
From: Master
Thus, the syllable "Master" carries immense weight. It wasn't something to be casually scribbled on a mere letter.
"Impersonating...?"
Siel harbored doubts. The one who had helped her during the mana beast training battle and then vanished—the figure enshrined in mythic legend—would he really reach out to her personally...? Their communication had always been one-sided. Even that brief conversation last time had been a rare joy, so why would he send her a letter...?
But those thoughts evaporated the moment she read the letter's contents.
In the snowfield where white snowflakes danced that day, the words spoken await.
17:00, Catholic Hall.
The letter referenced the memory of the mana beast training battle. The fierce blizzard-swept snowfield. The words the Master had uttered while standing before the cave...
—"If you achieve growth, I shall grant you a gift."
It came back to her vividly, as if reliving that moment. The designation "From: Master" truly referred to him.
It was actually an arrogant claim. Calling oneself a Master implied absolute confidence in one's abilities. But Siel, who knew his prowess well, realized it wasn't mere boasting—it was simply that no other word fit to convey himself.
And she was certain.
"He really is a Master..."
All her previous speculations about him had stemmed from her own delusions. But now that he had acknowledged her, his identity as a Master was confirmed.
"Then who is he...?"
He was one of the seven Masters. Artisan, Sword Saint, Sage, Eight Thousand Bows, Madonna, Shadow, Unknown.
The answer came quickly.
"Not the Artisan, Sword Saint, Sage, Eight Thousand Bows, or Madonna."
The Artisan and Eight Thousand Bows were dwarf and elf, respectively—different races. The Madonna was female, and the Sword Saint was the head of the Lionheart family, whom she'd met in person as a child when he wielded his sword. She'd never encountered the Sage, Luminus, but she was her rival. Not a healthy rivalry, but a loathsome beast who had dragged the Dunhart family into ruin... the one who murdered the previous Aaron Dunhart and usurped the Master's seat. The culprit behind the family's fallen honor. Of course, Siel had never met her, but the family had drilled that hatred into her blindly.
That left just two Masters: Shadow and Unknown... Both were highly plausible. Neither had ever shown themselves to the world.
"This is my chance..."
Should she question the Master? And if they met, what then? She thought, and thought some more.
"...!"
Siel's cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. Interpreting his letter, wasn't the Master's promise simply: achieve growth, and receive a gift?
Even by her own reckoning, she was worlds apart from who she'd been back then.
"A gift..."
Countless possibilities flooded her mind. As a voracious reader from the North, she'd dipped into a few romance novels involving mentors. Lost in flights of fancy, before she knew it...
Next match! Siel Dunhart vs. Sophia Dorothy!
...the arena above. She wanted to wrap up this distracted match quickly. With that mindset, she unleashed her magic, and her already formidable ice wall grew even more ferocious.
Boom—!
S-Siel Dunhart wins!
She returned to the waiting room. Ruin's match wasn't even on Siel's mind. Naturally, compared to the Master's gift, a mere mentee magic duel held no significance.
"Let's end this."
I charged at the student on the opposite side of the arena. He desperately threw up a barrier, but it shattered futilely against my dagger.
"Y-You crazy bastard! This is a magic duel, damn it! Die!"
The male student tried to blink away. Mentee magic duels didn't require magic, but his narrow-minded thinking was the issue. To correct his worldview, I unleashed a gust of wind.
Whoooosh—!
"Gah, urk!"
I walked over to my opponent, who tripped and fell awkwardly. I didn't even remember his name. My memory wasn't sharp enough to bother with fellow extras. I just tossed a few words his way.
"I used magic, right?"
"Y-You... I won't let you off later! My friends...!"
"Yeah."
Thwack— A punch to the face, and the guy passed out.
I had no idea how big Lucas's faction was—I'd heard his name come up countless times just getting this far. Glancing up at the proctor's signal to end it, the announcer shouted.
K-Kyle wins—!
Mentee magic duel. I'd worried about winning without my sniper rifle, but it was unfounded. The lower-tier students couldn't cope when I rushed them. Taylor was the best of the bunch...? He at least stayed calm against my charge. Mixing projectiles into the wind was something even I couldn't dodge without Clairvoyance.
"Time to lay low."
As we entered the upper brackets, I started conserving mana as much as possible. The gust just now was the last spell. I'm being careful not to give them any excuses to nitpick. I brushed the sand off my hands.
As I headed back to my seat, the stares directed at me had shifted a bit. Some jeered, "A magic duel, and he's just brutish!" Others reassessed, "I thought he was weak, but he's strong...?"
That level of attention wasn't bad. I only hid my identity when dealing with demons. If word got out that I was hunting demons solo, it wouldn't end with mild curiosity. Take the Sword Saint Atus Lionheart, who slew dozens of demons alone—he's practically imperial. Sure, Atus's chivalrous nature plays a role, but the empire doesn't leave powerhouses like that alone. They try to control them under their thumb. That's why the Romantic Sage Luminus and the other Masters stay hidden. It's not just laziness.
But I'm just a lowly extra. I'd make prime empire bait, so I lay low. I couldn't become like Sword Saint Atus even if I wanted—my roots are too humble. I don't want to be a hero. I don't want to roll like a player. Still, I'm intervening when I need to. That's been my approach so far, and it'll stay that way.
"Phew, almost done."
I left the Magic Tower. Siel and Ruin's duel was at 5 p.m. My matches were all finished; only Siel remained. I checked her bout out of curiosity, and she'd grown even stronger. To the point where she was now hailed as otherworldly in the magic department...
"Time to prepare."
I started changing into my disguise in the locker room. The meeting spot was Catholic Hall. I needed to get there first.
"Not late. I can head straight there."
It was 4:30 p.m. Her duels had wrapped up right on time for the appointment with the Master. Any remaining mentee magic duels? She'd forfeit. As the overwhelming top of her department, Siel didn't need to care about such evaluations anyway.
"Gotta go. Can't be late."
Siel hurried toward Catholic Hall. Unlike usual, her steps were swift, her mood buoyant.
Thump, thump, thump.
Even so, her heart kept pounding against her chest. An inexplicable emotion filled her, leaving her breathless. She knew of romance novels, but she'd always approached them logically, not emotionally. Books described hundreds of feelings. Identifying this heart's tumult was impossible.
But as her thoughts continued...
"...!"
Her footsteps halted abruptly. Siel, who had never doubted or adorned her appearance before, suddenly realized in that moment.
'Is this okay?'
No. She felt unkempt after the match...
In the end, Siel made one more stop at the bathroom, smoothed her flowing hair, and finally arrived at Catholic Hall. She searched the vast, empty space for the Master. It was just an open lot with no one around, but then...
"Long time no see."
The Master appeared like a mirage.
"Siel—"
5 p.m. on the dot. Amid the blazing sunset, his long robe fluttered in the wind.