Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Great Witch Vivian (2)
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After running into her at the library last time, I'd done a little digging on Vivian myself.
The Great Witch Vivian. One of the three seats on the Labyrinth Guild's High Council. From what was known, she was a master of spatial magic.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that nearly all the 'Spatial Expansion' spells on the major buildings in Labyrinth City were her work, and she loved knowledge so much that it was said more than half the books in the vast Labyrinth Library were originally from her personal collection.
Moreover, the magic tools she crafted boasted performance several times better than anything on the current market, so I'd heard even advanced adventurers in Labyrinth City coveted her Vivian-made magic tools.
A reward from someone like her... Of course it would be tempting.
"A master, huh..."
At my question, Vivian made a thoughtful expression for a moment before offering me some choices.
"The first one is money, naturally. If you want cash, I can give you 300 platinum coins."
The first offer was already enormous. Money was simple, but the surest reward. And 300 platinum coins... For something just from the 9th floor of the labyrinth, it was absurdly generous. That much could buy a mansion like the one Alensia lived in.
It was incredibly tempting... but probably not the best choice. This was a reward from the 'Great Witch' herself—picking money would be amateur hour.
"The second is a magic tool. I can give you one with performance similar to or better than that gem you got last time."
The second offer was hugely appealing. I'd been using that inventory gem from before so usefully. Her magic tools weren't even on the market—they fetched whatever price she named. If I could get one...
"The third is to become my disciple."
A disciple? After money and items, I'd expected something like a position of power or benefits great for an adventurer... A disciple?
"Not that I'd teach you my unique magic or anything. This is a reward I came up with on the spot, but from what I see, you acquired [Mana Manipulation] this time and somehow got [Mana Breathing] at the same time, right?"
...Not exactly. I did get [Mana Manipulation], but [Mana Breathing] was just something I absorbed from Lena via the [Lust Absorption] skill effect.
"Seeing you awaken [Mana Breathing] on your own means you have quite the talent for mana. Someone like you could handle a few of my teachings."
This was... a mixed bag. In terms of pure value, her guidance would outshine the other rewards... but right now, Vivian thought I had awakened [Mana Breathing] through my own talent. It was actually a skill from [Lust Absorption]...
"What'll it be?"
What to do? Just safely take the magic tool? But pass up this chance to learn from the 'Great Witch'?
"What'll it be? I'm short on time, so decide quickly..."
"Th-the third one!"
No clue. Just go for it.
At my words, Vivian gave a deep smile and handed me two things.
"One is a communication orb so you can contact me. When your training schedule is set, I'll reach out through it, so keep it on you."
She really didn't have time right now, it seemed—she said she'd give occasional lessons. Somehow, I had even more to learn. I was already studying equipment maintenance from Miranda, swordsmanship from Alensia, and cooking from Lilian...
Still, it was the Great Witch's teachings, so I'd make time somehow.
"The second is a gift for my new disciple, by way of apology for peeking at your skills without permission."
The second item was a pair of bracelets. Unlike the gem from before, they looked plain, but when I held them to my arm, they equipped automatically. They were so light and unobtrusive that I barely felt them on.
Having my skills peeked at still irked me a bit... but the rewards were too sweet to complain.
"Hm... Well, since you're my disciple now, I'll give you some homework."
She hadn't taught me anything yet, but Vivian wore an odd expression as she gave me an assignment. The problem was...
"Pass the intermediate adventurer exam on your first try before our next lesson."
"Pardon?"
"If you complete the homework, I'll give you a gift with the next lesson."
"Wait, Vivian—"
"Call me Master next time we meet."
Before I could argue, she swung her staff, the scenery shifted, and suddenly I was outside the Labyrinth Guild.
"Hm? Ian. You're done meeting with Vivian already?"
Dazed and standing there, I was spotted by Alensia, who had been waiting for me. She approached.
"Alensia..."
"Hm? What's wrong, Ian?"
"How tough is the intermediate adventurer exam?"
There was a reason I was so stunned. Just before, I'd heard at the counter that my promotion to intermediate was close and mentioned it to Alensia...
"Hm. With your skills, Ian, you'll probably pass within 30 tries."
"............."
The homework's brutal.
After sending Ian off, Vivian cast another spell and returned to her room.
It was overflowing with books and research materials, hardly a space for a person to live, but she casually swung her staff to expand the space with magic, carving out room for herself. Then she examined the paper with the info she'd received.
-Labyrinth Year 999, Otherworlder. Kim Ian. 22 years old. Possessed Skills: [Sensory Block]
Information from the temple, which appraised otherworlders' skills and recorded them. Contrary to expectations, it had taken effort to find since he'd been in this world for three years already.
Her eyes fixed on the details about Ian and the line: Possessed Skills: [Sensory Block].
'It wasn't visible, huh...'
According to the temple's records, when Ian's skills were appraised after being summoned from the other world, [Sensory Block] was listed. But when she'd checked with her [Magic Eye], it wasn't in his skill window.
'This'll be fun...'
Thinking she'd taken on an intriguing disciple, Vivian activated the communication orb at the appointed time.
Whoa! It's Vivian! Long time no see!
Vivian! My love! How about my bed tonight?
Back off! Vivian's mine!
Vivian turned down the volume with practiced ease, waiting for their chatter to die down.
Each one was a precious kin, but... she wished their interest in her pointed in a different direction.
Vivian! Let's make a baby, you and me!
"I said I'm not interested."
Witches. Born with vast mana reserves and exceptional mana affinity, their already immense power amplified naturally over their long lives.
This race, seemingly born to wield magic, rivaled dragons as the continent's strongest in terms of sorcery.
But witches had a weakness: from the moment they lost their virginity, their mana began to leak away.
Even if they hastily restored their hymen after intercourse, the mana lost during the act didn't return. As a result, mana-sensitive witches gradually avoided sex.
In the past, witches minimized mana loss by bedding males of other races and then healing their hymen... but before Vivian, a Great Witch had developed a spell allowing witches to conceive with each other.
After that spell's creation, witches shunned mana-draining males and turned to same-sex relations among their own kind.
The problem? That spell wasn't perfect, and with witches already scarce, their birthrate plummeted further, leaving shockingly few in modern times.
As the current Great Witch, Vivian sought ways to solve her kin's predicament...
Who's up for my bed tonight? Mine's empty.
Beat it, Corny. Doing it with you leaves my back aching all day.
Aw★ I'll be gentle today.
........
Her kin were already hooked on same-sex, same-race trysts. Where had the majesty of that wise, mighty race gone...?
Vivian, who refused to join in, had earned her title as current Great Witch through self-cultivation, but her kin kept trying to drag her into their antics.
C'mon, Vivian-chan. Why keep refusing? You're not into guys anyway.
"Not into girls either."
Sigh. So rigid. Try it once—you'd love it!
"Doubt it. I'm the type who doesn't feel a thing."
What!?
Once, back when she was a novice witch, a close kin had invited her over and pounced, but that day Vivian learned she couldn't feel pleasure... what they called 'anhedonia.'
She'd escaped despite the aphrodisiac her friend had cast, but it made her kin's behavior even harder to comprehend.
Oh my...! Poor Vivian-chan doesn't know this joy! Fine, I'll make an effort! Tonight in my bed...
"Cutting off now."
Forcing an end to her kin's empty prattle, Vivian picked up a nearby book with familiar ease and began reading.
Improve the low-success-rate spell for witch-on-witch conception, or find a way to mate with males without losing mana.
To tackle these two research goals, she began her tedious, drawn-out work for the day.
She examined the relic Ian brought. A fragment of the 'Necronomicon,' as expected... but not what she wanted. Still useful for magic research, so she'd file it under key items...
And as a bonus diversion, she organized lesson plans... er, 'education' content for her new disciple Ian.
At least she'd discovered an intriguing skill after so long—no boredom anytime soon, she thought.