Master and Disciple
Master and Disciple
"The second condition is that once you've learned a certain amount of magic from me, you'll need to attend a Magic Academy."
"A Magic Academy?"
Mineba then began to explain in detail.
Few people in this world are born with magical talent.
Of course, even if one awakens Mana later in life, studies and researches magic, and develops their skills, they can still secure high-paying professions like a Court Mage, just like Mineba.
However, no matter how much effort an ordinary person puts in, they can never surpass a prodigy.
The Reinhardt Magic Academy was established precisely to further cultivate such prodigies and geniuses.
Mineba requested that I attend the Magic Academy to truly gauge my progress in magic.
Anyway, this condition was also okay.
If I could learn magic from Mineba and even attend a Magic Academy, it might be the best of both worlds.
And the last condition, which I had worried about so much, was this:
"Do not become a disciple to anyone else besides me. Not even if that person is the Emperor."
It wasn't such a difficult condition.
Rather, the conditions were so focused on me that it made me wonder what Mineba stood to gain by taking me as a disciple.
So, this means,
'Am I going down the mage path...?'
The condition that I couldn't become a disciple to anyone else.
And the condition that if I became Mineba's disciple, I would even get to attend a Magic Academy.
For me, who had chosen a Magic Staff during the Tutorial, it was an offer I couldn't refuse.
Then, if I hadn't chosen a Magic Staff and instead picked a bladed weapon, would I have ended up as someone else's disciple?
Anyway, what mattered was the present.
After all, given the nature of RPGs, you usually get to wield various weapons by the very late stages of the story.
In that sense, I didn't rush to answer and pondered a little more seriously.
Was there any disadvantage for me?
Would it hinder me from reaching the ending?
After about 10 minutes of calm and careful consideration, the result was 'no problem'.
"Understood. I will become Mineba-nim's disciple."
"Really, truly?"
As I expressed my acceptance of Mineba's offer, Mineba's face brightened radiantly.
It seemed as if Mineba was even happier that I had become her disciple.
'By the way, Kalle introduced me to her...'
The very reason Mineba sent me a letter right now was because Kalle had told Mineba about me.
If I had refused Kalle's offer, would such an opportunity never have come?
Honestly, thinking about it, Mineba is a bit too overpowered.
'Perhaps the game's story has already diverged.'
No matter how I think about it, entering a Magic Academy first to learn magic seems like the proper story progression...
Whether it's a butterfly effect or this world simply doesn't follow the game's story, I'm not entirely sure.
However, what I can think of right now is that the Paizuri I gave Kalle was more valuable than I thought.
'My actions weren't just about selling my body for money after all.'
That thought came to me first.
It was a memory I had tried hard to forget, but perhaps I was the one who cared about that day's events more than anyone else.
##
As I said I would become her disciple, the relationship between Mineba and me immediately changed.
From the way I addressed Mineba to the way Mineba addressed me.
"My Disciple."
"Yes, Master-nim."
Mineba's tone of voice also became more relaxed.
And the next thing that changed was,
"From today, this will be your place to stay."
"...Huh?"
My place to stay was no longer an inn, but Master-nim's residence.
Master-nim immediately pointed to the room right next to her own among the many rooms, saying it was my room.
The mansion's structure was not like the inns I knew.
It was designed as if it had copied a noble's residence from a medieval setting.
Master-nim's sleeping quarters were what you'd commonly call a bedroom.
And normally, the room right next to it should have been decorated like an office,
but it was already furnished with a bed, wardrobe, and other furniture, as if it were a room prepared for someone to move into.
'It's a game, so... that must be it, right?'
In the game's story, it must be a room for when Mineba takes in a disciple.
Surely, they wouldn't have decorated the room like this if there wasn't even an option to become Mineba's disciple.
To put it simply,
the room felt too artificial.
To a chilling degree.
Master-nim's main bedroom and this room were connected not only by a hallway but also by a small opening for conversation, which could be used at any time.
Of course, it was closed now.
Let's not worry about the minor details.
'Maybe I'm just overreacting for no reason.'
Anyway, what matters is the present.
I started unpacking my belongings.
Truthfully, I didn't have much luggage, but if there was a wardrobe, shouldn't I use it?
I neatly arranged the Valley Madame-brand underwear that I had haphazardly stuffed into my Subspace Pouch.
Then I threw myself onto the soft-looking bed.
"Huuah..."
How should I put it? It doesn't feel real.
Am I making such an important life decision too easily?
Shouldn't I have lived here for a week, or even a month, before making this choice? My mind was filled with such miscellaneous thoughts.
'Still, I don't regret it.'
No matter how hasty or sudden my choice was, I will take responsibility for what I've chosen.
-Lunia-ya~
As I lay on the bed, lost in thought, I heard Master-nim's voice calling me.
"Ah, yes! Master-nim!"
Still, the fact that I might have someone I could follow, like a parent, made me the happiest.
##
Lunia, who was sitting on the sofa, spoke.
"Do you live alone...?"
"Ah, yes. I don't like anyone entering my space."
What did she mean by that?
Ah, perhaps Lunia dreams of being a 'lady'?
Indeed, commoner girls often romanticize the lives of nobles.
A noble life where one directly commands numerous servants, and servants assist with meals, changing clothes, and even bathing.
Is she disappointed because it's not the life she dreamed of?
I cautiously observed Lunia's reactions, hiding my anxiety, wondering if she might reject my offer because it wasn't that kind of life.
However, after carefully observing Lunia, I didn't see any such signs.
Instead, the feeling that she wondered if she was even allowed to be here was stronger.
'How admirable~'
Meanwhile, a certain crazy bitch living in the Imperial Palace is nothing but a shameless hag who constantly thinks of getting the better of me.
So, I immediately tried to reassure Lunia.
"Lunia is fine."
"Ah, yes."
This was clearly something that should have reassured Lunia.
Why did she suddenly start being wary of me?
'What is it? What went wrong?'
The slight sense of ease I had felt completely vanished.
Instead, I became afraid.
I knew that Lunia was so full of caution because of my mistake, but I couldn't figure out what exactly I had done wrong.
I felt like biting my nails right then and there.
I was so anxious, and if I showed that, the atmosphere might become even more gloomy.
'Ugh, I have to change the atmosphere somehow...'
The move I made was,
"Would black tea be alright?"
"Ah, I'd be grateful if you gave me some."
'Phew.'
Fortunately, I succeeded in changing the atmosphere.
I then brewed tea, using magic as if it were second nature, and noticed that Lunia couldn't take her eyes off the magical display.
It felt like I had found a clue.
After all, just as written in my letter, Lunia had come all this way to learn magic from me.
It seemed that if the prerequisite was just magic to entice Lunia, anything would be possible.
"Hehe, do you want to learn?"
"Huh? Ah, yes..."
After that, it was smooth sailing.
I exaggerated it as if it were a very important condition, implying that if she couldn't follow it, she wouldn't be able to learn magic from me.
When making a contract, the superior party always has the advantage.
Honestly, teaching magic is something anyone can do.
If even a passing orphan shows a bit of talent, you just need to teach them one or two of the easiest basic spells.
To me, teaching isn't that significant.
However, this is for my future, and 'our' future.
If I only tell the truth, but slightly twist the order and omit unnecessary details.
"Do not become a disciple to anyone else besides me. Not even if that person is the Emperor."
That's neither a lie nor an act of deception.
It's simply a contract with such terms.
And after waiting a bit, Lunia, realizing there was no harm to her—
"Understood. I will become Mineba-nim's disciple."
Like this.
She would bite the bait completely.
'Success.'
"Really, truly?"
For now, I just need to keep our relationship as a light master-disciple one.
Then Lunia will learn magic from me and slowly open her heart.
Then, gradually, we will become not just a light master-disciple pair, but an 'affectionate' Master and Disciple.
And after that,
'Ah~, I'm so looking forward to it.'
A Witch, a race at the pinnacle of magic,
and a woman who, despite being human, possesses peak magical talent.
The child 'we' bear between us,
'How strong will they be?'