Master's First Woman?!
Sweet cocoa slid down my throat. The chill in the air vanished with one sip.
Crunch.
I bit into a cookie packed with chocolate chips. Bitter-sweet chocolate exploded in my mouth.
"Oh…."
"How's the cocoa and cookies?"
"They're delicious! Professor Melian!"
"Hoho— I'm so glad they suit your taste."
Professor Melian sat across from me, watching anxiously. That's right—I was in her lab right now. She had come to me!
"So, what brings you here, Professor Miriel?"
"Ah…."
The snacks were so good, I'd almost forgotten the point of my visit.
"Um… how do you write a research plan?"
"A research plan? Of course. You are a professor too. You'd naturally do research… but looking at you, I always forget. Fufu—"
Oh no!! I get what she means! She's calling me childish, isn't she?!
But I was an adult. A full-grown one, with over 30+5 years under my belt!
So in times like this, I had to play it cool and act unfazed.
Crunch.
"These cookies are so good…."
Maybe it was because I hadn't had them in so long, but they tasted even better today. Different from the ones back in my old world, but….
I miss Master's cookies. Come to think of it, has he ever made any? Maybe I should ask him next time we meet.
"If you like them so much, shall I pack some for you? I made a big batch since the students love them."
"Yes!"
Whoa! My reply shot out on reflex. Was I that hungry for cookies…?
Professor Melian smiled brightly and fetched a stack of papers and a small paper bag from her bookshelf.
"This is a research plan I wrote before. It might help as a reference. And these are the cookies."
"Thank you—!"
I bowed 90 degrees in gratitude.
"Hohoho— no need to thank a colleague~ Honestly, I figured you'd go straight to Professor Rodis instead of me."
"Ah—."
Actually, I did go. But he slammed the door in my face.
Sob sob. I even brought a written apology, but he took it and shut me out anyway.
Cruel Master.
"Judging by your face, you did go, huh? Makes sense… he's been so busy these past few days. Something about needing money…."
"Ack—!"
That's because of me, isn't it?!
"He even sold some research materials, and now he needs results to restock…."
Hmm— guess even after chewing me out yesterday, he was still mad today. Anger doesn't fade that fast.
I'll have to avoid Master for a while. So, Professor Melian, I'm in your debt!!
"Still, ignoring such a cute disciple's small request? I never expected that from him."
Well— I did cause a pretty big mess? Hahaha—
"Anyway, is that all the info you need?"
"Yes! This is perfect. Thank you so much, Professor Melian!!"
I finished up and headed for the door. I wanted to whip up that research plan, submit it quick, and relax. Otherwise, I'd waste this golden Sunday!
Important: To not waste this golden Sunday, I had to wrap it up fast!
But as I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of disappointment on Professor Melian's face.
Huh? Do I come off as materialistic or something?
Hmm—
Maybe… stay a bit longer?
"You know, now that I think about it, I do have a few more questions."
"Really? Then come back and sit down!"
Her face lit up instantly.
Ah— exhausting.
"I see~ So what happened next?"
"I burned Master's house to the ground."
"Oh… oh dear. You must've gotten an earful."
"I did. He banned me from magic for a whole week."
Ha… right. I never got attribute blessings, so I once tried making my own fire. And that fire burned down our home—mine and Master's.
We roughed it outdoors for nearly two weeks after that.
I got the week-long magic ban too. And we almost died to a drake attack because of it. That's when Master finally took off the restraints.
Yeah…
Is this a fond memory? Well, at least it was just the house. It was in the mountains—no massive wildfire. Honestly, banning all magic when the whole world wasn't burning was overkill.
"That must've been tough. But I'm glad you both came out okay."
"Exactly. No one got hurt."
For some reason, our chat with Professor Melian turned to tales from our Rosarind Mountains days. Digging up old memories like this wasn't so bad….
"Still, it's surprising. I never thought Professor Rodis would take another disciple."
"Another… one?"
Master had another disciple before? Well, he's a Five-Colored Mage beyond Archmage level. It'd be weirder if I was his only one.
But he'd never mentioned any others to me….
"To be precise, there was exactly one before you, Professor Miriel. Probably a bit older than you."
"Ah, gotcha…."
"She was in the same unit as him. When she left for somewhere else, Professor Rodis suddenly retired."
"I seeee—"
Not all that interesting. Probably just some….
"Come to think of it, since you came after, you'd be her junior, right?"
"I guess… so?"
Me, a junior? Honestly, I don't care.
"Timing-wise, it seems he took you on right after she left."
"Yeah… I suppose?"
Something felt off. Was I a replacement? His rebound disciple after the first one ditched?
"Conveniently, your senior—and his other disciple—is here at the academy. Want to go see her while you're at it?"
What? WHAT?!
Ah, so that's why he came to the academy? Master?
To see his first disciple?
I had to confront him. I shot up from my seat.
"Professor Miriel?"
"Professor Melian, I'll go see Master real quick!"
"Ah… okay. It was fun today. Come anytime you need help, and take care~"
Leaving her well-wishes behind, I flew straight to Master's lab.
"Ma!s!ter!!!!"
I kicked open the firmly shut lab door. And there—somehow—was President Jania Pieris. She spotted me and her eyes went wide.
"Haa… Miriel, is it? What brings you here? Care to explain bursting in without knocking?"
Master, seated across from her, sighed and spoke.
I marched right up beside the president.
"Master! Tell me! Is it me?! Or this woman?!"
"Hm?"
Pffft—
Master looked utterly confused, while the president snorted her tea out her nose.
"I mean!! Is Master's first womanme?! Or this woman?!"
President Jania stared at me with a blank, dumbfounded look—like, what the hell? Master, on the other hand….
"Oh? My disciple. Missing the rod lately?"
He gathered mana into Aludra.
Huh…? That's not it? Huh?
"I see… yesterday's punishment wasn't enough. What penalty do you crave today?"
"Eh…? Master?"
Uh… um… did I screw up?
"Hold it straight."
"Yes, sir…."
I meekly raised my arms. They were fitted with mana restraint rings—set to a higher level than usual.
"Good grief. What nonsense is this?"
President Jania shook her head after hearing the full story from me.
Hey, President Jania. Save me. Sob sob, you're my senior, right? Shouldn't you say something to Master? Or at least share the pain beside me….
"Captain. This doesn't seem enough. May I add my own sanction?"
"That wouldn't be bad."
Hic!
"Hiccup!"
Her glare—rivaling Master's—made me hiccup.
I'm doomed.
Honestly, halfway there, I'd figured out who Melian meant by "fellow disciple." Master's subordinate from his Court Mage Corps days.
The disciple who vanished from work the moment he retired. She had to be skilled, and among top talents, one had disappeared right then: Jania Pieris.
And she was the academy president—Master's first disciple.
So my outburst in his lab was half a joke.
Master seemed to get that much.
The problem? The president was there too, so he couldn't just let it slide.
Sob sob….
Thwack—
A sudden jolt hit my head.
"Eh?"
Confused, I looked up to see…
The president's staff hovering over me.
Thwack—
"Eek?!"
Thwack—
"Ow?!"
Thwack—
"Mercy!!!"
Thwack—
No no, why is this looping?! Whack-a-mole?!
Truth be told, the president's thwacks weren't that painful. But with my arms raised, the repeated hits made them droop lower and lower.
"Arms straight."
"Hiiiing—"
You two are too much!!!