That Somehow Feels Like Me
That somehow feels like it might be me?!
A week had passed without any real gains.
Ah, but it wasn't like nothing had happened at all.
First off…
"Everyone, hello?"
"Hello!"
"Oh? There are more new faces than before?"
"Yes! I'm…"
My class enrollment had swelled to sixteen students, saving it from cancellation. (I later learned there's no penalty even if it gets axed anyway.)
Second on the list…
"Professor Miriel~ I baked cookies~"
"Professor Miriel~ This time I made pound cake~"
"Professor Miriel~"
"Professor Miriel~~"
For some reason, Professor Melian had been dropping by every other day—practically daily. Thanks to her, my office was suddenly overflowing with snacks.
Only…
"So, that blue drake you mentioned last time…"
"Really? How could something with such a tiny body…"
"And then Rodis kicked you out again?"
Once she got talking, her mouth wouldn't shut for at least four hours. And forget simple replies like "Yeah. Yeah. That's right." The main topic was my entire life in the Rosarind Mountains!
Which is why I was now hiding out in Master's lab.
Knock knock—
"Master~ Miriel, coming in~"
Master was predictably busy with something today as always. He glanced at me once before diving back into his work. Ignoring him, I headed straight for the familiar sofa in his lab.
"Master~ Any thoughts on swapping this sofa for a bed inste— I'm kidding! Kidding!"
I hurriedly took back my words upon spotting the staff hovering near me. For real. Master doesn't do jokes.
Does he have eyes in the back of his head or something? Or maybe precog? His eyes were clearly fixed on the desk, yet that swing at me from behind was dead accurate.
Then again, the moment Master started wielding his staff like iaijutsu swordplay, normal rules went out the window. Sure, casting without a staff isn't impossible… but Master's different. Imagine a staff wrapped in mana slicing through the air like a switch—except sharpened mana makes it swordmaster aura or flying blade technique.
And he unleashes it on his disciple nonstop. What a heartless—
Thwack—
"Ow!"
"That look on your face is wicked, disciple."
"No! Master! Do you have eyes in the back of your head or what?"
"Once you reach that realm, you see all."
Eh? For real? That exists? Hmm… maybe. Once you surpass a five-attribute archmage, do you unlock some new sight?
Makes sense. No player in Medeia ever broke past the five-attribute wall.
I raised Perdita optimally and still hit a ceiling at four.
"Heh heh… You might reach that realm soon yourself."
"Nah, no way."
I'm way weaker than prime Perdita right now… Raise her right, and one spell wipes out an army—that's archmage territory.
Me? I can barely shatter a house-sized boulder.
"So, you dragged yourself here again today just to lounge?"
Master had somehow settled into the seat across from me.
"Huh? Master, weren't you busy?"
"Busy I am. But these old bones lack the vigor of youth…"
Master whined ridiculously. He still seemed plenty spry from what I could tell…
"Come on, no exaggerating… Master? Could you put Aludra away?"
I pointed out the facts, and sure enough, the staff came flying. Luckily, not what I feared.
"So, still sleeping a ton these days?"
"Uh…"
The sudden question made me pause. Come to think of it… I'd been sleeping non-stop since arriving here—practically a whole month. Even a full week straight once. I never slept this much back in the Rosarind Mountains… Wait, no—not entirely true! That first month after meeting Master and crashing at his mountain hut? Total sleep coma.
"Lately, pretty normal sleep."
I've turned into a proper adult these days. Bed by 9 PM, up at 8 AM!
"I see. That's a relief."
Master looked reassured as he took hold of Aludra.
"Master, you're hurt?"
I spotted it the moment he raised his arm—a fresh gash on it that hadn't been there before.
"Heh heh… Caught me, eh? It's fine. Nothing serious."
"You really need to be more careful…"
Thwack—
"Ow!!"
"You just keep earning the rod, disciple."
I rubbed the top of my head where his hand had smacked it.
Ugh… Definitely gonna have a bump later. If my head ends up like a snowman, it's on you, Master!
I whipped my head away.
"Anyway, how's your condition?"
"Bad, thanks to you hitting me."
Master nodded as if agreeing. Yeah, right~ Of course… You're not the type to actually get hurt, are you?
"No matter how I look at it, I've been too lax with discipline lately. So, how many whacks do you want?"
"My bad!"
I bowed low to survive.
"More importantly, Miriel."
"Yes, Master."
"How's that research you started last week going?"
"Ah…"
You mean that? Zero progress after a week.
Unlike the game, real life doesn't bend to my whims so easily. At this rate, instead of a body double, I'll end up with Bianca Mk. 2.
"From that face, not well, I take it."
"Spot on. Stuck on something unexpected."
"Is that so? Need any help?"
I eyed Master temptingly for a second. But…
"Nah, I'm good. Only I can do this one."
No choice. Futuresight's my exclusive perk. Even Master can't…
Suddenly, Master stood and headed to the lab's storage room.
Huh?
I wondered what was up but stayed put obediently.
It didn't take long. He returned lugging a massive object. And it was…
"Eh? Why do you have that?"
A wrecked automata. Not just any automata.
Isn't that the mid-boss from next year? Name was…
"Kaliban…"
"You already knew?"
Of course! The mid-boss that teaches you just how terrifying automata can be!
But why's it a corpse already?
"A formidable foe. Cost me this arm wound."
Aha? So Master took it down with just a scratch? In the original story, protagonists struggle with traps, scrolls, and artifact hauls to win!
See? With Master around, who needs protagonists? Might as well dump everything on him.
"Will this help?"
"Ah…"
I stared at Kaliban's corpse for a bit.
No external damage. Pristine as our first encounter. He'd precisely targeted the core—only the heart area subtly wrecked. Goosebumps prickled my skin.
Whoa, Master. You're scary! I swear I won't mess around anymore!
Vowing that, I pondered how to use this.
Yes. Perfect. Not just good—jackpot level.
Practically operational with a new mana core swap. Only issue: friend or foe?
Eh, whatever.
Foe? Master's smackdown chance!
Hmm… Biggest hurdle's making it look like my double…
Eh… Isn't that the same problem?
My mood plummeted.
"Not to use it, but to reference. With your knowledge, reverse-engineering should be feasible."
"Ah, gotcha?"
That was the angle? But I dunno how…
"You're loafing in my lab daily anyway. Better than nothing, no?"
I nodded. Honestly, not a bad offer.
Since I need the frame anyway, tinkering might spark something.
"By the way, nasty rumors circulating the city lately. Know anything?"
Nasty rumors. At this timing? Only one. Events kicking off soon. First was anomalous plant overgrowth on Eriminome Mountain, right?
"Plants proliferating in Amalthea Forest, animals turning aggressive."
"Pardon? Not Eriminome Mountain, but Amalthea Forest?"
"So it seems. Eriminome's normal, but reports from Amalthea Forest."
Mountain and forest—adjacent? Nope, opposite sides. This deviated from canon.
But the real problem was…
"Know anything?"
Uh… Um… I subtly glanced at Bianca behind me. Bianca wobbled, dodging my gaze guiltily.
"Nearly blew up when the Third Imperial Prince encountered it on patrol."
"President Jania says it's someone's doing. Whoever it is, won't go quietly if caught."
"Disciple. I hope it's not your mess."
Master's gaze held inexplicable certainty. I averted mine sheepishly.
Hahaha. Um, Master. That somehow feels like it might be me?!
I… dumped those failed magic stones in the forest!!!!!