A High-Maintenance Disciple's Group Project Ordeal
Right! I'm a disciple who requires a ton of hand-holding!
Before I knew it, we'd hit the fourth week of the semester. Out of the academy's four-month schedule, a full quarter was already gone.
So, what are the big events in a semester? Some folks might think of festivals. Others, exams. And some are probably dreaming of vacation already.
But there's one event just as crucial: group projects. There's an old saying that in any group of five, one is a total slacker. And yeah, that holds true in this world too.
I wasn't bringing up this useless trivia in our peaceful daily routine for no reason.
Like always, I was lounging around in Master's research lab. But that day, Master's expression was kinda weird. Had I done something to piss him off? I racked my brain, but lately I'd been behaving myself in the lab. Oh, wait—maybe I'd slacked off on the Kaliban research? I snuck a cookie off the table.
"Disciple. How's the group project prep coming along?"
"Nom nom—"
Whoosh—
Master's Aludra came flying at me. I thrust out Plutoid to block it.
Bam—
A thunderous crash echoed out—way too loud for just staves clashing.
"Hehe—doesn't work anymore! I've grown too..!"
Thwack—
"Ow?!"
"Disciple. Your head must be empty back there!"
Aludra had teleported behind me somehow. No mana fluctuation, nothing. This is unfair!!
"Waaah!!!"
Thwack—
"Quiet down. Answer my question."
"Tch."
Suddenly Aludra was right in my face.
"Eek! My bad!!"
Looks like I need to hone my skills more to dodge those thwacks. But more importantly…
"Group project?"
"Yes, the group project. Don't you think it's time to let the students know?"
Hmm… Now that he mentions it, yeah, there was something like that. And some incident tied to it, right? What was it again? Seemed important…
It's been a while since I came to this world, so my memories of the original game are fading. But whatever. I'm not the protagonist or even some extra! And if push comes to shove, I've got my super-strong Master. Plus, tons of events have already diverged from the original…
By the way, they found a magic stone called the Arcane Stone in Mount Eriminome. Master discovered it, somehow. No idea how he pulled that off.
So even major original events are getting nipped in the bud! Which means the incident I accidentally resolved must be one too… If I had to guess, it's the festival event coming up in autumn. But that's far off, so I'll shelve it.
Anyway, group project season had arrived.
You know, the kind where it's basically an individual assignment disguised as teamwork!
And the most important fact was…
"Master…"
"What is it?"
"I haven't thought of anything for the group project."
"I figured as much. Don't come out until you've got an idea, disciple!"
I got locked in Master's warehouse!!!
Eh? Master?
"Master?! Is this some kind of confinement play?! Is that it?! I don't have kinks like that, you know?!?!?!?"
But no reply came.
No clock, so I had no clue how much time had passed. But the growing urge to pee told me it had been a while.
I crossed my legs tight and waddled to the warehouse door. Not sure if Master would listen, but right now, that didn't matter.
Man, women's bodies make you need the bathroom way more often than you'd think. No time to explain details—I'm desperate… desperate..!!
"M-Master!!!" "Master!! Help! I gotta pee so bad!!"
With superhuman willpower, I clenched my thighs and pounded on the door. Still no answer.
The pounding got more desperate, and my leg strength started giving out.
"Masteeeeer!!!!"
After a few more frantic knocks, something warm trickled down my legs.
Ah… farewell, my human dignity…
* * * * *
I was huddled in the coldest corner of the warehouse. Couldn't stay in my soaked clothes, so I'd neatly folded my robe aside. All I had on now was a super-thin short-sleeved tee.
Which meant I had to huddle up tight against the chill.
Drip—
Tears streamed from my eyes.
Master… what did this little girl do to deserve this treatment?
As my body grew ice-cold, the warehouse door finally creaked open.
"Well? Have you come up with a project… Wait, what is that smell? Disciple! What the hell did you do!!"
Don't ask. As of today, disciple Miriel is dead.
Squawk—
"Good grief… Miriel. Did you really think I'd locked the door for real? Why didn't it occur to you to just try opening it?"
Of course I thought you'd locked it… Eh? You didn't? Come to think of it, you just told me not to come out—you never said you locked it.
Sob… my dignity. My self-esteem, give them back…
"Sigh… You really are a high-maintenance disciple. Don't lie there on the cold floor—come on out."
"I have no strength left to move. You carry me, Master."
"Oh fine, alright."
Master hopped down without complaint and scooped me into his arms.
Hehe— so warm. Master is the best!
But he didn't move right away. Curious, I peeked and saw him using magic to levitate my soiled clothes.
Makes sense. No way he'd touch that directly… I'd wiped myself down roughly with the robe, so it wasn't too bad.
"What a high-maintenance disciple you are."
You're right! I'm such a high-maintenance disciple!
We passed through the warehouse door, and finally, bright outdoor scenery filled my vision. Bright outdoors… bright out… bright…
No blinding sunlight. We'd just entered Master's research lab.
Yeah. It was the lab's warehouse. Duh. Shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.
Master sat me on the sofa and fetched a blanket from somewhere to wrap me up.
"Master? The sofa's nice and all, but how about a bed while we're at it… No! Never mind!!"
Aludra appeared before my eyes, and I shut up fast. How can a disciple go through such trauma and despair, and you can't grant one tiny wish like that?! Master had zero mercy.
"Your expression looks suspicious."
"I wasn't thinking anything!!"
His perceptiveness is off the charts.
"It's all over your face."
Oh! Really? That's bad… Guess I need to learn some poker face. From who, though?
"Wait just a bit. I called Cordelia."
Cordelia? Why Cordelia all of a sudden?
"I can't exactly clean up after you myself, can I? But I can't just leave you like this either."
I tilted my head, confused.
"You need a bath, fresh clothes, and your soiled ones laundered, right?"
Ohhh—that's what you meant? Honestly, Master doing it wouldn't be a big deal. He used to handle everything a few years back…
"Sometimes I wonder if you're really fifteen…"
Eek? How'd you know? Spot on, Master! I've got the mental age of 30 plus 5 years!
"You look exactly like a twelve-year-old kid…"
"Waaah!!!"
"You called? And what's all the commotion, Lady Miriel?"
Cordelia had appeared out of nowhere.
Sometimes I question if she's even human. No ordinary non-mage should have specs like hers.
"Good. Did you bring Miriel's clothes?"
"I did, but… it's pretty bad."
She held my robe in her hands. Maybe that's why she got here so fast—no time wasted picking clothes. All I own are these gray robes anyway!
So comfy! My outfit's just panties! Short-sleeved tee! Gray robe—done! I change daily for hygiene, so ten of each! See? What a proper young lady!
"I'll make Lady Miriel presentable for now, but for this issue, we'll need someone more specialized than me."
No way! Cordelia?! What do you mean 'presentable'? That makes it sound like I'm not human! And more specialized than a maid? Who could that be?! Huh?!
But Master looked shocked at her words.
"Is that so? You're right, probably. I've been too neglectful. I thought dragging you into the world would fix everything…"
"Lady Miriel has many issues. She's still young, so we can correct them one by one."
"True. Please keep helping her, Miss Cordelia."
"Of course. If it's a request from Lord Rodis Bern for Lady Miriel's sake, I'll always assist."
Hey! Don't talk over the person involved! Cordelia? I'm already a full-fledged! Perfectly mature! Adult, you know?! And Master?! I have zero plans to go out into the world!!!