Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: How Dare You (1)
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Ann and Lennon stood with embarrassed faces, coughing awkwardly and turning their backs to each other.
They had never been close—in fact, they'd always envied and resented one another—yet without realizing it, they'd hugged and jumped around in excitement. It was embarrassing enough.
Jamie chuckled.
"It's late today, so stay here and head to school tomorrow."
"Is that okay?"
"Plenty of rooms."
The lodging provided to Jamie by the magical world was a penthouse over 60 pyeong—far too much for an eight-year-old boy living alone, but just right for a great noble like him.
"And proper lessons start after school tomorrow, so don't stop anywhere on your way back—just come straight here."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Speak up! Respond!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Good."
Jamie smiled contentedly, already seeing their discipline tightening up.
"Pick any empty room, wash up, and sleep. I'm heading to bed first."
"......"
"......"
"Respond!"
"Good night!"
"Rest well!"
"Sleep."
Jamie rubbed his tired eyes as he headed to his room. He'd been watching over the two kids non-stop for 24 hours, so fatigue had built up considerably.
Even after Jamie left, Ann and Lennon stood awkwardly for a while before glancing at each other. Then, without a word, they muttered quick goodnights and slipped into empty rooms.
"Sleep well."
"You too."
They weren't even in puberty yet, but their behavior was just like awkward teenagers hitting that stage.
Jamie shook his head as he sensed the kids' presence fade from the living room.
Still, he'd chosen good disciples.
They weren't exceptional, but with proper training, both could become fine mages.
"Yeah. I hope they grow into solid assets."
Things were different from the old days.
Now that he'd taken disciples, Jamie had no intention of nurturing them with the warmth he once might have.
That sentiment was gone, and the situation left no room for leniency.
Alone, he could manage, but raising Ann and Lennon to a usable level would take at least ten years.
Maybe even longer.
So he'd drill them mercilessly.
Even if they begged to be expelled, clutching his pant leg, he'd push them harder right there.
If they pleaded for mercy, he'd drive them to the brink of death.
"Learned some great stuff from Hamilton."
Jamie gestured into the air, and a red hat and black sunglasses popped out with a puff!
He stood before the full-length mirror, trying them on.
"Perfect. Can't wait for tomorrow."
Ann woke early and checked the clock.
Tick-tock, tick-tock went the second hand.
The hour hand pointed at 7, and the minute hand was on the third mark between 50 and 55.
School started at 8:30.
Normally, living in the academy dorms, waking up after 8 wasn't a problem.
The issue was that this wasn't the dorm.
Ann recalled the previous night. After the 24-hour test ended, Teacher Jamie had told them it was late, so they should sleep at his place and head to school from there.
So she'd washed up lightly and gone to bed in an empty room.
She'd even set an alarm.
"......"
Ann spotted the alarm clock rolling on the floor.
Fuzzy memories surfaced.
A blaring alarm. She'd swatted it away, silencing it. Then back to deep sleep.
In other words...
"I-I'm late!!"
She'd overslept.
Ann bolted up and rushed to the bathroom.
In the living room, Lennon—neatly dressed with tie straight—munched on bread in his mouth.
"Man, you slept forever. Snoring like a beast."
"I-I snored?!"
"Loud as hell. Woke me up a bunch."
Lennon shook his head with an exasperated look, and Ann's face flushed beet red.
She fled to the bathroom.
Lennon snickered inwardly at her retreating figure.
Pure lie, of course. Their rooms were far enough that no snoring could carry.
She was so naive.
How else can I tease her next? he pondered—
Whack!
"Ack!"
A sudden blow to the back of his head nearly made Lennon's eyes pop out.
He whipped around angrily to find Jamie standing there with a pitiful expression.
"Kid stuff. Hurry up and scram."
"......Hitting heads destroys brain cells and ruins memory."
"Want another?!"
"Eek!"
As Jamie raised his hand again, Lennon clutched his head and bolted from the penthouse.
"I-I'm off!"
Ann, too flustered to fix her hair properly, bowed hastily to Jamie.
I'm off? As if she lived here.
Jamie squinted, pondering that, as Ann already had the door open.
"Ann. Come here."
"Huh?"
He beckoned her back and placed two necklaces in her hand.
"Give one to Lennon."
"What's this?"
"Proof of discipleship. Think of it as a gift."
A 'casual' gift?
Despite the thought, a bright smile spread across Ann's face.
Silver necklaces with small purple cubic jewels.
Not flashy, but cute. More than that, "proof of discipleship" thrilled her.
She immediately clasped one around her neck and looked at Jamie.
"How's it look?"
"Suits you."
"Hehe."
Ann grinned like a child—which she was, but she hadn't had much chance to act like one.
Tough times lay ahead. Smiles like this would be rare.
So this one was precious.
"You'll be late. Go."
"I'm off!"
Ann's steps were light.
Jamie watched the door close, then stretched grandly.
"Guess I should head to work too?"
A leisurely morning for a student teacher.
"Phew! Made it just in time..."
Ann arrived in class ten minutes before the bell.
She'd used Haste from dawn to sprint to the academy, utterly drained.
Panting heavily, she slumped toward her seat—only to see Lennon smirking smugly from the back row.
Teacher Jamie had told her straight: all that snoring nonsense was a bold-faced lie.
Jerk.
Typical nine-year-old brat.
...Though remembering her eight-year-old teacher, Jamie, made age feel weird.
She was ten.
Feeling her sense of years warping, Ann sat down.
Don't wanna give him the necklace.
On the way out, Teacher Jamie had given her two as discipleship gifts.
One for Lennon—but after his antics, she regretted it.
Still, as the big sister, I gotta endure.
A year's difference made her the sister.
She should act mature.
Ann approached Lennon primly.
"What? Don't worry, I won't spread the snoring rumor..."
"Sh-Shut it! And..."
Ann glanced at the other kids, then glared fiercely.
"Say crap like that again and you're dead. Teacher told me everything. Don't mess with your big sis."
"Big sis? Pfft."
"Hey. Be nice to your sis, or no necklace."
Ann dangled his necklace from her finger, smirking confidently.
Lennon had no idea what it was.
"What's that? Even if you give it, I'm not hanging with you."
"You punk—what're you saying? It's a gift from Teacher, proof of discipleship."
"Proof?!"
Lennon's eyes lit up at "proof."
For all his attitude, he was still a nine-year-old kid, dazzled by such things.
"Anyway, spread lies again and you're toast. I'll tell Teacher."
"Childish much? Loser."
"Fine, if you wanna get spanked by Teacher in front of me, go ahead."
This time, Lennon scowled.
He didn't know if she was serious, but knowing Jamie, a paddling seemed likely.
His head still burned from that morning smack.
Eyes nearly popped out—the pain was indescribable.
"Ahem."
"Anyway, respect your big sis."
"Shut up."
Lennon stuck out his tongue, and Ann giggled as she set the necklace on his desk.
Lennon snatched it up, eyes gleaming as he examined it.
Ann watched, then returned to her seat.
Finn approached.
"What? When'd you get chummy with him?"
"Just now. Feeling better?"
Yesterday he'd looked awful, but today his color was great.
"The meds worked wonders."
"Meds?"
"Yeah. Apophis EXS—small version of the new product..."
Finn detailed his trip yesterday with Ivan's group to Trinity, Apophis X's maker.
"The manager was super gentlemanly. Ivan's a VIP, so we got EXS as a special gift. It's the mass-produced version of the in-dev EX. Even so, way better than X. I'm more refreshed and clear-headed than ever."
Finn bubbled excitedly, but Ann's face darkened.
She spoke gravely.
"Finn. You should stop taking that."
"What? Outta nowhere?"
"It's fishy. Yesterday wasn't just a cold. And Apophis? Isn't it a supplement?"
"Yeah."
"What supplement cures a cold? Supplements are just that—nutrients. They make you feel a tad better, that's it."
But look at Finn.
This wasn't supplements. It was steroids forcibly maxing his condition.
Especially the mana amplification. No supplement claimed that.
Yesterday's Finn screamed side effects. Today confirmed it.
"Stop now. I don't get the hype, but it'll wreck your body eventually..."
"Enough, Ann."
Finn cut her off sternly.
Then he sneered.
"I know what this is. Jealousy. Inferiority."
"Wh-What?"
"Wake up—that's you, not me. Can't cheer for a friend doing well? Gotta nitpick and drag 'em down."
"No, I—"
"Really disappointing."
Finn shoved back his chair and stormed out.
Ann stared blankly at the door, mouth agape.
"What's his deal?"
Lennon approached, nodding toward the exit, but Ann had no reply.
Something was going wrong.