Chapter 160
Chapter 160
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Dare (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Finn shoved his hands into his pockets and stomped down the hallway, grumbling under his breath. He wasn't heading anywhere in particular. First period was just minutes away, but his chest felt so tight that he bolted from his seat anyway.
He never imagined Ann would say something like that.
They had always cheered each other on and encouraged one another, but she'd let jealousy blind her...!
'Even if she can't cheer me on...'
If she was that envious, why didn't she just drink Apophis herself?
She was refusing it just to protect her worthless pride, yet trying to keep others from drinking it too.
Finn felt his emotions surging.
He knew why she refused help from something like Apophis.
Ann's intellect was on a genius level. She rarely forgot anything she'd seen once, and even tough problems were easy for her once she learned the method.
But magic wasn't her innate talent, so she was stuck unable to advance beyond intermediate level—a tragic situation.
She didn't want to believe it, but it was harsh reality.
If she could just swallow her pride and drink Apophis, all her problems would be solved.
"Class is about to start. Where are you rushing off to?"
Just then, a woman's voice called out from behind, stopping Finn in his tracks.
He turned to see Professor Sophia brushing back her blue hair with a smile.
"Alpha Class's first period is my time, you know?"
"Ah... I was just stepping out for some air."
"Why the sudden need for air...?"
Sophia walked over to Finn's side and said,
"You look upset. Did you fight with a friend?"
"We didn't fight."
"Come on~ It sure sounds like you did. Tell your teacher all about it."
Finn glanced at her expression, let out a short sigh, and recounted everything that had happened with Ann.
After hearing the full story, Sophia patted his back reassuringly.
"You must be really disappointed."
"I never thought she'd say something like that to me."
"Still, you should get along with your friends."
"I get where she's coming from. If her grades suddenly skyrocketed like mine, I'd be jealous too. But even then... I wouldn't have tried to stop her outright."
"Right, right. Calm down first."
She led him to a window to get some fresh air, and Finn seemed to settle a bit, his excitement fading.
"That's just how people are born. There's a saying about how your stomach aches when a relative buys land—even close friends struggle to accept it when someone suddenly outshines them. Ann probably didn't mean it that way."
"Yeah, probably."
"Of course. Everyone knows Ann's a good kid, right? It's just a momentary slip. So forgive your friend with a generous heart."
"Forgive... her?"
"Yes. You're a good boy, Finn. But if that's too hard... how about this?"
"What?"
"Bring Ann along with you today."
She didn't specify where, but Finn caught on immediately and asked,
"A-Ann too?"
"Yes. Why? Don't you want more friends?"
"N-No, it's not that. Got it. I'll bring Ann."
"Hee hee hee, good thinking."
"Once she experiences it herself, she'll understand completely. And she'll realize it too."
"Exactly. You're such a good kid, Finn."
Sophia gently stroked Finn's head, and he blushed, bowing his head.
Sophia kept smiling as she grabbed his wrist and pulled him along.
"Alright. Head back to class first. I'll stop by somewhere briefly and join you right away."
"...Yes, ma'am."
Finn gave a quick bow and hurried back to class like he was fleeing.
Sophia chuckled at his retreating figure—it was adorable—then turned around.
Keniak stood there.
"Who gave you permission to add another one on your own?"
"Hahaha. The more, the better. See you later~"
Sophia lightly patted Keniak's shoulder as she passed by.
Any other teacher would have been shocked by the sight.
The famously solitary Keniak of the academy and the bubbly Sophia who mingled with everyone seemed oddly close.
Even if they weren't actually.
"......"
Keniak silently watched Sophia walk away.
Around quitting time.
Having finished all his classes, Jamie was heading somewhere in a hurry.
A mere teaching assistant clocking out on the dot was absurd, but Jamie wasn't your average assistant.
He was here by the will of the magical world's elders and a high-ranking mage who'd reached 6th class, age be damned.
Who would dare mess with him?
Barring Dean Siegfried, no one at Phoenix Academy outmatched him in skill.
And right now, Jamie had left his bag at his desk and was heading to the one mage superior to him.
"Is the dean in?"
"Come in."
With permission from inside, Jamie opened the door and entered the dean's office.
The office was far messier than the last time he'd visited.
Siegfried didn't even glance up from his ancient tome, despite having a guest.
"Elder."
Jamie used his usual form of address, and only then did Siegfried look up.
"It's you, young master? I thought it was someone else since you said 'dean.'"
He usually recognized voices instantly.
Jamie skipped commenting on that, plopping down on the guest sofa instead.
"Still no solution?"
"If it could be whipped up overnight, I wouldn't have bothered in the first place."
It was a challenge precisely because it was hard.
Jamie found the taste perverse yet utterly mage-like.
Siegfried set the tome aside and pressed his thumbs into his eyes.
"Feels like my eyeballs are gonna pop out."
"How much have you read?"
"Roughly two days straight, no breaks."
How had his eyeballs survived this long?
"Sigh. So, what brings you here? No classes today?"
Siegfried stood, stretching, and every joint in his body creaked audibly.
He really hadn't moved in two days.
Jamie was morbidly curious how he'd handled necessities, but that wasn't why he was here.
As Siegfried approached, Jamie spoke up.
"I have a question about Ann."
"Ann? Oh, right—you came by about her before. So, taking her as an apprentice?"
"Yes."
"Knew it? Wait, what?!"
Siegfried's teasing question had been casual, but Jamie's answer made his jaw drop.
He clearly hadn't expected it to be real.
"You, of all people, taking an apprentice...?"
"What's wrong with my personality?"
"Cantankerous, spiteful, arrogant."
"Cute. Kind. Smart."
"Haughty. Arrogant. Rude."
"Handsome. Magic genius. Sword genius."
"I'm a genius too."
"But I'm more of one."
The two glared, narrowing their eyes, then snorted in unison.
"Anyway, that's unexpected."
"I took Lennon Simon too."
"...Now that's a real surprise."
Siegfried hadn't met Lennon personally but knew the rumors.
An arrogant, scheming kid deep in full villain syndrome.
After getting thoroughly chewed out by Jamie last year, he'd trained under Count Simon and mellowed out somewhat.
"Their synergy's good."
"The synergy you mean is the positive kind, right?"
"If the results are good, it's positive."
"...Remember they're still kids. Jealousy, envy, inferiority complex—they're dangerous emotions for kids under ten."
"I'm eight."
"......"
Siegfried was at a loss for words again.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and continued.
"Anyway, you don't know how much early education shapes a child's psyche, do you? Since you're a kid yourself."
"Is that a jab?"
"So be careful. Training them hard is fine, but overdo it and they might snap later in life."
"Noted."
Jamie had considered this thoroughly.
Apprentices aged nine and ten.
He had no intention of crushing their personalities to forge archmages.
He'd play the long game. With their talents, they'd grow on their own once conditions were met.
'I'll guide them up to 4th class.'
Mages needed to go independent from 4th class on.
After that, all a master could offer was advice.
"You came just to report that?"
"Among other things."
"Other things? More to say?"
"Professor Keniak said something recently."
"What?"
"When I said I was taking Ann as an apprentice, he told me to be careful."
Siegfried squinted one eye.
He brushed back his unkempt, frizzy golden hair and replied.
"Careful? Careful of what?"
"He wouldn't elaborate. Thought you might know something."
"Hm. It's awkward saying this to you, young master, but I have almost no real authority here."
"That's not something to brag about."
Under Jamie's pitiful gaze, Siegfried coughed embarrassedly.
"Can't be helped. The dean position was forced on me by the other elders just to fill the seat... And I'm barely here a tenth of the year."
"That's why Professor Javelin handles dean duties."
"I only learned that recently too."
"You're utterly incompetent."
"An archmage's competence is inherent, so it's fine."
Jamie itched to flick Siegfried's forehead hard.
Impossible now, but he'd do it once stronger.
"Anyway, that comment's been nagging me. Came to check if you knew, but wasted trip."
"At least I get to see your face. Calling it a waste wounds me."
"Your incompetence already wounded me."
"Tragic."
With nothing left to say, Jamie stood.
"I'll head out. Guess I'll ask Professor Keniak again."
"Hm."
As Jamie turned to leave, Siegfried scratched his chin and said,
"Do you know what's trending in the magical world lately, young master?"
"Pardon?"
"This nutrient called Apophis is apparently booming."
"Oh, that. I've seen a few students taking it. Even some teachers, I think..."
"Professor Silver's one of them."
"...?"
Why bring up Silver suddenly?
"Not my interest, but I'm theorizing the recent disappearance might be related."
"Why tell me? Investigate yourself."
"Who knows? Maybe that's what they were aiming for."
Jamie caught Siegfried beating around the bush and replied,
"You want me to look into it?"
"No clue why Keniak said that, but if someone warns of sudden danger..."
That was when it happened.
Beep- Beep- Beep- Beep-!!
"Hm?"
Siegfried frowned at the blaring noise.
Jamie pulled a violet-cubic-studded necklace from his pocket. Identical to the ones he'd given Ann and Lennon, it alerted him to trouble.
This was Ann's.
"The world's truly unpredictable. Gave it to her today, and it goes off already."
"What's that?"
"SOS."
With that, Jamie teleported out of the office.
Alone now, Siegfried rubbed his scruffy, unkempt beard and muttered,
"Guess I should shave."