Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Reunion (2)
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I widened my eyes.
What did she just say?
A disciple?
"She was a human child, abandoned by her parents, so I picked her up and raised her. About fifteen years, then sent her down the mountain a few years ago. There was nothing more for me to teach her here in my tower."
"...What? Fifteen years?"
I couldn't close my mouth. This high elf with her broken personality, sharp tongue, and hysterics—for fifteen years, in this isolated snowy mountain tower?
That guy isn't human anymore. He's either a living Buddha or a masochist who enjoys abuse. One of the two.
"Oh, what about her skills?"
Even if she has weird tastes, a disciple personally tutored one-on-one for fifteen years by the great archmage Erendel? That's an S-rank talent, no verification needed.
But Erendel waved it off like it was nothing.
"Eh, don't get your hopes up. I only taught her the basics."
"Basics?"
"Yeah. Mana breathing, chantless casting, triple multi-casting, and mana reflux control? High-level magic is dangerous, so I just solidified her fundamentals and sent her off. Told her to make friends and learn the rest slowly."
"......"
I blankly stared down at the tea leaves in my cup.
Did I hear that wrong?
"Hey, you crazy old hag. Chantless and triple multi-casting?"
I pointed accusingly and shouted.
"Even the Empire's Magic Tower Lord collapses bleeding from the nose trying double-casting, and you call that basics? That's like teaching numbers and cramming in magic calculations!"
"So what? By my standards, that's just arithmetic. If she couldn't handle it, I'd snap her wand. And by her third year, she was doing it all on her own anyway?"
Erendel clicked her tongue with a look that said kids these days are too weak.
She'd sent a tiger cub to kitten kindergarten. Not to keep up with the curriculum, but to wreck the ecosystem.
"You... where did you send her?"
"The Imperial Academy. I wrote her a recommendation letter. She's young, but her skills are solid. She should be a fourth-year by now, almost graduating."
"Haa...."
My sigh could have drilled through the earth.
I could picture exactly what that disciple was going through. Those "basics" she used like breathing were lost technology not even in the Empire's textbooks.
She was probably treated like a monster at the academy, either ostracized or grabbing professors by the collar out of frustration. One or the other.
"What's her name?"
"Yuria."
Erendel fiddled with her teacup, feigning nonchalance as she added,
"Yuria von Erendel."
"...von Erendel?"
"She had no family name. Orphan, no registry. So I lent her mine out of laziness. No big deal."
No big deal, my ass. Giving her family name—especially a noble high elf surname—practically made her an adopted daughter.
Acting all human-hating and annoyed on the outside, but nesting her up and raising her carefully. Total tsundere.
"I wonder if she's doing okay there, though."
"What?"
"At that level, people wouldn't leave her alone. Jealous noble kids, envious professors everywhere. She might be getting bullied."
At my concern, Erendel snorted.
"Nah, no need to worry. I gave her strict instructions before enrollment."
"What'd you say?"
"If anyone barks, just charge in."
"...."
"You're the disciple of the great archmage Erendel, who once saved the world. In this empire, no one ranks above you except the Emperor. If anyone acts cocky, seal their mouth with magic."
"....."
Bullying? More like she became the school bully. The academy's peace was now in serious jeopardy.
"Well, anyway, that's great."
I chuckled and downed my tea. S-rank talent secured. A mage with ironclad mentality who endured Erendel's personality? She'd be a key card for the empire's revival.
Plus, as a senior about to graduate, ready for immediate deployment.
With the mood lightened a bit, I cautiously changed the subject. The one I most wanted to ask, but most dangerous.
"By the way."
"Yeah?"
"Your kin."
"Kin?"
"Yeah. The elves in the forest. Heard they're acting weird lately. You know?"
I tossed out the bait casually, pretending ignorance. The ones who'd put on that bloody fireworks show right in front of the city walls when I arrived in this world.
Erendel's expression chilled instantly. None of the warmth from talking about her disciple remained.
"Oh, those degenerates?"
"Degenerates?"
"Yeah. Ever since Queen Titania died, they've gone mad. That damn Sylvia takes the throne and starts spouting nonsense about purebloodism and continental purification."
Erendel clicked her tongue with contemptuous eyes.
"I went to the forest once before and told them to snap out of it, guess what they called me? A filthy traitor corrupted by humans—and they shot arrows at me. At their senior, no less."
"How rude. Manners out the window."
"So I burned half the forest that day and cut ties. Kin? Just because they have pointy ears doesn't make them elves."
She ground her teeth.
"They're not forest guardians anymore. Just arrogant invaders. Whatever they're doing out there isn't my problem. Let them all die."
"....."
Good. If she had the same tribal loyalty as the others, I'd have gotten slapped by now.
"Huh? Why the sigh?"
"Nothing. Just thinking you've been through a lot. Must've been seething with betrayal."
I brazenly replied and patted my chest in relief.
"So, even if a bunch of elves... disappear en masse, you wouldn't care?"
"Don't care. Hell, it'd be satisfying. Someone should teach them a lesson."
'Perfect.'
One obstacle cleared. No need to watch my step around her when I go peel that world tree later.
Shoulders lighter, I shot up from my seat. I wanted to storm the forest and slaughter the pointy-ears right now, but priorities.
Empire stabilization first.
"Alright. Misunderstanding... no, conversation's over. Time to go."
"Where?"
"Where else? The capital. Gotta see your disciple, fix the empire."
But Erendel didn't budge. She frowned and sank deeper into the sofa.
"No."
"What?"
"I'm not going. Why would I? Breathe that rotten palace air again?"
Erendel shook her head in disgust.
"Even when I left, that damn emperor called me stupid. Brain rotted with mold? They'd beg for magic funding while securing their own banquet budgets first. Seeing you come here, the current one's no different. Genes don't lie."
Her refusal was firm.
"If I go, they'll fawn over the great archmage and fart praise. All while calculating how to exploit me. Better to chat with snowmen here—they're at least pure."
"....."
"They won't listen anyway? Just spy on nobles for budget scraps. Wrinkles from stress. No."
"Haa...."
I chuckled.
"Don't worry. Won't happen."
"What?"
"No need to watch the emperor, no ignoring your words. Budget? I'll make it overflow."
I met Erendel's eyes straight on.
"Soon as I arrived, I crushed them all."
Her eyes went wide.
"What?"
"Slapped the emperor for physical therapy, threatened nobles with my demon sword to donate their wealth."
"....."
"Plus, crushed the demon-allied rebels, now the empire's savior. History'll call it the Two-Week Civil War, but actual fighting was half a day."
Erendel gaped, speechless. Slapping the emperor, stabbing a demon sword into the nobles' meeting? Brain freeze from unimaginable madness.
"And it wasn't the emperor who summoned me. The princess."
"Princess?"
"Yeah. Elicia... a bit dim, but good kid. Clung to me crying to save the empire."
"Such shameless lot..."
Erendel clicked her tongue.
"So? Helping the princess? Since when are you the merciful knight?"
"Not helping—making her. Planning to crown her regent. Don't want Alexander haunting my dreams if I wear it myself, can't leave the current idiot emperor either."
I grinned and added,
"Can't rebel, so legitimate shadow ruler it is."
"Wow, real madman...."
Erendel muttered, looking appalled.
"Anyway, I'll crush any rebels from behind, prop her up as figurehead. Set the board so clean she can't help but be a sage king. Few corpses underfoot, sure."
Ancestral wisdom's got lessons aplenty.
"So come on. Smash those arrogant mages' heads, check on your disciple after ages, take over the magic tower, remodel to your taste."
"....."
"Just vent all that pent-up stress, go wild. You're good at it."
Erendel stared at my outstretched hand. A delighted smile spread on her lips.
"Haa...."
She slapped it away and stood.
"I like it. The offer."
"Good, let's go."
"Now?"
"Better now, right?"
"It's night?"
"What?"
I pulled back the curtain. The tower's magic lights made it daytime inside, but outside was pitch black. Deep night, too dark even for the blizzard.
"Sun sets early here?"
"North pole vibes. Winter coming, short days. Already cold, gets worse—perfect for freezing to death if we go now."
"Lend me a spare bed then. You had a disciple, gotta be one extra."
"None."
"What?"
"No spare. One bed. Mine."
"Wait, you had a disciple? Where'd she sleep? Floor?"
At my question, Erendel averted her eyes and mumbled.
"Well... she had a room..."
"Had?"
"Turned it into an alchemy lab right after she left."
"....."
This madwoman. Erased her room the second she left?
"A-and even when she was here, no bed! Arrogant mage-in-training needs no sleep? Meditate all night!"
"....."
"Mages live on mental fortitude! Warm back, full belly dulls the senses! One blanket's enough!"
What a harsh master. Trained her brutally. Miracle she didn't run.
No—snowy mountains, nowhere to run.
I eyed the cramped living room and single bedroom door. Conclusion was clear.
"Fine. I'll take the floor. Gimme a carpet at least."
As I shrugged off my coat to spread on the floor,
"Hey."
Erendel called me.
"What. Don't talk if no blanket. Makes me sad."
"Stop moping and come in."
"Huh?"
Did I hear wrong?
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