Chapter 17: A Ghostly Master and an Impatient Maiden

• Truthfully, there was no need to be overly afraid of a ghost.

In this world, the existence of ghosts was officially acknowledged, and thus, a lot of information about them was known.

According to a book I had read before, most ghosts cannot physically intervene in this world.

Occasionally, if a very powerful ghost emerges, they can intervene, but even then, they cannot do so for long periods.

In other words, no matter what the ghost mumbled, I could just ignore it and call the Church to exorcise it.

“Let’s bounce.”

I took Kani’s hand and stood up.

“Uh uh… Hey, where are you going?”

The ghost, perhaps not expecting to be ignored, was flustered.

“Treasure! I know the location of treasure! Just listen to me for a moment.”

Ignoring the ghost’s words, it desperately tried to persuade me.

Did it think I was an idiot to believe that?

Undeterred by the ghost’s persuasion, I opened the door.

“Ha, these brats won’t listen to reason, huh?”

Kwang!

“…”

The ghost angrily waved its hand, and the door slammed shut.

Dalkakdalkak.

Just in case, I tried turning the doorknob, but as expected, it didn’t budge.

I swallowed hard.

A ghost that could exert physical force.

This was a formidable enemy that couldn’t be exorcised unless a priest of archbishop level came.

As I was now, it was an opponent I couldn’t possibly win against, even if I died and came back to life.

I forced an awkward smile and rubbed my hands together.

“Haha… Mr. Ghost? Is there anything you desire from me?”

There are moments in life when one must be quick to give up.

For me, that moment seemed to have arrived.

I quickly abandoned my attempt to flee and entered into negotiations.

“Mr. Ghost? I have quite a bit of money, you see. How about money?”

“Nonsense, brat, would a ghost need money?”

“Then what is it that you desire…”

The ghost teleported around, scrutinizing my body from head to toe.

“You. You’re a mage, right?”

“I’m a beginner who can only use 1st-circle magic, but yes, I am a mage.”

“Hmm…”

The ghost stroked its beard, lost in thought.

‘What on earth is it going to demand.’

The way it was examining my body was deeply unsettling.

If it demanded my body, I’d scream immediately.

“You, become my disciple.”

“Yes?”

---

The ghost, a self-proclaimed 27th head of the Predick Ducal family, claimed to be an 8th-circle mage.

“There’s no such thing in the history books.”

“Of course not, would they leave the records of a ruined ducal family intact?”

I looked at the ghost with suspicious eyes.

Seeing it exert physical force, it seemed true that it was quite a strong individual in life, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe it was an 8th-circle mage.

“8th-circle is a level only seven people in history have achieved.”

“Ahem, I am one of those mages who reached that great height.”

If it had modestly said 6th-circle, I might have believed it, but the ghost spouted boasts that not even an elementary school student at the Academy would believe.

“Then, oh great 8th-circle Archmage, why do you wish to take me as your disciple?”

The ghost scratched the back of its head as if embarrassed.

“I wouldn’t want my magic to end here, you see.”

It is natural for a mage to wish for their research and magic to continue, not to be cut off.

A mage’s research and magic contain the life they have lived.

It was already well-known that high-ranking mages, especially those who had achieved much, had a strong desire to take disciples to ensure their magic and research continued.

“You were an 8th-circle Archmage, but you didn’t have any disciples?”

“They all died because they got involved with me.”

“…”

There was nothing to say since he said they all died.

“Let’s assume it’s true that you were an 8th-circle Archmage, Mr. Ghost, and all your disciples died.”

“It’s not ‘assume it’s true,’ it is true!”

“Yes, yes, anyway, let’s say I learn your magic, Mr. Ghost. If someone recognizes your magic when I use it, wouldn’t I die just like your disciples?”

The ghost shook its head.

“It’s magic from 500 years ago, so no one knows my magic. There’s absolutely no way you’ll get caught.”

“…”

Certainly, if 500 years had passed, there wouldn’t be anyone who recognized it.

Still, after about 500 years, one would think it would give up and pass on, but its will to impart its magic seemed tremendous.

“I really don’t want anything in return, you know? You just have to learn my magic. It’s not a losing proposition at all, is it?”

“Hmm…”

As I didn’t readily accept, the ghost’s voice rose in frustration.

‘If I push it any further, it might get dangerous.’

Though I had pushed back hard, I hadn’t forgotten that I was overwhelmingly the weaker party.

Compromise might be possible, but outright refusal was impossible in the current situation.

“Umnya.”

Moreover, I wasn’t alone now; I had to protect Kani, who had fainted at the ghost’s appearance.

“Alright, I’ll be your disciple.”

“Oh! A wise choice.”

The ghost grinned from ear to ear.

Bung bung bung.

It flickered and teleported around, then presented several books.

[Basics of Word Magic – Anthony Predick-]

[The Power of Words – Anthony Predick-]

[Practical Application of Word Magic – Anthony Predick-]

The books the ghost handed over had yellowed pages from age and smelled musty.

Seeing my displeased expression at the old books, the ghost bounced around.

“I took pretty good care of them for them to be in that state! Do you know how frightening the power of 500 years is?”

“Well, considering 500 years, they are well-maintained.”

“Hahaha, right? These are books I truly cherished and protected!”

“However.”

“Yes?”

“Mr. Ghost, you were sentenced to have your records expunged, weren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, aren’t these books also banned?”

“That’s right…?”

According to imperial law, even possessing a banned book would lead to the extermination of three generations of one’s family.

“Fireball.”

Without hesitation, I summoned a flame orb.

They seemed like valuable books, but I didn’t want my family to be wiped out for three generations.

“Wait!”

The ghost threw its entire body to shield the books.

It should know that it can’t block a Fireball in its ethereal state anyway.

“Hoit.”

I only pretended to keep throwing Fireballs, waiting for the ghost to let its guard down.

As I only feigned throwing, the ghost gradually became complacent.

I didn’t miss the timing and launched a Fireball.

The ghost, perhaps not expecting me to actually throw a Fireball, was horrified and hastily cast a spell.

“Camellia’s Veil.”

Camellia trees instantly grew from the ground and surrounded the mage.

Kwaang!

Camellia trees have long been known for their resistance to fire.

As expected by their affinity, the Fireball couldn’t penetrate the camellia trees.

I was dumbfounded by the trees suddenly sprouting from the ground.

I had seen magic of various attributes like water, fire, ice, electricity, and light, but it was the first time in my life I had seen magic that summoned trees.

The mage, without shedding a single drop of sweat, wiped his brow and straightened his shoulders.

Perhaps due to forcibly using magic in his ghostly form, his figure flickered.

“Creating one’s own school of magic is only possible upon reaching the realm of an Archmage. Well, have you ever seen magic utilizing flowers and trees in your life?”

“I have not…”

“Well? Do you now believe that this body is an Archmage?”

I had already provoked the mage’s displeasure several times.

If only to soothe the mage’s mood, I performed an exaggeratedly deep bow.

“A junior mage failed to recognize the great Archmage. I apologize!”

“Hmph hmph.”

“Seeing the trees you summoned, even I, an ignorant novice mage, have realized your greatness, Archmage. Please, grant me your teachings!”

“Hahat, yes, disciple. You have finally opened your eyes.”

Even amidst such turmoil, Kani slept soundly.

I thought it was rather fortunate that Kani was asleep.

---

Top floor of the Knight Faculty’s female dormitory at the Imperial Academy.

The Grand Duke of the North’s one and only cute daughter, the next-generation Sword Master, one of the Empire’s three great beauties.

Marine, a girl with platinum blonde hair adorned with all sorts of titles, trembled her legs and nervously bit her nails.

The maids, sensing Marine’s displeasure, desperately tried to make themselves inconspicuous.

“Why! On! Earth! Isn’t! He! Coming! To! See! Me!”

Marine burst out in frustration, crushing the macaron she held in her hand.

Marine, who had always kept her feelers out, paying close attention to Hendel’s movements, had already heard that he had arrived in the capital.

She had assumed that upon arriving in the capital, he would naturally seek her out first, and had even finished dressing up.

However, according to reports, Hendel had shown no movement even now, five hours after entering his residence.

‘This won’t do, I have to go find him.’

The original plan was for Hendel to come find her, and she would greet him with dignity and gentleness, displaying her maturity, but she could no longer wait.

She, who gained her will to live by meeting Hendel once every six months, was even experiencing withdrawal symptoms from not having seen him for the past year due to the Academy.

Waiting for five hours was the result of Marine exercising tremendous patience.

The curfew for the female dormitory was 10 PM.

If she went to find Hendel now, a little past 8 PM, there was a high probability she wouldn’t be able to adhere to the curfew, but the matron of the female dormitory lacked the courage to reprimand her, the young lady of the Derfoger family.

They could lock the dormitory doors after curfew, but that would give her a reason to stay at Hendel’s residence, which was actually preferable.

‘Alright, let’s go.’

Marine energetically pushed herself up from her seat.

“I’m going to Hendel’s residence, so don’t look for me.”

“Yes… Understood.”

As maids employed by the Academy, they had a responsibility to stop Marine’s deviation, but having already witnessed what she was capable of when angry, they couldn’t bring themselves to stop her and merely bowed their heads.

The maids could only watch Marine’s departing back and pray that she would return before curfew.