Ch.48The Disciple to the Master, the Master to the Disciple (2)

“Aren’t you the Golden Tower Master? It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen you.”

The senior librarian of the Imperial Library bowed his head and chuckled. He set aside the book he was organizing and spoke.

“What brings you here?”

“Do you have any books about education?”

“Education… Perhaps it’s for that new disciple you’ve taken in? If so, you can go to Archive 7. I’ll notify the person in charge.”

“Thank you.”

As Melina walked toward Archive 7, the librarian muttered quietly.

“They say she’s changed…”

Her gaze had softened ever so slightly. Considering that personalities tend to become more rigid with age, this was a remarkably significant change.

Melina walked through the maze-like library without hesitation. Despite its vast interior, the only people present were the librarians stationed at each archive.

In a way, this was natural. This was the Imperial Library, the repository for all historical texts and grimoires of the continent. Most people didn’t even have permission to enter.

It was considered busy if there was one visitor per day.

[Archive 7 – In Use]

But today was different. Surprisingly, there was already a visitor.

“Who’s inside?”

“Princess Aria is there.”

“…The Princess?”

Melina’s interest ended there. There was no need to enter the archive. The librarians had already sorted out all the books containing the keyword “education” and brought them outside.

Melina picked up the topmost book from the mountain of texts. It was written by a scholar from an ancient kingdom that had long since perished.

[A master must be able to open new horizons of life for their disciple. In the difficult journey of life, one must be a light…]

Melina flipped through the book quickly. She was turning pages at a rate of about one every 10 seconds. This wasn’t skimming—she was memorizing that vast information in real time.

‘New horizons…’

Melina closed the book briefly and thought.

When she obtained the second clue to the truth, there was an emotion that pierced her heart.

She still couldn’t identify that emotion. But she had realized one thing.

She shouldn’t teach like this.

Olivia had clearly said: “This is in return for teaching me for three days.”

But Melina knew.

She hadn’t taught Olivia anything. She had merely pretended to conduct lessons, and even those were mostly self-study.

Honestly, she had been busy.

Come to think of it, it would be stranger if the Guardian of Empire wasn’t busy. And Melina had no experience properly teaching someone. Naturally, she was bound to be inexperienced.

Yes, these were all cowardly excuses.

What did a mere hollow title matter in the face of truth? She should have cast it aside and rushed out immediately.

But Melina didn’t. Because the condition Olivia presented was so absurd, she had unwittingly become enticed.

Yet Olivia had let it slide without comment. She had handed over a fragment of truth without asking for anything in return.

That, rather, had provoked Melina.

Truth should not be obtained in such a manner. If one gains enlightenment without having achieved anything on their own, it’s utterly useless.

It was no longer simply a matter of pressure.

Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

Being just a master was no longer enough.

She needed to become Olivia’s true master, sincerely.

It would certainly be difficult and arduous, but…

At least it wouldn’t diminish the value of the truth she would eventually obtain.

Melina opened the book again. To become a master she wouldn’t be ashamed of, and to face the truth with dignity.

How much time had passed?

“…Hah.”

Melina closed the last book. Judging by the rising sun, she had been at it for a full 7 hours.

“Please organize these.”

“Ah, yes!”

The librarians, who had been nodding off after staying up all night, hurriedly came running.

Melina rose from her seat, leaving behind the mountain of books. As she was about to return to the magic tower, something caught her eye.

[Archive 7 – In Use]

Princess Aria was still in the archive. What was more surprising was that the other librarians knew this fact but did nothing about it.

As Melina couldn’t take her eyes off Archive 7, a librarian carefully explained.

“You needn’t worry. The Princess sometimes sleeps in the archives.”

“…And His Majesty the Emperor permits this?”

“Yes. Though it’s limited to Archive 7.”

The door to Archive 7 was firmly closed. A solid magical barrier prevented outsiders from entering.

But that didn’t apply to Melina.

Tap.

As she spread her mana in front of the door, her vision cleared and she could see through to the interior.

Contrary to expectations, Aria was wide awake. She held a thick ancient tome in her hands. Flip! The pages turned in an instant. Upon reaching the last page, Aria would put the book back without hesitation.

Then she would take out the next book and repeat the same process.

Ten seconds.

That was how long it took Aria to reach the last page of a book.

“…”

Melina frowned. Despite the Princess’s reputation for having flowers in her head, she hadn’t expected her to play around with ancient tomes like this.

It was absurd.

“…Why Archive 7 specifically?”

Melina’s question contained a rebuke. The ancient tomes stored in Archive 7 contained the experiences and philosophies of countless old scholars. The librarians couldn’t possibly be unaware of this fact.

She was asking why it had to be Archive 7 when there were other places available.

One of the librarians replied with an aggrieved expression.

“Do you think we just stood by? Of course, we initially opened Archive 1 for her.”

According to the librarian, Aria had been moving to a different archive each month as her sleeping place.

‘…She’s been doing this pointless prank for seven months?’

The Emperor who permitted this was even more ridiculous.

Melina shook her head.

This Emperor seemed to be quite the doting father.

Well, it wasn’t Melina’s concern.

It was almost time for her disciple to wake up.

*****

It had already been a week since Golden Tower Master Melina appointed her new disciple. The mages of the Golden Tower were trying their best to adapt to the tower’s daily changes.

But the scene unfolding before them was still impossible to get used to.

“Now you should praise her,” said the Fourth Elder.

Melina stepped forward.

“Very well done, Olivia. You’re improving day by day.”

“It would be better if you pat my head too.”

Melina nodded.

She obediently patted Olivia’s head. Watching this, one of the chief mages shuddered as if having a seizure.

“W-what in the world…”

He had been dispatched to the eastern region for the past month, so he hadn’t properly heard what had happened during that time.

He had heard that the Tower Master had taken a disciple, but…

‘This is… this is unbelievable.’

Melina’s face appeared expressionless at first glance, but looking closely, the corners of her eyes were faintly curved like crescent moons.

As a father with a daughter himself, he knew.

That expression could only come from genuine sincerity.

“The idea of mixing frost magic with lightning was good. But let’s properly finish the ice attribute first. You can learn lightning magic after that, it’s not too late.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll do that.”

Giving the benefit of the doubt, he could understand the Fourth Elder advising Melina.

After all, the Fourth Elder was known for both his character and expertise in teaching disciples.

But…

“The ice attribute, unlike the other four major elements, only appears in specific environments. Just as you can find water in a desert but not ice. So to increase efficiency, you create the surrounding environment with mana like this…”

This scene was impossible to get used to.

She was even giving examples to explain!

And this was Melina of all people!

The Melina who used to spew insults—calling people vermin pretending to be mages, telling them to get out of the Golden Tower if that’s how they intended to practice—was nowhere to be seen.

‘How in the world…’

All these changes seemed to have occurred after the arrival of that young mage named Olivia.

And that change was felt most strongly by Melina herself.

…It was enjoyable.

For the first time, she was finding pleasure in teaching someone.

A sage in the guise of a young girl?

No. At least in this moment, Olivia was her disciple.

Olivia acted that way, and Melina believed it.

Of course, it was self-satisfaction. Not wanting to diminish the value of truth.

Although it might not be as significant as reaching the truth, teaching someone with all one’s heart was certainly a difficult task.

So she had no choice but to do her best. The value of truth was determined by her efforts.

She had learned not to hesitate in seeking advice from those beneath her, and she had learned how to pat someone’s head.

She had learned how to explain things at an appropriate level, and how to speak kindly.

Of course, putting what she had learned into practice was still difficult, but she was improving nonetheless.

And…

“Master, what will you teach me next?”

Twitch.

The inexplicable strange emotion had been appearing more frequently.

“The next magic I’ll teach you is…”

It was strange.

She should have been angry when encountering such an unfamiliar emotion, but oddly enough, it didn’t feel bad.

She couldn’t identify the cause.

Perhaps she was nervous about encountering the next fragment of truth.

Indeed, there were only three days left until that day.

That must be it.

Melina deliberately ignored this strange emotion.

****

Olivia stretched. Uncharacteristically, she looked around her bedroom before grinning.

[Time Remaining: 20 minutes 00 seconds]

It was time to check her progress so far.