Ch.49The Disciple to the Master, the Master to the Disciple (3)

[Olivia]

– Level: 60

– Job: Advanced Glacier Mage

– Title: Academy Top Graduate, Golden Tower Master’s Disciple

Olivia slowly observed her status.

She had already advanced to an Advanced Mage after grinding levels intensely for the past six days.

Level 60.

It wasn’t enough to be called a powerful person, but it wasn’t a level where she’d be easily slaughtered either.

Considering that the White Tower Master was level 66, one could truly be called powerful starting from level 70.

The lower Tower Masters of the Five Magic Towers, Captain-level Holy Knights, and High Elf Royal Guards belonged to this category.

Level 80 was a step above that. Grandmasters, Sword Masters, and Grand Knight Commanders belonged here.

‘…But was my leveling always this fast?’

No matter how experienced she was, she didn’t think she had ever gained 5 levels in just ten days.

Of course, it might be possible with potions that exponentially increase experience gain, but those weren’t resources one would use at low levels like this.

‘…Am I mistaken?’

Something felt off. But Olivia decided to let it go, thinking that what’s good is good.

With mountains of tasks ahead, she didn’t want to waste mental energy on trivial matters.

Unlike with Kiel, her first meeting with Melina happened without any accumulated goodwill.

So she hadn’t deliberately shown the process of “changing” yet.

If Melina recognized her two personas before they became close, she might not be able to distinguish which one was responsible for the massacre.

‘One mistake and I’m done for.’

Not yet. She needed to reach at least 50 goodwill before gradually revealing herself.

She would speak as little as possible. No matter how experienced Olivia was, deceiving a genius like Melina was nearly impossible.

Games and reality were different.

Among all returnees, only Aria had better mental processing than Melina. Of course, if the scope included other races, things would be a bit different, but she would still be among the top.

So what to do?

Geniuses like Melina don’t easily trust others’ words. They only trust their own thoughts.

Olivia planned to exploit that very trait.

Having played Lactea thousands of times, Melina was the NPC she had met the most. Having seen almost all endings as a mage, it was natural that she had met Melina the most.

To the point where she could claim to know Melina better than Melina knew herself.

Olivia strode down the corridor. She didn’t need to find out what had happened during the past six days.

Other mages would bow and greet her whenever they crossed paths; it would be stranger not to notice how things were going.

After exchanging greetings fifty-eight times, she finally reached the office.

“You’re up early. Coming to pay your respects?”

The Melina she met was… somehow strange.

[Melina Diviae]

– Level: 95

– Goodwill: 38

– Job: Grandmaster of Time and Space

– Title: Guardian of Empire, Golden Tower Master, Emperor’s Drink Buddy

It was definitely 3 the last time she checked.

But now it was a whopping 38.

‘…Huh?’

It would be a lie to say she hadn’t hoped for increased goodwill. She hadn’t just promised to help Melina reach the truth; she had acted like a master instructor saying, “Hey, you can see the truth too!” It would be strange if goodwill hadn’t increased.

But that was too much of an increase. What was certain was that their relationship could no longer be called an ordinary master-disciple relationship.

Usually, a goodwill of about 20 indicated a decent master-disciple relationship. Exchanging jokes with smiles and visiting annually on Teacher’s Day with carnations—that level of goodwill was around 20.

But now it was almost double that. Of course, it was lower than when she first met Kiel, but that was after months of experience in Euran.

But not with Melina. It had only been ten days since they formed their master-disciple bond.

Could a person change this much in such a short time?

“Yes, come in. What brings you here so early in the morning?”

“Ah, well…”

“That’s unlike you. Come, sit down and tell me calmly.”

Forget the affectionate tone—what was with that loving gesture as if inviting her to sit on her lap?

She had intended to raise Melina’s goodwill, but not to this extent.

Olivia barely managed to hide her surprise.

“…I’m fine. I’ll sit on the chair.”

“Sure, whatever makes you comfortable.”

After calming herself, Olivia spoke.

“I was wondering if I could get permission to go out.”

“Go out? Can’t you just leave? No one will stop you.”

“I might be back late. I thought I should let you know…”

“So you’re planning to skip today’s lesson?”

A momentary disappointment flashed in Melina’s eyes.

‘…Hmm?’

Olivia didn’t miss that. In that brief moment, she deduced a reasonable explanation for Melina’s rapid change.

Come to think of it, today was the day she was supposed to give Melina a fragment of truth. The only time she could pass the paper with the fragment was during their private lessons.

To Melina, skipping the lesson meant not sharing the fragment of truth.

Olivia finally understood.

That goodwill of 38 wasn’t due to their master-disciple relationship, but because of Melina’s desire to glimpse the truth.

As expected, she didn’t disappoint.

Olivia could finally relax.

“No, I’ll definitely have the lesson tonight.”

“I see. Don’t go too far, and be careful.”

Melina patted Olivia’s head. Olivia flinched momentarily but didn’t pull away from the touch.

“I’ll be going then, Master.”

Melina nodded in response instead of answering.

-Creak.

The door closed. Left alone in the room, Melina waited until the footsteps faded away, then pulled out a book from between her documents.

[How to Teach Your Disciple], recommended by the 4th Elder.

Today was a very meaningful day for Melina.

For the past six days, Melina had taught Olivia with all her heart. Therefore, the fragment of truth she would receive this time would be much sweeter and more valuable than the previous one.

[…Sitting young disciples on your lap is effective.]

Melina drew a red line under the sentence.

Sometimes Olivia really looked like a young girl. That gesture just now was a mistake born from that impression.

To be honest, it wasn’t just sometimes.

The moments when Olivia showed her sage-like aspects were truly brief. That’s why Melina sometimes made such mistakes.

Melina twirled her pen and thought.

‘It’s not… an act. It’s nearly impossible to pretend to be a disciple all day. One’s true nature would slip out at least a few times.’

But Olivia remarkably concealed her sage-like aspects in daily life. Honestly, that was beyond surprising—it bordered on the impossible.

‘…Unless she’s sealing her sage-like aspects in normal times.’

That was the only remaining possibility.

Only then could she sincerely play the role of a disciple to a fellow mage much younger than herself.

But for that to be possible, she would need at least two selves.

A self that hasn’t attained enlightenment, and one that has.

‘…But that should be impossible.’

Not only would there be no reason for the former to tolerate the latter, but a mortal mind couldn’t withstand a thousand years of time.

History had proven that only destruction awaited humans whose selves were split in two.

‘…Perhaps something changes when one reaches the truth?’

Melina’s pen began spinning faster than before.

The truth was indeed the only unknown realm she hadn’t reached. If so, there could certainly be methods unknown to Melina.

Methods to live with a divided self, or to maintain one’s sanity through near-eternal ages.

But this raised another question.

‘Is there a reason worth taking such a risk?’

Even if such methods existed, Melina couldn’t imagine how great the cost would be.

Reaching the truth aside, that was the nature of magic as a discipline.

Using magic just one level above one’s ability required life force as payment—that was magic.

So what was Olivia paying as the price?

Even Melina had to furrow her brow at that thought.

She truly couldn’t understand why Olivia was doing this.

‘…I’ve never even shown her favor.’

No matter how much she searched her memories, the result remained unchanged. She had definitely met Olivia for the first time ten days ago.

She just couldn’t figure it out.

-Thud.

The pen fell to the floor. Melina clicked her tongue and picked it up.

She decided to continue reading the book. The answer was something only Olivia would know anyway.

[…There is no limit to the love a master bestows upon a disciple, and the same is true for the disciple.]

Melina, who was about to turn the page, stopped.

It was a sentence she liked.

Without realizing it, Melina began engraving sentences one by one deep in her heart.

And so she continued, engraving and engraving until dusk fell.