Ch.501Side Episode – Your Master is Very Disappointed in You All

# Lawsuits, criminal complaints, settlements, statements, and democratic conflict management like protests? To hell with all that.

The warlord leaders, like true men, shared reconciliation, friendship, and forgiveness through the “Moritani Continental Method of Problem Solving.”

And what was that method? Chopping off a beloved nephew’s arm and sending it as a gift!

Although the nephew died from shock in the process, it was fine. Sheikh Bint Al-Asen, the leader of the Asen tribe (and the father of the deceased nephew), had three wives and eleven children.

He could just make another child.

(Surprisingly, this is the average “common sense” shared by locals on the Moritani continent. Not a joke, but reality. “Just make another child” – after all, in a place where magic and electricity aren’t reliably supplied, when the lights go out at night, there’s nothing to do but make babies.)

Anyway.

At the very moment when the Asen-Sanya warlord ceasefire was established, and Frederick was agonizing over whether he should return to the Grand Duke…

Saint Lucia, who didn’t want to return to the human modification furnace, came up with a brilliant idea.

“Let’s go human hunting.”

Now that was truly an outrageous suggestion.

## Side Episode – Your Master Is Very Disappointed in You

“Um, Lucia?”

“Yes.”

“What do you mean? Human hunting?”

Camilla’s expression was like someone looking at a horrific slave trader. Francesca and Arkande’s gazes were no different. They looked at her as if she were a pleasure killer.

Noticing their uncomfortable reactions, Lucia finally realized the mistake she had made.

“Ah.”

I spoke without thinking. Even in my urgency, I omitted too much explanation. (Though even in a criminal’s mind, word combinations like “human hunting” wouldn’t normally appear.)

Flustered, she stammered to add an explanation.

“That’s not what I meant…”

Though she rambled for a moment, Lucia’s opinion could be summarized as follows:

1. We haven’t finished our training, and Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrova will “someday” “definitely” summon us back, as she promised.

2. Considering the Grand Duchess’s personality, abilities, power, and the gap between us and her, the Grand Duchess is essentially an “unavoidable disaster.”

3. But there is a “method” – a justification and shield to postpone the Grand Duchess’s summons. And that is…

“We should arrest mages and sorcerers who have committed crimes.”

“You mean catch outcasts and necromancers?”

“Yes.”

The church’s saint nodded vigorously. The tower’s alchemist narrowed her eyes and let out a thoughtful hum.

“Hmm… The old lady did set a condition. To come back when we’re not busy.”

“It’s the only condition the Grand Duchess gave us, and the only card we can play.”

For reference, the group currently had nothing to do. They had already taken down every weapons dealer there was.

Wouldn’t it be a hundred times better to team up with gangs than to be caught by the Grand Duchess?

But they had worked so diligently that there were no criminals left.

Having no criminals to catch meant having no work. And that meant they could no longer postpone their “return” as promised to the Grand Duchess.

That’s why Camilla, Lucia, Francesca, and Arkande (who just came for snacks) were gathered in the peacekeeping force’s lounge, racking their brains.

Arkande pouted and quivered his lips.

“Bad people. None left. Foreign. Cannot go. Silver-haired woman blocked.”

Of course, there was still the option of going on a “foreign expedition” (not a crusade) to find fresh criminals. Unfortunately, the Grand Duchess seemed to view this as “fleeing abroad.”

She had threatened to pursue them relentlessly if they took even one step outside the Zamrian Federation, so what could they do? (Frederick, being a diplomat, was an exception.) When the command comes from a Grand Magician more formidable than the Ministry of Justice or Magic, you must obey. It was a world where fists were closer than law.

But who were they? The epitome of recklessness and impulsiveness!

These troublemakers, failing to understand their master’s (not really) deeper intentions, were plotting to escape in a most unmanly way (three of them were women), using their wits. How outrageous.

And then the rising holy figure of the church (Lucky-Veronica) spoke:

Let’s not create criminals… but seek out new types of criminals.

In other words!

“You mean if there’s no work, we should create it?”

“Yes.”

If there’s no work, create it!

A truly military-like mentality, like creating unnecessary administrative tasks because you can’t stand seeing people idle.

If Frederick (military veteran, twice over) had been present, he would have exclaimed “Gah!” at such a fresh and beautiful approach to problem-solving.

When Lucia nodded at Camilla’s question, Francesca fell into contemplation.

“Hmm…”

The intellect recognized by magical society quickly calculated. Was the saint’s opinion reasonable?

“Outcasts and necromancers are those who violate laws and precepts. Precepts are the foundation of magic, and laws are society’s boundaries. Both were born with the founding of the magic tower… and the laws and precepts were created by great magicians. I understand the old lady was involved to some extent.”

To be precise, she created the precepts with her fellow grand magicians, and the criminal and civil laws were established with consultation from the imperial legal community.

(This is why her blood pressure spiked whenever her disciples were reported as arsonists in the media.)

Camilla, who had been listening, picked up the thread.

“We have justification. The professor participated in their creation.”

Meaning, what could the Grand Duchess say if they wanted to catch criminals who violated the laws and precepts she herself had helped create?

That’s when:

“Curious. Criminal magicians. Where can find?”

Arkande, who had been mindlessly eating snacks, finally engaged in productive activity (asking a question). So, how do we find criminals?

For reference, Arkande only thought about fighting. Even if the Grand Duchess said, “I’ve taught you everything. Go down the mountain,” and told him not to come back, he would make all sorts of excuses to return.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lucia. As the proposer, perhaps she also had a plan.

Sure enough, the saint had already prepared a treasure map.

“Here it is.”

After checking the treasure map, Camilla quickly made a phone call.

-“Who’s this?”

“Frederick? Are you interested in manhunting?”

-“…What nonsense are you talking now?”

And so began the human hunt beyond the infinite vacation.

*

The water dealer who ruled Rensokashi soared about 17 meters into the air. He was a supplier of the water drug known as “GHB” and a notorious river-affiliated sorcerer who cut people with high-pressure water jets.

A guerrilla from the Malunga area militia dived into a waterfall like one of the three thousand palace ladies. He claimed to be a “vigilante,” but in reality, he was a foreign mercenary magician wanted for ten charges, including attacking cash transport vehicles and illegally occupying mines.

A ship traveling between the western jungle of Lake Nueho and the border region was sunk. On top of the floating contraband, Mace and magical tools pursued a druid who was escaping at high speed on a dolphin.

In the nameless forest of Yambowei Province, a battle was raging.

Fire flowed along the deep valley, human trafficking den strongholds burned, and a necromancer who had hidden in the jungle was caught in an encirclement.

“Damn it!”

As the sweltering heat squeezed the moisture from his body, the necromancer, who nearly fell, spat out a vulgar exclamation.

From far away came shouts.

“Over there!”

“Shoot! Kill him!”

The federal army border patrol, with one side of their jungle hat brims turned up, raked the dense jungle with rifles. Rat-tat-tat-tat! The necromancer, lying flat on the ground, gritted his teeth and crawled toward a corpse.

“Come out.”

Crunch. Ominous black claws dug into the corpse. The necromancer, gripping the organs with all his might, pulled them out of the corpse.

The discarded organs wriggled and moved on their own. The grotesquely grown organs, as if they had received a self or command, began attacking the border guards.

“It worked!”

He had bought time. He quickly got up and moved his legs. He needed to get out of the jungle. He didn’t know how the government men had found him, but first he needed to cross the border and then think-

Just as he was planning his escape in his mind:

“Nice to meet you!”

A naked man appeared from the dense undergrowth. This wasn’t a metaphor; he was literally a man without clothes. And he had an impressive physique, covered in tattoos.

Faced with the aura of this clearly unusual man, the necromancer was so bewildered that he could only blink without saying a word.

“…? Who are you…”

“Strong and powerful morning, if you ask me, I am Arkande! You, fight with me!”

“What language is that even…”

Without asking or explaining, a fist flew at him. With a feeling of “shut up and take this punch.”

Bam- Bam-

Teeth danced and blood droplets scattered. Grabbed by the collar, the necromancer felt dizzy from Arkande’s merciless punches.

“Hahaha!”

“Ugh! Urgh!”

After continuing his joyful beating, Arkande released the collar he was holding. Then he slammed his pot-lid-sized fist into the necromancer’s abdomen.

As the tattoo on his forearm flashed, the necromancer’s body flew far away.

It didn’t just fly; it went through a tree.

-Aaaaargh!

As joyful screams spread throughout the jungle.

Suddenly, magical power enveloped the necromancer’s body, and his movement stopped abruptly.

“Ugh… W-what…”

Through his hazy vision, he could see a barrier surrounding him, a protective school’s barrier. And approaching at high speed,

…a mace?

“Gwaak!”

The necromancer, crushed by the mace, was pinned to the ground. A woman who had leaped over a moss-covered rock and rushed over in one breath smiled at the sight.

“Finally, we meet, brother! I’ve been wanting to see you!”

“…?”

A question mark floated above the necromancer’s head. He wondered if he knew her. But he didn’t.

The woman who had rushed over extended her hand to him. Thinking she had come to help, the necromancer flailed about, but then.

Snap! Her hand grasped the mace.

As if warming up, Lucia swung her mace and shouted:

“Then farewell, brother!”

And so began the merciless, one-sided, and violent abuse.

Lucia wielded her mace with not one but two hands, and the necromancer had to endure blows to his stomach, chest, sides, limbs, and various other body parts.

“Aack! Gack! Aaaack!”

“Please, stay, still, will, you!”

As the joyful wailing made the mountains and forests dance, wild Arkande appeared, breaking through the swaying branches.

He looked around, whip-whip, and when he spotted the necromancer (evolving into minced meat) being beaten by Lucia, he grinned.

“Found! Finally met! I hit too!”

“Guheeeugh…”

Lucia and Arkande amicably surrounded the necromancer and began beating him. Meanwhile, Francesca joined them.

After catching the necromancer, who was flying to Mars after taking a stomach punch, with her protective barrier, she rushed over without being called and began beating the necromancer mercilessly.

“Found you!”

“…Who are y- ugh! Wa- gack!”

And so, with the saint, the barbarian warrior, and the alchemist gathered in one place, a miracle of 3-on-1 was born!

What is professionally called “group assault,” a fight that makes the heart narrow began.

It was a very fierce fight. A horror of blood splattering and bones separating from flesh, a series of screams and wails.

Of course, this only applied to the necromancer; the three people assaulting him didn’t suffer even a scratch.

“This guy has more stamina than he looks!”

Francesca, who had kicked his abdomen with her shoe, said. Meanwhile, the necromancer was spitting blood.

“Very evil! Terribly! Looks like it too!”

Arkande, who had punched his jaw, frowned at the hideous face. He seemed to have forgotten that he had been punching the necromancer’s face himself.

“Stay! Still! Why! Do you! Keep! Trying! To! Escape!”

Lucia repeatedly struck the man who was trying to crawl away. Well, if three people are beating you mercilessly, of course you’d try to escape. Either stop hitting him or…

The federal army and border guards, who had raided the human trafficking ring based on Abas’s information, were as dumbfounded as the necromancer by the behavior of these three people.

“……”

“…Captain.”

“…What.”

“Who should we arrest?”

The federal army captain couldn’t answer. He needed to know who was good and who was bad to make an arrest, but this was…

Assaulting someone as a group would be a serious crime. Moreover, they were taking turns beating him with a walking human weapon, a terrifying blunt instrument, and magic.

“Do you think they know the necromancer… like, are they mortal enemies?”

“I don’t know…”

And they seemed to be hitting him with obvious emotion, as if they had some deep grudge.

In this situation, the federal army and border guards were confused about whether they should arrest just the necromancer or take in those three people as well. Of course, the necromancer…

“Officers! Arrest me! Quickly!”

He desperately wished to be arrested (if not caught now, he might die).

Unfortunately, what kind of country is the Zamrian Federation? A country steeped in corruption, bribery, and self-preservation.

Civil servants or whatever. If they got involved now, they might get beaten up too. So the federal army and border guards decided to let the three enjoy themselves.

At that moment, the necromancer’s pitiful voice ‘happened’ to reach Lucia’s ears.

“This brother hasn’t repented enough!”

At Lucia’s signal, the other two moved.

First, they put on restraints that prevented the use of magic, then lifted him up. Arkande aimed the necromancer toward the open cliff, and Lucia hit him with all her might, sending him flying with her mace.

The federal army and border guards (neglecting their duties) watched with their mouths agape.

“Wow…”

While everyone’s attention was focused, the alchemist, who had been tracking the trajectory with her eyes, muttered cautiously.

“Sir.”

-“I sent him long ago.”

And.

The necromancer, soaring into the air, saw through his swaying vision.

Hair burning like fire, and in contrast, blue eyes.

He tried to reach out hastily, but the other was one step ahead. The magician’s fingers were already pointing at him.

The wingless phoenix fell.

This was the eyewitness account that circulated among the residents on the day the necromancer was arrested in the nameless forest of Yambowei Province.

*

If an individual catches criminals out of goodwill, they are a righteous person. If many people voluntarily catch criminals to protect their community, they are vigilantes.

If one catches criminals for financial gain, they are a bounty hunter; conversely, if one catches criminals for mental pleasure, they are a human hunter.

Then what should we call people who meet all four conditions?

The answer is “us.”

“Are you going to practice necromancy or not!”

“I won’t, I won’t ever again!”

Catching criminal magicians is crime eradication, and arresting criminals as a group protects the community.

Plus, we collected the bounty offered by the federal government, so we received a nice side income, and although there are some complicated backstories, we also gained mental pleasure.

Therefore!

The characteristics of the righteous person, the vigilante, the bounty hunter, and the human hunter have fused into one.

Like an environmentally destructive Negro child-exploiting plantation GMO imperialist big-hearted Chinese cabbage, a truly nonsensical and groundless combination called “us” was born!

(A ‘sensible similar combination’ would be ‘Belgian chocolate,’ made by squeezing cocoa, diamonds, and children’s wrists in colonial Congo.)

“Should have done that from the start. Tsk.”

After thoroughly extracting useful information from the necromancer, we left. For reference, that guy was already the 43rd “underworld magician” we had caught.

“……”

The “human hunting” that began with Lucia’s suggestion had now matured.

We had arrested many criminals, and there was good news.

First, regarding magicians who had been expelled from the magic tower for causing trouble.

It seems that hunting down those who still hadn’t learned their lesson and were committing crimes had been quite effective.

Although there wasn’t a dramatic change, word had reached our information network that underworld magicians were becoming more cautious. Especially after we destroyed the sorcerer gang that had been throwing their weight around in the Western Province.

Underworld magicians, counted among the top contributors to destroying the peace on the Moritani continent. When we started catching them, effects clearly different from before began to appear.

Both overseas and domestically, evaluations like “definitely effective” were coming in.

It was the beginning of hard times for international criminal organizations.

And the best news of all…

“Still no contact today, right?”

“Right!”

The Grand Duchess wasn’t coming.

For a whole seven days!

“It’s really working, huh. Except for the first day, there’s been no contact at all, right?”

“I swear, not a single call.”

Though she wasn’t originally religious, Camilla even made the sign of the cross to emphasize that she was telling the truth.

At those words, everyone’s faces brightened. The joy of not having to be called back by the Grand Duchess for a while had cleared away all the fog that had settled deep in their hearts.

Camilla was especially bright, and when asked why, she gave this answer:

“I’d rather hunt outcasts than fight monsters.”

“Weren’t you close with the Grand Duchess? It seemed more intimate than a master-disciple relationship.”

“Come on~ Even if I like the professor, still. How can anyone fight monsters all day?”

She meant that while she liked the magic the Grand Magician taught, the snacks she gave, and the old stories she told, she just couldn’t embrace that training method. In fact, everyone felt similarly.

Francesca, who had been properly fooled by the words “good opportunity,” and Lucia, who had firmly believed the plea “help me,” each added their thoughts.

“That’s right. I was deceived by the old lady too. What kind of good opportunity…”

Francesca, like someone fallen into despair, emptied her glass repeatedly and blurted out:

“When she said training, I thought it would be some kind of static cultivation… but the Grand Duchess, well, no. There’s no need to say it.”

Lucia, with her hand on her forehead, relaxing the muscles in her shoulders and neck, chose not to elaborate. No, why did you stop mid-sentence?

“Hehe.”

I let out an awkward laugh.

Everyone was completely exhausted. Both body and mind had suffered, so how could they not be?

Camilla, who had been slumping on her chair like a mollusk, suddenly perked up.

“Why are we so gloomy? It’s not like we have to go back to training right away. We haven’t received any call to return.”

“…Because we’re tired. Not so much physically, but mentally?”

“Not knowing when the Grand Duchess might call us…”

So they couldn’t even sleep properly. Francesca and Lucia added in weary voices.

Arkande snickered.

“Very weak. Sleep. Always abundantly sleep.”

“You fall asleep anywhere as long as you can rest your head.”

“Correct words. Hard to refute.”

Clap clap. Camilla, drawing attention with her applause, suggested to everyone:

“Come on~ Why stress over that? Look! We’ve arrested 43 people in a week, so let’s rest a bit from tomorrow. Tonight, let’s have fun!”

Since they had been working non-stop, keeping an eye out for the Grand Duchess, it was time to have some fun. For reference, no one objected.

Arkande left, saying he would just eat food, and Lucia and Francesca also left to get some rest. Everyone promised to meet at 7 PM.

“Good work, Camilla. See you this evening.”

“See you later~”

“Ah, right.”

“Hmm?”

As I was about to head to the embassy for document organization, I suddenly asked her a question.

“But really, there’s been no phone call or message from the Grand Duchess since the first day?”

“No. Not a single one?”

“Then, what kind of contact was there on the first day?”

“Well. There wasn’t much talk…”

Camilla, sipping her cafe latte through a straw, recalled her conversation with the Grand Duchess.

“I told her we’d be busy catching outcasts and necromancers for a while, so it would be difficult to return. And she just said to do well?”

“…’Do well’?”

“Yep.”

I stared into space for a moment, lost in thought. After tilting my head for a while, I asked Camilla to ‘tell me in English what the Grand Duchess had said.’

And she very briefly and concisely uttered a familiar phrase:

“Good luck.”

*

The next day.

Again, there was no contact from the Grand Duchess.

Tired from catching criminals every day, we took a full day of rest. We read overdue letters, enjoyed personal time, and ate what we wanted.

Arkande almost brought a cat (actually, the cat followed him), which made me jump, but apart from that, there were no notable events. Just a peaceful and ordinary day.

As night fell and a new day dawned, we tasted true despair.

“I recall telling you to return immediately if you had no pressing matters.”

We must have fallen asleep in our respective rooms, but when we opened our eyes, we were in the refugee camp square.

Those who had slept in beds were moved with their beds, and Arkande, who had slept on the floor, was moved as he was, covered with a blanket.

The five of us, who had fallen asleep in different spaces and at different times, woke up in the same place at the same time.

And Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrova greeted us as we awoke simultaneously.

“You were only thinking about how to delay your return day, using your petty wits.”

“I was watching to see when you would give up. In the end, after procrastinating day after day, you barely lasted a week, let alone a year.”

“Should I be ashamed of this, or should I praise you for trying hard?”

“……”

I, who had fallen asleep in the embassy’s night duty room, muttered to myself.

Ah. So this is why people don’t casually throw around the term “Grand Magician.”

I believe you, Inquisition. You weren’t fools who got robbed by militia. You were veterans who had fought against such monsters for decades.

Church.

What kind of battles have you been fighting?

“I am very disappointed in you.”

The hundred-year-old monster. The Grand Magician, who in her day had imprisoned quite a few people, showed her disappointment. With an intensity that suggested she might burn someone at any moment.

Desperate glances shot in all directions, but there was no light here.

Inquisitors, magicians, diplomats, even refugees and volunteers, and peacekeeping forces were all so intimidated by the Grand Duchess’s presence that they didn’t even show their faces. If there had been even a dog nearby, we could have at least cursed ourselves as “worse than dogs.” But not even a mutt dared to come near.

While sending SOS signals with pitiful gazes, the Grand Duchess’s voice penetrated our ears.

“……”

“Let’s hear your excuses.”

Then someone jumped out as if they had been waiting.

It was Camilla.

“Professor…!”

Arriving in front of the Grand Duchess, she poured out an excuse she had prepared in 10 seconds.

“That’s not it. Actually, we found some clue while training? But we didn’t know exactly what it was, so we tried it in the field. …”

“?”

A question mark floated above Frederick’s head as he listened. Clue? I didn’t have anything like that.

But for some reason, Lucia, Francesca, and even Arkande were nodding continuously.

At that moment, memories of missing a lecture and losing credits began to creep up from a corner of Frederick’s heart.

As Frederick’s face began to resemble a sad frog, the Grand Duchess, resting her chin indifferently, quietly listened to what her disciple was saying.

“A feeling of using magic efficiently? When you restricted my magic, I adjusted my techniques to avoid wasting power when facing multiple monsters…”

“Fighting monsters with handicaps was definitely a good experience, but the difference between fighting people and monsters is so big… Ah! I’m absolutely not saying your method was wrong, Professor…”

“Ugh… Ah, right! You said it yourself, Professor. ‘If you’ve found your bearings, don’t hesitate. There are those who wander without even finding them, so hesitation will only leave regret and attachment.’ So since we found our bearings, we were researching in various ways and moving to a deeper level…”

“Enough.”

“Yes?”

“I understand what you mean.”

Camilla stopped her explanation with a deflated voice. Anxiously scanning her master’s mood, wondering if she had offended her.

Then a noticeably softer voice reached everyone’s ears.

“I understand your intentions.”

With a gentle curve of her lips forming a crescent, the Grand Duchess smiled at the gathering.

“I’m glad you found your bearings. I had hoped you would gain enlightenment and advance to a higher level, but that was an old person’s greed. You are young sprouts still growing.”

“……”

“The child with unknown power from a distant land, the distant descendant of my colleague, the cleric who receives the love of the heavenly god, and the man who gains power from a veiled source. And you, who was born without possessing anything.”

While everyone was listening attentively to the wise magician’s words, there was one man making an incredulous snorting sound.

It was Frederick, who possessed absolutely nothing.

“What…?”

You deceitful bastards… Why are you suddenly touching on a sensitive spot? I wanted to use magic when I was young too.

Tears rolled down the eyes of the former Dr. Strange aspirant, current civil servant. For some reason, his eyes seemed particularly bulging, and his skin seemed to glow green. Just like a frog.

The Grand Duchess spoke:

“I tried to give you a heavy burden. I should have waited a bit longer.”

“…Professor.”

“What does it matter if growth is slow? There are more people in the world who can’t even use magic.”

A hand rested on the red hair. Though it was a smooth hand without a single wrinkle, its weight was not light.

The Grand Duchess’s face, wearing a clear smile, looked somewhat relieved. As if she had unloaded a heavy burden by sharing the story she had kept in her heart. Camilla lowered her gaze in solemnity.

Others were the same. Even Lucia and Francesca, who had been startled by the sudden abduction, began to fall silent in the solemn atmosphere.

To be honest, Arkande didn’t understand even half of what the Grand Duchess was saying (he was even awkward with the common language of the Moritani continent), but since the “terrifying silver-haired woman” was being so earnest, he just looked at the dirt floor and watched the passing ants.

And Frederick…

“…Grrrgh.”

He was trembling, biting his already scratched lower lip.

If he had been holding a gun, the “patriotic decision” that had failed before might have been made again.

Of course, since Alexandra Petrova was not a dictator, he would have needed to use “Serbian nationalism” rather than “the beast’s heart.” With the combination of Serbian nationalism + pistol, he could take out both the Grand Duchess and her spouse in one strike.

That’s when:

“Take this.”

“Uh, uhh?”

While contemplating between the secret technique of the Central Intelligence Agency (there is no such thing) and the ultimate technique of Sarajevo (not that either), a huge box flew into Frederick’s arms.

Frederick, who had reflexively caught the box, looked back and forth between the box in his arms and the Grand Duchess.

“What is this?”

“A gift. You’ll use it from now on.”

“…A gift?”

“Yes, a gift.”

After handing over the box as a gift, the Grand Duchess swiftly turned around. And she casually added:

“If you die at the hands of a monster during training, you’ll blame me, won’t you?”

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

At that moment, question marks appeared above everyone’s heads. The saint and the descendant of the Grand Magician who had been lowering their heads solemnly, the muscle-bound Fabre observing ants on the ground, the spy who had accepted a bribe, and the disciple who had been clinging to her master’s legs.

Blinking repeatedly, they looked at each other’s faces. Wondering if they had misheard. Judging by the expressions of those next to them, they hadn’t.

Everyone was suddenly wide awake. Sleep completely vanished. The startled gazes of everyone flew to the Grand Magician, and after surveying the group, the Grand Magician snorted derisively.

“Did you think the training would end like this? Have you ever seen such fox-like bears? Tsk tsk… You all lowered your heads when I set the mood a little.”

“…Ah!”

An exclamation that could have been either a sigh or a scream burst forth.

The Grand Duchess laughed loudly.

“Still, I quite liked your answer. The difference between fighting people and monsters is big… This old woman hadn’t considered that.”

Whether she was truly happy or just had an amusing thought.

I don’t know the reason, but there was sincerity in the Grand Duchess’s laughter. And to Camilla, this was a truly serious threat.

“As an apology, I will ‘specially’ face each of you in turn.”

A one-on-one mock battle with a Grand Magician!

An opportunity that couldn’t be seized even with billions! This was an opportunity that even the richest people in the world would struggle to get!

The reason was simple.

There were no insane people in the world who would pay expensive money to get beaten up by a Grand Magician while learning magic!

“Damn it! We’re doomed!”

Camilla, who had dug her own grave, tore at her hair, Lucia, who had accepted her fate, sighed deeply, and Francesca, who sensed death, squeezed her eyes shut.

“…Ancestor. I think I’ll be joining you soon.”

As all five students groaned and complained of dizziness and pain, the Grand Magician prepared her magic with a deep smile.

“I admire your cunning. Although I was greatly disappointed, all my resentment has been resolved, so I will face you fairly without being swayed by personal feelings.”

“That sounds like you’re saying you’ll kill us fairly!”

“Huh. Where in the world is there a master who kills their disciples?”

“I’m saying I’ll die!”

Camilla’s pitiful voice didn’t reach the Grand Duchess’s ears. The swirling magical power buried her voice.

It took only 10 seconds for the long-distance teleport to be completed.

“Well then, this time, try a little harder so your master won’t be disappointed.”

With a barely audible laugh, the massive magical power transported the five students.

## Side Episode – Your Master Is Very Disappointed in You – END –