Ch.52The Disciple to the Master, the Master to the Disciple (6)

The electrical current that had been shimmering in the training ground disappeared in an instant. Melina gathered the magical power at her fingertips and turned her head back.

“Do you have any more questions?”

Olivia nodded in response to Melina’s words.

“No, I don’t have any more.”

“Then let’s conclude for today.”

“Yes.”

Olivia secretly sighed in relief as she restored the scorched wall.

[Time Remaining: 23 minutes 00 seconds]

Honestly, she had been terrified at first. It was fortunate that she had possessed this body just as the class was ending; otherwise, it could have been a disaster.

‘That was really dangerous.’

She had almost shown herself ‘changing.’

Olivia glanced at Melina who was organizing her grimoires.

[Melina Diviae]

– Level: 95

– Affection: 45

– Occupation: Grandmaster of Time and Space

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

A total of 12 days had passed in the clue, and during that time, Melina’s affection had risen to 45.

The affection-building was going smoothly.

Everything was fine, except…

[Time Remaining: 19 minutes 32 seconds]

With Melina nearby, the timer showed no signs of stopping.

Normally, she would have finished cleaning up long ago, but the training ground was in complete disarray from whatever lesson they had been having.

This was the disadvantage of the clue. She had no idea what the Olivia from the genocide route had been doing.

[Time Remaining: 17 minutes 21 seconds]

‘…Why isn’t this ending?’

Her lips were getting dry.

‘I need to visit the black market.’

She needed to check information that could suppress the war with the Eastern Union.

In truth, even with just one minute left, she could reach the black market. As long as Melina wasn’t nearby, the timer wouldn’t count down.

But if she did that, she wouldn’t be able to handle a situation like last time when Melina had been waiting at the main gate.

She needed to keep at least 10 minutes in reserve to prepare for such variables.

[Time Remaining: 15 minutes 37 seconds]

Olivia pretended to be calm while using her magic to restore the wall, careful not to arouse Melina’s suspicion.

Whoosh.

Of course, she didn’t intend to slow down the restoration process. Like stains being wiped away, the massive wall instantly returned to its original state.

Melina remarked with an admiring voice.

“Oh, much faster than usual.”

“Haha…”

Olivia laughed awkwardly.

Sorry to Melina, but she hadn’t used a clue just to attend this kind of lesson.

Of course, the ultimate reason for using clues was to build affection with Melina, but at this moment, getting information about the eastern front took priority over affection-building.

Why?

How much would her affection increase from attending one lesson? It’s not like they had lessons only once a month.

With limited uses of clues, she always had to consider how to maximize efficiency.

And right now, gathering information was the most efficient option.

‘Next time I enter, it’ll be over 50.’

From the moment the affection exceeded 50, she would begin the process of overwriting memories in earnest.

Having finished tidying up, Olivia approached Melina with quick steps.

“Thank you for teaching me today as well.”

And as always, she bowed her head. Now, if Melina would just accept this greeting, their daily routine would be complete.

Of course, Melina would have to finish her backlog of work, and Olivia would need to review what she had learned today.

Well, the Olivia from the genocide route would take care of that.

But something was different that day.

“…”

There was no response.

After waiting for a while, Olivia slightly raised her head and asked.

“Um… Master?”

“What is it?”

“…Aren’t you going to accept my greeting?”

“I intend to. It’s my disciple’s greeting, of course I should accept it.”

But Melina’s eyes were narrowed as she said this.

“But tell me, do you want me to leave?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if you want me to leave.”

Melina was clearly smiling. But the atmosphere she was giving off was somehow strange.

It felt like one wrong word would be the end of her.

Olivia spoke with the most innocent face possible.

“That’s not it. It’s just that you have a lot to do these days, Master. I can study on my own even without lessons. I meant it in that sense…”

“Thank you for your concern. But today is fine. I finished my work in advance.”

“…”

Melina was still asking ‘Do you dislike it?’ with her eyes.

Olivia couldn’t open her mouth carelessly, even though she knew the model answer.

‘I want to spend more time with you too, Master’ was the correct answer. Normally, she would have chosen this without a moment’s hesitation.

But…

‘Something feels off.’

Olivia checked Melina’s status window once more, just in case.

[Melina Diviae]

– Level: 95

– Affection: 45

– Occupation: Grandmaster of Time and Space

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

As expected, the affection wasn’t separated. This meant that Melina still couldn’t distinguish between Olivia and the Olivia from the genocide route.

‘…Does she really just want to spend more time together?’

No, that couldn’t be it. If that was truly her intention, she wouldn’t have spoken with such a meaningful nuance.

Olivia took a moment to think.

Soon, she reached a conclusion.

‘…Is she at the suspicion stage?’

The suspicion that Olivia might have two selves.

If she only had suspicions without concrete evidence, it was entirely possible.

Even Kiel’s affection hadn’t split until he was certain that Olivia had two selves.

“My disciple, do you dislike being with me?”

That’s why she was speaking in such a roundabout way. To find out when the self switches.

‘…I don’t think I did anything to arouse suspicion.’

Except for when she handed over fragments of truth, she had truly acted like Melina’s disciple—like the Olivia from the genocide route.

‘…Is it not about actions?’

Come to think of it, Kiel had also distinguished between the Olivia from the genocide route and herself simply by the difference in atmosphere. If Kiel could do it, there was no reason Melina couldn’t.

One can imitate actions, but not atmosphere.

But this still wasn’t enough. She might be suspicious, but there was no need to specifically confirm that the self changes.

Because to Melina, Olivia was already a magician who had reached the truth.

Truth was an unknown realm to Melina.

Why would she care if such a magician changed her self to play the role of a disciple…

Wait, could it be…?

****

Melina looked down at the contemplative Olivia with a bitter expression.

Though she wasn’t showing it, Melina had been living in doubt for the past few weeks.

Why would a magician who had already reached the truth want to become her disciple?

Reaching the truth and becoming Melina’s disciple.

Even aspiring magicians in rural villages knew that the two weren’t equivalent.

And Melina knew this fact better than anyone.

That’s why she had sincerely decided to become Olivia’s master.

Only by doing so could she somehow match the equivalence.

One might ask why she was so obsessed with equivalence. But as a magician, it was unavoidable.

Equivalence (等價).

It was the foundation of all magic.

The power of magic is determined by how much magical power is used. Use less, and the power weakens; use more, and the power strengthens.

The principle was the same when using magic beyond one’s capacity resulted in loss of life force.

To match the equivalence, the magician bears that much burden.

This is equivalent exchange, and this is magic.

And Olivia, too, was a magician.

A magician who had reached the truth would know this principle of equivalence better than anyone.

She wouldn’t be unaware of the simple principle that as the scale tilts to one side, a burden is placed on the other.

Previously, she had known this fact but didn’t pay much attention to it. But recently, after glimpsing the third fragment of truth, she had realized something.

Because it was just a fragment, the realization was as hazy as fog, but she could still feel it.

The value of truth.

She was happy. Ecstatic. She couldn’t stop marveling at how such a realm could exist.

And simultaneously, she realized one terrible fact.

No matter how wholeheartedly she played the role of a master, the scale would forever be tilted to the other side.

Even if she offered all her organs and body parts, all her emotions, even her soul.

No matter what Melina did, equivalence would never be established.

Yet, Melina hadn’t received any burden.

Because even offering her everything wasn’t worth even one fragment of truth.

The person who should have received the burden, didn’t.

This meant only one thing.

“…”

Olivia, her disciple, was bearing it instead.

‘Why?’

Melina had tried to reason it out.

No matter how she thought about it, there was no reason for Olivia to bear that burden.

And finally, she was able to derive one answer.

– Please accept me as your disciple.

Come to think of it, Olivia had never once failed to show respect to her.

‘…Really.’

Her heart churned.

She already knew that Olivia usually sealed her sage-like aspect. And that this aspect only awakened when she handed over fragments of truth.

Today was that day.

That’s why she wanted to stick close and confirm.

‘…Were you really my disciple?’

Melina’s eyes glowed with a bright golden light.