LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 62
“…Nice to meet you. I’m Sowol, the first disciple of Lee Hyun Master.”
“Uh, I, I’m Lena… Wasn’t I supposed to be the first…?”
Sowol and Lena looked at each other, trying to compare timelines. Then Sowol confidently flashed a smile.
“Of course!! I’m the first!! You’re the second, Lena! I’m the number one! Sowol!”
With an utterly proud tone, Sowol declared it, and Lena looked at me with a face about to burst into tears.
But Sowol’s words weren’t wrong, so I just nodded in agreement.
“Yes! I’m the youngest disciple of the Master! Arisha Latelever!!”
Arisha raised her hand with a bright smile, but the looks on their faces weren’t very bright.
Could that be the reason?
Arisha, who had been sitting next to me, whispered to me.
“Master, Master. They both seem really angry.”
“…You said Arisha, right? Aren’t you being too clingy to the Master?”
Sowol openly showed her discomfort as she spoke. But it didn’t seem threatening at all.
From what I’ve heard, Sowol had participated in numerous battlefields, building the strength to lead the church to victory. If that’s the case for her, handling hostility should be no big deal.
Does she know that pressuring those weaker than her with malice isn’t a good thing?
Looks like I’ve raised at least one disciple well. She has a great mindset.
“Excellent.”
“…I-it’s not really that, you know?!”
“Your personality is still prickly. Well, it’s good to see you after a long time.”
“…Same here. But more than that, Master, where on earth have you been until now?”
“I sent a letter, didn’t I?”
“…Uh, about that.”
Sowol explained what had happened up until now.
Due to the numerous fake letters she received, she couldn’t properly check the one I sent.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
“I was qualifying as a Sage.”
“Hah… It would have been nice if you’d shown up at least once.”
“I guess I was busy with a lot of things. Anyway, I’m glad you both grew up well without any issues. By the way, I heard you’ve fought a lot against the Heretics… Have you searched for the Asura sect?”
“…No. The Asura sect hasn’t been found.”
That makes sense.
Until the Religious War Event, those guys were moving so secretly that no matter what the church tries, they wouldn’t have been found.
However, capturing many Heretics signifies that the Asura sect’s influence, which will later unite the Heretics and create a large-scale war, has been weakened, making future events smoother.
“You did well.”
I raised my hand and patted Sowol’s head.
A slight smile appeared on Sowol’s lips, who had been looking at me like she had something to say.
Just like before, she gets shy about being patted but doesn’t refuse.
“I’m, I’m also! I also… I, I tried my best!”
“Oh, really. Lena, I heard about you too. You became the head of the Colorless Tower? That’s amazing!”
“Eh, eheh. Th-thank you.”
“I heard it was because you insisted on the Ivory Tower fighting against the Heretics. Is that true?”
“…Yes.”
“Haha. You’ve grown a lot. It feels like just yesterday when you couldn’t talk to others. To be able to lead one tower and voice your opinion is something I’m happiest about.”
“…Uwuu… Mas-Master…”
“Indeed, you’re my proud disciple.”
“Hiying… Master…”
I patted Lena’s head.
She’s grown up a lot compared to when she was under me, but she’s still such a kid.
With just one gentle touch, she looks so happy.
“Wait a minute, Master. Does that mean I’m not a source of pride?”
“You’ve always been proud.”
“…Huhuhuh.”
With teary eyes, Lena, and Sowol, who confidently crossed her arms and smiled, I looked at my two disciples and lightly clapped my hands.
“Anyway, I’m glad to see you both after a long time. I need to head out for something, but what are you guys going to do?”
“No! You can’t just leave after seeing us after so long?!”
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
“…Um, there are several things we could do, right?”
“Several things, like what?”
“…I don’t know!!”
With a bright red face, Sowol shouted before turning her head away.
What in the world is she thinking?
That red face doesn’t seem to indicate normal thoughts.
“I-I’m moving into your class starting tomorrow, Master.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Nervously, Lena began to explain.
The Academy and the Ivory Tower had been frequently exchanging students since long ago.
In that process, they used to send exchange students, and this time, it’s Lena from the Ivory Tower.
“Can the head become an exchange student?”
“Y-yeah!!”
“Is that so?”
“…I mean, they say there’s no precedent for it, but I, I wanted to do it…”
“Wow~. I didn’t expect you would manage to enroll in the Academy by asserting yourself like that.”
“I- I did it too?! I requested to join the Academy through the church!”
“Haha. With the Heretics’ numbers dwindling, isn’t the church busy?”
“It’s okay! It’s good now that the Heretics’ numbers have decreased! Or do you not want me to come?!”
“Would I think that way? You two are both my proud disciples. If my time with you increases, it’s not a bad thing for me either.”
Plus, having you two there would make seeing the true ending easier too.
I smiled and nodded towards the two who were delighted.
“Arisha.”
“Yes! Master!”
“There’s no space left in the dorms right now?”
“Yeah! There are two spots left in the room that Ripa and I use!”
“That’s fortunate. As you all know, the Academy operates on a dormitory basis. Freshmen share a room of four. Whether it’s an exchange student or an enrolled student, if you are coming to my class, you have to follow the rules. Are you okay with that?”
Even though they are my disciples, Sowol is the Saint of the church, and Lena is the head of the Ivory Tower.
Considering their social positions, they rank above many nobles.
Asking such individuals to live in a dormitory could seem a bit rude.
But that doesn’t mean I should make any exceptions for them.
“Master, I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Where will you be staying?”
“Me? I’ll also be in the dormitory.”
“In that case, I’ll go to the dormitory.”
“M-Me too!”
Fortunately, they both agreed to move into the dormitory.
This worked out well.
I was worried about what I would do if they threw a tantrum saying they would stay somewhere else.
“Arisha. Guide them to the dormitory. And teach them the basics of how to live in the Academy briefly.”
“Okay! Leave it to me! Master!”
With a big smile, Arisha raised her hand.
She truly is a reliable child.
When I patted her head, looking at me with her sparkling eyes, Arisha hugged my arm tightly with her bright smile.
“Ah, A-Arisha?! Aren’t you getting a bit too clingy to the Master?!”
“It’s, it’s, it’s okay!!”
“Ah! Hehe~. But you’re still the Master~.”
What does that mean?
However, upon hearing Arisha’s words, both of them looked hesitant, nodding. Did you guys understand that? I wish you would teach me too.
“Well then, I have to go for the instructor meeting, so I should be off.”
“Okay! I’ll handle the rest! Master!”
*
The room I entered, guided by Arisha, was quite spacious.
There were enough rooms for four people, plus a large living room.
Ripa, who was reading a book alone in the living room, was about to greet Arisha but froze in place.
“Uh… No way. The Colorless Tower Head!?”
“Hiiik? D-do you know me?”
“Of course! Who doesn’t know Lady Lena among magicians?! A genius among geniuses who has mastered all ultimate magic! If you’re unaware of the wizard beloved by magic, that’s weirder!!”
With sparkling eyes, Ripa rushed towards Lena, who shrank back.
Though she had grown somewhat, facing strangers was still daunting for her.
Sowol, who glanced at her, asked Arisha.
“By the way, where’s my room?”
“Huh! Y-You’re here too?!”
“Oh my, do you know me?”
“Of course! I’m a believer of the church! Although I’ve received the blessing of magic, I live on the power of the light’s grace!”
“Well, may the light be with you.”
“But what brings you two here…?”
“We’ll be living here from now on!”
“What?!”
While Ripa was left in shock, Arisha began to guide Lena and Sowol to their rooms.
“At the Academy, you must wear school uniforms! The uniforms and training gear for both of you will be arriving shortly…”
“Arisha, you can speak comfortably. Even though I’m a Saint, I’m also Lee Hyun Master’s disciple. You can call me ‘older sister’ as I’m the first one based on order.”
“I-I will too… It’s a bit disappointing being second, but.”
“Okay! Got it! Older sister!”
Arisha tilted her head for a moment before breaking into a bright smile.
Sowol seemed satisfied with her lively demeanor and snapped her fingers.
“And I’d appreciate it if you could refrain from getting too close with the Master.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
“Why is it obvious?”
“Why is it obvious?”
“Well…”
“Master doesn’t care about things like, uhm, close contact…”
“Yeah! The Master doesn’t really mind those things!”
“Still!”
Sowol shouted indignantly.
Her reaction made Arisha and Lena tilt their heads in confusion.
“Oh! It seems you want to but can’t, huh? Don’t you think you can just tell the Master you want to get closer?”
With a finger on her lips, Arisha tilted her head as though she genuinely didn’t understand, while Sowol bit her lip tightly.
“That’s… embarrassing!”
At that, Arisha beamed her distinctive cheerful smile.
“Hahaha~! You’re such a shy one, sister~!”
“Ugh. I-I guess I need to get closer from now on…”
“Since that’s been brought up, how about we go now?! Huh?!”
Always bright, Arisha grabbed Sowol and Lena’s hands.
As they were pulled along, I was seen entering the dormitory carrying documents.
“Master~!”
With a quick run, Arisha jumped into my arms.
I gently caught her, noticing Sowol and Lena hesitating behind.
“What’s going on?”
“…Um, ah. Well.”
Hesitantly, Lena approached and hugged me carefully.
I responded softly, embracing her and patting her back. Lena grinned as she pulled away from me.
“…If it’s just me, the Master will be upset!!”
Sowol, after one loud shout, also jumped into my arms.
I smiled and embraced her leisurely as well.
“…Huh?”
Looking at Sowol and Lena being hugged by me with a grin, Arisha tilted her head in confusion.
‘That’s strange…?’
She placed her hand on her chest.
‘It hurts… Seeing my sisters cling to the Master…’