Volume 8 Chapter 49 The Second and Third Disciples
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”An apprentice?”
The maid’s face was hard to read—part discontent, part concern. Either way, she didn’t look thrilled.
”…Am I not acceptable?”
”No. Sir Klock proposed it. It isn’t my place to object.”
She stepped aside and let me—Rachel—into the estate. I’d thought she was pretty before. Up close, with those sharp eyes on me, I shrank a little. A sudden worry tightened my chest. Was coming here a mistake?
This place is… gorgeous.
So much for “old and dusty.” He totally lied.
The ceiling beams stood in even rows. Stone tiles covered the floor. Everything was clean and cared for. Even display flowers, arranged just so. Of course he wanted to “show me later.” He meant to brag.
”When you reach the second floor, go to the last room.”
”Huh? I’m going alone?”
”Yes. Today you’re the right person. Please tell him to get up.”
”Uh… o-okay?”
She moved into a room with the door standing open. I stood there in the entry hall, feeling stranded. I’d expected him to come fetch me. Also—was he really still asleep at this hour?
I peeked into the room she’d entered. A dining hall—long table, many chairs. A cat-eared girl in a maid dress tugged a tablecloth straight, tail flicking behind her. (T/N: Beastkin = humanoids with animal traits.)
She twitched an ear toward me the instant I peeked. I ducked away.
The maid went farther in—probably the kitchen. Warm, toasty smells drifted out. My mouth watered at the thought of a fancy breakfast.
”…May I help you?”
I’d barely reached the top of the stairs when another girl appeared.
She looked about my age. Small build, green hair, dark eyes. Graceful. She leaned in to study my face.
A perfect beauty. The words just flashed in my head. Like a saint’s statue, only alive—fine features, a white dress that glowed. The delicate charm of her presence overwhelmed me.
”Uh—right. I’m Rachel. Klock’s… new apprentice.”
”…Apprentice.”
Calling him “master” made my skin crawl. The cringe cleared my head.
”I’m Flavia,” she said. “I serve the lord of the house and the Hero. If you become his apprentice, there will be a formal introduction later. For now, excuse me. I didn’t mean to keep you.”
”Ah—no, thanks…”
She inclined her head and left. I stood frozen, watching her descend until she vanished from sight.
She’s unreal. A real princess? If she’d lived in our village, every guy would have lined up to court her.
A good story to bring home to Mom. This is the Hero’s house, so maybe she’s a relative. Still… why are there so many girls here? Does the Hero only hire women? No way they’re all his, right? That’d be—
Muffled sounds carried into the hall.
I stopped in front of the door at the end.
”…Oh.”
I didn’t need details to get the idea. I hadn’t seen the Hero yet, and the voice came from Klock’s room. Which meant—yeah. A lovers’ moment.
My scalp prickled. I turned to go. Knocking now would be the worst possible first impression. I could annoy Klock all I wanted, but I didn’t want the Hero to hate me. I’d wait downstairs.
Also… the walls here are thin.
Bold, huh? If it were me, I’d keep it down.
It was their house. Maybe they didn’t feel the need to tiptoe. I pictured a cool, quiet beauty going all in when the doors closed—maybe not so cool after all.
”…H-hey—gentler, please…”
…Wait.
I paused. Something about that voice.
”…Hurry, please—we can’t let Rachel see—”
”What?”
The unease snapped into place. My feet flew. I slammed the door open.
”What do you think you’re doing?!”
Two figures untangled in shock. The girl with her legs braced—my little sister, Kaitney. The man above her, slow to pull back—Klock.
”Oh, Rachel. Morning.”
”Not ‘morning’! You—were you—? Are you kidding me?!”
”Easy,” he said, like this was nothing. “You made it. Didn’t get lost? C’mere, I’ll pat your head for doing great.”
”I don’t need that! And stop—just stop!”
The picture was enough. I didn’t need details. My cheeks burned; my temper flared.
”I told you—Kaitney’s my apprentice now too,” he said. “A student should learn how to serve her master.”
”What kind of apprentice training is that?!”
I couldn’t help shouting. Yesterday I’d still been tangled up with him, but that didn’t make this okay.
Kaitney, unlike me, always listened. The thought stung.
”When did you even get here?” I asked.
Kaitney ducked her head, speechless. I saw enough to understand and let out a long breath.
”…Can I go home?” I asked flatly.
”What are you talking about? We have important business today.”
”Important—? You mean more of this?”
I grabbed my shorts like I was about to throw them at him, then tossed them back onto a chair instead.
”Is this what you want?”
”I was actually thinking we should head down to breakfast,” he said, deadpan.
”Unbelievable.”
He ruffled Kaitney’s hair—”Good job”—and stood to dress.
My hands curled into fists. He caught my look and smirked.
I lunged. In a heartbeat I straddled him on the mattress, swinging a pillow. He moved to block, and we grappled—me furious, him laughing and making stupid faces.
We tumbled until the mattress squeaked in steady protest. I clamped a hand over my mouth, breath hot with anger and embarrassment. When I finally rolled off the bed, my cheeks were flushed. Kaitney looked away, shy and flustered.
We were late coming down, and the maid scolded all three of us. Even the cat-eared girl narrowed her eyes, nose twitching like she’d picked up a scent best left unmentioned.
Rachel had wanted to leave a good impression. Instead, her shoulders slumped.
* * *
”You two will learn to fight with small weapons and simple magitech.”
”M–magitech? Aren’t we training with swords?”
After breakfast, the three of us hit the streets. The main road was already buzzing. Master and apprentices took our first walk together.
”Swords aren’t light. With those thin arms, getting you to handle one will take forever. Magitech gets you up to speed faster.”
The sisters traded wide-eyed looks. Fair. Magitech was pricey. Girls like them didn’t just own it.
Powerful, sure—but high-end. Even veteran adventurers struggled to afford it. Most people who had that kind of coin bought a nice house in a big town instead. For two girls who’d never fought, it sounded like overkill.
”Ever hunted monsters? Animals?”
”I’ve snared rabbits.”
”I’ve brought down a boar.”
”Then you’ll manage. Main hand: small knife. Keep two magitech tools hidden. With that, you can hold your own.”
That felt like the right plan. If we could find the gear. They needed real equipment, or I’d worry every time they left a door.
”Two magitech tools? How much is that?”
”Ten gold for both of you.”
”Hold on. I gave the money you handed me to Mom.”
”I’ll cover it. Let your mom use that purse.”
She’d thought she had to pay herself. City girls might expect a man to pay. These two weren’t there yet.
”You sure you should spend that much on us?”
”What, worried you’ll drop it and lose it?”
”That’s not it, idiot.”
I got it. He was investing a small fortune in farm girls who weren’t exactly powerhouses. That’s how ties between people worked, though. They didn’t need to hear how a master once lost a student for lack of gear.
”Got any magitech left, shopkeep?”
”Sorry. Sold out. We stocked battle-use items. The government came through and took the lot.”
The first shop shook his head. As expected. War stripped the shelves. Useful kit vanished fast.
”So now what?”
”Next shop. We’ve got a long list anyway. Plan to walk all day.”
”Ugh. That’s a pain.”
”S–sorry… and thank you for doing this for us.”
We combed the city, stopping for breaks when we had to.
”Machete and survival knife. Rope, whistle, firestones, and pine resin wax. And…”
By evening we finally headed home. If you don’t find the one item you came for, time runs long. We called it when our legs started to drag.
”The machete’s for beasts. The small knife is for people—if some man catches your scent and won’t back off.”
”Master, behave.”
”Quiet. This whistle’s for an alarm. If things turn bad, blow it. The resin and firestones are for nights on the road.”
”What about the rope?”
”Rope’s for everything. Always carry some. Just don’t loop it off your belt. You’ll snag it on a branch and face-plant when you run.”
I ran through each bit of kit. The sisters hefted the wrapped machetes on their backs, both of them listing under the weight. They walked ahead with the bags. I followed empty-handed—snatch-theft prevention.
”I feel like we got ripped off on this one.”
Rachel raised her wrist. A bracelet inlaid with four odd sigils—magitech. Too antique to count as jewelry.
”Seven gold. Six months ago it would’ve cost one. That merchant will be living easy in the Empire by tomorrow. Anyway, as soon as we’re home, have them charge it with magic.”
Four earth-aspected charges, built into the accessory. Nothing special, honestly—but Rachel cradled it like a treasure. It was the only magitech we’d found. The ridiculous price gave it weight.
”Don’t you need a weapon?”
”Hm?”
Rachel turned. Kaitney stopped too. They planted themselves in front of me.
”You only use that knife at your waist? You can fight monsters with just that?”
”I’m fine.”
Maybe shopping had put her in a good mood. She tried to fuss over me; I kicked the thought aside. Her face tightened.
”So… are you even strong?”
There it was—the line she shouldn’t say to her master on day one.
”You don’t look it. No presence. You’re just the Hero’s boyfriend, right? You can’t actually fight.”
She said it like teasing a friend. I rubbed my temple, stepped between them, and kept walking. She took that as confirmation and hurried up to press me.
”You’re not that tough, are you? Stop fooling around and think how to help in a fight. You don’t want to drag the Hero down and get dumped, right? Get a better weapon—”
Rachel slipped into lecture mode. Seemed I needed to teach her what “a master’s dignity” meant. Maybe we’d detour into a side alley before heading back.
”We’ve still got time. We could—”
”Enough. Worry about yourself.”
”What? I’m trying to help!”
Mouthy today. She kept yapping. I tapped her on the head. She swatted my hand away—”Don’t treat me like a kid!”—and Kaitney slid between us to make peace.
Her read wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t some standout. Reliable in a one-on-one scrape, sure—but that rating fits a soldier or a working adventurer, not someone tied to a Hero.
Next to Cianie, the gap showed. Anyone who didn’t know what bound Cianie and me would have questions.
I caught sight of a sapling at the edge of the road. I checked around—no one close. I drew my knife and flipped it into a reverse grip.
The sisters jumped at the sudden steel. Before they could protest, I cut once—clean, sideways.
”…Huh?”
A trunk as thick as a man’s neck leaned out over the street—twenty meters away. People noticed the fall and drifted over, curious.
”First learn to handle yourselves. Worry about others after that.”
”No way…”
Maybe it looked like I had superhuman strength. After the cut that ignored distance, Rachel and Kaitney fell silent.
I carried the savage blessing—curse—of my lover. Add up the cards in my hand, and I could cope with an A-rank if I had to. I didn’t flaunt it, which made it feel wasted, but the truth was simple: people didn’t need to worry about me. A lone monster at a time? Fine.
All told, I’d stepped into the ranks of the strong. It wasn’t like when I had that first apprentice they never met.
”All right. Before we head back, let’s stop at an inn and rest a bit.”
”An inn? Ah—right.”
Notes:
• Flavia – Younger Forestkin princess (132). Gentle yet resolute. Sent by Queen Isabella as marriage pledge to Klock, the Chain Binder, symbolizing the Void’s loyalty to the Goddess Teekua.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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