I wondered what it meant that the Talent Snake relationship had been established. I'd never seen anything like this when I used it on Obern Grimoire.
'Connection target Obern Grimoire's relationship has been established as 'Slave'.' I'd never heard that message before.
Amaen hadn't just now suddenly become my disciple out of the blue. So, I could form a hypothesis.
There was already a sufficiently deep bond between Amaen and me—a master-disciple relationship. But my bond with Obern wasn't that deep yet. After all, ours was a strict employment contract sealed by paperwork.
Hmm, a bit disappointing.
Anyway, it seemed the relationship with Amaen had manifested as an advantage. The Connection Crown had been strengthened, it said. I needed to check what had changed.
'Amaen, out of Master's skills, which one did you want to learn the most?'
"Ah, of course..."
His answer was Ray and Giantification.
Giantifying in here could shatter the ceiling, so I lent Amaen the Ray instead.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡Connection Crown lv1 used.
⚡ SKILL SHARED ⚡Skill Ray lv3 shared for one day.
Ah, definitely different. The phrase "for one day" had been added.
In other words, even if I canceled the Connection Crown, Amaen could still use Ray for a full day. Though it consumed a massive amount of my mana in the process.
This seemed pretty versatile. Maybe... I could even make Isil use Giantification.
My mind was spinning, but I focused on Amaen in front of me first.
"M-Master..."
'Try it out. On me.'
Trusting me, Amaen fired the ray.
Peeeng!
I pulled out the dagger Dawnbreaker and deflected the ray. A finger-sized hole pierced the ceiling.
"Whoa...!"
'It's a one-day gift. If you meet someone you don't like, put a hole in their ass.'
I checked Amaen's status window. Using the Connection Crown let me peer into him effortlessly, without needing to concentrate.
──────────────
[Amaen Riddle lv14]
[Traits]
[Genius], [Precocious]
──────────────
Amaen's level was 14. Lower than the prince's 20, but compared to other students, it was actually high.
Levels only rose by killing people or hunting monsters. In this world, demonic essence acted as experience points.
Did that mean power grew intuitively stronger with each level? Not exactly.
This wasn't a game world where stats rose automatically with levels. But for monsters, leveling was crucial for evolution.
Amaen was human. For humans to grow strong, they had to hone their own skills. And those skills manifested as actual abilities.
──────────────
[Skills]
[Beginner Elemental Magic: Fire lv9], [Beginner Elemental Magic: Water lv8], [Beginner Elemental Magic: Earth lv9], [Beginner Elemental Magic: Wind lv10], [Transparent Hand lv10]...
──────────────
Just looking at the magic Amaen had learned showed he was my disciple. Beginner elemental magic as the foundation, entering telekinesis through Transparent Hand. Exactly the path I'd taken to learn magic.
Pellelian had helped, but that's why Amaen was my disciple!
My impression upon peering into his achievements was...
'Amaen.'
"Yes."
'You've trained hard in magic!'
Amaen beamed. Indeed. Compared to the last time I'd checked, his elemental magic proficiency had risen dramatically. Meaning he'd kept training diligently even after that.
-As I felt last time, he truly has exceptional talent. Even that picky Pellelian acknowledged Amaen's skill.
But the key point was that Amaen was an incredible hard worker. These results couldn't have come without relentless practice.
In other words, Amaen was a "genius who works hard."
'But actually casting magic yourself is a whole different league from just leveling up skills. Show me your elemental magics.'
I told Amaen that and had Obern step behind him. Amaen stood in the center of the room and began casting, just like when I'd linked with Isil.
I could feel him casting through me.
⚡ SPELL CAST ⚡Beginner Elemental Magic: Fire lv9 used.
⚡ SPELL CAST ⚡Beginner Elemental Magic: Water lv8 used.
⚡ SPELL CAST ⚡Beginner Elemental Magic: Earth lv9 used.
⚡ SPELL CAST ⚡Beginner Elemental Magic: Wind lv10 used.
If his control slipped even a little, or if he couldn't regulate the output, the room would be wrecked.
But Amaen controlled it with finesse. Wind carried the earth, water bound it to keep it from scattering, and the mixture swirled through flickering flames.
A remarkably stable magic operation.
-He'll reach intermediate level soon.
That was Pellelian's one-line assessment. A smile even graced his face. My expression was probably similar.
"...How long."
Suddenly, Obern, who'd been watching Amaen's magic, spoke up. His face was stiff.
Having spent quite some time with him, this didn't seem like acting.
"How long... has it been since you learned magic?"
"Ah... About four years, I think."
As flustered Amaen answered, Obern's expression softened a bit.
"I see."
"But I only started elemental magic a year ago, and I've only properly learned from Master for about four months."
"W-What?!"
Obern's face twisted. Wondering what his deal was, I watched as Pellelian snorted.
-That fool's comparing his talent to the kid's. Pointless.
Ah, so that's why he looked so down. Obern's current magic level was actually far above mine. But it'd probably taken him much longer than a year to master beginner elemental magic.
Hm, can't just watch him get depressed like this.
"Hah!"
I barked, drawing both Amaen and Obern's attention. I told Amaen:
'You've worked hard, but don't get arrogant. I learned all four elemental magics to intermediate or higher in less than a year too.'
It'd been less than a month since I'd hit intermediate, but it wasn't a lie. I wrote it out so Obern could see too.
"As expected of Master..."
"In less than a year..."
The wall between beginner and intermediate was thick. Both Amaen and Obern were impressed.
'And I'm a magic swordsman. Amaen, you've seen me use aura, right?'
"Aura?!"
Obern couldn't hold back and yelped in shock.
"Yes, I have!"
With Amaen confirming so firmly, Obern had no choice but to believe.
'So don't measure cocks like squirrels by talent. Just keep working hard quietly from now on.'
Comparing yourself excessively to others is like cutting your own flesh.
As I gazed fondly at my disciple and slave, Pellelian tossed in a line.
-Better work hard if you don't want to be overtaken by your own disciple.
Truth be told, like Pellelian said, I felt a sense of crisis. I needed to level up my intermediate elemental magic quick or learn some advanced spells.
I watched a bit more of Amaen's magic. I promised to do this occasionally from now on, then asked what I'd been curious about.
'By the way, how'd you get close to that rude prince?'
"Ah, Philly?"
Amaen explained how he'd become friends with Prince Philly. Listening, I realized bonds were truly mysterious things.
'Ho, I see...'
So that's how it was. I could probably handle the prince through Amaen.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Lania pressed her ear to the professor's research room door. Behind her, Prince Philly watched cautiously.
"No sound at..."
"Shh!"
The prince clamped his mouth shut. Lania furrowed her brows in concentration, but soon sighed and pulled away.
"Can't hear a thing. Seems like they've blocked sound with magic."
"It's been an hour already!"
Amaen had gone in for a one-on-one meeting quite a while ago, but showed no sign of coming out.
They could've just left, but they were too worried about Amaen.
The prince said gravely, "That professor might be beating Amaen black and blue."
"Pfft, no way!"
Lania dismissed it, but the prince was dead serious.
"That guy's a total jerk. We might need to rescue Amaen..."
To Lania, the prince clearly had mild persecution complex and anxiety issues. But dismissing or mocking his thoughts wouldn't help.
As Lania tried to respond gently,
Creeeak—the door opened, and Amaen emerged.
No warning at all, startling both Lania and the prince.
"Y-You, okay?"
the prince asked.
"Okay...? Of course."
Amaen grinned ear to ear, looking like he'd had a blast—not a beating in sight.
"Got tons of praise. Haha."
"Praise? From that professor?"
"Well... yeah."
Amaen trailed off vaguely. Now that she looked, he seemed to have candy in his mouth. He'd gotten sweets too?
"What's his angle..."
The prince suspected something. Refusing the interview, so maybe sweet-talking Amaen to lure him in.
'Still, no interview for me!'
As he steeled himself, the door opened again, and Obern poked his head out.
"You waited instead of leaving. Perfect. You next for an interview."
"No!"
The prince refused, but Obern squinted.
"Not talking to you. Too full of yourself... Lania Martaine."
"M-Me...?"
"Come in."
Lania pointed at herself in confusion. Obern offered no explanation, and she followed inside in a daze.
Now only Amaen and Prince Philly remained in the hall.
"Damn it... what the hell!"
Philly wailed. He couldn't make sense of it.
He asked Amaen what they'd talked about inside, but Amaen kept mum. Appeals to friendship failed; princely authority was ignored.
They waited ages until Lania emerged. He asked her quick:
"What'd they say?"
"Ah... secret."
Even Lania stonewalled. She wasn't one to crack under princely pressure either.
Soon Obern emerged and asked, "Prince Philly, ready for your interview?"
"..."
This time, the prince couldn't refuse.
"Damn it!"
Grumbling, he still entered Obern's research room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Kids sure bond fast. Never imagined Lania, Amaen, and Prince Philly sticking together like that.
Not like they're the Gryffindor trio or something. Even the gender balance matches perfectly.
When did they get so tight-knit?
Adults have it tough making new friends. I knew that well.
...Come to think, even as a kid, making friends wasn't easy for me.
Wish I'd had friends like Amaen or Lania...
I revealed myself to Lania too. And offered her a modest apology apple. For smashing the dagger she'd given me before.
Lania gave a wry smile, albeit reluctantly, saying it was fine.
I promised to stay here and guide her and her friends well.
Last was Prince Philly. I didn't reveal myself to him, all balled up in suspicion. Instead, I probed lightly through Obern.
And learned something unexpected.
"I... have to do well."
That was the first time Prince Philly opened up.
"Have to do well. Promised Mother I'd excel at school."
And this kid tried causing trouble on day one? Obern didn't say that.
"What does 'doing well' mean?"
Obern used formal speech when alone.
"Well..."
"Compared to someone? Better than anyone?"
"..."
The prince glared at Obern. But few in the world could win a staring contest with him.
The prince soon looked away. To him, Obern said—instead—a profoundly iconic line.
"If Your Highness has the resolve, I shall make it so."
"...What?"
"I'll ensure you hear you're better than Second Prince Highness."
"You're not joking about royalty, are you...? Lèse-majesté is death."
Obern said nothing. I knew he was too timid to reply boldly here.
But to the prince, Obern seemed utterly serious. A heavy silence fell briefly.
The interview ended like that.
From what I gathered, Third Prince and Second Prince were at odds.
What kind of guy was the Second Prince? Another spoiled brat like the Third?
The chance to find out came sooner than expected. Two days after the interviews.
During a field trip for "Dungeons and Ancient Script Interpretation."
Leading Amaen's trio and ten other students to the school's annex.
But by coincidence or error, other students were already there.
"Huh, we filed for this class."
"We got approval too."
Duplicate booking for the instant dungeon.
But the other professor smirked.
"We're third-years, and Second Prince Highness is here, so we'd appreciate if you yield."
Haha, cheeky. Go, Obern.
"We refuse."
The prince is on our side too!
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