Clashing Masters and a Test

Serie's red eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Ruby's almost tearful expression, the playful curve of her lips deepening. She lazily shifted her posture, resting her chin on her hand, her tone slow and deliberate, yet each word struck a chord deep within Ruby's heart:

"Huh? What are you explaining?" She drawled, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the indifferent Frieren. "Frieren is indeed very powerful. She's one of the few living Great Mages whose strength even I have to acknowledge. Hmm, in terms of seniority and ability, she certainly deserves to be your master."

"No, no... that... that..." Ruby shook her head like a rattle-drum, her emerald eyes filled with a panicked "I didn't, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!" Her face flushed red, and she tried to explain incoherently, but didn't know where to begin. "I mean... Frieren... she taught me a lot... but Master, you..."

Just then, Frieren, who had been standing quietly to the side as if admiring the ancient books on the shelf, suddenly stepped forward. Her silver twin tails swayed gently, and her emerald eyes calmly met Serie's gaze. Her face was expressionless, but her tone carried a sense of entitlement, a slight smugness with her chin raised slightly:

"Hmph~ That's right, Serie Ruby is now practically my apprentice."

"Whoa! Frieren!" Ruby out a short scream, jumping up and down in a panic, her face turning even redder, practically steaming. "Please don't make things worse! I... I didn't mean it that way!" She felt like she was being roasted alive by these two "masters."

Lowell, watching this scene of "two masters vying for a disciple," subconsciously shivered and muttered under his breath, "What a chaotic scene... Three women make a drama, but this is clearly two masters and a stupid disciple, and they're all women, how can it be so terrifying..." He silently shrank behind Himmel, trying to make his presence known.

Serie looked at Frieren's "assertive" demeanor, then at Ruby who was pacing anxiously, and her smile deepened. However, she deliberately didn't point it out, but just watched leisurely, as if she were enjoying some interesting drama.

Ruby she was suffocating. She looked at Serie's all-knowing eyes, then at Frieren's unwavering "I'm telling the truth" expression. Finally, the will to survive prevailed. Her lips trembled, her eyes reddened slightly, and with a tearful voice, she looked pitifully at Serie: "Master... Master... I was wrong... You will always be my most, most, most important master! Ruby loves you the most!"

After saying that, as if afraid that Serie wouldn't believe her, she quickly ran to Frieren's side, gently tugged at her sleeve, tilted her head up, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, with utter fawning and pleading, "Lady Frieren! You're the best! Don't be angry! I'll treat you to as many desserts as you want! Next time... and the time after that too! Please, please put in a good word for me with my master..."

Frieren's originally plain blue eyes lit up instantly when she heard the words "I'll treat you to as many desserts as you want," like stars lit up in the night sky. The slight smugness on her face vanished immediately, replaced by a satisfied "deal" expression, and even the corners of her mouth uncontrollably curved upwards into a noticeable arc.

"You said it!" she replied quickly, as if afraid Ruby change her mind. Then she immediately turned around and, with almost joyful, light steps, her arms slightly raised, like a child who had received a beloved toy, dashed to a large bookshelf in the corner of the room. She stood on tiptoe and began to intently search for the ancient-looking magic books on it, completely forgetting the "battlefield" from just now, and even unconsciously humming an off-key tune.

Ruby at Frieren's sudden change of expression and her happy departure, then her face fell, and she whimpered softly, "Waaah... Lady Frieren... you were faking it just now, weren't you... you were definitely faking it! Just to extort money from my dessert..." She felt that her young heart and her empty wallet had suffered a severe blow at the same time.

"Alright." Serie finally spoke, interrupting Ruby's self-pity. Looking at her little apprentice's comical, aggrieved, and pained expression, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered in her red eyes, but she quickly regained her usual slightly stern demeanor. "It's good you're back. Don't just stand there. Come to my study later, and I'll tell you in detail about what happened. Also... I have something to tell you."

Ruby she had been granted a pardon and nodded vigorously, her little face instantly brightening. "Yes! Thank you, Master! Serie, Lady Celia! Ruby loves you the most!" She shouted extra loudly, trying to emphasize her "loyalty."

After shouting, she subconsciously glanced at Frieren, who was engrossed in reading a thick ancient book in the corner. After hesitating for a moment, she added in a soft voice, barely audible. "Uh... I also... Frieren the most..." After saying that, she blushed with embarrassment.

Serie seemed unconcerned about this act of "playing both sides." Her gaze returned to the prominent stone statue by the door, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of the throne. As if suddenly remembering something, she casually asked:

"By the way, Ruby. When you entered the city just now, you told the guards... you defeated Qual, right?" She deliberately emphasized the word "defeated," her red eyes scrutinizing Ruby.

Ruby's heart Ruby a beat. The boast she'd made in front of the guards to save face had been exposed so quickly by her master. Her face flushed red again, her eyes darting around as she stammered, trying to salvage the situation. "Uh... well... yes, yes... I... I put in a lot of effort! Really! Everyone else helped too!" She tried to share the credit to make it seem more genuine.

Looking at her guilty yet forced demeanor, Serie's lips curled into a knowing, slightly mocking smile.

"Oh? Is that so?" She slowly rose from her throne, her tall figure exuding an invisible pressure. "It seems my disciple has made rapid progress in this training. She was even able to personally 'defeat' and petrify a Great Demons like the 'Corrupt Sage'."

As she spoke, she gracefully walked towards the stone statue at the entrance. As she approached, the space around the statue seemed to distort slightly, and a chilling magical fluctuation filled the air.

"Perfect," Serie said, stopping before the statue and raising a pale hand, palm facing it. "I'll help you verify your results. Removing this level of Petrification Seal is just a piece of cake for me. Everyone else, please step back. I want to see how you 'defeated' him."

"No! Master! I was wrong!" Ruby terrified. She screamed and darted to Serie like a startled rabbit, clinging tightly to her arm. Her face was deathly pale as she begged incoherently, "It was Lowell! Lowell took care of it! I tried to fight, but I didn't win... I'll never brag again! Master, have mercy!"

Seeing Ruby's sudden cowardice, Himmel couldn't help but chuckle, while Heiter slapped his thigh and let out a loud laugh, and Eisen's lips twitched violently. Even Frieren in the corner looked up from her book, glanced over with her emerald eyes, then lowered her head again as if it were none of her business, continuing to read, though her shoulders twitched almost imperceptibly.

Lowell sighed and rubbed his forehead, feeling that his reputation had been damaged and that he was about to be targeted again.

Serie looked down at her little apprentice, who was clinging to her arm, tears welling in her eyes from fright. The playful smile on her face finally faded, and she gently flicked Ruby's forehead with her other hand.

"If you dare to brag in my name again, go and fight this thing one-on-one." His tone was stern, but there was little blame in his eyes.

"I won't do it again! I won't do it again!" Ruby shook her head like a rattle drum, letting out a long sigh of relief, feeling like she had just escaped death.