Returning to the Academy

At this, the boy and girl exchanged a glance, then suddenly dropped to their knees, prostrating themselves before Benjamin as though worshipping the Buddha.

"Great Mage, we are willing to acknowledge you as our master!"

Benjamin merely gave an emotionless snort.

"You infiltrated the Royal Palace with the intent of harming the king, and I caught you. Your lives and deaths should have been mine to decide." He shook his head. "Why do I feel like there isn't a shred of sincerity in this gratitude of yours...?"

The two raised their heads from the floor and froze, unable to think of anything to say.

The System spoke up instead, its tone full of disdain. "They're just two teenagers, and you're still making things difficult for them. Is that fun?"

"...Come on, I'm not that much older than them either."

"Physically, or mentally?"

"..."

Benjamin did not want to talk to it.

Two people had finally appeared who had been awed into submission by his "overlord's aura." Couldn't he put on a little attitude and show off during this routine subordinate-recruiting process? Was he not allowed even that?

Shaking his head helplessly, he turned his gaze back to the two flustered youths before him. After the System's interruption, he could not be bothered to tease them anymore. He consoled them instead, "Forget it. I wasn't expecting you to do anything anyway. Get up. I won't throw you onto the execution ground as prisoners."

Still somewhat dazed, the two hesitantly rose to their feet. After a moment of hesitation, the girl asked, "Great Mage, you... are really willing to take us in?"

"It doesn't count as taking you in. You'll have to work for me." Benjamin shrugged. "People like you, who cultivate mind arts, are one of a kind in these countries.