Teacher Serie, I'm Sorry

"Hmm?"

Serie glanced unexpectedly at Lairn, who was standing at the entrance of the great hall. For someone his age, having such magical power was not bad at all, so she waved her hand, signaling him to come in.

After receiving Lord Serie's permission, Lairn first touched his chest and nodded, expressing his gratitude. He then walked quickly into the hall, awaiting further interview from the legendary Archmage.

"A human noble's etiquette, a Court Mage?"

With just a few simple actions from Lairn, Serie had already guessed his identity in broad strokes.

After all, in the long river of history, her disciples had included nobles. The very origin of the position of Court Mage even stemmed from her disciple Frieren, who created it a thousand years ago.

"After all, they are the elites humans have selected among Mages."

Looking at Lairn, who showed no fear under her immense magic power and whose belief in passing the assessment remained unshaken, Serie nodded slightly. She had already decided to let Lairn pass the assessment.

Although his personality was still a bit timid, it would be interesting to think about what kind of future such a Mage could achieve under my guidance.

"Passed. Go call the next person in."

"Also, tell the Mages lined up after him to go back. Today's assessment time is over."

As Serie spoke, she stretched, and at the same time, retracted a lock of hair that her disciple Guter had been playing with in circles.

Lairn, at that moment, brought the last interviewee of the day to the hall.

"Disqualified. Go back."

The moment the interviewee had stabilized himself, he heard Serie's cold rejection.

"Why? Lord Serie!"

"Hmm?"

Guter looked with interest at the last interviewee of the day. His magical power at this age was quite impressive, and he hadn't shown fear in the face of Serie's magic. He even dared to question Serie.

Although Guter didn't like his personality, according to Serie's standards, she shouldn't have rejected him so quickly.

The next moment, Serie provided an answer that could resolve everyone's doubts.

"Your magical power was increased by something you found in some ruins in the Northern Countries, right?"

"You don't actually think there's still room for improvement after taking that kind of secret medicine from the Unified Empire period, do you?"

The Mage being interviewed's pupils trembled, and he quickly knelt down, spilling out his entire experience.

He stated that before taking the secret medicine, he had no idea it would cause such severe after-effects.

At that time, he had discovered an ancient treasure map in an abandoned monastery on the border of the Empire.

It marked several suspicious locations in the [Etovis Highlands] of the Northern Countries, indicating that one of them was likely a ruin. According to the artist's research, the ruins would most likely contain a secret medicine that could rapidly increase magical power in a short period. However, unfortunately, due to his age and physical condition, he couldn't excavate it himself, so he drew it, leaving it for a fated successor.

He treated it as a priceless treasure. Following the treasure map's markings, he found the ruins at the first explored location and successfully found the secret medicine.

After taking it, the secret medicine's effects were exactly as depicted in the treasure map. He didn't need to actively cultivate; his magic power would automatically pour into his body, and the speed at which his magic power increased was more than ten times faster than previous cultivation.

However...

This rapid progress only lasted for less than a month. Coincidentally, at this time, he heard about Lord Serie's plan to recruit disciples, so he rushed over, hoping to be accepted as a disciple by Lord Serie with his recently surged strength.

"You can leave. I will not take a disciple without potential."

Serie refused again, her intention to dismiss him being very clear.

However, the Mage ignored her words and instead knelt on the ground, weeping, begging Lord Serie to help him and tell him how to clear the after-effects of taking the medicine.

"There is no such thing."

At this point, Serie lost her patience. She got down from her seat in the great hall, intending to throw out the still-wailing Mage.

However, before preparing to blast him out, Serie's heart softened after all, and she asked, "Can you still absorb magic power from the outside now?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing Serie's question, the kneeling Mage was first stunned, then immediately replied, "I... I can't absorb it anymore."

"I can barely even sense magic power anymore," the Mage murmured tearfully.

Hearing this answer, Guter didn't know what to say for a moment.

No wonder he wasn't scared by Serie's magic power. It turned out he had almost completely lost his perception of magic.

If he couldn't sense it, he naturally wouldn't be afraid.

"It's hopeless."

Serie made a calm judgment. "It's not your talent that's hopeless, but your life."

"The magic potion that burned your talent has consumed your potential, and what is currently burning is your life."

"Hire the fastest carriage to the [Offen Mountains]. There is a type of tree that grows in a secluded place there, called [Icicle Cherry]."

"Its sap is slightly poisonous, but it can greatly slow down the spread of the secret medicine, allowing you to be more comfortable in the final moments of your life."

"Thank you, Lord Serie."

The Mage, whose death sentence had been pronounced, got up from the ground in a daze. After bowing to Serie once more, he left the great hall like a walking corpse.

Guter thought for a moment and followed the Mage out of the great hall.

After telling the Mages still waiting in line to come back tomorrow, he took out a [Hutrall Silver Coin] from his pocket and asked the Mages who hadn't dispersed yet if anyone would take on his commission to escort the recently eliminated Mage back to the inn.

A middle-aged male Mage in the group raised his hand and accepted Guter's commission, confirming, "I just need to escort him back to the inn, right?"

"Mhm."

Guter nodded.

"Um, excuse me, what happened to him?"

From the crowd, a young female Mage pointed at the shambling figure and quietly asked Guter.

"Emm," Guter pondered for a moment before saying, "He was probably just scared by Lord Serie."

"Eh—?"

After Guter returned from outside the hall and conveniently closed the wooden door of the great hall.

A faint question came from a distance.

"Am I that scary, Guter?"

"Haha." Guter scratched his head, choosing not to answer the question.

Fortunately, Serie didn't dwell on it. After seeing Guter close the large door, she looked at her two disciples and said.

"You two are now officially my disciples."

"Before we formally introduce ourselves, I want you to demonstrate your magic."

"After all, for a Mage, the magic they practice can clearly show much more than words can."

"Guter, you first."

"Uh, isn't that not so good? How about letting my junior go first?"

Guter thought about the magic he currently mastered. Besides a few Goddess Magic spells he learned from books at the monastery, he seemed to only have that one...

Lairn looked at his teacher, Serie, and then at Guter, hesitating whether to listen to his senior and go first.

"If it starts with you, then it starts with you, Guter. Show me your magic."

Serie said impatiently, staring at her eldest disciple, seemingly lost in thought.

"Alright."

Guter took a deep breath. "Teacher Serie, I apologize."

He raised his left hand towards Serie and shouted, "steal!"