I Will Likely Remember You, My Disciple

"As expected of Guter, I suppose."

Serie helplessly rubbed her forehead, while Lairn beside her was also stunned speechless by his senior brother's request.

"Magic is realized through imagination. What cannot be imagined naturally cannot be realized through magic."

"Guter, from this perspective, you truly have talent."

"But it's a real pity. Among all the disciples I've taken in before, you're the first to produce such an imagination."

"And I myself have no intention of developing this kind of magic yet."

"So. Unfortunately, you'll have to pick another one."

"How about [Hellfire Magic]?"

For some reason, Guter, standing below, felt a chill wind blow past, as if if he dared to make another outrageous request, the [Hellfire Magic] Serie mentioned would no longer be something for him to learn, but something for him to experience firsthand.

Hesitating for a moment, Guter still put forward a slightly more reasonable request.

"Teacher, I want to learn [Cursed Reversal Magic]."

"Hm?"

This time, it was Serie's turn to be somewhat surprised.

She hadn't expected that her disciple Guter could actually name this magic from the [Mythic Era].

Although she had used it once in front of him, Serie didn't think Guter could guess the magic's name solely from its casting effect.

"Forget it, he must have heard of it from some ancient text passed down."

Though a bit troublesome, it was at least a reasonable request.

With that, Serie nodded and agreed.

Just as she was about to begin teaching Guter this magic, Serie suddenly thought of something, stopped her movements, and spoke to Guter.

"Let me make this clear first. Since you know [Cursed Reversal Magic], you probably understand that its learning cycle is beyond the reach of a human lifespan."

"I do plan to teach it to you through [Transfer Magic]."

"But the magic I possess that can counter [Curses] is not limited to this one alone."

"If you're choosing this magic as a reward with some other intention, I suggest you think it over carefully."

Teacher Serie's words made Guter pause for a moment, then he broke into a smile.

So that was it. The teacher feared that his request for [Cursed Reversal Magic] meant he mistakenly believed it would leave her defenseless against [Thieving Magic], forcing her to comply.

That was why Serie had specifically warned him before teaching, telling him not to overthink and to choose the magic he truly wanted.

But this time, it wasn't him who was overthinking.

Guter smiled, knelt on one knee before Teacher Serie, and said.

"Teacher, what I want is exactly this [Cursed Reversal Magic]. Not to deal with you, but to deal with the demons."

"Is that so? It seems I overthought it."

With that, Serie stood up, mana surging around her, already intending to use [Transfer Magic] to let her disciple Guter instantly learn this magic at the cost of her losing [Cursed Reversal Magic].

But before she could begin the casting motion, her disciple reached out and stopped her hand.

"Hm?"

Serie looked at Guter in confusion, "Why are you stopping my casting?"

"Teacher, I want to learn [Cursed Reversal Magic], but I don't want to learn it by making you lose this magic."

"What I want is to learn it through my own ability!"

Yet

Faced with Guter's impassioned speech, Serie's eyes showed no emotion, only disappointment.

The elf let out a cold snort, "How dull."

"You're not unaware of the learning time for [Cursed Reversal Magic]. As a crystallization of human wisdom from the Mythic Era, with a human's short lifespan, even a lifetime of effort would only give you a chance to learn it."

"Even with your talent, by the time you master it, you'd likely be at death's door. What meaning is there in learning it then?"

"There is, Teacher."

Guter met Serie's gaze and replied.

"If learning this [Cursed Reversal Magic] requires a lifetime, then let me spend that lifetime by your side."

"And, you might not believe this, but"

"I'm actually very long-lived. I can probably live much longer than the average human."

"Heh."

Serie looked at Guter for a long while, then let out a soft snort.

"Forget it."

"I thought humans, with their short lives, would spend their time on more valuable things."

"Since you insist on wasting your precious talent, then so be it."

"However, Guter."

Serie paused, then continued.

"You possess more ambition than any disciple I have ever taken."

"I think I will remember you as my disciple."

With that, Serie raised her hand and tossed a book over a dozen centimeters thick straight at Guter.

Even with his tempered physique, catching it left both his hands tingling.

"What is this?"

"The introductory portion of [Cursed Reversal Magic]. Since you want to master it on your own, according to the schedule, a learner should thoroughly digest it within ten years."

"But I am different. As my disciple, I only give you five years."

"Three years!"

Guter shouted, raising three fingers in a gesture. "I only need three years."

"Oh?"

Even Serie perked up, infected by the confidence in Guter's words.

"Not bad. Now this is interesting."

"Then let the Three Year Period be the limit. During this time, you may come to me with any questions about your studies."

"But if you fail to master it after three years."

"I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit, Teacher Serie. You can turn me into any shape you like!"

Hearing her disciple Guter's declaration, Serie's mouth twitched. She felt something was off but couldn't quite put it into words.

After finishing the promised rewards for her disciples, Serie yawned, pulled a ring from her pocket, and tossed it to Guter.

"Teacher, what is this?"

Examining the ring, Guter asked Serie in confusion.

"This is the terminal for controlling the [Barrier Magic] around the exam site. Go ahead and set up the elimination barrier, and maintain order at the venue."

"And you, Teacher?"

Serie, who had quietly undone the [Seal Magic] on her door, glanced back at her disciple Guter and answered with a serious expression.

"Your teacher has important matters to attend to inside."

"Don't ask. It's part of the plan."

Guter: "..."

"Understood, Teacher."

--

[Oysaster City · Exam Site]

As the [Barrier Magic] slowly rose into the sky, cheers erupted from the countless Mage candidates lined up outside the hall.

The second day of the Mage Examination had finally begun.