"Just as expected of Guter."
Serie helplessly rubbed her forehead. Beside her, Lairn was also so shocked by his senior's request that he was speechless.
"Magic is the realization of imagination. Naturally, anything one cannot imagine cannot be brought about through magic."
"Guter, in that regard, you truly are gifted."
"But regrettably, among all the disciples I have ever accepted, you are truly the first to possess such an imagination."
"And I myself have not yet considered developing that kind of magic."
"So, regrettably, you will have to choose another."
"How about Hellfire Magic?"
For some reason, Guter, standing below, felt a gust of chilly wind pass over him. It was as though if he made another outrageous request, the Hellfire Magic Serie mentioned would no longer be something for him to learn, but something for him to experience firsthand.
After hesitating, Guter still made a slightly more normal request.
"Teacher, I want to learn Cursed Reversal Magic."
"Hm?"
This time, Serie was the one who was surprised.
She had not expected her disciple Guter to actually know the name of a magic from the Mythic Era.
Although she had used it once in front of him, Serie did not think Guter could have guessed the magic's name merely from its effects.
"Whatever. He probably heard of it from some ancient text passed down through the ages."
Though it was somewhat troublesome, it was at least a reasonable request.
Serie nodded and agreed.
As she prepared to teach Guter this magic, Serie suddenly thought of something. She stopped and said to him.
"Let me make this clear first. Since you know Cursed Reversal Magic, you likely also understand that its learning period is beyond the reach of a human lifespan."
"I will indeed use Transfer Magic to let you master it."
"But Cursed Reversal Magic is not the only magic I possess that can deal with curses."
"If you chose this magic as your reward because you have other intentions, I advise you to think it over carefully."
Teacher Serie's words made Guter pause for a moment before he laughed.
So that was it. Teacher feared that his request for Cursed Reversal Magic meant he believed it would leave her defenseless against Thieving Magic and make her obediently submit.
That was why Serie had specifically reminded him before teaching it, telling him not to overthink things and to choose the magic he truly wanted.
But this time, she was the one overthinking it.
Guter smiled, lowered himself to one knee before Teacher Serie, and said.
"Teacher, Cursed Reversal Magic is what I want—not to deal with you, but to deal with Demons."
"Is that so? It seems I overthought it."
With that, Serie stood. Magic power surged around her as she prepared to use Transfer Magic, sacrificing her own Cursed Reversal Magic so that her disciple Guter could instantly master it.
But before she could begin, the disciple in front of her pressed down her hand and stopped her.
"Hm?"
Serie looked at Guter in confusion. "Why are you stopping me from casting?"
"Teacher, I do want to learn Cursed Reversal Magic, but I do not want to acquire it by making you lose this magic."
"I want to learn it through my own abilities!"
However—
Instead of being moved by Guter's impassioned declaration, Serie's eyes revealed disappointment.
The elf gave a cold snort. "Boring."
"You are not unaware of how long Cursed Reversal Magic takes to learn. As the crystallization of human wisdom from the Mythic Era, even if humans devote their entire short lives to it, they will only have a chance of mastering it."
"Even with your talent, by the time you learn it, you will likely be at death's door. What meaning would there be in learning it then?"
"There is, Teacher."
Guter met Serie's gaze and answered.
"Since learning this Cursed Reversal Magic requires a lifetime, then let me spend that lifetime by your side."
"And you may not believe it when I say this."
"I am actually very long-lived. I will probably live far longer than ordinary humans."
"Heh."
Serie looked at Guter. After a long while, she snorted softly.
"Fine."
"I had thought that because humans have such short lives, they would spend their time on more valuable matters."
"Since you insist on wasting your precious talent, then have it your way."
"However, Guter."
Serie paused before continuing.
"You possess greater ambition than every disciple I have ever accepted."
"I suppose I will remember you, my disciple."
With that, Serie raised a hand, and a book more than ten centimeters thick flew toward Guter and smashed into him.
Even with Guter's now-tempered body, his hands went numb when he caught it.
"This is?"
"The introductory section of Cursed Reversal Magic. Since you wish to learn Cursed Reversal Magic on your own, according to the schedule, a learner should thoroughly master it within ten years."
"But you are different. As my disciple, I will only give you five years."
"Three years!"
Guter shouted, raising three fingers. "I only need three years."
"Oh?"
Even Serie could not help but become more attentive, infected by the confidence in Guter's words.
"Not bad. Now this is somewhat interesting."
"Then let the Three Year Period be the limit. During that time, if you have any problems with your studies, you may come to me at any time."
"But if you fail to master it after three years—"
"Then you may punish me however you wish, Teacher Serie. You can turn me into any shape you want!"
Hearing her disciple Guter's declaration, Serie's mouth twitched. She felt that something was wrong, yet could not put it into words.
After dealing with the rewards she had promised her disciples, Serie yawned, took a ring from her pocket, and tossed it to Guter.
"Teacher, what is this?"
Guter examined the ring from all sides and asked Serie in confusion.
"This is the terminal for controlling the Barrier Magic around the examination site. Go set up the elimination barrier first, and maintain order at the examination site while you are at it."
"Then what about you, Teacher?"
Serie quietly undid the Seal Magic on her door, then looked back at Guter with a serious expression.
"Teacher has important things to do in her room."
"Do not ask. It is part of the plan."
Guter: .
"Understood, Teacher."
--
Oysaster City — Examination Site
As Barrier Magic slowly rose into the sky, countless Mage Examination candidates lined up outside the grand hall and burst into cheers.
The second day of the Mage Examination had finally begun.
Before you continue