Serie's New Disciple

"Mm, this bakery's bread really is good."

"It has that fresh-baked wheat aroma, packed with plump nuts and crushed kernels—rich in texture, very satisfying to eat."

Back at the examination site, the queue of Mage candidates had clearly grown a few more than when Guter had left, but fortunately it still hadn't exceeded thirty, so there was no risk of too many mouths and too little porridge.

Carrying two baskets of bread, Guter walked from the front to the back, handing out breakfast to the Mages who had lined up early.

After all, judging by the time, these candidates were probably like him—they hadn't had a chance to eat breakfast yet.

So, as soon as he handed out the first loaf, the system's prompt chimed in.

[Ding!]

[Daily Quest: Daily Good Deed completed]

Guter couldn't help but smile, watching the Sturdy Man at the head of the line—he was probably genuinely hungry.

Realizing his own behavior was a bit improper, the Sturdy Man smiled sheepishly and fumbled in his pocket for a coin purse, intending to pay for the bread.

Guter waved his hand to signal it wasn't necessary, then continued along the line, distributing bread to the Mage candidates behind him.

When he reached the end of the queue, Guter glanced into the basket—there was still plenty of bread left.

Just then, a Young Girl at the very end of the line gently tugged at Guter's sleeve and quietly asked if she could take two, adding that she would pay extra.

At that moment, a very obvious growl of hunger came from her stomach, making her blush instantly and crouch down.

"Ha ha."

Guter couldn't help but chuckle, quickly pulling out two loaves from the basket and handing them to her.

He had some memory of this young Mage girl.

Yesterday, after the exam ended and Guter had seen off the last candidate—the one who had taken pills—it was this girl who had asked him about the reason for that candidate's disappointment.

Amid the girl's thanks, Guter continued toward the end of the line, and within moments, he had handed bread to every candidate taking the test.

By now, less than five minutes remained before the Mage Examination officially began, and the basket in Guter's hands still had five or six loaves left over.

"Give me one."

Suddenly, a flat voice came from behind Guter, but the tone made him pause.

That voice... Teacher Serie?

Guter turned around, and sure enough, his "tiny" teacher was standing there, reaching out her hand for bread.

He quickly handed one over, then followed behind Serie as they entered the examination site's barrier right on time.

Watching his teacher munching on a loaf of bread and his senior brother following behind with a bread basket, Lairn, who was stationed outside the hall maintaining the barrier, couldn't help but freeze.

"Teacher, you two...?"

"Get ready to start the exam."

Serie replied flatly, but just as she was about to push open the hall's wooden door and enter, she turned back to say to this disciple.

"Lairn, if you haven't had breakfast, grab one from your senior brother. This bakery's bread tastes pretty good."

"Here!"

As Serie spoke, Guter had already taken out a loaf and handed it to Lairn.

After thanking him, Lairn took it from his senior brother, silently finished off the bread, and the hunger in his stomach mostly subsided.

A few breaths later, as the church bell in the city rang out melodiously, everyone's spirits perked up—because that bell signaled the official start of the second day's [Mage Examination].

The Mages waiting outside the exam site all perked up, staring at the Magic Barrier ahead, gathering their full magical power to cross through.

Those who passed through the barrier showed a hint of joy on their faces, took a deep breath, and prepared to face the even more brutal elimination inside the hall.

Those who didn't make it through each had their own reactions—some turned and left in disappointment; some angrily punched themselves; others cheered themselves on, planning to try again from the side of the barrier.

All kinds of human behavior, every variety imaginable.

Guter made no comment. After watching for a while, he stopped paying attention, instead carrying that thick Magic Book into the hall, sitting cross-legged beside his teacher Serie, and earnestly studying its contents.

Whenever Serie eliminated a candidate, he would take the chance to ask her a few difficult questions.

Thus, a day passed in a flash.

By the end of the day, Guter had gained quite a bit. But beside him, Serie couldn't help feeling a bit frustrated—because in the entire day, only one Mage had met her standards and been accepted as a disciple.

As luck would have it, Guter knew this one—she was the Young Girl who had eaten two loaves of bread that morning.

Looking at the last remnants of sunset outside the window, Serie sighed and casually knocked her disciple on the head.

"Hm?"

Guter, who had been sitting cross-legged and immersed in the Magic Book, was startled awake. He looked up at Serie beside him.

"Teacher, did you call me?"

"Mm." Serie nodded in confirmation, speaking as she stood up from her seat.

"Tomorrow morning, same time and place, bring your Junior Disciple to my residence."

"Alright." Guter nodded in agreement, then asked, "Anything else to take care of, Teacher?"

"Hmm."

Serie lowered her head in thought for a moment, then said hesitantly, "Adjust the time—come back half an hour later."

"Also, here are a few gold coins for you. During the assessment period, bring me a loaf of bread every morning, and keep preparing the portions for the examinees as well."

"Understood."

Guter took the gold coins from his teacher Serie. Even without counting, he could tell from their weight and value that the amount was more than enough, never less.

Once his teacher had left, without the boost from the [Disciple of the Mythical Archmage] Talent Trait, Guter's progress in studying the Magic Book slowed considerably, and he lost the motivation to continue for the time being.

After getting up from the floor of the great hall, Guter straightened his clothes and headed toward the city's municipal hall.

Earlier that afternoon, a staff member had come to the municipal hall, stating that the [Continental Magic Association]'s construction in the city was proceeding smoothly, but several key steps required the presence of someone who could represent the [Continental Magic Association].

Since the staff member had arrived just as Serie was answering some of Guter's questions, and Serie, as the sole examiner, could not be absent, she had no choice but to send Lairn and the newly accepted Young Girl to the municipal hall of [Oysaster] to represent the [Continental Magic Association] at the ceremony.

By his estimate, the meeting should be over by now.

Sure enough, when Guter leisurely reached the city's municipal hall, he saw the staff member from the afternoon standing at the entrance, bidding farewell to Lairn and the others.