A Disciple's Service

A Disciple's Service

"Teacher, hehe."

Watching her disciple Gumi walk over, place her hands on her shoulders, and grin foolishly at her, Serie, resting her cheek on one hand, couldn't help shaking her head.

Though she quite enjoyed having her disciple by her side, Serie still maintained her earlier indifferent expression. She raised her gaze slightly, glanced at Gumi, and asked in an even tone,

"What is it?"

However, Gumi did not answer her teacher's question. Before Serie could react, the little hands resting on her shoulders began to roam.

"Mm—!"

The wandering of her disciple's hands made Serie let out a low moan instinctively. Yet before she could stop her, the exquisite shoulder and neck massage techniques in her disciple's hands made her whole body go limp, and even her eyes took on a hazy, pleased look.

＜(`)＞

Seeing that her teacher had completely immersed herself in her superb massage, Gumi wore a proud expression. After giving the senior disciple still in the hall a playful wink, she moved on to the next step.

Without stopping the massage, and even putting more effort into it, Gumi leaned down slightly and brought her head close to her teacher's ear, speaking slowly.

"Teacher~ Stop thinking about unhappy things."

"News takes time to spread, and crossing distances takes waiting."

"The outstanding mage candidates from remote regions are still on their way."

"So, Teacher, just wait a little more patiently. You'll definitely receive more excellent disciples like me."

"Mhm~, mhm~"

Serie sat in her chair with her eyes closed, nodding in agreement without thinking.

At that moment, no matter what Gumi said, Serie probably would not have argued with her.

And so, Magic Old Timer Serie comfortably enjoyed her disciple's service for quite a while. Just as the smile on her face was about to become even more innocent than Nǎilóng's, Gumi suddenly stopped moving her hands.

"Mm?"

Her disciple's pause made Serie unable to sit still. She gave her shoulders a slight shake, hoping to add some extra time to her massage.

"Teacher, I'm hungry."

Her female disciple's voice sounded beside her ear. Serie had wanted to say something, but before she could speak, Gumi continued.

"Yesterday, Senior Brother took me to a really delicious restaurant. Teacher, can you take us there later?"

"Mhm! Mhm!"

Serie agreed without a second thought. She had already intended to take her disciples out for a meal anyway, so she could simply bring Gumi along afterward.

As for waiting for someone else?

Who was first disciple Guter? At this moment, Serie claimed not to know him.

The whole sect gathering could wait until after this month's exams.

For now, enjoying herself was what mattered.

After her teacher agreed to her condition, Gumi naturally and thoughtfully resumed the movements of her hands. She even mixed in several novel techniques, giving Teacher Serie a fresh and comfortable sensation at every moment.

That night, in front of the restaurant.

Staring at the incredibly long and winding line before him, Guter's eye twitched.

Damn it, today seemed to be some important holiday. From what the people around him were saying, it appeared to be a festival established to celebrate the first city lord's birthday.

But Guter did not care about the meaning behind the holiday. What he was calculating was how much longer he had to wait in line before it was his turn to order.

Since Teacher Serie had said that morning that she liked the food from this restaurant, Guter had planned to pack up several dishes and bring them to her as an apology for being late.

But because of the holiday, so many people had come to dine here.

Guter had no choice but to consider whether he should simply pick another gift to apologize with.

But if he changed it, what should he bring instead?

How about a pair of shoes?

Thinking of how Magic Old Timer often walked barefoot on the ground, bringing her a pair of shoes seemed like a reasonable choice.

Tsk~, maybe not.

Teacher Serie certainly did not lack a pair of well-fitting shoes. Perhaps she walked barefoot because she liked the sensation of being close to the ground.

Then what should he bring?

How about a pair of white stockings?

Eh!

Guter's eyes lit up, and he applauded himself for his genius idea.

But just as Guter was about to turn and leave, he suddenly sensed a familiar fluctuation of mana from inside the restaurant.

"No way, could it really be this much of a coincidence?"

Guter squeezed through a gap in the queue ahead and entered the restaurant. Sure enough, he saw several familiar figures at a table by the window.

Gumi was wolfing down food, while Serie ate beside her and placed food onto her disciple's plate. Across the table sat Lairn, quietly chewing on the leafy vegetables in his bowl without saying a word.

Judging by the three of them, they had probably only just sat down.

Well then. He had missed the notification, didn't know the time, and didn't know the place, yet he had somehow still caught up with a sect gathering. How strange.

Seeing his senior brother sit down beside him, shock inevitably appeared in Lairn's eyes.

But Serie, seated opposite Guter, was not surprised by this.

Or rather, the time when she would have been surprised had already passed.

Back when Guter had still been lining up outside the restaurant, Serie had already sensed this disciple's mana fluctuation.

After feeling slightly surprised, Serie had deliberately released a trace of her own mana, allowing Guter, who was still waiting outside, to sense her presence.

"Sorry, Teacher. I came late."

The moment he sat down, Guter apologized to the teacher seated across from him.

"It doesn't matter." Serie replied calmly as she cut into a piece of steak. "I told you to come over before the exams ended because I intended to bring you along to tonight's dinner."

"Yet you came here on your own. Judging by the result, you did not ruin my plans."

"However."

Serie paused. Her sharp gaze scrutinized Guter, and her expression became quite serious.

"I told you to go home early so that you could rest, didn't I?"

"Your body had already stayed up all night, yet you still dared to directly practice that Body Tempering Method."

Serie rubbed her forehead. For a moment, her tone carried not only sternness, but also a hint of helplessness.

"To be honest, when I handed Bodi's Body Tempering Method to you, I never expected you to successfully get started in just a few hours."

"Otherwise, I certainly would have chosen to give it to you when you were full of energy."

"Haha." Guter scratched his head awkwardly. His decision to drag his exhausted body into directly cultivating the Body Tempering Method that morning had indeed been somewhat rash.

"Sigh~, forget it."

After sighing, Serie's expression returned to calm. She waved a restaurant attendant over, pointed at Gumi, who was currently fighting her way through the food with her head down, and said to the attendant,

"Bring him another serving of everything she ordered."

Restaurant attendant: "?"

"M-Ma'am, are you sure you want it served like that?"

"Mhm." Serie nodded firmly and instructed the attendant to have the dishes brought out quickly.

"Alright, alright. I'll notify the kitchen to prepare them right away."

With that, the restaurant attendant bowed, then hurriedly ran toward the back kitchen.