IWMHWD 23

Chapter 23 – Rophael Mage Association
2023.11.23

“…What? That’s ridiculous. It’s not like we’re living two hundred years ago!”

Leonard was genuinely shocked. Even if she was a noblewoman, learning was no longer frowned upon.

In fact, in noble families, it was expected that daughters study literature, piano, and ideally even arithmetic and philosophy.

“I can’t believe it. What was the Marquis of Vasquez thinking, raising his daughter like that?”

“He just wanted me to grow up as a stupid doll, obedient to her father and later to her husband.”

Cordelia muttered bitterly. Her father had always taken offense at the idea of her learning anything. If it weren’t for her mother, she wouldn’t even have learned to read.

He disapproved even of assigning her a private tutor.

“I guess that explains your ignorance about magic. No wonder your talent for seeing mana went to waste.”

“But… being a mage’s apprentice just means learning magic, right?”

“A mage passes down their heart to their disciple when they die.”

“Ah! That scared me!”

“Could you make some noise when you show up? You’re not fooling anyone into thinking you’re young.”

Baron’s habit of popping up out of thin air was something Cordelia never got used to. Despite Belluce’s sharp tongue, Baron continued without pause.

“Of course, it’s more symbolic than literal. But it shows the deep bond between a master and their disciple.”

“How deep are we talking?”

“Unless the disciple creates a new star and separates themselves, they usually spend their entire lives together. Many even live and eat together.”

“For life? You’re joking—literally until death?”

“Yes. Which means you’ll be fetching things for me until the day I die.”

Leonard chuckled mischievously. Cordelia’s face turned pale.

She had planned to learn a few spells and then quietly leave to find her own path. But now, she had to stay with Leonard for life? Her vision blurred at the thought.

“Well… what if one of them gets married and moves far away?”

“Mages rarely marry. Even if they do, the master-disciple relationship remains central to their lives.”

“Oh no. Oh no!”

“Why do you look so horrified? If you stay by my side, you’ll never have to worry about your livelihood again.”

“The problem is staying by your side! Do you know what a nightmare it is to deal with your nasty temper for a lifetime?”

“…Aren’t you being a bit too blunt, saying that right to my face?”

“Isn’t it better than badmouthing you behind your back?”

Leonard began to nod—then realized too late that he’d been caught by her logic.

“Some people would kill to be with Master forever. You should be grateful.”

Belluce snapped with wide eyes. But Cordelia didn’t hear a word. All she could think about was the word forever, hammering in her mind like a nail.

“Isn’t there any way to break the master-disciple bond?”

“What? You cried and begged me to take you as a disciple, and now you want out? Are you insane?”

Leonard, who had been joking just a second ago, suddenly turned serious. Cordelia glanced at him and mumbled nervously.

“I didn’t mean me specifically… just saying, what if the relationship goes sour?”

“That can happen,” Baron replied with a chuckle.

“It’s rare, but a master can expel a disciple. It’s called excommunication. A mage who’s been excommunicated can no longer call themselves a mage, nor enter the Rophael Mage Association ever again.”

“What about a disciple rejecting their master?”

“You that desperate to get rid of me?”

“Oh, come on! I never said that! I just meant—is that even possible?”

“Hmm. Not really, unless the disciple establishes their own star and becomes independent.”

“Star? Like a school of magic?”

“Yes. Once they lead a new star, they’re no longer master and disciple—they’re equal as mages.”

A star… Cordelia repeated the word like it was her only lifeline. Leonard clicked his tongue at her attitude.

“Most would do anything to learn more from their master. You’re so spoiled.”

“Of course I want to be with Master…”

For about a year or so, was the unspoken end of that sentence.

As Cordelia silently calculated her options, Baron stepped forward to change the subject.

“Well then, let’s wrap up this topic. I have something to report.”

“What is it?”

“We’ve finally found your body, Master.”

* * *

“Milady.”

“Hmm?”

“Where shall we prepare dinner today?”

After locking Helena and Arnold in the tower, the entire atmosphere of Abrams Manor had changed.

No one called Cordelia the “young lady” anymore.

There were no more “older” or “younger” ladies in the estate. Only one person remained—Countess Cordelia Abrams.

Now officially the Countess, Cordelia was busier than ever.

From dinner placements to payment for basic supplies, the servants asked her about everything.

Cordelia rubbed her temples.

“Bring dinner to my room today. Craig seems really busy.”

“Yes, Milady.”

Leonard was no less preoccupied. Ever since Baron’s report a few days ago, the three men—excluding Cordelia—had been thrown into chaos.

They huddled together day and night, scheming away.

“I’m here, Master.”

“Do you really think that’s going to work?”

“Haha. Belluce, don’t expose how simple-minded you are in front of everyone.”

“What?!”

“If you keep acting like that, people will think all knights are dumb.”

“Oh, that’s it—!”

As Cordelia opened the door, Belluce was already fuming with his sword drawn. Of course, Baron just stood there smiling, unaffected.

Cordelia wasn’t even surprised anymore.

“What about your homework? All done?”

“Yes! I came to get it checked.”

She walked past the two men bickering and plopped down in front of Leonard, setting a thick pile of parchment on the side table.

Leonard flipped through it so quickly she wondered if he even read it, then pointed at a few sections.

“Here, here, and here. Redo them.”

“What?! But I worked so hard on those parts!”

She had spent five whole hours sweating over those sections. Her heart sank at his cold rejection.

“You sure did. You worked really hard on writing complete nonsense.”

“You’re so mean…”

Just then, a loud crash echoed nearby. Belluce had broken something—again.

“If you’re so smart, why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Calm down. Why do you shout every time we talk?”

“Shout? You keep nitpicking every little thing I say!”

“Ugh, so noisy…”

Cordelia shook her head at the two men. It wasn’t her first time witnessing this, but their constant fighting was still exhausting.

“Still haven’t decided whether you’re going to that woman?”

“She’s not ‘that woman,’ she’s the witch Diloana. If we had decided, we wouldn’t still be bickering.”

The root of their quarrel was the discovery of Leonard’s body—found, unfortunately, in the territory of the witch Diloana.

“Is she really that powerful? Is that why you can’t approach easily?”

“Diloana isn’t human. She’s more like a spirit.”

“A spirit? They’re real?”

Cordelia’s eyes sparkled. The spirits she knew only existed in fairy tales.

“If you mean like the ones in your stories—sort of. Diloana is a being born from the essence of a tree. She developed a self-consciousness.”

“Wow, that’s just like a fairy-tale spring fairy!”

“She’s nothing like those cute fairies, Milady. She’s brutal. Anything entering her domain without permission burns to death. Her land swarms with magical beasts too.”

“But Master is really strong. Can’t you beat her?”

“Hmph.”

Leonard puffed up proudly at Cordelia’s praise, crossing his arms.

“Fighting the witch isn’t the issue. The real problem is the barrier around her land. If I had my original body, I might stand a chance…”

“But to get your body back, you have to go to Diloana… Hmm. Wait, how did Baron find your body? Wouldn’t he die if he entered her territory?”

“I didn’t go in myself. I detected it remotely.”

“Aha.”

And so, no clear solution had been reached—they were stuck brainstorming endlessly.

“Fortunately—or unfortunately—since your body is in her territory, Maximilian won’t be able to reach it either.”

“So what? We can’t get in either.”

Belluce sheathed his sword and turned to Leonard.

“Master. Send me. I’ll go.”