Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Discipline (1)

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Possessor privilege is still a word of mixed feelings for Carlisle.

It’s indispensable in that it’s the means by which he can exert the most powerful influence in this harsh world, but it’s also something that sometimes puts him in very difficult situations.

The window that has appeared before his eyes proves just that.

[ Specialty Info ]

◆ The Grand Mage’s First Love

You are the person who pioneered the path for the Grand Mage ‘Vespa Luciana’.

You are destined to pioneer the future of a person who would inevitably become unhappy if left alone.

Please give the Grand Mage a new ending!

▶ A ‘Cultivation List’ is provided. 

▶ Rewards are given as the listed items develop!

[ Self-confidence 0% ] 

[ Self-esteem 0% ] 

[ Honesty 0% ] 

[ Magical Aptitude 5% ] . . .

“……”

What is this?

It’s like he’s become a psychotherapist.

‘This is actually training, in other words.’

The skill name is as ominous as training, yet what it makes him do is wholesome beyond measure.

Isn’t it just helping people solve the problems they’re facing?

‘……Well, I have no complaints about that.’

If he helps, he helps. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Carlisle also hoped for the people he met before regression to be happy.

However, that’s precisely why it becomes a problem.

“……”

Carlisle stared blankly at the system window.

The words written in the specialty window bothered him immensely.

The Grand Mage’s First Love.

First love.

As if, by helping her like this, she would inevitably fall in love with him.

[What’s the problem? Wouldn’t it be good if other people harbored goodwill toward you?]

“……I don’t want to toy with people’s hearts.”

How should he put it?

Anyway, the option of not helping Vespa doesn’t exist for him.

Whether for practical reasons or psychological reasons, he absolutely doesn’t want to choose any other path.

But is it okay to receive something like this as compensation?

She must have her own heart, too.

However, as soon as he says such words, he hears the Holy Sword snorting.

[Nonsense.]

“Excuse me?”

[Are you approaching Vespa with the intention to use her? Are you saying you’re approaching her with ulterior motives to seduce her?]

“……No?”

[Right. You want to help her sincerely, so you’re helping her. Vespa also feels that and develops favorable feelings toward you.]

“……”

Carlisle blinked his eyes stupidly. 

[Don’t harbor guilt or anything like that. What’s wrong with having favorable feelings toward someone who treats you well? If you were going to think like that, you shouldn’t have treated her well from the beginning.]

“That’s……A valid point.”

[Well, just don’t turn away. Just organize your thoughts properly.]

“Yes?”

[Just because Vespa harbors favorable feelings toward you doesn’t mean it’s something you need to take responsibility for. Just think carefully about how you’ll conclude things.]

“……Huh.”

[You can do as your heart desires. If you don’t want to accept it, don’t accept it, and if you want to accept it, then do so.]

Huh.

Wait.

[You are a good person, Carlisle Belfast. What’s so strange about someone developing favorable feelings after meeting a good person?

“……”

[Don’t anguish over parts that aren’t your responsibility. So frustrating.]

“……”

[……Why are you suddenly quiet?]

“……”

[……]

A moment of awkward silence was exchanged.

“……Hero”

[Hmm.]

“Are you praising me right now?”

Should it be called praise? He received comfort and advice along with it.

It’s also bewildering for Carlisle. He never expected to hear such words from this person of all people.

[It’s just because you’re being frustrating.]

At the blunt answer, Carlisle smiled faintly.

“……Thank you.”

[……It’s nothing special.]

“Yes, it isn’t anything special. To think I’d receive dating advice from you.”

[Go die. As painfully as possible.]

“No, no, but still, isn’t it precious praise from Hero. I’ll engrave it in my heart.”

[……]

“Wow, Hero has really grown a lot. Calling me a good person. To think you’d even know how to comfort with such insincere words. Your social skills have developed greatly.”

When he teased like that cheekily, the sound of grinding teeth could be heard from within the Holy Sword.

[……Idiot, moron, oblivious piece of trash……]

“……”

He doesn’t know why such abusive language is being poured out.

Well, anyway.

“She seems to be growing smoothly.”

Thanks to causing such a major incident, Vespa was able to participate in classes as a special exception among special exceptions, even though she wasn’t a student.

The Magic Department is always starving for students anyway due to the difficulty of entry. If they discovered talent of this level, there would be professors and doctors everywhere trying to kidnap and raise her somehow.

The professor assigned to Vespa is probably screaming with joy while teaching her.

‘Let’s see……’

Carlisle read through the paper on his desk.

It was a report he received from Elena.

It contained information about Vespa’s progress in attending magic classes. Content is directly evaluated by the professor.

‘……How did she even get something like this?’

Isn’t this supposed to be viewable only by professors?

What is this? Is she really omnipotent?

He’ll have to give her some kind of compensation next time they meet.

Although it’s filled with all sorts of academic terminology that Carlisle can’t understand, what it wants to say is clear.

“It says there’s nothing more to teach?”

[……In just a few days?]

“In just a few days.”

Although the place she entered was a basic class, whether it’s basic or whatever, a curriculum is usually a process that is scheduled at least one semester.

It means she already finished everything in a few days, which would take others several months.

From what he hears, she can already use basic Magic.

[Vespa’s condition also looked good. She seemed interested in Magic itself.]

“Right, well.”

People become interested when they’re good at something.

Given her personality, she probably isn’t particularly interested in competition, but thanks to Carlisle’s advice that ‘if you’re good at magic, Miss will take interest’, she’s also working hard herself.

……Anyway, since all the methods she could think of didn’t work, it’s more like she decided to trust at least the method Carlisle recommended.

[But aren’t you attending classes?]

“……Come to think of it?”

If there’s something strange.

In the midst of being so busy watching over Vespa and watching over Gray that he has no time to breathe, Carlisle hasn’t participated in any classes yet, but there’s been no restraint whatsoever.

He did meet Professor Siona not long ago and got an earful.

-Ah, Student Carlisle doesn’t need to attend for the time being. 

-……Excuse me? What’s the reason? 

-The Headmaster will let you know soon. He said there’s work that only Student Carlisle can do and he wants to entrust it to you. -……

……Honestly, he only has ominous premonitions.

When someone called the Headmaster, whom he’s never even seen, says he’s planning something for him, there’s nothing he can do about it.

“……Hmm”

Carlisle scratched his chin.

Well, what’s good is good.

He should be grateful that the situation is flowing peacefully for now, putting aside things he can’t know even if he worries about them until later.

“I hope it continues to flow peacefully like this.”

◆

A few days later.

Carlisle was recalling the old maxim of his ancestors.

‘Don’t they say everything you say becomes reality?’

In that such an incident burst forth not long after.

He looked around awkwardly with a smile.

There was Vespa, frozen stiff, and Gray, who was clearly furious to the top of her head.

If you trace the beginning, it wasn’t really a big deal.

It was just that Carlisle came to check if there were any inconveniences with Vespa attending Magic classes, and Gray, who happened to have something for him to do, came looking for him directly.

The problem is two things.

The fact that she had to make the trip personally when she ‘dared’ to have work for him to do.

And.

[System Message]

▶ The Hero’s ‘Possessiveness’ is amplified. 

▶ The target’s mood becomes unpleasant!

The fact that Carlisle’s time, which should be devoted entirely to her, was being shared with someone else.

‘……Am I not allowed to be with other people?’

[She’s throwing a tantrum.]

‘A tantrum?’

[She always has to be the most important person to you, but recently you’ve been neglectful while being with Vespa.]

‘I worked hard though.’

[Still, she just doesn’t like it. The very fact that you’re with other people.]

‘……’

[I told you. It’s a tantrum. Don’t look for rational reasons.]

No way, our Hero.

To think she also had talent as a mentally unstable, obsessive woman.

That’s a new discovery.

“-You, what are you trying to do?”

But contrary to such peaceful thoughts, Gray’s complexion looks extremely displeased right now.

“I had to waste my time personally looking for you because of you. Are you joking around?”

Recently, when looking at Carlisle, she hadn’t gotten angry, but her current tone contains a level of ferocity similar to when they first met.

Carlisle glanced at Vespa.

She’s fidgeting restlessly.

This person isn’t a fool. There’s no way she doesn’t know that Gray is taking a more venomous attitude than usual because of her.

……Mixed emotions must be crossing her mind.

A person who has lived her entire life only serving her is watching her get angry because she’s afraid of having someone ‘more precious than herself’ stolen away from her.

“I, ah, Miss, Carlisle is with me because I-,”

Even in the midst of this, she opens her mouth somehow to try to protect Carlisle.

“Do you think it makes sense that I can’t be attended to because you’re wasting time on something like that?”

But her words are cut off by a sentence that comes out like frost in the middle.

Vespa’s mouth closed tightly. Moisture gathered around her eyes.

An expression trying not to reveal the wound carved in her heart.

An appearance that puts aside her position and thinks of Gray first. Thinking that there must be reasons she said that, an expression he’s seen countless times before, regression.

He also knows clearly what scene lies at the end of that.

“……”

Seeing that, Carlisle let out a deep sigh inwardly.

He quickly calculates inwardly. About whether the ‘plan’ he had thought of would be possible.

‘It should work, right?’

[It will work.]

Then there’s no reason to endure this.

“First of all.”

It seems a bit earlier than originally planned, but still, he absolutely can’t stand watching this.

What needs to be fixed should be fixed.

“This person is Vespa Luciana, Miss. Not ‘that thing’ or ‘this thing’ “

Gray’s eyes widened.

She was probably expecting the usual apology to come from Carlisle’s mouth.

“You should remember her name. She’s someone who has served you for such a long time. You shouldn’t call people like that.”

Gray’s expression became even colder.

“……You said you were on my side.”

Then you should take my side.

You should listen to whatever I say.

You should take my side, not that person over there who’s trying to steal away what’s ‘mine’.

That’s what she seems to want to say.

“Yes. I’m on your side.”

“Then-,”

“That’s why I’ll stop you when you do something wrong.”

Gray’s eyebrows twisted.

“……What?”

A voice where bewilderment is felt before anger.

There probably hasn’t been anyone who spoke so boldly to her, nor dared to speak to the Hero like this until now.

But.

What’s not allowed is not allowed.

“Please apologize to Vespa, Miss.”

“……”

Vespa’s mouth fell wide open.

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