Sensing the terrifying fluctuations emanating from the Supernova in Ian’s hand, Marguerite felt her scalp go numb.
This was no longer a question of how much Mana he had!
This was a fundamental difference in essence! Contained within that platinum-white light was not just a massive amount of Mana, but a law-like aura that made her very soul tremble!
Just what on earth was residing inside this kid’s body?!
Did he intend to wipe the entire tower, along with the entire Silent Lake, off the map?!
Another ten minutes passed, and the light of the white Supernova had reached a point where it could not get any brighter.
She couldn’t wait any longer! If she didn’t act now, this “Fireball” would be something that even she, a mere 6th-tier Legendary Mage, wouldn’t be able to contain.
Marguerite’s figure vanished instantly from her spot and reappeared at the top of the tower.
“What do you think you’re doing, kid? Stop right now!”
Marguerite’s sudden voice gave Ian, who was immersed in the excitement of his experiment, a violent start.
The ten-meter-radius Supernova in his hand slipped. It fell straight down toward the crowd of scholars who were worshipping by the shore of the Silent Lake beneath the Tower of Stars.
It’s all over!
“Humph!”
Just as Ian realized disaster was imminent, a cold snort came from beside him.
He saw Marguerite take out an Azure Wooden Staff and strike it hard against the ground.
A giant water snake surged out of the Silent Lake, swallowing the Supernova that Ian had “thrown” in one mouthful.
Immediately following that, hundreds of blue magic circles appeared around the giant snake. Working in tandem with the snake’s coiling body, they slowly compressed the water-encased Supernova into a single droplet of water.
Finally, the droplet fell back into the Silent Lake, causing ripples to spread across the mirror-like surface of the water.
The entire process seemed slow, but in reality, it happened within the span of a few breaths.
The suffocating light and heat dissipated rapidly.
That “sun” which had almost caused a major catastrophe had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.
Marguerite slowly lowered her hand, and the deep blue glow on the Azure Wooden Staff gradually faded.
She looked at Ian, who had an innocent look on his face, her chest rising and falling almost imperceptibly.
Beneath that stern expression, however, surged a complex whirlpool of emotions—shock, lingering fear, inquiry, and a deep sense of dread toward that destructive power.
“Master, did I… did I pass?”
Ian asked somewhat uncertainly.
Marguerite: “…”
She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.
In the end, the mage Marguerite simply took a deep breath.
She raised her hand and pressed her temple somewhat wearily.
She hesitated to speak.
A thousand words transformed into a very faint sigh, one that was almost squeezed out from between her teeth.
“You… passed…”
Hearing Marguerite’s answer, Ian finally breathed a sigh of relief. He could finally learn magic skills.
“From now on, Ian, you are officially my, Marguerite Gerville’s, last personal disciple.”
“Huh? Personal disciple?”
Ian blinked, a bit dazed.
No, he just wanted to come here to learn some simple magic skills. How did he become a personal disciple?
“That’s right. Feel proud, Ian. You are the first and last student I will ever take in.”
“Marguerite, my lady, have you made a mistake? I just wanted to learn some simple magic knowledge, not become your personal disciple.”
“Learn magic knowledge? Then shouldn’t you just go sit by the Silent Lake? What did you come to me for?”
Ian: “?”
What the hell? What did she mean by saying sitting by the Silent Lake was enough?
Could this lake actually teach people?
But that wasn’t the point.
“Marguerite, my lady, you’ve misunderstood. I just—”
Before Ian could finish, Marguerite interrupted him:
“Misunderstood? Your recommendation letter explicitly stated that I should spare no effort in teaching you…”
Ian: “…”
***
So that’s where the problem was. If he had known, he should have looked at that recommendation letter first.
Frederick, you set me up!
“Cough, cough. About that, Marguerite, my lady… I think I can explain…”
“Explain? Fine. Then first, pay me for the front door, the two Mana Testing Crystals, and the cost of the forbidden spell you just unleashed. It’s not much, just one hundred million gold coins…”
Ian: “…”
“Then I think I’ll be your personal disciple, Marguerite.”
Faced with a massive debt, Ian chose to accept his fate.
“But Marguerite, my lady…”
“Hmm?”
“…”
“Master…”
“Mhm~ keep talking.”
“Ma—Master, I can be your student. But I have one condition.”
“Oh? Becoming the student of the ‘Stargazer’ is something countless people dream of. You kid actually dare to have a condition.”
Marguerite’s eyes narrowed slightly. Her fingertips tapped gently on the Azure Wooden Staff, creating a rhythmic sound that was exceptionally clear in the silence of the tower’s peak.
Pressured, Ian took a deep breath:
“Master, I cannot promise to stay at the Tower of Stars long-term to study under you. I need… time for free movement. These periods might not be long—a few days, a few weeks—but they might also… require several months, or even… longer. Moreover, I cannot predict when they will come or how long they will last.”
After hearing Ian finish, Marguerite didn’t get angry immediately. Instead, the corners of her mouth curled into a slight arc.
“Interesting. The only personal disciple I, Marguerite Gerville, have recognized in hundreds of years starts bargaining with his teacher before the instruction even begins, demanding unbridled ‘freedom’… Ian, you are the first.”
Marguerite stared at Ian for a long time before finally speaking:
“I can do that.”
Ian was stunned, almost doubting his own ears.
That actually worked?
But Marguerite had more to say.
“Ian, I appreciate your principles and your courage. I can agree to this condition, but there is one prerequisite…”
She turned around, her back to Ian.
***
“One month from now, I need you, in your capacity as Marguerite Gerville’s personal disciple, to go to the Imperial Capital and do one thing for me.”
She flipped her wrist, and a small, deep purple token appeared in her palm. A simple star track pattern was engraved on the token, and in the center sat a miniature, shimmering Star that seemed to be slowly rotating.
“Take this Star Track Token. It represents my will and can prove your identity.”
Ian caught the token Marguerite tossed to him.
“I need you to crush the students of those few old geezers at the Imperial Royal Magic Academy’s freshman testing ceremony and take first place.”
Ian was stunned after hearing Marguerite’s condition.
The Imperial Royal Magic Academy?
Wasn’t that the academy where the protagonists, Sherivelle and Otillia, attended and met?
He had only just completed the Task Correction for Otillia and Sherivelle and managed to get away; now Marguerite wanted him to go back.
Wasn’t this walking straight into the lion’s den, jumping into the plot of his own accord?
That wouldn’t do. Anyone who frequently travels through worlds knows how troublesome it is to get caught up in the plot.
Not to mention, Ian wasn’t even a member of the protagonist group. A background character in the middle of the plot would, at best, die from some unknown AOE, and at worst, be the “useless guy” who can only watch from the sidelines.