Chapter 7: I’m So Useless

Ruiken was, of course, not just a simple attendant.

An ordinary attendant wouldn’t have earned Xia An’s polite and respectful manner.

As an Artificial Lifeform serving the Sage Council, Ruiken was a veteran among veterans in Deep Blue.

In fact, Luo Ya had always been surrounded by big shots, but she herself wasn’t aware of it.

Now Luo Ya had changed into the standard apprentice uniform she had just received: white stockings paired with a knee-length pleated skirt, over which she wore the ordinary apprentice’s mage robe, and on her feet, sturdy, durable knee-high boots.

After changing, Luo Ya looked like just another ordinary apprentice, sitting on a bench in the hallway after class, slacking off.

The white stockings covered the bruises on her legs, but the apprentice uniform was form-fitting: the blouse, small tie, and narrow belt at the waist exposed Luo Ya’s overly thin figure.

“Hey, did you hear?”

From nearby came the chatter of students.

“About Master Xia An’s new disciple, recently.”

Luo Ya’s small ears perked up immediately.

“Of course I heard. Why her? Does she have any outstanding qualities?”

“That’s why it’s spreading—she got eliminated in several rounds of selection and ended up in the shantytown. If she had any outstanding qualities, she would have been picked up long ago.”

“I heard Xia An let her wear his own robe and enter Deep Blue openly. That’s a blatant declaration of status. Could it be that he took her as his concubine?”

“Ha, you’re funny, buddy. Since when did a concubine get such a high price? Giving her the title of Last Disciple?”

“Virtue doesn’t match the position, huh. Just wait; sooner or later, she’ll have to pay it back.”

“What ability does she have to become the disciple of a Grand Magister? When the Academic Assessment comes, her true colors will show.”

“Exactly. A mule or a horse—take it out for a spin and you’ll know.”

“I think there’s going to be a good show.”

“You’re just jealous.”

“I’m just a bit jealous. Did you hear? Those big nobles in Valencia really spent a fortune to get someone to pull strings, hoping their kids could secure the position of Xia An’s disciple early. Now they’ve all become clowns. Master Xia An would rather choose a worthless refugee than give them face. To the nobles, face is everything—it’s as important as life. Are they just jealous too? I can’t say.”

“If you ask me, you guys are always thinking about pointless things. Mind your own business. You two, have you finished the mentor’s homework?”

“Oh, the big shot of the homework section has spoken, you hear that?”

“Damn, can those self-righteous pricks just fuck off?”

Listening to the apprentices’ banter beside her, those words struck Luo Ya’s chest like heavy hammers.

Luo Ya felt suffocated and short of breath, her small head gradually drooping.

As if waking from a dream, Xia An’s care for her suddenly seemed as fragile as a bubble.

Her desire to take a walk vanished instantly.

“Back?”

Xia An, whose walls were plastered with draft paper, looked up from his desk.

“Yeah.”

Luo Ya replied weakly.

Xia An could hear the dejection in her voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing…”

Luo Ya forced a smile.

“Look! My new clothes!”

Pretending to be cheerful, Luo Ya showed off her new outfit.

But her movements were obviously unnatural.

“…Very nice, Luo Ya. Go get some rest.”

Xia An could tell something was wrong with Luo Ya, but since she didn’t seem willing to talk about it, he didn’t push her.

Xia An had been immersed in the Enhanced Training Plan for Luo Ya these past few days, so his attention wasn’t on her.

But this time, he had asked Ruiken to keep an eye on Luo Ya; no one should have bothered her.

He still thought that mysterious immortal attendant was very reliable.

He would go find Ruiken and ask later.

Luo Ya returned to her room.

Xia An stretched and then looked at the manuscript paper in his hands with some worry.

The System had clearly stated that Luo Ya was a child of exceptional talent.

[On this day, you somehow came to the town around the Magic Tower and met an exceptionally talented refugee girl. With a love for talent, you took her as your disciple and raised her.]

At least, that’s what the original text said.

But from Luo Ya’s test reports, her talent was not outstanding—in fact, it could be called mediocre.

Her mana affinity and elemental affinity were practically nonexistent.

Her mental strength was average, nothing remarkable.

No, where was the exceptional talent?

How could I not see it?

That day, Xia An had fetched a pile of materials from the Forbidden Books Area, hoping to find if Luo Ya had some undeveloped Golden Finger, but he found nothing.

No matter how he examined her, Luo Ya was just an ordinary girl, perhaps a bit strong-willed.

But the System’s evaluation couldn’t be baseless.

Xia An had been trying to figure this out for days.

Or was his thinking wrong?

Maybe the so-called exceptional talent wasn’t about quantifiable indicators?

Xia An sank back into his thoughts.

“Hey, you stayed up all night again, right?”

A voice suddenly entered Xia An’s mind.

It was an Arcane Communication from Ye Yan.

“What is it? What do you want?”

“Do you remember what day it is?”

Xia An was taken aback.

“What day?”

“Tsk.”

Ye Yan on the other end made a dissatisfied sound.

“So you’re even more of a night owl than me?”

“Just tell me what day it is. Don’t keep me in suspense,” Xia An frowned.

“In one hour, the Regular Meeting is about to start.”

“…Oh, crap!”

Xia An slapped his forehead.

He had forgotten about that.

“I just woke up too. Let’s go together.”

The sound of adjusting clothes came from the other side.

“I’ll wait for you at the Central Transfer Elevator.”

The communication ended.

***

Floor 1127, Xia An’s floor, Central Garden.

Xia An had said he was going to the Regular Meeting and told Luo Ya to stay home.

Lying on the emerald green grass, Luo Ya stared blankly at the artificial light source on the Crystal Dome.

The light filtered through the scattered trees, casting dappled spots on the ground.

Suddenly finding the light annoying, Luo Ya put her arm over her eyes.

‘Eat first, then we’ll talk about other things.’

Xia An’s voice echoed in her ears like an auditory hallucination.

‘What ability does she have to become the Grand Magister’s disciple?’

The young apprentice said disdainfully.

‘Go ahead and cry, kid. I’m here.’

Xia An had gently held her in his arms.

‘Virtue doesn’t match the position, huh. Just wait; sooner or later, she’ll have to pay it back.’

The young apprentice sneered.

Luo Ya was very self-aware.

She knew she didn’t deserve Lord Xia An and that she could never repay him.

But no matter what others said, Lord Xia An still unconditionally accepted her and did his best to support her.

Luo Ya had seen all of Xia An’s research these days and knew he was trying to find a solution for her poor talent.

But the more Xia An did, the deeper Luo Ya’s guilt became.

Luo Ya didn’t want to be a burden to Xia An, and she especially didn’t want her to ruin his reputation.

Guilt and resentment mingled together.

Luo Ya’s heart was extremely bitter.

If only I weren’t a completely useless loser, if only I had strength worthy of Lord Xia An…

Luo Ya clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white.

Damn it, I’m so useless…