Chapter 17 Uncrowned Master and Disciple

I tucked my bookmark into the book I was reading and looked up at the sky. The sky is turning orange and its time to go home. Well, Haru should be back by now. I was watching from the outside while making sure she didnt notice, but somehow its hard to get used to having an apprentice. I feel like Im worrying more than necessary.

Shishou~, Im back~

Whoops, speak of the devil. Haru came running from the direction of the mining site while waving her hand.

Good work, you were roughly on time. How was your first expedition?

It was very tough. But it was fun more than that!

Haru enthusiastically talked about what happened at the mine site while using gestures. She sure is energetic even after fighting ash kobold boss and his minions.

However, the result was more than enough. To be honest, Harus fight was more than I expected. Although she tended to be a little too straightforward, she was quick to judge the situation, and once she decided to do something, she didnt hesitate. I was astonished by her holding her guts at the decisive battle. I was going to help her at some point, but it ended up being completely unnecessary.

Were you really a high school girl a while ago?, just how many times I did a self-tsukkomi in my mind?

Still, as her master, lets say this now.

Haru, well done. Im glad I made you my disciple.

Eh!? Umm, whats gotten into you, Shishou? Do you have an ulterior motive?

Why is that

That reaction, isnt that the most upsetting thing youve said this day? Just what kind of person am I in your mind?

Oh, more importantly, Shishou. Its about the black ore I collected, but, you know, the fragments size is smaller than I expected. There is a lot of it, but is that okay?

Haru apologetically took a piece of ore out of the bag and showed it to me. What was in Harus small hand was an even smaller piece than the one I had given her as a sample.

Hmm? Ah, it doesnt matter how small the ore is, as long as you have the quantity.

B-but, its a lot lighter than the ore I borrowed from Shishou, you know? Its easy to carry around!

Well, thats because youve grown up. Havent you confirmed your current status?

Eh?

Yeah, she hasnt. Its supposed to show up when your skill level up but I guess she was really focused on the battle. She also didnt notice the bosss mace struck against the ore until the last moment.

Haru, take a look at your status first. Maybe your job level have risen.

S-seriously!> Wait a minute!

It wont run away, so calm down. Ah, can I see it too?

Sure. You are my master, so its okay for you to freely look at it even without my confirmation.

Uh, is that so? Then, I wont restraint myself.

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Katsuragi Haruna | 16 years old | Female | Human

Job: Magician LV2

HP: 210/210

MP: 105/105 (+20)

Strength: 41

Endurance: 41

Agility: 41

Magic Power: 45 (+10)

Intelligence: 18

Dexterity: 1

Luck: 1

Skill Slot

Hand-to-hand Combat LV40

Dark Magic LV17

Not set

Not set

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Level up~! Shishou, my job level went up and the skill slots increased!

Yeah, thats right. So please calm down a bit.

Haru, who got stronger, shook my shoulder with all her might and I felt a little sick.

Still, why did the hand-to-hand combat, which was supposed to be harder to raise, level up more than the dark magic? Was it because she was throwing the enemies with great vigor? Her growth rate is ridiculous as usual. No, the dark magic is also ridiculous enough.

Huh? Somehow, theres something different from what Ive heard?

Oh, you sure are sharp, Haru.

Well, its getting dark, so lets talk about it when we get home. Im telling you, Haru, you have an important task when we get home, thats preparing the dinner. Are you okay?

Im okay. Lets do a quick run and go home. Ive got that much energy left in me!

I dont think running on the mountain road is such a light thing but when we get home, dont forget to do stretch

Shishou, Ill leave you behind~

She started running already.

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The way back from the mine site was a normal jogging without encountering any monsters. After arriving home, I ate and bathed, and now Im doing calisthenics with Haru. Its been a long time since Ive done this, I cant help but notice how my body is deteriorating. That damn Haru, her body is ridiculously flexible. Is that stretchhing? Are you sure thats not yoga?

Shihsou~

Hmm~?

Ive been checking my notebook since then, but the skill slot that increased when your job leveled up is one, right? I got two, though~

Ah~, about that~

After finished the unfamiliar stretch, we sat down at the usual table. On the table, there was a basket of sweets, which I dont know where did she find it. The kitchen has been completely taken over by her.

Do you remember when you signed a master-disciple contract with me before?

I remember. Uncrowned Master and Disciple, right? I thought that I will forget it, so I wrote it down.

Haru proudly throws out her nonexistence chest. But, you can check that on the status screen, you know? Well, Ill tell her about it later.

Thats one of my skills. Well, its not that I tried to acquire it though. When you raise your job level, you can get unique skill if you are lucky enough, just like this one.

Unique skill?

Some people call it a unique skill or a gift from God. Its separate from the skill slots, it has no level and has nothing to do with status. Its been over a decade since I got this and I thought Id never get a chance to use it, but life is a funny thing.

When I learned this unique skill, I was like, overjoyed. I overjoyed, you know. Although I was overjoyed, I found out that it was a skill to take a disciple when I checked it. As a teenager at that time, I was really bewildered.

Huh? Didnt you have a disciple before? That freeloader person, right?

Hahaha, thats an interesting joke. Unfortunately, Haru is my first disciple. Im sorry I havent had much experience.

No, Shishou is a great master! I guarantee it!

O-oh.

This girl can spit out poisonous words with a straight face, but she also can say something like this nonchalantly. It makes me feel embarrassed.

Thats a bit of a digression. The matter about two skill slots being added at once, that was the effect of that Uncrowned Master and Disciple. The disciple who signed the contract can get two skill slots as the job level rises. You can get two when it should have been one. Pretty good effect, right?

Ohh! Isnt that a good deal for a lot of things!?

A good deal, eh? Yeah, its a good deal.

Far from a good deal, that effect is a foul play. However, there are restrictions on who can be a disciple. The reason why I shortened the trial period and made Haru my disciple in a rush was that there were problems such as the targets job should be at level 1. Harus growth rate is extraordinary after all. If I started to train her magic without her being my disciple, I probably wouldnt have been able to use this skill.

Now, the mystery has been solved successfully Lets treat ourself with the fun time to learn about skills.