Chapter 175


    She stood under the scent of abundant trees.


    The sophisticated interior and her graceful posture.


    This ce alone glowed softly, as if it were a serene Eastern painting.


    Asilia, the Snowke Sword.


    The beauty that elicited a small gasp upon seeing her couldn’t define her alone. Her long, dark blue hair flowed smoothly. Her eyes, deep as if they held the entire world within them. Even her elegant body, tracing soft curves, was insufficient to describe her.


    A gentle smile rested on her lips.


    Her faint smile, as delicate as the first snow, was marvelous. It was so calming and graceful that it dissolved any wariness or tension.


    A softness and righteousness that seemed to know everything. A warmth that felt like it could embrace anything.


    To understand her, one must only gaze upon that smile.And usually, it wasn’t necessary to be conscious of that fact. Because when you saw Asilia, your eyes naturally drifted to that smile.


    <em>Swish.</em>


    The sound of cloth brushing gently together could be heard.


    Asilia walked towards me. Even the sound of her footsteps blended into the scenery with elegance.


    Her smile remained as her lips gently parted.


    “Ian, my disciple.”


    With her smile still present, her hair flowed down like rippling waves.


    Absorbed by her atmosphere, I responded as well.


    “Master.”


    Sometimes, when there’s too much to say, it’s allpressed into a single word.


    This was enough of a greeting between us. Asilia smiled, and so did I.


    Asilia smiled, and so did I.


    There was no need for lengthy words.


    Just hearing each other’s breathing was enough.


    That sound formed the background as we met each other’s gaze.


    For a while, this continued.


    Asilia’s eyes narrowed slightly.


    “…?”


    “My disciple.”


    “Yes, Master?”


    <em>Click.</em>


    This time, the sound of footsteps was unmistakable. Only a handbreadth of space remained between us.


    Through the faint scent of her presence, she spoke.


    “I didn’t know my lovely disciple had such tastes.”


    “…Tastes, Master?”


    Asilia let out a soft snort.


    “Hmm. Hiding it even from your master?”


    “I’m not sure what you mean…”


    “My disciple is still so cute and cheeky.”


    Asilia’s eyes gently narrowed. Her lips parted yfully.


    “I saw you outside, hugging another woman outside.”


    “…You saw that?”


    I turned to look at the door.


    It seemed like that thick wooden door had been properly shut.


    “Seeing beyond things is not difficult.”


    Asilia smiled serenely. That smile was slightly intimidating.


    Seeing through things? That’s not an easy skill.


    It requires an exceptional level of mastery, not to mention it drains a lot of mana.


    Is Master… angry?


    As I was thinking that—


    “My disciple has such preferences, huh.”


    <em>Click.</em>


    The small gap between us waspletely closed.


    “It’s not like that… <em>Mmph</em>.”


    I didn’t even have time to exin. Suddenly, my face was enveloped by something soft and warm.


    Larger, softer, and more resilient than expected. Aforting sensation surrounded me.


    It had been a while since I smelled my master’s scent.


    “…”


    It was simplyforting.


    Her embrace was so warm and cozy that, for a moment, I felt like I could fall asleep right there.


    Yes.


    I swear, my thoughts were pure.


    Until the blood suddenly rushed through my body.


    “…?”


    This is confusing.


    Why is this happening all of a sudden?


    Thest time I felt something like this was with Danya… and because of that…


    ‘Ah.’


    The image of Lina and Danya, busily cleaning the nkets earlier this morning, shed through my mind.


    And their bewildered expressions as well.


    ‘…What did they do to my body?’


    “Master, wait a moment…”


    I hurried to escape from my Master’s embrace.


    I thought, it’s not that noticeable yet.


    “Why? I’d like to stay like this with my disciple a little longer.”


    “Well…”


    “Is it okay with that professor earlier but not with me?”


    “No, that’s not it…”


    “Then, let’s stay like this.”


    Master pressed her body even closer to mine. Her body, especially her abdomen, pressed directly against me.


    “…”


    I flinched.


    Her body trembled slightly.


    She must have felt it too.


    There’s no way she wouldn’t notice when the blood rushed like this.


    I thought this was an ufortable situation for both of us and tried to pull my waist back a little.


    But—


    <em>—Srrrk</em>


    She leaned in again.


    “Master…?”


    “My disciple has grown a lot. I didn’t expect this.”


    “I… I’m sorry.”


    She still hugged me warmly as she spoke.


    “No need to apologize. It’s just a natural bodily reaction.”


    It’s not that natural though…


    Well, Danya came from nature, so I guess that could be considered natural, too?


    What am I even thinking?


    ‘… I’m really trash.’


    Here I am, with someone who genuinely cares for me, and despite a bit of a hormonal imbnce, I’m feeling aroused.


    Guilt filled mepletely.


    While I was thinking that, I heard Master mumble softly.


    “…I might be a little happy about it.”


    ◆


    Somehow, we managed to ease the tension.


    We were now seated in front of a refreshment table.


    Sipping the tea my master poured, I asked her to rify her earlier request.


    “You want me to assist you as a teaching assistant in your swordsmanship ss?”


    “Yes, that’s right. You’re the only one who’s mastered the Snowke Sword technique.”


    Asilia smiled gently as she spoke.


    How could someone so mature still show such a pure smile?


    I realized that if I just kept admiring her, nothing would get done.


    Shaking my head to regain focus, I replied.


    “Wouldn’t Sharon be a better choice?”


    Sharon had recently ascended to Aether status.


    How she managed that with just 10 HP—a tenth of what others have—remains a mystery.


    “She’d be able to execute the Snowke Sword technique better than I can.”


    At my words, Asilia’s expression darkened.


    “You’re right. Sharon can perfectly wield the Snowke Sword technique. But…”


    “But?”


    “There are other things she needs to learn. Things more important than sses.”


    Asilia continued with a bitter smile.


    “And more than anything, she grasps swordsmanship almost intuitively. She’s not suited to be a teaching assistant.”


    Unlike me, who had to train hard to understand the techniques, Sharon was a natural-born genius.


    “I guess I know whose bloodline she inherited that genius from.”


    “Oh my, my disciple can be quite ttering.”


    She giggled shyly.


    Sometimes she could be unexpectedly cute.


    Now, I understood why she asked me to be her assistant.


    At Lichten Academy, even a simple teaching assistantship offered a variety of benefits. Though rare, in exceptional cases, it could even lead to eligibility for professorship.


    Of course, such perks weren’t the reason I’d consider Master’s request.


    “Of course, I’ll do it.”


    If Master asks for something, I’ll do it without hesitation.


    At my answer, Asilia smiled brightly and let out a sigh of relief.


    “Thank goodness. I was worried you might refuse.”


    “Why would you worry? If it’s something my master asks, it’s only natural to agree.”


    “…Sometimes, a master has concerns.”


    “Like what?”


    “I’m afraid my disciple might charm others just as much elsewhere.”


    “Come on. You’re ttering me too much, Master.” “It’s the truth.”


    She crossed her arms seriously.


    Hmm. Am I really that popr?


    I don’t think I’m that attractive.


    Wait… there are some people who are interested in me.


    Danya… and Silvia.


    ‘…I guess there are quite a few.’


    For some reason, I felt a slight pang of guilt, though I wasn’t sure why.


    “…That’s true.”


    “It’s fine. I’ve had a husband and even a child. Your master was much wilder in her day.”


    “No way, Master. When I first met you, I thought you were Sharon’s sister.”


    “Oh my.”


    Masterughed softly, like melting snowkes.


    It felt good to see her so happy, even though I had only spoken the truth.


    — <em>Bzzzzz</em>


    It was then that I heard a vibration.


    “Oh, right.”


    My master stood up and pulled something out from the desk drawer.


    A small, leather-bound device.


    Ah, is that a Kirtos terminal? It looks like a high-end version.


    “This is… a bit embarrassing to admit, but…”


    She fidgeted awkwardly as she held the terminal.


    “Well, you see…?”


    Hmm. I think I know what’s going on.


    She must be confused about how to use it, right?


    I remember struggling a lot with it myself at first.


    I sat down next to her.


    “Watch closely. You just have to do it like this.”


    “…Ian?”


    I gently took her hand, guiding her step by step through the process.


    ‘This reminds me of when I first learned swordsmanship.’


    Back then, my master would hold my hands and teach me one move at a time.


    Her hesitant fingers slowly followed my lead.


    <em>Drag, swipe, double-click… </em>


    That should do it.


    I released her hand.


    “…?”


    She looked up at me, blinking in confusion, tilting her head slightly.


    It was such an adorable expression, like she was wondering why I stopped. So this is why people love teaching their disciples.


    “I’ve taught you everything. You’re free to graduate.”


    “Oh.”


    She lowered her gaze to the terminal and swiped through the screen before looking back at me.


    “…But I feel like there’s still something I haven’t learned.”


    “What are you curious about?”


    “…Well.”


    She met my eyes for a moment, then quickly looked away, a blush forming as she spoke cautiously.


    “How do I add my disciple’s number?”


    “Oh, for that, you just do this.”


    I instinctively reached for her hand again.


    — <em>Gasp!</em>


    Did I move too suddenly?


    She jumped in surprise and dropped the Kirtos terminal.


    It’s a high-end version; it must be expensive… I have to catch it!


    Without thinking, I lunged for the device. Naturally, my master was in its trajectory.


    There was a soft ‘<em>Ah!’</em> followed by an impact to my face. For a moment, everything shed as if electricity coursed through me.


    It seemed my face had collided with her body.


    I tried to regain my bnce.


    But the falling terminal caught my eye again.


    “Hup!”


    With a sharp breath, I managed to grab the device.


    My victory was short-lived, though.


    <em>Thud!</em>


    I tumbled to the floor, entangled with Master.


    I ended up sprawled on top of her, cushioned by her soft body.


    “Are you okay?”


    “<em>Mm-hmm</em>.”


    Thankfully, despite the fall, we both seemed fine.


    I hadnded in her embrace, and we were both unharmed.


    At least until my body reacted unexpectedly again.


    — <em>Squish!</em>


    The position we were in… was very unfortunate.


    “Dis… disciple?”


    Her voice was a mix of embarrassment and confusion.


    I tried to get up quickly.


    But then—


    —<em>Thump. Thump. Thump.</em>


    My heart started racing uncontrobly.


    “Master…”


    My body began to heat up, much like Danya’s during her… heat day.


    “We… shouldn’t be doing this…”


    My master shifted beneath me.


    I knew it, too.


    But—


    —<em>Thump. Thump. Thump.</em>


    How can I stop when my body won’t listen?