"After all, The Magic Tower is a space for magicians. Andrea couldn't stay here. Moreover, since I said, Cain and I had to cast a spell together, Andrea also knew that there was no place for him. As if it were natural, we said our goodbyes, and he smiled brightly.
"Haha, a bit sad, isn't it? Do you want to part with me so quickly?"
It was a face that didn't look sad at all. I shrugged my shoulders and told him what he wanted to hear.
"I'll contact you occasionally. You'll be curious about how things are going. Can I send a letter to "A Cup of Sugar"?
At my words, Andrea nodded with a raised corner of his mouth. Then waved goodbye and went outside. The door closed, and only silence remained in the room. I turned around to confirm that Andrea had really left.
Honestly, I didn't expect him to leave so willingly. I thought he would cling to me, nagging about sticking close to Del Narcissus's body, commuting from a cup of sugar to the Magic Tower, or just hanging around. Maybe since he found a sure way for me to go back, he might have judged that there was no need for him to go any further.
"A very reasonable decision."
I went to the bed and flopped down. The area where Andrea had been sitting was warm. I ran my hand over it. I could feel the warmth gradually fading away.
Yeah, everything is back on track. The relationship with the rest of the male leads is all over. I will appeal to Cain as a devoted disciple, gain his favor, and log out while maintaining my purity and chastity.
The fact that Cain considers the magicians of the Magic Tower as a family is also a plus for me. It would be difficult for someone you say is family to do 19 + things with. Just in case Cain goes crazy, or if a mature situation occurs because of the system or other events, the word 'family' would act as a brake for Cain.
"Good."
Really. Good.
I closed my eyes. The place where Andrea had been sitting was now cold.
***
The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I put on the robe of Magic Tower and went to Cain's room with the newly received wand. Despite the early hour, Cain seemed to have been awake for a long time, engrossed in some kind of experiment. Or maybe he didn't sleep at all?
"I'm here."
I said, but he didn't even lift his head. I tried to make my presence known, but all Cain said dryly was, "Oh, come in." In the end, I had to grab a chair around Cain and sit, waiting for his experiment to finish. I felt like I was being treated poorly, but I was happy about it.
Yes, that's the attitude. Cain, rather than love, magic is better! That's the attitude. I silently sang a song, tapping my crossed legs to the rhythm. Watching the transparent liquid flow through the twisted glass tubes was not boring at all. Cain mixed and stirred liquids of various colors, attentively observing the glass tubes. Next to him, a quill automatically recorded the experimental results on paper for the past 20 minutes. It was a fascinating sight.
If I could learn magic more properly from Cain, could I do something like that? Wouldn't it be incredibly convenient if magic could do everything for me without me moving a muscle? Could I still use magic when I return to the original world? Maybe not, because the world is different. But since I've learned it, shouldn't I be able to use it?
Lost in various thoughts, Cain snapped his fingers loudly. The pen that had been moving automatically fell. The glass tube that had been making bubbling sounds also fell silent. He stretched and turned back at me.
"Oh, when did you come? Mana vessel?"
It's been a while since I came here. You bastard.
However, I, like a good disciple, smiled politely and told a white lie.
"I just arrived."
"Heron said today he's taking the apprentices to the garden to teach them how to find medicinal herbs. Do you want to join?"
With other apprentice magicians?
I furrowed my brow. Learning magic was good, but it was secondary. What was more important was being with Cain 24/7. To get used to it, we needed to spend more time together.
As I hesitated, Cain tried to convince me once again.
"I'll teach you a lot separately, but it's also good to get along with other apprentices. Well, among magicians, there's hardly anyone who works alone. Being friendly with them can be helpful when you need assistance or collaboration in your research. It also helps in their fields and your own research. It's a truly magical-centric way of thinking."
"Alright, can we go to the garden then?"
"Yeah, let's go. I want to see Heron teaching the apprentices after a long time."
Cain chuckled.
He explained that rotating among the Magic Tower magicians, they each take turns overseeing the apprentices. When a new person arrives, they test their abilities to see if they can attract them into their respective fields. However, this process is so intense that not many people endure it, according to Cain.
"But you're my direct disciple, so don't worry."
Cain patted my back with a smirk.
"How about that! You have a great master! You should stick close to this guy, right?"
"Yes, yes..."
Listening to Cain boasting about himself, we arrived at the garden. Heron was standing there, and in front of him were two men and three women, all wearing the same Magic Tower robes.
"Hey! Heron! I Brought one more apprentice!"
Cain shouted, and everyone turned to look at us. I politely nodded in greeting. And then...
"Huh?!"
Among the apprentice magicians, I spotted Andrea, wearing the same clothes as me, innocently smiling. He waved his hand and greeted me.
"..."
No wonder you went home so willingly. I burst into laughter, feeling relieved, but Cain next to me shouted.
"You, you, kidnapper, what are you doing here? Why are you here!"
Heron, instead, responded to that.
"He came yesterday, wanting to undergo mana testing. His mana vessel is quite large. His innate mana is clear and pure."
"Even so, you're letting in a kidnapper?"
"We welcome anyone with mana. Isn't that the principle of Magic Tower?"
Heron, with dead-fish eyes, recited principles and then clapped his hands, gathering the attention of the apprentices.
"Alright, you don't need to worry about him. He's just an inexperienced Magic Tower newbie. The important ones are all of you."
For a moment, his eyes sharpened.
"Let's see how useful you can become as magicians."
Why did I sense a military senior vibe from this dirty-looking magician? Strangely, chills ran down my spine, and the hairs on my arms stood up. Suddenly, Cain pushed me from behind.
"Whoa, Don't get scared when he's like that. Mana vessel, cheer up."
"Hey, wait a minute..."
"There. Hurry up and introduce yourself."
Heron coldly ordered me. Despite wanting to protest that I was Magic Lord's direct disciple and the Daffodil of the Empire working to increase only Cain's favor, my body was already rushing forward.
"Yes, yes, I understood!"
I hurriedly ran and stood next to a small woman with short green hair. It was the furthest spot from Andrea.
I didn't want to be anywhere near Andrea, even by accident. I felt like a fool for thinking I could cleanly part ways with that crazy assassin.
Once I took my seat, Heron explained the types of medicines that could be made from herbs and poisonous plants. Cain sat behind us, leaning against a tree, casually watching us. When I looked back, he was waving his hands in excitement, as if he were a parent who was observing the class. After seeing that, I never looked back again.
Although I felt a persistent gaze from Andrea's direction, I steadfastly only faced forward. Heron finished his brief explanation and gave us herbal illustrations to each of us.
"This is a guidebook recording herbs and poisonous plants growing around the Magic Tower. I'll give you two hours. Collect five types of herbs and five types of poisonous plants each. You will use what you collect to make medicine later."
Heron waved his wand, and a projection of a large hourglass appeared in the air. The sand in the hourglass fell like thin threads.
"It starts now."
As soon as Heron's words fell, the apprentice magicians scattered like bullets. In the blink of an eye, only Andrea and I remained in that spot. As I stupidly blinked my eyes, Andrea casually walked towards me.
"Hello, Del. Shall we go together to pick some herbs?"
From behind, Cain sneered and grumbled.
"You are making a noise like cutting grass."