Master and Disciple

“Theo, it’s not like that.”

Sian tried to remain composed. Now that Theodore had heard the entire conversation, it was impossible to hide any longer. So, he had no choice but to be honest.

“This isn’t a good place for you to live. That’s why I was going to find a better place for you.”

“……”

“Theo, as you know, this is the Death Mountain. It’s a place where ordinary humans can’t live.”

Of course, Theodore isn’t an ordinary human. He’s the protagonist who has been blessed by the gods.

However, Theodore in the original novel had accumulated a lot of magic within his body while being tormented by Drake for over five years, and the accumulated magic continued to torment him for a long time even after Theodore descended the mountain.

Sian would never harass or torture Theodore like Drake did, but it was clear that constantly being exposed to the magic that he unconsciously released would have a bad effect on Theodore’s body.

“But… I… I ate the herbs Kali told me to eat, too. I forced myself to eat them even though they tasted bad…”

“Um, that’s…”

Even after his wounds had healed, Theodore was continuing to eat the herbs.

The herbs had ingredients that dispelled the magic, so he was having him eat them just in case.

However, he couldn’t guarantee that it would really work. Perhaps, long-term use could lead to unexpected side effects.

He couldn’t rely on such uncertainties and let Theodore stay here. Sian continued in a firm voice.

“Theoretically, the herbs only prevent magic from accumulating in your body.

If you keep eating them, other side effects might appear.”

“……”

It was a bit difficult for a child to understand. However, the clever Theodore seemed to understand to some extent.

At least, he knew that he couldn’t stay here any longer.

Theodore, who had been hiding under the blanket, peeked out his small head. Tears welled up in his blurry golden eyes.

“Are you… not kicking me out because you hate me?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“……!”

It was impossible for him, who was a reader of the novel, to hate Theodore, the protagonist.

No, he liked him quite a bit, actually. As a reader who had cheered him on, he hoped that the current Theodore would grow up well without getting hurt.

“Theo, being with me isn’t good for you. So…”

“But, but I…”

Theodore’s face crumpled as if he was about to cry. Sian looked down at him with a complicated expression.

Theodore’s small body, which had popped out of the blanket, was nestled in Sian’s arms.

“I want to stay here. I want to stay with Sian-nim.”

“……”

“Can’t I…? Huh?”

Theodore clung desperately. He had barely escaped from a place filled with only people who hated him.

But that even that haven he’d just found, he couldn’t stay there? It was like the sky was falling for Theodore.

“Please… Don’t abandon me.”

“Theo…”

In the end, tears streamed down Theodore’s face. Seeing that, Sian’s heart ached.

The child’s clingy nature, along with his tears, made it hard to think straight.

‘In any case, the Dane merchant group won’t be back for a while… Until then, wouldn’t it be okay for me to take care of Theodore?’

Drake, the evil dragon in the original work, was a person who harmed Theodore, but since he had transmigrated, that wouldn’t happen anymore.

By making him continuously eat the herbs to neutralize the magic, and if Kali continued to look after Theodore’s body, he might not suffer from the accumulation of magic in his body.

Above all, Sian himself had already become fond of Theodore.

He couldn’t bring himself to speak firmly to the child who was crying like this anymore. Sian closed his eyes tightly and then opened them.

“Theo, do you really want to stay here?”

“Yes, yes…!”

Theodore, who had been crying, replied with delight at Sian’s words. Seeing the anticipation in his eyes, Sian spoke again.

“Okay, then… let’s do that.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Theodore was overjoyed at that. Sian looked at that and smiled with satisfaction.

‘In any case, Theodore will have to learn a lot to live in Outchamber.’

Theodore has to have numerous adventures in Outchamber before returning to Inchamber and becoming emperor.

However, Theodore still doesn’t know much about this world.

In the novel, he would learn by haphazardly bumping into things, but if he acquires knowledge while living with him, his future adventures will be smoother.

Sian’s mind contains the vast knowledge of a dragon. There was also a lot of it that would be helpful to Theodore.

Sian, in that way, decided to temporarily protect the protagonist until the Dane merchant group returned.

***

“I object!”

“I knew you would.”

Since he didn’t expect to hear anything good from Kali anyway, Sian nonchalantly passed by Kali and looked for a book.

Kali grumbled alone and then followed Sian, whining.

“Are you really going to take that human in? Huh?”

“Yes, I have no choice.”

Theodore had to be kept until at least the Dane merchant group returned to the empire. It made him uneasy to find someone else at this point.

Pure Theodore didn’t know anything about the world, so he could fall into a strange guardian and suffer even more than when he was tortured by Drake.

Sian was seriously selecting the textbooks to teach Theodore.

It was not to be too difficult because he had to educate at a child’s eye level.

However, there was nothing appropriate among the books on Drake’s bookshelf.

“Kali, where’s that children’s history book you read when you were young?”

“Ah, it should be over here…”

Kali, who had instinctively answered Sian’s question, felt uneasy.

Kali, making a triangular shape with her eyes, asked in an unpleased tone.

“Are you perhaps going to take that human as a disciple?”

“Disciple?”

Sian, who had barely found the book and was holding it in his hand, widened his eyes.

To take Theodore as a disciple, huh. He hadn’t thought of that, but it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

“That’s good, though?”

“……!”

Dragons are arrogant creatures, but they did secretly take those from other races as disciples who had talent or were born with the destiny of a hero.

Theodore, the protagonist, was more than qualified to be a dragon’s disciple.

“Sian-nim!”

Kali, who had been standing still with a shocked face, shouted loudly.

But whether she shouted or not, Sian started thinking seriously by himself.

***

“A disciple?”

“Yes.”

Sian nodded towards Theodore, who widened his eyes. He thought it would be better to take Theodore as a disciple and teach him even for a year, rather than just becoming a temporary guardian.

So, he told Theodore today about the history of the continent.

Before returning to Inchamber, Theodore had to continue living in Outchamber.

Even if it was an Inchamber without a dragon, at least in Outchamber, Sian’s reputation would be helpful to Theodore.

Of course, as he was called the evil dragon, he didn’t have a very good reputation.

Still, a dragon as a teacher would be a useful shield for Theodore.

They probably wouldn’t want to mess with Theodore and end up at odds with a dragon.

Theodore, who had been thoughtfully considering Sian’s words, spoke, carefully asking.

“Have you… had any other disciples, Sian-nim?”

“Um… no, I haven’t.”

He rummaged through his memories, wondering if Drake had ever taken any other disciples, but nothing came to mind.

Well, with that personality, he wouldn’t have any disciples. Sian shook his head inwardly.

“Then, am… am I the only disciple of Sian-nim?”

“It would seem so.”

“For good?”

Sian hesitated for a moment at Theodore’s question.

He probably wouldn’t take any other disciples besides Theodore. Sian had lived a life of isolation because he had a constitution that emitted magic.

Furthermore, no matter how good the dragon’s backing was, no crazy person seemed to want to become the disciple of an evil dragon.

“Yes, for good. You, Theodore, are my only disciple.”

“……!”

Theodore’s eyes widened at Sian’s answer. Seeing his golden eyes tremble for some reason, Sian tilted his head. After a moment, Theodore nodded and said.

“Okay. I… I also want to be Sian-nim’s disciple.”

“Really?”

Sian was glad deep down. He had thought that Theodore might be afraid and reject the offer due to his young age.

But fortunately, Theodore wanted to become Sian’s disciple without any hesitation.

Sian cleared his throat and opened his mouth again.

“Then, um… from now on, would you like to call me master?”

“Master…?”

“Yes.”

Becoming Theodore’s master, now that he thought about it, was also like becoming the master of the protagonist of a novel.

An evil character, who should have been punished by the protagonist, becoming the master of the protagonist, what an incredible status upgrade.

As soon as he heard the words ‘master’ from the young protagonist’s lips, he felt a sense of fulfillment that was beyond words.

If he continued to maintain a good relationship with Theodore like this, the ending of Part 2 would also change.

The subjugation of the evil dragon wouldn’t happen, and Theodore, who had fallen in love with the female protagonist, Yurina, would bring her to Sian and introduce her.

Just like an old mentor being introduced to the person he will marry.

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Master, Master.”

“Yes, yes.”

Theodore also seemed to be happy with his first master and smiled brightly.

Judging from the lack of basic knowledge, it seemed that he hadn’t even been properly educated, let alone have a teacher, which seemed to be true. Sian chuckled and stroked Theodore’s head.

I’ll raise you well, so be sure to repay me later.

Whispering inwardly, Sian brushed back Theodore’s soft hair.