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“Ugh…”

Inside the Ruelberta Family’s wagon.

Wendy, dressed in her school uniform, fidgeted with her shoe.

“Hmm? Did you eat something bad this morning? You barely touched your food.”

“Master…”

The cat, Myohail, spinning around on Wendy’s shoulder, laughed.

“It’s not that… I-I’m just nervous…”

“Hahaha. What’s there to be nervous about? You did great with the oath. Now all that’s left is to enjoy school life, right?”

Today was a meaningful day for Wendy.

It was the day of her first university class.

Even though the class hadn’t started yet, Wendy was already feeling overwhelmed.

“Ugh… I’m worried if I can keep up with the classes…”

“Don’t worry. Even university classes are at a child’s level.”

“T-that’s because you’re the Master… I can’t even keep up with a child’s level…”

Wendy, born into a poor farming family, had no choice but to grow up far from education.

Before becoming a servant in the Count’s household, her education was limited to basic literacy and etiquette from a vocational school.

That’s why she couldn’t believe she was now enrolled in the country’s most prestigious educational institution.

Myohail stroked his whiskers.

“Magic isn’t that big of a deal… It’s funny to say this, but I’m skeptical about schools existing just for magic. Back in my day, there were no schools. We just experimented on our own.”

“Right…”

“I had to do odd jobs for renowned magicians to learn, and it was no small hardship. Compared to that, modern magicians lack passion. In that sense, our little apprentice is lucky. You’ve got the world’s greatest master. Hehe.”

“That may be true, but…”

Myohail jumped down from Wendy’s shoulder and curled up on her lap.

Purring and yawning, Myohail.

Wendy stroked his chin and spoke.

“But Master… Do I really deserve to attend this school? I wasn’t born into a good family…”

“Hmm… Didn’t the Count already answer that?”

“Huh?”

Wendy tilted her head.

Comfortable enough, Myohail stretched and spoke.

“Hmm… The Count I’ve seen so far… Tristan, at first glance, seems like a reckless spender.”

“R-reckless spender…?”

“Haha. A rich, handsome noble with a not-so-bad personality. Truly a reckless spender.”

“The Count isn’t like that…! Well… I won’t deny he’s handsome…”

“Keke… Somehow, you’ve fallen for that reckless spender… Anyway, he doesn’t waste money. In fact, he hates wasting money. That Count didn’t hesitate to support you. What does that mean?”

“Uh… Hmm… Why is that…?”

“It means he sees potential in you.”

“…Huh?”

Wendy’s hand stopped.

Myohail had just voiced what he had been thinking.

“I think so. The fact that he invested so much money and time in you means he saw potential in you.”

“Potential…”

Wendy pondered that.

Did she really have such potential?

Myohail answered that question.

“Tristan is the head of the Ruelberta Family, the most prosperous family in the Empire. It’s only natural he has an exceptional eye. Besides…”

Myohail looked around, his lips curling up.

“Originally, he dotes on you so much that he sends you to school in such a luxurious wagon.”

“T-that’s…”

Tristan had provided a wagon for Wendy to commute to school.

It was an extravagant treatment for a mere servant.

Not only did he cover her tuition, but he also paid her salary and even provided a wagon. Wendy was so overwhelmed with gratitude she couldn’t lift her head.

Having a wagon significantly shortened her commute.

So even if it were an old wagon, she would have been grateful.

But the wagon Wendy received was no different from the one Tristan used—a top-tier wagon.

When Wendy, shocked by the overly luxurious wagon, tried to refuse, Tristan said.

-If you don’t ride it, you’re fired.

-Eek!

And so, Wendy, as a servant, ended up riding a top-tier wagon to school.

“This… Receiving the Count’s favor so fully, it’s no wonder you’re smitten.”

“F-favor… It’s not like that, Master…”

Though she said that, Wendy knew.

The reality she was enjoying was an enormous privilege.

Among Tristan’s servants, none had received such extravagant treatment.

It was both burdensome and joyful, and a bit embarrassing.

Human affairs are unpredictable. Perhaps… someday she might become his… his…

Seeing Wendy’s face turn bright red, Myohail chuckled.

“Hehe. This… Sorry, but this master hasn’t approved of him as your partner yet.”

“P-partner?!? Huh?!”

Startled, Wendy jumped up and hit her head on the wagon ceiling.

Though the luxurious wagon’s interior was cushioned, tears still welled up.

“Ugh… I-I’ve never… never thought of such a thing…! I haven’t… Sob…”

As she spoke tearfully, she realized her words were almost a confession.

Wendy covered her face, realizing Myohail had seen through her.

“I-I just… fell for him on my own… The Count… must never know…”

Her trembling voice revealed her true feelings.

“That way… that way… I can keep liking him on my own… So… Master, please pretend you don’t know…”

As Wendy finally calmed down and looked up, Myohail was already on the opposite seat.

But he was trembling, his face buried in a corner of the seat.

“Alright, stop… Do you want this old man to rejuvenate…? Being young is one thing, but this is too much…”

“…Huh?”

“Tsk… What’s so great about that reckless spender…? This is no ordinary infatuation. Hmm? Maybe some unknown curse has been cast on you?”

“D-don’t tease me…”

Then, the wagon gradually slowed down.

They had arrived at their destination.

“Hmm… Shall we move?”

“Huh? M-master, are you coming too…?”

At Wendy’s question, Myohail chuckled.

“Haha… Strictly speaking, this is my workplace. Isn’t it normal for me to go to my workplace?”

“Uh… Right… That makes sense…”

But… hadn’t Master always stayed at the mansion?

That question lingered only briefly.

As the wagon came to a complete stop, Wendy opened the door.

Rain was pouring down.

It was hard to block each raindrop, so even inside the barrier, it seemed to rain.

A gloomy weather for the first day.

Myohail frowned.

“Ugh… I hate rain.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll use an umbrella…”

“Can’t be helped… Catch me well.”

“Huh?”

Myohail did a somersault, and his body shrank like a deflated balloon.

“Eh? Eh?! Master?!”

Wendy quickly caught the shrunken Myohail in her hands.

In her hands was a golden hairpin shaped like a cat’s face.

At the same time, Myohail’s voice echoed in Wendy’s mind.

‘Hmm. Perfect.’

It was telepathy, a method of communication he had taught her.

‘M-master?! Is this you?!’

‘Hahaha. Indeed. My little apprentice.’

‘Oh my…’

Transformation magic is known as one of the most difficult magics.

Even Wendy, with her limited knowledge of magic, knew that.

Once again, she realized her master was truly a sage.

‘I’m ready. Now, pin me on your head.’

‘O-on my head?’

‘Haha. Don’t you think this way I won’t be noticed? It’s a kind of stealth technique.’

‘Ah, definitely…’

Wendy carefully pinned Myohail’s hairpin…? on her head.

‘I-is this okay?’

‘Hmm. Excellent, my apprentice.’

Without a mirror, she couldn’t check, but if Myohail said it was okay, then it must be.

Having completed all preparations, Wendy was about to open her umbrella when…

‘Wait.’

‘Huh?’

‘An umbrella is unnecessary for a sage’s apprentice.’

‘…Huh?’

Unable to understand her master’s words, Wendy made a puzzled face.

‘Heh. Just trust this master.’

Myohail spoke in a playful voice.

‘Now, let me show you how a sage’s apprentice should walk in the rain.’

 

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