Chapter 41: I Want to Learn Magic

As we walked toward Countess Rosette’s residence, a luxurious carriage came out from the gate. A middle-aged man was sitting inside.

*Is that Countess Jacqueline’s husband, Count Rosette?* I wondered.

"That’s Count Rosette’s carriage," Stevie informed me.

"You can tell?"

"It’s simple. It had the Rosette family crest on it."

"Really?"

"Most nobles would recognize it at a glance. Ah... Robby-sama, don’t tell me you didn’t know?"

"Yeah, I didn’t. I just learned something new. Thanks, Stevie."

"Eh!? Robby-sama really is..."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing at all."

"Do you know the saying ’silence is golden’?"

Stevie shook her head.

"No, I don’t."

"It means that blurting out everything you think often leads to loss. You shouldn’t say every thought that pops into your head, Stevie."

"Understood. I’ll keep that in mind."

---

Count Rosette glared sharply at me as he passed, but he probably never imagined I was a prince.

"Next, I’d like to go to my magic teacher’s house. Is that okay?"

Stevie tilted her head.

"I think that teacher went on the magic beast subjugation mission. He’s probably not home."

"It’s fine. If his disciple is there, that’ll be enough."

"Understood. There’s a delicious sweets shop on the way. Shall we stop by?"

"...Stevie. Yeah, sure. Let’s go there first."

"Yes!!"

*Stevie’s actions are definitely driven by food.* If I ever need her to do something difficult, I should probably just bribe her with sweets.

---

After leaving the noble district, Stevie led me to the shop. As usual, it was full of girls, and they squealed excitedly as Stevie ate her sweets. Stevie completely ignored the noisy girls around her and focused solely on the pastries.

"Yaaay~~~~!! I’m so happy I got to eat delicious sweets again today~~!!"

Stevie looked up at the sky and sighed in bliss.

"Yeah, yeah, I’m glad. Personally, I’d be even happier if you paid for them yourself."

"Aww, you can’t say that~!"

Stevie tried to act cute, but that expression really didn’t suit her. Also, I had a feeling we were already straying from Section Chief Lake’s instructions the moment we left the noble district, but with all those annoying restrictions, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

---

After leaving the shop, I said:

"Alright, let’s head to Jones-sensei’s place."

"We’re really going?"

"Of course we’re going. I already said we would."

"Well, that’s true..."

"You really don’t want to go? If you hate it that much, you can head back."

"Eh!?"

"If you don’t want to come, you don’t have to."

"I can’t do that! I’m coming with you."

Stevie walked ahead, leading the way. *She should’ve just done that from the start instead of complaining.*

---

Jones-sensei’s shabby house was still on the verge of collapse today. I could almost smell something rotting from inside — or at least, I felt like I could.

I called out in front of the house, but there was no response and no one came out.

"Nobody’s home, huh? Houses fall apart quickly if no one lives in them. Normally, you’d leave someone to watch the place. Should we check around back?"

As I muttered to myself, Stevie also mumbled:

"That’s what I told you. No one’s home. Even if someone lived here, this house would rot away fast."

---

When we went around to the back, we saw fields stretching out. Beyond them was the meadow where I had practiced magic. A man carrying firewood in both hands was walking toward us from that direction.

"Isn’t that someone related to this house?"

"Ehhh~ Him? Probably not. He’s just using the path because it’s convenient."

Still, we waited for the man. He seemed to notice us but didn’t hurry. I used Appraisal on him:

『Peter Green, 18 years old, Single, Live-in disciple of Debbie Jones, Fire 1, Light 1』

So he really was a disciple. But he looked pretty shabby. Average height, skinny, messy hair, stubble, and dirty clothes. It didn’t look like the dirt was just from carrying firewood — it seemed like he hadn’t washed his clothes in a while. His eyes, visible through his messy bangs, looked sleepy. There wasn’t a single positive point about his appearance.

He trudged over until he was about 20 meters away, then finally acted like he noticed us.

"What do you folks want? Jones-sensei is away."

He spoke more clearly than I expected.

"I figured. I’ve been learning magic from Jones-sensei, but he’s been gone for so long that I came to check on things."

"You came for nothing then. Sensei went on the magic beast subjugation, so no one knows when he’ll be back."

"Who are you?"

(Of course I already knew, but I asked anyway.)

"I’m Peter Green. I’m Sensei’s live-in disciple. Since I can’t pay the tuition, I help around the house."

"I see. I have my reasons for not giving my name, so bear with me. Let me ask you — can you use magic?"

"Yeah, I can use basic fire and light magic."

"Hoh, that’s pretty good. I’ve been studying for a while but still haven’t mastered even the basics. If you don’t mind, could you teach me? I won’t ask for free. How about one large copper coin?"

The moment he heard "large copper coin," Peter Green’s eyes widened with a *clang!* For someone living like this, one large copper coin must be a fortune.

"But I can’t really teach... I can only show you what I do. I can only show you how Sensei does it, that’s all."

"That’s fine. Show me. Here."

I tossed him one large copper coin. Peter stared at it happily.

"B-but, Sensei isn’t here..."

"If it’s not enough, I’ll give you another one."

"Eh!? Two whole coins!?"

*Just what kind of life does this guy live?* Maybe he’s mostly self-sufficient and barely uses money? I wonder where the money he gives to Jones-sensei actually goes.

"W-well then, I’ll show you a bit. Even if I don’t do it well, I won’t give the money back, okay?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

*Got him hooked!*