NOVEL WEB Chapter 123
It had been a week since Professor Ilian had entered the room. The sun was pouring in vibrant light through the window. I embraced it fully and closed my eyes.
That sunlight was flowing with faint magic. Until now, I had thought of the sun as merely a power crystal, a kind of magic that maintained this vast dimension known as the university.
But it was no simple item. The Chancellor had said that the sun was the eye torn from a turtle. The vision of his eyes swaying in darkness without pupils came to mind.
Somehow, it felt like someone’s gaze was being poured towards the tower along with the sunlight. Of course, it was probably just my imagination. Feeling the sunlight lightly caressing my body, I slowly relaxed my hands.
Now was the time to prepare today’s tea. The warm sunlight brought a gentle wave of magic into the room. The sunlight ignited with magic, brilliantly lighting up the space.
Seeing the sun high in the sky, I nodded lightly and waved my fingers. With that, magic began to flow from my fingertips.
The magic began to form a circuit and started gathering the sunlight filling the room. Observing this process closely, I took out a kettle and placed it gently on the tray.
I heard the empty kettle lightly clink, and guided the circuit filled with sunlight into it. I filled it to the brim, the magic thickening to the point of nearly liquefying as it slowly seeped into the kettle and vanished.
Once the circuit disappeared into the kettle, it roamed around inside, heading for the magical circle that adorned the interior. Slowly, it began to fill the empty parts of the magical circle, and the once dormant circle began to awaken.
This was perfect tea magic. It was my own magic, crafted before coming to the university and refined over a long time. As the magical circle began to absorb the magic, it started brewing.
Watching the kettle gradually fill with tea infused with the sun’s magic, I nodded. It was splendid, as it contained the most intense light. This was the ‘perfect tea’ I would present to the professor today.
As I opened the lid, the aroma from the tea began to waft through the air. Smelling that scent tickled my nose, prompting a refreshing smile to surface.
Inside, a subtle fragrance of the sun seeped out. Not just from the sunshine pouring outside the window, but from the long passage of time intertwined with it. All of it originated from the tea leaves.
This time, I had used a type of tea called Sun Herb. It was something commonly found throughout the university. The sun sprinkled its light everywhere, and the Sun Herb thrived wherever sunlight lingered.
However, the one I used this time was a bit different from the typical ones. It wasn’t something I randomly picked up; it was from my own garden that I had carefully tended for a long time.
Because today was such a lovely day, I decided to prepare these tea leaves. I took another moment to inhale their fragrance. It matched the scent of the sunlight outside the window perfectly. The professor would surely like it.
The magic of the sun gently flowed from the dried leaves forming the magical circle. The tea sailing through matched the magic contained within.
I lightly tapped the kettle. The temperature, aroma, and magic were all simply perfect.
This perfect tea magic was an improvement over what I had previously used. It was the result of a week’s worth of contemplation and refinement.
I wanted to brew the tea even more perfectly. Unlike the name I had given it, this magic couldn’t yet be considered flawless, and there was one reason for that thought.
I smirked slightly. It was due to a sense of guilt I felt towards the professor. In the process of reflecting on the time when my soul had been drawn out, I was reminded of the origin of this magic.
This magic began with the intention of treating only the professor. Of course, now others could use it to some extent, but its inception was solely tied to my concern for her.
I needed to regain that original motivation. I lifted the kettle and began pouring the tea into the small cup prepared beside it. With that, a more intense aroma began to spread.
I placed the cup on the table and gently offered it to the girl, who was half-sitting in front of it. She looked down at it with a blank expression. The girl tilted her head slightly and grasped the tea cup gently.
She began to savor the aroma. Perhaps drawn in by the fragrance of the sun contained within, sunlight streamed even more intensely from outside the window, cascading over the girl’s golden hair.
At a glance, the girl resembled the professor so closely that it was easy to mistake her for the professor. Seeing her look exactly like the professor made it feel like she was actually present in the room.
But that was merely an illusion. The girl slowly opened her mouth. A mewing noise escaped, and I nodded, confirming the conveyed intention.
“How is it? Give it a taste.”
The girl, closely resembling Professor Ilian, cautiously brought the cup to her lips. She sipped the contents, a smile blooming on her face.
It seemed she liked it. That was a relief. Her satisfaction meant that the professor would likely be satisfied too. It appeared the girl was gradually inheriting the professor’s tastes, likely because she had pilfered the professor’s appearance.
It had taken five years to cultivate this Sun Herb. With the essence of those five years contained inside, it couldn’t help but appeal to the professor’s heart.
Though I believed the professor would appreciate it, I couldn’t directly approach her, so I had to rely on the girl to gauge the reaction in advance. Thankfully, today seemed to be a success.
I set a completely transparent cup beside the kettle. Tilting the kettle, I poured some tea into the cup. The tea glimmered with a golden hue.
Holding it, I infused it with magic and gave it a gentle shake. Suddenly, a rainbow of seven colors began to emerge. I also needed to confirm the taste for myself. I took a sip.
With that, blossoms began to bloom in my mouth. Sun Herb only blossomed once in its lifetime, in a very brief moment. And the blossomed Sun Herb released the magic contained within.
That lifespan of the Sun Herb existed within the magic I had created. In that instant, a flower had bloomed. Of course, those were merely fakes made by stacking up magic.
But for a brief time, that fake soul originating from my unique magic had made the petals bloom as if they were alive. A warmth, akin to melting sunlight, flowed through my entire being.
No matter how much others refined this perfect tea magic, they couldn’t reproduce this flavor. As I opened my mouth, a small rainbow spilled forth.
The turtle witnessed my display and then began to exhale a rainbow too. I presented a cake to it—starlight potato cake, or rather, moonlight potato cake would be more accurate.
This starlight potato had been used several times before. It was among the most common ingredients alongside Sun Herb within this university. Considering that, today’s refreshments were comprised of the most ordinary ingredients.
Of course, the taste was quite different. A faint glow shimmered on the cake. It was the moon’s magic. This had also been something I nurtured with care.
The moon resembled the shadow of the sun. Thus, surely the flavors would harmonize beautifully. And my clear intention contained within would surely be conveyed well.
While the moon itself was always changing, unlike the unchanging sun, it held much significance according to its form, and encompassed vast magical knowledge.
For instance, the full moon encompassed healing and prophetic magic. The waning moon held the power of blessings and liberation, guarding against impending misfortunes.
Crafting dishes based on this magic was akin to a form of magic itself. This required infusing magic, necessitated knowledge, and demanded a clear intention to enhance the taste. Therefore, this tiny cake could also be considered a magical entity.
The turtle’s eyes glimmered at the sight of the cake. It started to gobble it up randomly. It looked at me, grinning widely, its face illuminated in satisfaction.
The turtle conveyed its impressions to me, and I nodded in agreement. It seemed I had communicated my intentions well. I had directed my focus to infuse only a single type of moon’s aura into the cake—the power of the new moon.
The new moon, like other moons, held various meanings. Among them, I had tried to invoke the connotations of change, reconciliation, and forgiveness. The turtle was relaying that it felt those meanings well.
With clear flavors and meanings, the professor would undoubtedly be satisfied. It would be clear that I had changed compared to before. Perhaps the firmly closed door might even open up.
As I watched the turtle, which had devoured the cake, I carefully placed another cake on the tray. Just then, someone lightly tapped my shoulder. Turning to look, I saw Mira.
“Are you heading out again today?”
Mira tilted her head as she spoke. A Mirror Bug surfaced from her embrace. It displayed the current time on its screen. It was just past noon. By now, the meal would likely be finished.
In other words, it was time to head towards the professor. Mira slowly approached the table and stared closely at the turtle. Suddenly, she conjured up some mist and enveloped the turtle.
Within the mist, the turtle seemed to harden, as if wrapped tightly in a cocoon. Mira grinned at the turtle, picked up a fork from the table, and cut off a piece of cake to eat.
“Mmm, delicious. If this little one reacts like this, then the professor will surely like it too.”
Mira said that as she playfully poked the turtle’s nose. The turtle squirmed, but the cocoon was exceptionally strong. She looked at it with a sense of cuteness, setting down a new cake in front of it.
“Well, that’s a relief. I hope you accept my apologies with this.”
“Hang in there. I also want to see the professor soon, you know. Right now, it’s all too uncomfortable.”
Mira muttered as she lifted the turtle onto her palm. Watching the turtle flail about, she placed a piece of cake into its mouth. The turtle obediently accepted it, munching away.
“Then I’ll excuse myself for a bit.”
Mira waved at me softly. Turning her gaze back to the turtle, she began to poke it playfully.
It seemed the teasing was about to start in full swing. Leaving behind the two who so closely resembled the professor, I stepped out of the workshop. The rehearsal was over; it was now time to properly seek the professor.
I lifted the tray with magic and slowly ascended the stairs. I was headed for the top floor of the tower—where Professor Ilian was.
On the tenth floor, I spotted a door. This immense floor existed solely for the professor’s room. I gazed quietly at the door. It was tightly sealed, layered with numerous protections.
I remembered the events from when I met the Chancellor on my way back. The memories of my soul being torn apart were still vivid. It had been a long time since such a thing had happened.
In that punitive process, only my soul remained. And within that soul, I realized something: I was a tad… no, very much obsessed with the professor.
In fact, since I had even stolen her body to create a turtle, it was only natural for the professor to punish me. A slight smile of bitterness crept onto my face. I needed to apologize for my actions.
But seizing that opportunity felt extremely remote. The professor was beyond that door. After returning to the tower, she hadn’t emerged from the other side. And my entrance was barred. She said she didn’t want to see my face anymore.
“Honestly, I can’t just chase you away now. Just get lost. Don’t even think about approaching until you fix your mind.”
That was what the professor had said with a grimace that day. The last thing I saw was her chilling gaze as she slammed the door shut with a loud bang. Along with it, the barriers tightened even more than before. What stood before me now were those very seals.
I slowly scanned those seals with my eyes. The circuit created a flow so complex and bizarre that I couldn’t even imagine it. On top of those seals, I saw a sign.
‘Ebron Forbidden to Approach’. Letting out a small sigh at the sight of the sign, I could feel a clear intention emanating from the magic-laden letters. It originated from the professor. It was a sense of rejection directed at me.
Standing in front of that door, I slightly bowed my head. I placed the tray gently in front of it. It had already been a week since I had come to offer my apologies to the professor. But even after coming to beg for forgiveness, there was still no response from her.
Leaving the tray, I carefully rang the bell hanging at the door. Inside, a ghostly apparition appeared, sporting a somewhat reluctant expression. A face I was quite familiar with.
The ghost nodded upon seeing what I had prepared. Then it began to squeeze its body through the seals, moving slowly beyond them, as the stacked seals gently accepted it.
How long did I wait outside? The seals started to loosen a little. Eventually, the door opened just slightly amidst the gaps of those seals.
While I briefly sparkled at the sight, the seals did not budge beyond that tiny opening. The wall still stood firm. Through that door, the shape of a dragon-like figure appeared. It was the butler.
“How is Professor Ilian?”
The butler stepped outside, bowing his head towards me. He conveyed a feeble will. Some of the memories he conjured were contained within. Still, he wore a grumpy expression, even as he finished every last morsel of the food I prepared.
Food was innocent, I thought bitterly as I smiled. She still seemed a bit upset. It was understandable, though; things could’ve ended much worse.
I too knew my faults. Yet, she stopped at merely tearing out my soul a few times. And she still kept me in the tower. It meant she somewhat needed me.
Scratching my head, I reflected. Before coming to the tower, I wanted others to acknowledge my usefulness. I wanted them to see me as more useful than adverse.
Perhaps I had done just that. The current situation, where the professor was blocking my approach, proved that she highly recognized my usefulness.
Of course, this couldn’t be where it ended. I glanced at my wrist. There lay the contract I had with the professor.
It stated that I would serve her until graduation. That awareness of her discomfort was gnawing at my tree. For now, it was weak, but who knew what would happen later?
The professor could abandon the contract altogether and seek a substitute for me or decide to bear the annoyance and discard me. The future held uncertainties.
This meant I needed to turn her sentiment back towards me once more.
I extended the tray to the butler. Such food was a part of my offerings for forgiveness. Certainly, this alone wouldn’t suffice. Yet perhaps these small gestures would eventually open the door.
The butler bowed his head and took the tray, heading beyond the door. The fragmented seals began to reconnect. As the process of restoration proceeded, the door slowly closed.
Staring at the firmly closed door, I thought: Perhaps once the professor comprehended the significance of the tea and the dessert, she might respond. But despite waiting for so long, there was no reaction.
It seemed today was another failure. Letting out a soft sigh, I turned my body and slowly descended the stairs. Surely, I would need a more effective approach than this.
Aside from the professor’s door being locked, the daily routine of the tower had proceeded normally over the past week. Thanks to the professor’s expedited return, classes could run smoothly.
The treasure taught during this session was a two-star treasure, the Armor of Stars. Just possessing that fragment allowed one to glean whispers of the outside world. Its power was truly impressive.
Of course, with that whisper from outside came severe side effects. Unlike other treasures, this operated as a sort of medium. Accidents occurred quickly due to this, thanks to Hao’s meddling.
He nearly transformed into a monster following the whispers. Hari barely managed to stop him, and I had my fair share of troubles cleaning up afterward. However, going through all that was a bit comforting.
At least it had briefly allowed me to pause my obsession. Of course, that too came to an end swiftly. I glanced at my trembling hands. A strong sense of crisis began to fill my heart.
That crisis was precisely my obsession concerning the professor. The despair of not having seen her face again was distinctly rattling my heart.
In that place, I closed my eyes and began to calm that obsession.
I hadn’t truly recognized my transformation in so long. Yet at the moment my soul was drawn out, I could comprehend my origin. Of course, that process of realization was merely faint in the moments of being trapped in my physical body.
Still, this provided sufficient insight into how bizarre my obsession really was. This too could be considered a blessing from the professor. Therefore, I shouldn’t let her down again.
As I paused to look deeply into that feeling filling my heart, I discovered the respect I had for the professor at its core. That wasn’t simply about admiring her as a mage.
She was like a fortuitous encounter for me. Thanks to her, I had been able to stand shoulder to shoulder with others after wandering through the depths. I found talents within myself I hadn’t known existed.
So, naturally, my feelings towards her, the embodiment of that boon, couldn’t help but be immense. It was both gratitude towards a savior and respect from a student towards a teacher.
But was that the sole origin of my obsession? It didn’t seem so. That feeling was exceedingly natural. To state that alone summoned obsession would be insufficient.
There existed a more direct influence acting upon me. The source of that was all too clear. It was something I had brought upon myself.
I placed my hand over my chest quietly. I could feel the magic filling my body. It permeated not just my flesh but also the trees and shadow trees comprising my inner world. This was magic derived from the treasures.
As that magic filled me, attempting to surge through my mind, I smiled bitterly. It seemed I needed to expel this once more.
This was beyond mere magic. It carried the desires of the treasures’ previous owners and was also a kind of pollution made up of information I couldn’t currently comprehend.
It was this that filled my body, generating obsession. Its influence was substantial. Even now, my heart brimmed with the desire to see the professor’s face.
But that alone was insufficient.
This magic served as a foundation for my growth. Thus, I understood that it would indeed exert some influence on me. I expected to possess a desire for something.
Yet, the feeling I harbored was even stronger than I had predicted. Shifting my hand through my hair, I felt the golden net existing beyond stirred by the magic.
This net blocked the magical power of the treasures rising up to my head. Thanks to it, I managed to maintain my sanity. Yet despite this barrier, I still held onto my obsession for her.
So, when did this obsession begin? During the past, I contemplated that deeply. At the end of it all, I could pinpoint the moment my perception changed. The moment I discovered the professor was a dragon.
Yes, Professor Ilian was a dragon. The golden net in my mind bore a resemblance to the flow of magic of the carving knife in my possession. Realizing that involuntarily ignited my loyalty.
I smirked. Perhaps the trouble lay with this net itself. It was the innate magic of the professor—as a dragon. Thus, it possessed the golden hue.
This magic naturally incited my obsession. The essence of a dragon was the embodiment of desire. Why did the treasures’ magic lead me towards the professor? It was due to the dragon’s existence being the essence of desire.
Originally, my desire was aimed at striving for higher heights. It had flowed that way when I was unaware she was a dragon. However, once I recognized her as a dragon, everything flipped.
This magic was also creating a form of obsession. Of course, its influence remained feeble—but it was evident it wasn’t the cause.
Thus, something else must exist. The reason for amplifying my desire.
Calming all my thoughts, I reopened my eyes. Slowly, I walked down the stairs. Upon entering the workshop, a loud mewing echoed through the air. As I looked, I found the turtle, wrapped in a cocoon, drooping tiredly.
It looked completely worn out. Beside the turtle, Mira approached me with a bright smile, gently patting its shell. The turtle gazed at me with a pitiful expression. After giving its head a gentle pat, I leaned back against the sofa.
Mira came over to me, leaving the turtle behind. She began lightly tapping my shoulder. From her, a faint scent of roses wafted by.
“Oh my, you seem to have had another failure by the look on your face.”
“Yeah, but I still intend to keep trying. Sooner or later, that door will open up for me.”
I replied, letting my body slump. Mira chuckled softly at my demeanor. She delicately waved her fingers. The mist blooming from her fingertips began to flow over my body.
As the mist flowed, the tension and misalignments within my body began to adjust gradually. Feeling that comfort, I cast a sidelong glance at Mira.
She proved that the magic of treasures wasn’t the only cause. She herself was a treasure, and she too had discovered that the professor was a dragon. Yet even so, she didn’t exhibit the same outbursts of desire towards me.
Mira noticed my gaze and smiled gently. I bowed my head in gratitude and let out a soft sigh.
Indeed, the magic of treasures partly formed the basis of my obsession. But a more fundamental issue existed within me. Why exactly was I different from the other treasures? This wasn’t merely a matter of flesh.
While deep in thought, Mira gently soothed my body. After finishing her work, she lightly tapped my shoulder. I looked at her as she clapped her hands together. Then she raised a beaming smile.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. I believe I’ve thought of a great way to return Professor Ilian’s heart. Would you like to hear it?”
At her words, I jumped up. I looked intently at Mira. In her eyes, I could see my expression wide-eyed with curiosity. She chuckled softly, placing the turtle in her hands.
“What if we give her a gift?”
She proposed. A gift? Mira continued to elaborate slowly. There was a kind of conviction in her words.
“Your heart is very pure. Just like ours, your desires are quite clear. So, if you give her something attractive enough to open her heart and entice her to see you, then her anger will surely fade.”
As I pondered her words, I contemplated if perhaps receiving a gift would truly ease the professor’s heart. I could only absentmindedly nod. If it were the professor, that might just work. It was a compelling argument.
Then what should I present to the professor? Mira gently shook the turtle. It let out a loud mew. It bit down hard on Mira’s finger, and she playfully poked it back.
“How about creating these cute little things for her?”
Mira gazed at the turtle as if it were adorable. I too looked at the turtle with similar admiration. The professor had quite taken a liking to it, as had Hari.
It was obvious why. They contained the essence of treasure. Right. Treasures and dragons desire treasures. If I offered something like this, the professor might just open the door for me. With that thought, I steeled my resolve.