I Stayed Loyal When My Teacher Was Betrayed

31 – Catastrophe of Matop 1

Just after the complicated situation was barely sorted out, the three of us arrived at the guild master’s room…

To be precise, we arrived at the laboratory.

“Hmm…”

Immediately after that, what appeared before me was Sigrun, who was glaring at something with wide eyes, and next to her stood Mist,

in which droplets were falling one by one, and as Sigrun observed them with her fascinated gaze, she called a number,

while Mist diligently wrote it down on a piece of paper held in her hand.

“Is it going well?”

“Well… um… no… yes…”

“As you said, it seems the results are coming out.”

“Yeah, keep it up until the end. Although I want to be involved, there’s nothing I can do about the poison side, unfortunately.”

“Hehe… This part is a bit challenging, distinguishing these subtle yet splendid colors is not something an experienced person like me can do…”

“Alright, enough talking, quickly call out the numbers.”

“It’s 28! 28!”

Despite the dark circles under their eyes, as if they found it amusing, Sigrun and Mist continued talking.

Looking at them, who seemed surprisingly suited for this, while emitting a considerable sense of fatigue,

I entered inside, feeling a strange sensation as if I was looking at my past self.

“Even in times like this, you’re still so dedicated, conducting research when the world might collapse tomorrow…”

“Since that’s the duty of a witch, you know, seeking knowledge even if the world ends tomorrow. You probably know that too if you’re a witch.”

“…I can’t deny it. Honestly, as a pure witch, I only have half the talent.”

Phea spoke with a hint of bitterness.

At that moment, teacups were set before each of us.

Simultaneously, Phea, who had been trying to force a bitter smile, covered her mouth and turned her head slightly.

“Don’t laugh.”

“I’m… not laughing.”

“Don’t lie, you’re clearly about to laugh!”

She spoke sharply.

Bryn Hilde.

Frea appeared quite happy to see her driving the tea in her maid outfit, which was currently very unsuitable.

“Miss Teacher?… Is this person going to continue to be under our care?”

Bernier also asked the question with a hint of humor as she took a breath.

Regarding this, the teacher replied calmly.

“I’m sorry, but this child doesn’t seem to have any talent for experiments… After almost breaking an expensive machine a while ago, I thought she should focus on this area for a while. Also…”

With those words, the teacher lifted his teacup.

Then she continued with a calm smile.

“This area is relatively talented. It’s quite good, you know. The tea this girl brewed tasted excellent.”

“Hmm… definitely…”

Bernier nodded her head slowly at the teacher’s words.

Even though her attire was not ideal, there was nothing wrong with the tea she offered.

Brewing tea like this was a skill in itself.

Thinking it was adequately fitting, I looked away from Bryn Hilde heading towards the kitchen with an empty tray and glimpsed Frea, who was still talking about magic with the teacher.

Currently, she and the other three main adventurers under the Rose Tower’s management were all…

The so-called Rosetta team.

However, unlike the three who were essentially treated as slaves in the role of the teacher’s assistant, 1, 2, 3, Frea was being treated somewhat equally.

This was partly due to her being the leader of the Valkyrie, but also because she had her unique way of thinking, which is characteristic of those on the path of magic.

Fray had already been walking the path of a magician from the very beginning, unlike the three of them.

She called herself a half-freed, but it was only in relation to the part of her life that was bound by her family.

Fray’s skills were already at the level of establishing her own study as a magician.

Assigning her the role of an assistant was not proper etiquette as a fellow magician, and it would not help her future.

That was the master’s judgment, which was why Fray was able to free herself from the position of a servant unlike the other companions.

‘For some reason, she seemed a little disappointed…but…’

Thinking that, I watched two people engaged in an academic discussion for a while.

The main issue was the increasing popularity of freezing magic at Matap recently.

“At that time, the temperature was approximately -200. Everything except the person involved was frozen.”

“At that temperature, sound probably wouldn’t be heard easily. But, does that mean the iron sword suddenly appeared?”

“Yes, according to the records, no other magical power was detected, and since the sword room was a secret room, there was no one who trespassed.”

“Hmm…”

It felt like an eerie rumor. This was an established fact that occurred during a formal experiment.

In relation to this, the magicians were discussing the possibility that the cold magic was related to the freezing spell.

It was still a mystery as to how two completely unrelated magic spells had caused such an effect.

‘It sounds like some kind of superconductor story…could it really be?’

Since we couldn’t accurately determine the situation at that time, it was my personal speculation that it might be related to that side.

But I didn’t feel like I should intervene, and most of all, as a spectator, I found it slightly amusing, so I just watched it silently.

“Huh? Come to think of it, I don’t see Bernie around here?…”

Suddenly, I realize the absence of my companion.

But since she wasn’t in a situation to lose her way here, I didn’t pay much attention, assuming she’d find her way back.

*

“Haah…haah…haah…”

Rough and unsteady breathing.

My whole body trembled,

and I felt like I was burning up from the inside.

‘

An insane thirst.

A terrible feeling that didn’t go away no matter how much water I drank.

I wanted to drink.

I had to endure.

Because I knew all too well what would happen if I continued down this path…

And because I didn’t want to lose myself like this.

At that moment.

“You look like you’re struggling.”

“!”

A voice that echoed in her ear.

It was so eerie, yet at the same time, so sweet.

She hugged her trembling body with both hands and slowly turned around.

Standing there was a woman who had just been smiling innocently a moment ago.

Bernier.

Something known by the name Bernier.

With a seductive smile that was completely different from before, she slowly approached Brunhilde.

“But you’re still my pawn, aren’t you? I thought you were just a weakling, but I didn’t know you could endure this much.”

“Oh… Oh no… Don’t come near me!”

Brunhilde spoke urgently.

And as if responding to her, Bernier stopped her footsteps.

Then she slowly lowered her head and asked Brunhilde with a face that was in front of her, trembling.

“Really? Can I keep going like this?”

“!”

Her voice was frivolous.

Brunhilde wanted to reply to her about this.

She wanted to tell her to leave her alone.

To never call her or appear in front of her again.

She clearly… wanted to say that, but…

“…Ugh…!”

Contrary to her heart.

At this moment.

From her lips…

From her lips, captivated by intense thirst…

Exactly like that.

A phrase burst out…

“You… put it in… give it to me….”

“Huh?”

Words squeezed and forced out from Brünnhilde.

However, regarding this, Bernie spoke naturally with an innocent face.

“I can’t hear you well? Then I’ll leave just like this.”

With those words, she turned her body back, trying to go back as it was.

At that moment…

“…”

Brünnhilde grabbed Bernie’s ankle.

Simultaneously, a tear started falling from her eye.

“Please… put it in…”

A voice filled with despair.

Bernie, without looking back,

calmly asked with a composed voice.

“…Where should I put what?”

“…That… that… (gulp)…”

A shameful emotion,

causing her to be speechless for a moment.

It was the level of suffering where she, in the past, would rather bite her tongue and choose death.

But.

Nevertheless, she had no choice but to speak.

Because now…

it couldn’t be undone anymore…

“…In my… in my **, please push your ** inside!”

“Heheh…”