Chapter 3

(2)

3.

Ajuheuh Libreah.

The Great Sorceress who inherited the wind and earth magic power of the prairie. At the age of seventy-seven, she silently gazed at the young man before her.

‘Warrior Ulan.’

Ajuheuh remembered the day Ulan was born.

Among the children born that year, only he did not cry. From the moment he was born, he was no ordinary child.

As if to prove his own extraordinariness, Ulan performed all sorts of feats. Later, he became the youngest to earn the title of Warrior and eventually passed the Trial of the Hero.

‘Truly, a blessing from the gods.’

A smile formed on her crimson lips.

And for good reason.

The birth of such a strong warrior meant a bright future for the clan.

‘However······.’

Ulan had one problem.

It wasn’t that he was unwell. It was just that his head wasn’t quite right.

‘······No, not just “not quite.”’

Let me correct that. It was incredibly bad.

To the point that if you asked anyone in the clan to name the biggest blockhead, they would all point to Ulan.

But what did that matter?

Ulan had a blessed body and exceptional combat talent that more than made up for his blockhead nature.

So she didn’t think it was a big deal.

Until Ulan opened his mouth.

“I desire to learn.”

“Sure, learn······! What?”

Ajuheuh blinked her wide eyes.

Did I hear that wrong?

What did Ulan just say?

“Sorceress Ajuheuh.”

Ulan looked at her with a serious face.

He slowly bowed his head.

“Teach me.”

“······.”

Ajuheuh stared blankly at Ulan.

Her mouth slightly agape.

After a while, she began to regain her senses.

‘What did he just say······?’

He wants to learn? He’s asking for teachings?

The biggest blockhead in the clan?

Ajuheuh’s face turned to one of confusion.

‘Did he hit his head during the Trial?’

It was a reasonable assumption.

After all, Ulan’s words were absurd. Meanwhile, as she was still in a state of confusion.

“Ajuheuh.”

A deep voice rang in her ears.

It wasn’t Ulan’s voice. Turning her head, she saw a tall, well-built young man looking at her.

“Hero Ulan is waiting for your answer.”

Alk Bator.

The son of the clan leader and Ulan’s brother.

Ajuheuh finally regained her composure. Clearing her throat, she looked at Ulan again.

“······Let me ask again, Hero Ulan.”

To make sure she hadn’t misheard.

Ajuheuh’s question continued.

“What did you just say?”

“I asked for teachings.”

Damn, I didn’t mishear!

Ajuheuh’s brow twitched.

Her lips trembled. Clenching her fists, she asked again.

“Is that truly your wish?”

“Yes. I desire to learn.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Ah, why are you being so serious!

She wanted to shout.

You’re a blockhead.

It would be much more efficient to train as a warrior using your natural body and talent.

But she couldn’t say that.

Ulan’s eyes were extremely serious.

“I want to be your disciple.”

And on top of that, he wants to be a disciple.

Ajuheuh felt like crying.

“I’d like to hear your answer.”

“Uh, I, well······.”

She wanted to refuse outright.

There were two reasons.

One was that Ulan was a blockhead, and the other was the burden. The burden of accepting as a disciple not just an ordinary warrior, but one who had passed the Trial of the Hero.

‘But······.’

She couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

There were too many eyes watching. And if she refused for such a trivial reason, he might get angry, saying she had dishonored the Hero’s honor.

So she decided.

“······Fine. I will teach you.”

First, let’s get out of this situation.

And then persuade him later.

Ajuheuh judged it so.

Meanwhile, whether he knew it or not, Ulan simply bowed his head with a happy face.

“I’m in your care, Ajuheuh.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Ajuheuh with a stiff expression.

After wandering the continent and returning to her homeland to enjoy a peaceful retirement, she suddenly had a disciple.

And a burdensome one at that.

4.

The first thing a sorcerer’s disciple must do is attend to their master.

First, they learn cleaning, laundry, and cooking.

And in preparation for winter, they gather firewood or hunt prairie animals to offer food to their master.

After living this way for three winters, they are finally recognized as a formal disciple.

This is usually the norm.

‘But······.’

This time, it couldn’t be so.

Ulan was a warrior of the clan and a giant among giants who had even passed the Trial of the Hero.

To have such a person do cleaning and laundry?

‘He’d probably say I’m disrespecting him and separate my body from my head.’

Warriors are known for valuing honor and pride, and for their fiery tempers.

Ajuheuh shivered.

‘······Let’s just play along.’

Surely, his desire to learn was just a sudden whim. So, pretending to teach him and then sending him back would be fine.

But her expectations were off.

Knock knock!

Early morning before dawn.

Someone knocked on the door.

Half-asleep, Ajuheuh opened the door and was startled.

“······!”

It was Ulan.

And in one hand, he held a sharply honed axe. Her drowsiness vanished, and she became fully alert.

Then Ulan spoke.

“Master. I’ve gathered firewood.”

“What? Fi, firewood?”

Why suddenly? I didn’t even ask for it.

Ajuheuh was confused.

“As a sorcerer’s disciple, I looked into what I should do, and it said to start by gathering firewood.”

“······.”

At least he doesn’t seem to be planning to swing that axe. That’s a relief. As she sighed in relief, Ulan continued.

“But I didn’t know how much was needed, so I cut down all the trees around here.”

“······What?”

All of them?

Ajuheuh’s expression went blank.

Of course.

Her cabin was in the forest near the prairie. Meaning, the entire area was full of trees.

But to cut them all down in just one night? She dismissed it as mere bravado.

Until she saw the scene outside the cabin.

‘Thi, this is insane!’

A desolate landscape greeted Ajuheuh.

Following Ulan to the backyard, she saw a mountain of neatly stacked firewood.

Did he do this alone?

In just one night?

“If it’s not enough, I’ll cut more.”

“Ah, no. It’s fine. This is enough.”

She waved her hands hurriedly with a panicked face.

If she said it wasn’t enough, he might just deforest the entire area.

“And I’ve prepared a meal too.”

What? A meal?

Ajuheuh’s eyes widened.

“I made it with the deer I caught last night. I boiled it all morning, so it should be quite tender.”

What Ulan brought was stew.

A stew filled with various root vegetables and venison, emitting a delicious aroma. It was enough to stimulate Ajuheuh’s empty stomach.

Slurp! Munch!

As she tasted the stew, her eyebrows slightly rose.

Contrary to expectations, it was quite tasty.

“Next, I’ll clean the room.”

Ulan stood up.

Suddenly, a foreboding thought struck her.

“W, wait a moment!”

Ulan was the strongest warrior in the clan.

If he handled the tools carelessly, they might break. So she hurriedly tried to stop him.

“Don’t worry.”

A calm voice replied.

“I won’t handle them recklessly.”

He could tell what was important just by looking. And so, Ulan finished cleaning and laundry without any incidents.

Some time later.

After all the chores were done.

Ajuheuh sat facing Ulan.

‘I was planning to just play along.’

But her thoughts had changed slightly.

The trigger was Ulan’s attitude.

Despite being only sixteen and having passed the Trial of the Hero, which could easily make one arrogant, he diligently performed his duties as a sorcerer’s disciple.

Seeing such a serious side of him, it was only natural for her heart to waver.

‘So······.’

First, let’s ask this.

Ajuheuh’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Hero Ulan.”

Looking into his crimson eyes.

She got to the point.

“Why do you desire to learn?”

“Because there’s something I want.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“I can’t tell you the details. You probably wouldn’t believe me anyway.”

He had come from the future to the past.

Even a wise sorceress wouldn’t believe him. So instead of revealing the truth, Ulan shared his honest thoughts.

“But this isn’t just for me, it’s for the entire clan. To do that, I must enter the Arsen Academy.”

“What? Arsen Academy?”

“Yes. I will enter there and gain the knowledge and power I desire. For the clan, and for myself.”

After his solemn answer.

The room was filled with silence.

Meanwhile, Ajuheuh had a bewildered expression. Not just because the Arsen Academy was suddenly mentioned, but more because of Ulan’s eyes.

‘······Were his eyes always like this?’

Rational and calm eyes.

Eyes so composed that it was hard to believe they belonged to a sixteen-year-old boy. A gaze distinctly different from warriors who worship strength and crave battle.

Looking at those unwavering, upright eyes.

Ajuheuh’s lips twitched slightly.

‘I don’t know what he realized during the Trial of the Hero, but······.’

This is interesting.

Her heart, which had dried up, began to beat faster at the sight of the giant tree, believed to become the strongest warrior, sprouting new branches.

If a warrior with overwhelming strength and skill also gains wisdom, just how great a warrior would he become?

‘Perhaps the day will come when our clan leaves the prairie and conquers the continent.’

To the point where such thoughts arose.

Ajuheuh struggled to suppress her heightened emotions. Barely calming her excitement, she spoke to Ulan again.

“Then let me ask, Ulan.”

Her tone had changed.

She didn’t call him ‘Hero.’ Just his name. Her tone had changed.

Yet, Ulan didn’t get angry. Perhaps satisfied with this attitude? Ajuheuh asked with a faint smile.

“What do you wish to learn from me?”

As soon as Ajuheuh’s question ended.

Ulan answered without hesitation.

“Everything I do not know.”

The knowledge needed to enter the Academy.

From basic common sense to in-depth academics. Or even sorcery and magic that only the chosen can learn.

Ulan was prepared to devour it all.

“It will take a long time.”

“That’s fine. I’ve heard that knowledge is a tower built by carving time.”

A comrade from his past life.

The words he had heard from the Witch of the Stars. As he spoke them, a smile formed on Ajuheuh’s wrinkled lips.

“Good! Then I shall share my knowledge with you.”

Ajuheuh’s eyes sparkled.

“But be prepared. The process of building the tower of knowledge will not be easy.”

“That’s what I desire.”

Ulan also smiled brightly.

After that, time flew by like an arrow.

And before they knew it.

Half a year had passed.

Chapter 2. Towards the Academy

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