As I was tidying up my belongings, a knock echoed from the door of my room.
*Knock knock*
"Mr. Kaiser, it's me, Theodore. I've been asked to escort you to Miss Claire immediately."
"Ah, understood. I'll be out in a moment."
I quickly changed clothes and opened the door. Standing in front of me was Theodore, already waiting.
"Allow me to escort you to where Miss Claire is now."
We made our way through the mansion's corridor toward the back garden. There, standing proudly amidst the greenery, was a rather grand greenhouse.
Wow, such a splendid greenhouse… Is this where Miss Claire spends her time?
Knock knock
"Miss Claire, I've brought Mr. Kaiser."
"Yes, come in."
As the door opened, I saw a petite girl sitting at her study desk. She looked familiar.
Huh? Isn't that… Just as I thought. The little girl I met at the station earlier—Nina—is none other than… Claire de Noir.
The serious expression on her face quickly melted away, replaced by a shy look the moment our eyes met.
"U-Um… It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Kaiser. My name is Claire de Noir. I'll be your student for the next three months. Please take care of me," she said, bowing politely.
"It's nice to meet you, Miss Claire—or should I say… Nina?" I teased lightly.
Her face turned bright red, almost like a tomato, as if steam were rising from her head.
Ah, maybe I went a bit too far…
"Ahem." Theodore suddenly cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence.
"Mr Kaiser, it seems what Headmaster Albert said about you was true."
"Oh? And what exactly did he say?"
"That you're a 'hunter of young girls,' or so he claimed."
"Hey, that's just a rumor! Come on, my reputation is at stake here!" I protested.
"I may have overstepped… I'm just used to dealing with young girls… Hahaha…"
But Theodore didn't seem convinced. He just gave me a look of disbelief.
"Well then, I still have other matters to attend to. Please excuse me." And with that, Theodore left the greenhouse.
"Ah, I can already feel my reputation crumbling…" I muttered with a grim expression.
"U-Um… Mr. Kaiser?"
"Oh, right! Sorry, I almost forgot you were still here. I apologize for my behavior earlier."
"N-No, it's okay. I should apologize too… I lied to you. Honestly, I just wanted to see what my private tutor looked like…" she admitted.
Seeing her downcast expression, I could tell she feared rejection. Perhaps she thought I'd turn her away upon discovering her identity.
"I understand. You were afraid I'd refuse to be your tutor, right? If I were going to say no, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. Trust me, Miss. I'll find a way for you to use your magic."
Her face brightened with newfound confidence.
"Alright! I believe in you, Master!"
"M-Master?"
"Eh? Do you not like being called that?"
"N-No, it's not that. I just find it a little odd… Most people call me 'Coach' or 'Sir'. But if you want to call me 'Master,' I suppose it's fine."
"Alright then, Master," Claire said with a smile.
That smile of hers made me blush slightly. It had been a long time since I last felt that way.
"Well then, shall we begin with the basics?"
"Yes!"
I pulled out a magic tablet, a tool used to view and measure a person's status.
In this world, we have what's called a Status—a divine system created by the "God of Creation" to measure each individual's statistics. With this tablet, humans and other beings can view their personal data.
The Status displays information such as name, age, level, HP, MP, and titles. Each level-up strengthens the individual. The highest recorded level in human history is 2799—said to grant powers that defy the laws of the world. Individuals at that level are considered "Anomalies," no longer bound by the natural laws of this realm.
But history is just history. The only remaining proof lies in ancient documents—whether it's true or merely legend is still up for debate.
"Now, Miss, please place your hand on this tablet."
"Alright," she said, placing her hand on the tablet, which immediately began to glow.
[Status]
Name: Claire de Noir
Age: 13
Level: 2
HP: 120/120
MP: 1200/1200
Magic: Water Magic, Wind Magic, Fire Magic
Skill: Beginner Swordsmanship, Expert Cooking
Title: The 2nd Daughter of Duke Noir, Magic Researcher
Condition: None
"Wow, your mana capacity is impressive, Miss," I remarked, genuinely surprised.
"Yes, but… I still can't use any magic, no matter what I try. Even doctors found nothing wrong with me."
"You're right. Judging from your status, there's nothing out of the ordinary… Yet, something feels… off. Perhaps it's just my intuition."
There was something about her status that felt hidden—something unusual I couldn't quite place.
"Well then, Miss Claire. Before we begin, can you list the elemental types of magic and explain how they work?"
"Sure! Elemental magic is divided into six types: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness."
"One example is fire magic. It works by manipulating and combining elements in the air, like oxygen and methane, using mana produced in our bodies. When those elements are gathered and compressed through mana, the friction creates a plasma spark that manifests as fire—what we call fire magic. The shape and use of the flame depend on how we manipulate it with our mana."
She explained it clearly and concisely, even a beginner could understand.
"Excellent. That was a clear and easy-to-understand explanation," I said, patting her head gently.
Claire's face blushed again, but she looked happy to be praised.
"Now, let's try applying that explanation to this candle I've prepared."
"O-Okay!" Claire said enthusiastically.
She began chanting, forming a beautiful, precise magic circle between her hands. But just as she finished the chant, the circle suddenly shattered—and the recoil sent her flying.
Crash! Boom!
"Wah?!"
"Miss Claire!" I caught her just in time before she hit the ground.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes, I think so… But my hand…" Her hand looked as if it had been scorched.
"Goodness, you're hurt! Don't worry, I'll heal you. [High Heal]!" A bright light enveloped her hand, and the wounds vanished.
"Eh…? The pain's gone…"
"Yes, I healed it with magic."
"Wow… You're amazing, Master!" Claire exclaimed.
"Oh, it's nothing. Really."
I helped her to her feet.
"But… your magic circle was perfect. Why did it collapse? I've never seen a case like this before…"
"Master… do you think… I'll never be able to use magic?"
"No. You will. One day."
"But when?! I've been trying since I was six! And still, nothing works! Did the gods curse me? Is that why I can't use magic?!" she cried in frustration.
She had been carrying this weight for a long time—always feeling inadequate.
"Miss… I truly believe you'll be able to use magic someday. For now, be patient and keep trying. I'll get to the bottom of why you can't use it. Don't worry—I'm the top instructor at Valkhein Royal Academy. I've never failed to teach a student. So don't be sad, alright?"
Claire nodded silently, her smile slowly returning.
"Yes. I believe in you, Master."
"Alright then. Let's call it a day. Tomorrow, we'll start again from the basics."
"Yes!"
And with that, we left the greenhouse and returned to the mansion.