TYLSA 05

Chapter 05

“……Excuse me?”

At the completely unexpected words, I was quite flustered.

“Is there really no other way to resolve this?”

“For now, that’s the case.”

Oh, no way.

‘Could it be that the hidden episode was unlocked because of the affinity I gained from that compliment earlier?’

This was the first time affinity had increased at that timing.

It seemed that the relationship level meeting certain conditions meant exactly that.

“Even if you don’t like it, there’s no helping it. I have absolutely no intention of ruining the life of a young mage who just bloomed.”

Moreover, the Tower Master was a more responsible person than I had expected.

“I see…….”

Is this really okay?

Even in the original work, she does grow close to the Tower Master through magic.

But if I end up becoming his disciple like this, affinity might accumulate faster than I anticipated.

‘Of course, I do need to build up affinity…….’

For the Bad Ending, it was also important to evenly distribute encounters and not meet any one particular person too often.

‘If affinity with him builds up faster than with the other male leads, I might accidentally enter the Tower Master’s solo ending route.’

Besides, given my industry background, I had something of an allergy to apprenticeship-style education……

When I couldn’t hide my dismay, the Tower Master also seemed slightly taken aback.

“Is it really that troublesome a prospect?”

“Well……”

“I can certainly vouch for my identity. I am……”

“I know. Sir Elijah Marakesh.”

“……You knew?”

“Anyone in this empire knows at least the Tower Master’s general appearance.”

Haah, a sigh escaped me naturally.

‘But…… there’s no choice.’

If I couldn’t learn magic from this man, I might not be able to build up enough stats within the time limit.

Unfortunately, the magic-related stats—Intelligence and Mana—were crucial for becoming a magic professor at the Pergana Academy, so I couldn’t give up on them.

“……Fine, I have no choice. I’ll become your disciple.”

“No choice……, you say.”

“Oh, of course, it’s only temporary.”

“Temporary…….”

Elijah Marakesh let out a hollow laugh, “Ha.”

—

<system> Became the ‘Tower Master’s Temporary Disciple.’

<system> Title ‘Tower Master’s Temporary Disciple’ has been granted. Effect: Mana +50, Intelligence +30. May occasionally receive sympathy from mages.

—

The last added phrase seemed somewhat suspicious, but at this point, there was no helping it.

“Then, I look forward to working with you, Sir Marakesh.”

“……For someone who seemed so reluctant, you’re quite quick to assess the situation.”

“Like I said, it can’t be helped.”

Elijah Marakesh brushed back his sky-blue hair and murmured.

“Normally, people don’t react this way when they become my disciple…….”

“I guess I’m not ordinary.”

“Very well, my not-so-ordinary disciple.”

Elijah Marakesh chuckled and retorted.

“If you don’t mind, now that we’ve come this far, may I ask your name?”

“Yuri Elrose of the House of Rozenheyer.”

I hesitated a moment, then added.

“You may call me Yuri.”

Elijah, who had been staring at me intently with eyes like deep pink roses, replied.

“Understood, Lady Yuri. You may also call me Sir Elijah.”

—

* * *

—

The incident with the boar at the picnic was settled when I appeared together with the Tower Master.

However, Marquise Ciantic, the hostess of this picnic, was pale with worry and fussing over me without pause.

“A-Are you unharmed, my Lady? Oh my, for such an accident to occur at an event I hosted! I am truly sorry.”

“It’s alright. Thanks to the Tower Master saving me, I’m safe.”

Since this accident was an event I had voluntarily jumped into, I had no intention of formally protesting to the Marquise Ciantic family.

‘I have a conscience.’

Nevertheless, Marquise Ciantic seemed deeply moved.

“How can you be so understanding……. My Lady, I will surely repay the understanding you showed me today someday.”

“If you insist on saying such things…….”

I smiled awkwardly but didn’t refuse.

There was no harm in being owed a favor by the woman who ran the empire’s most famous salon.

‘That said, becoming the Tower Master’s disciple.’

It was an unexpected development that gave me a headache, but……

‘Still, being the Tower Master’s disciple means Mana and Intelligence stats will increase faster than usual…… right?’

The problem was that this system didn’t seem to operate as simply as I had experienced in the game.

‘Not to mention suddenly unlocking a hidden route…….’

On the way home, I reluctantly opened the relationship window once more.

There, as expected, the Tower Master’s name was shining, and next to it was written: ‘Troublesome temporary master-disciple relationship.’

‘Well, I suppose this isn’t a bad start for the first step…… Huh?’

But the changes in the relationship window weren’t limited to that.

—

Duke Rozenheyer: “I’m not sure how things ended up this way.”

—

The Duke’s name, which I had never once seen in the relationship window before, was written there.

‘What…… is this?’

I was quite taken aback by the Duke’s name, which I had never seen in the game.

But that wasn’t the only thing that differed from the original.

There was also the mini-event with my stepmother, and the hidden episode with the Tower Master……

It seemed I needed to change my way of thinking.

‘I was taking it too lightly because it was a game I knew.’

What was now applied to me was no longer the simple game system from before. It went far beyond that category.

‘No, can I even think of this as a game?’

……It felt as though the game system was simply being applied to reality as it was……

My thoughts were about to deepen. I shook my head and resolved to make careful judgments from now on rather than taking things lightly.

—

* * *

—

Having unexpectedly become the Tower Master’s ‘temporary’ disciple, I now faced an immediate task.

‘I need to meet the other male leads as quickly as possible.’

If my affinity with the Tower Master deepened more than necessary like this…… I might find myself slipping onto the Tower Master’s ending route before I even realized it.

To avoid such a mishap, I needed to bring the other male leads’ affinity levels up to a similar standard.

‘Fortunately, I’ve already encountered Calix, and I can run into him anytime in the house…….’

But Calix was on the harder side for early conquest, so I couldn’t approach him easily.

‘That doesn’t mean I can skip him, though.’

Just then.

“My Lady!”

Someone called out, and I turned around—it was the butler.

“Butler, what is it?”

“Well, Marquis Esteban has sent flowers for you, my Lady.”

“Huh?”

Marquis Esteban—that Male Lead No. 1 I met at the very beginning?

‘I didn’t even dance with him, let alone have a proper conversation—why flowers?’

Somewhat bewildered, I took the large bouquet the butler handed me after receiving it from the messenger.

From ranunculus, roses, and peonies to small blossoms.

It was a fragrant bouquet that seemed to have transported a corner of a garden directly here.

“My Lady, there’s a message card attached!”

Following the words of the maids, who seemed even more excited than I was, I saw that indeed there was a message card tucked into one side.

I took out the card and unfolded it.

In neat handwriting, this was written:

—

-Wishing you good health,

Cedric Esteban.

—

“Aha…….”

Since I had never failed to raise Cedric’s affinity in the tutorial, I hadn’t known—but it seemed that if you failed, he would send a bouquet like this later.

The maids subtly asked.

“My Lady, that card is……?”

“Huh? It’s nothing special. It seems the Marquis remembered that I was unwell that day.”

“Ahh…….”

The maids seemed slightly disappointed, but I paid them no mind and began walking with the bouquet in hand.

Just then.

“……!”

I came face to face with a boy coming from the other direction—black hair, eyes as blue as mine, and a cold expression.

“Calix.”

His gaze toward me still seemed unfavorable, but at least his handsome face made it bearable.

Calix, frowning, said this as his first words.

“……That bouquet?”

His attitude of frowning without a word and immediately mentioning the bouquet was poor, but since he was a conquest target, I answered kindly instead of pointing it out.

“I received it as a gift.”

At that, an expression of disbelief spread across Calix’s face—”Ha.”

“……You don’t seem to be in a bad mood.”

“Huh? Of course not. There’s no reason to be in a bad mood after receiving flowers, is there?”

“…….”

After a long silence at my words, Calix moved his lips and murmured.

“When I…… you didn’t…… like that.”

“……?”

I couldn’t quite hear what he said.

“What did you just say……”

“Nothing. It was just pointless talk.”

But Calix didn’t seem inclined to repeat himself.

“I’ll be going.”

As the boy turned to leave with a cold farewell, I smiled without concern.

“Alright. Have a good day.”

“…….”

I had only responded kindly, but Calix looked at me as if I were a strange person.

Just as I was about to tilt my head at his gaze, which seemed somehow aggrieved, Calix left the spot with an uncomfortable expression before I could.

‘Hmm.’

Left behind, I opened the relationship window again just in case.

There, it said…….

—

Calix: “……I’d rather not mention her, honestly.”

—

Calix’s true feelings were written plainly.

‘Ahh…….’

Well, yes. Of course.

At this stage, Calix was quite averse to me due to my stepmother’s instigations and a few misunderstandings.

‘Hoping for any change in the relationship after exchanging just one word would be wishful thinking.’

Above all, I hadn’t heard that pleasant ding-dong sound that only rings when affinity increases……

I buried my nose slightly in the bouquet and thought.

‘That doesn’t mean I can just stay still like this.’

That boy, Calix Rozenheyer, was the legal heir of this house.

Although the Duke, his father, was still young and vigorous, someday that child would inherit the title and become Duke.

Would he bother to look after his half-sister—the daughter of the previous Duke, with whom relations were poor?

‘No chance.’

Hmm, this was troublesome.

Even if I planned to move to a third country in the future, I needed backing.

Unfortunately, in this world, there still wasn’t much room for a woman to live alone.

In other words, aside from being a conquest target, Calix was an important figure I needed to manage for the future.

‘For now, this relationship won’t change unless I make the first move…….’