Training-Addicted Mage In A Progression Fantasy-Chapter 16: General Disciple Recruitment

Leon, who returned home without having a proper conversation as the mages surrounding Ria took her away, immediately resumed his training.

A week passed, during which he only went between his home and Herb Mountain.A rumor began to circulate among the Entrance Residents.

It was a rumor that general disciples would be selected from among the Entrance Residents.

Leon suddenly recalled what the man who was conducting the attribute test had said when he was first brought in by Widia.

Don’t be too disappointed. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to become mages if you gather Merit Points or wait for a year.

Leon, who had been extremely nervous at the time, remembered every word the man had said without missing a single detail.

Is it that one year later now?

Leon had grasped the general situation to some extent after living in Widia for a year.

Even Single Attribute Bodies had a chance to become mages.It was an extremely rare opportunity, but the door wasn’t completely closed.

And the Single Attribute Body mages who learned magic through such opportunities either continued to train steadily and broke through another tiny opportunity to enter the Academy, or gave up on their talents and maintained their current level, taking on administrative duties like Paulin or Investigator Mark, or Walter who managed Herb Mountain.

The reason Leon, who had been content with managing Herb Mountain, was deeply considering this opportunity was because of Common Magic.

When he had heard about it once or twice, he didn’t think much of it, but it seemed that they were dealing with more important magic as Common Magic than he had expected.

If he became a general disciple and awakened his Mana, he would learn Common Magic......

I could change the Quest Rewards to Magic Books and keep trying until Common Magic appears, but......

He didn’t feel a strong aversion to becoming a general disciple.

He no longer had to worry about his true Realm being exposed, so there was no pressure to come to the forefront, and if he became a general disciple, he wouldn’t have to do as much work as the Entrance Residents, so he could increase his training time.

It’s a shame I haven’t been able to visit areas 2 and 3 of Herb Mountain yet......

Even that, no matter how much Walter liked Leon, it was unknown how long it would take until he would be assigned to areas 2 and 3.

Leon headed towards the dormitory where the Entrance Residents stayed for the first time in a while.

There was one notice posted on the bulletin board in the square.

[General Disciple Recruitment Test.]

Leon skimmed through the contents.

Below the title was a large pattern composed of various shapes and symbols.

The test content was to think about what this pattern might mean and submit an answer.

The problem itself was very easy.Leon quickly noticed that this pattern had the same structure as a magic Spell Formula.If it were converted back into a Spell Formula, it would become a very simple magic.

The structure and essence were apparent at a glance.It seemed like he could even transform it into a more efficient Spell Formula.

Leon pondered for a moment about the intention of this problem.What was the purpose of giving such a problem to ordinary people who were ignorant about magic?For Leon, who had become a 3rd Grade mage, the problem was so easy that it was rather difficult to grasp the intention.

It’s the lowest grade Water magic at 1st Grade level......

The symbols and shapes were connected in a single flow.Its essence was docility.The pattern, created in a regular form, contained the overall meaning of gentleness and softness.

Can an ordinary person know this and answer?

The reason for considering this was, of course, for Leon to hide his Realm and pretend to be an ordinary person to become a general disciple.

Is it enough to just notice this flow?

It was obviously difficult for an ordinary person to realize that it contained Water magic and the essence of docility.Leon immediately picked up the paper provided nearby and started writing the answer, trying to purify it as much as possible without using magical terms.

And in less than a minute, he finished writing all the answers and put the answer sheet in the box.

Now what’s left is...... persuasion?

Leon went to find Walter to express his intention to challenge for general disciple.

He looked surprised for a moment, then soon smiled gently.

“Are you saying you’re going to quit?”“I don’t know exactly what kind of work I’ll be doing if I become a general disciple, but I thought it was right to inform you in advance.”“If you become a general disciple, hmm......”

Walter rested his chin on his hand and looked at Leon, lost in thought.

Leon’s appearance was exactly that of an ordinary person filled with dreams of becoming a mage.

Walter didn’t want to disappoint such a Leon.After all, Walter had been in that position too.

“I guess you’ll focus on training for a while? But you can’t just train all the time. The day will come when you’ll be assigned tasks, though not as much as Entrance Residents, so come find me again then.”“......Is that okay?”

Walter inwardly smiled bitterly at Leon’s cautious face.

This young one doesn’t trust people......

Walter nodded readily.

“I told you I saw potential in you, didn’t I? I don’t teach my herb compounding techniques to just anyone, you know?”“I understand. Thank you.”“You’re already talking as if you’ve become a general disciple? It’s good to see such confidence, but?”“Ah.”

Leon realized that he was unconsciously assuming he would definitely be accepted.

I should be careful......

After getting Walter’s permission, Leon immediately went to find Arpina.He adjusted his Realm back to 1st Grade with Bima’s Bracelet.

As soon as Leon faced Arpina, he bowed his head.The fact that she met him even though he came suddenly meant that Arpina was quite considerate of Leon.

“Have you been well?”

Arpina’s eyebrow twitched.

“You’re not the type to come just to ask about my well-being. What’s your business?”“Please help me one more time.”

Leon immediately brought up his business as she wanted.There was no point in using more flattering words with Arpina; it would just be unnecessary addition.

“......How impudent? Suddenly coming and asking for help?”“You’re the only one I can ask for help.”

Arpina frowned and tapped her fingers on the desk, lost in thought for a moment.Then she infused Magic Power into her eyes and examined Leon’s Realm.It was the Common Magic ‘Scan’.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

Leon noticed from the context that she was trying to gauge his Realm and showed a Realm of late 1st Grade.This much seemed okay to reveal.If he was going to ask for a favor, he needed to show that he was somewhat useful.He had also developed some trust in Arpina.

“Late 1st Grade?”

Arpina’s eyes widened.

“Did you drink an Elixir or something?”“I was lucky.”“Ha, did you learn that mage-like way of speaking from your master?”

Arpina clicked her tongue and spoke again.

“You’re saying you’re at a similar Realm to Ria? That makes me less inclined to help you.”“Then I can’t ask for more help in my position.”

Contrary to his words about not wanting to upset her, Leon’s body remained unmoved.

“......You’re one annoying brat.”

Arpina crossed her arms and leaned deep into her chair.

“Go on. What’s your request?”“I applied for the general disciple test this time.”“General disciple? It would be strange if you weren’t accepted with your skills, but why bother? You have a master, don’t you?”

Leon shook his head.

“I don’t.”“What?”

Arpina straightened her body that had been deeply reclined in the chair.

“I never said I did.”“...Then how did you awaken your Mana?”“I studied on my own and awakened it.”“Is that possible? I personally confirmed that you’re a Triple Attribute Body.”“When I was young, I happened to obtain a Magic Book and tried studying it on my own, and that’s how I awakened it.”

It wasn’t completely impossible.‘By chance,’ he obtains a Magic Book at a very young age.At this point, already able to read, he ‘understands’ it on his own and attempts to awaken his Mana.And after a long time, he awakens his Mana.

Even if he didn’t have talent for magic, if he was exceptionally intelligent, it wasn’t impossible.Even if he hit the limits of a Triple Attribute Body for subsequent Realm Ascensions.

Of course, Arpina didn’t believe this assumption.It was no different from saying anyone could become a Grand Mage if they just worked hard enough.

“You seem to be hiding something.”“Didn’t I say you’ve gained a powerful ally?”“Not enough to be that arrogant......”

Arpina, who had been staring at Leon’s somehow annoying face, suddenly asked.

“Do you want to be my personal disciple?”

Leon shook his head at the unexpected proposal.

“I’m fine.”“...Why?”

Leon had no intention of becoming anyone’s personal disciple.It was obvious that he would receive too much interference.The reason Leon wanted to become a general disciple was, firstly, because he needed a guarantee that it wouldn’t be seen as strange if he trained openly, and the remaining additional goals were to secure training time and learn Common Magic.

Arpina’s face showed confusion, as if she hadn’t expected to be rejected.It was an unfamiliar expression for Leon.

It doesn’t seem like she’s ever been rejected before......

Leon pondered for a moment, wondering if he had rejected too abruptly.Still, if he had no intention of becoming a personal disciple, it was right to reject.There was nothing that lost trust as much as testing the waters.

“What do you mean, why?”

At her urging, Leon glanced around and said,

“Don’t you already have Ria as your disciple?”“Don’t talk nonsense. Is there a law that says you can only have one disciple?”“Well, you said last time not to think about becoming your disciple......”

She let out a hollow laugh at his brazen words.

“...”

She knew he was impudent, but now she saw he was also a brat with a good memory.

Where would she have been treated like this before?If she said right now that she would take on a personal disciple, she could make a line around the Academy grounds just with students.

She wondered if she had treated him too casually.Leon seemed to know nothing about her.But explaining herself in detail would be nothing but pathetic.

She suppressed her anger and spoke calmly.

“Training alone, you might not feel the limits now, but once you reach 3rd Grade, you’ll realize that an enormous amount of time is needed for the next Realm Ascension.”

Arpina didn’t know, but unfortunately, this didn’t apply to him at all.Feeling that he couldn’t just brush off her sincere advice, Leon decided to be somewhat honest.

“Still, I want to try on my own.”“...”

She was at a loss for words again.

Arpina was dumbfounded.Was it because he had never been taught by anyone that he didn’t know how much difference it made in Progression?

“You’re stubborn too......?”

Leon bowed his head meekly as he looked at Arpina’s hardened face.As long as he had no intention of explaining that he wouldn’t hit a wall even if he trained alone, it was the best choice to let her see him that way.

“I’m sorry......”“Forget it.”

Arpina waved her hand.The more she listened, the more she felt something being chipped away.Arpina could never admit that this was her pride.She asked irritably.

“So what’s your request?”“If I become a general disciple, can you guarantee that my Realm won’t be revealed?”“So...... you’re asking me to help you pretend to be an ordinary person and become a general disciple?”“Yes.”

Arpina didn’t ask about the reason.Of course, those applying to be general disciples would be Entrance Residents.Leon, who had been hiding the fact that he was 1st Grade, would be in trouble.

After gathering her thoughts for a moment, she smirked.Come to think of it, there was no need to get worked up.

“I wonder when you’ll repay this favor.”“I won’t forget.”“I’ll look forward to it.”

Yeah, let’s see how long it takes for you to realize your limits and come begging on your knees to become my disciple.

Arpina was certain that day wouldn’t be too far off.