The next morning after my meet-up and cooking lessons with Richard, I left for the shop of my current master. I am excited about what she's going to teach me today.
Reaching the shop, I saw that it was closed. Just as I was about to knock, I felt a sudden dizzy feeling and the next moment I knew I was inside the shop seated across from my master.
To think she can just pull me into the shop; is this the power of an Imperial? This just makes me more excited to learn about the supernatural.
Eleanor looked toward her current disciple, who was looking at her with excitement and eagerness.
'He looked just as excited as me when I started.'
"Do you want to eat anything?"
"No need; I ate and came."
"Then let's start. What do you know about the Origin Way?"
After that, I explained to her the basic idea I knew, and she nodded to it.
"Um, that's pretty much it. Looks like you study well."
I "blushed" at her words, as if happy and embarrassed about it.
"By the way, do you currently feel any connection with the atmosphere?"
"Oh, you mean the little particles floating around?"
"So you can feel it."
After that, Eleanor sighed and looked at me like a rare specimen.
"Austin, do you know that you currently have a plate, that it's tier 3 and rank 10."
I shouted in surprise, real this time.
'So wait, I am tier 3!? No, wait, what's rank 10 plates?'
"Master, is there a rank for plates?"
"Oh, I forgot they didn't teach you about it yet."
"The plates formed in your body also have ranks, it determines how much forward you can go in your path."
"It's normally from Rank 1 to Rank 10, with Rank 1 being the lowest and Rank 10 being the highest; the Rank 7 and above plates are termed as geniuses."
'Damn, I didn't know about this! Looks like everything can't be found in the library.'
"Master, does that mean I am strong?"
I reacted with "excitement."
"No, it's the opposite, your body is in danger. Your current body is like a glass overflowing with water, but the glass holding it isn't strong. If it goes , your body won't be able to handle it and explode."
'Damn, I didn't know that! The system, you didn't tell me anything about it!!'
[Systems duty is to only support the host, not to warn and protect the host.]
'You're heartless! Plus, what's wrong with this woman? Is this something you say directly to an 8-year-old boy's face? If it was any other kid, he would be peeing his pants.'
What Austin didn't know was that it wasn't much of a problem and it was easy to settle, but Eleanor wanted to see how he would react to death, and seeing him so composed impressed and made her curious.
"Aren't you afraid of death?"
'Afraid? Of course, I am!! Who wouldn't? It's just that my poker face is good. Wait, this could be an opportunity to score some points.'
Putting on my serious face, I directly looked into her eyes.
"Of course I am, but the fear of losing my family is more painful to me than the fear of death."
"My father gave his life to protect mine; he only had one wish, and that was for me to protect my family, and I plan to do that. So, no matter what comes, I will survive it."
In the end, my voice raised to a high pitch for dramatic effect.
'Oh...thank you wuxia novels for your cliche lines.'
Looking at my master, I saw a deeply surprised face on hers, contradicting her normal graceful self. Suddenly, I felt a pull on me, and the next moment, I was in her embrace; a unique orchid smell entered my nose.
'Oh...man, these pillows are huge, maybe even bigger than my mother's.'
Meanwhile, Eleanor...
'Ahh, what a pitiful child. Don't worry, master will protect you and make sure you're strong. Such a pitiful child; the master is there for you.'
Thinking of it, she ruffled the boy's hair, who was looking at her with absolute trust and admiration.
'Ahh...if you look at the teacher like that, then I can't help but pamper you.'
'Wow, looks like my words hit her pretty hard.'
Then suddenly, I again felt the same pull, and when I opened my eyes, I was in a forest near a cliff. Eleanor then put me down.
"From now on, we are going to get your body accustomed to your power. So, your first task is to run 5 km here, then do 20 push-ups, squats, and sit-ups."
"After your warm-up, your task will be to climb the mountain. After that, when you reach the top, we can start the real training."
Looking at the tall cliff as if touching the sky, my feet suddenly felt unsteady. Putting on my puppy eyes, I looked toward her, but all she gave me back was a look of disappointment. Seeing that, I clenched my teeth.
"I will do it, but after that, will the teacher show me her face?"
After my question, she hesitated a bit, but then later she nodded. Seeing that, I took action.
The warm-ups, even though hard, were accomplishable. But when it came to the cliff, I climbed, I scraped my knee, my hands turned red, my nails peeled almost off, and I almost fell to my death, but the master saved me at each turn.
, it was only two months later that I reached the top. Standing above it and seeing the rising sun, I let out a huge scream of accomplishment.
Behind me stood my master, proud without a veil covering her face, her black hair swaying in the wind, her face looking beautiful, creating a beautiful picture. At first, her beauty moved me, but then later a more important thought came to me.
'When I am strong enough, I must destroy this cliff.'
And like that, a few years later, this huge cliff disappeared from this world. No one knows how.
Power: Imperial rank 3
Title: The Bow Empress, Cold Beauty, The Imperial... etc.
Love: 90% (a master's love)
Description: Happy she found a strong-willed disciple
Awakening a certain dangerous tendency
Difficulty: S+ (she is a woman with powers you can't imagine, courted by several men, if you wanna conquer her, you gotta work to the bone)