### Episode 17. A Magic Mentor Appears (1)
Rahel Privius.
She is a mage of commoner origins, possessing such remarkable talent that she graduated from the Academy ahead of schedule.
She was formally appointed as a mage at the age of 24, and considering the average age for becoming a fully appointed mage is 30, this highlights her extraordinary potential.
She caught the eye of the Tower Lord of the Capital Tower and was appointed as his direct disciple. However, due to her commoner background, her fiery temper, and her coarse manner of speech, the high-ranking, stiff-necked mages within the Tower looked down upon her.
For instance, to advance in the Tower, one requires the majority approval of the high-ranking officials. Despite already possessing the qualifications to be a Deputy of the Tower Lord, her internal opposition has kept her from receiving a position befitting her skill.
Tired of this power play, when her mentor, the Tower Lord, passed away from old age, Rahel immediately left the Tower after the funeral and began wandering the world.
Being a commoner, wandering life was not particularly inconvenient for her, especially since she valued advancing her own magic and inventing new spells over prestige or power. Her commitment to gaining diverse experiences was indeed going smoothly.
But…
“Money… I’m out!”
Of course, everything requires money. Running out of her personal funds for lodging, meals, and research, Rahel scoured nearby areas for work and stumbled upon a tutoring position, which she quickly accepted.
“Rab Netoire… The Young Master, notorious in the estate for being a rascal. Given his young age and being male, it’s likely he’s at an age highly interested in magic. Teaching him the basics roughly and scooping the money to leave would be perfect.”
Though she could apply for research funds at the Tower given her reputation as a mage, she found the prospect of dealing with the elders there who disliked her distasteful. Thus, she thought it better to deal with a young and straightforward rich heir.
Compared to the manipulative and scheming elders, a young Master, though slightly annoying, was far better for her mental health.
And so, she arrived at the Count Netorie’s House.
Her first impression of the house was that it was ‘enormous.’
“Rich, they say, but this is… almost comparable to a Duke’s estate. This level of extravagance is outrageous.”
The size of the mansion, comparable to a Duke’s residence, made Rahel feel a mixture of admiration and jealousy.
As someone who’d experienced subtle discrimination due to her commoner roots, she clicked her tongue at the memories that surfaced.
“Hmph… Alright. Time to meet the brilliant Young Master.”
Guided by the household staff, Rahel met Count Netorie, her employer.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Hello, Count. I am Rahel Privius, the home tutor for the Young Master starting today.”
Rahel glanced at the Count’s face, which was harsh and far from kind or amiable.
‘Well, given the father’s demeanor, it’s natural the son would be a rascal.’
Despite harboring such impertinent thoughts internally, Rahel smiled and adapted to the Count’s mood.
“I’ve heard of your accomplishments. Even as a commoner, you’ve managed to become the Tower Lord’s direct disciple, which is quite impressive.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Though I’m curious as to why someone like you would wander outside the Tower, I shan’t pry into personal matters. Everyone has their own reasons.”
“Thank you.”
“Excellent. Now, let’s get to the contract. The contract period will last until a year after Rab enters the Academy, and the down payment… Does this amount seem appropriate?”
“!!!”
As Rahel scanned the contract, she widened her eyes at the astronomical sum, repeatedly checking the contents in disbelief.
Despite scanning it multiple times, the stipulated amount in the contract didn’t change, so with a trembling voice, she cautiously questioned the Count.
“T-Count? The amount of the down payment seems… off?”
“Hmm? Too small? I thought it was a decent amount.”
“That’s not it! The issue is that it’s too much!”
Three days a week of work, weekends off. Two days of vacation granted monthly.
Down payment of 100 gold. Monthly payment of 30 gold.
Possible bonus up to 500 gold upon completion of the contract, depending on Rab Netoire’s achievements.
Considering that the living expenses for a family of four commoners in a year are 5 gold, this was an incredibly generous offer.
“It’s too much! Honestly, if the bonus is included, it’s enough to construct a small regional Tower!”
“Then build one.”
“This is my son we’re investing in. How could it ever be too much?”
The Count carelessly signed the contract and handed it over to Rahel.
“Your accommodation will be covered here. There’s a vacant guest room you can use. Meals will be free, and if you need any materials or equipment for teaching, you can request funding from the steward.”
From that day on, Rahel pledged her loyalty to the Netorie House.
*
After finalizing the contract with the Count, Rahel was humming a tune as she walked out, brimming with joy.
She was so happy that if the Count had asked her to kiss a frog or a spider, she probably would have done it gladly.
“Please follow me, I’ll lead you to the Young Master’s room.”
“Alright~ Looking forward to it~”
Guided by the butler to the Young Master’s quarters, Rahel walked through the hallways.
Noticing the lavish art pieces decorating the hallways, she once again marveled at the wealth of the Netorie House.
“Still, why would a rascal take interest in magic? For boys his age, it’s normal to be fascinated by magic. Magic is flashy. It’s convenient.”
A teenage boy not intrigued by conjuring fire with his hands, creating ice by reciting spells, or controlling weather with a gesture of a finger likely lacks testosterone altogether.
This was an innate male instinct ingrained at the genetic level.
Rahel thought the Young Master of the Netorie House would fall into this category.
Finally stopping in front of a room, the butler knocked lightly.
Knock, knock.
“Young Master, I have brought her in.”
“Come in.”
As the door creaked open, the butler stepped aside, gesturing for Rahel to enter.
‘I can’t seem weak!’
Thinking that leaving the first impression as weak wouldn’t do, Rahel marched in confidently.
“Hi, Young Master! I’m Rahel, your new magic teacher! Nice to meet you!”
‘This’ll work!’
A confident stride.
Casually shifting between polite and casual speech.
“Kid?”
“…?”
SMACK!
“YOW!”
Clutching his shin, Rab sank to the ground.
Unbeknownst to Rahel, a deep-seated insecurity of hers was her short height.
Standing well below 150 cm despite being an adult, her height often led to both teasing and adoration. Memories of being coddled and carried because of her small stature made her especially sensitive about her height.
A fleeting insult about her stature triggered her reflexes, causing her to kick Rab without thinking.
“Oh no! Master, I’m so sorry! I got carried away hearing the ‘kid’ comment. Did I break anything?”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Rahel panicked.
‘No, my source of income! Oh my, what have I done!’
In this scenario, referring to Rab as her source of income showcased Rahel’s resourcefulness.
“Are you all right, Young Master? I am so sorry! Did I hurt you badly?”
The thought of being fired on her first day for injuring the Count’s son filled her with dread. Worse still, she could be prosecuted under the nobility assault law, and she’d end up in forced labor for the rest of her life with a debt several hundred times the contract payment.
Her overloaded mind couldn’t think straight, and she started hallucinating her execution.
“Is something wrong, Young Master?”
As the butler, about to leave, turned back to assess the situation, he saw an alarming scene.
Rab clutching his knee on the ground and Rahel standing awkwardly beside him.
Anyone would misunderstand this situation easily.
‘Ah! I’m done for!’
“Not much. I accidentally hit my knee on the table while running to greet the teacher.”
“Perhaps we should call the doctor…”
“I’m fine. It’d be embarrassing for such a small thing. You may leave now.”
“Alright, Young Master. Call me if the situation worsens.”
The butler closed the door and left.
“Phew, are you alright, Master? My apologies as your student for such a bad start. I humbly request your forgiveness.”
‘Hmm?’
Maybe this wasn’t such a bad kid after all.
Rahel’s opinion of Rab began to improve slightly.
