บท 7: Master And Student
"I'll need some time to think about it," Tega responded after staring at Lauren for a full ten minutes.
While he was staring, Tega had thought about the pros and cons of becoming Lauren's student, and honestly, he could hardly find a good reason why he should agree.
Lauren, who had been waiting on his feet, the previous seriousness vanishing, said, "The sooner you make a choice, the faster we'll get moving."
Sitting beside his spider, Lauren continued to watch Tega. He had no intention of resuming the conversation and thought that was for the best.
"Which town is closest to this place? And can we get necessary supplies from it?" Tega asked, lying on his back as he stared at the starless night sky, reminiscent of his own mind.
"We'll see what we want to buy, but as for the name or direction of that place," Lauren replied, rummaging through his bag. "I won't be telling you."
Unbothered by Lauren's provocation, Tega stared at him with narrowed eyes. Bluntly, he questioned, "Do you think I'll run off if you tell me?"
With a smile under his mask, Lauren said simply, "Yes, yes I do."
Honestly, he wasn't sure he could make it safely out of this forest with his current strength, let alone Tega, who was even weaker than a measly goblin.
"Although I don't like how my new life has been going, I'm not suicidal." Placing his hands behind his head, Tega continued, "I'm aware of my weaknesses and limits."
If he claimed to be happy with how his do-over had started, it would be a big lie. After all, he began this new life by meeting a crazy man hell-bent on breaking him and an overgrown spider with an identity crisis.
And now he was in a situation where the crazy man was asking him to be his student. Wouldn't that mean submitting himself to Lauren's whims?
Leaving aside whatever skills he might learn, Tega might just end up losing himself and becoming someone vastly different, especially since he had no clue what Lauren's motivations or goals were.
"Are you a villain?" Tega's mind wandered as he asked a question he wouldn't have bothered with if not for his current predicament.
"My answer would depend on the world you're referring to," Lauren chuckled. Running his fingers through his long blond hair, he added, "In this world, you could call me someone in-between, leaning slightly to one side. A person who walks in a gray world."
After considering his words for a while, Tega suggested, "Like an anti-villain?"
"Nah, that's too mainstream for me," Lauren laughed, then glanced at his non-existent watch. "It's time for kids to go to bed."
'I guess I still have to think this through,' Tega concluded, narrowing his eyes at Lauren, who had shifted his attention to Tinubu.
Turning to his side, Tega finally said, "I'm no kid."
"Huh? I see." Lauren replied, unbothered by the hint that Tega might be older than he looked.
A few seconds after Tega fell asleep, Lauren removed his mask. His face was wrapped completely in pitch-black cloth with reddish words written on it.
Despite his face being covered, Lauren's angular jaw and slightly chubby cheeks suggested a rather youthful appearance.
"I wonder what Mazino would think if she knew I was with her grandkid," Lauren chuckled. His laugh soon turned deranged as he clutched his sides, echoing through the quiet forest and ruining the previous calm — like a demon preparing to bring ruin to the mortal world.
---
"You woke up quite late," said a very annoying voice from nearby.
Tega had grown tired of hearing that voice, as its owner constantly drove him to the brink of insanity.
"I'd have preferred if it were all a dream," Tega muttered irritably, looking at the person who spoke.
Tossing Tega an apple, Lauren chuckled, mimicking his voice, "Too bad it isn't."
"Too bad," Tega agreed, staring at the apple in his hand.
Suspicious, he examined the apple a little longer and asked, "This isn't one of your illusions, is it?"
"That hurts," Lauren said, feigning sadness while dramatically clutching his chest. "We've been here a while, and you still don't trust me."
Shaking a finger, Tega corrected him. "It hasn't been a while; it's been less than a day. And yes, I don't trust you."
"I'm not that trusting," he added, taking a bite of the apple.
Dropping his act, Lauren laughed lightly. "Then you should be more trusting, my friend."
"I'll pass," Tega replied, finishing the apple in a few bites. "If you teach me how to counter illusions, I'll be your student."
He had thought about Lauren's offer before he fell asleep and decided that using Lauren to his advantage was the best course of action since they'd be using each other.
Tega wasn't the type to believe in human kindness, and judging from what he knew about Lauren, the man clearly wanted something from him.
While he had plenty of weaknesses, his mental vulnerability was the most glaring. His inability to resist illusions was something Lauren could help him overcome.
He was a cynic and had no plans to change that anytime soon.
Feigning amusement, Lauren chuckled and asked, "Is that all?"
'Just as I predicted,' he thought, watching Tega intently.
"Can you do it?" Tega asked, unwilling to waste words.
"Chill, chill. I can," Lauren replied, delighted as he toyed with Tega. "If that's all you wanted, I could've taught you for free."
It was an obvious lie, but coming from an illusion master and former con artist, it sounded a whole lot better than the truth. Yet to someone cynical like Tega, it was still a lie, even if it were true.
"I see," Tega said indifferently. Shelving the incident behind him, he added, "Since I'm now your student, shouldn't you get me some clothes?"
Surprised that Tega didn't show any reaction, Lauren was confused under his mask.
If this had been the Tega from before he joined the army, or anyone else, he would have gotten the surprised expression he expected.
Quickly regaining his composure, Lauren replied, "We'll depart in an hour. Freshen up; there's a lake nearby."
Tega responded with a simple nod and made his way toward the lake, an air of deep thought surrounding him.
"What an interesting young man," Lauren grinned, watching Tega's retreating back while spreading his mana throughout their surroundings.
***
Author's note- Chapter release would be between 17:00 to 18:00 GMT from now on. I'll appreciate it if you support this book with Power Stones.
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