As the saying goes, if you button up the first button well, the future will be smooth, and first impressions are very important in human relationships.
If you're in a situation where you need help from someone, it's even better to look good.
But, instead of looking good to Byblos, he looked completely disgusted, so Perdes was greatly disappointed.
But they can't just despair forever.
He had to somehow restore his image and get help from Byblos.
...Even though his pride was a little hurt.
“With that face, does it make sense that you're the same age as Gnosis?”
Even if he's half-elf and half-human, isn't that face too deceiving for someone in their 60s?
Perdes muttered irritably and touched his forehead.
This was the area that had previously been hit by a book by Byblos.
He can understand why he'd be angry if he called his name out of the blue when they first met... But isn't hitting him with a book too much?
“As rumored, you really are a dirty person.”
If it weren't for Adele's request, that guy wouldn't have even dated me.
Perdes sighed deeply and looked up at the slightly shabby building.
This was Byblos' personal research laboratory.
There is a better research lab in the palace, but since it is a palace, there are a lot of eyes watching, so Perdes' received information a few days ago through the Information Guild that they often come here to conduct research.
Since then, Perdes has been visiting Byblos's laboratory every day but has never met Byblos.
"Hello."
“Oh, hello. You’re here again.”
The only people he met were the disciples of Byblos.
He felt very frustrated because he couldn't meet Byblos in person to apologize for what happened and to revamp his image.
It would have been better if he had become friendly with his disciple and found out what Byblos liked, or asked him to tell his story, but even that was not possible.
“That guy, he’s here again. What on earth brings him here every day?”
“I heard he wanted to meet the teacher.”
“Why, Master? Do you really want to become his disciple?”
“I think so.”
Absolutely not.
Perdes did not like the strange misunderstandings his disciples had and the way they held him back, but he did not step forward.
It was also funny to see him shout, 'I will never be that unlucky kid's disciple!'
'We need to make a decision quickly.'
Gnosis told him not to rush and to take it slow, but he couldn't do that.
He wanted to resolve this quickly and return to Leopold's estate.
To be exact, he wanted to go back to Adele.
“..."
Perdes fingered the ring on his ring finger.
It was a magical communication ring that he exchanged with Adele, and since leaving Leopold's estate, Perdes has never taken it off his finger.
He always had it with him because he never knew when or where Adele would call him.
But Adele never made the first contact.
As the saying goes, no news is good news, so it should be good that nothing happened, but that couldn't be the case.
She could contact him first at least once to ask how he's been, how far he come, and if they had any difficulties along the way.
For a moment, Perdes felt a surge of disappointment and clenched his fists.
“I guess I have to go back quickly.”
To do that, he had to solve a problem, and to solve the problem, he had to meet Byblos.
“Shall we go to the palace?”
If you go there, you'll definitely be able to meet him.
The problem was that there was no way to get into the palace.
It would be possible to reveal the Prince's identity, but that would only cause bigger problems, so it couldn't be done.
'Is there really only one way left?'
Perdes approached his disciples, who were still glancing at him and muttering.
As Perdes, who was at least a head taller than them, strode forward, the disciples flinched and exchanged glances with each other.
The oldest disciple among them asked cautiously.
“What's going on?”
“Isn’t the Great Sage coming here today too?”
“Yes. He is not coming.”
The certainty, not the assumption, was unpleasant.
Because Perdes had a strong feeling that the disciple was lying.
The moment he answered, the fact that he avoided Perdes' gaze was proof of that.
“Are you really not coming?”
“Yes, yes. He’s not coming.”
Look at this. You're still avoiding it.
“So, if you have nothing more to do, would you mind if you go back now? I have a lot of work to do.”
“You have a lot to do. That’s great. I’ll help you.”
“What did you say...”
“I’m a magician too.”
At the word “Magician,” the disciples’ eyes rolled around.
After all, you came here to become his disciple.
The rolling eyes were saying so.
'Think whatever you want.'
It didn't matter what they thought, as long as he could meet Byblos.
Perdes laughed at them inwardly but spoke kindly on the outside.
“I will help you.”
“I will accept your heart. It is difficult.”
“I can do anything, even difficult things.”
Perdes spoke with a confident voice and glanced at the disciples behind him.
He can do better than these guys here.
With that kind of meaning in his eyes.
“...”
The disciples' faces turned red and blue as if they understood the meaning.
Some people clenched their fists and trembled.
“...You are so confident.”
“Me a little.”
Perdes shrugged his shoulders as if this was nothing.
The disciple, who had been looking at Perdes with his eyes wide open like a flounder, soon smiled and nodded.
“Yes. Then, I know it’s shameless, but I’ll ask for your help.”
Anyone who saw it had the expression of a person with a dark ulterior motive.
***
Late afternoon, with rain falling steadily.
"Hmm?"
Byblos, who had visited his personal study after a long time, tilted his head at the sight of his students laughing and chatting happily.
That would be the case, for two days ago Byblos had given his disciples a very difficult task.
With the scary threat that if you fail to complete this task, you should pack up and leave.
Of course, he had no intention of really kicking them out.
It was a warning to work that hard, and he was willing to help them if they showed that kind of attitude.
That's why he came to the lab despite his busy schedule.
He thought they were probably groaning by now about how to solve the homework he gave them, but here they were, smiling.
Byblos was a little embarrassed.
Have you already finished your homework?
There's no way those guys could do that.
Byblos looked at them in wonder.
“Ah! Master, you have come!”
The disciples, who found out late that Byblos had arrived, greeted him politely.
“Everyone looks happy. Did you all finish the homework I gave you?”
When the topic of homework came up, the students' expressions turned gloomy for a moment.
Byblos asked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“What were those guys who couldn’t even finish their homework laughing about? Surely you weren’t swearing at me?”
“No way! Absolutely not!”
“We were just happy to punish the guy who was bothering the teacher...”
“The guy who bothered me? Who are you talking about?”
As one of the few great sages on the continent, many people bothered Byblos.
When asked which of them he was referring to, one of the disciples answered cautiously.
“The guy who bumped into the teacher at the library...”
“Oh, that guy.”
Only then did Byblos nod, remembering Perdes.
The disciples, who took that as a positive reaction, continued speaking in slightly brighter voices.
“He kept coming to the lab, saying he wanted to meet the teacher even though he didn’t know the topic, so I showed him an example.”
“Yes, yes. That’s right. I gave him a warning so he wouldn’t approach the Master again.”
“What did you scold him for?”
The disciples who had been chattering like sparrows in response to the returned question all fell silent.
“Why is that?”
"That is..."
“Stop hesitating and speak straight.”
When Byblos, who had a bad feeling, shouted, the oldest disciple answered, taking up his gun.
“I locked him in the Labyrinth under the pretext of organizing data.”
"What?"
Labyrinth.
It is a word that means 'labyrinth' in ancient language, and it also refers to the place where Byblos collected the materials it had researched up to that point.
As the word suggests, to reach the room containing the data, one must pass through a complex maze. It was so complex that among his disciples, only the oldest one had memorized the path.
But you locked Perdes up there?
Byblos was sad.
“You’ve lost your mind.”
“I, I was going to take him out right away. T, T, I was going to give him a little scolding so he wouldn’t attack the teacher again and then take him out...”
“Stop talking nonsense and bring him here right now!”
"Yes, yes!"
“No. I will bring it.”
Because that would be faster.
As Byblos was walking straight towards the entrance of the Labyrinth, he stopped when he saw a familiar figure walking towards them.
The same was true of the disciples who followed Byblos, fidgeting and restless.
“....”
The opponent also noticed them and stopped.
While they were staring at each other as if they were having a staring contest, it was Perdes who spoke first.
“We finally meet, Great Sage.”
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