All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 295

295. Side Story – Same Life, Different Perspective – 1

The village of Toswen nestled near the Great Forest.

Once a week, a witch would visit this village.

Hair as dark as the night sky.

Skin as pale as jade.

Thick eyelashes framing eyes and a finely sculpted nose.

And eyes that held a depth and wisdom beyond anyone else’s.

This witch, beautiful in every way, walked through the village dressed in a black and white maid’s outfit.

“Wow, I’d love to talk to her,” one of the village youths blurted out.

The woman beside him nudged him sharply in the ribs.

“What are you saying about the Great Witch?”

“Right. She teaches us so much, filling the Sage’s role when he’s away. What could someone like you possibly offer?”

“Tch. Still, I’d like to try my luck.”

“Hmph. Even the village chief’s son can barely stammer a greeting in front of her. What chance do you have?”

“What? Don’t underestimate me. You think Yohane, son of the best vegetable shop in Toswen, can’t handle that?”

Yohane cleared his throat dramatically and strode towards Circe.

But as he approached, he felt himself shrinking.

She was smaller than him, not physically imposing at all.

Yet, her presence was far more commanding than the fearsome mercenaries who occasionally passed through the village.

“Uh… Um… G-Great Witch?”

“Yohane, isn’t it? What is it?”

“Huh? You know me?”

“Ahaha… Well, yes.”

The Great Witch Circe knew him, a mere villager.

Yohane was taken aback.

And deeply moved.

“I-It’s an honor…”

“So, what’s the matter?”

“Uh… well, you see…”

What should he say?

Should he confess his love at first sight?

Or perhaps invite her for a cup of tea?

But even the thought of uttering such words felt disrespectful, almost sacrilegious.

Circe gazed at him with eyes that seemed to see into his very soul.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Yes.”

As she shook her head, seemingly reading his mind, Yohane’s shoulders slumped in dejection.

Still, it would be a great honor to have even spoken to the Great Witch Circe.

As he turned away, Circe sighed softly.

Just then…

“Hey! You pretty lady over there!”

“How about we share a drink together?”

Were they wandering mercenaries?

Everyone in this village knew Circe, yet these men, drawn by her beauty, dared to approach her.

The mercenaries, faces scarred and weathered, grinned as they advanced. Circe simply raised her hand.

Instantly, a staff materialized out of thin air.

“…Huh.”

“What’s that, some kind of artifact?”

“Ruvine Kellin. You committed murder in the Duchy of Chohand and fled to become a mercenary. Widdy Mista. You committed the rape and murder of a noble and are on the run. Walter Ballagh. You were caught stealing in Sogen Village and fled to become a mercenary.”

The mercenaries stiffened, their eyes widening as Circe accurately identified them, despite it being their first time in the village.

They raised their weapons, sending wary glances instead of trying to flirt with her as before.

“…What are you?”

“How do you know about me?”

“You damn witch…”

Circe spoke coldly.

“Get lost.”

But they didn’t back down.

Afraid their secrets would be revealed, they charged at her.

Circe pointed her staff.

-KWA-KWAA-KWANG!!

A bolt of lightning descended from the clear sky.

The golden energy instantly engulfed them, burning them to a crisp.

The village guards rushed over at the sound.

“Huh?!”

“What’s this? Lady Circe, what happened?”

“They are criminals from the Osende Kingdom. Could you contact the kingdom?”

“Ah, yes. I understand. Thank you!”

A reward would be given for turning in criminals.

The village of Toswen, located near the Great Forest, was exempt from taxes thanks to the forest, the Sage living within it, and the witch, but they were always short on funds.

So the guards were happy to take care of the charred bodies.

“But did you come to buy groceries?”

“Yes. I’m almost out of food.”

“Oh… There have been quite a few mercenaries around lately. Some might even dare to attack the witch. How about we escort you…?”

“Me?”

Circe smiled.

The guards were momentarily stunned by her beauty but quickly shook their heads.

“O-Of course, we are weak compared to the Great Witch…”

“But still, the Great Witch wouldn’t need to lift a finger…”

“It’s alright.”

As she smiled softly and declined, the guards were disappointed.

“But the Sage didn’t come with you today?”

“Ah… Master. Master has other business to attend to.”

“I see. I understand.”

As the guards greeted her and left, Circe sighed softly.

“Haa. Master.”

After buying everything she needed and arranging for it to be sent to her house, Circe headed to the tavern.

In front of the large tavern at the edge of the village, a group of drunks had gathered.

“Uwaaaa!”

“Lost again!! This is a scam!!”

The drunks seemed to be playing a dice game.

Circe headed straight for them.

“Oh? The Great Witch is here?”

“Witch! Have a drink!”

As the ever-cheerful drunks shouted, Circe shook her head.

She couldn’t understand why they drank such tasteless alcohol that only clouded their minds.

“Where’s Master?”

A drunk with a red nose pointed to the gambling table.

Pushing through the crowd, she saw a young man running the game.

Keltud.

The Sage of the Great Forest, unchanged from ten years ago.

“Alright, alright. Place your bets. Is it 1, 2, 3? Or 4, 5, 6?”

“Ugh…”

“I’ll win this time for sure!”

Three dice were placed inside a straw basket.

He spun the basket quickly with practiced movements and placed it on the ground, and people began to bet their money.

Of course, it was only small money, a few coins, but everyone was tense with the excitement of gambling.

“Oops! 1, 2, 3! Even!”

“Damn it!”

“Sage! Are you cheating?!”

Keltud, who had swept up the stakes, raised his head.

Circe was covering her face as if she couldn’t bear to watch.

“You’re here? Did you buy everything?”

“Yes. But Master, why are you gambling like this?”

“Can’t I?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“Then it’s fine.”

Everyone revered and respected her.

And they acted as if they were mesmerized by her beauty.

It wasn’t just the villagers.

Nobles from nearby territories often came to see her.

Yet, her master, whom she had served since she was young, didn’t even give them a second glance.

It was as if the obviousness of this world was not obvious to him.

“Let’s go, Master.”

“Oh my~ The Sage’s sister is here!”

“S-Sister? I am someone who serves Master as…”

“Still, seeing how the Great Witch acts, it’s like a sister.”

“She used to be like a daughter. Sage, aren’t you getting old?”

“How can I be called a Sage if I don’t even know immortality?”

“Huh. Immortality. Good. How do you do it?”

As the drunks sipped their alcohol and asked, he smiled.

“Quit drinking first.”

“…I’ll just live and die according to my lifespan. And the Sage just drinks, doesn’t he?”

“This much alcohol isn’t even alcohol to me.”

He drank a large glass full of strong alcohol in one gulp, but his face didn’t even change color.

Circe, who was watching, approached Keltud.

“Alright, alright. Master, stop it and let’s go now. Tonight’s dinner is Tokendi [a type of local dish], which Master likes.”

“Oh. Really? Hey, Owner.”

“Yes!”

As the owner came out, Keltud gave him all the money he had won.

“Use this to buy them some drinks.”

“Oh my! Thank you!”

“Yeah~ The Sage is the best!”

“You guys challenge me every time you gamble with me, even though you lose every time. I’m giving it to you because I admire that. But don’t expect it next time.”

Keltud, who smiled at the drunks he liked, got up.

“Let’s go, Master.”

“Give me the shopping basket. I’ll carry it for you.”

“Yes? No. I’ll carry it…”

With a swift movement, Keltud snatched the shopping basket from Circe’s hand and carried it.

As he strode ahead, Circe sighed and followed him.

The drunks who saw it chuckled.

“They look good together.”

“But it doesn’t seem like a relationship between a man and a woman. It’s more like close siblings.”

“Why is that?”

The question didn’t last long.

The drunks who saw the alcohol the owner brought started chuckling again and began to drink.

As they entered the house in the Great Forest, Circe immediately started working.

Cleaning the house.

Organizing the storage.

She also had to organize the freezer in the basement.

In addition, she had to prepare food for Set, the giant monster that Keltud had caught last year, which he raised behind the house.

Not only that, but she also had to prepare a bath for him, who wanted to bathe every day.

There was a mountain of things to do, but Circe didn’t complain.

“Master, the bath is ready.”

“Puppy, is the food ready?”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Really? Then I have to feed him and take a bath.”

“But Master, if you name Set so cutely…”

Keltud stared at her.

“It’s already been ten years since I met you.”

“That’s right.”

“I’m asking just in case, but you don’t see me as a man or anything like that, do you?”

“I don’t feel that way, but I do think of you as a father. Isn’t that strange? I’ve never even seen my father.”

Anyway, she had learned and received a lot from Keltud.

That’s why she always thought of him as a guardian and the master she had to serve.

At her words, Keltud shook his head.

“That’s not exactly a good thing either. Well. Anyway, I’ve been saying it consistently over the past time. If my words and actions are difficult to understand, leave. That would be better for you.”

That’s right.

He was a world collector who roamed other dimensions, so it would be difficult for her, who was just a component of this world, to understand him.

So if it was hard to accept, leave.

Circe, recalling the words she had heard yesterday, shook her head.

“It’s not hard and I don’t dislike it. It’s just a little hard to understand. And I don’t want to leave Master alone.”

Keltud smiled at her.

“Then it’s fine.”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

The story that always came up was over.

Circe felt a little disappointed.

People always said that she and Keltud were like family.

When she was young, she was like a daughter.

Now, she was like a sister.

But the reality was this.

Even she, who served him, couldn’t fully understand him.

Not being understood by others.

She thought that was the same as being constantly lonely.

“What are you doing?”

“Yes? No. I’m going now.”

Circe followed Keltud outside.

When she went behind the house, a black dragon with a body covered in scales, huge wings, and red eyes was sitting and yawning.

“Krrr…”

And as soon as he saw Circe, he bared his sharp teeth.

Set.

A powerful monster that could destroy a city in a day if it appeared in one.

As the monster, who hated all living things, began to emit hatred, Keltud stepped forward.

“I told you not to bare your teeth at the person who feeds you.”

“Krrr. I’m sorry.”

“Yes. Good boy.”

Even that monster was just a gentle lamb in front of Keltud.

Set acted cute, and Keltud stroked his large head with seven horns and said.

“Bring the food.”

“Yes.”

She placed the prepared lump of meat in front of him.

As Set began to eat it, Keltud said calmly.

“You should start getting close to Puppy soon.”

“…Honestly, I’m not confident. No. How can I get close to that thing?”

As Circe was at a loss, Keltud smiled.

That smile.

That smile, as if no one understood him, looked so sad to Circe.

That’s why she had no choice but to say.

“…I’ll try.”

At those words, Keltud raised his hand and stroked Circe’s head.

“Excellent.”