I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 171 Famous Teacher
When the clock on the hanging bell rang, Benjamin rubbed his eyes and realized it was only five o'clock.

Which jerk was so inconsiderate as to set the time so early?
Just as he was about to turn over and go back to sleep, his eyes suddenly widened.

Well, he was planning to send another message to harass them. But the carrier pigeon takes time to fly, and it would take a while for the other party to arrive. He couldn't afford to stay up too late while he was sleeping.

It was another magical letter. Benjamin breathed a sigh of relief after sending it. He scratched his protruding belly, feeling sleepy.

However, I was interrupted by my desire to watch the show.

As he washed up, Benjamin was filled with anticipation for what was about to happen.

Although there were rumors that DuPont had become the dean's disciple, as his mentor, how could he not know the truth? It was completely unfounded. On the contrary, he had been chosen by an outside archmage and was only temporarily staying at the academy.

However, the Grand Master still had to be given face. DuPont was no longer the hopeless architecture student he could easily manipulate. If they met, not only would he have to make sarcastic remarks, but he would also have to put on a smile. Even when he tried to cause trouble, he had to do it secretly. Thinking about it, it was really infuriating.

This 35-year-old Five Rings Mage is always a guest of honor wherever he goes. Even the city lord of White Stone City has to give him face. If he chooses to settle down in one place, the city lord of any city will give him a small villa to live in permanently. Even if he kills someone, it won't be tried by the local court. But now, he can't even handle an apprentice in the academy.

Just a month ago, DuPont wanted to see him but he couldn't be bothered to even acknowledge him. He wondered what had gotten into this guy to have grown to this point.

Benjamin left home at 5:30, and the cafeteria hadn't started serving food yet. He was getting really bored while waiting, and worried that sitting there would be too conspicuous, so he simply picked up a kettlebell from the ground in the fighting square and started playing with it.

However, upon trying it out, he discovered that this thing was not simple at all. Even the medium-sized model was a bit heavy for him, but after exerting his brute strength, it became much better, and for a while he was able to wield it with great skill.

Soon the instructors outside arrived one after another. Seeing Benjamin swaying back and forth with a big toad, they all suppressed their laughter and greeted him, "Hey, are you dieting here?"

"It's about exercising," Benjamin said, panting. "You're getting old, you need to exercise."

"What's the point of just training strength?" the teacher joked. "Why not add some Bear's Tenacity? Wouldn't that make you even more formidable in bed?"

"Hehe, why not just train one and then add the other?" As he spoke, a white horse clad in armor arrived, and Benjamin's eyes widened at the sight of the dashing and extraordinary knight on it.

Holy crap, is this DuPont's girlfriend? Is that guy Lady Luck's lover? How can he be so lucky?

Deva didn't sleep much last night. The thought of DuPont embracing the female pastor of Shuni Church made her angrier and angrier. She didn't finally close her eyes until almost midnight, and then someone came to deliver mail in the morning.

This made her very angry.

Who is so mean to cause such trouble in a relationship?

However, considering that it was already dawn, Deva wasn't afraid of any evil spirits lying in ambush. She rode her celestial warhorse all the way here and indeed didn't encounter any ambushes. However, Deva's heart was still pounding.

Once they reached the vicinity of the academy, they were unlikely to encounter any danger. Since it wasn't retaliation from the vampire forces, it must be targeting her and DuPont.

But DuPont and I aren't a couple, at most we're in a somewhat ambiguous relationship, so why would he do this?
Is it because they're too full and have nothing better to do?

Deva didn't expect that she had unintentionally guessed the correct answer, but when she saw the fluttering banners of the beautiful woman and the sun, she immediately understood something.

At the very least, that photo is very likely genuine.

However, she had clearly arrived a bit too early; she hadn't even seen many students yet, which reminded her of something.

She didn't know where DuPont lived.

However, as a paladin, she was naturally not socially awkward. Deva found a mentor and asked him directly, but the man pointed to the big fat man in the square next to her: "That mentor, Benjamin, is DuPont's homeroom teacher. He should know more about him."

"Hello, Professor." Deva greeted him politely as she entered the square. "I'd like to visit DuPont, but I don't know where his dorm is. Could you please tell me?"

"Looking for DuPont?" Benjamin threw down the kettlebell and wiped his sweat. "But I wonder what this young lady wants with DuPont? He's a big shot in our college. You'll probably need to register first."

"I'm his teammate on the adventure, and I need to talk to him about something." The paladin's expression remained normal, but he keenly sensed that something was amiss.

At this hour, very few people in the Mage Academy were awake. Since it wasn't an ambush, the person who wrote the letter was most likely someone from within the academy. The instructors who arrived by carriage were obviously not messengers. On the contrary, this guy who was training here, and who was also an acquaintance of DuPont, seemed rather suspicious. For example, this guy who was training.

A person who can exercise with self-discipline would naturally not become as fat as a ball. Being this fat has nothing to do with self-discipline. Considering my previous findings, this guy is probably very suspicious.

Benjamin, unaware that he had become a suspect, wiped away his sweat and maintained his composure: "That's fine, you're really lucky. DuPont was hosting these visiting church people yesterday, he should be in his dorm."

Deva feigned surprise: "He's going to receive these church people? I remember he was just an apprentice, wasn't he?"

"DuPont is incredibly talented. Achieving four grades in three years is astonishing. He's comparable to the sons of powerful mage families in the capital. This is the first time Northwest College has produced such a talent." Benjamin chuckled. "That's why he became the student representative. Yesterday's reception was quite a spectacle, with singing and dancing. He completely captivated the girls from the Shuni Church."

While it's quite possible that she charmed the young girl, Deva's expertise reminded her of a phrase: veiled sarcasm.

The suspicion against the other party has increased again. Deva pretended to have a gloomy expression: "He has this ability?"

“Don’t you know?” Benjamin asked in surprise. “Even the bards at Shuni’s church thought his singing was very good. They said that if he practiced for a while, he could become a bard. It’s a pity that DuPont probably has other ambitions and wasted his talent. Otherwise, he might have become a heartthrob in the future.”

Thinking about DuPont's exaggerated charisma, Deva suddenly thought of a question: "By the way, why didn't DuPont choose to become a paladin? His physical attributes should have been a good fit, right?"

Benjamin narrowed his eyes when the matter was brought up.

He first met DuPont during the freshman recruitment three years ago. At that time, he was short and small, but it was not his father who sent him: "I remember that it was his family's butler who sent him. He said that his family wanted him to become a mage, since the status of a mage like Harua was higher. As for anything else, I don't know much."

"The conditions in the Nas Desert are harsh, and mages can produce magical items and provide political assistance, so it can't be considered a wrong choice."

Deva nodded silently: "I see. But I heard that most people prioritize learning survival skills?"

"Yes, about a third of the spells should be learned first, such as self-defense spells and production skills. Only mages who can live have a future. Otherwise, if an adventurer dies by accident, it is not only a great loss to his family, but also to the academy."

During their conversation, the two entered the academy and arrived at their dormitory. Benjamin, with the air of a wise elder, said, "Back then, it took me four years to even touch the third ring. This kid might be able to do it this year. He's probably destined to become a great mage. It's rare to see a boy with this kind of potential, and he's also quite good-looking. I wonder how many women he'll attract in the future."

Deva fell silent.

As they approached their destination, Benjamin took out a magic book, the very copybook he had previously intended to sell to DuPont. He handed the book to Deva: "I have high hopes for DuPont, but he's too stubborn, and I don't know how to get along with him. Please pass this book on to him for me. I hope he graduates soon and brings more glory to Northwest College."

Deva took the book, then hesitated for a moment.

Although I'm not a mage, knowledge related to mages is not cheap; such a thick book probably costs over a hundred gold coins.

Could this guy not be the mastermind behind it all?
No, if we go by the letter, DuPont is probably still sleeping with that Reverend Shuni and hasn't gotten up yet. He delivered the book to her here, so she obviously had no choice but to go into the dormitory to catch them in the act.

Thinking of this, Deva couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly.

Did the other party know his identity, or even know that he planned to have his mother take him as an apprentice, and intend to use this to drive a wedge between the two of them?
But DuPont isn't a blabbermouth; how could the other party know so much?
Could it be my mother's enemy?

Just as Deva was racking her brains, the two arrived at the dormitory. Benjamin said goodbye and turned to leave, but Deva glanced at the homeroom teacher who seemed like a kind mentor, and still knocked on the door.

She can't figure out the answer on her own, so she should ask DuPont.

As for the female pastor who might be naked and sharing a blanket with someone...
Deva gritted her teeth, a hint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

I had long heard that the Church of Shuni was practically the embodiment of succubi, only slightly better than the Church of Pleasure, which was in charge of lust and hedonism.

She wanted to see if it was true.

"Wait." A voice came from inside, but it wasn't DuPont's voice; it was a somewhat sweet female voice: "Who are you looking for?"

“DuPont.” Deva clenched her fist and walked through the open door.

(End of this chapter)