No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't understand how her two disciples could represent two completely unbelievable extremes.
One was an absurd genius.
The other was unbelievably stupid.
Of course, it was only natural that she couldn't figure it out.
Ash simply had far more experience with magic than either she or even her own teacher. The only thing he lacked was knowledge of this world's magic.
Still, most of the questions and problems she raised could be solved through his experience and his instincts as a demon. Along the way, he'd even taught her some physics, increasing the power of her magic.
Unfortunately, Ash had also tried teaching her the methods from his homeland for training one's magic power and increasing one's total mana.
People in this world simply couldn't use them.
That wasn't particularly strange, though.
Not every world's magic was as versatile as the magic in his world.
There, it could become a shield, be fired directly as an attack, imitate this world's magic, and do so with astonishing efficiency.
It was practically capable of anything.
The amount of mana possessed by living beings in this world, however, seemed to be fixed from birth.
At least, that was what the books said, and what Roxy believed.
There was no such thing as training to increase it.
As a result, what people in this world learned as "magic" was simply how to use the mana they already had, and how to refine and control it more precisely.
———
Before they knew it, another half year had passed.
At first, Roxy had stubbornly insisted that Ash call her "Master."
But gradually...
One night, while Ash was still in his room worrying over the lack of progress in his immortality research and staring at the incomprehensible doodles he'd drawn, someone knocked on his door.
Roxy stood quietly outside.
"What's wrong at this hour, Master Roxy? It's already bedtime for kids."
Ash teased her with the tone of someone humoring a child.
"If you don't get back to bed soon, you won't grow any taller."
"I'm not getting any taller anyway. More importantly, did you forget I'm the elder here? And..."
Roxy instinctively shot back, though by now she didn't really care much about things like that anymore.
Today, however, she wore a bitter expression, looked away awkwardly, and said, "I know it's a selfish request at this point... but please stop calling me Master."
"Huh? Are you mad? Why? Because I made you eat that food before? Or because I drew on your face while you were asleep? Or the time I wrote a bunch of tally marks on Ghislaine's thigh, then ran away and left you alone with that furious beast? Or... did you finally realize it wasn't Ghislaine who kept stealing the desserts you hid in the cupboard, it was me?"
"So you're the one who's been stealing my desserts all this time!"
The bitterness on Roxy's face vanished instantly as she cried out in shock.
Ash, however, looked helpless and answered sincerely, "If it's because of those things, I'll apologize. If that's not enough, I'll reflect on my actions too."
"It's not because of those things! But why would you do stuff like that? Do you really hate me?"
"Of course not. It's just that when I'm bored... I can't help myself. Besides, your reactions are funny."
"What kind of reason is that?"
"To put it simply, your reactions are cute."
He smiled and honestly spoke his mind.
"I see. Still, you should say things like that to girls your own age. Don't waste them on me. And don't casually say things like that to your elders."
Roxy immediately rebutted him with a serious face, though she also looked a little happy and embarrassed.
She's such an easy-to-read, adorable kid. It almost feels like it'd be a waste not to bring her home somehow.
Faced with such a cute little girl who loved to grumble, Ash really did reflect on his habit of constantly wanting to tease her.
Though reflecting on it was one thing.
Whether he'd actually correct it was another.
After all, humans always repeat the same mistakes...
Though he wasn't human.
Seeing him apparently reflecting on himself, Roxy felt her lecture had at least had some effect, so she didn't continue that topic.
Instead, she habitually put on a stern face and said unhappily, "I'll definitely have a proper talk with you later about all the things you did before. But first, let's discuss something else."
"What is it?"
"Stop calling me Master."
"So you really are still angry?"
"It's not about being angry."
"I'll buy you twice as many desserts tomorrow?"
"Thank you. But even if you try to bribe me with desserts, I'm still going to lecture you later."
Roxy politely thanked him, yet still looked at him as though saying, Just wait until later.
After calming herself, she let out a long sigh, wearing an unmistakably troubled expression as Ash watched with a headache.
"I'm actually saying this for your sake."
"For mine?"
"Because you probably don't want to call someone weaker than yourself 'Master,' do you?"
"I don't mind. Besides, it was you who—"
"I'm sorry about that."
"Mhm. I accept your apology."
He nodded with a smile without the slightest hesitation.
Rather than feeling relieved at being forgiven, Roxy instead felt something strange stirring deep inside her. She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you messing with me?"
"Don't worry about that. Go on."
"Stop interrupting me!"
Roxy complained unhappily before continuing with mixed feelings.
"Even if you're willing, I'm not willing to be called Master by someone who's going to surpass me so soon. That would just make me a laughingstock."
"Shouldn't teaching a disciple who becomes better than you be something to be proud of?"
"But even I might become jealous of a disciple who's far stronger than I am."
"I don't think you're that kind of person."
"You can't be so sure. Maybe I'm just holding it in right now. If one day I can't hold it back anymore, who knows what I might say?"
Perhaps she really was speaking from experience.
Sitting down beside him, Roxy smiled somewhat bitterly as she tried to frighten him in a gentle voice.
"I'd really like to know what angry things you'd say when you're jealous, Roxy."
"Hmm... Maybe something like, 'You're nothing but a filthy, lowly demon,' or 'You're just some country bumpkin,' I suppose."
"I-is that so?"
Those were probably things people said to her before, 'That's awful... Though somehow I feel like I got insulted too.'
Ash's expression became a little strange.
Roxy had deliberately picked examples that wouldn't accidentally hit him.
Yet somehow, he still looked as though he'd been scolded.
She was puzzled at first, but then figured he was simply feeling bad for her. Without realizing it, she smiled gently and reached out to pat his head.
"You're not a demon, and you're not from the countryside, so don't worry about it. It was just an example."
"No, it's fine. I was just thinking... your own master was really awful. But even knowing people like that exist, I still don't think you'd ever become that kind of person."
"I used to think the same thing about my own master."
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