The Villains I Taught Became Heroes

43 – Preparation Period – 1

The staff we acquired from the ruins this time is a magic-imbued staff.

It absorbs ambient magic and enhances the power of spells when held, making it a decent weapon for the early to mid-stages.

But in terms of value, Lena, who will eventually grant me the status of a sage, is more precious.

I lightly tapped Lena’s forehead as she stared blankly.

“You sometimes underestimate yourself. To me, you are more valuable than anything as my apprentice.”

One of Lena’s flaws is her excessive self-deprecation.

Her talent is remarkable, to the point where it could be called extraordinary by most standards.

However, due to her severe self-deprecation, there were instances when she couldn’t fully showcase her abilities.

“Those who cannot love themselves find it difficult to receive love. While excessive self-love is a problem, too much self-deprecation is also not good.”

“…Yes.”

Are you listening to me?

Lena was staring blankly ahead.

Having flicked my fingers in front of her eyes a few times, I sighed at Lena’s absent-mindedness.

She’s fine usually, but occasionally zoning out like this.

“Anyway, since we’ve finished exploring the ruins, how about having fun as we promised today?”

It’s great to be hardcore, but when letting loose, gotta really let loose.

We’re in the big city anyway, might as well have a blast.

“Hot! Four, net!!”

At my words, Lena finally snapped back to reality, blinking.

Alright. Now, what should we do for fun?

“Is there anything you want to do?”

“Uh, well, um… What, what about?”

“First, should we go check out some clothes?”

I promised to buy her an outfit.

The clothes Lena had on were just ordinary ones bought hastily in the village.

The completion of fashion is originally in the face. Even with ragged clothes, Lena, a girl with silver hair and clear blue eyes, would look pretty, but wouldn’t it be better to dress her in something nice like a crimson skirt?

I took her to the clothing store in Greenhill.

Perhaps because it’s a renowned clothing store in this huge city, it was different in every way from the stores in our village.

Besides activewear or combat gear, they had quite a variety of things like dresses suitable for parties.

“First, try picking out what you want.”

“Yes, yes!”

She eagerly exclaimed and began selecting clothes with a summoned field.

While watching her do that, the shop owner approached.

“Oh my! Mister~ Are you looking for clothes for this young lady?”

“Yes. Do you have anything nice?”

“That silver hair! Those blue eyes! Ahaha~! The artistic soul burns within! I’ll pick something very elegant for her!”

He’s enthusiastic. The shop owner started picking out clothes joyfully.

Should I pick out something appropriate for me too?

It took a while.

When I had chosen a sturdy outfit for myself and was waiting, Lena, now wearing a different outfit, approached me.

“Uh, how is it?!”

The green Vietnamese skirt paired with a crimson jacket. How on earth did she manage to find something like that?

But more than the striking colors, why are the shoulder pads so enormous?

I looked at Lena and Sylphide, both smiling confidently. Observing Lena and Sylphide, who were confidently flaunting their outfits and emitting a sense of self-assurance, I found myself speechless.

Was that the best they could come up with, despite the overwhelming confidence?

It seemed like they had put their heads together to choose those eccentric fashions. Was that really the best they could do?

Around the time Lena seemed at a loss for words regarding the bizarre fashion she had chosen, the shop owner approached us, bursting into hearty laughter.

“Ohohohohoooo! Oh my eyes!”

He seemed to be strongly affected by Lena, the fashion terrorist.

Expressing his desire to gouge his own eyes out, he approached me and pleaded earnestly.

“Mister?! You’re not thinking of buying those clothes, are you?! I never thought we’d have such inelegant clothes in our store!”

Admittedly, those oversized shoulder pads did have a touch of avant-garde.

Anyway, the shop owner, wearing an expression of disdain, showed me the clothes he had chosen.

“Mister?! How about this outfit?!”

The shop owner had selected a bright white blouse and a blue skirt that looked refreshing.

It was a clean and cool outfit that, even in my opinion, seemed to suit Lena well.

“Well… um, isn’t that a bit, you know, inappropriate?”

Today, I discovered another flaw in Lena.

Her fashion sense is truly terrible.

But then again, thinking back to the time of the Silent Witch, she always wore detestable clothes.

“Mas… master, what do you, um, think?”

Smiling at her sparkling eyes, I gave her an amused look.

“Hehehe~!”

Of course, Lena didn’t buy the outfit she chose.

I was considering buying it for her since she seemed to want it so badly, but the owner refused to sell it altogether.

Although the completion of fashion is said to be the face, I was relieved that the traffic light fashion didn’t work out.

Still, Lena looked delighted to have received new clothes, and a bright smile adorned her face.

“Since we’re buying clothes, it might be a good idea to get a robe as well.”

Having mastered basic magic, Lena could now be called a wizard.

In that case, it seems appropriate to dress properly.

“Uh, where, where are we going?”

Leading Lena, who was tilting her head, we headed towards a small building.

It was one of the branches of the Ivory Tower where artifacts could be purchased.

“I do want to give you the artifact I have, but it’s too early for you.”

“Is, is that so?”

“Yeah.”

There is something decent, but I should take care of that around the time of graduation.

With Lena trailing behind me, we approached the branch of the Ivory Tower, and the door opened roughly.

“Get out! You bastards!!”

“Aaah!”

Three huge thugs floated in the air and fell outside.

Lena, surprised by this, clutched her staff and screamed, while I sneakily glanced inside.

A middle-aged man with a scorched face, probably from a fierce fire, was visible.

“Ugh, Master.”

Lena, who was sensitive to strangers, quickly hid behind me.

The bearded middle-aged man, whether to say something or not, glanced at me and Lena before wiping his palm.

“Oh~ Guests, aren’t you? Come on in~.”

This man. Proda.

The fierce expression he had just moments ago disappeared, and he was now smiling warmly.

If I hadn’t seen that previous expression, I would have thought this smile was his default, so natural was the change.

“We’re looking to purchase a robe suitable for her.”

“Hmm… and? Have you mastered beginner magic?”

“Oh, yes, yes!”

“In that case, this is the best! A beginner wizard’s robe for those just starting in magic!”

He pulled out a brown robe that could also be used as a coat.

It was an artifact made of thick material with water-resistant magic, providing decent physical and magical defense.

In the game, it would be considered an early shop item, useful for the beginning stages.

“Do you have anything other than that?”

I showed him the pendant I took out from my pocket.

Ivory Tower, the official proof of a certified mage. As soon as the middle-aged man saw it, his expression changed.

“Oh, are you a colleague? In that case, the conversation is different. It seems like this young lady is a disciple… How far do you intend to raise her?”

“To the level of an advanced mage.”

“Well then, it’ll take at least ten years.”

Although this man is proficient, it seems he lacks the ability to recognize others’ talents.

Well, the skill to discern talents is indeed a rare skill.

“Ten years… hehehe…”

“There won’t be a need for ten years.”

It will be completed within a year for sure. I gently stroked Lena’s head.

In the meantime, the man emerged from the inside with a box and presented three items.

From Noble mtl dot com

“Choose one of these.”

I recognize all three items.

The first robe is called the Shadow Robe, which deals additional damage when mastering dark magic.

The second is the Nature Robe, enhancing damage when mastering nature magic.

The third is the Invisibility Robe. Literally, a robe enchanted with invisibility magic.

“I-Invisibility?! Then, isn’t this the best one?”

“It only makes the appearance invisible, not the magical aura.”

“Ah… Well, if it can be sensed magically, it’s meaningless…”

He seems very disappointed.

What were you planning to do with that?

After giving Lena’s head a firm pat, I chose the Nature Robe.

“I’ll take this one. And the color should be white.”

“If it’s white, won’t it get dirty easily?”

“Artifacts don’t get dirty.”

“Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! That’s, that’s amazing!”

“Water resistance is standard, aside from the robe. Miss, is there anything else you need, like a wand or…”

“I-I already have a wand!”

“Hmm… Oh, that’s a magical wand. Quite nice, isn’t it? You should take good care of your weapons.”

“What?”

What on earth is he talking about?

He, who had caught Rob between Lena and me, handed it to Lena while nonchalantly saying, “You all must be aware that a magic competition is taking place in Greenhilld City. Because of that, there are those who roam around hunting novice magicians in this city.”

“Hunting novice magicians.”

Now, this is an interesting story.

Though Lena’s face turned pale, I urged him to continue the tale.

“Some folks, if they spot novices wearing good equipment, boldly attack to snatch away those items.”

“Oh…”

“Lady, the wand you possess and the robe of nature are treasures that others would eagerly covet. Be sure to protect them well.”

He chuckled and handed me two potions as gifts.

Lena seemed extremely tense, frozen in place.

Such a scaredy-cat.

“M-Master, w-will you st-stay with m-me?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Certainly, I have no intention of fighting.

As soon as we left the shop, a customer arrived.

Not for me, but targeting Lena.

“Oh~. Miss~. That wand looks nice. Mind lending it to me? Hehehe~.”

They looked rough.

Their equipment wasn’t bad. Are they magicians? Well, such details don’t really matter.

“Lena.”

“Ah, y-yes?!”

“The things they have. Quite good ones.”

“Wh-what? So, what should I do?”

So, what indeed.

“Borrow them for a bit.”