201 Competition 4 (1/2)

Ivan neither agreed nor rejected. He was aware that it wasn't an offer easily made, so rejecting it would be unwise. Not only because it could slight Serene but also because it could mean that he would miss a great opportunity. And just agreeing wasn't smart either. He didn't even know the reason she wanted to make him her disciple. It seemed to have something to do with the herb he had given her, but that was all he knew.

But before he could think more about it an angry voice interrupted his thoughts. ”Teacher, how could you ask someone like him to be your disciple?”, the voice belonged to that annoying man who had insisted on having a bet with him.

”Shut up!”, Serene reprimanded him, ”Haven't you ridiculed yourself enough yet?”

Knowing that he wouldn't agree that easily, she then turned back towards Ivan and started to explain. ”From the way you have handled this herb, I can see that you didn't know what kind of herb it was when you harvested it. But even so, you managed to nearly perfectly conserve all its medical effects. This isn't something that can be done just by learning. Instead, it requires a certain talent.

Unlike your master Bea here, I don't really focus on pill refining. It is more of a side hobby for me. Something I picked up to improve my true passion which is growing herbs.”

Miss. Klein nodded. ”She is truly talented in this area. Still, her talent in pill refining sucks.”, although she agreed with the part about herb growing, she also took the opportunity to strike her opponent.

Ivan was slightly surprised to hear her speaking out for Serene. Did that mean that she thought he should accept the offer? No, he shouldn't just accept the offer like this. As mentioned before, taking a master was something important so he shouldn't make the decision hastily.

”Could you let me think about it?”, he asked carefully.

”Of course.”, Serene agreed. She too knew that it wasn't something that should be done hastily. If she didn't have such a good understanding of Bea she too wouldn't have made an offer like this so soon after meeting. But since that girl had accepted him as a disciple, that could only mean that his personality was good enough.

”How about I come with you to your realm, when you leave? Then I can start teaching you about herb cultivating and you can make your decision better.”, she then offered to everyone's surprise.

”Don't you have anything to do?”, Miss Klein asked her. There was a slight annoyance in her voice. But it seemed like she was a bit happy as well.

”Not at all. And it isn't like anyone can say anything about it.”, Serene responded, before grinning at Miss. Klein, ”Don't tell me you don't want your aunt to visit you.”

”Hmpf, who is my aunt.”

”Huh?”, everyone exclaimed. None of them would have guessed that they were related, seeing how they had gone against each other as soon as they had met.

”What can't members of a family fight each other?”, Serene asked.

Everyone hurriedly shook their head. No wonder their interaction had been a bit weird. It wasn't really as if they were foes. There hadn't been any true hostility shown. But everyone had only thought that it was because they were rivals.

”But they look completely different.”, Ivan lightly murmured to himself.

He hadn't even finished, when a death stare focused on him. ”Did you say something?”, his master asked him in a sharp voice.

He hurriedly shook his head. ”No, I didn't say anything.”

”Oh? Is that so? I could have sworn I have heard a certain someone say that I look very different from her. Don't tell me you think I'm too small to be her relative?”

Ivan shook in fear. Normally Miss. Klein was very nice. But there was something she was sensitive about and that was her size. Anyone who mentioned it in front of her was sure to receive her anger.