The next night.
The main hall of the Magic Association branch had been rearranged.
The light from the crystal chandelier was much softer than during the day, casting a warm yellow glow down upon the newly set long tables and the mouthwatering array of food spread across them.
There were roasted meats, fruit platters, steaming hot soups, pastries stacked like small mountains, and several bottles of clear, colorful fruit wine.
The six newly appointed First-Class Mages were scattered around the hall.
Some stood by the windows talking in low voices, some held cups beside the long tables, and others leaned alone against the pillars.
Naruto stood beside Serie’s high-backed chair, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the six of them.
Serie was still wearing her loose white outfit today, her blonde hair draped over her shoulders.
She sat barefoot cross-legged on the chair, holding a teacup in one hand while resting her other hand on her knee.
She didn’t drink much, only occasionally raising the cup to touch her lips, her gaze leisurely drifting across her new disciples.
“After looking for so long…” Serie asked softly without turning her head, as if asking casually, “what do you think of Lernen?”
Naruto thought for a moment, his gaze landing on a white-haired young man on the right side of the hall.
The man was talking to the man beside him named Klaus, tilting his head slightly as he spoke in a very soft voice.
A polite smile rested on his face, but his eyes revealed a complex expression.
He was Lernen.
Naruto stared at him for a while, then turned his head and whispered, “Master, why do I feel like that big brother named Lernen doesn’t seem all that powerful?”
Serie swirled the teacup in her hand, her gaze also falling upon Lernen.
“He was originally a noble of the Empire,” Serie said in a flat tone.
“It’s just a pity…
he was banished from the court due to a certain incident.”
“If he had been born in an era of war against the Demon King’s Army, he might have become a Mage whose name would go down in history.”
“Go down in history?” Naruto’s eyes widened slightly.
“He’s that amazing?”
Serie didn’t answer.
She set her teacup on the armrest, sat up a bit straighter, and cleared her throat.
Hearing the subtle sound, the conversations of the six people in the hall ceased, and their eyes turned toward her in unison.
Serie merely raised her chin slightly.
Understanding her signal, the six walked up to the high-backed chair one after another, forming a semicircle.
Serie’s gaze swept across their faces one by one, then she turned her head and pointed at Naruto beside her.
“This is the first disciple I have taken in this era, and also your senior fellow disciple, Uzumaki Naruto.”
“For now, he is an unranked apprentice Mage.
I hope you will interact with him more in the future.”
The six of them reacted identically.
Not a single person showed contempt, nor did they give Naruto an extra glance because of the title ‘apprentice Mage’, as if what Serie said was completely natural and taken for granted.
The man standing furthest to the left took a step forward.
He was tall and slender, wearing a black high-collared robe.
His black hair was combed back, revealing a sharply contoured face with a stern and rigorous expression.
“Lord Naruto, I am Walter.
If you ever need assistance in the future, feel free to call on me at any time.”
Naruto opened his mouth, but before he could say ‘you don’t need to call me Lord’, the second person from the left had already stepped forward.
This person was the shortest, about the same height as Naruto.
He had curly short brown hair and wore a half-open short jacket.
When he smiled, his eyes curved into crescent moons, and his voice sounded gentle and easygoing.
“Lord Naruto, my name is Leon.
Please treat me well from now on.”
“My specialty is mana detection magic.
Although my combat capabilities aren’t as strong as the others, I prepare defenses long in advance.”
After saying this, he winked at Naruto, his tone as relaxed as if he were greeting a friend.
Then it was Lernen’s turn.
Lernen stepped forward, crossed his hands in front of him, and bowed slightly, performing standard court etiquette.
“My name is Lernen.
I specialize in researching golem magic and offensive magic.”
“Lord Naruto, I hope we can exchange magic insights in the future.”
Serie spoke up at this moment: “Lernen, you are the very first First-Class Mage since the founding of the Continental Magic Association.”
“Your talent and experience are what I consider top-notch.”
Lernen was slightly stunned, then bowed once more, bending even lower at the waist this time.
“Lady Serie, I will remember this honor.”
Serie leaned against the back of her chair, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Lernen.
Only after a good while did her lips move, her voice carrying a tinge of regret.
“It’s just a pity…
you are far too timid.
You can’t draw out your true talent at all.”
Lernen’s brow twitched slightly.
Serie paused, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
“Could you help me train Naruto?
Perhaps he might even change your personality.”
Lernen raised his eyes, remained silent for two seconds, and then nodded gently.
“I will definitely get along well with Lord Naruto.”
Standing to the side, Naruto seemed to understand something.
When he met his Master before, she had mentioned that she wished present-day Mages would return to the level of the period during the war with the Demon King’s Army.
So having him change Senior Brother Lernen’s personality while having Lernen teach him magic insights and techniques was meant to be mutually beneficial?
Before Naruto could figure out how to respond, the remaining three stepped forward one after another.
“Lord Naruto, I am Klaus,” he said tersely without extra words.
“My specialty is offensive magic of various elemental and physical types.”
Next was a woman wearing a white top paired with a black long skirt.
She had an elegant posture, a serene gait, long hair, a calm and peaceful gaze, and a soft voice: “I am Layla.”
“My specialty lies in mind magic and some of Goddess’s magic.
Please guide me well, Lord Naruto.”
The last one was the tallest man.
He wore an open greyish-brown coat over a simple dark undershirt, looking casual and unconstrained.
He grinned, offering a brief smile.
“Lord Naruto, I am Erich.
My specialty is body enhancement magic.”
All six had finished introducing themselves.
Standing beside Serie, Naruto felt deeply conflicted.
Every single one of them called him ‘Lord Naruto’.
Even though he had the least ability and was just an apprentice Mage without an official rank.
Naruto opened his mouth, wanting to say something like ‘you don’t need to call me Lord’, but swallowed his words back down as they reached his lips.
Because in the eyes of those six people, there was no flattery or intentional fawning.
They simply accepted Serie’s arrangements calmly, looking as if it was only natural.
In the end, Naruto scratched his head, his lips moving as he gave a somewhat awkward smile.
“Th-That…
please guide me well.”
And then he didn’t know what else to say.
Watching this scene, Serie’s lips curved up slightly.
She then sat up straight in her chair, clasped her hands on her knees, and swept her gaze across the six people in front of her.
“Now that the introductions are over, next comes the most important part.”
She paused, lightly tapping her finger against her knee.
“I know almost all magic from the mythical era to the present day.”
“Having become First-Class Mages, you possess a privilege: to ask me for any single magic spell you desire most.”
The expressions of the six underwent subtle changes.
One by one, each stepped forward and spoke the magic spell they wanted.
Serie granted them one by one.
Once it was all over, she leaned back against the chair and let out a long breath.
Naruto stood in place with a slightly bewildered expression on his face.
He looked at Serie, then at the six First-Class Mages who were softly discussing their new magic, and scratched the back of his head.
Whatever magic he wanted to learn, he just asked Master directly…
Except for those of extreme difficulty that couldn’t be learned in a short time, she would patiently teach them all to him.
Naruto felt that he might possess an even greater ‘privilege’ than theirs?