I Possessed the Heroine’s Teacher

Zig and Media’s mansion.

Werner placed Iris in her cradle and let out a short sigh. If it weren’t for Lorcha, who had been waiting outside and had treated his wound with bandages, he would have been in real danger. He asked Lorcha to investigate the magic sword that had stabbed him, and he thought he could just get treatment if there was a problem. Werner brushed the hair of Iris, who was giggling, as he tried to keep his expression calm.

“Your mom and dad will be here soon, so just wait a little longer.”

Werner had been gritting his teeth because his side was burning, but he was trying to endure it. He was looking forward to telling Zig and Media how he had found the clue, where he had gone, how he had fought, and about being stabbed. He was sure they would praise him, saying that he had done a great job, and ask if he was okay after being stabbed. They would also scold him for not being careful.

Werner smiled as he imagined this, but then he grimaced and clutched his side. He had been stabbed before, but this was the first time he felt such pain. He kept swallowing because he felt like his whole body was boiling.

Werner planned to ask Media to treat him, but he tried to keep his expression calm as he looked at Iris, who was smiling at him.

“Tsk, you’re laughing even though you made me get stabbed. You think it’s funny, you little rascal?”

Werner felt awkward making a joke to a baby who couldn’t even talk, so he turned his gaze towards the door and waited for Zig and Media. He started straightening his clothes, thinking that they would arrive soon after receiving the news. He had borrowed a new set of clothes from Lorcha because his own clothes were completely ruined.

The door opened, and Zig and Media entered with excited faces. Werner greeted them with a happy face.

“Brother, Sister, I…”

However, Zig and Media ran past Werner and went straight to Iris.

“Baby!”

Media hugged Iris and started crying. The worry and sadness she had suppressed while her child was missing finally burst out. She checked to see if Iris was injured and even expressed her concerns to the baby, who couldn’t understand her words.

“Baby… my baby… are you hurt anywhere? Mom was so worried about you… Where were you…?”

Even Zig was checking on Iris’s condition, not paying any attention to Werner.

Werner finally remembered the meaning of family. Family was originally a group connected by blood. No matter how close they were, he was just like a younger brother to Zig and Media, not a true ‘family’ member.

Of course, they would worry more about a young child than a powerful wizard like him. Iris was still a baby, after all. Of course, they would be more concerned about their own child than him, a mere younger brother. Of course, they would be busy taking care of their family after being apart for so long. Of course, there had been many people who wanted to harm Iris, so it was natural for them to be worried. Of course, Media was a kind and gentle sister.

Werner desperately tried to justify the situation, but his memories of being an orphan pointed to a harsh answer.

‘I’m not a part of anyone’s family, and Iris is Zig and Media’s biological daughter.’

‘Of course, they would worry more about their own child than an orphan like me. I’m just a younger brother, not a real family member.’

‘In the end, I’m just an outsider in this house.’

Werner turned his back and left the room. He didn’t want to show his ugly face. He didn’t want to be exposed for being jealous of his sister’s biological daughter, a disgusting fact he didn’t want to reveal. He thought it was best to maintain a ‘family-like’ relationship, so he left.

Even after the door closed, Media was still checking on Iris’s condition. However, Zig’s attention was drawn to the bloodstain on the floor, and he quickly ran out of the room.

“Werner.”

Werner didn’t turn around.

“Brother, why? Go check on Iris’s condition. I’m not an expert at checking physical conditions, and besides, you should be together as a family on a day like this.”

Werner didn’t want to show his face.

“Werner, are you hurt? There’s a bloodstain on the floor…”

“I’m fine, I just coughed up a little blood because I’m tired. My face is a mess because of the nosebleed, haha…”

“Come here. If you’re injured, you should show it to Media.”

Zig grabbed Werner’s shoulder. However, he had to let go because Werner’s shoulder was trembling.

“Brother, I’m really fine. On a day like this, you should be with your sister and Iris…”

“…Werner.”

“I’m hungry, so I’ll go to the other brothers and sisters. I’m sure they’ve rented out the entire bar we usually go to.”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll leave now.”

Werner forced himself to move his heavy legs, which felt like wet cotton.

“Take care, ‘brother’.”

Werner quickly ran out of the mansion, covering his face with the sleeves of his robe to hide his expression from the other servants. He stumbled and fell on the stairs due to his obstructed vision, but he didn’t feel any pain.

Outside the mansion, Werner was greeted by his friend Lorcha.

Lorcha was slightly surprised to see Werner’s face, as he had been showing a different expression recently.

“Werner, you… are you crying…?”

“Shut up, I’m not crying.”

“You’re definitely crying! Who made you cry! I’ll kill that bastard!”

“If you try to attack me, you’ll be cut into pieces in 1 second, you idiot…”

Lorcha clenched her teeth and hugged Werner.

“Listen to me without being surprised…”

“What are you doing, hugging me…”

“You should just retire as a grand wizard.”

Lorcha, who had just started shining as a rising star, suggested that Werner retire. Werner’s pupils shook in surprise at this sudden retirement suggestion.

“What the hell are you talking about…”

“I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life, so just give it up. I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life…”

“What the hell are you talking about!”

Lorcha had analyzed the magic sword that had stabbed Werner and easily found information about it in a book. She explained the sword’s effects and Werner’s condition, and then hugged him tighter.

A wizard’s body has magic circuits that operate like intricate machines to activate magic. If these circuits are damaged, magic won’t work properly. However, the magic sword Balista had completely destroyed Werner’s magic circuits. It was like destroying the cooling system of a machine, which was equivalent to a death sentence for a wizard. Of course, Werner was a grand wizard, so he could still use simple magic.

But Werner’s flashy grand magic… he would have to give up on that.

“So, just quit being a grand wizard and stay by my side…”

“Shut up… Why? Are you happy? Are you so happy that you want to dance around like an idiot? Do you think I’ll be under you?”

“That’s not what I’m talking about right now!”

“Shut up! You have a strong family to rely on even without magic! I… I… I’m nothing without that!”

Werner pushed Lorcha away roughly. He wanted to believe that what she said was a lie, that the girl in front of him was jealous and lying.

“Get out of my sight!”

Lorcha remained silent for a moment and then turned her back.

“If your condition gets worse, come to me. I know a lot about that.”

“Get lost…”

“… You jerk.”

Lorcha started running, just like Werner had done earlier.

.

.

.

Werner felt guilty. Lorcha had just misunderstood, and she was just worried about his condition. He decided to buy her a gift tomorrow and apologize.

He also wanted to show off his grand magic in front of her and prove that she was wrong.

‘See, I can still use grand magic.’

“The wind dragon that swims between the clouds, carry me and sail smoothly…”

Werner wanted to ride the wind in the form of a dragon and fly to the bar where his brothers and sisters were waiting. But the wind didn’t blow, and instead, he felt a burning pain in his chest.

Blood dripped from his nose, and Werner tried to chant the spell again, but the result was the same.

Werner dragged his dying body to the bar where they had agreed to meet.

The door of the bar opened, and Werner’s brothers and sisters welcomed him, thinking that the short kid who had entered was Werner.

“You’re late, didn’t I tell you that keeping time is a virtue in the East and the West?”

“I heard that you rescued my daughter, little brother. Let me see…”

“Little brother, I ordered your favorite roast goose…”

The heroes saw Werner, whose veins were bulging and turning red all over his body.

The thief Squall was the first to run towards Werner and catch him as he was about to collapse.

“Little brother, what’s wrong with you! Who did this to you!”

Werner hid his crying face in Squall’s arms, but everyone could tell that Werner, who usually only smiled or got angry, was crying.

“Sister… I’m in so much pain…”

Even though Werner was a grand wizard, he was still just a 14-year-old kid. He wanted to be praised, worried about, and comforted when he was in pain.

While one child slept peacefully in his parents’ arms, another child cried sadly.