Picora's Mentor Complex

*Yaaaawn*

*Sigh* Would you look at that... yet another day has come.

Ugh... It's quite bright today.

Did the lantern witches make some sort of mistake?

Picora? Picora!

Ah? Yes, Fricle Sensei! You called?

You're just waking up now?

Hmph! Where are those documents I told you to prepare by yesterday? Hand them over now!

You mean the underground tunnel maintenance records and the dragon activity report?

Yes.

Ah, I'm sure I left them somewhere around here yesterday...

Picora! You should have had them ready! You didn't even complete something so simple, AND you overslept?!

No, it's not that I didn't do it... I was doing a bit of personal research yesterday...

Don't lie to me, Picora!

Personal research... yeah, right! Judging by that new outfit, you must have been sewing!

I've told you over and over... stop focusing on how flashy you look on the outside and work on building your abilities!

Urgh... A little hobby like that should be okay, shouldn't it, Sensei?

Honestly...! Who could stop you anyway?! You were strange from the start... You never acted like a proper witch. Tch!

I've got urgent court matters to deal with, so I'll get going for now.

Find those documents and meet me at the palace later! And remove all of your weird stickers from them!

I used them to make it easier for o-organizing!

Tch... what's so special about a few pieces of paper...?

What did you just say? Did you find the documents?

Eek, uh, no! I haven't found them yet!

Ugh! Tch!

.........

...Is she gone?

Ugh...! Urgh!!! It's not like I don't have stuff to get off my chest, you know?!

I've been her disciple for years, and all she ever gives me is paperwork and tedious chores!

She's the one who said I had talent and that she'd help me nurture it, you know!

Honestly... I might even be better than her at this point.

At this rate, I'll end up like Levi... frying carrots part-time!

I became Fricle Sensei's disciple because I thought at least I wouldn't get a beat down!

I need some sort of chance.

Something that will help me become totally famous in Witch Kingdom!

An incident that'll help me become as big a witch as Sensei... well, maybe not quite, but the next big witch, at least!

Yeah, something... Urgh...

Lady Fricle? Lady Fricle!

Huh?

Fricle Sensei has already gone to the palace.

Huh? Oh no...! Already?

Er... did something happen? I can pass along a message.

Please tell her that the sparkling bugs in the southern underground commune are acting strangely.

They lit up this morning, then started going out one by one.

Oh? I guess it wasn't a coincidence when I thought that it was bright outside earlier.

I see... a problem with the sparkling bugs, eh? Wait... this is something that I...

Here it is! This thesis! I looked into an improvement proposal ages ago!

Instead of relying on these sparkling bugs that produce light unevenly...

Replacing them with illumination magic based on magical energy circulation, the light should be way more stable...

Wait... Is this the chance I've been waiting for...?

This might make me... like, totally famous!

*Hums* Good. And now, we just connect the magical energy cable like this and... done!

I've connected all the lanterns in the southern area... Now, with a press of this single button, it'll all activate!

Is this the area where the lanterns have been acting up?

Yes, Lady Fricle!

The keepers even fed the sparkling bugs nutrients this morning, but they keep going out.

Huh? Sensei?

Hm? Picora?

It's time to show Sensei what I can do!

What in the world are you up to, Picora? What's with all these cables...?

Sensei! Please watch carefully! I will show you how I spread my wings and take flight!

These are magical energy cables, aren't they...? Wait!

Success! Let there be light! Illuminate!

From now on, I'll be known as "Picora, The Lightbringer Witch!" Teehee!

Huh? What's that?

My goodness...! Picora, did you just send magical energy surging through the lanterns without removing the sparkling bugs first?!

That means the overcharged bugs will...

Sorry? What did you just say...?

Ahhh! I can't see anything!

Oh no... how far did the blackout spread?!

A-Ahhhhh! Why is the entire kingdom pitch dark?!

Fricle's disciple did this! It's all part of her scheme!

She made it dark on purpose so she could kidnap us and bury us alive!

Calm down, you idiots!

Waaaaaah! Oh noooooooooo!!

Picora? Ugh, I can't see anything...! Picora, where'd you go?! Picora!!!

*Sniff, sniff, sob*

I just wanted some recognition... that's all.

I definitely followed the theory and installed everything correctly!

But instead of being "Picora, The Lightbringer Witch,"

I'm just "Picora, Belitein's Great Blackout Culprit!"

Where did it all go wrong exactly?

Maybe I wouldn't have messed up if I had learned from Sensei properly...

But Sensei...

She never really taught me at all.

.........

W-Wait. That's it! If Sensei had taught me magic properly in the first place, I wouldn't have caused such a mess!

I wanted to learn!

But all she had me do was brew tea, or file documents... all sorts of busywork!

Yeah, I'm an intern, but even interns deserve to be taught the basics, right?!

Witch Kingdom is so rigid! Obsessed with tradition and very authoritarian!

That's why it's not my fault! At the very least, Sensei and society are more to blame!

It would have been better if I had studied under Lady Belita, the magical genius...

Would things have turned out differently if I served a different Sensei?

.........

Then maybe... if I found a new Sensei to serve... Yes... maybe...!

Uh, what are you doing crouched down on the ground like that?

Eeeeek! A s-sprite?

Did you lose your way or something?

Who... Who are you?

I'm Ashur.

I'm... Picora.

Rule of thumb in the forest is to stay on the path.

Elias Forest is vast, so it's easy to lose your way if you step off the path even once.

What were you doing here, Ashur?

There's a patch nearby where I can find some decent strawberries.

I was gathering ingredients to prep for business tomorrow.

Is she a fruit vendor?

Oho! You must be hungry!

Urgh... How embarrassing...

It's okay! There's nothing wrong with being hungry.

The shop—I mean, the school—is closed today, so I have some free time...

I can bake you something. Would you like that?

You'll bake...? Uh... okay.

Follow me, then. My supplies are at the school.

School...?

Wow...

Sprites seem to love all these adorable decorations...

The decor here is much brighter and cuter compared to where I'm from!

Even the baked goods... They all look so cute! This is prime sticker material!

What is this green one? It looks tasty!

Ugh!

Huh?

Don't tell me you like mint chocolate...

Sorry? M-Mint chocolate?

I mean, I did bake it to sell, so I can respect your tastes...

Just don't go around eating it in public. If you're unlucky, Her Majesty might just chew you out.

Her Majesty...? Chew me out...?

C-Can I try this?

What? No! That one's a little past its date. I'm going to give it to Her Majesty.

I'll bake you several things now, so just give me a few.

I'm not sure I really get what she's saying, but if this is past its date, I'll have to be patient.

So this is a school? Is it like a... baking school?

This is not a bakery, okay?!

Eek! S-Sorry?!

But... there are baked goods everywhere...

It's just a cover job to help pay the bills!

I am, in fact, the headmistress of a magic school!

A headmistress? Do you teach magic?

That's right! I'll have you know, I happen to be the greatest wizard in Sprite Kingdom.

In Witch Kingdom, the Witch Queen is the greatest wizard... Is sprite society structured differently?

Ahem. A society that looks down on magic is the weird one.

Not me... Hmph...

This sprite... Could it be that we think alike...?

An unfortunate wizard... misunderstood by society...?

Could it be?! Have I found a new Sensei to serve?!

Sensei, please take me as your disciple!

Uh... huh? What?! All of a sudden?

I want to learn more about magic and the world!

I've grown up trapped underground in Witch Kingdom all this time... I barely know how anything works in this world!

But I ran away because life there was so stifling!

I want to see more, know more! I want to become an expert on magic, like you, Sensei!

I really think that if I study under you, I can make my dream come true!

Oh... Hmm?

*Sob*

Oh no! I'm sorry! Did I say something wrong to make you cry?

No... you didn't do anything wrong...

It's just... I feel like I've finally been united with my destined student...! *Sob*

This fervor to learn... and you're the first one ever to actually acknowledge me as a wizard!

I've always been treated like a baking machine...

Or some magical punching bag to be dragged out when needed and then kicked aside...

I promise... I'll pour everything I have into teaching you!

I'll show you everything I have researched... everything I have learned!

As long as I have a student like you, I'd give anything!

Aww... Sensei!

Yes, my student!

Waaaaaaah!

Alright, then. First things first!

Yes, Sensei? What will you teach me first?

The tuition must be paid upfront.

.........

Excuse me?

Wait... don't tell me... You don't have money?

Yes... I don't have any money.

Hmm... oh dear, oh dear... If that's the case... we have no choice...

Wh-What's all this, Sensei?

You'll have to do some baking to earn money for your tuition.

Call it a... Bread-ucational Loan?

Huh... what?

Nothing in this world is free. Did you think you would get my knowledge for nothing?

Didn't you say you'd give anything for a student like me...?

Haha, oh honey, that's just something folks say sometimes!

You really are a clueless hatchling when it comes to how the world works, aren't you?

This'll be a good opportunity for you to learn how things work around here.

And you can earn money to pay for your tuition so that you can learn from me! Wow... Two birds with one stone. I am a genius!

Ugh...

Move that whisk faster, Picora! You'll never whip it properly at that speed!

Y-Yes, Sensei!

This dough is too runny! Just how much water did you put in? Do it over!

Yes, Sensei...!

What is this, Picora?! The baked goods from my magic school must be the highest quality in all of Sprite Kingdom!

Wasn't this supposed to be a school? Isn't this a bakery? I'm so confused, Sensei!

It's NOT a bakery!!!!

Clean out the oven again and preheat it right away!

Eeeeeek...! Yes, Sensei...!

Good! With the oven preheating, we have some time, so...

Will you teach me some magic...?

Hm? No, not yet. You still need to work at least another week to cover your first month of rent—I mean, tuition.

Oh, right! Here are some flyers...!

These are leftovers from last time. Go hand these out.

Last time, the kid who ran away distributed about 150 of them, so there should be about 550 of them left.

5... 550 of them? Isn't that too many...?

Oh wait!

Yes? Wh-What now, Sensei?

If you hang a left from here, there's a pawnshop there... You are never to go there, understood?

A pawnshop? Why am I not allowed to go there...?

Tsk, tsk! Do not question me! If I say do not go, then do not go!

Er... O-Okay...

*Sob*

Please... take a flyer...

Ashur's Magic School, filled with the smell of delicious baked goods... Actively seeking new students...

*Sniff* Please... *Sniff* take a flyer... *Sob*

What the heck is this...?!

Forget learning magic... I'm apparently climbing the Queen of Baking tech tree.

You know... now that I think about it, something's definitely off here!

Ashur Sensei's fashion... No real wizard would ever be caught dead in something that drab!

I was such a fool to decide on a new Sensei so quickly! Huh? What's this?

There's a message on the flyer...

Eeeek!!! What the heck?!

I can't stay here any longer! This pit of despair is not what I signed up for!

Ashur Sensei is not right in the head! I need to get out of here, like, right away!

*Sniff, sob*

I ran away, but found no answers there. *Sniff*

Maybe it's not too late to go back to Fricle Sensei and beg for forgiveness... Maybe she'll agree to take me back as her disciple...

Yes, Picora! Owning up to a mistake with grace is pretty cool! I only broke a few lanterns, that's all, right?

Let's not be too scared! Just apologize properly, and Fricle Sensei will understand...

Urgh...

Ugh... Urgh...

Eeek! No! There's no way she'll forgive me!

Remember that opposition witch last time? Fricle Sensei's not the type to go easy on me!

Hmph! The nerve of you to rebel in Witch Kingdom! Have you lost your minds?!

Ugh... This is infuriating...!

Whatever you say... We refuse to accept your tyranny!

I am merely an instrument carrying out Belita's will!

And here you are, spreading nonsensical messages like these for no reason!

What the heck is this? "VAE-YGYR"?!

Vegetables Aren't Everything! Your Gut, Your Rules!

Incomprehensible fools. Why would you make an acronym out of that?!

An LCHF diet... A low-carb-high-fat diet is a great dietary alternative!

You're all being deceived! IDs (Insect Diets) are the future!

Enough! How dare you keep this up?!

Guards! Seize these deviants immediately and throw them into the bottomless pit!

Nooo! Anything but that...!

*Sob* This is Fricle Sensei we're talking about... She'll punish me the same way!

I'll be dropped into the bottomless pit and be forced to spend eternity falling!

I'm doomed! I don't even have anywhere to go anymore!

*Sob* Waaah... Waaaaaaah!!!!

I'll have to live on the streets! *Sob, sob* Waaaaaaah!

Ugh, my ears! Who the heck is crying right in the middle of the road?!

I just finished my morning tea and was doing a bit of calming circadian breathing, you know!

*Sniff* S-Sorry! *Sob, hic*

*Sniff, sniff* This smell... Sweet potatoes? Potatoes?

Hmm... You must be a witch...

Shouldn't you be in my sister's kingdom? Why are you here in mine?

Uh... "mine"?

Wait... this sprite... her sense of style is not ordinary...

She's wearing a clean, perfectly kept outfit with an elegant cut! That means...

D-Do you happen to be... Queen Erpin of Sprite Kingdom?

Yep! I'm Erpin. What's your name?

I'm called P-Picora...

Sprite Queen Erpin... wasn't she the queen Fricle Sensei said was not worth associating with at all...?

Hmm... So did something happen? Is that why you're by yourself, huddled in the middle of the road like this?

Ah... yes, something like that.

Hmph...! Follow me!

E-Excuse me?

I can't just leave someone from my sister's kingdom on the road like this!

Follow me to the palace!

The p-palace?

Um... I'm... I'm a criminal who ran away from Witch Kingdom!

Nothing good will come of being kind to me...

Aww, don't say that!

Everyone makes mistakes in life!

I'm fine with it, so make yourself at home at the palace for a while!

I'm sure Belita would want me to do this, too...!

Q-Queen Erpin...!

*Sob* Waaaah!

Geez, why are you crying again?! It's seriously grating!

It's just that I'm so graaaaaatefuuuuul, waaaaaah!

Didn't I say to stop crying?! *Sniff* You're making me sad, tooooo, waaaah!!!

The Sprite Queen is actually super kind! Why does Fricle Sensei speak so negatively about her?

I mean, I suppose her standards are pretty high... She never let even the smallest mistakes slide...

She'd decide on a bar I couldn't meet, and would keep waiting for me to rise to it anyway.

It was really suffocating at times.

Waaaaaaaah!

*Sniff* I'm sorry! I got so emotional all of a sudden...

*Sob, sooooob*

There, there, Queen Erpin! Let's stop crying now.

Mkay...! *Sniff* Let's head off to the palace quickly...! It's almost time for my fifth snack!

Hm? What was that just now? Her... fifth snack?

Gahaha! *Scarf, scarf* *Gulp* Wahaha, so tasty!

.........

Uh... You have quite the appetite, don't you...?

Huh? Why aren't you eating, Picora? Aren't you hungry? There's gonna be nothing left!

Oh... I-I'm fine! Please enjoy...!

Wahahaha, hehehehhe! Nom, nom! Ish scho yummy!!

*Scarf, scarf, cough, cough!*

Here! Have some milk!

*Glug, glug, glug* Ahh! Thanks! Sometimes it gets a little stuck going down, you know?

I think I'm beginning to see what Fricle Sensei meant...

How's Belita doing these days, by the way?

It always feels so brutal in Witch Kingdom, so I'm always worried about her.

Queen Belita? I'm just one of the small fries down there, so I'm not completely sure, but...

From what I've heard from Fricle Sensei, she's been running the kingdom just as unfailingly as ever.

Although... it's been a bit strange since she hasn't been showing much of herself lately...

Oh yeah? Sounds like she's still as busy as ever.

I mean, I guess I've been busy lately as well...

So, it must be worse for her since she's always been so busy to begin with.

I'd better send her a letter sometime!

I want to help lift her spirits!

Ah... I... I see!

The Sprite Queen... She may be a bit lacking, but her heart is incredibly warm.

Yeah... it's not like a kingdom must only be ruled by wise, intelligent queens, right?

Perhaps she's one of those magnanimous queens who rule with virtue?

After serving under Fricle Sensei for so long, I think I've been way too strict with my standards.

The world is vast! Thinking "A queen must be this way!" is incredibly narrow-minded!

Er... I feel like I should apologize.

Huh? For what?

I believe I misjudged you when I first met you, Queen Erpin.

But after giving it some thought, I think I know why you're Queen!

I think it's because—

Oh, enough.

*Sigh* You don't have to say anything.

I know very well how everyone treats me normally...

Queen Erpin...?

I suppose it can't be helped. I mean, my own foolishness led to the insurgency in my very own kingdom, right?

There's no reason to hide it. Closing your eyes doesn't change the truth.

I just... have to remember not to repeat the same mistakes going forward...

There's nothing else I can do except be better... Ner, Master... They said the same thing!

Queen Erpin...!

She may not measure up to Lady Belita, but she definitely has potential!

Could it be that she's lacking good advisors? Maybe... just maybe...

I could be her key aide...!

I can stick by her side and advise her on all types of things, just like Fricle Sensei!

Then, Erpien can become a wonderful kingdom like Belitein!

Q-Queen Erpin!

Yes?

I... I'd like to follow under you and become your court advisor!

For now, I'll learn more about the kingdom as your disciple, and later, I can use what I learned to be a proper advisor for you!

A... what?

An advisor.

.........

Why are you looking at me like that?

Hmm... she doesn't really seem like someone Ner sent...

But it's strange... Why would she offer to come under me voluntarily?

I don't have any ulterior motives!

I just really want to help you! And learn from you!

Umm... So you wanna be my... disciple, was it?

Yes!

Hmm... I... guess I can keep her as my disciple for now...? Time will tell if she's a spy sent by Ner...

Well, if you say you'd like to help me, I have no reason to refuse.

It just means I get to sleep in a bit longer with someone handling the royal reports for me in the mornings...

Sorry? Did you just say something?

Huh? Oh, nothing! I was just thanking you!

Whoa! What the heck?! Watch where you're going!

Oh... sorry.

Candy wouldn't even begin to cover it if anything had happened!

Tch... No matter how many times I come to this place, I can never get used to it.

I just can't get a handle on how things work here.

I need to find Picora quickly and get out of here.

That fool... of all the places she could've run off to, it had to be Sprite Kingdom... I can't even move around freely here!

Ugh! Where the heck did she run off to?!

Did she run off after leaving to hand out those flyers? Tsk, tsk... I can't believe she couldn't even handle that!

Hm? That's the bread girl who works at that bakery.

...Sorry?

Hold on... Th-That sticker!

Hey, you!

Huh?

You've seen a witch, haven't you? Tell me who you saw!

What the...? I-It was someone called Picora! She did some work for me part-time, but she took off!

Grrrr...!

How dare you have my prized disciple toil away in some bakery?!

What are you talking about? Your prized disciple?! She's MY student, you know!

Excuse me?! There's no way Picora would have pushed around rolling pins in a bakery!

Ha! Picora would roll dough with those tiny hands of hers just fine!

Yes, she did! She'd roll out that pie crust and make it nice and flat, okay?

Why, you wreeeetch!!!!

Take that back right now! What did you do to my disciple?!

Ah... I'm nice and full...!

Queen Erpin, you really can eat!

What? Are you making fun of me?

N-Not at all! You misunderstand...!

I meant that your appetite is as vast as your generosity... truly big-hearted...!

Hm... that was a compliment? Well, I am a boss when it comes to eating!

Argh...!

Hmph! That rascal...! What is she doing with the Sprite Queen?

Has she become a fool who moonlights at a bakery and fawns over the Sprite Queen?!

For someone who normally manages the witch court's confidential documents...

...What could she have possibly been unhappy about to run off here?!

Ahh... Maybe I'll doze off for a bit while I'm here...

Of course! There's nothing better than a bit of rest after eating! I'll keep watch for you!

Yeah, exactly! If you see someone in priestess robes glaring and running over, wake me up right away! Got it?

Yes, Queen Erpin!

Er? Your Majesty...?

Hm? Who're you? The waiter? Did I not have the dessert course yet?

I'll have four cocoa drinks, cold, 10 spoons of sugar, okay?

Th-That's not it... We're shuttering the restaurant today.

What you had for lunch today, Your Majesty... that was our final dish...

Huh? What?!

You can't close! This is one of my favorite spots! I'm a regular here!

That's exactly why we're closing, Your Majesty... BECAUSE you're a regular... *Sob*

What? Why are they blaming it on Queen Erpin?

She eats so much... If she orders a lot, doesn't that mean they should be thriving as a business?

*Sigh* Oh, well...

I guess I'll have to go to the restaurant next door starting tomorrow.

Your Majesty?

Yeah? What is it this time?

Since this is your last meal here... could you maybe pay for what you had today... and settle your outstanding tab?

My tab...?

Uhhh...? Oh, you mean money...? Umm...

Let's see... uh... Oh! That's right... I left the palace in a hurry and left my wallet there!

Hey, Picora, stay here and hold this spot for me! I'll hop on over to the palace and then come back to pay!

Uh... Okay!

Hey, listen... That girl over there is going to pay, so I'll get going, okay?

Er... Excuse me? May I ask if you're ready to pay the bill?

E-Excuse me? Queen Erpin said that she would pay, didn't she?

Her Majesty said that you'd be paying...

Whaaaat?!?!

I mean... She does use this trick a lot...

But since it's our last day today, I don't think we can let it slide this time...

Please, for the love of all that is good, settle the tab so I can retire in peace!

Eek! B-But, I don't have any money...!

Why would Queen Erpin do this? She does this a lot?!

What... what in the world is going on?!

I... I'm so sorry! I really am! Waaaaaaaaaaah!

Please stop! You have to settle the tab... I beg of you!!

Hmm... Ha! Well, what did I expect?

I hope this is a good wake-up call for Picora... That little rascal.

*Sob, hic, sniff, sniff*

Why does everything I do turn out like this...? I can't do anything right!

I disappointed Fricle Sensei... And with Ashur and Queen Erpin...

.........

Actually, those don't really seem like my fault...

If anything... maybe there's something wrong with my judgement?

Do I jump to conclusions too easily about others? Does it get better with experience?

But... But it's totally difficult to find someone truly trustworthy.

The world is such a hard place... Not to mention, scary. *Sniff*

The streets at night with the lights out...

It reminds me of Belitein, which I plunged into darkness.

I just wanted to work hard and earn Fricle Sensei's approval... and the respect of other witches!

An invaluable witch like that...

Right, I'll tell Fricle Sensei I'm sorry, and become her disciple again...! I'll just start over from the very bottom.

It's okay, Picora! You can do it! Life's never easy, right?

If I keep at it and do what I can, eventually...

Hmm... After going through all this, she must have learned something, right?

I've been grooming her as my successor... It's about time she experienced a bit of the bitter side of life...

Huh?

What's this light?

Huh?

What? Where is she going?

That seems to be the only building with its lights on this dark evening...

Wait... that's...

No! Picora! Don't go in there!

Urgh, I'm hungry.

I gave all my food to the Sprite Queen to make a good impression...

Come to think of it, I haven't had anything since lunch.

*Sniff, sniff* That smells delicious...! Is that a restaurant? It says "Banquet Hall" on it...

Maybe I'll pop inside...?

Urgh... this is embarrassing...

Damn it! Don't knock on the door! That's... That's where *bleep* is!

I'd better just step in myself before it's too late!

I... I'm Picora. Uh... Is this a restaurant?

Um...

Ahh! No! I'm too late! They've met!

Oh, geez, I'm so embarrassed!

Uh... Yes...!

R-Really? But I don't have any money...

Whoooa...

You... You have...

Wait, what? Am I seeing things?

Thank you for inviting me in... I'm sorry to impose!

Th-Thank you!

I can't seem to look them directly in the face...

......

.........

Excuse me?

Are you the owner of this restaurant?

M-Master?

If you're the Yggdrasil Order's Master... that makes you the rumored prophet!

The saint of salvation... the legendary prophet?! The ultimate teacher who embraces the world...?!

Er... do you happen to take disciples?

W-Will you take me as your disciple?! I'd like to call you my Sensei!

Yes, Sensei!

Tch! Damn it...!

Master! You dare snatch away someone else's prized disciple?!

Ugh... Is there nothing I can do...?

Picora... I never saw her make a face like that when she was with me...

...Hmph!

I can always find another disciple.

I never needed someone who ran away after causing trouble anyway!

.........

...Take care of yourself, Picora.

Do you always prepare food for your disciples like this?

What a relief... Sensei seems to have a kind heart, too!

I think I've finally found a proper Sensei this time!

S-Something like that? But I'm fine!

Because I'm with you now, Sensei!