"How do you know my book?" Gwen suspect the culprit but still asked to confirm it.
"Your brother, of course. Who else?" Master Rocco smiled proudly, his chest puffing out as if he had just won a battle. "Let me prepare everything. Now, we will practice your telekinesis magic."
"Eh? I don't think that's necessary." Gwen's voice faltered, a hint of unease creeping in.
"My child, do you know that the existence of a Space Master is both rare and terrifying for the demon clan? It's uncertain whether one appears even once in a century. Yet, here you are, emerging after five centuries since the death of the last Space Master. I'm certain the demon clan is nervous knowing that a Space Master lives in this plane. If they discover you are young and weak, they will stop at nothing to kill you."
Gwen bit her lip but didn't argue. What her adoptive father said was true, and she couldn't deny it.
"You cannot summon elemental spirits using Space power, so you must rely on telekinesis magic," Master Rocco continued.
"But Lady Emilia and my classmates already know I have four types of magic. Sooner or later, they'll figure out I'm using elemental spirits through the power of space," Gwen countered, her arms crossing defensively.
"You needn't worry about that," Master Rocco assured her with a calm wave of his hand. "Since I discovered you were the Space Master, I erased all of Emilia's and the others' memories concerning your magic. No one else remembers the four elements you demonstrated. From now on, you're strictly forbidden from using them again."
Gwen let out a resigned sigh. Becoming the old man's adopted daughter was turning out to be more burdensome than she'd expected. This man was far more protective than even her own master had been. At least her master had never forbidden her from summoning elemental spirits.
But deep down, she understood. The upper world was free from demon clans, and her power was a threat of no one. The Nether Plane, however, was an entirely different battlefield. Over twenty god-level demon kings harbored deep-seated hatred for the Space Master and would stop at nothing to annihilate her.
"Okay, I understand," Gwen conceded. She knew Master Rocco was right—he couldn't protect her against a ninth-level monster if one attacked.
As if reading her thoughts, Master Rocco added, "My child, I know my power is insufficient to shield you, but I know who can. Have you ever heard of the Space Master's four guardians?"
Gwen blinked. "The four guardians?"
Master Rocco nodded, launching into a tale she vaguely remembered from her studies. The four guardians were the first divine envoys sent to the Nether Plane. They'd protected humanity from malevolent spirits and eventually settled down, their descendants inheriting divine blood. For centuries, this divine power lay dormant due to the lack of significant threats. Even the demon clan's colonization attempts hadn't reawakened it.
Then, years ago, four children were born almost simultaneously in different kingdoms. Each displayed extraordinary strength—equivalent to a sixth-level Hunter—from birth. Normally, Hunters' powers awakened only after puberty, and even then, they started at level one. Their parents, recognizing the resurgence of divine power, entrusted them to the fairies of the upper world for training.
Three years ago, four tenth-level Hunters appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the northern, eastern, and southern kingdoms, as well as the empire. These Hunters were none other than the heirs of the original guardians, their purpose clear: to serve and protect the new Space Master.
"So these four Hunters are divine envoys, and they'll protect me?" Gwen asked, her tone skeptical.
"Precisely. I'm sure they are already seeking you, albeit secretly."
"Why the secrecy?" Gwen frowned. "Wouldn't it be better to meet them directly?"
"We cannot risk it," Master Rocco explained. "There's always a chance a demon clan spy is among us. For now, the demon clan believes you are powerful. It's in everyone's interest to maintain that illusion. If you encounter a Realm Knight again, reveal your identity to him."
Gwen tilted her head. "Can't we go to him instead?"
"Do you know his identity?" Master Rocco asked, raising an eyebrow.
Gwen hesitated. "...No."
Master Rocco's warm smile softened her frustration. "As I said, the guardians' identities are also hidden. They wear masks to conceal their faces while using their powers. Despite their strength, revealing their weaknesses could make them vulnerable. Even gods would struggle against repeated attacks by the demon clan."
Gwen sighed heavily, feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of information. "Alright, I get it. No summoning elemental spirits, and I'll focus on improving my telekinesis. As long as no one knows I'm the Space Master, we'll be fine. Right?"
"Yes," Master Rocco replied.
"In that case, there's no need to concern ourselves with the four guardians. If fate decrees we meet, then we will. Otherwise, I'll just continue as a telekinesis master."
Master Rocco blinked, momentarily speechless. What Gwen said was logical, but her approach—passively leaving everything to fate—worried him. What if she never fully mastered her power? Without a capable Space Master, the Nether Plane would be defenseless against demon invasions.
Still, he chose to remain patient. 'Just take it step by step,' he consoled himself silently. 'It's only the first day.'
"You're right," he said aloud. "Let's focus on your telekinesis abilities. When do you want to start training? We can begin now!" His wide smile brimmed with enthusiasm as he approached her.
Gwen yawned, feigning drowsiness. "Actually, I'm still sleepy. Can we start tomorrow?"
Master Rocco froze, his smile faltering as he recalled something her senior brother had once said:
"Never ask her if she wants to train—she'll always say no. That sweet girl is incurably lazy and falls asleep the moment she picks up a magic book. You must be strict, or better yet, use punishment to motivate her. And the punishment she fears most is..."
A mischievous glint lit Master Rocco's eyes. "Gwyneth, I have a friend who runs an orphanage. The children there are around five to six years old. Which would you prefer for today's activity? Accompany me to visit the orphanage or train with me?"
"TRAIN!!" Gwen practically shouted, sitting upright with newfound energy.
Master Rocco's satisfied smile widened. "Excellent. Let's begin immediately."
As he led her toward the training grounds, Gwen couldn't help but glare at him, though her lips twitched in an amused grin. Perhaps being the adopted daughter of this overly protective, slightly cunning man wouldn't be so bad after all.