My Beautiful Disciples, I'm really not the Main Character!

While Eren remained silent, lost in his own thoughts, Zia looked at him with anticipation. Her gaze kept shifting to the herb in his hand.

"I have prepared a gift for you," Eren finally spoke up.

"Zia would humbly accept Master's gift," Zia replied, reaching out her hand to accept the herb.

However, Eren didn't hand over the herb. Instead, he took another sip of the ceremony tea.

"I would love to give you the gift right now as well, but something has been troubling your poor master. Can my dear disciple help her poor master with one more thing?" Eren asked, his voice filled with concern.

Eren could hear the sound of Zia's cracking knuckles, a clear indication that she was resisting the urge to punch him.

"Zia would love to help master in any way she can," she replied, trying to keep her frustration in check.

"That is great. In that case, please help my Phoenix. She was injured while trying to protect me," Eren requested as he stood up.

He kept both the sofas and the glass table in his storage ring to clear the space.

"She is in a very bad condition. So don't waste a single second when I bring her out. I'm sure you understand, right?"

"I hope this is the last demand from 'Master'," she stated, putting special emphasis on one particular word that she hated.

"Don't worry. I am not stingy. Not just this herb, I'll provide you many more useful things that can help you reach an even higher realm in Alchemy in the coming future."

Eren opened his inventory and brought the Phoenix out.

When in the Inventory, the time for the Phoenix had stopped. She remained frozen in time until the point she was brought out. She looked no different than she had been on the island.

Her wings were bleeding, some of the flesh was also gone.

"This... Just who did you fight to get her hurt so badly?"

After seeing the pitiful condition of the Phoenix, Zia quickly rushed to her. She was an Alchemist, but she was also a beast master. If anything, she cared more about the beasts than she did about humans.

As she started trying to treat the Phoenix, she even forgot about the Crystalline Herb at the moment.

Eren let Zia take care of his Phoenix while he stepped back. He only observed the entire process, feeling pain when he heard his phoenix cry with pain.

The Phoenix had been with him from the first moment he appeared in this world. She had also saved his life many times in the past. And now, her life was hanging between life and death.

"Please succeed," he mumbled under his breath.

While Zia focused on treating the injured Phoenix, Eren's mind was filled with some regrets. He couldn't help but blame himself for her condition.

If he knew how to control the Pendant of Poison sooner, he could have saved her. Or maybe he was too hasty in going to the Ocean without proper preparation.

Killing the Sea Serpent had gotten to his hands. He thought he could deal with a Dragon in the same manner. He looked down on the Sea Dragon when he was in no position to do so.

He realized that his actions not only put himself in danger but also Xiu Ying, Celeste and his phoenix.

As he watched Zia work diligently to save her life, he couldn't shake off the sour feeling that lingered within him.

"Strength... I need more strength!"

....

As time passed, Zia's efforts began to bear fruit. The Phoenix's wounds slowly started to heal, and her cries of pain turned into softer.

Eren couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief himself, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. Looking at her improving condition, he could feel that she was going to be fine.

Zia tied his Phoenix's wings with special grade cloth that was mixed with medicine of her creation.

Zia wiped her bloody hands from the remaining pieces of cloth that she burned. After that, she stood up and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

"Idiot... When you can't even take care of your Mythical Beast, why do you keep one?!" Zia angrily stated, but she soon came to her senses as she remembered that Eren still had the herb she needed.

In her efforts to save the phoenix, she had completely forgotten about that.

Eren wasn't angry at her words. If anything, her childish figure looked quite tall at that moment. He was grateful to her.

"Thank you."

Zia nodded briefly.

"It is my duty as your disciple to protect and heal those who are important to you, Master," she replied, her voice filled with sarcasm. Her gaze again went to the herb in his hand.

She made a lot of things clear with just a simple gaze.

"Don't worry. I will keep my promise," Eren assured as he placed the crystalline herb in Zia's hand while walking past her.

He then sat before his Phoenix, who had fallen asleep under the effect of the medicine.

"You have worked hard, little girl. Sleep peacefully," he patted the Phoenix's head, his voice filled with relief.

"She is very weak. If I take her with me, it will be bad for her. Can she stay here? " he asked Zia.

"That's fine with me. Even if you wanted to take her away, I wouldn't agree. If she is here, I can help her more. Moreover idiots like you can't take care of a hurt beast as good as me."

"That's quite a rude way to talk to your Master, isn't it?" Eren jokingly asked.

"Hmph," Zia scoffed.

"I will come to see you often, until I have to leave this sect. So sleep well, little one." Eren gently caressed the head of his Phoenix before standing up.

He turned to leave the place, not wanting to annoy the Great Elder anymore.

"Although I used an underhanded method to make you my disciple, but I do promise you. You will not regret this decision. If anything, you will bless your stars one day."

Eren pushed the door open and left the room, ending the meeting with the Great Elder.

Zia rolled her eyes, not believing Eren in the slightest.

She still didn't understand why he wanted her as his disciple to the point he was even willing to hand over such a precious herb?

It was the same when he suddenly asked him to become his disciple when he hadn't known her identity.

"What a strange man…"