13 – Club (1)(Ray’s illustration)
About a week had passed since then.
It’s been approximately a week since I became a teacher.
Unlike the first day, now I have somewhat adapted.
Of course, from time to time students glance at me, but it doesn’t seem important.
As usual, I walked towards the staff room.
Not long after, I arrived at my destination.
“Mr. Kael! You’re here!”
As usual, Nell greets me with a smile.
I bow my head slightly and take a seat.
Then she comes over and hands me a piece of paper.
“What is this?”
“Oh, that’s the announcement for this club meeting.”
“You mean the club announcement?”
“Yes. I heard that from this week on, we will start receiving club applications, so you should pass that on to the students.”
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“Yes, understood.”
After hearing this, I nod in agreement.
Then, Nell asks me a question.
“And what kind of club will you, Mr. Kael, be in charge as a professor?”
“What?”
Caught off guard by her question, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.
Am I obliged to become a club professor?
“Do I have to?”
“Well, it’s not mandatory, but it’s pretty common. It’s good for career progression.”
I accept her explanation.
While it’s true that being an academy professor is a prestigious position in itself, it wouldn’t hurt to further care for my career.
But,
‘I probably don’t need to.’
Eventually, if I end up quitting as a professor, I’ll become a top-tier mage.
In fact, there are only a handful of jobs more exceptional than being a top-tier mage.
Therefore, there’s really no need.
“I’ll see and decide later. In the meantime, which club are you in charge of, Professor Nell?”
“Oh, I am not in charge of a club as of yet. I’m actually considering my options.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Perhaps we can discuss it over lunch today in order to solve our club issue?”
She offers me lunch with a mysteriously stern look.
I have no idea why she’s giving me that look, but I nod, thinking that lunch sounds agreeable.
“Yes, let’s do so.”
-♪♬♩.
The next moment, a bell that signaled the beginning of a lecture rang in my ears.
Upon hearing the sound, all the professors in the faculty office stood up from their seats.
I also stood up and shifted my gaze towards Nell.
“Then, let’s meet around lunch.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
After saying those words, we each headed towards our own classrooms.
Not much time passed before I arrived at the classroom.
-Creak!
Upon opening the door, the students engaged in conversation came into view.
Unlike the first time, the students seemed to have adapted to the academy and befriended one another.
Of course, it seemed that Row and Dab were still not very close, but the atmosphere appeared much more pleasant than on the first day.
“So this is how you connect the circuit… Huh? The professor is here!”
The students scrambled to their seats as I entered.
I picked up the attendance sheet and called out each name.
Once I finished the roll call, I moved on to the main topic.
“Starting today, you can join a club. Just submit this paper to me if you’re interested.”
As I said this, I passed out club notifications one by one.
Elaine, as usual, beamed and raised her hand.
“Professor! I have a question!”
“Alright then, go ahead.”
“Do we have to join a club?”
The rest of the students’ attention focused on me.
I shook my head in response to the query.
“Not necessarily. However, it might be useful for your self-introduction.”
“Aha! So it actually doesn’t matter!”
“Well, you could say that.”
What good would a self-introduction do for the people in this room, anyway?
They’re pretty much future rulers, in a sense.
“Then, which club are you in charge of, Professor?”
Elaine asked this question as if it was totally obvious.
I replied to her question.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Oh, I see. Alright, I got it. I’ll take note of that!”
Take note?
I felt dubious about what she was implying, but I didn’t bother diving into it.
“Well, we should wrap up the morning roll call now.”
After completing that sentence, I left the classroom.
***
The S-grade students who were left in the classroom.
Maria naturally asked the remaining students,
“So, are we doing as we discussed?”
“I don’t mind.”
“I’d actually prefer that way!”
At Maria’s question, Ray and Elaine nodded their heads.
In an instant, Maria shifted her gaze to Ellie.
“Hwang…I mean, Ellie, what will you do?”
“I’m fine with it. No, it would be even more convenient.”
Then now, only two people remained.
Maria looked at Low and Dab.
She asked them straightforwardly.
“What about you two?”
“Hmm, I don’t mind wherever I go.”
“I don’t really care either.”
Unexpectedly, neither of them refuse.
The most surprising thing was Low’s reaction.
“Low, you too?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not exactly. I just thought you would join the Holy Church Club, that’s all.”
At first, Roe was planning to do the same.
But, the sight of Kael that was shown last time.
Somehow, it intrigued him.
And initially.
“You don’t have to participate in the club to be able to pray.”
“Right. If that’s the case. Do you think the professor in charge holds the same opinion?”
Everyone nodded at this question.
Soon, Maria looked at the blank space on the paper.
“Uh, so who’s going to be the club president?”
“………”
Everyone kept silent at this question.
And then, they naturally looked towards Eli without deciding who would first.
Then, Eli, with a relaxed smile, gave her opinion.
“I would love if Maria did it. Seeing her take the initiative like this, she seems to be a good fit.”
“That’s right! Just like Eli said!”
Elaine energetically nodded her head as if agreeing with that statement.
‘Am I about to be stuck with this role?’
Maria, who had a bad hunch, quickly tried to refute.
But, was it already too late?
“Definitely, if it’s Maria, no one will complain.”
“With all of us gathered here as well. It’s not bad.”
“There are no complaints with that woman.”
The other three nodded their heads as if they agreed as well.
Eventually, Maria was forced to be the club president.
***
Looking at the paper Maria handed over, he looked at her.
“So are you all forming a club?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?”
“Well, it’s not necessarily a problem. It’s just surprising that the professor in charge.”
“Why? There’s no one else who can do it if it’s not you, Professor.”
Since it’s his private research room, there’s no one around.
That being said, they can speak freely without any issues now.
“Do you have a club in mind, professor?”
“No, not really.”
“Then please sign off on this. There’s nothing wrong with you doing it. It would be better than being in charge of a strange club.”
“Hmm.”
He never thought about doing anything else from the beginning.
However, it definitely isn’t a bad choice.
They are none other than the students he is in charge of.
Becoming the faculty in charge of the club they created wouldn’t be a bad choice to know his students better.
“All right, fine.”
With that, Cael signed off on the club.
Then, he raised a question.
“So, what’s the purpose of the club?”
“Um, to foster camaraderie amongst ourselves?”
Why don’t you know?
“Well, write it down and submit it by tomorrow.”
Saying that, Cael handed the paper back to her.
Maria muttered to herself, looking annoyed.
“This is why I said I don’t want to be a club president.”
She pouted as if she was treated unfairly.
At that moment when Cael pretended not to hear anything,
– Knock Knock
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
– Creak.
The door slowly opened.
The person who just walked in was none other than Nell.
“Hmm?”
Upon seeing Nell, Maria tilted her head.
She appeared more primped than usual, simultaneously effortlessly refined.
Seeing Nell’s demeanor, Maria was sure.
She had obviously prepared meticulously for something.
“Mr. Cael, shall we go for lunch?”
“Is it already that time?”
“Yes. I have a reservation at this place. Let’s go there.”
She smiled, an almost nonchalant expression of content confidence.
Cael rose from his seat and said to Maria.
“I’ll submit [it] by tomorrow.”
With that, Cael and Nell quietly left the lab.
Maria watched Cael’s retreating back and thought.
‘I need to tell mum about this!’
***
Nell guided them towards the restaurant.
Before long, they arrived at their destination.
“Are you okay with this? Going to a place like this?”
She had expected a fancy restaurant, but it looked simply ordinary.
The next moment, Nell answered my question.
“Yes, I actually feel more comfortable here.”
“I see.”
“Is it surprising to you?”
“Yes. Honestly, I assumed you would prefer something more upscale.”
Most academy professors are aristocratic.
So I naturally assumed that Nell herself would enjoy a fancy meal.
“Hmm. It’s not good to judge people solely on their appearance.”
“I’ll bear that in mind…”
“Let’s go inside.”
With that, they stepped into the restaurant.
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They garnished their seats promptly without a moment’s wait, thanks to the reservation.
And thus, we placed our orders and patiently awaited our meals.
“……….”
“……….”
There’s an awkward pause between us.
The moment I’m about to break the silence.
“Mr. Kael.”
Unexpected words spilled out from her lips.
“Did you, by any chance, have an old girlfriend or someone you used to like?”