15 – Festival (1)
A week has passed since we created the club.
There hadn’t been any significant changes for a week.
Just as usual, I lectured and went about my day like any other professor.
But, could it be that this is just my view?
“Wow. I can’t believe the day has come when you would go on a date with a woman.”
Mary, the tavern owner, looks at me and smiles mischievously just before I head to work.
Seeing her smile, I let out a shallow breathe.
“I’m sorry, but it’s not a date. We just had a meal.”
“But still. You, who always refused even to have a meal with a woman. No, originally you only had meals here, didn’t you?”
“······.”
Stumped by a solid fact, I unknowingly lost my words.
Despite the fact that it would have been more beneficial to spend the mealtime studying magic outside, I felt strangely wronged.
“More importantly, how on earth do you teach?”
Then, Mary sticks out her tongue at me.
I tilt my head at her question.
“Are you trying to pick a fight again?”
“It’s not a fight. They say students are dropping out because of your lectures.”
“What?”
What is she talking about? Students are dropping out because of my lectures.
As I was failing to understand, she let out a sigh and shook her head in disbelief.
“Ha.. looking at your reaction, you really have no idea, do you?”
“Well, I thought I was being efficient?”
“Sure. The effect must be good. But the problem is not about theoretical lectures.”
“Then?”
“I’m talking about practical lectures. You successor.”
“Ah······.”
The next moment, the memory of practical lecture time popped into my mind.
To be sure, every time a practical lecture ended, the students were passed out.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that considering the circumstances.
“But there is no better effect than that. Normally they would die if it was actual combat, but thanks to my lectures, the students can learn without such thing, right?”
“Wow······ I really don’t know about other things, but I have never seen anyone as crazy as you when it comes to teaching.”
To think that I would hear the word ‘crazy’ from none other than Maria was disconcerting.
It was undeniable that it was unfair, but considering that the rumors about me had reached her ears…
‘I guess I really do need to change something about myself,’ I begrudgingly admitted to myself.
“All right, fine. I’ll think about it afterwards.”
With that statement, I left the room.
The next moment, more people than usual were passing by on the street.
‘The festival must be why there are so many people,’ I mused as I made my way towards the academy.
***
Upon reaching the academy, I immediately went into the classroom.
As soon as I entered, the students seemed even more excited than usual, their voices buzzing with anticipation.
-“Do you think it’s true that the Hero is coming this time?”
-“My mom did mention something about it.”
-“I also heard that this time, the battalion commander was captured. I want to fight them for once.”
-“What are you thinking, wanting to fight with the Hero? You muscle-headed oaf.”
I ignored the students’ chatter and walked up to the podium.
And then, I opened my mouth.
“Everyone, please take your seats.”
“Yes!”
Upon hearing my words, the students took their seats.
I quickly got to the heart of the matter.
“Everyone is aware that the festival is happening, correct?”
“Yes!”
At my question, Elaine responds with sparkling eyes.
I continued speaking.
“What we’ll be doing at this academy is providing security.”
“Security?”
“Us?”
At my unexpected announcement, all of the students widened their eyes in surprise.
I responded with a nod to the question.
Then, I added an explanation.
“Of course, I’m not saying to stop every unreasonable thing. It’s simply a matter of restraining people from fighting and leaving it to the guards.”
“Ah!”
At my words, the students nod in understanding.
Elaine naturally raises a question.
“Professor! But Eli isn’t here?”
“Eli couldn’t make it this time because of a schedule.”
“Oh… that’s unfortunate.”
She hangs her head, wearing a gloomy expression.
I really feel every time, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a person with as many facial expressions as her.
“Let’s get moving now.”
With that, I took the students and immediately left the academy.
***
The students follow me as I leave the academy.
Among them, Elaine looks around curiously while fluttering her ears.
“Wow! There’s so much to eat! Maria!”
She shakes Maria’s shoulder with pure excitement.
Maria responds with a puzzled look.
“Elaine, haven’t you come to the Royal Road before joining the Academy?”
“Ah, actually, I didn’t really look because I came by carriage.”
“Oh.”
“Wow! There’s a delicious smell from over there!”
Briefly, Elaine intently observes skewers sold from a vendor’s stall.
Her ears flap up and down showing her desire to eat.
“You want some?”
I approached and asked her.
And she looks startled.
“Yes, yes?”
“Sir, five skewers, please.”
I handed the money to the boss without hesitation.
In the next moment, the boss smiled and gave me five skewers.
“Each of you take one.”
“Yes, yes!”
My actions seemed to surprise the students, and they opened their eyes wide in confusion.
Immediately, Elaine put one skewer in her mouth.
“It’s delicious!”
She exclaimed, her eyes shining even brighter.
In response to her question, I nodded and spoke.
“Pay attention to who buys while eating.”
“Yes!”
With that, I took the lead and walked forward.
At the same time, Maria threw a curious question in a puzzled voice.
“Professor, why are you giving us this?”
“Hmm…”
In reality, I would never have given it if it were my usual self.
However, the conversation I had with Maria earlier came to mind.
“Wow… I may not know anything else, but I’ve never seen someone as crazy as you when teaching.”
Maria had called me crazy.
Maria, who had a more eccentric personality than anyone else.
How could I stay silent after hearing those words?
Although I am not currently giving a lecture, there is no need to be overly formal.
I quietly glanced behind me.
The students, excluding Maria, were engrossed in their conversations.
“Look at that.”
“Oh, wow, there seem to be exercise equipment over there.”
“How long does he think he will continue exercising?”
“Do you have any complaints?”
“Well, not really.”
Dove and Rowe, too, were engaged in conversation without fighting.
It appears she’s only fussing because she noticed my uneasiness.
“Meria told her to tone it down a bit, that’s all.”
“Oh? Mother told you that?”
At her question, I nodded slightly.
She smiles, clearly satisfied.
“Hmm, I see.”
Judging by her reaction, it seems she’s spoken to Meria.
Observing her, I threw out another question.
“Speaking of which, have you finished writing about the club’s purpose?”
“Yes, what?”
In the next moment, Maria stumbles over her words, visibly startled.
It’s obvious from her reaction that she hasn’t written everything down.
“Your expression suggests you haven’t finished writing it all.”
“Pro… Professor. Is it because I spoke with my mother that you’re doing this?!”
“No way. I wouldn’t behave so pettily over something like that.”
“But the timing was just too perfect…”
“Anyway, make sure to submit it before the festival ends…”
-Whoosh.
At that moment, a vibration emanated from the spatial storage pouch.
Upon checking, it was coming from the communication device given by Sariel.
I pulled it out and then looked at Maria.
“Maria, I need to make a call. Make sure the students don’t leave their posts.”
“Understood, I’ll see you later.”
I nodded and then headed toward an empty alleyway.
As soon as I picked up the call.
-What’s up? Why did you answer so late?
Sariel’s voice came through, laced with confusion.
I responded to her question with a relaxed tone.
“I was with the students.”
-Wow, it sounds so weird hearing you talk about students.
“So, what made you call?”
As I asked directly, she quickly got to the point.
-Ah, this time, I’ve come across some information about Cali.
“Is it about the faction you mentioned last time?”
-Yeah. That’s the one. One of their execs is going to compete in the arena tournament, they say.
“The arena tournament?”
-Yeah, it’s a special event being held in the capital. Simply put, think of it as a fighting tournament.
“Hmm, I see. And?”
-I’d like you to go there and check it out. Rumor has it that those guys use sorcery.
“……”
Instantly, upon hearing those words, my face hardened dramatically.
Humans using sorcery was tantamount to being a traitor.
From Noble mtl dot com
I thought we had dealt with all that in the past……
-Of course, it’s just a rumor without solid evidence. There’s no guarantee they’re traitors for certain.
“Is that so.”
-Yeah. So you go check it out for yourself. Nothing’s more reliable than that.
“Alright, I understand.”
It was the moment I committed to entering the arena tournament.
Even the scenarios are ridiculously similar, maybe it’s a friend who continues it since they canceled it.
That novel was canceled? Dang. maybe this is a fan who liked the novel and when they heard it was canceled, goes Thanos style and said “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”