Chapter 29 – Making even a wounded fox stand up
“Don’t torment our kids with mock battles.”
I said with a deep voice towards Fernandes, who brought up the mock battle.
Later, swallowing the words “because it’s troublesome,” unfortunately, there was a student who misunderstood my intention.
“Our? Are we… hehehe… Teacher, it’s quite embarrassing to be so straightforward about your own girl like this!”
With the word ‘kids’ completely omitted, Undine let loose and laughed heartily. She chuckled, realizing the presence of others around, and quickly adjusted her expression, holding back the scream that would be hard to put into words.
“Oh my! Don’t worry, I’ll show you the side of Undine that won’t make you feel embarrassed. Trust your lovely student, Teacher, hehehe!”
“I’m most worried about you.”
“Oh my~ Don’t worry about my body♡ Even if you don’t worry, Undine is always preserving her energy for your sleepless nights, Teacher.”
“…Do you really want me to be in trouble?”
It was a serious moment when the worry arose that soon there might be a need to write a statement about the inappropriate relationship between a student and a professor.
And the one worrying is not you, Undine, but Alan.
Putting aside the ecstatic Undine, who was bursting with laughter even in silence, he let out a deep sigh.
Meanwhile, Fernandez said, “Tsk, did you really tease Professor Freya like that… There’s no end to your audacity.” He glanced over, and Alan, who was next to him, also alternated between looking at Undine and him with a shocked expression.
It would be great if they didn’t spread any strange rumors.
By the way, why does this young man, Alan, look so familiar…? Where have I seen him before?
The stern yet striking impression remained stuck in his memory, refusing to fade away for some reason.
If we had met in class, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed. Considering that Cecilia, who is suspicious of having friends in the first place, and Undine, who doesn’t seem to pay attention to anyone around her, it was futile to ask them, so I quietly ended my thoughts.
“Well then, let’s start as agreed.”
Professor Fernandez, not Ferdonandes, is quite popular among the students. Even now, as I stand there dumbfounded, he takes the lead and starts the proceedings himself.
No, thinking about it again, since it was Fernandez who suggested it, it makes sense for him to take charge.
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“There’s no need to complicate things, so let’s keep the rules simple. Alan, you’re a year ahead of these students. So, let’s have you face Undine and then Cecilia in turn.”
“I’m okay with facing both of them together, Professor.”
“…Even for someone like you, that might be tough. Undine is a first-year top student. If you underestimate the difference of just one year of learning, it’ll be difficult to guarantee victory even in a one-on-one match.”
“Then I will personally demonstrate it.”
Confidently spoken, Alan said with a slightly irritated expression.
Upon that, Vundine also stepped forward nonchalantly. It would have been quite cool if she just went out with a haughty attitude, but adding unnecessary remarks to shatter people’s images was her distinctive trait.
“Now, Cecilia, watch closely. This is the true dignity of a proper magic duel.”
Rather than that, I hope Vundine, as a student, would uphold her dignity.
Clap clap clap, the good-natured Cecilia responded with a dry yet somehow lively applause. Upon listening again, it was a rhythm without any charm. She wasn’t as kind as she seemed.
“The friendly match at the festival will involve a strategic takedown of four individuals. However, forget about the number; focus on simplifying the location. Professor Neperna, what’s your opinion?”
“Just do as you wish. As long as magic is involved, anything goes.”
“Then each of you prepare your signature fantasy. Quick combat. Memorize the invisible blade or, if not, the non-existent blade will do. Just follow my signal at the moment of casting.”
Delaying only the casting is essentially telling everyone to finish casting their spells and keep them stocked. It’s not difficult to delay only the final casting, essentially instructing everyone to execute their magic efficiently, including the amplification of magical efficiency through the invisible blade.
As if waiting for this moment, Alan cast his spell. With a strong sense of pride or a serious expression, he engaged in the mock battle.
However, Vundine was standing there blankly, glancing at me from time to time.
…Why is she looking at me again?
“Vundine, look ahead, not at me.”
It feels like being a parent watching nervously as a child starts riding a bike alone.
Being nervous is usually related to Alan’s life at stake, but whatever. I didn’t want my cherished student to be involved in a murder case due to a slip in tension within the school.
Whether she knew my feelings or not, Alan seemed emotionally affected by Vundine’s actions, or rather, her lack of any gesture, as he slowly increased the output of his stocked magic and asked in a low voice.
“Planning to proceed with the non-existent blade…?”
“It would be embarrassing if there’s a difference in the use of the invisible blade while using a non-signature spell.”
“Hmph, don’t make excuses when you lose!”
Alan’s spirited voice ends ominously, and Fernandez lowers his hand.
Undine playfully flicks her finger.
Original Elemental Magic, Water Jet.
Not only the output, but even the composition of the main and auxiliary jets was endlessly simplified and reduced.
During the early days when she configured the Water Jet, it was nothing more than a lightly bending stream of water, just like now.
That short stream of water springs up like a snake, popping up here and there before accurately targeting Alan’s spine.
Thud, followed by “Ouch!”
Alan, collapsing as if struck by the magic, had no chance to retaliate. Clutching his stomach with a deep cough, he protested as if feeling unfairly treated.
“T-This can’t be! This is cheating!”
“There’s no cheating in magic, Alan. There are only results. …It’s my first time seeing Undine’s student showcase her original. Did you really develop it?”
“hehehe, you flatter us. It’s all thanks to Professor Neperna’s excellent teaching methods.”
Undine puts on an innocent smile and casually turns her back. Fernandez continues.
“Next, Cecilia, I’ll ask of you.”
“…Yes.”
Cecilia seemed uncertain, her tail hanging limp, so I reassured her with a brief pat.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about anything else and just do as usual. It’s fine even if you lose.”
So far, I’ve occasionally tutored her based on her signature style, but the manipulation of margins and structural formulas suddenly became an area where significant improvement was challenging. Despite steadily building her knowledge, Cecilia’s mastery of margins still seemed difficult to achieve.
Following Alan, Cecilia belatedly began chanting an incantation.
Whether she wanted to incorporate what I taught her or start intertwining the optimization she habitually used into the circular formation of the auxiliary jet, she began attempting it.
The attempt is commendable. Trying anything once is a stepping stone for the future. Especially in such a mock battle, devoid of any purpose or meaning, it’s the perfect environment for further growth.
“………?”
However, the problem arose right from the beginning.
Fernandes, who was about to signal by waving his hand, also stopped as he realized the unexpected turn of events. He could sense the flow of magic that should have been refined through the mana channel reversing within Cecilia’s body. I grimaced.
“Cecilia, stop.”
Undine, sensing something amiss, furrowed her brows and pointed it out.
“Blythe, what are you doing right now? Playing with magic could lead to serious consequences. Cancel it now.”
“Well….”
Cecilia, looking bewildered, hesitated and turned towards me.
“Teacher… this is… because the words… aren’t getting through…”
Only then could I grasp the cause.
It was because Cecilia’s hair was gradually turning a deep crimson from the tips. Fortunately, due to the color combination of faint peach and pink petals, it hadn’t been noticeable until now.
Madness. Is it because of blood?
“Undine!”
As I called out briefly, Undine didn’t even respond but cast a spell.
A strange mist swept around Cecilia, naturally concealing her figure.
I leaped through the mist, grabbing Cecilia’s arm and synchronizing the flow of magic. I forcefully cleared the margin that seemed like it could burst out of control at any moment, seizing control.
Perhaps due to the recoil, Cecilia’s body collapsed as if the fire within her had been extinguished.
Subsequently, Undine’s mist gradually dispersed.
Fernandes, who had rushed over with a serious expression, alternately observed me and Cecilia. He spoke to me without seeing Cecilia’s crimson hair.
“Professor Neperna….”
“… My mana has reversed. Your condition has looked bad since earlier. I’ll go in first to check.”
“………. Understood.”
I knew very well how absurd it was for a magician to use ‘bad condition’ as an excuse. There might have been issues with my quick thinking, but unfortunately, it was the only thing that came to mind at the moment.
I checked the hair I had been holding. The area that had been tinged with some red was gradually returning to its original color.
Fernandez didn’t know anything about the news of the deaths of the Sixth Holy Sword and Rebecca. As for the Mist of Wundine, it was an attempt to distract Cecilia’s mind and take away her mana control.
“To make such a rookie mistake… Tsk!”
Cecilia shuddered briefly at Allen’s muttered words, closer to disappointment than contempt.
It wasn’t until she thought they were no longer in sight that she weakly apologized.
“… Professor… I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“Because I made a mistake…”
A mistake? It would have been better if it were just a mistake. Wundine spoke calmly, brushing off her flowing silver hair.
“Mistake? What an arrogant thing to say. It’s natural to be incapable. Is this your first time using magic properly since becoming a vampire? Handling a vampire’s mana is difficult.”
“…Wundine is right. I’m sorry. I should have been more careful. I was too focused on giving blood.”
But once a tail droops, it doesn’t seem to want to move easily.
“I’m sorry….”
She continued to repeat the same words while nervously glancing at me until we reached the school infirmary.
***
I seriously considered how to comfort her, who had been lifeless.
I was as useless as Undine drowning in water when it came to consoling someone.
I had no intention of harping on the fact that Undine had a drinking problem, but to get to the point, I was currently a clueless teacher who didn’t even know what Cecilia wanted for an answer.
Just in case, I glanced at Undine, but she only smirked in response.
However, there was a moment when my concerns seemed insignificant, and Cecilia’s mood took a sudden turn.
A sound echoed as we entered the medical building. It was the unmistakable sound of paaang.
“Oh my, Professor Neperna. It’s rare to see you today~♪ Have you missed me that much?”
“hahahaha… it just happened… Cecilia got hurt.”
A dry laugh escaped. I had no intention of exchanging jokes, but even if I ignored Undine, Cecilia, who was the actual patient, looked blankly dead-eyed, so I hastily replied.
It must have been right at that moment.
Cecilia, who had been strangely fidgeting, suddenly said,
“Often…? Often…? Today? Often…?”
And then, she started alternating her gaze between Professor Aegis and me.
… Wait, wasn’t Cecilia experiencing magical backlash just a moment ago? Apologizing and all, wasn’t the student who seemed lifeless a moment ago the correct one?
Professor Aegis quickly confirmed Cecilia’s condition with a warm smile.
“hehehe, cuddling cutely. You two seem like good friends~♪”
“Friends…? Well, that’s a relief. I rushed here in a hurry.”
“Hmm, there don’t seem to be any visible aftereffects, but just in case, let’s do a thorough examination. Cecilia, come over here.”
“… Yes. I understand.”
Cecilia followed her with a slightly stiff tail.
Suddenly, Professor Aegis shouted loudly.
“Oh, right. Headmistress!”
“……………………………………………………!!!!!!”
What is it?
Headmistress?
What kind of headmistress?
I froze. Did I hear it wrong? Surely Professor Aegis isn’t thinking of detaining me here?
An alarm bell rings in my head.
Headmistress. The headmistress that would come from her mouth could only be Freyja Aehodan’s headmistress, the forbidden status.
Ah, please, even in the midst of fervently hoping that no one heard, there was a student betraying my expectations delightfully.
“Headmistress…? Who’s the headmistress and what’s going on?”
Just as Undine, who came in after me, asked with a curious tilt of her head, I bit my tongue, nearly choked on blood, and almost committed suicide.
Professor Aegis, seeing me like that, chuckled as if amused and said,
“Oh, I thought our Medical Sandwich Club headmistress was waiting outside~♪”
“Well, isn’t it usually called the president for a club? It sounds strange to call it headmistress.”
“That’s true~ Now that I think about it, it does sound strange. What about you, Undine?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll decline. The time spent with you, sir, is decreasing.”
…Professor Aegis. Save me.
My heart feels like it’s going to drop.
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My heart… my heart hurts so much.