“Heh heh heh. Professor Garcia is far too good for those Valdrogard bastards.”
“Even if we’re being extremely generous, Professor Verdus is about as much as they deserve.”
“Be quiet.”
Professor Garcia scolded the Einroguard students snickering outside the palace.
What did they mean, Professor Verdus was about as much as Valdrogard deserved?
Not every Einroguard student was laughing. A few approached with worried expressions and asked,
“Professor. Do you really think you can catch the Principal’s duplicate?”
“That... I don’t know either. We’ll just have to do our best.”
To be honest, even Professor Garcia was skeptical °• N ?? v ?? l i g h t •° about whether they could truly capture the Skull Principal’s duplicate alive.
Catching a great mage who used the secrets of ancient magic solely for running away was, in some ways, even harder than defeating one in a one-on-one duel.
At Professor Garcia’s answer, the Einroguard students lowered their voices and asked,
“Then should we assume... we’ll have to Einroguard the contract after all?”
“...What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?!”
Professor Garcia practically jumped in shock at the students’ words.
Part of the reason they reacted so strongly was that it was actually a method Professor Garcia had considered too. People tended to react more strongly when something hit a guilty nerve.
“Absolutely not! You can’t go causing trouble at another magic school. You should learn from your upper-years’ mistakes.”
‘Isn’t it already too late for that?’
The students were slightly puzzled.
Looking at the Valdrogard students pounding on the palace walls and wailing, “Let us out!” and “At least give Professor Garcia back!” it seemed like trouble had already happened.
Professor Garcia seemed to notice where their gazes were going and answered with a slightly awkward expression.
“...This lecture was approved beforehand, so it’s fine.”
‘What exactly is the standard for something being fine?’
Realizing that the students were thinking unnecessary thoughts, Professor Garcia spoke sternly again.
“None of you should even think about Einroguarding the contract. Understood?”
Even if someone was going to Einroguard the contract, that was Professor Garcia’s job, not the students’.
At the professor’s words, the students reflected deeply...
...or rather, they gave Professor Garcia suspicious looks.
“Professor, you’re not planning to do it by yourself, are you?”
“N-No? What kind of ridiculous thing are all of you imagining?”
Professor Garcia’s heart dropped.
Now that the students were approaching their third year, they were definitely becoming harder to fool. As expected of students entering the Silver Year.
“Professor. If you do decide to Einroguard it, please let us participate too. As your students, we want to help you.”
“It is absolutely not because we want to experience the joy of plundering Valdrogard!”
“Everyone, be quiet. There will be no Einroguarding anything!”
After finally getting the students off their back, Professor Garcia spotted a group of students coming up the hill toward the palace and widened their eyes.
“Why are those Valdrogard students coming here? Don’t tell me they found out their friends are trapped inside...?”
“Ah. No. The Valdrogard students inside invited them so they could earn points.”
“......”
***
There were still many Valdrogard students outside the palace.
The sensible ones among them had no intention of coming to school during vacation, but every so often, an unlucky student—or one cursed with excessive curiosity—would receive a letter and come up to the palace.
Then, roughly the following sort of thing would happen.
-Magic lectures are that fun? I can’t believe there’s something in this world more entertaining than theater.
-More importantly, don’t the workers in this palace seem a little suspicious? There’s something strangely sinister about their eyes.
-Didn’t they just nail wooden boards over the palace windows? Did I see that wrong? Wait! Why is the palace door closing? D-Don’t tell me this place is haunted? Maybe there’s an evil dark mage hiding here...!
-I think you watch too many plays. There can’t possibly be that many dark mages in the Empire. Ah. This must be the lecture hall. Professor, hello! Who are all these people inside? Workers employed by the palace?
-They’re Valdrogard students.
-...What?!?!
The newly arrived Valdrogard students had trouble accepting reality.
The workers laboring in the palace courtyard looked more like Valdrogard students than the people inside did.
How could those shabby, starving-looking people possibly be Valdrogard students?
-They really are Valdrogard students.
-J-Jandanni Senior!
-We’ve been learning magic here.
-Alter! You... why have you lost so much weight?!
Only after recognizing familiar faces did the newly arrived Valdrogard students cry out in shock.
The expressions of the Valdrogard students already inside the lecture hall became even gloomier and stranger.
-The study of magic naturally demands many sacrifices.
-What? What kind of nonsense is that? Since when were you this interested in magic? It isn’t even theater. Wait. What are those points?
-Don’t worry about it. Just sit down for now. Did you bring any snacks from outside?
-???
Usually, after about an hour and a half, the newly arrived Valdrogard students began to realize something was wrong.
-Professor. I learned a great deal today. I have a banquet this evening, so may I leave now?
-Yes. Go ahead.
-Thank you. ...Uh, Professor. The palace door is locked??
-The palace doors have been malfunctioning quite often lately.
-Heh heh heh. Maybe it’s because the palace is old.
-???
After about another hour, the Valdrogard students finally understood the truth completely.
-D-Don’t tell me the door really won’t open?
-That does seem to be the case.
-Y-You! You knew that and still invited me?!
-What are you talking about? I merely recommended the magic lectures. Come on. Let’s go finish our entertaining enchantment lecture. If we do magical stitching on a hundred pieces of leather, we get bonus points.
-You’re insane! You’re all insane! I’m leaving!
And after another two days or so, the newly arrived Valdrogard students’ attitudes changed once again.
-Professor. Would it be all right if I invited a friend too? It isn’t because of the points. I simply want to share the beauty of magic.
-That’s a good idea. Just so you know in advance, I recommend not trying to hide a secret code in your letter. The other students already tried that first, and every single one was caught.
-......
***
The principal of Valdrogard, the benevolent Lord Amaset, could hardly believe the reports he had been receiving lately.
“The students are attending lectures even though the semester hasn’t started yet?! And magic lectures at that?!”
“Principal, this isn’t something we should simply overlook.”
One of the professors beside him hardened their expression and spoke seriously.
They had realized the secret problem hidden within the situation.
“Valdrogard has rules and traditions. Even if the students requested it, how could they fail to respect a professor’s period of rest? If word of this spreads outside the school, no one will ever want to come teach at Valdrogard.”
“That... is true, but...”
Lord Amaset hesitated.
It had been so long since the students had shown genuine interest and enthusiasm for magic that he did not want to be the one to ruin it.
But the professor had a point as well. A professor’s period of rest was a sacred right. No one had the right to infringe upon it.
“For honorable Valdrogard students to behave in such a way. They ought to be ashamed.”
“Hmm. I’ll speak with Professor Wardanaz myself. If the professor is genuinely willing, perhaps we can make an exception in this case.”
At Lord Amaset’s words, the others nodded.
They did not agree completely, but Lord Amaset was currently the principal of Valdrogard and held both the authority and responsibility to make such decisions.
Naturally, they had to respect that. But no one could control what they thought privately.
‘The students really are rude. Demanding that a professor hold lectures during vacation. How could they be so shameless?’
Not long after the message was sent, Lee Han appeared at the palace. The moment Lord Amaset saw the newly appointed genius professor, his face broke into a broad grin.
As Valdrogard’s principal, just looking at this young genius professor filled him with pride.
‘Even after my term ends, my achievement of appointing Professor Wardanaz will surely be recorded in history.’
“Everyone. Please allow me to explain.”
Lee Han carefully controlled his expression as he quickly swept his gaze across the people present.
‘The Principal, one professor... the etiquette professor, maybe? The chief attendant, the knight commander in charge of security...’
Escaping the malicious slander that he had imprisoned the students in the palace and was forcing them to study would require a very delicate explanation.
Lee Han’s mind spun rapidly as he tried to decide where to begin and how much to explain. It felt as though his thoughts were moving faster than when he had been learning microcosm magic.
“Professor Wardanaz. Valdrogard professors do not interfere with one another, but allow me to give one piece of advice to a newly appointed colleague. You must not hold a lecture simply because the students ask you to. If the students ask you not to end a lecture, do you intend to keep teaching forever?”
“...!”
Caught off guard by words completely different from what he had expected, Lee Han froze.
Huh?
‘They didn’t find out?’
The Valdrogard students inside the palace would have foamed at the mouth if they heard this, but the elderly Imperial etiquette professor was perfectly serious.
If a professor refused to end a lecture just because the students asked them not to, when were professors supposed to rest?
This could not be dismissed as merely one professor’s problem. If such a custom spread, the other professors might be expected to work the same way.
“...You’re right, Professor. In truth, I’ve been reflecting on it myself. I shouldn’t have opened lectures unconditionally just because the students asked me to... I apologize. I studied at Einroguard, so I’m somewhat ignorant when it comes to rules and etiquette.”
When the young genius professor apologized in a sincere voice, sounding genuinely remorseful, the expressions of everyone present immediately softened.
Valdrogard’s etiquette professor nodded as if that was enough. The professor had never intended to harshly condemn a fellow faculty member in the first place.
‘Huh?’
The principal, Lord Amaset, felt that something was strange.
Professor Wardanaz was clearly from one of the great noble houses, so how could he possibly be ignorant of rules and etiquette?
‘Is House Wardanaz simply unusual? But I’m fairly certain Lady Kraha said Professor Wardanaz was excellent when it came to manners and decorum as well?’
“Professor Wardanaz. I sincerely understand how you feel. When students plead with you, it must be difficult for a young professor to refuse. I’ll go there myself and give them a stern scolding!”
At Lord Amaset’s declaration, Lee Han firmly declined.
“No. They are still my students. I cannot allow that. Please do not blame the students for what happened this time.”
“Such...!”
“The Valdrogard students may have acted dishonorably, but no one can deny that they were fortunate enough to meet an excellent professor!”
Everyone present was moved once again.
Where else could one find a professor who devoted themselves to teaching students without even resting during vacation?
It might have gone somewhat against the rules, but no one could deny how touching it was.
‘The students must be so happy!’
‘Is that why several more students went to attend the lectures earlier?’