Chapter 1: Fidic Academy
“…So this is Fidic Academy.”
I muttered as I gazed up at the enormous structure that could easily be mistaken for a castle. Stone walls and spires lined up, with a massive Gothic-style building towering in the center. A river flowed, splitting left and right in front, and including the spires, the expanse of the grounds was beyond measure.
I had never seen such a building, even on Earth.
Genuinely amazed, I walked along the cobblestone path.
Looking around, I saw people with animal ears on their heads, some with tails, others with long ears, and even child-sized individuals sporting full beards.
While the attire varied greatly, what stood out were those in armor and helmets, and others in robes that concealed their entire body.
It seemed like a joke, but I had grown accustomed to seeing demi-humans, beast-folk, and elves. In large cities, the presence of diverse races was commonplace.
Giants, merfolk, and fairies were rare, but they were said to exist somewhere in the world.
Looking up at the majestic gate that exuded an intimidating aura, I sighed and took a step forward.
Suddenly, a voice called out from within the gate.
“Excuse me. Beyond this point lies Fidic Academy, hailed as the world’s finest magic school. We haven’t received any information about transfers at this time of year. What brings you here?”
I was warned in a melodious voice, as if someone were singing a gentle song.
Looking up, I saw a breathtakingly handsome young man with blue hair. He wore an outfit that seemed to be a mix between a noble’s military uniform and a business suit. It had a rigid atmosphere based on black, with silver patterns embroidered here and there, and even at a glance, it was clearly of high-quality tailoring.
“…I was told to work here. I’d like to request an audience with Headmaster Glen, if possible.”
Upon hearing this, the young man smiled gently and shook his head.
“I apologize, but do you have any identification or a letter of recommendation from someone of similar status that could substantiate your claim? As you may know, the Headmaster is a person who rose to the rank of Marquis not by bloodline, but through overwhelming magical power and various great achievements. He’s not someone you can meet easily.”
As he said this with an appraising gaze, I furrowed my brow.
“That’s problematic. I’m a commoner, so I don’t have any identification proving my status. I do have a guild card from the Magicians’ Association, though…”
Hearing my response, the young man’s expression clearly lost interest.
“…Then, please take your leave. I’ll be excusing myself as well.”
As I watched him turn on his heel after that curt dismissal, I called out one last time.
“Couldn’t you at least deliver a letter for me?”
The young man quietly turned back, folded his arms, and tilted his head.
“…A letter, huh?”
Hearing those words muttered with suspicion, I took out a single white paper from my leather shoulder bag. It wasn’t sealed with wax or anything, just a single sheet folded into thirds. Seeing this, the young man regained a hint of interest.
“What’s this letter?”
“I was told it’s something like a greeting. Of course, there are no tricks or traps. If there’s no problem, would you deliver it to Headmaster Glen?”
“Deliver it? I believe that decision is ours to make…”
While saying this mockingly, the young man took the letter from my hand. This handsome fellow had a roundabout and sarcastic way of speaking. Dealing with him straightforwardly seemed troublesome.
He held his palm towards the folded letter, slightly narrowing his eyes. A shadow fell across his well-proportioned face, and his long eyelashes fluttered. His picturesque appearance was somewhat irritating.
“Indeed… it doesn’t seem to have any magical traps. Now, for the contents…”
The moment I heard him say this, I activated the non-elemental magic, Little Palm of the Void.
Cast without incantation and using minimal magical power, the Void Hand wasn’t even detected by the young man, who appeared to be a high-ranking magician, and snatched the letter back.
“To save you the trouble, I’ll deliver it myself.”
Saying only that, I activated a new spell.
As if realizing there wouldn’t be a second chance, the young man quickly moved to deploy defensive magic.
“White Passing Bird, Air Mail.”
As I murmured this, the letter floated up gently and then flew towards the highest floor of the castle. Its target was the top floor of the building. As if pulled by strings of magical power, the letter fluttered away. The young man watched this scene, half-dumbfounded.
It’s troublesome, so I might as well escape while unnoticed.
Thinking this, I left the scene with a nonchalant expression.
[SIDE: Speyside]
She was a strange woman. A girl with glossy black hair, rare in these parts. Her age seemed to be in her late teens. However, her atmosphere felt older than myself.
Though slender, her gaze was sharp, and her posture was like that of a soldier.
She carried herself so confidently that I mistook her for a noble, even though she hadn’t arrived by carriage. But when asked, she said she was a commoner.
While anyone can take the entrance exam for the academy, and the same applies to faculty regardless of background,
realistically speaking, as it’s a school for top-tier magicians, most are of noble birth. The faculty consists of only first-class magicians, with the majority coming from marquis or count families.
Therefore, it was an unheard-of oddity for a commoner to seek an audience with the headmaster outside of the enrollment period.
Was this woman a con artist, or perhaps a madwoman? While thinking such things internally, I conversed with her, intending to brush her off and send her away, but she desperately produced an odd piece of paper.
It was pure white paper. Seeing such high-quality paper that even I had rarely encountered, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.
Then, while I was distracted by the paper, the woman activated a spell and snatched the paper from my hand.
When did she chant? What spell did she cast?
More importantly, never before had I only noticed after the fact.
My mind was in chaos, and my heart rate spiked.
My relaxed vigilance instantly tensed up. I lowered my center of gravity to move quickly while opening my mouth to begin chanting for defense.
“To save you the trouble, I’ll deliver it myself.”
In that instant, the woman activated another spell I had never seen before, sending the letter flying into the sky.
Even though it was the second time, I couldn’t perceive either the preparatory movements for the spell or the moment of activation.
Surely, it couldn’t be non-verbal casting.
If so, I should consider it a short chant with the incantation reduced to the extreme. Even I can use shortened spells for some of my specialty water magic, with reduced incantations.
But even so, the activation was too fast. The preparation was too imperceptible.
“Y-You… who exactly…”
After staring blankly at the sky, I muttered this as I lowered my gaze to search for the woman.
However, all that entered my vision were the familiar cobblestones and stone walls.
The woman’s figure had vanished suddenly.
[SIDE: Glen]
Walls made of patterns of stacked pale-colored stones. High ceilings and thick wooden plank floors. The only lighting came from old-fashioned magic stone lamps, and all the furniture was made of old wood.
Everything in this room had been used for a long time and held deep memories.
The window offered a panoramic view of this large academy, and the space had become as familiar as a second home.
In such a space, sitting at an old, large wooden desk and chair, I glared at documents and groaned, just as I did every day.
“…Why do problems keep occurring…”
I muttered with a sigh, hanging my head.
If there were no problems, I’d like to enjoy some tea while working leisurely in this comfortable office. However, mysteriously, problems arose every day.
Well, I knew the cause, but these were issues that couldn’t be easily resolved, so I kept putting them off.
One was the problem of overly strong-willed faculty members.
After all, they were responsible for instructing talented magic apprentices. They had to be first-class magicians with a track record of researching the mechanisms of magic.
In other words, there were many eccentrics and stubborn individuals. To make matters worse, some aimed for the privileges of being a teacher at the academy and treated classes as a bothersome side job.
And then there was the problem of overly strong-willed students.
Since ancient times, having talent as a magician has been seen as a guarantee of a promising future.
Because of this, royalty and nobility sought magical talent for various reasons, such as social climbing or preventing decline. As a result, after many years, the majority of those who could become high-level magicians were of noble birth.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that almost all of those with the talent to become top-tier magicians were born into nobility.
Born as nobles, with magical talent sufficient to enter Fidic Academy, which itself was a status symbol upon graduation.
It’s no wonder some would become overconfident. Especially when they’re still young students.
And when conflicts arise, whether faculty or students, they resort to using magic. Despite strict disciplines and punishments in place, they declare it’s for the sake of noble pride, and neither side backs down.
The surest way to resolve this would be to govern strictly with impartial punishment regardless of status, but the academy’s funding comes from the royalty and nobility of the six major countries in the surrounding area. If we’re too strict, our patrons would become angry.
In other words, it’s a system that structurally generates problems.
In such a situation, I was holding my head, staring at a report that seemed unbelievable to have been written by a grown adult.
The content, which wastefully used four sheets of high-quality white paper, could be summarized in three lines:
A faculty member, despite being only the third son of a baron family,
has been disrespectful to me, the second son of a duke family.
What do you intend to do about this, as it could affect the academy’s continued existence?
After finishing reading the report, I sighed again.
“That’s none of my business.”
Just looking at the report, this second son of a duke family hadn’t done anything wrong.
However, considering his previous evaluations and observed behavior in classes, the content was the complete opposite.
Well, it’s true that the faculty member, Strath, has a stern face, is unfriendly, and has a sharp tongue. But he has a personality that doesn’t discriminate or differentiate, and he straightforwardly points out both good and bad aspects of others without changing his attitude.
He’s not the type to value relationships with others, but he’s certainly not a bad person.
On the other hand, Barrel, the second son of the Duke’s family in the Kingdom of Carvan, has a bad reputation. Although he’s required to attend a minimum number of classes, he tends to skip those he deems unnecessary. If he receives any warnings or scoldings, he loses his temper.
To make matters worse, Barrel has a talent for magic and is top of the class in some subjects. Combined with his status, more and more teachers are becoming unable to scold him or are keeping their distance out of trouble.
“…Should I expel him?”
Even royalty has been expelled before when their behavior was too much to bear.
However, without exception, such cases always lead to a fuss. It’s clear from past experiences that it’ll become even more troublesome.
Of course, the royal family and duke’s family are at the top of the hierarchy.
“…This is troublesome.”
I leans back in my chair and exhales through nose. Really, it’s just one problem after another.
At that moment, I sensed an unusual magical power.
“Hmm… this is non-elemental magic. How rare.”
As I muttered this and looked towards the window, I saw a white paper fluttering like a small bird outside.
Without moving from my spot, I waved my finger to activate non-elemental magic and opened the window. The white paper fluttered in.
It landed on the desk, and I realized it wasn’t just a letter, but a letter of introduction.
Seeing the familiar sender’s name,I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh!”
“Owen Miller, eh? Well, well, it’s been a while… Still writing in that terse style of his.”
I said with a wry smile as I traced the lines of the introduction letter.
The originally short text could be summarized even more concisely in three lines:
I’ve taken on a disciple for the first time,
But they’re such a quick learner that I’ve run out of things to teach.
Try hiring them as a teacher.
“…Is this his way of bragging about his disciple?”
I muttered, half exasperated, as I stroked my chin beard.
The more I read, the more unbelievable the contents seemed.
My friend and fellow magician from homeland, Owen Miller, is a magician of equal caliber to myself. No, being a rare pure-blooded elf unlike me, a half-elf, Owen’s magical power and skills are probably superior to my own aged self.
And this disciple that Owen had personally tutored…
Owen, who was purely a researcher and explorer, was never one to spare time for others. In other words, this person must have been talented enough to pique Owen’s interest.
“…The last time we met was thirty… no, about forty years ago. So, this disciple has managed to make Owen’s knowledge and experience their own in just over thirty years?”
Interesting.
Despite running the academy and encountering various individuals of all races, he had never met such a prodigy.
If Owen has already declared them fully qualified, they must indeed have more than enough ability to be a teacher.
If a teacher with overwhelming ability were to take up the post, even the most troublesome students might settle down.
“Hmm, I’d certainly like to meet them. Are they already on their way to the academy… No, the letter says ‘this person’. Huh? If he had them bring it, where exactly is the sender…?”
As he was tilting his head, turning the paper over, and checking for any hidden magical seals, he heard a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
As he called out, the door opened from the outside, and Speyside, one of the water magic teachers, poked his head in.
“Excuse me.”
With a deep bow, Speyside took a step into the room and began to speak.
“A moment ago, a suspicious woman sent what seemed to be a letter flying this way, so I came to check…”
“A suspicious woman… You saw the sender of the letter? Where did this person go?”
Thinking that if it was just one person, it must surely be Owen’s disciple, I asked in return. Speyside shook his head.
“I don’t know. She had no identification and just said she wanted to meet the headmaster, so I asked her to leave.”
Speyside replied with a chuckle.
“…Oh no…”
I couldn’t help but let out a groan of dismay. Speyside’s attitude and way of speaking, which seemed to mock the sender of the letter, gave him a bad feeling.
Surely, he hadn’t driven her away…
“Did… did I do something wrong…?”
Seeing my reaction, Speyside’s expression tensed.
Speyside has a somewhat elitist personality. It’s unlikely that he treated someone without identification with respect.
Usually, the gatekeeper would handle visitors, but Speyside must have encountered her while he was out on some errand.
What bad timing.
“…That person is my friend’s disciple and an important guest. She’s probably still in the city. Find her and bring her here.”
As I said this, Speyside’s back straightened sharply. Perhaps my tone had become slightly stronger due to my anxiety. Speyside’s face quickly paled.
“I-I’ll find her right away!”
Saying this in a flustered manner, he dashed out of the room. Watching his retreating figure, I looked towards the window.
“…It would be troublesome if she knows flight magic. She might leave immediately.”
I sighed, hoping that the woman in question would be found quickly.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
[SIDE: AOI]
Walking along the well-maintained cobblestone street, I feel excited by the shops lining the way.
Wintervaley, a major trading city and a special autonomous region of the Kingdom of Verted, is under the protection of the Six Great Nations due to its top-tier magic academy.
There’s little fear of being caught up in wars, and with many students from noble families of the Six Great Nations, it’s an economically prosperous city.
Merchants from various countries flock to Wintervaley with their goods. This, in turn, has further increased the city’s luxuriousness.
Being popular as a tourist destination as well, this main street is particularly vibrant. There are food stalls selling grilled meat on skewers, fried dishes, and fruit juices, as well as stalls selling precious spider silk clothing and precious metals. Some even sell weapons, shields, and armor.
Not only are there many shops and a variety of products, but the people walking about are also diverse. It’s undoubtedly one of the busiest places I’ve seen so far.
I recall seeing shops dealing with slaves, wagons, and trained magical beasts at the city entrance.
I’ve heard there are underground casinos in the back alleys of the city, so there must be many mafia-like entities as well.
“Everything has two sides, I suppose,”
I mutter to myself, nodding as I continue down the street. Suddenly, my eyes are drawn to a side alley.
Compared to the main street, it’s dirty and dimly lit. In the depths of this alley-like path, I see something lying on the ground.
It looks like a pile of rags…
I focus my eyes and quickly realize.
No, it’s not something lying there. It’s someone collapsed.
I immediately rush over, preparing healing magic.
“Are you alright? Are you conscious…?”
Just as I reach out my hand while calling out, the woman wrapped in rags spreads both her arms. In each hand, she’s gripping a curved sword.
“Don’t move,”
she says in a voice unusually low for a woman, as the tip of the blade is pointed at my neck.
From what I can see, she doesn’t seem to have the skill or motive to hurt me, but I stay still and ask in return.
“Who are you? I’ve just arrived in this city, so I don’t remember earning anyone’s grudge.”
In response, I hear a mocking laugh.
“You still don’t get it? There are no injured or sick people here. The only one here is a fool who’s been tricked.”
As the woman laughs with a distorted face, trying to suppress her voice, two men appear from the depths of the alley.
“Oh, looks like we’ve got a good one.”
“A reward from the gods for us hard workers, eh?”
With frivolous smiles, the two men approach and look at my face.
“…I don’t have much money on me, though.”
When I say this, the three of them burst into laughter, and the two men each take out something.
A chain and something that looks like an iron ring.
“Are you stupid, country bumpkin? You’ll turn into gold coins when we sell you.”
“We might even get two gold coins for you, if we’re lucky.”
The men approach, laughing raucously. I sigh and open my mouth to counter-attack.
At that moment, a gust of wind rages through.
The wind that blew with a sound seemed to freeze everyone in place, as if sewing them to the spot.
It’s probably a wind bind, a restraining wind spell by a wind magic user, but judging from the state of the three, it’s quite precise.
Normally, one would be able to move their hands, fingers, or neck a little, but it seems they really can’t move a finger.
“…Are you alright?”
I hear a low male voice.
Walking leisurely past the two men who are sweating profusely while unable to move, a tall man appears.
Despite the dim back alley, his shining silver hair catches the eye. He’s wearing black magician’s attire that looks like a mix between a suit and a robe. There’s an academy crest on his chest and right shoulder, but it’s embroidered with gold thread, which means he’s not a student but a teacher. I had heard from Owen that while teachers’ dress is basically free, they often wear this academy-issued outfit in formal settings.
“I’m fine. Thank you for saving me.”
I answer, pinching the blade of the curved sword at my neck with my fingers and pushing it away.
Glancing at the teary-eyed woman who’s frozen in fear, I stand up, brushing off my knees with my hands.
As I look up, I see the face of the man with his brows furrowed. He seems confused, but his features are well-defined. However, his eyes are too sharp. Combined with his black outfit, he gives off an assassin-like aura.
He looks to be in his early thirties.
As I’m thinking this, the man slightly tilts his head and opens his mouth. It’s a surprisingly cute gesture.
“…Did you resist the effect reduction of my magic? Are you a magician?”
“Yes. I tried to go to Fidic Academy today, but I was turned away at the gate by someone with blue hair.”
“Blue hair… Speyside, huh. That guy… Well, can’t be helped. I’ll have you admitted. Follow me.”
The man nods to himself as he says this and turns on his heel.
“Ah, wait a moment.”
I call out to his back, and he turns his face sideways towards me.
“Hmm… Ah, it’s them. I’ll inform the guards about these guys. Until then, leave them be.”
“Oh, no. I haven’t introduced myself yet… I’m Aoi Konominato. And you are?”
As I asked, the man raised an eyebrow and turned around.
“I see. I’m Strauss Clyde. I’m a wind element instructor. The academy is large, so we might not meet often, but feel free to rely on me if you need anything.”
After saying this bluntly, the man who introduced himself as Strauss started walking again.
Though awkward, he seems to be kind on the inside.
Smiling as I watched his swaying silver hair, I silently followed behind.
Upon returning to the academy, I was led through the gate. Passing through the thick castle walls and gate, the enormous castle and spires came closer, filling my entire field of vision.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help but let out a gasp of admiration. It was majestic and splendid. Truly a spectacular sight. Light shining through breaks in the clouds illuminated the academy.
As I was admiring the scenery, a voice called out from behind.
“…Aren’t you going to check in?”
When I turned around at those words, Strauss was standing in front of a house-like building on the inside of the gate. A small elderly man was beside him.
I went over to the old man, straightened my posture, and spoke.
“I was told to come work here as an instructor. My name is Aoi Konominato. Would it be possible to meet with Headmaster Glen?”
“Oh, young lady. Are you sure you’re not a student?”
“I’m already twenty years old.”
As I said this, Strauss turned towards me with a shocked expression.
“…I am twenty years old.”
It happened often during my journey to Wintervaley, but being mistaken for my age is a common occurrence. As I replied with a sigh, Strauss spoke without changing his surprised expression.
“What… You’re only four years younger than me? You don’t look anywhere near my sister’s age…”
“Eh? Twenty-four? You, Strauss?”
I was surprised by Strauss’s comment as well. I thought he was around thirty, so this is quite awkward.
As we stared at each other in silence with wide eyes, the old man nodded with a laugh.
“I understand the reason now. Actually, I just received word from the Headmaster earlier. Sensei Strauss, could you please escort her to the Headmaster’s office?”
At the old man’s words, Strauss and I nodded in unison.
We proceeded down hallways that truly looked and felt like those of a Western castle, heading towards the top floor of the castle.
Thick carpets, intricately crafted stone walls and ceilings, and countless magical stone lamps lighting the way. Considering the extraordinary size of the academy, it’s a very luxurious construction.
Both the hallways and staircases are unnecessarily wide. If the classrooms and other facilities are built in the same way, I can understand the reason for the academy’s size. There might be gymnasiums, dojos, and practical training buildings under the numerous spires.
In any case, it’s my first time in a school in about twelve years. It’s quite emotional. Well, not only the school building but also the students and teachers are very different from the school I knew.
“Here we are.”
As I was sightseeing around the academy, Strauss stopped walking and said that.
It seems we had arrived while I was walking in a touristy mood.
When I looked ahead, there was a huge double door behind Strauss, who had stopped and turned to face me. Due to the high ceiling, it was quite a massive door.
The door was made of black metal with silver decorations. Despite looking very heavy, when Strauss knocked, it opened automatically from the inside.
Beyond the door, which opened surprisingly lightly, was a large room with an unexpectedly calm atmosphere. The ceiling was high, and bookshelves filled with numerous volumes and large windows adorned the walls. While the previous areas had a strong smell of stone and leather, this room smelled of wood and books, like a library.
At the far end of the room was a large desk that seemed to be about three meters wide, and behind it sat an old man with a white beard.
The old man looked up at me, spread his arms, and smiled.
“Oh, so you’re the one from the letter. What a charming young lady. I’m Glen Molt, the headmaster here.”
“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Aoi Konominato. Thank you for meeting me despite my sudden visit.”
As I replied, Headmaster Glen raised one hand and nodded.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. So, how is Owen Millers doing? I haven’t seen him in decades.”
Glen asked, seeming somewhat pleased. I replied to his question.
“He’s doing almost too well.”
When I answered, Glen laughed happily and nodded several times.
“I’m sure he is. Unlike me, a half-elf, he’s a pure-blooded elf. He must still look and have the magical power of a young man.”
Laughing cheerfully, Glen picked up the letter and held it up in front of his face. Without me noticing, small glasses had appeared on Glen’s face, and he adjusted their position with his finger as he began to speak.
“Now then, the letter says to make you a teacher at the academy. This isn’t a mistake for ‘make her a student’, is it?”
“No, I’m very sorry, but even at this academy, there’s apparently nothing left for me to learn. However, I was told that working as a teacher would be faster to fulfill my wishes… Also, considering my age, being a student would be difficult.”
“Oh? May I use an appraisal spell on you?”
“Yes, that’s fine, but…”
As I answered, Glen immediately used an appraisal spell. I felt the unique discomfort that comes when being appraised by magic, making me slightly itchy.
Although it’s only a slight discomfort, those with strong magical power can sense it. By the way, if there’s too much difference in magical power, the appraisal will be deflected.
The fact that the appraisal succeeded is proof that Glen is also a considerable magician.
Glen narrowed his eyes as if reading a book while looking at me and muttering, and finally his face became dumbfounded.
“…Well, this is surprising. Not only does your magical power surpass mine, but there are parts I can’t even read… It’s like one of the Six Heroes.”
Glen muttered with an astonished face.
At those words, even Strauss, who hadn’t said a word until now, opened his mouth with a shocked expression.
! Image
“The Six Heroes…? This young girl…?”
Strauss said, as if he couldn’t help himself. Glen sighed in response.
“…This is also shocking, but apparently Aoi is twenty years old. Not much different from your age.”
He said something rather rude.
“…That’s hard to believe.”
And Strauss said something even ruder with an impolite attitude. It had happened many times before coming to this academy, but everyone treats me like a child.
Even I couldn’t help but have the corners of my eyes twitch.
“…Is there something wrong with my age?”
As I muttered this, both of them jumped and held their breath.
“N-no, there’s nothing wrong, nothing at all.”
“S-sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
The two hurriedly made excuses and apologized. For some reason, I sense something similar to Owen in this Headmaster Glen. Perhaps because of that, I ended up responding to him as I would to Owen. I knew they meant no harm, so I decided to forgive them.
“…So, will you hire me as a teacher?”
When I asked this, Glen nodded while his face twitched.
“Y-yes, of course. However, being able to use magic and being able to teach it are different things. First, could you try teaching me a type of magic you think you’re good at? By the way, even if you can’t teach magic, we also have teachers for mathematics, languages, geography, history and culture, magical tools, and so on.”
“…Then, is water magic okay?”
“Oh, that’s fine. Water magic users are among the most numerous teachers, along with fire and earth. If you can teach a few advanced spells, that would be enough to hire you as a teacher.”
Glen said this with a smile and looked at me with expectant eyes. Finding his excited face, like a young boy’s, amusing, I considered what to teach first.
Perhaps a spell that’s easy to explain the theory behind would be good.
“…Then, let’s start with the water bullet, Aqua Ball.”
“Hmm. That’s an intermediate-level spell.”
Nodding at Glen’s words, I first turned my palm upward and floated a water sphere in the air.
For a moment, both of their expressions changed, but I went ahead with the explanation anyway.
“When dealing with water magic, we first have students memorize the properties of water. The amount of water, its shape, and the speed at which it flows… These are the three basics. By increasing the amount, shaping it according to the purpose, and maintaining a certain speed, it becomes a versatile spell useful in various situations.”
“I see, I see.”
As Glen and Strauss nodded, I changed the shape of the floating water sphere.
From the bottom of the water sphere that had been just floating, I created a tube of water as if extending a line, gradually making it thinner.
“If you can change and maintain the shape, and increase the flow rate to its limit, this spell can rival advanced magic. Furthermore, by mixing powdered abrasives, it becomes a special-grade magic called the High-Pressure Water Blade Abrasive Cutter, which can even cut through Orichalcum shields and armor…”
“W-wait a minute!”
Just as I was giving what I thought was a good explanation of the magic, Glen interrupted.
“Yes?”
I furrowed my brow and asked Glen, who raised his voice with wide eyes.
“N-no, no… You were casually explaining some incredible content, but I’ve never even heard of a spell called the High-Pressure Water Blade Abrasive Cutter! Moreover, who would think of mixing abrasives into a manifested spell…”
“It’s an original spell I created.”
“You created it!?”
“An original spell, you say…?”
The two were surprised again. My teacher, Owen, said that first-class magicians usually develop one or two unique spells, but…
“…Well then, for now, let’s teach you how to create the water sphere, which is the basis of the intermediate-level water bullet spell.”
“W-wait a moment! W-why are you moving on to explaining intermediate magic as if nothing happened!? Please, I beg you! Teach me about the original spell!”
Glen was greatly agitated, standing up and pleading. Perhaps, as expected of an academy headmaster, he has a keen interest in new magic.
“But this is a test to become a teacher, right? First, let’s explain intermediate magic in a way that’s easy for students to understand…”
“Great! You pass! You’ve passed! Quick, show me your original magic…!”
Glen shouted with bloodshot eyes, and just like that, my teacher certification test was over with an easy pass.
After giving a brief lecture on original magic and promising to teach the practical aspects another day, I was finally released.
Glen, looking pleased, declared that I would be welcomed with senior faculty status and immediately instructed Strauss to show me to the faculty dormitory.
Senior faculty refers to teachers who serve as grade leaders or subject heads, and they receive privileges such as priority use of school facilities and personal research rooms. Apparently, their salaries and dormitory room assignments are also better.
In the past, only those recruited from other countries’ court magicians or famous magic book authors were appointed as senior faculty immediately upon hiring. In my case, it seems the reason was my demonstration of original magic above the senior level.
I thought that special treatment might cause troublesome situations, but when I heard that the privileged facilities included a special library and a personal research room, I found myself nodding without thinking.
Lost in thought, I realized we had already arrived at our destination.
Strauss stopped in front of the entrance of a medium-sized tower, turned back to me, and pointed at the tower behind him as he began to speak.
“…This is it. This building is the female faculty dormitory. The first to third floors are for general faculty. The fourth floor and above are for senior faculty. Ask the dorm head for anything else.”
As Strauss was about to leave after saying just that, I furrowed my brow and called out to him.
“Wait a moment. If possible, could you introduce me to this dorm head?”
Hearing this, Strauss frowned in displeasure.
“…Men aren’t allowed in the girls’ dorm and female faculty dorm. Even if I shouted from here, the dorm head wouldn’t come out…”
Just as Strauss was making this excuse, a petite woman appeared from inside the tower.
She was a woman with a childlike face and green hair braided into three plaits. Her oversized glasses were cute. Her ears were pointed, but she was likely a dwarf, not an elf. Her clothing resembled traditional folk costume, primarily red and white. It’s not common to see here, but it’s similar to Swiss folk costumes on Earth.
She looked about fifteen, but dwarf women are generally petite and youthful-looking. She’s probably not as young as she appears.
“Ah, Mr. Strauss! What are you doing here?!”
The dwarf woman came towards Strauss, shouting loudly. Strauss completely ignored her and turned to face me.
“…You came at a good time. This is Eliza Woodford. She’s an earth magician. Despite her appearance, she teaches intermediate and advanced magic. Ask her for the rest.”
“This?! By ‘this,’ do you mean me?!”
The dwarf woman, Eliza, raised her voice in protest at part of Strauss’s speech. But Strauss just sighed and shook his head.
“She’s noisy, but not a bad person. Really noisy, but she means no harm. You might want to cover your ears, but it’ll be fine if you ask her for the rest.”
As Strauss repeatedly called her noisy, Eliza jumped up and down with her small body, complaining.
“Noisy?! Your treatment is terrible! I’ll file a complaint for better treatment! Besides, it’s because Mr. Strauss is so quiet that my voice seems loud! In the dwarf country of Gransanz, I was known as a refined young lady!”
“…I never want to go to Gransanz…”
“W-What are you saying?!”
And so, the two of them started arguing, completely ignoring me. It was lively and a bit amusing, but this wasn’t getting us anywhere.
I cleared my throat once and turned to face Eliza.
“Excuse me. My name is Aoi Konominato, and I’ll be in your care from today. I’d like to meet the dorm head, if possible.”
Hearing this, Eliza frantically waved both hands.
“W-Wah! I-I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you were a faculty member…! You’re so young??”
I wanted to say, “You’re one to talk.”
I almost said it, but instead, I kept my composure and tilted my head.
Eliza then lost her previous energy and started to smile sheepishly.
“Ah, ehehe… I’m late in introducing myself, but I’m Eliza Woodford of the dwarf race. You’re human, right, Ms. Aoi? Nice to meet you. W-Well then, I’ll guide you to the dorm head’s room. Please, this way.”
As Eliza began to guide me, bowing her head repeatedly, Strauss let out a deep sigh and raised one hand.
“…Well then, see you later.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you very much.”
After briefly saying goodbye, I watched Strauss leave, suddenly looking exhausted. Then, Eliza came to my side, looking very interested.
“U-Um, Ms. Aoi, are you perhaps a member of the royal family?”
“No, I’m not. Why do you ask?”
When I asked back, Eliza looked surprised and explained.
“Even when someone from a ducal family became a teacher, rumors about the hiring test circulated beforehand. Also, in most cases, they stay at general accommodations rather than the dorm before and after the hiring test… Could it be that you have an amazing background, Ms. Aoi?”
“I don’t have any particular background. I’ve just devoted myself to training as a magician, that’s all.”
“Eh, really? The only vacant room on the general floors of this dorm is next to mine, so you can teach intermediate magic and above, right? What kind of magic do you use?”
“Water magic.”
“Wow, that’s popular! Fire and water are the most popular among students! That’s great. Earth magic is kind of plain…”
And so, led by Eliza, the talkative dwarf, I finally entered the dormitory.
“I’m the dorm head, Glenora Novascotia. I just received a call from the headmaster. You’re Aoi Konominato, correct?”
“Y-Yes… I’m Konominato Aoi.”
I couldn’t help but falter in my response, intimidated by her presence. Looking down at me, the tall woman with brown hair furrowed her brow. She seemed to be around forty years old. Despite her slightly plump figure, her imposing presence made me wonder if she was all muscle inside.
This woman, who could be mistaken for a female pro wrestler, was Glenora, the dorm head. Glenora surveyed my body from top to bottom with sharp eyes.
“…I see. Well then, I’ll show you to the last remaining senior faculty room in our dorm. Follow me.”
“Understood.”
Just as I responded to Glenora’s words, a high-pitched voice rose from beside me.
“S-Senior?! Ms. Aoi, are you a senior faculty member?! Even though you’re new?!”
As Eliza screamed, Glenora silently approached her and dropped her fist on Eliza’s head.
There was a dull thud, and Eliza was slammed to the ground.
“You’re noisy.”
“…Y-Yes… I’m sorry…”
Ignoring Eliza, who was responding in a mosquito-like voice while lying face down on the ground, Glenora entered the tower.
As I hurried to follow her, I sensed Eliza wobbling to her feet behind me.
I secretly decided
never to defy this dorm head.
As the three of us walked through the dorm, I was shown shared facilities such as the dining hall, toilets, large bath, and library before we boarded the elevator.
This was my first time seeing an elevator in this world. Although I knew of their existence, the ride was quite different from Earth’s elevators.
The smooth ascent made me momentarily feel as if I was weightless.
Since entering the academy, I hadn’t seen many people, but inside the dorm, I occasionally spotted women in black clothes. Most people were looking at me curiously.
“Here we are.”
Before I knew it, it seemed we had arrived at my room.
Looking up, I saw a ridiculously large door. In the white stone wall, there was a black door with gold decorations.
“Wow, this is my first time entering a senior faculty member’s room!”
For some reason, Eliza, who had been following us with the highest enthusiasm, said such a thing from behind.
“You can open it,” Glenora said.
As instructed, I grasped the door handle. It was a bit heavy, but the door opened smoothly.
Light streamed from the room into the hallway, and my view suddenly expanded.
“…Amazing!”
I found myself nodding in agreement with Eliza’s exclamation.
The room had a large glass wall facing forward, offering a beautiful view of Fidic Academy’s spires and the blue sky. Moreover, it was spacious with a high ceiling.
As I entered and looked around, I noticed three more doors in the room besides the entrance.
Passing by a round table and a single armchair, I opened the door closest to the entrance. Inside was a changing room, with a Western-style toilet and shower room further in.
“Do you have these even for personal use?”
When I asked this, Glenora shook her head, and Eliza raised both hands and shouted.
“Of course not! Only senior faculty have private toilets and showers in their rooms! And why are there two more rooms?!”
“A bedroom and a study,”
“My room is just one bedroom,”
Eliza muttered with a face that looked like she might cry.
Snorting at this, Glenora folded her arms.
“If you’re jealous, become a senior. Or stay at an inn in town.”
“Inns are expensive… Besides, Ms. Glenora’s cooking is delicious…”
Glenora’s mouth curved slightly upward at Eliza’s honest lamentation. She had a lovable personality.
Seeing this, I turned to face Glenora.
“I’d be fine with just a bedroom, or even the room next to Eliza’s.”
Hearing this, Glenora glanced at my face once and turned on her heel.
“The headmaster assigns the rooms. If you have complaints, tell the headmaster. Well, deliberately choosing a general room might seem like you’re rubbing it in the faces of staff who are desperate to be promoted to senior status.”
With just that, Glenora left the room.
Watching her back as she left, I looked at Eliza.
“…That last part was advice, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Ms. Glenora is strict but kind! Mr. Strauss is the same! Oh, and I’m actually known for being kind too! Now then, let me teach you the rules of this dorm!”
Having seemingly switched gears, Eliza said this in an energetic voice and began to explain the dorm rules to me.
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