Chapter 24

"Master Theodorus, over here."

Grace, sitting on the long bench, smiled happily and lightly tapped her thigh.

"Ah... yeah."

I lay down quietly, forming a shape where Grace could use her lap as a pillow.

Grace, in high spirits, started to clean my ears with the ear pick she held. For me, this was a moment where I had to clear my mind.

"If it hurts, please let me know."

"Yeah, it feels just right."

It seemed that Grace was quite starved for physical contact. Ever since we returned from the dungeon, which meant after the state of liberation, these kinds of events had increased a bit, perhaps as a way to release the backlash.

...Still, there's no relationship.

Considering our ages... Grace also doesn't seem to have much worldly knowledge, so she probably lacks that kind of knowledge.

...I'm not trying to act like a gentleman by saying premarital relations are wrong or anything. It's just that the main reason is, once we cross that line, I feel like there's no stopping it.

Thinking about the future, if things were to get to that point now, it would just be a scandal. Especially if we ended up with a child, it would ruin all the plans we've made.

To have to worry about such things at the age of ten... sigh. The memories and common sense from my previous life have their pros and cons...

Physically, I'm still growing, so for now, it's fine... but I wonder what will happen once I grow a bit more. ...I'll have to work hard to prepare the groundwork by then.

"By the way, Master Theodorus, you're going to the academy tomorrow, right?"

Grace said, seemingly recalling the content of the materials she received from the Perseford Academy.

"Yeah, the lecture on life magic?"

"Yes."

It's more like a workshop.

The lectures on life magic are held year-round, but they rotate through a curriculum, so I had to wait for one cycle to end to start from the beginning.

So, the next day, I was at the academy.

The room I was in now resembled a university lecture hall, with seats arranged in a radiating pattern on a stepped platform, looking down at the lectern... just like that. It was cozy, not a particularly large room.

Even as a noble, bringing attendants or servants to the lectures was not allowed. I suggested that if Grace wanted to learn, she could attend the academy, but she declined.

She said she couldn't find anything she wanted to learn enough to pay the high tuition, and that life magic, while convenient, needed to be tested to see if she could use it after I taught her, to avoid wasting the tuition.

Well, that's true... Dampira has a different magical aptitude from ordinary people, so even with high magical power, it's uncertain whether she can learn ordinary magic. It would be problematic if she paid the tuition and couldn't use life magic, so it's not wrong for her to be cautious...

So, Grace is now in the waiting room next to this lecture hall, spending her time doing embroidery. This is a feature of Perseford, which also provides noble education.

Perseford does not allow attendants, servants, or bodyguards to accompany nobles to lectures, but it tries to accommodate the whims of nobles. Besides, her shadow, the shadow mercury, is currently lurking nearby, so her bodyguard is also in place, and she is within easy reach.

--- I looked around at the students gathered in the room. For nobles, their appearance, manners, and speech usually give away their status... but the ratio of attendees was about 3 nobles, 5 commoners, and 2 unknowns... in other words, a relatively high proportion of nobles.

Life magic is often thought to be used by commoners, but in reality, there is a steady demand from lower to upper nobility. This is reflected in the composition of the lecture attendees.

There is no scientific basis or concept like genetics, but there is a background where magicians are often taken into the families of powerful people like nobles and wealthy merchants, and nobles tend to have a higher proportion of magical talent.

Therefore, it is natural that many noble children want to learn magic. The reasons for learning life magic vary.

For example, the motivation of those with less financial means, such as knights and baronets, is quite straightforward.

They often have to scrape together the tuition to gain a means of advancement or a title... but their families often lack sufficient manpower. Some of them try to learn life magic to improve their living convenience.

For the children of wealthy noble families, the reasons are different. Some think about leaving home when they are not the heir, but life magic is also highly valued as a means to learn the control of magic and the conversion of various attributes intuitively.

In my case, it's simply because learning life magic is convenient. It also helps to reduce the amount of luggage when exploring the dungeon.

I've been focusing on learning attack magic and dungeon exploration magic, so the order of learning is completely reversed, but I shouldn't worry about it.

"This is supposed to be an important magic lecture, but it's just life magic!? Why do I, of all people, have to learn such a boring magic now! This is something the commoners should learn!"

"T, Tarquott-sama, your talent is well known! But this is by Maurice-sama's order!"

"Ah, shut up! You always bring up my father's name!"

A corner of the classroom became noisy. ...Well. There are some noble children who don't understand the significance.

A servant or attendant was desperately trying to calm down the red-faced, angry noble child. He looked to be around 14 or 15 years old.

Maurice and Tarquott, huh. Members of the Cardiff Earl's family... right?

Maurice is a central official with territories in the provinces, but he leaves the management to his vassals. His son Tarquott is said to be quite talented in magic but is also quite a brute. I've heard that his parents let him run wild. I've heard other things too... but it's all trivial.

The noble society is largely made up of gossip. Even bastards can hear plenty of rumors, especially scandals, from the provinces to the capital. The Cardiff family, in particular, doesn't have a good reputation, and the other nobles look at them with a rather cold eye, which is quite telling.

Sigh... Their behavior reminds me of the two idiots from my own family. Being from the same earl's family is a bit... well, it's annoying.

The other nobles are sneering, but I have my own thoughts and can't laugh. It's not a funny spectacle. Anyway, it seems that the discussion has concluded with the idea of increasing the number of other magic lectures.

Ashley entered the classroom a little while after the commotion had settled. Her timing was quite good. If I could have avoided seeing that embarrassing scene, I would have.

"Ah, Master Theodorus. Good morning."

"Good morning, Ashley-sama."

Ashley, looking around the classroom, found me, smiled, and sat down next to me.

"Is this your first lecture, Master Theodorus?"

"I only plan to take the life magic course."

If Rosetta were teaching a combat class, I might have taken that too.

Unfortunately, she specializes in recovery magic, so it's more likely that Ashley will be the one to benefit from her.

"By the way, how is your progress with recovery magic?"

"The notes you gave me. I've mastered the basics. Even Professor Rosetta praised me for my aptitude."

"That's great to hear."

"No, it's all thanks to you, Master Theodorus."

Ashley says this, but to be able to use basic healing magic so quickly with just the notes and a brief tutorial... it's definitely talent.

I knew she was suited for healing magic, but she's even more talented than I expected.

"I'm thinking that if I practice and strengthen my life magic, I might be able to cast spells without incantations eventually."

"Ah, that might be possible."

I hope she doesn't become a favorite of Rosetta and learn some secret magic... even if there's no combat training.

"Oh, the teacher is here."

Following Ashley's words, I looked forward to see the elderly lecturer entering the classroom.

Well, life magic. I wonder what kind of class it will be.