Chapter 73

I, Alick Bennett, was initially delighted when I heard that I would be in charge of the elite class of the 281st batch of new students. After all, I had heard that the son of Councilor Wagman, the hope of the council, would be enrolling this time.

The principal was also concerned about this and called me in to speak to me.

"Bennett, this is a rare and wonderful opportunity for you."

He continued, as if genuinely concerned about my future.

"The son of Councilor Wagman is said to be a genius that comes along once in a decade. If you can guide him well, it will be a great appeal to the councilor and influential council members. It wouldn't be strange for you to receive a recommendation for a council position soon. Take it seriously."

Indeed, I didn't become a teacher because I wanted to. I only became one because the guild's policy requires a certain period of mentoring the next generation. However, the principal's thoughts were similar. If I could guide the son of Councilor Wagman well, it would also raise the principal's own evaluation. That's why he was concerned.

On August 10th, when the list of successful applicants was announced, the ordinary teachers, including myself, were unable to hide our surprise. Not only I, but other teachers also believed that the son of Councilor Wagman would be the top student.

Even more surprising was that both the top and second students were only ten years old, and they were from a village called Rasmoor, which no one had ever heard of. Later, I heard that the guild was in turmoil and several magicians were dispatched to investigate Rasmoor.

If that were all, there wouldn't have been a problem, but Professor Rasped, known for his eccentricity, was interested in the two of them. After it was officially decided that I would be the homeroom teacher for the 281st batch, Class 1, Professor Rasped visited the staff room.

Professor Rasped, who looked younger than me, smiled and said, "So, you're Bennett, right?"

The professor has been at this academy for nearly a hundred years. Even the principal and the chairman of the council, known to the public as the head of the magicians' guild, respect him. It's only natural, I think. Most of those in leading positions in the guild are graduates of this academy. In other words, they can't help but feel intimidated by Professor Rasped, who knows their immature days. Of course, I am no exception.

Of course, a unique person like Professor Rasped wouldn't remember a student like me, who has nothing special about me.

I tried to pull myself together and said, "Yes, I'm Bennett."

Professor Rasped then asked, "You're going to guide those two, right?"

I immediately knew who "those two" were, but I asked, "Who are 'those two'?"

"Of course, it's Lockhart and Jakes. Lockhart is a once-in-a-millennium talent. Jakes is a once-in-a-decade talent. Do you think there are any other students I would be interested in?"

I brushed off his words and asked, "So, what do you need from me?"

"I wanted to know how you plan to guide those two. They are such geniuses. Surely, you have a special program in mind?"

He looked at me with expectation, but I shook my head.

"I won't give them discriminatory guidance. I plan to have them take the same classes as the other students."

At my words, Professor Rasped raised his hands in disbelief and shook his head as if to say, "Oh dear."

"So, you're going to treat those two geniuses the same as any other talentless child... Do you have no eye for people? They are such talents. If guided correctly from now, they could leave a legacy that even I can't predict. To treat them like any other child..."

He muttered to himself for a while. The other staff members, careful not to meet Professor Rasped's eyes, listened to our conversation.

I hoped someone would come to my aid, but no one joined the conversation, perhaps not wanting to get involved with him.

Professor Rasped then clapped his hands and said, "Hmm. Yes, that's good."

He then said, "I'll guide those two directly. Please tell them that. I'll be counting on you."

He was about to leave the staff room. I mustered my courage and called out to his back, "I can't do that. At least get the principal's permission."

The professor turned to me and said, "If the principal's permission is all it takes, then you agree to it, right?" and started walking again.

I was relieved that he had left, but I was confused that I had passed the problem on to the principal. Reluctantly, I followed the professor, who was heading to the principal's office.

In the end, a meeting with the principal was held, and it was decided that Lockhart and Jakes would take the same classes as the other students. However, Professor Rasped didn't seem to give up and said, "If they request it, I can guide them. Is that clear?" before returning to his laboratory.

I began to regret becoming the homeroom teacher for Class 1. All I wished for now was to get through the year unscathed. I thought I needed to seriously consider how to handle those two.

The enrollment ceremony ended, and classes began. Every year, students who have received proper education complain that the content of the classes is too easy. I myself think that the level of first-year lectures is too low, but it's the academy's policy, so there's nothing I can do about it.

Lockhart and Jakes were serious about their classes for the first two days, but from the third day, they started skipping my classes. This happens every year, so I didn't think much of it. I myself did the same thing when I was their age, and I understand that they find my classes painful.

About ten days later, a middle-aged man claiming to be an associate of Councilor Wagman came to see me. When he heard about Lockhart and Jakes, he immediately started speaking with a look of indignation.

"Are you allowing such whims? The thought of the councilor's son being overshadowed by such individuals makes me furious!"

I tried to calm him down, but he became even angrier. After a long speech, he said,

"If you can make the councilor's son, Quentin, the top student, I think the councilor will be very pleased."

I showed a surprised expression, and he smiled slyly and continued.

"The councilor is a noble person, but he loves Quentin very much. Of course, I'm not asking you to eliminate them. All I'm asking is that you persuade them to leave the academy voluntarily."

He emphasized the words "voluntarily" and "persuade" and put pressure on me.

"You know, they're just ten-year-old children. They lack teamwork and may cause trouble for other students. When that happens, you will persuade them. And subtly..."

He stood up and gave me a final shock.

"If Quentin becomes the top student, you will become the mentor of the son of the next chairman. Naturally, you will be in the good graces of the councilor, who is the next chairman. This is an opportunity you couldn't wish for... If you don't act, there will be an unusual transfer at this academy. What will happen to you then... I don't need to say more."

After he left, I investigated him to see if he was really an associate of Councilor Wagman. It turned out that he was indeed a private staff member of the councilor. When I asked Councilor Isherwood, the father of Anita Isherwood, a student in my class, about him, he told me that he was a sharp individual who had been a private tutor for Quentin and then became his right-hand man.

When I was troubled, Councilor Isherwood said,

"I don't know what you're worrying about, but if it's about the councilor's son, I think you should follow him. His influence is so great that even I can't ignore it."

For my own safety, I decided to exclude Lockhart and Jakes, the two geniuses.

---

I, Jack Chambers, am a practical magic instructor because that's the only thing I can do. I can't teach anything to fourth-year students and above, so I can only handle lower grades. I am a coward. I don't want people to know that, but I am aware of it. That's why I can't do a job that involves using magic in battle. I can't be an adventurer, and a court magician might be sent to the battlefield in an emergency. So, those two options were never on the table.

It has been eight years since I graduated from the academy. After working as a guild staff member, I became a practical instructor three years ago. When I heard that I would be in charge of first-year students who didn't know anything, I was initially delighted.

However, when I was called to the principal's office,

"Chambers, I hear that this year's top student is already at level twenty-four. Can you guide him? If you lack confidence, we can switch you with another instructor."

The principal knew my level—level twenty-two in fire—and was asking if I could guide a student who was higher than me.

The moment I heard that, I became furious. It's true that my level is low for a twenty-six-year-old magician, and it's also true that I am lower than the student. However, I have three years of experience as a practical instructor. It's only natural to be angry when someone says such a thing without considering that.

I put on a confident expression and said,

"There's no need to switch. I, Jack Chambers, will take full responsibility for guiding him."

The principal, seeing my confident expression, simply said, "I'm counting on you" and ended the conversation.

The first practical class was over. As I had heard, Lockhart, who was ten, looked younger than the other students, and I was somewhat relieved. However, that appearance was a curse. When he complained about the guidance, I, who had let my guard down, felt an unnecessary anger.

What he said was correct. To make a level twenty-five magician, who had already leveled up from the practical exam, practice spell incantation, if someone else had done it, I would have mocked the instructor. What a foolish instructor.

As you can see from me, it takes nearly twenty years of training to reach level twenty-five. In other words, the student Lockhart has already had a considerable amount of combat experience. My words, from someone without combat experience, were laughable.

Against such a student, I, in a fit of anger, tried to hit him with a whip I always carried. No, I was hitting him in earnest. However, he easily avoided it. At that close range, and with me losing myself in anger and hitting him without holding back, it was clear that he had been through many battles.

He glanced at me and reluctantly started the spell incantation. However, he wasn't seriously following my guidance. A magician of his level wouldn't make a mistake in a fireball spell.

I thought he would soon complain about the practical guidance. If that happened, Professor Rasped would take action. The result would be...

Thinking about the practical classes from tomorrow and the fact that this situation would continue for a year, my stomach started to hurt.

Lockhart and Jakes stopped attending my classes from the third day. When I asked their homeroom teacher, Bennett, he said they were also absent from his lectures.

Later, I heard from a staff member named Littleford, who lived near Lockhart's house, that they were skipping my classes and entering the dangerous northern forest. To my surprise, they had even defeated a level-five monster, a giant centipede.

I blamed myself for the grandiose words I had spoken to the principal. I should have handed the task to another instructor instead of acting in anger. If this continues, Professor Rasped will intervene. If that happens, my future is hopeless. I might lose this safe job.

In mid-September, a man visited me. He was the tutor of Quentin, the son of Chairman Wagman. He immediately confronted me with harsh words.

"Are you Chambers? What are you doing? As the instructor of the chairman's son, you are allowing some students to act as they please!"

When I said, "N-no," he became even more agitated.

"Even Quentin is following your guidance properly. Why are you allowing them to act as they please? Are you being cautious because they are higher in level than you? Are you not a practical instructor of this prestigious academy?"

I had no words to respond. I felt a sense of inferiority because they were indeed higher in level and had combat experience.

However, I didn't know what to do. When I showed a confused expression, he suddenly softened his tone.

"You don't want to lose your job, do you? Then, you should understand the importance of a connection with Chairman Wagman. Then, what should you do about those two..."

He left after saying that, and I was left wondering what to do, holding my head.

I knew that Chairman Wagman was a strong candidate for the next chairman. However, if I tried to exclude those two, Professor Rasped would intervene, and I would be reprimanded by the principal. If that happened, even if I had a connection with Chairman Wagman, I might lose my job.

Then, what would happen if I left the guidance of those two to Professor Rasped? In that case, those two would become so powerful that they would look down on Quentin Wagman, who would remain in third place forever.

While I was troubled, I reached a conclusion. I would expel those two from the academy and make them assistants to Professor Rasped. That way, the professor would be satisfied, Quentin Wagman could become the top student, and I wouldn't have to worry about them anymore.

I mustered my courage and visited Professor Rasped's laboratory to propose this.

"Mr. Lockhart and Miss Jakes are not satisfied with my classes and are entering the northern forest."

I said this boldly. However, the professor responded indifferently, "So what? Entering the forest will raise their level. I did the same when I was young."

"But I think they are not forming a proper party. If that's the case, it's a foolish idea to risk losing such talents."

The professor raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Those two are only ten years old. They are too young to register as adventurers. No adventurer would want to form a party with them."

"In other words, they are entering the forest alone. And they might be killed by monsters. Is that what you're saying?"

I nodded and got to the point.

"Here's my proposal. Why don't you make those two your laboratory assistants? I don't think they need to be students anymore."

Professor Rasped nodded slightly but said,

"That means you can't guide them, right? Then, I'll guide them directly. Yes, I understand. Well, if they want to leave the academy, that's fine too, but there's no problem if they stay enrolled. Chambers, your proposal is quite good. Yes, it's quite good."

The professor seemed satisfied and interpreted my proposal to suit his own convenience. I panicked and tried to persuade him again.

"But, Professor, do those two need to be students? They don't need to be enrolled in the academy..."

The professor, still smiling, said, "That's fine either way. The important thing is that they become my assistants."

I thought this was going badly but couldn't say anything more and left his laboratory.

Now, I had to expel them myself. But how could I expel them when they didn't show up in front of me?

While I was thinking about this, Teacher Bennett came to see me. He also wanted to expel those two and suggested that we harass them. He asked me to help.

"I'm willing to help, but they don't come to my classes. I don't know what to do."

When I said this, he scolded me, "Don't complain."

"Guide the students during practical classes. Tell them that those two should be excluded. If we both take this attitude, the young students will believe us quickly. Then, they will have no place in the classroom."

I thought it made sense, but I felt sorry for myself, making ten-year-old children suffer. They were the ones who were right, and we were the ones who couldn't guide them properly. I felt a little sympathy for them.

Teacher Bennett accurately read my feelings.

"You might sympathize with them, but if we don't do this, we will lose our positions. They are talented and young. They can start over. But we..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but I understood his thoughts. He was the same as me. He was an ordinary person, not a genius.