Chapter 58

◈ Chapter 58: Lab Assistant Assignment (3)

I gave Sedina Roshein a two-day period.

I told her she could take her time and submit the lab assistant application by then.

However, Sedina rendered my words meaningless by coming to my residence just an hour later with a neatly filled application.

She was panting, having rushed over so quickly.

“……”

I hadn’t expected her to want the position so much, so I took it with a bewildered look, and thus Sedina was officially appointed as my lab assistant.

The next day, during class.

After handing the class materials to Sedina and instructing her to place them on the podium, I was slowly making my way to the lecture hall.

‘I need to make sure the students remember who my lab assistant is.’

Even though Sedina seems somewhat lacking and delicate, she treats others very thoroughly and firmly.

She often shows a defensive attitude towards others, which I suspect is related to her joining the Black Dawn.

She only acts strangely in front of me, mistaking me for First Order.

It’s ambiguous whether I should like it or not, but it’s convenient to use her.

‘I should go in now.’

Creak.

As I opened the door to the lecture hall and entered, Sedina, who was standing on the podium, quickly bowed to me.

“Good job.”

“Y-Yes, yes.”

She was so moved by just one word that she trembled and left the lecture hall.

I naturally ascended to the podium and scanned the students.

‘Their reactions are a bit strange, aren’t they?’

Most of them were staring at me with wide eyes, as if they couldn’t believe it.

It’s clear that this reaction is due to my choosing Sedina as the lab assistant.

Is it really that surprising?

‘And why is she acting like that?’

Especially Flora Lumos’ gaze was so noticeable among the students.

She clenched her teeth to hide her emotions but glared at me with a venomous look, making me feel like I was the guilty one.

I ignored her gaze and observed the reactions of the other students.

‘Perhaps the classroom is noisy because of this.’

Students being surprised or intrigued by a teacher picking a lab assistant, or even glaring at me.

Seeing their varied reactions, I thought, ‘Students are indeed students.’

“Quiet.”

The students, who had been chattering among themselves, fell silent at my single word.

After all, all the commotion is ultimately among the students.

There’s no need for me to pay attention to it.

“I’m starting the class.”

A teacher only needs to teach well.

* * *

Flora Lumos’ question seemed to be out of pure curiosity, but it wasn’t.

She was actually probing Ludger.

Suddenly picking a lab assistant, she wanted to know if the current lab assistant truly had the necessary abilities.

Her question subtly contained an accusation.

“Or is it because she comes from a well-known place, where her name alone is enough to identify her?”

When Ludger didn’t answer, Julia launched a more direct question.

The intent of her question was clear.

Did he pick the lab assistant because he received something from her?

Despite the subtle attack, Ludger just gazed at Julia with calm eyes.

Finally, when everyone’s attention was focused on him, he spoke.

“When I choose someone as a lab assistant, I look at only one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Character.”

Julia was momentarily speechless at his confident answer.

“I don’t look at someone’s rank, position, or honor when I choose. I only look at character. I picked my current lab assistant because of her character.”

“Then, you didn’t consider anything else when choosing a lab assistant?”

“That’s right. Anyone with good character is welcome. Of course, they need to have an interview with me first. We’ll have a basic Q&A session.”

Ludger said this while delivering a sharp rebuke to Julia.

“However, it doesn’t seem like you could be my lab assistant.”

“……”

Julia’s face, which had been smiling, suddenly changed as if she had been slapped.

His words implied that her character was poor.

Ludger didn’t even check her reaction and looked around at the other students.

“Anyone else have questions?”

“Ah, I do!”

Ludger’s gaze turned to the source of the voice.

There stood Eidan, Leo, and Tae-si. It seemed Leo had spoken, but Eidan looked flustered.

“What’s your question, Eidan?”

“Eh, me?”

“Didn’t you have a question?”

Eidan hesitated to answer Ludger’s question.

Clearly, Leo had raised his hand, but the atmosphere had suddenly shifted to him.

Leo patted his shoulder and mouthed, ‘Come on, you can do it.’

But Eidan thought this was a rare opportunity to ask Ludger a question.

However, the question that came out was completely different.

“Have you heard about the rumor of the stone that grants wishes?”

Eidan felt like he had asked a foolish question after blurting it out.

He was so flustered that his brain froze, and he just blurted out anything without thinking.

He had intended to ask about his teacher.

Tae-si and Leo, who had been cheering him on, looked at him with expressions of ‘What are you doing?’

“I’ve heard about it.”

“……!”

The students looked astonished, as if they couldn’t believe he would answer such a question.

“……”

“I’ve heard about it, but I want to tell you it’s just a rumor. Or, do you, a student in my class, really believe such a far-fetched rumor?”

No one could answer his question.

Everyone knew he wasn’t genuinely curious.

“Instead of wasting time on such rumors, focus on improving your magic. You know the first evaluation is coming up soon, right?”

Ludger’s voice, now even heavier, weighed down the entire lecture hall.

The first evaluation.

A test that all students at Seorun face early in the new semester.

It was now approaching.

“I’ll consider those who don’t produce proper results as being distracted by unnecessary rumors and not dedicated to their studies. You’ll see.”

Some students swallowed hard at Ludger’s final words.

“Anyone else have questions?”

“……”

“I’m leaving if there are no more questions.”

With that, Ludger left the lecture hall.

Sedina, who had been leaning against the wall next to the door waiting for Ludger, hurriedly greeted him.

“Oh, you, you did a good job in class, Teacher.”

“Did you wait here the whole time?”

“Yes, somehow I did.”

“Next time, wait in the lab assistant room. Don’t waste your time in unnecessary places.”

“Yes, sir!”

Sedina nodded in relief at Ludger’s answer and fidgeted, as if she had something else to say.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Eh, well, it’s that……”

Ludger recalled Sedina Roshein’s reaction and the question from Julia.

“Is it about Julia Flumhart?”

“No, no, it’s not that!”

“Your reaction suggests otherwise. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to pry into personal matters.”

“……Yes, sir.”

Sedina nodded, relieved by Ludger’s answer.

“Here, take these.”

“Y-Yes, yes?! Oh!”

Ludger handed her a stack of assignments, and Sedina quickly reached out to take them.

She almost stumbled from the suddenness but managed to regain her balance.

“Sort them out before you leave today.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Only one answer.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Good.”

At that moment, the back door of the classroom opened, and a girl with long indigo hair approached Ludger.

Flora Lumos.

Sedina, noticing the situation, stepped back with the stack of assignments.

“Flora Lumos, what do you need?”

“You, you picked a lab assistant……”

“Obviously. I’ve already chosen one. Why are you asking?”

“……”

Flora wanted to ask Ludger why he hadn’t spoken to her about picking a lab assistant.

But she realized what she was thinking.

Goodness. Why would she question him about not being offered the position? It would make her look jealous.

Flora thought this was unlike her usual self.

Feeling frustrated, she clenched and unclenched her fists.

“Or, are you thinking of applying for the lab assistant position?”

“No, no?! Why would I?!”

Flora involuntarily raised her voice.

Realizing her behavior, she covered her mouth with her hand.

Her ivory cheeks turned red.

“Is that so? If you don’t want it, that’s fine.”

“No, I mean……”

“However, the opportunity is always open. If you change your mind, feel free to apply. You might be capable.”

Ludger turned and left after saying that.

Alone, Flora stared blankly at Ludger’s retreating figure down the corridor.

You might be capable.

What did he mean by that?

Feeling annoyed, Flora clenched her fists and bit her lip.

‘……Irritating.’

Why was she so bothered by such a trivial matter, and why had Ludger been on her mind since the first class?

Flora couldn’t understand how she had ended up like this and felt lost.

“Hmph.”

Still, she didn’t show it on the surface.

She had to remain proud within Seorun.

* * *

Returning to his personal office, Ludger had no time to rest and had to get up again.

[Ludger, can you come to my office for a moment?]

The chancellor had called Ludger personally.

Why?

Ludger didn’t have a chance to ask.

The call ended immediately after the message.

In the end, Ludger had no choice but to head to the chancellor’s office.

He took the elevator in the main building to the top floor where the chancellor’s office was located.

Reaching the door, Ludger knocked neatly.

Knock knock.

“It’s Ludger Chellis.”

“Come in.”

The door opened automatically with the chancellor’s voice.

Inside, there was only the chancellor. Ludger naturally sat in the empty seat opposite him.

“What did you call me for?”

“Ludger, have you heard the rumors?”

Instead of an answer, he received another question.

What kind of rumor was he referring to?

“The rumor about the all-powerful stone that grants wishes.”

“The all-powerful stone, you say.”

Ludger nodded.

“I’ve heard of it. It seems quite famous among the students.”

“Indeed.”

“However, I just considered it a rumor and didn’t pay much attention to it.”

“Oh, you thought it was a rumor?”

The chancellor smiled enigmatically and shook his head.

Then he dropped a bombshell.

“In fact, the all-powerful stone that grants wishes does exist.”