Chapter 45

EP.45 Enlightenment and Growth (1)

Recently, incidents have been frequent.

With a sudden thought, Aaron, the headmaster of Aphria, put down his quill for a moment. As always, a pile of documents was stacked on the table.

'They seem to be more frequent lately.'

While examining the mountain of documents, Aaron leaned his head back. In fact, Aaron also knows the reason why there are so many documents to process.

Over the past month, incidents have been frequent.

They were unusually numerous.

'Promoting Roselle's adoptive daughter to professor, giving her classes, preparing public lectures...’

Of course, Aaron does not regret giving a position to such an outstanding professor. If he were busy with such matters, Aaron would gladly roll up his sleeves.

However, the current busyness is not pleasant. It stems from unpleasant incidents.

'The Aphria terrorist incident.'

A traitor targeted Aphria.

Their purpose is unknown.

The only clear thing is that a mysterious figure, known as the Prophet to the traitors, is parasitizing Aphria.

'I can't even guess...’

Aaron rubbed his temples.

There is no suspect who could be the traitor. Professor Celt, an assistant professor of combat magic, may seem suspicious, but he is a diligent person.

'For such a professor to suddenly become a traitor...'

Something feels off.

'MacHart, that professor, was also suspected of being a traitor and was taken away by the knights... but he was eventually released without any charges.'

MacHart.

Thinking of that name, a sigh escaped his lips. It's because of the 'certain incident' that started with Professor MacHart.

"Huff...”

Aaron sighed and glanced at the documents on the table. The names written on them vary, but the content is the same.

- Leave of Absence Application / Elemental Magic - Charlotte.

- Leave of Absence Application / Mana Analysis - Kurt.

A rush of leave applications following MacHart.

The sudden flood of applications from professors to take a break from teaching has made Aaron's already complicated mind even more tangled.

"Ugh, ugh...”

Aaron groaned.

He tried to think while running his hand through his hair, but there wasn't much left to run through.

'Probably because I pulled it out so much when I was worried in the past...’

He felt a bit sad.

Still, old habits die hard, and as he thought, his fingers naturally clutched the little hair he had left.

Knock knock.

Aaron was seriously considering whether to pull out the little hair he had left when a voice came from outside the door.

- Aaron, are you there?

'This voice...’

A familiar friend's voice.

However, Aaron, not pleased with the voice at the moment, replied indifferently.

"…Come in."

Roselle entered the room.

Aaron glared at Roselle with a fierce look.

"…Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Are you really asking?"

"What are you talking about?"

"This, this!"

Aaron shouted and held up the leave of absence applications. He waved them in front of Roselle.

Of course, the professors who applied for leave have nothing to do with Roselle. However, there is a good reason for Aaron to take out his frustration on Roselle.

"Your disciple! Your adoptive daughter! Professor Lania! Why are the professors who had their classes observed by her applying for leave?"

Lania von Trias.

It is already well-known that this girl has been observing various professors' classes recently. When he heard that her purpose was to understand the 'education' she lacked, Aaron was even moved.

'I should have stopped her then.'

He regrets encouraging her to listen to as many classes as she wanted. He should have stopped her somehow.

- Leave of Absence Application.

Aaron looked at the application in his hand.

It contained a detailed letter.

- Author: Charlotte.

- What I taught was not magic. I feel inadequate as a professor... I, I can't teach students when I don't have confidence in my own magic.

I'm sorry, Headmaster Aaron.

I will take some time to reflect on myself and adjust the curriculum...

Such a letter.

- Author: Kurt.

- What I did was not analysis. I was a frog in a well. I am not a professor...

I cannot stand in front of the class.

I will take some time to recharge...

It's not just one or two.

Lania has observed a total of five classes, and Aaron has four leave of absence applications in his hand.

What about the remaining professor?

That's MacHart. His class is also on leave because he fell ill after being interrogated by the knights.

"If this continues, we might have to extend the break for another three months...!"

"Hmm...”

"Exactly what is your adoptive daughter doing that the professors are in such a state? She said she wanted to understand teaching by observing, didn't she?"

"…Yes, she did."

"Why is every professor she observes breaking their pens... What on earth is she doing...?"

What on earth is she showing them?

Aaron couldn't figure it out at all...

"At this rate, I'll lose the little hair I have left...”

Aaron's desperate cry echoed in the headmaster's office.

Roselle merely shrugged at the sound.

"At least there are only two left."

"…Only two left?"

"One of those two is my class. I won't take a leave, so don't worry."

"……"

Aaron narrowed his eyes and glared at Roselle.

Roselle von Trias.

The Roselle Aaron remembers is always a person with a plan. So, there must be a plan for this situation too.

…Aaron wanted to believe that.

'I'll try to think positively.'

Yes, Aphria is already in chaos.

'This is a good opportunity for the professors to reorganize...’

Aaron's thoughts didn't last long.

Someone knocked on the door again.

- Headmaster Aaron, are you in?

"…Yes, come in."

A professor opened the door and entered the headmaster's office.

The face of the professor who entered was familiar. He was one of the professors who had a close relationship with both Aaron and Roselle.

Professor Gericht, who teaches Circuit Understanding.

He was a professor before coming to Aphria. As an educator, he is one of the few who can be counted on in the