Chapter 97

EP.97 It seems I made a mistake (2)

"There's nothing better than practice when it comes to learning something."

These were the words of the sword superhuman, Uncle Kunthel.

I really liked this one sentence, not because I had any experience of running around battlefields.

'There's nothing better than practice when it comes to enlightenment.'

It was truly a correct statement. People must, after all, move their bodies a bit. I have believed in this one sentence since the time I was the next head of the Ashen Tower.

I had to draw a circuit and actually use it to feel satisfied.

When I developed a spell to break and burn something, I had to actually destroy and burn something to feel relieved.

'Thanks to which, I had to renovate the tower’s spell research lab once...'

That wasn’t really my concern. After all, wasn’t the budget meant to be used to fix and reinforce such things?

'Rather, I don’t know how I could have endured without doing so.'

Anyway, the point is that there is no value in learning as important as practice and experimentation. So, the answer I would give to Rak, who came to me for consultation, would be the same.

'Experience practice.'

And, to the best of my knowledge, the only place to experience practice the fastest is the battlefield. Rak is currently in a state where he has a rough idea.

A faint clue.

Turning that into a thread is not a matter of theory. It is a matter of practice. By rubbing shoulders with the Demon King’s army and moving your body a bit, you naturally come to understand it.

Then, the remaining problem is one.

'How will he experience the battlefield?'

Also, how will he choose a battlefield of an appropriate level that will allow him to return with his limbs intact.

“Hmm...”

I pondered for a moment.

If I were still Laniel, a member of the Hero Party, a Sage... it wouldn’t have been that difficult.

'Just throw him into a battlefield on the outskirts and pick him up after three or four days.'

However, that’s impossible now. A mere professor wouldn’t have any connection to battlefields, would they?

“Ugh...”

I pondered a bit more.

“Ah, right.”

And then, I realized.

The answer was much closer than I thought. I clapped my hands and took out a piece of paper from my pocket.

The First Princess, Ruelle.

I received this piece of paper as a reward for successfully completing her escort mission a while ago.

'She said I could ask for anything.'

I thought I would never have a use for it. If I did, it would be a long time from now.

'I didn’t expect to use it so soon.'

I immediately wrote on the paper.

I removed all unnecessary sentences and only wrote the main points. The straightforward princess would like this.

“Cough, cough, hack.”

“...Why are you doing that?”

“Nothing, nothing. Cough.”

It seemed as if Rak had been startled by a sip of coffee, and I finished the letter while he was coughing. The paper briefly glowed blue.

It was a signal that the recipient had read the letter.

-Wait a moment.

Her reply was as short as expected.

I bit into the remaining corner of the bread, pondering how to pass the time. I thought it would take her a while to reply, no matter who she was.

'Maybe she’s chatting.'

Just as I was about to ask Rak, blue letters appeared on the paper. It had been less than five minutes.

-It’s a bit late.

-I was a bit late in replying because I had to ask the training commander. Waking up a middle-aged man who fainted isn’t easy. Still, when I asked politely, he immediately gave me an answer.

'Politely?'

While I was pondering the usage of the word 'politely,' the letters continued to appear.

-There’s a training session for apprentice knights planned.

-Professor, it seems to be a place that meets the conditions you mentioned. The training commander has just rushed off to write a recommendation. Please wait a moment.

...Why would the training commander do that?

'Isn’t the training commander unrelated to battlefields?'

When I sent this question on the paper, the reply was truly concise.

-He was asked to do so.

“...”

-When you’re in a position like the training commander, you hear a lot of things. He must have remembered one of the stories he heard while washing his face with cold water.

“Hmm.”

-Water always knows the answer, Professor.

I see.

'Then, that’s it.'

I decided not to ask for more details.

“Rak, do you have any classes scheduled?”

“Well, I don’t have any combat magic classes. Other classes are still in preparation...”

“That’s right, it’s hard to have regular classes until next week.”

I had quite a bit of time until next week.

“Would you come to my office a bit later?”

“Pardon?”

“Sign this experience learning report. I think about three or four days should be enough.”

“Experience learning...”

“I found a place that will help you gain practical experience. When you were in the North, didn’t you go hunting in the snow mountains? It’s not much different from that.”

Hunting the Demon King’s army, after all.

As I muttered this, Rak swallowed hard and closed his mouth. He looked like he didn’t like the idea.

“Huh?”

I tilted my head at his expression.

“Why don’t you like it?”

It was a straightforward question.

Rak flinched at my question. After a moment of silence, he spoke with a determined look.

“No... Thank you...”

“Good, I’m relieved.”

I gulped down the remaining coffee in one go and put the cup down with a thud.

“Was the consultation helpful?”

“...It was very helpful.”

It took him a moment to reply, but I decided not to mind such trivial things.

“Good, work hard.”

I smiled and patted Rak on the shoulder. After all, isn’t it the duty of an educator to help students? I thought I was a pretty good educator.

'I feel quite satisfied.'

Is this the satisfaction an educator feels, as my teacher said? I’m not sure, but it feels like I’ve taken a step closer to being an ideal educator.

2.

Resti Elenoa.

The next head of the Ashen Tower was currently sitting in her office. The wizards of the tower were surprised by this fact.

The next head of the tower sitting in the head’s office.

It was a natural thing, not something to be surprised about.

However, in recent years, Resti had not sat in her seat. She had left the office as it was, unable to bear the gazes of the other wizards.

Now, Resti is sitting in that seat.

Some wizards murmured. Resti paid no attention to their murmurs. There was no need to listen to voices that had no value.

Tap.

She touched the table with her finger.

A rectangular magical tool hung from the tip of her slender finger. The magical tool was neatly placed on top of the organized documents.

The previous next head of the tower.

The materials left behind by Laniel von Trias.

Through Professor Lania, I obtained this magical tool, which contained materials that could shake the tower. Resti pondered how to use it.

'I can’t just use it.'

Resti had no faction. No power.

Even if she were to expose this now, it would be difficult to expect a significant effect.

'I can use it to silence the elders, but...'

That’s all.

The elders might be quiet for now, but they would tear her apart behind her back.

Resti knows her shortcomings.

She knows she has no power, no supporters.

Knowing the problem, it’s not difficult to crave a solution. What’s lacking must be filled. What she lacks must be found in others.

Resti closed her eyes.

'Until now, I’ve closed my eyes and turned a blind eye...'

The knock on the door made her open her eyes. Her eyes, tinged with a faint purple, opened halfway.

“Come in.”

Resti spoke.

'Now, I must face it.'

She opened her mouth and pronounced the name of her visitor.

“Elder Gileon.”

An old man entered through the open door.

An old man who had not lost his dignity despite the long years. His back was not bent. The cane he held was not for support but to reveal his position as an elder.

'A tool to reveal his position as an elder.'

Gileon, the oldest elder in the Ashen Tower, stopped in front of Resti. He looked down at Resti, who was sitting in her seat.

“Why have you summoned me? Next head of the tower.”

His voice was different from usual.

His gaze was different from usual. He was summoned not as Resti, but as the next head of the tower.

A cold voice, a cold gaze.

Facing what she had always avoided, Resti spoke. Her voice did not waver.

“Elder Gileon.”

She said.

“Have you ever thought there are too many elders?”

“...What do you mean?”

Resti touched the magical tool.

The documents she had organized based on the materials appeared above the magical tool. Gileon’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at them.

“...”

But only for a moment.

“...This is.”

Gileon’s eyes widened.

The coldness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by confusion.

Resti did not miss this change.

“I think there are too many.”

Tap, and Resti touched the table.

Her purple eyes gleamed with platinum light.

She thought there were many unnecessary things in the Ashen Tower.

In terms of circuits, there were too many unnecessary constraints. If there were constraints, there should be something to gain in return, but there was nothing here.

'Unnecessary constraints.'

They made the circuits messy.

She wanted to dismantle and remove them all at once, but it was difficult. To remove the constraints intertwined with other lines, she had to uproot them from the base.

How would she uproot them?

The answer was right in front of her.

Resti’s eyes looked straight ahead.

“Do we really need six?”

This was the first step as the next head of the tower.

The first step could be taken strongly. Resti spoke clearly, putting emphasis on each word.

“I think half the current number would be sufficient.”

If you don’t want to be part of that half, cooperate with me.

I need the power you possess.

“What do you think, Elder Gileon?”

Her eyes, gleaming with platinum light, looked at the oldest elder. Even in front of the old man who had weathered the storms of time, her eyes did not waver.

It was a gamble.

Resti had no intention of backing down.

3.

In charge of the training of apprentice knights.

Training instructor Feig was facing the greatest dilemma of his life. He was originally a simple person, someone who was diligent in his duties.

'I will be diligent in my role as an instructor.'

Opinions on his diligence might vary, but at least Feig believed that maintaining discipline among the apprentices was what made a good instructor.

For that, he had built his physique.

To suppress the spirits of the apprentices, he always maintained a fierce expression to create an intimidating atmosphere.

However, he had no time to think about such things now.

'What is going on here?'

Feig’s eyes wavered.

Even his fierce expression, like a mask, wavered.

'Why is he here?'

He couldn’t help but waver. If he saw the face of the person mixed among the apprentice knights, would any instructor not waver? The person stood out even among the lined-up apprentices.

Snow-white hair.

Blood-red eyes.

Feig recognized the iconic appearance. The hand axe at the boy’s waist added confidence to Feig’s guess.

'Rak von Grace.'

The son of the Duke of the North, Eryahel von Grace.

'Why is the young master here?'

Unable to contain his curiosity, Feig called Rak, who was mixed among the apprentice knights, to the barracks.

“Why, why is the young master here...?”

“I came for an experience learning session.”

“...Pardon?”

“I came for an experience learning session.”

The reply was the same.

He even used honorifics. Feig had no idea how to handle this situation.

“What...”

As Feig blinked, Rak took out a piece of paper from his pocket and held it out.

“I would appreciate it if you could sign this.”

An experience learning report.

That’s what was written on the paper.

'What is this?'

Feig became even more confused.

After five years as a training instructor, this was the greatest obstacle he had faced.

Author's Note:

I’ve been really enjoying reading "Be Cautious When Agreeing to Terms" by the alcohol-addicted author recently.

Even without knowing Genshin Impact, it was quite entertaining.

As I read, I started looking up Genshin Impact PVs every time a new character appeared. The graphics were truly beautiful. Watching the PVs, I noticed that the YouTube algorithm started showing me various Genshin Impact videos. I ended up watching a video titled "Genshin Impact Guide for Beginners!" even though I had no intention of playing it.

I watched it all.

I installed Genshin Impact.

After two hours of play, I did a 10-pull.

No pretty characters appeared, just 10 weapons.

I learned that Genshin Impact is best enjoyed as a novel.