Chapter 17

"Well done."

As soon as he opened his mouth, Strass said this and patted my shoulder several times. Despite his usual emotionless face, I could tell he was very pleased.

"Hey, Mr. Strass! Why are you praising me!?"

Eliza raised both hands to express her anger, and Strass tilted his head.

"You scolded those fools who were being rude and disrupting the class. What's wrong with that?"

When Strass asked this with a serious face, Eliza put her elbows on the table and held her head. Glancing at the dejected Eliza, I looked around the restaurant.

It was a spacious dining place, slightly dim, with wooden tables and leather sofas lined up. Potted plants were placed along the walls and around the pillars.

The staff and customers were refined, and it was clear at a glance that this was a high-end establishment.

"…Is the payment okay?"

I had some money from my travels, but these two didn't seem to have much financial leeway. I remembered Eliza mentioning something like this to the dormitory head.

Thinking this, I voiced my concern, but the two of them looked at me with serious faces.

"In this city, Fidic Academy teachers are well-paid! A meal is no problem!"

"…Come to think of it, Aoi, haven't you received your salary yet?"

Strass's words made Eliza look surprised. There had been a misunderstanding.

"No, my payment is fine, but… I remember you were worried about the prices of inns in town before."

Hearing this, Strass also looked at Eliza. Eliza averted her gaze and frowned.

"…My research funds are tight… I don't mind the occasional meal, but if it's a regular expense… I've heard that senior teachers earn three times as much as regular teachers…"

Eliza looked at me with a longing expression, and Strass narrowed his eyes.

"Don't try to mooch off her, Eliza. Aoi is a younger, new teacher."

Strass called her by her first name naturally, and Eliza gave him a disapproving look.

"…I'm older than Mr. Strass. Show some respect and contribute to my research funds…"

"…Don't be like that, Aoi."

To the two of them having this cheerful conversation, I voiced my question.

"I have one question. I think that a magician who can become a teacher at Fidic Academy could earn plenty of money through other means. Why this academy?"

When I asked this, the two of them exchanged glances.

"There are various reasons, but broadly speaking, there are two… no, three."

Strass said this, and Eliza nodded and continued.

"One is for the country, to show presence at the academy. For example, Professor Famous Glaus. Professor Famous is teaching to elevate the status of his earl's family and to demonstrate the high level of magicians in the Caravan Kingdom."

She raised her index finger and then her middle finger for the second reason.

"The second is for the family. For example, someone from a fallen noble family has very few opportunities to rise again within the country. After all, it's easier to gain recognition as a rising noble family with momentum rather than a once-failed person. Such people come to Fidic Academy to be evaluated fairly and show their presence."

After saying this, she raised her ring finger for the third reason.

"The third is for oneself. Those who have dedicated their lives to magic. Those who want to develop a magic they aspire to. Some are even looking for a marriage partner."

Listening to their explanations, I nodded in understanding.

"What about the two of you?"

"For myself."

"For myself."

They answered immediately.

"For yourself?"

When I confirmed, Strass nodded vigorously.

"The Varted Kingdom already has one senior teacher. My family is a baron's family. Just becoming a teacher should have been enough to make a name for myself. So, I want to test how great a magician I can become."

Strass said something like a protagonist in a shonen manga and quietly took a sip of his drink.

Eliza nodded with a laugh.

"I'm similar. As a Grans, it would be great to produce many magicians, but the number of teachers and students has increased a lot compared to before. So, I develop new magic for my goal."

She clenched her fists in front of her chest and said this.

"New magic?"

"Yes! Earth magic can be used in various places, from road construction to castle walls! However, the moment the magic power is lost, everything turns into clumps of earth. This is true even for advanced and special-grade magic. Even if the properties are changed to stone, it crumbles. So, I want to develop earth magic that has a lasting effect! If I can do that, we can build structures and bridges!"

Strass grunted as Eliza spoke passionately.

"I always ask, but is there such a thing as lasting magic? Wouldn't it require continuous release of magic power?"

"The possibilities of magic are infinite! I believe there is potential in ancient magic circles! After all, there are buildings in ancient ruins that clearly don't seem to be artificial…"

Before I knew it, the two of them were getting excited about their magic discussion.

"What do you think, Aoi!?"

"Be honest. It's a shame to waste time on impossible research."

"Don't say such mean things!?"

Pressed by the two, I smiled wryly while eating a chicken bar and answered.

"I don't think Eliza's research is wrong. In fact, there are weapons, armor, and buildings made using magic circles. The effect is lost when the lines of the magic circle break, so they are protected by the same material on the surface to make them invisible."

When I said this, Eliza and Strass widened their eyes.

"Y-You know about magic circles!?"

"…Could it be that Aoi is also researching magic circles…?"

As the two of them were surprised, someone stood beside us.

Looking up, I saw none other than Speyside.

Speyside looked at our faces one by one, frowned, and sighed deeply.

"…Can't you be a bit quieter? This is a public dining place. Consider the inconvenience you're causing others."

When he said this, Eliza immediately looked surprised and bowed her head.

"S-Sorry! I got a bit carried away… I'm very sorry!"

Speyside looked down at the apologetic Eliza with a snort and turned on his heel.

Strass was slightly annoyed by his attitude, but we were in the wrong, so we couldn't complain.

However, there was one thing that bothered me.

"Sorry."

When I said this, Speyside stopped and turned his face to me.

"I'm sorry for being noisy. By the way, is Mr. Speyside here alone?"

When I asked, Speyside looked displeased and hesitated for a moment before answering.

"…With Mr. Four Perno Roses. Please don't cause any inconvenience."

He answered and walked away. It seemed he was eating in a private room at the back.

"Is Four a teacher?"

As I asked, Strass looked grim, and Eliza nodded with a wry smile.

"He's one of the senior teachers. He's… a strong noble, and Mr. Strass and I don't have many opportunities to talk to him…"

Hearing this, I nodded in understanding at Strass's expression.

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