Chapter 26

Stepping out to the back of the school building, I provided my unused laboratory to Middleton and the others, and returned to the classroom for the time being.

I felt as if I had been asked to take charge of the education, but education is something that parents should ideally do themselves.

Still, if things don’t change, I will have to educate them strictly.

With that resolve, I opened the door leading to the classroom, and everyone’s eyes turned to me.

Feeling uncomfortable, I bowed to Spyside.

"I’m sorry for the trouble. Please take over the class."

Spyside nodded with a complicated expression and looked at the students.

"...When you omit one incantation, I believe I mentioned in the middle school that each word in the incantation has its own meaning. You need to break down those words, maintain the content, and reduce the number of characters. Additionally, the amount of magic power you infuse will change, so you need to try various patterns."

As Spyside spoke, each student nodded and began to break down the incantation.

You might think that teaching them the three verses of the already completed incantation would be enough, but the difficulty of magic lies in the fact that ten people can find ten different methods. Because there isn’t just one answer, even a student who can finally cast a spell in four verses might come up with an idea that even the principal wouldn’t think of.

That’s why advanced students practice various methods to shorten incantations and learn how to conduct magic research.

Even if they fail to shorten the incantation, they might complete a different magic with a different effect. That’s why there are many magic researchers in various countries.

Moreover, those who discover a clue to creating new magic will go through a lot of hardship and struggle until the new magic is completed. Some magic requires a large area of land, and some people challenge alchemy using minerals.

Now, as students, they are only given tasks that can definitely be solved with guidance from their teachers, but once they become researchers, they step onto a path of endless research.

I was able to learn various magics and contribute to their creation because I assisted Owen’s research.

However, since I am not fundamentally a researcher, I can understand the hardships but not the feelings.

If I say too much, I might not only dampen the students’ enthusiasm but also hurt them.

Thinking this, I decided not to give too much extra advice during the class.

I decided to look at the students who seemed to be having trouble understanding the magic Spyside was teaching.

The one struggling the most was a tall boy with golden hair standing up like a punk, sitting by the wall.

Felter Kearne.

"Is water difficult for you, Felter?"

When I asked, Felter glanced at me with a troubled look.

"...I don’t have a particular subject I’m bad at. But I’m not good at reducing incantations. I’m good at physical enhancement, though."

Although he said it with a troubled look, Felter was seriously facing his desk. It’s just that his pen wasn’t moving.

Thinking he might be more serious than I expected, I stood next to Felter.

"Where are you having trouble?"

"...I can’t break it down. Probably, this incantation is... this..."

"Ah, this one. This part generates a sphere of water, this part compresses it, this part maintains the spherical shape by rotating, and this part is the trigger for activation, and this part makes it disappear if it’s not activated. Think about each effect separately, and if you can combine them, try it."

"...I see."

With just a simple explanation, Felter quickly understood the structure. The magic language has a unique system, but once you understand the rules, you can shorten any magic by a verse or so.

Felter is smart, so if he takes it seriously, he will grasp the knack of it quickly.

Smiling at this thought, I heard a whisper.

"Hey, the witch is smiling..."

"Could Felter be cursed...?"

Hearing this very rude conversation, I looked over. Several people turned their heads away as if their necks would snap.

Staring at them, Spyside deliberately cleared his throat to draw attention.

"...We will continue the class, but before that, Ms. Aoi."

"Yes?"

When called by name, I tilted my head, and Spyside opened his mouth expressionlessly.

"Could you explain the content you just mentioned in more detail?"

"Sure."

As a result, I ended up being questioned by Spyside, who seemed to become a student himself, for his own research.

Spyside’s questions were advanced for the students, but they seemed to be good learning material. By the end of the class, everyone had gained some hints.

One student even managed to shorten the incantation by two verses, so in a sense, the class was a great success.

"...I hate to admit it, but your knowledge of magic is truly bottomless. For the sake of my research, I would like to ask you for guidance, even if it means swallowing my pride."

"I must decline."

"...How about two gold coins for an hour’s lecture?"

"I must decline."

For some reason, even after the class ended, Spyside kept talking nonsense, so I said my refusal and left the room as if I were running away.

Walking down the corridor, I headed to the laboratory, wondering how Rox was doing.

When I arrived, I saw a row of royal guards standing around the laboratory.

"...Where is Rox?"

When I asked, the royal guards silently pointed to the laboratory.

"It’s been about an hour."

I said this to confirm, but the royal guards only nodded silently.

Wondering what to do, the door to the laboratory opened, and a figure stumbled out.

It must be Rox, but I couldn’t believe it was him.

Because in just an hour, his cheeks had become gaunt, his back was hunched, and he was looking around with a frightened expression. The moment he noticed me, he made a sound that was either a gasp or a scream and collapsed on the spot.

Shocked by the change, I couldn’t help but reach out and call out to him.

"...Are you okay? What happened...?"

"Ah, ah, ahhh!"

As I approached, Rox screamed and flailed his arms and legs, retreating.

Stunned, I turned to the two people who appeared from the laboratory, Rea and Middleton, who were smiling contentedly and laughing.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Thank you, Ms. Aoi."

When they spoke, I glanced at Rox and opened my mouth.

"...Why is Rox so terrified?"

When I asked, Middleton nodded deeply.

"I told him the story of a ruler who made too many enemies, and what kind of future would await him if he didn’t change his ways. I taught him in great detail."

"I can heal injuries, so I included some practical experience."

As they laughed, Rox began to tremble violently.

"...That’s going too far."

I said this in a disbelieving voice, but they didn’t seem to care at all.

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