Chapter 36

Clearing up Ail's misunderstanding, I turned back to Coat.

"So, I can only think of you as a student. Please rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Coat dropped his shoulders in a tired manner and shook his head from side to side.

"…Rest assured… No, I don't think it's strange that I'm hurt, but I am… sigh…"

Seeing Coat, who seemed somewhat disheartened, I tilted my head and looked at Ail.

Ail, still looking as if she couldn't believe it, was clearly not the type to cause trouble.

Thinking this, I decided to explain the situation.

"I approached Coat to ask if anyone was disrupting my class."

When I said this, Ail responded with a blank "Huh?"

"Mr. Aoi's class? Why?"

Nodding at Ail's puzzled question, I turned to Liz and Bell.

"Please let me know if you know anything as well."

After saying this, I turned back to Coat, who now had a serious expression.

"…How much does Mr. Aoi know?"

When asked this, I tilted my head.

"Just that someone is telling students not to take my class."

Sighing, Coat nodded and pointed at Ail with his palm.

"Ail might not have known or cared, but it's already known among the high school and middle school students. They say that Mr. Aoi is being watched by the royal family and upper nobility, and the names of students taking the class are being checked."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but frown.

"Whether to take the class or not is a personal choice. It shouldn't be decided by the pressure of a few nobles."

"Of course. I also assert that. However, since it seems to have been said by someone of very high status, everyone is hesitant. Felter and Rox are different, though… The rest are probably just Barveny, who is respected by the teachers, and Prince Hiram. Kragan and Bare are younger than me and don't have much influence in the school yet…"

It seemed that Coat had been investigating this on his own.

Nodding in understanding, Ail spoke up, looking displeased.

"Wait, someone is telling people not to take Mr. Aoi's class? It's a great class! I started taking it to check it out, thinking my brother might be up to something, but now I look forward to it. I've been recommending it to others, but no one came."

Ail clearly expressed her frustration. I was surprised to learn that she had been taking the class for such a reason… It was too much of a coincidence to be happy about it.

Well, the result is that a student is taking the class enthusiastically. Should I be grateful?

"…Then, let's go meet this Barveny. Where is he? Is he in class?"

When I asked, Coat shook his head.

"No, Barveny is usually holed up in his lab. He only occasionally participates in water magic classes."

"Barveny's lab is right over there! I'll show you!"

"As an apology."

Liz and Bell, trying to make up for Ail's rudeness, quickly pointed in the direction of Barveny's lab and took the lead.

As we headed out of the square, Strass and Eliza, who had been hiding, were discovered.

"Huh?"

When Bell tilted her head and looked at them, Strass and Eliza came out looking awkward.

"I see. Mr. Aoi couldn't have found this place alone."

Coat chuckled, and Strass nodded with his arms crossed.

"If it's Barveny, I sometimes help with his research. If you want to talk, I'll go with you."

"Mr. Strass?"

Ail asked in surprise, and Eliza answered for her.

"Barveny's research is about weather manipulation."

Eliza's words lingered in my ears, but I said nothing and followed everyone to Barveny's lab.

Barveny's lab was a small but relatively new building. It was a compact, one-story structure made of stone and wood, looking sturdy.

The door seemed to be made of wood, and when Strass knocked, the sound resonated well.

After a while, a gravelly voice answered, and the door opened.

"Hello… Who is it?"

A man with long, wavy dark orange hair appeared, speaking in a gravelly voice. He had a scruffy beard and thin-rimmed glasses, but he didn't look unkempt.

Barveny, it seemed, looked at me and the others in turn, stopping at Strass.

"…Quite a large group today. What's up?"

Barveny asked in a bored tone, and Strass nodded expressionlessly.

"It's about the new teacher, Aoi. It seems someone is trying to disrupt her class. Do you know anything about it?"

"Right to the point, Mr. Strass."

"Typical…"

While Coat and the others were surprised by Strass's direct approach, Barveny looked at me with a question mark.

"New? You don't look like a beastkin, so are you the fourth or fifth daughter of a baron?"

He gave a vague answer. Frowning at this, Strass said, "No," and corrected Barveny.

"Aoi is not a noble. I thought she was quite a topic, but you didn't know? She's a commoner, but was exceptionally hired as a senior teacher."

"…A commoner senior teacher? Huh."

Strass's words made Barveny look at me suspiciously.

"…If you're not a court magician from some country, you must be a great genius like Headmaster Glen. If so, can I ask you a question?"

"…A question?"

When I asked, Barveny raised the corner of his mouth.

"I want to manipulate the weather. Do you know any successful experiments in the past?"

"Only the rain-summoning ritual to turn clear skies into rain. The method combines fire, water, and wind magic. First, you float enough water and heat it with fire. Then, you use wind to create air currents…"

As I explained, Barveny froze with his mouth open.

Puzzled by Barveny's reaction, I turned to Strass for help.

However, Strass and Eliza were also looking at me with the same expression.

"Wait a minute! The rain-summoning ritual is said to be a secret technique kept by some country. Why do you know it?"

Barveny, excited, came closer and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me.

Feeling annoyed, I finally punched him in the stomach.

A hit to the solar plexus, a vital point in the human body.

The impact travels through the diaphragm, making it impossible to breathe. It's a spot where nerves are concentrated but not protected by bones like the ribs, and the amount of muscle doesn't matter. A hit from an angle, especially from above, can incapacitate even a muscular or overweight person.

Naturally, the same applied to Barveny.

"Ugh…!"

Unable to breathe, Barveny curled up and crouched on the ground, the impact seeming to have gone through his back.

Looking down at him, I spoke.

"…Calm down. Do you understand now?"

Tears in his eyes, Barveny groaned, and Eliza answered with a dry laugh.

"…I don't think he can answer…"

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