Ch.121121. First Lecture

Late night.

Owen was already asleep on my bed, breathing softly. We had started late, and it must have been difficult for young Owen to stay awake.

Still, he had tried to concentrate, and it was admirable how he attempted to absorb everything, especially the parts about souls since it was related to his own field.

Findenai, of course, hadn’t returned since running away.

He was probably back in his room sleeping by now.

Erika, who had stayed until the end of the lecture, was summarizing her thoughts.

“As expected, since it was unfamiliar knowledge, the lecture itself was quite satisfying. I’d like to hear it again.”

“I see.”

“But it seems like you’re trying to give too much information in a short time. You won’t last long as a teacher that way. You need to be a bit more flexible.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even though it’s lecture time, you don’t have to just lecture. Especially since you’re a Black Mage, some students might be nervous around you, right?”

She had a point.

In fact, dealing with such students was my biggest concern.

How could they concentrate properly on learning if they feared their professor?

They probably wouldn’t even be able to see the blackboard clearly.

“So it’s okay to break the ice to ease tension or even make jokes.”

“…”

Did she really think I could do something like that? Erika seemed to realize this wasn’t right after saying it, as she crossed her arms in thought before speaking again.

“Or you could tell stories about your experiences. You’ve been through various incidents during this break, so you could use those to capture their attention or give them a mental break.”

“Hmm.”

“Or giving them food or something students might like during the lecture could be quite helpful too.”

I thought it wasn’t a bad method. Honestly, Erika’s advice had been quite helpful.

“Thank you, that was very helpful.”

When I expressed my sincere gratitude, Erika smiled gently.

“It’s nothing. More than that, I’m glad to see you genuinely trying to be a professor.”

I didn’t bother to respond.

I was planning to do my best since I was being paid for the job, and also because the Academy was filled with major and supporting characters, so my lectures might be somewhat helpful.

“Um, by the way.”

Erika hesitated for a moment. Whatever she wanted to say seemed difficult to express, as she opened and closed her mouth several times before finally meeting my eyes and speaking.

“What exactly is the identity of the student named Aria Rius?”

I didn’t expect Aria’s name to come from her lips.

“I met that child during this summer break. Dante? It’s an unfamiliar group, but I fought alongside her against Black Mages affiliated with them.”

“You did?”

“Yes, in the Rometiu Forest. I was looking for spirits there to learn about spirit magic like you mentioned.”

I thought I sensed a unique energy around her, so it was a spirit.

It seemed Erika had grown a step further than before.

“I saw Aria there. Starting with how she killed people without hesitation, she showed… an abnormal obsession with you.”

“…”

“While I want to follow your wishes, I’m also a professor, Deus Verdi.”

Erika clenched her fist and declared firmly about Aria.

“I can’t allow a dangerous child who wouldn’t hesitate to kill for a professor to remain at the Academy.”

Since I agreed with her statement.

I nodded slightly and answered.

“Yes, I’ll take responsibility for that child.”

“If you ever need help, please call me. After all, I’m… a fairly strong, unmarried woman.”

Erika stammered, deliberately emphasizing this point. Her reaction was strange, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.

“Alright, I’ll ask when the time comes.”

At that, Erika gave me the bright smile she only showed in private situations.

“Yes!”

* * *

“Wow, it’s my first time attending a lecture in the main auditorium.”

“It’s not just first-years, but all grades, right?”

“Don’t make eye contact with the seniors carelessly.”

The main auditorium where Deus Verdi’s lecture was about to begin. Since it was a joint lecture for all grades and anyone who registered could attend, most of the Academy’s students had gathered here.

Just as the first-years were mindful of their seniors, the second and third-years were also being cautious, particularly of the professors lined up at the back of the auditorium.

Anticipating that classes would be concentrated in one place during this time slot, they had cleared most schedules except for general education courses, so almost all professors had come to listen to Professor Deus Verdi’s lecture.

“How interesting.”

“Black Magic, honestly, I still find it unsettling.”

“Well, His Majesty personally acknowledged him. He must be different from what we know.”

“By the way, isn’t Professor Gideon here?”

“Oh, come on. The Zeronia family has been in the news lately, so he’s on leave.”

Even the usually composed professors couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

Especially Erika, known as Deus Verdi’s fiancée, was receiving envious and admiring glances, but unlike the innocent smile she had shown last night, she was now coldly crossing her arms and staring at the auditorium.

It wasn’t just the professors that the second and third-years were being mindful of.

Naturally, among the first-years was a true VIP.

Elenoa, who for once had pen and paper but wasn’t doodling, was staring intently at the auditorium.

Everyone was trying not to look in her direction for fear of making a mistake in front of the princess of the kingdom.

Beside Elenoa, Aria was also waiting with wide eyes.

The two girls were waiting for Professor Deus Verdi, wondering when he would arrive.

A little earlier than scheduled, Professor Deus Verdi stepped onto the stage.

“Since many of you are waiting, I’ll start a bit early.”

The moment everyone had been waiting for.

Some harbored fear.

Some held suspicious doubts.

Some still felt disgust.

Some were excited about taking steps toward the new discipline of Black Magic.

With their diverse emotions, they all focused on Deus Verdi’s lecture.

Conversely, Deus Verdi, who had uncharacteristically practiced and worried about how to conduct the lecture.

His expression was as calm as usual.

Of course, Deus Verdi hadn’t practiced because of standing in front of people.

He had practiced how to pour out his knowledge to a large audience.

Having already confidently expressed his opinions in front of several times more people at the Great Debate, there was no hesitation in his actions.

“First, let me introduce my assistant here.”

At this different start from yesterday, Erika’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

Had he changed something based on her advice?

Everyone’s attention focused on who Deus Verdi’s assistant might be, and his finger pointed right beside him.

“This is the Dark Spiritmaster who works with me.”

[…]

The Dark Spiritmaster standing beside Deus Verdi was momentarily flustered and pointed at herself.

[Eh?! Me? Can you see me?]

The Dark Spiritmaster looked at Deus Verdi in surprise, and he gestured with his chin as if wondering why she was so startled.

“Go ahead and greet them.”

At his words, the Dark Spiritmaster turned her gaze toward the people. For someone who had been buried in the laboratory practicing necromancy every day, the attention of people was quite burdensome.

[Ah, hello. I’m the Dark Spiritmaster.]

She bowed her head in greeting.

Thinking about it, Erika, Karen, and the Dean had seen her before, so she wondered if this was okay.

“Now, my assistant just greeted you all. Did you see her?”

At those words, the Dark Spiritmaster looked at Deus Verdi with a blank expression.

No!

The students answered in unison.

[This! This! This!]

The Dark Spiritmaster, feeling suddenly mocked, clenched her fists and glared at Deus Verdi, but he continued speaking without paying attention.

“But my assistant is definitely here.”

Then Deus Verdi looked at the Dark Spiritmaster.

“Show them.”

[…I really don’t want to.]

Despite grumbling, the Dark Spiritmaster raised her mana to create a simple flame.

As a necromancer’s flame, it had a purple hue.

The audience stirred momentarily.

Most of the students and professors here could handle mana, so they easily noticed that the flame burning here now wasn’t created by Deus Verdi.

While looking at the suddenly rising purple flame with surprised eyes, they had to admit that something was indeed there.

“Nothing is visible, yet mana manifested momentarily and became magic. I will teach you about such things that exist despite being invisible.”

A captivating introduction to the lecture.

Some professors admired the excellent start, and Erika hid the smile that was forming as she heard such praise.

“Also, if any student correctly guesses the Dark Spiritmaster’s appearance by the end of my lectures before winter break, I’ll give them this.”

Swish.

What Deus Verdi pulled out from his chest was a small golden card that fit in one hand.

At first, everyone wondered what it was. Even upon closer inspection, it was an unfamiliar object, so they couldn’t say anything in their confusion.

Among the students, an exclamation escaped from the princess’s lips.

“Wow, a Royal Millennium Library access card?”

“What?!”

“Wow, amazing.”

“I heard it costs a fortune just to enter there once?”

For the mages of the Griffin Kingdom, the Millennium Library was always on their bucket list.

A place that truly deserved to be called a treasure of knowledge, with original copies of numerous magic books.

It was originally given to him by the Dean, but.

Since he, as a spiritmaster, had already been issued an access card, there was no need to have two.

He was following Erika’s advice that giving gifts could help students focus more on the lecture.

“Yes, the kingdom’s treasure. An access card to the Millennium Grand Library. While it won’t grant access to forbidden books, it allows viewing of all other books.”

Deus Verdi slightly waved the access card over the students, like a fisherman tempting fish with a hook.

“As I just mentioned, I will give this to the first student who correctly guesses the appearance of my assistant, the Dark Spiritmaster. If you listen carefully to my lectures and work hard, it’s entirely possible.”

[This is somewhat embarrassing.]

The Dark Spiritmaster bowed her head shyly.

But the effect was clear.

Most of the students were already burning with enthusiasm even before the lecture had begun.

Deus Verdi slowly picked up a piece of chalk and approached the blackboard.

“Let’s begin the lecture.”