Ch.12Academy Admission? (1)

My teacher, carrying a small bag, turned to look at me just before stepping out the door.

“I’m going to deliver these items.”

“Did you pack everything properly?”

“What do you take me for? 100 healing potions, 100 mana potions, 30 antidotes. That’s 230 items total.”

It seemed impossible for such quantities to fit in that small bag, but the one my teacher carried was a high-grade magical item. Considering she once delivered 600 items at once, there must still be plenty of space left.

That bag cost as much as a decent house, so it should be worth every coin.

With her rejuvenated appearance and that bag slung over her shoulder, my teacher looked just like an Academy student. It gave the impression that if you opened the bag, you’d find it stuffed with thick textbooks.

I got up and approached her. Then I carefully fastened the buttons of her shirt that had come undone.

Hmm, now she looks like the perfect student.

“Since you answered my question correctly earlier, should I give you a stamp of approval?”

My teacher sighed with an exasperated “Huh,” then clenched her fist and knocked me on the head.

“Here’s your stamp of approval, you brat.”

“Hey, I was just joking! Why’d you hit me?!”

“Anyway, take care of the house. Don’t open the door for pretty women. Don’t follow anyone who offers to buy you food.”

“How old do you think I am to say things like that?”

“I’m off.”

After saying whatever she wanted to say, my teacher closed the door and disappeared.

Actually, since arriving here, I’ve been helping with my teacher’s workshop. From organizing delivery schedules to bookkeeping—except for the critical alchemy parts—there’s hardly anything I haven’t handled.

At this point, she shouldn’t treat me like a child anymore, but her attitude makes me sigh.

And please stop hitting me—I’ll end up shorter than I already am.

* * * * *

As Riano left the workshop for her delivery, she couldn’t help but worry.

Her disciple had aged, but it seemed like he’d spent all his time adventuring. He appeared to have zero experience with women.

Many women must have approached him because of his looks, so he probably rejected them. Or perhaps he had unconsciously built walls around himself.

Men, tsk tsk…

Of course, she herself had no experience either. But for a woman, lack of experience was rather an advantage, wasn’t it?

Considering that women typically married around age 20, at 28 she should probably be called an “old maid,” but her pride wouldn’t allow that.

I’d sound like a real hag…!

Lost in these thoughts, Riano suddenly found herself at her destination.

Known as the flower of education, the place boasted an impressive size even from the entrance.

When this building was constructed, nobles had caused an uproar because it was larger than the king’s castle.

Something about how no building should be larger than where the king, who embodied the nation itself, resided.

But with not only the prince and princess enrolled, but also the Sage—considered the greatest magician—serving as headmaster, everyone had quieted down.

Frowning at the thought of those hypocritical nobles, Riano passed through the entrance of the Academy, the capital’s finest educational institution. Guards were stationed at the entrance, but having visited dozens of times already, they merely glanced at her without stopping her.

This order had been placed in a rather unusual manner. She had received many orders from the Academy before, but never quite like this.

When she knocked on the headmaster’s door, a dry, cracking voice responded.

“Come in.”

The headmaster himself had placed the order.

As she entered, the Sage closed the book he was reading, stood up, and offered his hand.

Seeing no reason to refuse, Riano extended her hand and returned the handshake.

“Ms. Riano, I’m always indebted to you.”

“Not at all. I’m just doing my job diligently for the money.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Riano took off her bag and removed one potion of each type.

Normally, she would need to take out all 230 potions for inspection, but they had built up trust, and since the storage room was elsewhere, she would have to put them back in the bag anyway.

That would be such a hassle…

After the Sage nodded approvingly while examining the potions, Riano put them back in her bag. Just as she was about to head to the storage room as usual, the headmaster spoke.

“Would you like to have some tea?”

“Tea?”

Suddenly?

I need to get back to my disciple.

He must be trembling alone in the capital, surrounded by foxes and cats.

However, it was difficult to refuse an offer from a regular customer who always purchased substantial quantities.

“I can’t stay long.”

“That’s fine. I don’t intend to talk for long either.”

And so began the tea time between the Sage and Riano, the headmaster and the alchemist.

The Sage seemed to enjoy tea regularly, preparing it with practiced movements and placing it on the table. He sat across from Riano and took a sip.

“What I want to discuss is simple. Do you know any Warlocks?”

Riano, who was taking a sip of tea, barely managed to suppress a cough.

He seemed to know her as an alchemist, so showing any reaction now would only prove that she was a Warlock.

After composing herself, Riano set down her cup with a tap and said:

“You’ll need to tell me your purpose first. These are my valued customers, after all.”

“Ah, I apologize for my rudeness. I was too hasty. Actually, with the Church’s collapse, a great storm has blown through the Academy as well.”

Riano breathed a sigh of relief.

At least it seemed this genius magician wasn’t siding with the Church to sweep away Warlocks.

Of course, even if the Sage became an enemy, they could somehow manage if they joined forces. But there would certainly be casualties, and she wanted to avoid bloodshed if possible.

“Starting with the next enrollment, there’s talk of accepting Warlocks. And it’s coming from quite a few people.”

He took a sip of tea as if trying to calm his complicated feelings, then continued.

“Whether this stems from fear of Warlocks or a genuine desire for equality, I’m not sure.”

“The important thing is that currently, the Academy has neither professors nor teaching assistants who can teach Black Magic. We can identify talent, but teaching people is another matter entirely.”

Riano heard his words clearly. But they seemed so unlikely that she had to ask again.

“So you’re saying the Academy will accept Warlocks and needs faculty to teach them?”

“Yes, exactly.”

At that moment, one person came to Riano’s mind.

But whether he would want to come to the Academy was another question.

Even as a teacher, it wasn’t right to decide a disciple’s path arbitrarily.

Riano took one final sip of tea and stood up.

“I’ll cooperate as much as possible.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve troubled you unnecessarily…”

“Not at all. I’m… also one who thinks Warlocks should be able to enjoy their youth.”

With those words, she left the headmaster’s office.

* * * * *

As soon as my teacher returned from her delivery, she said something strange to me.

“Disciple, enroll in the Academy. If you don’t want to be a student, I’ll get you in as a professor.”

“Why would I go to the Academy?”

“Enjoy your youth! Happy future! Don’t you know?”

“What are you talking about? My youth is already stained with monster blood.”

“Forget it then. Just don’t.”

My teacher pouted like a duck and turned her head away sharply.

Honestly, I couldn’t understand.

Even though the Church had collapsed and Warlocks had regained their freedom, public perception wasn’t exactly favorable yet.

In such a situation, telling me to go to the Academy where crowds of people gather is like asking me to walk through hell.

But seeing my teacher sulk like that makes me want to agree.

Though not without getting something in return.

“What will you give me?”

“What?”

“If I enroll, what will you give me?”

“Wait, I’m telling you to enroll for your own good, not mine!”

“Then I won’t do it.”

As I started to get up, my teacher hastily grabbed my arm.

I flinched momentarily, thinking she might hit me, but she only moved her lips silently.

After a brief silence, her reluctant mouth finally opened.

“What do you need?”

What do I need, indeed?

I had said it half-jokingly, so I hadn’t thought about what I needed. Besides, I don’t really need anything.

Then how about using this opportunity for my teacher’s benefit rather than mine?

“Let’s go shopping for clothes. I opened your closet earlier and saw only old clothes.”

At that moment, I realized I had made a terrible mistake.

Pain began to radiate from my captured arm, and my teacher raised her fist.

“Why are you opening a woman’s closet, you crazy disciple?!”