Ch.14Academy Admission? (3)

After buying clothes and returning home, my master urged me to go to the Academy as a professor, saying I should keep my promise.

But I naturally refused.

I had never taught anyone before, and I didn’t want to either.

However, my master refused my refusal.

For my master, the word “suggestion” included the meaning of “do as you’re told.”

Well, I guess there was only one option from the beginning.

Even though I thought it was unreasonable, following my master’s words had always led to good things, so I expected the same this time too.

Until a bump formed on my head.

Thwack!

The spoon struck my crown, and I immediately raised my hand to clutch my head.

The spot throbbed like a heartbeat, causing considerable pain.

There’s no way a simple spoon hit would hurt this much. Could it be a magical tool?

“You fool! How can someone with such poor comprehension sit in a professor’s position?!”

“No, I said I wanted to enroll as a student.”

Thwack!

That’s the tenth time now.

“I clearly taught you everything while teaching you Black Magic, so why can’t you remember?”

“I forgot everything.”

Thwack!

My master kept hitting exactly the same spot.

Thanks to that, a bump had already formed on my head.

Actually, rather than forgetting, I never remembered in the first place.

When I first learned Black Magic, my master did teach me various things. But the important thing is, I didn’t pay attention in class.

I passed my master’s tests using cheat sheets, so there’s no way I could remember anything now.

My master sighed while poking my cheek with the spoon.

I must have been quite frustrating.

“Just learn from the beginning.”

I nodded slowly while glancing sideways at my master.

“Yes, I’ll learn from the beginning.”

My master was smiling.

As if pleased that her grown-up disciple still relied on her.

* * * * *

An obviously luxurious carriage was traveling along a bumpy road.

In one corner of the carriage was a large emblem with four swords embedded in it, indicating that the carriage belonged to the Duchy of Gideon.

Inside the carriage, a rather haggard-looking woman was reading a book with a blank expression.

Dressed in elegant yet practical clothing, she had a large greatsword placed beside her.

The servant sitting across from her carefully spoke up.

“Lady Lael, are you sure you don’t need any attendants? If something were to happen to you…”

“I’ve told you many times I don’t need any. It would be a disgrace to the duchy if I couldn’t attend the Academy alone.”

“But the Royal Capital has Warlocks…”

Lael deliberately closed her book with a loud thud.

It was a silent threat to stop talking.

Naturally, the servant closed his mouth.

Lael pressed her forehead as she looked out the window, feeling dizzy.

It was because she hadn’t eaten properly or slept well recently.

As time passed since he left, her feelings for him grew stronger.

Recently, those feelings had begun to affect her physically.

Derin’s words came to mind, and though she had eaten at first, lately she had no appetite.

When she slept, she frequently woke up from dreams of the day he left.

It felt like standing on a precarious cliff edge.

The only fortunate thing in this situation was that her father hadn’t opposed her enrollment in the Academy.

Of course, he didn’t just give permission; there were conditions.

Though she disliked them, she had no choice but to accept.

She needed to gain time to find Crow by at least entering the Academy.

Her father told her to look for a marriage partner at the Academy.

She had no intention of actually doing so, but she could understand her father’s thinking.

The Academy’s entrance exam was notoriously difficult.

Just getting admitted guaranteed a certain future.

Her father, who had been an adventurer, didn’t seem particularly concerned about social status, so he probably just wanted her to find a good man.

Besides, at 23… it was a slightly late age for marriage.

Someone like Crow would surely please her father, right?

His strength was evident just from the mana flowing around him.

Just then, the small glass window at the front of the carriage opened.

The coachman seemed to have something to say.

“The entrance to the Royal Capital is coming into view.”

Lael clenched her fist, squeezing out what little strength she had.

This is where it begins.

She would find Crow by any means necessary.

And then… she would ask for forgiveness.

* * * * *

My master’s fingers tapped on the table, making a tapping sound.

She seemed to miss holding her spoon.

I’ve been diligently attending my master’s lessons recently.

According to my master, I more than excelled at practical exams. But even I could see my theoretical knowledge was abysmal.

To keep my promise with my master, I needed to at least study hard.

Thanks to that, I’ve made remarkable progress, even to my own surprise.

“Explain the process of mana converting into magic.”

“Mana circulates throughout the body, centered on the mana core. Therefore, by imbuing the mana core with an attribute and increasing the circulation speed, the mana takes on that attribute. Then you concentrate that mana in one place while envisioning the magic you want to use.”

“…Correct.”

Now I can answer my master’s questions without hesitation.

With that final question, my master closed the book.

Her expression looked somewhat bitter.

I knew why she had such an expression, but I didn’t bring it up.

Mentioning it would only seem like teasing.

“Master, would you like to eat?”

I brought it up thinking some good food might improve her mood.

But my master, the most successful alchemist in the Royal Capital, was busy.

“No, I need to make a delivery.”

“Should I go with you?”

“No need. You stay home and review.”

As my master got up and left the room, I let out a deep sigh.

Honestly, I didn’t expect such a reaction.

I thought she would at least be happy about her disciple’s growth, but that wasn’t the case.

Though I can’t fully understand my master’s feelings, one thing was certain.

I have no intention of leaving my master’s side.

Whether I become an Academy student, professor, or headmaster.

Even if I become a guild master.

Thinking something and saying it aloud are worlds apart, so I haven’t mentioned it yet. But I’m sure my master would understand.

After all, my master has always known what I was thinking since I was young.

I got up and put the book back on the bookshelf.

Though my master told me to review, I’ve read so much that I remember which content is on which page.

In my judgment, review wasn’t necessary.

Feeling stiff from sitting in the chair for so long, I stretched.

As I raised my arms up and stretched my body, my bones made cracking sounds as they settled back into place.

Feeling refreshed, I put on my coat and left the house to go shopping. And the moment I stepped onto the main road, I saw it.

A carriage with the emblem of the Duchy of Gideon.

I hurriedly hid myself.

I didn’t know why, but it felt like I should.

But thinking about it, there was no need.

Even if someone from the Duchy of Gideon came by carriage, there was no guarantee it would be Lael.

Besides, Warlocks were no longer criminals.

Sighing at the sudden feeling of frustration, I continued walking.

This time, I was determined not to hide from anyone who might come.

Except for my master, of course.

I would surely be scolded for not reviewing as told.

Fortunately, I didn’t encounter my master until I returned home from shopping.

Until I returned home, that is.

As I opened the door while humming a tune, a cold voice greeted me.

“Where have you been?”

I quietly closed the door.

Even though I had stopped at a street vendor to eat something, it hadn’t taken that long.

No, rather, it had all been calculated.

My master was scheduled to make a delivery to an adventurer’s house at the edge of the Royal Capital, and I had acted with that knowledge.

I didn’t know where the problem had occurred, but delaying would only provoke my master’s anger further.

With a sigh, I pulled the door handle.

I planned to bow my head first.

That might lessen the scolding.

Of course, not getting scolded at all was…

The first thing I noticed was that the door felt heavy.

As if someone was holding it.

Eventually, the door opened, and I understood why.

“Kyaak!”

It seemed my master had also been holding the door handle to open it.

But because I opened it first, she was practically pulled outside.

My master was hugging me with her face pressed against my chest.

“Are you okay?”

My question seemed to bring her back to her senses, and she hastily stepped back.

“Y-you! Coming back after going out, suddenly closing the door and not leaving, then suddenly opening it!”

“No, that’s… I’m sorry.”

“Forget it! J-just come in quickly!”

My master turned around abruptly and walked away with large strides.

I stood there dumbfounded by her reaction, then clenched my fist.

Not getting hit was already a success.