Magic Tower City (2)

“From today, I’m Haru, and I’ll be your temporary combat instructor.”

The students gathered at the training grounds buzzed with chatter. So this is the best magic school on the continent? They all look so young.

These guys are supposed to be the future Archmages?

“Um… Instructor-nim?”

A boy in the front row cautiously raised his hand. A typical Magic Tower City student.

“Someone who doesn’t even know the magic amplification coefficient is going to… teach us?”

Looks like what happened in the Chancellor’s office has already spread.

“Then, shall we give it a try?”

I drew my sword. Not a holy sword, just a plain wooden one. This is actually more convenient for teaching.

“Huh? What…”

“Anyone, go ahead and attack me with magic.”

The students stirred. They glanced at each other, and then a boy stepped forward.

“I’ll give it a try!”

Blue hair and a confident expression. Looks like a top student.

“I’m a 4th-circle mage. I’m also proficient in practical combat magic…”

“Begin.”

I drew my sword before the boy could even finish speaking.

“Yes? Ah, understood. Here, watch this!”

A dazzling magic circle unfolded. Ether crystals glowed in the air, gathering magic power.

“Oh, spirit of fire…”

Hoo, this is so complicated. In the game, it was just a single button.

“With eternal flames…”

While he chanted the long incantation, I stood still and waited.

“Explosion Blast!”

Finally, the magic was complete. Dazzling flames enveloped me.

I could have easily dodged it, but I deliberately took it head-on. For educational purposes.

“How was it? My magic…”

The sword blade touched the boy’s neck.

“What… how…”

“Too slow.”

I said, retracting my sword.

“When fighting demons, you won’t have time to chant such a long incantation. You’d be dead at least five times over in that time.”

The students’ eyes widened.

“But the textbooks say…”

“You can’t defeat demons with textbooks. The real world is different.”

I continued, walking slowly around the training grounds.

“Demons use magic instinctively. Without incantations, it activates the moment they think of it.”

I raised my sword again.

“Now, shall we all try it together? With your strongest magic.”

The students stirred. They exchanged glances, and then simultaneously unfolded their magic circles.

Fireballs, ice spears, lightning arrows flew from all directions. So many spells that they blotted out the sky.

But…

“Too slow.”

The sword flashed, cleaving through the air. The spells were neutralized one by one.

“Magic is flashy and powerful. But it also has many weaknesses.”

As I finished speaking, all the magic faded away. The students’ mouths hung open.

“Impossible…”

“That’s cheating…”

“The textbook doesn’t say you can block magic with a sword…”

I could hear the murmurs.

“Now, shall we start the real lesson?”

I raised my sword again.

The students’ gazes focused on me.

In combat, theory is useless. Not that I can’t teach theory, of course…

“Everyone, get ready. I’ll start by developing your practical sense.”

“Huh?!”

“Real fights don’t go according to the textbook. You have to experience it firsthand to understand.”

I raised my sword.

“Come at me. Ah, try to kill me for real. I’ll just dodge anyway.”

The students’ faces turned pale. But they soon seemed to make up their minds and unfolded their magic circles.

“Begin!”

A festival of magic began. Dazzling spells blotting out the sky.

But I just smiled. I’ve seen this level of magic thousands of times in the game.

“Now, I’ll show you what real combat is.”

The sword flashed, cleaving through the air. Today’s going to be fun.

“Euaaagh!”

“Run away!”

“Save me!”

The training grounds turned into a scene of chaos. I chased after the fleeing students, thinking.

“Now, where are you all hiding~”

I slung the wooden sword over my shoulder and wandered around the training grounds. I could hear the trembling breaths of the hidden students.

‘Well, they need to suffer this much to understand what real combat is.’

Thus began my day. Until I get permission to access the Arcane Archives, I’ll have to play with these little brats.

I hope no one gets obsessed with me again because of this?

*

It was nearing the end of the morning training.

“Excuse me, Teacher…”

A female student approached. Her neatly tied black hair was the first thing that caught my eye. Her white uniform was without a single wrinkle, and even her ribbon was tied at the perfect angle.

“Serena, was it?”

“I’m honored that you remember me.”

So she’s the class president, her way of speaking is different. Even the way she greeted me with a polite voice was the epitome of a model student.

“What’s the matter?”

“Could you… perhaps teach me swordsmanship?”

It was an unexpected request. I opened the attendance book and checked Serena’s details. From the prestigious Alterion magic family? But swordsmanship?

“Magic would suit you better.”

“I like swords.”

Her voice was firm. Her eyes didn’t waver.

“You’re an interesting student. So what does your family say?”

“…”

A moment of silence passed.

“My father… says swords are a lowly weapon.”

Serena’s voice grew smaller.

“But I know. That there are strong swordsmen like you, Teacher.”

Her eyes sparkled.

“I really want to learn. Please.”

I sighed. It’s hard to refuse such passionate eyes.

“Alright. But there are conditions.”

“Anything!”

“First, you start from the basics. Posture is important in swordsmanship.”

Serena nodded.

“Second, continue to practice magic. You can become stronger if you’re good at both.”

“Yes!”

“And finally…”

I paused, choosing my words carefully.

“Absolutely… don’t fall for me.”

“Huh? What does that…”

Serena’s face turned red.

“I’m just kidding. Now, shall we begin?”

I handed her the wooden sword. Serena carefully took the sword.

“First, let’s try the basic stance. Spread your feet like this…”

“Um, Teacher.”

“Yes?”

“What you said earlier… did something happen?”

That was a sharp question.

“I told you, it was just a joke.”

“But…”

“Focus on your posture. Don’t grip the sword too tightly.”

I changed the subject. Serena didn’t ask any further questions, but I could feel her eyes constantly observing me.

“Now, the basic cutting motion.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

The lesson proceeded smoothly. Serena was a fast learner.

“Wow!”

The wooden sword sliced through the air. Her basic stance was perfect.

“You’re good. Are you not just a genius at magic?”

“No. I’m just…”

Serena’s face turned red.

“Everyone calls me a genius, but I just work hard.”

I smiled at her humble attitude.

“Still, this is amazing, isn’t it? To be this good from the first day. Have you been swinging a sword in secret?”

“Actually… I’ve been practicing in secret.”

Serena fidgeted with the wooden sword, looking embarrassed.

“My family is against it… but I like swords. When I hold a sword, I feel at peace.”

Her voice was filled with sincerity.

“Alright, I don’t have anything else to do anyway, so I’ll teach you diligently for a while.”

“Really?”

Serena’s eyes sparkled.

“But don’t forget our promise?”

“Yes?”

“That you absolutely can’t fall for me.”

Serena laughed.

“Don’t worry. I know the relationship between teacher and student very well.”

“That’s a relief.”

But why? I felt something suspicious in her smile.

‘It must be my imagination.’

I resumed the training. But a strange sense of unease crept up my spine.

Magic class ended, and swordsmanship class began. And then another swordsmanship class.

She showed up every day. I saw her practicing alone even after class ended.

“Teacher, how is this stance?”

“Hmm, it’s good. But extend your elbow a little more when you swing.”

“Teacher!”

“Yes?”

“Could you perhaps teach me on the weekends too?”

Oh, dear.

“Well, that’s…”

Just as I was about to refuse, Serena’s earnest gaze stopped me.

Her love for the sword, her desire to become stronger… and above all, her humble attitude to learn.

‘Ah, this is the real deal.’

It was different from the dangerous obsessions I had seen so far. It was just the pure passion of a student who loved swordsmanship.

“Alright.”

The answer came out on its own.

Serena’s face lit up brightly. Her smile was free of any impurities.

…At least, it seemed that way for now.

*

“I’m sorry. It’s still under review…”

The secretary’s words, which I heard every morning, echoed in my ears. It was too persistent to be called the bureaucracy unique to mages.

‘How long are they going to review it? Are they going to keep making excuses until I join the lab as a research assistant?’

I was starting to get bored of playing teacher, so I walked the streets of Arcana, the Magic Tower City. Spires made of crystal pierced the sky. Streetlights shining with magic began to light up one by one.

‘Wait, something’s not right?’

It was a deserted alleyway.

“Where did such a precious person come from all alone…”

Several men were surrounding a female student. A sword was strapped to the back of the female student wearing a uniform.

It was Serena.

“It’s dangerous for a young lady to be walking around in an alley like this so late.”

“Please… let me pass?”

Serena’s voice trembled unlike usual. It wasn’t the Serena who was always confident.

“Why is your skirt so short? These days, students are really…”

One man reached out his hand. Serena instinctively tried to grab her sword.

“You’re even carrying a sword? What is it, a fashion item…?”

“Shall we teach you what a real sword is? Swordsmanship is good, but… you need to learn other things too.”

Another man grabbed Serena’s wrist.

“Let go of me!”

Serena resisted, but she couldn’t overcome the man’s strength.

“Young lady, it’ll get a little rough if you resist? We want to be gentlemen, but…”

“If you stay still… we’ll play with you in a fun way.”

The men’s dirty laughter filled the alley.

That’s enough.

“Hey.”

The men turned around at my voice.

“What? Don’t interfere! You wanna die─”

Before he could finish speaking, my fist flew. He’s been annoying me since earlier.

“Ugh!”

The thug grabbed his nose and collapsed. The sensation of breaking bones was vivid in my fist.

“Teacher!”

Serena’s eyes sparkled.

“You shouldn’t be hanging around in groups like this at night, you know? It’s detrimental to the good morals of the city.”

The thugs rushed at me.

“You bastard…”

“Beat him up!”

The biggest guy charged at me. A sloppy stance. It was like a punch you’d see in a neighborhood brawl.

Haa, how annoying.

“Serena.”

“Yes?”

“Watch the stance carefully.”

I said, slightly twisting my foot. One of the men went flying through the air.

“Lower your center of gravity, and use the opponent’s strength…”

I grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it slightly. So what if he’s big? His center of gravity collapsed, and he flew through the air and slammed into the ground.

“You do it like this.”

“L-Let’s run away!”

“H-He’s a monster!”

The remaining guys ran away. Leaving their fallen comrades on the ground.

‘Playing the hero even on days like this.’

I shook my head, looking at the thugs lying on the ground. Even in the Magic Tower City, it seems that these kinds of trash wriggle around when darkness falls.

I stepped on the man at my feet one more time. If the security gets worse because of guys like these, the house prices in Arcana will drop.

‘Well, let’s think of it as the hero’s duty. I have to protect the residents’ real estate too.’

Monsters and demons are outside the walls, but these human trash live right next door.

“Teacher…”

Serena called out in a trembling voice.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes… thanks to you.”

Her eyes were red-rimmed. Where did her usual confident self go?

“What are you doing here so late?”

“That’s…”

Serena hesitated, fidgeting with the hilt of her sword.

“I was practicing. I wanted to become stronger… like you, Teacher.”

I sighed.

“Your passion for the sword is good, but you need to choose the time and place.”

“I’m sorry…”

Serena’s shoulders trembled. It seems the fear from earlier hadn’t subsided yet.

“I’ll take you home.”

“Huh? No, it’s alright…”

“This is an order. A teacher’s order. You’re a model student, so you have to listen, right?”

Serena smiled faintly.

“…Thank you.”

We walked through the night streets. The magic flowing from the spires faintly illuminated the road.

“Um… Teacher.”

“Yeah?”

“The stance you showed me today… could you teach it to me during the next class?”

Haa, this kid really…

“You’re thinking about swordsmanship even after going through something like that just now.”

Her eyes were still serious. It seems she’s back to her usual self.

“But promise me.”

“I know. I told you I won’t fall for you, right? Aren’t you overvaluing your looks, Teacher?”

“What are you talking about? I was going to say, promise me you won’t practice alone late at night anymore.”

“Ah… Ah! Th, that’s… I’m sorry!”

Serena nodded, her face flushed.

“I promise. But…”

“But?”

“You have to keep teaching me….”

This kid, she’s talking about class even in this situation…

“Alright, alright.”

Serena’s face lit up brightly. Her smile sparkled under the moonlight.

Suddenly, I had a bad feeling. I’ve seen that look somewhere before.

‘No, it’s just my imagination. There’s no way such a pure child would…’

But the chill running down my spine didn’t go away easily.