Chapter 8 : The House with the lights turned on (1)

There were countless people I never wanted to see again, but the most awkward person to encounter was easily Luna.

“Luna. Why are you looking for me?”
“Is that seriously your question? Do you really not know why I’m here?”

Luna’s sharp words pricked at me. Since she wasn’t being polite, neither was I.

“Why? Do I really need to know?”
“What?”
“If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush. We’re not engaged anymore.”

Luna frowned and stepped closer, the air growing icy.

“Are you done?”

The temperature around us plummeted. It wasn’t my imagination. Frost formed on the spring flowers, a clear sign of a sudden drop in temperature.

“Put your magic away, Luna. Are you planning to use magic without authorization?”
“Huh. This isn’t magic. Just some mana leaking out because I’m annoyed.”

I pointed it out impassively, unaffected by the unseasonable chill. Luna waved her hand, gathering the scattered mana.

Whoosh!

The mana swirled around her hand like a whirlwind. As she clenched her fist, the warm spring air returned.

I was inwardly impressed.

‘Still monstrously skilled.’

Not only had she created such a chilling aura with just leaked mana, she effortlessly reabsorbed it. That required both confidence and skill.

Indeed, she was worthy of being the top student in the Magic Department and an assistant professor in the Elemental Studies Department. She probably showed off her skills deliberately.

“Are you threatening me with your power?”
“Threatening? It was just some leaked mana.”
“You must have heard that I became a substitute professor. I assume that’s why you’re here.”
“…How can you be so sure?”

Luna asked, not denying my words. I shrugged.

“Because you haven’t liked me being an assistant professor from the start.”
“Why do you think that?”
“On my first day at the academy, I saw you from afar. You clearly looked displeased.”

I looked down at Luna, recalling that day. Though she was a head shorter than me, her presence was undeniable. Despite looking up at me, her cold demeanor made her seem larger than life.

“I thought I was good at keeping a poker face… You’re right. I didn’t like you then, and I still don’t like you in that position.”

Luna poked my chest, where a student’s name tag would be.

“You hate me being a substitute professor that much?”
“Of course. Can you do that mana trick I just did?”
“Well… I’ve never tried.”
“That’s a roundabout way of saying you can’t.”

She threw my own words back at me.

Fine… I admitted it. I couldn’t replicate Luna’s mana trick.

However…

“Not being able to do that doesn’t disqualify me from being an assistant professor.”
“How can you teach anyone if you can’t even control your mana like that?”
“Teaching isn’t about how delicately you can manipulate mana. It’s about explaining what you know in a way students can understand.”
“Says the guy who made his students run for four hours.”

Luna said coldly. I instinctively glanced back at the pillar, but the presence I had sensed earlier was gone.

‘They must have left after confirming Luna and I met.’

Those sneaky brats. They ran away as soon as the atmosphere became tense.

As I stared at the pillar, Luna spoke, slightly annoyed, “Where are you looking? I’m talking to you.”
“…Who told you I made the students run?”
“Is that important right now?”
“You’re right, it’s not.”

I had confirmed that the princess was among the students hiding behind the pillar. I could question her during tomorrow’s lecture. Right now, I had to deal with the person in front of me.

“Even if you became a substitute professor overnight, you can’t just act recklessly. If you’re not confident in teaching Mana Studies, ask the assistants for help. You know Lisil, right? The assistant who started at the same time as me? She’s the most knowledgeable about Mana Studies after Professor Olivier. I recommend seeking her help if you get stuck.”
“…Luna.”
“What?”
“Don’t interfere with my class.”

Luna stared at me, dumbfounded. She seemed to doubt what she had just heard. But when she realized I was serious, she exploded.

“I’m trying to help, and that’s how you react?”
“I don’t need your help. Did I ask for it?”
“Because it’s obvious you need it!”

Luna stepped closer, fuming.

“Do you know what will happen if the Mana Studies Department’s reputation plummets because of you? You won’t be the only one affected. It’ll reflect poorly on Professor Olivier, who trusted you, and on the entire academy!”
“Luna Melntuel. Keep your personal feelings out of this.”
“…!”

I stepped towards her as well, causing her to step back.

“Do you think I made the students run without a reason? I have my own reasons for doing things.”
“…What reasons?”
“Do I have to explain myself to you?”
“You…!”
“Professor Olivier gave me full authority. That means I’m free to do whatever I want during my lectures. So stop interfering with my curriculum.”

That was the end of the conversation. Luna turned and left. I stood there for a moment, lost in thought, then continued on my way.

Hah… Seriously. What a way to ruin my lunch break.

After lunch was elective class time. Students attended either general education courses or specialized classes related to their major. Having taken over all of Professor Olivier’s responsibilities, I was also assigned the course “Understanding and Application of Mana.”

However…

“Lisil, is this true? I don’t have to teach the afternoon class?”
“Yes, you heard correctly.”

Lisil, whom I met in the hallway on my way to the classroom, handed me a document. It contained a list of students who had withdrawn from the course.

47 withdrawals. Practically every student who had signed up had withdrawn.

“Has this happened before?”
“Students withdrawing before the start of a course happens every year. But it’s the first time all the students have withdrawn.”

Right, it must be the first time this had happened on the first day. Even with only ten students, a class wouldn’t be canceled, but with zero students, there was no point.

“So, my class has been canceled.”

It wasn’t unexpected, but seeing it in writing made me feel disheartened. I examined the document more closely. It listed which courses the students had switched to after withdrawing from “Understanding and Application of Mana.”

‘The Founding Myths and History of the Empire.’

‘Manifesting Flames with Aura.’

‘How to Successfully Confess with a Single Flower.’

All unpopular courses, with around 15 students each, constantly at risk of being canceled. They probably allowed late registration right before the first class.

I crumpled the document and handed it back to Lisil.

“Lisil, did anyone from above say anything?”
“N-No, not yet.”
“Really? Then I suppose I should prepare for the class, just in case.”

I suddenly had free time. I wondered how to use it productively, but nothing came to mind. I thought about leaving, but just because I didn’t have a class to teach didn’t mean my workday was over. I headed to the faculty office.

Tap, tap.

As I entered, numerous assistants looked at me, including those from the Mana Studies Department and other departments. They were preparing for tomorrow’s lectures.

I averted my gaze and went to my desk. I packed my textbooks, documents, and other necessities into a box and left the faculty office. The faculty office was for assistant professors and assistants.

Professor Olivier had given me her personal office, except for her research lab. She clearly didn’t want to be disturbed.

I moved my belongings into the personal office, which would be mine for a year, and opened the textbook.

The first-year Mana Studies textbook, “What is Mana?” As a first-year textbook, it wasn’t difficult to understand, but it was filled with unfamiliar concepts. That made sense, as I hadn’t graduated from the academy, nor was Mana Studies my major. I had a mountain of things to learn.

But if I didn’t want to be fired, I had to cram everything into my head. Fortunately, I had plenty of time. I planned to have the Mana Studies students run laps for the foreseeable future. It would take at least two weeks, maybe even a month, for them to reach the desired level of stamina.

I could memorize the textbook during that time. Luna’s words briefly crossed my mind, but I pushed them aside and opened the textbook and reference books.

I lost myself in reading, and before I knew it, the sun had set. It was time to leave.

I bumped into Lisil as I was leaving my office.

“Are you heading home?”
“Oh, no. I was organizing materials.”
“Finish up and go home. I’m leaving now.”
“Yes, Assistant… I mean, Professor!”

I left Lisil and rubbed my tired eyes. Even though it was only 6 p.m., I had never felt this exhausted since starting at the academy.

Perhaps it was because of all the troublesome events that had piled up today. I wanted to go home and rest. I didn’t even want to cook. Should I just go straight to bed?

Lost in thought, I walked home.

I finally arrived, exhausted, but… huh?

“Why are the lights on?”

The lights were on in my house. They were even more visible now that night had fallen. It was the first time I’d seen this in the year I’d been working at the academy. I was momentarily taken aback, then I remembered.

“Lilia’s there…”

I had forgotten in my exhaustion. I chuckled wryly at myself for forgetting something so important. I inserted the key into the door and turned it.

Click.

As the door opened…

Whoosh!

An unfamiliar warmth greeted me.

“…W-What is this?”

A savory aroma wafted through the air.

“Meat stew?”

It smelled like something that had been simmering for a long time. Just then, Lilia emerged from the kitchen with a welcoming smile.

“You’re back? I thought you might be hungry after work, so I made some stew. Would you like a bowl?”
“…”

I stared at her, speechless. Everything was unfamiliar. The lights were on even though I hadn’t been home, and instead of a chill, I felt a lived-in warmth.

And most importantly, someone was waiting for me.

“…”

Today was a day filled with unfamiliar experiences. I became a substitute professor, had a confrontation with my ex-fiancée… It had been a tiring day in many ways, but…

“…You…?”

…it wasn’t so bad.