Chapter 5 : Dissatisfaction

With heavy steps, I stood before the classroom door. I could hear the noisy chatter of the students inside.

‘I really don’t want to go in.’

Once I opened this door, there would be no turning back. I had come to the academy to succeed, but not like this.

I wasn’t ready yet.

‘I don’t have the knowledge to teach these students, and I’m not mentally prepared.’

I wanted at least five more years of experience. I had only been an assistant professor for a year. I wanted to observe and learn under the professor for four more years.

‘…But I can’t just stand here.’

It was almost time to begin the lecture. The students were on time; I couldn’t be late as the substitute professor.

Sigh… Alright, let’s accept it.

‘If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.’

Since things had turned out this way, I would teach them properly. If I taught well and produced results, my performance evaluation would be positive, which would help me become a proper professor, not just an assistant or a substitute.

Though that was still far in the future.

And even if I failed, it wouldn’t matter.

‘Professor Olivier suddenly appointed me as her substitute. If there’s any fallout, she’ll take care of it.’

Trusting the professor, I opened the classroom door.

Creak, click!

As I entered, the chattering students stopped and stared at me. Under their burdensome gazes and the sudden silence, I walked to the podium.

“Huh?”
“Was there a young male professor at the academy?”

I ignored their stares and spoke, “Everyone, pay attention.”

At that single command, all the students fell silent.

In the quiet classroom, I introduced myself, “Nice to meet you. My name is Ziek Haren. I’m the assistant professor of Mana Studies, and for the next year, I’ll be your substitute professor.”

As soon as I finished, a bewildered voice emerged from somewhere in the classroom, “Excuse me? Substitute professor?”

The female student who had spoken involuntarily clamped her mouth shut, but there was no need. No one in the classroom was paying attention to her.

Murmur, murmur!

The classroom, quiet just a moment ago, erupted in hushed whispers. Amidst the commotion, a student who appeared to be a noble raised his hand.

“Professor…? I have a question. Did you just say you’re an assistant professor?”
“Yes.”
“Then where is the professor? I understand that Professor Olivier is in charge of the first-year Mana Studies class…”
“Professor Olivier was supposed to be here, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I’m standing in for her.”
“Ah…”

The noble student lowered his hand, his face falling. Even amid the whispers, the students who had heard me began to grasp the situation.

To summarize: Something had happened to Professor Olivier, and it wasn’t something that could be resolved in a day or two. So, her assistant professor would be teaching in her place for a year.

“Am I understanding this correctly?”
“Seems like it.”
“Hah… This is ridiculous. It’s bad enough being stuck in Mana Studies, but now we have to take lectures from an unproven assistant professor instead of the actual professor?”

Sighs and groans rippled through the classroom. It was an understandable reaction. Even though they were in the least popular department, the students had persevered because of Professor Olivier’s reputation. Her teaching skills were legendary.

But… Professor Olivier wasn’t here?

‘Should I just take a leave of absence? Did I fight through that insane competition to get into the academy just to be taught by an assistant professor? They didn’t even hire a temporary professor from outside the academy. What is this?’
‘Yeah, let’s take a leave.’

The students, already lacking enthusiasm for being in the lowest-ranked department, seriously considered repeating the year.

I understood their feelings. If I were a student, I’d also be disappointed to have an assistant professor instead of a proper professor for a whole year.

However…

‘Right now, I’m not a student, but a substitute professor.’

I needed to take control, not empathize.

Thump! Thump!

I stomped my feet, startling the chattering students. They looked at me, wondering what I was doing.

“Quiet down. This is my lecture time. Save your unrelated chatter for break time.”

This was my lecture time. I understood their confusion, but they couldn’t create such a ruckus.

“I understand you have complaints, but keep them to yourselves. Professor Olivier has already received approval from the board.”
“Why didn’t they hire a replacement from outside the academy?”
“What?”

Just then, a female student interjected. She spoke with a barbed tone.

“The academy could have found a mage, even if not equal to Professor Olivier, but at least comparable, to serve as a temporary professor. Why are you teaching this class, Assistant Professor?”
“Now… what kind of way is that to speak?”

Even if I wasn’t a professor, an assistant professor was still above the students.

I frowned and looked at the student.

“Silver hair?”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The disrespectful student who interrupted me had silver hair and golden eyes. Brilliant silver hair and golden eyes were the typical symbols of royalty.

‘That means she must be Selene.’

Third Princess Selene Bern Asterique. The eccentric who applied to Mana Studies despite having high enough marks to enter a better department.

And…

‘The person who would be most displeased that I was teaching this class.’

An elite like her must have applied to Mana Studies to recruit Professor Olivier. Selene was a shrewd princess engaged in the messy power struggle for the throne. Having the youngest Grand Mage, Professor Olivier, under her wing, or at least on friendly terms, would give her an advantage in the competition.

‘But of all things, I ended up teaching in Olivier’s place for a year.’

It was understandable for the princess to be angry.

“While I don’t know about the other students, I came here to attend Professor Olivier’s lectures. You might be able to teach, having observed her lectures, but it won’t be at the level we ex─”
“Stop.”
“pect, so someone else should… Excuse me? What did you just…”
“I said stop.”

Just as she had done to me, I interrupted the princess. Her forehead twitched. She seemed quite angry, but what was she going to do about it?

“Selene, I am officially Professor Olivier’s substitute. In other words, I’m above you.”

I was the substitute professor, and she was a student. Of course, if Selene wielded her royal authority, I wouldn’t stand a chance, but in principle, everyone was equal at the academy. Everyone had the same status as learners, be they commoners, nobles, or even royalty.

There were invisible walls, of course, but formally, everyone at the academy was equal. Except for the professors.

Equality was among students. It didn’t mean professors and students were equal.

“I can tell from your tone that you don’t like me, but don’t interrupt me again.”
“…I apologize, Professor.”

The princess backed down, but her gaze was still sharp. The other students were the same. A few noble students, as well as the rest, were looking at me with disapproval.

‘Look at these kids.’

Did they think an assistant professor was easy to push around?

I crumpled the paper in my hand. Professor Olivier’s lecture plan, which I had prepared just in case. I had planned to follow it for the first lecture, but I changed my mind.

“Everyone, change into your training clothes within 10 minutes.”
“Ex-Excuse me…?”
“Today’s class will be held on the training grounds. Go to the changing rooms and get changed.”
“What’s going on all of a sudden…? Aren’t we going to introduce ourselves?”

I smiled at the bewildered student who asked the question.

“I just need to know you all in this class. Do I really need your self-introductions?”
“Excuse me…?”
“If you really want to, do it after class.”

The students were speechless, taken aback. In their confusion over the sudden outdoor activity, they didn’t notice one thing.

I no longer called this time a lecture.

Let’s see what you’re made of outside, kids.

While lectures were in full swing at the academy, Lilia stirred awake from a light nap.

“…Huh?”

Still drowsy, she stared blankly into space. She looked down at the blanket covering her and slowly surveyed her surroundings.

For a moment, she wondered where she was, then suddenly recalled last night’s events.

“Oh, right. Yesterday… I decided to stay at his house.”

She had watched Ziek’s face all night. Unable to sleep until 6 a.m., she hastily pretended to be asleep when he started to wake up. Lying in bed with her eyes closed, she must have drifted off. She hadn’t slept long, due to the habit of light sleeping she’d developed after her family’s downfall.

“Still, I slept an hour longer than usual.”

Lilia checked the clock and got out of bed, drawing her sword from her bracelet.

Shing!

The magic sword stored in the bracelet’s subspace. Since the day she was left alone, she had started each day by holding her sword, ready for any pursuers from the ducal families.

However…

“…”

Several minutes passed, and there were no assassins, only the chirping of sparrows outside the window.

Of course. This wasn’t some back alley.

The assassins of the ducal families were skilled, but not enough to trespass on academy grounds. Unless they were meticulous about erasing their traces, like Lilia, infiltrating this place was near impossible.

So, this place was safe.

Reminding herself of this fact, Lilia stored her sword back in the subspace and got out of bed.

Click.

Emerging into the living room, she saw that the sun was high in the sky.

‘It’s lunchtime.’

She considered having lunch, but wasn’t particularly hungry, perhaps because she had just woken up. Instead of thinking about her own lunch, Lilia thought, ‘I wonder if he… had lunch.’

She thought of someone else. Sitting at the dining table, Lilia rested her chin on her hand and narrowed her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on the kitchen.

A kitchen equipped with an expensive magic refrigerator and various utensils. She stared at the kitchen silently, then nodded and stood up.

‘…I’ll prepare a meal.’

Alone in the house, Lilia pondered what she could do before the owner returned. She took out a kitchen knife.

She was confident with a sword, but a kitchen knife was a different story. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had held one instead of a sword.

Lilia had been a ducal lady. Her only experience cooking for someone was on her parents’ birthdays and their anniversary. But her parents always enjoyed her cooking.

“I wonder if… he’ll like it too.”

I hope he likes my cooking.