Chapter 6 : Outdoor Training (1)

The Mana Studies students changed into their training clothes as Ziek instructed. Not all of them, however. It wasn’t an act of defiance; they simply hadn’t brought any.

We’re not the Knight Department; why would we have outdoor activities?

For them, training clothes were something worn only on special occasions like athletic events.

Ziek was well aware of this.

“As expected, more than half of you didn’t change.”

So, he decided to let it slide for today.

“I’ll overlook it since it’s the first day, but be prepared from tomorrow. You never know when I might have you outside again.”

He might have us outside again?

The students, accustomed to spending their days sitting at desks even before entering the academy, shuddered at the thought.

“Now that we’re outside, let’s warm up. Line up according to your attendance number.”
“Substitute Professor, I have a question.”
“What? You don’t need me to teach you how to line up, do you? Just make sure you leave enough space between each other.”
“No, it’s not that. I have something I want to ask.”

As Ziek organized the students, one raised her hand. A small girl with a petite frame and delicate limbs, her fair and clear skin suggesting she preferred reading indoors to playing outside.

Unlike a certain someone, she didn’t interrupt Ziek mid-sentence. Seeing her raise her hand politely, Ziek nodded, granting her permission to speak.

“What kind of lesson are we having outside? I’ve heard of gathering potion ingredients in the mountains or demonstrating magic we learned in class, but…”
“You’ve never heard of having an outdoor lesson right after class assignments?”
“No…”

The girl trailed off, her voice uncertain. Ziek checked the name tag on her chest.

Let’s see, her name is…

“Sianna.”
“Y-Yes, Subsitute Professor!”
“Hmm… From now on, address me as ‘Professor,’ not ‘Substitute Professor.'”
“…Excuse me?”

Before answering Sianna’s question, Ziek corrected her.

“I am an assistant professor, but I’m currently acting as a substitute professor. I can’t be called ‘Substitute Professor’ for a whole year, can I?”
“Then… Professor Ziek?”
“Yes.”

Ziek looked pleased, even though he felt the title “Professor” didn’t quite suit him yet. But what else could he do? As long as he was teaching, he couldn’t keep being called “Assistant/ Substitute Professor.”

“You said you were curious about why we’re having class outside.”
“Yes, Professor… Ziek.”
“It’s nothing special. Today’s lesson is running.”
“…Excuse me?”

Running?

Sianna and the other students looked at him incredulously. We’re not in the Knight Department, why would we be running?

The students thought Ziek was joking. Or perhaps there was a magic lesson called “running” that they didn’t know about.

However, Ziek was serious.

“We’re going to run 50 laps around the training grounds before lunch, so warm up properly.”
“P-Professor, are you serious?!”
“Do I look like I’m joking? If it were a joke, I wouldn’t have told you to change into your training clothes.”

The students stared at Ziek, aghast. Undeterred, he began his warm-up exercises.

‘Well, their reaction is understandable.’

Ziek himself, back when he spent all day reading at his desk, had disliked outdoor activities. He’d believed that as a mage, all he needed to do was study magic; there was no need for physical training.

But after facing countless obstacles and trying everything to overcome them, he realized that while strength might not be essential, basic stamina was necessary even for a mage.

‘My abilities improved significantly just by exercising every morning.’

Studying and mastering high-level magic greatly contributed to a mage’s development, but mages were still human. Lack of stamina resulted in poor concentration and difficulty sitting for extended periods.

Magic was like studying; it was a battle of endurance at the desk. And Magic Department students were used to sitting at their desks for hours.

‘But if they’re going to study for hours, they should do it efficiently.’

Improving stamina would boost concentration and magical capacity. It was killing two birds with one stone.

“You should warm up too. I’ll start running first.”
“P-Professor! We can’t run 50 laps!”
“That’s right! And before lunch?!”

The students began to protest as he finished his warm-up. Their classmates in other departments were probably finishing their self-introductions and listening to lectures from competent professors by now. But what could they do?

“Why not?”

This was my class. They had to do what they were told.

“I won’t take no for an answer. As long as I’m in charge of this department, I decide the curriculum.”
“Professor!!”
“I’ll be running ahead. Catch up when you’re done warming up.”

With that, Ziek started running toward the training grounds. The students stared after him, dumbfounded.

Eventually, they reluctantly started their warm-up exercises.

Glancing back as he ran, Ziek nodded with satisfaction.

‘That’s right, follow your professor’s instructions.’

Just as he had followed Olivier’s instructions, even if he disliked them, subordinates had to obey their superiors.

One, two, one, two…

A few minutes after Ziek started running, the students began to follow, one by one.

About 20 minutes into the run, I started to break a sweat. My muscles, which hadn’t been properly warmed up by stretching alone, finally loosened up, and I could feel the workout taking effect.

“Gasp! Gasp! H-Have we been running for thirty minutes…?”
“I want to sit in the shade…”

They were already like this after just 10 minutes. None could keep up with my pace. They were on the verge of collapsing after just a few minutes of running.

‘This is a bit serious.’

I had anticipated their poor stamina as mages, but this was far worse than I expected.

Weren’t they all 17 years old? How could they be gasping for air after running for such a short time?

I hadn’t thought much of it when I suggested using the training grounds.

‘I hadn’t prepared a lecture since I was suddenly made a substitute professor this morning. I thought I’d use this as an opportunity to get my own workout in while helping the students build stamina.’

Seeing their universally poor physical condition changed my mind. Instead of preparing lectures, I needed to have them exercise.

With this level of stamina, they couldn’t even dream of casting magic.

‘I heard other departments teach intermediate magic from the first year.’

With this stamina, forget intermediate magic; they’d collapse from exhaustion after casting a few low-level spells.

Looking at the students panting and sitting in the shade, I thought, ‘I’ll have to conduct outdoor classes instead of lectures for a while. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise?’

My knowledge of Mana Studies was too lacking to teach these students effectively. It would take at least a month to bring their stamina up to average. I could use that time to cram Mana Studies.

The students would benefit from improved stamina, and I’d be able to teach without feeling ashamed of my title as substitute professor. A win-win situation.

However… I would probably be criticized until I showed results. But so what? I wouldn’t be the only one taking the blame.

‘The professor who put an unprepared assistant professor in charge will be criticized too.’

Hehehe. This wasn’t revenge on Olivier for putting me in this burdensome position. A sinister smile crept onto my face, but truly, it wasn’t.

So…

“Why aren’t you running?”

I approached the students panting under the shade of the trees.

“Don’t you see the others running?”
“Assistant… no, Professor! I-I’m really tired! I can barely stand…”
“If you’re tired, rest for a bit and walk. You won’t get any exercise if you just sit.”
“…Okay.”

They clearly didn’t want to, but I told them to at least walk. Reluctantly, the student stood up and started walking around the track.

The students who had heard me glanced at me and began to jog half-heartedly. Even their jogging pace was slower than my walking speed.

It wasn’t ideal, but fine. At least they were moving their legs.

But what were those students doing?

Hahahaha!

I turned my head towards the source of the boisterous laughter.

“Have you heard the rumor? The granddaughter of the Mage Tower Master is in our year.”
“The Mage Tower Master? Do you know which tower? The Blue Tower? Or the Red Tower?”
“I’m not sure. I heard she’s rather quiet and doesn’t answer questions.”
“Maybe she’ll answer if we all ask together? With the princess here, she wouldn’t dare refuse!”

I saw a group of students laughing and chatting excitedly in the shade. At first, I thought they weren’t from my class, but upon closer inspection, they were.

‘Eleven… all nobles. Even the princess is there.’

Thud, thud.

Watching the students laughing and having fun during class, I approached them with a cold expression.