“All right. I will do as you say, Lady Sharan.”
“Good. You made the right choice.”
It was the morning after the many incidents of the previous day.
After quickly reaching a decision overnight, Jaes had summoned Sharan at dawn and clearly informed her of what he had decided.
He still felt uneasy about it. However, the fundamental premise of his plan—to remain as inconspicuous as possible and prevent anyone from discovering his secret until he could guarantee his own safety—had already collapsed. In that case, he had decided that he might as well make certain to gain whatever benefits he could.
To do that, he needed to secure one more firm assurance from Sharan.
“If I enter the Trelas Magic Tournament and achieve a good result, you really will tell me what you know, correct?”
“Yes, of course. I may enjoy teasing people, but I would never lie about something like that, so you can rest easy♡”
‘Right. That does not reassure me at all.’
“Of course I believe you. To be honest, though, I still do not understand. You are not threatening me with what you know or trying to win me over. Instead, you are making me do something completely unrelated.”
“Well. Different things matter to different people, do they not? I have more than enough reason to care about this, so just accept it. If my suspicions are correct, it will not be a loss for you either. If anything, I am on your side, Jaes.”
Jaes sighed as he watched Sharan giggle.
“Haah. I understand. As I am now, I have no choice but to trust you. However, there is one thing that concerns me.”
“Hmm. What is it?”
“The reason I have tried to remain as quiet as possible until now is that I do not want to attract unnecessary attention and become involved in something dangerous. I do not believe I am strong enough to protect myself properly yet. However, if I follow your instructions and enter the Trelas Magic Tournament as a first-year, then somehow manage to advance, I will inevitably attract attention whether I want it or not. Then there is no telling when I might become involved in another incident like yesterday’s. I would appreciate it if you could help ease my concerns about that.”
“Why are you making such a simple request sound so long and complicated? You are asking me to help you if you find yourself in danger, are you not?”
“……That is correct.”
“But did Raiden not already give you his Marker? That obnoxious Raiden seems to be keeping a rather close eye on you, so I doubt you have much to worry about.”
‘What is this? She told me not to say anything to Raiden before. I heard they are colleagues from the Mage Tower, but what exactly is their relationship?’
“There could still be an unforeseen situation. Compared to the world I originally came from, this place still does not feel safe to me.”
SNORT.
“So you were a coward after all.”
“By my standards, a place where someone can be placed in mortal danger merely because of their nationality or social class is the abnormal one.”
“Fine, fine. If that will motivate you, I suppose I can do something. I am not trying to torment you, so there is no reason I cannot offer you a little incentive. Let me see. What would be suitable? I cannot exactly appear in an instant to save you the way Raiden can.”
‘……It certainly feels as though she is tormenting me.’
“Ah. I know what I can do. I understand your concerns, so go back and put your mind at ease. Make sure you work hard at the Trelas Magic Tournament too♡”
“I do not know what you are hoping to see, but now that I have agreed to do it, I will give it my best. In return, you must not forget your promise to keep my secret and tell me what you know.”
Sharan smiled.
“Do not worry. I do not go back on my word.”
After parting with Jaes, the person Sharan went to see was
none other than Raiden.
“Good morning, Raiden. That is a terribly dull face to greet me first thing in the morning.”
“What is it, Sharan? What brings you here so early?”
“Nothing in particular. I merely heard that there was an entertaining commotion at Ielhas Magic Academy yesterday.”
“Haah. Where did you pick that up this time? I dealt with it before it could become a serious incident, so do not go around spreading rumors about it just because you heard something.”
“Oh, do not worry. Do you really think I would do that? Do you not know me? Do you not trust me?”
“It is precisely because I know you so well that I do not trust you.”
“Hehe. Your answers are as dull as ever.”
“Everyone else is busy with their own research. Why are you so interested in the affairs of an academy in the first place? You truly are peculiar.”
“You are hardly the person to say that when you manage both the estate and the academy in Duke Ailin’s stead.”
“That is different. I am simply that capable.”
“Ah. Of course you are. Then how does the exceptionally capable Lord Raiden intend to fill the position Grayker left vacant?”
Raiden’s brow twitched.
“Well, that is…….”
Sharan smiled.
“I heard the incident began because of a boy from House Morris. In that case, you will want to resolve the matter as quietly as possible. However, you need a substitute instructor to take charge of the first-years’ Basic Magic Aptitude class immediately, do you not?”
“Hmm. For now, I suppose I have no choice but to ask someone from the Mage Tower…….”
Sharan placed a hand on her chest.
“Yes. That is why I will take the position♡”
“What? You?”
“Yes. Me.”
“……Why?”
“Because there is a child who has caught my interest.”
Raiden stared at Sharan with an expression that made it clear he did not believe her in the slightest. Sharan remained entirely unconcerned, smiling brightly as she said everything she had come to say.
“Are you referring to that boy named Jaes?”
“Yes. That is right. You seem unusually concerned about him too, Raiden.”
“……It merely happened that way. Duke Ailin was the one who brought the boy here, and I was instructed to watch over him for the time being.”
“But it is not as though he is the only child Duke Ailin has ever brought back. I am asking because this one seems somewhat special.”
“……What exactly are you trying to say?”
Sharan smiled.
“Nothing in particular. I already told you that I would fill Grayker’s vacant position. While you are at it, assign me to the class that boy is in. Consider it settled. I am counting on you♡”
“What? W-wait.”
“Ah. I have also finished dealing with the boy you asked me to examine. As expected, he was under the effects of ‘Suggestion.’ I dispelled it completely, so you can deal with him however you like now~”
TAP.
Sharan left after saying everything she wished to say, leaving Raiden staring after her with a dumbfounded expression. However, his bewilderment did not last long, and he soon returned to his usual composure.
‘Sharan. What sort of mischief are you planning this time?’
As far as he knew, she had long since lost interest in the academy. She must have discovered something about that boy named Jaes.
‘Come to think of it, when the boy briefly worked at the Mage Tower, Sharan was the one who showed the most interest in him. ……It is somewhat concerning, but I needed someone to replace Grayker anyway. If she is volunteering to do it, I have no reason to refuse. It should be fine to let her try for now.’
And so, Sharan became the teacher of Jaes’s class in an instant, and Jaes faced Sharan with a complicated expression when they met again so soon after parting that morning.
“Hehe. There. This should be enough to put your mind at ease, right?”
“I never imagined you would come here as our teacher……. You must also be incredibly famous. The students can barely contain themselves.”
“Of course. Do you have any idea how famous I am? Have you finally realized it?”
“……A little.”
“Then stop worrying and focus on doing your best in the Trelas Magic Tournament. That boy Bele is from House Morris, so they will probably be unable to expel him outright, and there is a good chance he will return. However, now that I am here, I will make certain he never even dreams of doing anything like that again♡”
‘……Should I be pleased about this or not?’
“Yeees.”
“Hehe. Do your best.”
When Jaes returned after secretly meeting with Sharan, the person who greeted him was Ian, who was still visibly excited and unable to calm down.
“Jaes, this is incredible! Sharan the Enchantress has become our teacher! This is not really a dream, is it?”
“……,”
Unable to believe it, Ian pinched his own cheek hard.
“Ow! ……It hurts, so it really is not a dream! W-would it be rude if I went and asked her a few questions? She said she is our teacher now, after all?”
“Go ahead. Ask her as many as you like.”
“I-I knew it! Then I will go find Lady Sharan for a moment! Jaes, do you not want to come with me?”
“No, I am fine. I have something to think about, so go on without me.”
“O-okay!!”
The moment the words left his mouth, Ian vanished like an arrow.
A short while later, Jaes saw Sharan surrounded by students who had come looking for her, basking in their gazes of admiration. Unlike how she had behaved at the Mage Tower, she looked remarkably normal as she spoke with the children. Jaes shook his head and left.
He had already braced himself for it, but it seemed that his life at the academy would no longer remain as peaceful as it had been until now.
Three days passed.
Contrary to Jaes’s concerns(?), Sharan carried out her duties as a teacher normally, and time passed far more peacefully than he had expected.
The only minor change was that Bele returned to the academy at some point.
However, Bele no longer acted up as he had before and instead went out of his way to avoid Jaes. After confirming that, Jaes decided not to pay him any further attention.
‘That conceited fool has finally quieted down, so I probably do not need to worry anymore. It is not as though there is anything I can do about him anyway. Judging by Raiden’s personality, he must have handled the matter properly.’
Furthermore, unlike before, Sharan—who claimed to be on his side(?) as long as he obeyed her—was now teaching at the academy. He truly did not need to concern himself with Bele anymore.
Instead, the immediate problem facing Jaes was that only three days remained until registration for the Trelas Magic Tournament closed, yet he had still failed to find a single teammate he could recruit other than Ian.
‘I knew it would be difficult, but I did not expect it to be this hard.’
Finding a student with a useful level of skill was difficult enough. Even if he found one, Jaes had briefly been given the wrong impression because Damian had approached him with an offer in the beginning. In truth, it would not have been an exaggeration to say that there were virtually no first-year students who had any intention of entering the Trelas Magic Tournament.
Jaes had even complained to Sharan that it seemed impossible for him to participate, but the only response she had given him was
[Of course it is difficult. Did you think it would be easy? I want you to accomplish that difficult task and cause a stir in this stagnant academy. So work hard. If you fail before you can even enter, I might change my mind and decide to let my colleagues study you or offer you up to Duke Ailin instead♡]
[…….]
That horrifying answer.
‘I do not even need someone who is good at magic yet. I only need someone reasonably agile who can buy us some time in an emergency. But at this rate, never mind finding someone who meets those conditions. I might have to grab anyone who shows even the slightest interest in participating and beg them to join us.’
The only fortunate development was that Damian had actually registered the previous day, which had caused the other first-year students to take a little interest in the tournament.
Even so, none of them were willing to readily accept an offer from Jaes, who was not particularly well known, and time continued to pass as his anxiety mounted.
“What should we do, Jaes? Would it not be better for us to give up? We will have another chance next year.”
“No. I definitely want to enter this year too. Haah. I did not expect finding one more person to be this difficult.”
“But I do not think there is anyone else left for us to ask…….”
“That is exactly the problem. Hoo.”
“Hmm. Then…… should we at least try asking that student tomorrow?”
“Hmm? What student?”
“Yes. I happened to hear earlier that another transfer student will be arriving tomorrow.”
“……! That is it!”
Ian jumped.
“W-what? What is?”
“The transfer student. Anyone who transfers at a time like this is bound to be a hidden talent with some unusual circumstances.”
“……?”
“That is extremely valuable information, Ian. I will approach the student with an offer tomorrow. They will have only just transferred here and will know almost nothing, so I will have to find some way to talk them into it. Do you know anything about what kind of student they are?”
“N-no. I do not know anything at all.”
“Good. Then let us see what they are like tomorrow.”
In the end, Jaes placed his last hope in the transfer student Ian had mentioned and waited for the next day.
However, the result was ultimately
something that, unfortunately, left Jaes unable either to laugh or to cry.