***
I had known for a while that mages were a shady bunch.
But I never expected them to block entry right from the station.
“Is there really a reason to block fellow students from the same school?”
“No one but mages can pass.”
The gatekeeper—no, since he was at the station, the station keeper—repeated the same words as if he had a macro installed in his mouth.
“Professors too?”
“No one but mages can pass.”
“What about janitors?”
“No one but mages can pass.”
“Food?”
“No one but mages can pass.”
A thought occurred to me: perhaps this guy was actually a creature with the species name ‘No one but mages can pass,’ who just happened to look human, and that was its cry.
Even when I tried to slip past him, he blocked the way like a ghost, showing not a shred of humanity.
Is he really not human?
“Can your parents not pass either?”
“My parents are mages, so it’s fine.”
I see. If the son was a mage, then the parents were mages too.
At any rate, I learned that he could speak words other than ‘cannot pass.’
“If you let us pass, I’ll let you pet this cute cat!”
“Meow.”
Linia held out Mackerel from her arms toward the station keeper.
As if that would make Mr. Cannot-Pass go, “Oh my, of course!”
“…N-no one can pass!”
…That bastard hesitated for a good ten seconds.
“Raniel, Linia, there’s no need to cause trouble, so how about we back off for now?”
“Well, that’s probably for the best.”
“Hmph, I wanted to see the Magic Faculty building.”
At El’s words, we decided to retreat for the time being.
Honestly, I was getting stubborn about it, and if I were alone, I would have tried all sorts of shenanigans, but since I had companions, I had to back down here.
I’ll have to test just how far I can go later.
Just you wait, Mr. Cannot-Pass!
I retreated, vowing revenge in my heart.
“Alright, we’re done looking around now, right? Let’s go back.”
Now that we had seen all the faculty buildings, all that was left was to go back.
“What are you talking about? The academy isn’t just faculty buildings, you know!”
“That’s right. The academy grounds are like a city in themselves, so there are quite a lot of things to see besides the main faculty buildings.”
I thought all that was left was to go back, but I was wrong.
“Then where should we go? El, you know the academy better, right?”
“Hmm, I haven’t seen everything, but I know it better than you all.”
“Then where would be a good place to go? Give us a recommendation!”
“It’s getting to be dinner time, so why don’t we go to the academy’s commercial district?”
“Great idea! Let’s go eat something delicious!!”
The two of them quickly moved the conversation forward.
Is this what it feels like to be left out?
“Hmm? Raniel, do you have something to say?”
Just then, Linia, having spent a long time with me, seemed to have noticed that I was feeling left out.
What a thoughtful kid.
Since she had given me a chance to speak, I decided to state my opinion with confidence.
“How about we disband for the day?”
“Denied!”
My opinion was denied in an instant.
And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, I was dragged by the two of them and arrived at the commercial district.
“Hoh, this is quite本格的, isn’t it?”
Once we actually arrived at the commercial district, my interest was piqued.
It wasn't that there were no buildings, but the way the street was lined with stalls centered around the buildings made it look more like a marketplace than a shopping street.
From food to weapons to engineering supplies, the scale was considerable.
“Raniel, it seems you like it now that you’re here.”
El, perhaps noticing that I was quite interested in the commercial district, shrugged her shoulders with a look of satisfaction.
She looked so much like an elementary schooler proud of being praised by their mom that I considered patting her on the head, but I decided against it.
“Food! Let’s eat! I’m hungry!”
“Since we’re in the commercial district, how about a food stall?”
“Sounds good!”
“That seems fine.”
Sightseeing was nice, but food came first! We decided to have dinner at a stall in the commercial district.
Just as there were many types of food, there were also various types of stalls.
There were many kinds, from stalls with open kitchens, to stalls that looked like food carts, to restaurants that had set up shop in actual buildings.
Among them, a stall decorated in a cute style with a light, minty green base color caught my eye.
“How about that one?”
“Oh! For you, Raniel, that’s a sensible choice.”
How impudent! Linia, of all people, is commenting on my sense.
“My intelligence is higher than yours.”
“Intelligence has nothing to do with sense, you know?”
I was about to retort to Linia’s rebuttal but stopped.
In a way, for Linia, it was a valid point.
“I see. You move by instinct instead of intelligence, so your sense, which is in the realm of instinct, is good.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m just saying you’re a blockhead.”
“Hey!!”
I had acknowledged her sense, yet Linia flared up in anger.
She gets angry even when I compliment her?
“Meooow!”
“Ah, sorry, Mackerel.”
Linia, in her anger, had hugged Mackerel too tightly, causing him to cry out pitifully. She hurriedly apologized and let Mackerel go.
“Meow!”
As soon as Mackerel was released from Linia’s arms, he warily climbed onto my head.
“S-sorry. Unnie was wrong. Come here.”
“Hiiiisss!!”
He was hissing even more fiercely than when he had encountered me in the castle, so it seemed he was holding a serious grudge.
“Hmph.”
Linia was on the verge of tears, but Mackerel showed no mercy.
He sharply turned his head and wouldn't even look at her.
Karma.
“How about we stop bickering and go inside?”
“Let’s.”
Following El’s suggestion, El and I stepped into the green, food-cart-style stall, and a dejected Linia followed behind us.
As seen from the outside, the inside was also like a food cart, but it was decorated so cutely that it didn't feel like a food cart.
Whoever designed this stall, if their goal was to attract attention, they had succeeded splendidly.
If it was this unique, I had some expectations.
“Welcome.”
Just then, an employee who looked very familiar greeted us.
“Karon?”
“You guys? What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m working my part-time job.”
“We came to have dinner.”
It seemed this was where the black-haired guy worked.
It was a coincidence, but a truly exquisite one.
The green employee uniform looked incredibly out of place on the black-haired guy.
“Hello! The usual, for takeout!”
The coincidence happened one more time.
“Professor Nera, our homeroom teacher?”
“Oh? It’s my students.”
The homeroom professor entered the food cart wearing a shabby tracksuit.
[There’s a law that states that while a coincidence is unlikely to happen, when it does, several happen at once.]
‘I’ve never heard of such a law.’
[That’s because you’re not interested! Not interested!]
‘I’m still not interested.’
It wasn’t a topic I was particularly interested in, so I ignored it.
“Raniel, perfect timing. I have something to tell you about what we discussed earlier.”
“What was that about?”
“About the lecture. The one you’ll be giving.”
Oh? Did the results come out already?
I thought it would take a few days, but that was fast.
“First, to get straight to the point, you can’t give a lecture as a student.”
Hmm, so that’s how it turned out.
I had expected it, but I was still holding out a little hope…
“So we decided to make you a professor.”
…just as I was about to think that, an unexpected bombshell?!
“You’re making me a professor?”
“However, you’ll be appointed as an associate professor, not a full professor, and your benefits and authority will be significantly limited.”
Huh, this makes things a bit complicated.
“For example, what kind of limitations?”
“You won’t be able to open regular courses, and there will be a limit on the number of courses you can open.
On top of that, there will be various restrictions, such as attending regular faculty meetings, academic conferences, and presenting research results.”
“Does that mean I won’t be assigned a research lab or be able to use research assistants?”
“No? You’ll obviously be assigned a research lab, and assistants will depend on your capabilities.”
Hmm? Then isn’t this actually a good thing?
It means I can skip the annoying meetings and conferences and just focus on the research I want to do, right?
‘Well, most of these people are nobles, so they probably enjoy going to famous events and acting all high and mighty.’
In their minds, they thought they were penalizing me by blocking me from attending events where I could make a name for myself, but from my perspective, it was the complete opposite.
On the contrary, without having to worry about complicated things like classes and meetings, I could focus solely on the powered suit as I pleased!
“For now, you’ll be teaching as a temporary professor, and after going through the procedures, you’ll be appointed as a professor.
Let’s talk separately about how you’ll conduct the classes after that.”
However, as I listened to the homeroom professor, a question suddenly occurred to me.
“By the way, wasn’t I supposed to be teaching temporarily only until Professor Dayron’s replacement arrived?”
“That’s right.”
“Then you could just have me work as a temporary professor for a while and then have me quit, so why are you trying to make me an associate professor?”
At my question, the homeroom professor wiped her nose.
“Ahem! I pulled some strings!”
So why did you?
“But~ it was such a waste.”
“What was?”
“You’re a genius.”
“That’s a given, but why does that matter?”
“…”
That I am a genius is a truth of this earth, as certain as the law of universal gravitation.
“Anyway, that Mana Control thing, it’s an unverified field of study and hasn't been recognized by the academic community, but I saw its potential.”
“Is that so?”
“The current magical engineering has developed with mana tool-ification as its basic premise.
But if the theory you’ve presented is truly recognized, it will be a major event that shakes the very foundation of magical engineering.
At that point, you? You could become not just a mere professor, but the founder of an entire academic field!”
I nodded my head.
“You know a thing or two.”
“…”
Hey, you’re the one who praised me, so why are you looking at me like I’m weird?
“Anyway, I didn’t want to lose a genius like you to another academy. So I pulled some strings to mark you as a professor at our academy!”
It felt a little shady, but.
In any case, it was a pretty good feeling to have someone who recognized my abilities.
[Master’s lips are twitching a lot.]
‘What are you talking about, when did I!’
Just as the conversation seemed to be wrapping up on a warm note.
“So, by the way, have you considered becoming my research assistant…”
“No.”
<><><>
So that’s why the homeroom professor brought up the research assistant topic.
The problem was the procedure for me to become an associate professor.
“Obviously, even if we’re hiring an associate professor with no real power, it’s hard to use the normal procedures to appoint an academy student.
But! If you become my research assistant, I will absolutely get you the associate professor title!”
The homeroom professor said this confidently, and I narrowed my eyes (which looked the same as usual) and asked.
‘And who are you to do that?’
At that, the homeroom professor grinned and nodded her head.
“Yep, I’m somebody.”
What?
Is this one of those cases where she pretends to be all cutesy on the outside but is secretly hiding her power?
“Me? I’m just an ordinary professor, but my backing is nothing to scoff at! So you don’t have to worry!
When I say I’ll do something, I do it! Yup!”
“…”
[…That’s a bit of a letdown.]
‘Well, connections are a form of power and authority, so.’
“So if you just pledge to become my research assistant…”
“I refuse.”
“Forget the pledge, just be a temporary assistant in my lab for now…”
“I refuse.”
“I’ll treat you well, so be my first research assistant!!”
“I will have to refuse.”
Graduate school is hell.
I know this for a fact from my own experience in my past life.
Of course, it was more horrific because it was during the war with the monsters, but in any case.
Unless it’s a situation where I absolutely, unconditionally, must become a graduate student, I plan to avoid it at all costs.
[But isn't going through graduate school the basic path to becoming a professor?]
‘There are ways. And from what the homeroom professor is saying, I get the feeling there’s another way too.’
“So is there no other way?”
“There is one…”
“Let’s do that one.”
“Without even hearing it?!”
“It’s not going to be about becoming a research assistant, is it.”
“Well, no, but…”
The homeroom professor made a reluctant face but soon confessed.
“It’s simple. You get recognized by the other professors.”
“Recognized?”
“The faculty of the Magical Engineering department will give you assignments and evaluate you. Based on that, you could become an associate professor, or you might not.”
This feels a little strange.
“So to summarize, the professors can kick me out anytime if they don’t like me, right?”
“If you show results that no one can argue with, well, you can become an associate professor without any trouble.”
“No, that’s…”
It was at that moment.
“Your food is here, Professor.”
“That was fast. Thank you.”
Just in time, the black-haired guy brought the takeout order, and the homeroom professor got up from her seat.
“Anyway, you’ll take the evaluation, right?”
“There won’t be any bias in the evaluation, right?”
“It will be fair. I’ll be watching with both my eyes wide open!”
“What about the use of a research lab, the authority to hire research assistants, and the salary as an associate professor?”
“That’s all guaranteed, of course!”
“In that case, fine!”
There were some trivial penalties, but those were just annoying things I wanted to refuse from the start anyway.
In fact, if I really became necessary, things like academic conferences and performance records would take care of themselves.
‘If there’s even one sensible person, their eyes will pop out the moment they see my research results!’
In this field, skill is everything.
Politics be damned, if you come up with something innovative that will turn the world upside down, you’re bound to be recognized anywhere.
“Great! Then the first evaluation will be to lead the kids during the weekend field trip.”
“A field trip?”
“The dungeon exploration in the Cliché territory. You just have to lead the kids and conduct the class well then.
I’ll just be watching from the side, and I’ll give you the relevant documents about the evaluation schedule tomorrow, so make sure you’re familiar with them.”
“Understood.”
“Alright. Then I’ll be off. See you all tomorrow!”
The homeroom professor took the takeout food and went outside.
As the homeroom professor left, Linia, who had been lingering nearby, spoke to me.
“A weekend field trip? Raniel, is your faculty also going to observe the dungeon exploration hosted by the House of Cliché?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
“Oh! Then we’ll see you there? The Warrior Faculty is participating too.”
I had expected it, but as expected, the Warrior Faculty was naturally participating.
“I’m glad you guys are attending. I would have been really bored if I were alone.”
Linia welcomed our participation.
But something’s a bit strange.
“Hey, don’t you have any friends in the Warrior Faculty?”
“Ah, no. It’s not like that…”
She trailed off at my words, which was strange.
Don’t tell me this kid is being bullied or something?
No, with Linia’s personality, she wouldn’t just take it, and if it were too much to handle, she would have come running to me long ago saying, “Help me, Raniel!”
Then if it’s not bullying, does she just not have any friends?
“You don’t have any friends.”
“No! It’s not like that! It’s just that our personalities don’t match!!”
As I looked at her with pity, Linia freaked out and waved her hands.
“If there’s not a single person in your class whose personality matches yours, then your personality…”
“That’s not it! It’s not that! This damn Warrior Faculty, their daily routine is ‘let’s have a match’ to test our strength all day long, so I just can’t get used to it!!”
So that was it.
Well, even though Linia herself has become a warrior, she’s not a kid who fits the word ‘belligerent.’
“More importantly! Let’s order! Let’s order!! Karon has been waiting since…”
“Karon went out for a delivery earlier.”
“Anyway! I’m hungry! Let’s just hurry up and eat!”
My words seemed to have bothered her quite a bit, as Linia tried her best to change the subject.
Moved by her efforts, I looked at Linia with great pity.
“D-don’t look at me like that!”
At that, Linia freaked out and shouted a line that seemed to come straight out of a comic book villain.
“I understand you.”
“Ugh!”
On top of that, El offered her sincere consolation without a shred of malice, causing Linia to slump down powerlessly on the spot.
Pure malice is strong.
“I’m back from the delivery.”
Just then, Karon, who had gone out for a delivery, returned.
So he wears that green outfit even when making deliveries.
Come to think of it, didn’t this guy also have pretty bad social relationships?
“You’re just in time.”
“Hmm? Is there something you want to say?”
“Yes. Do you have any friends besides us?”
“Friends…”
At my words, Karon suddenly looked into the distance with melancholic eyes.
“I did.”
Then he hung his head low and let out a deep sigh as if the ground would collapse.
It felt as if darkness had settled only around him.
What’s with the social relationships of the people around me?
[That’s because you, Master…]
‘What? Why?’
[Never mind.]
These people with such limited social circles. I guess I’ll have to hang out with them.
Anyway, my problem is that I’m too good of a person.
Therefore, the good person that I am will have to order the food.
I opened the menu placed nearby.
‘Let’s see. I thought this all-green place would only sell vegetables, but they have eel too? Grilled eel, fried eel, stir-fried eel…’
[The menu is nothing but eel dishes?]
Why does this place, with its grassy interior, only have eel?