But in the next moment, the smug Rudeus was punished by someone Roxy hadn’t expected.
Gawain walked over expressionlessly and struck Rudeus on the top of his head with a sharp hand chop.
The pain made him squat down on the spot, clutching his head, tears almost falling.
Gawain reprimanded:
“Show respect to the teacher, Rudeus.”
Rudeus rubbed his scalp, sucking in cold air, but still grinned through the pain and obediently said:
“Yes, I hear you, Your Majesty Gawain.”
Although it looked exactly like bullying—no, using violence as education was bullying!—he still habitually accepted Gawain’s “education”… no, this should be considered an order.
Uuu… have I been trained into submission?
Maiden Rudeus, run!
In any case, since Gawain said so, I’ll treat Teacher Roxy like a deity.
No, that’s not right—my only god is Big Brother Gawain.
Then I’ll revere her like an ancestor instead.
Though I never revered my ancestors in my previous life either.
But since I’m being this obedient, Your Majesty, please reward me with three thousand super beautiful maidservants in the future!
No, to avoid suspicion, two thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine will suffice!
Thinking all sorts of nonsense, Rudeus stood up, held his head, and bowed deeply to the young teacher in front of him:
“I’m sorry, Teacher Roxy!”
Roxy was actually a bit flattered.
She had never encountered such polite students before—especially with that black-haired brat taking the lead.
Honestly, she was starting to change her impression of Gawain.
…Wait, hadn’t she just had that thought not long ago?
Just as she was about to wave her hand and tell them not to be so formal, Sylphiette suddenly tugged at her sleeve, looking up at her with a tentative, pleading expression, speaking up for her “companion”:
“Teacher Roxy, please forgive him.
Although Rudeus is often rude, he isn’t a bad child.”
Gawain also nodded along.
Still maintaining a ninety-degree bow, Rudeus was sweating profusely.
So, this is how everyone sees me?
I’m sorry, my homeland.
Roxy felt that something about the atmosphere was a bit off.
It was as if she was being used or set up somehow—but these three children were only four or five at most, right?
She must be overthinking it.
She forced a smile:
“It’s alright, Rudeus.
I forgive you.
And Sylphiette, there’s no need to worry so much.
I’m not a very strict teacher.”
Finally, Roxy looked at Gawain, who always had that deadpan face:
“And Gawain, don’t use violence on your friends!”
Being a teacher is great—you can scold this brat openly!
Only much later…
Did Roxy vaguely realize that she was often used by Rudeus and Sylphiette as an excuse to compete for affection.
What troublesome students!
After correcting the issue of roles and authority that she cared about, Gawain moved straight to the point:
“Teacher Roxy, please begin the first day’s lesson.”
Roxy nodded.
She surveyed the surroundings again, selected a flat area at the edge, and instructed:
“Please follow me over here.”
After everyone arrived, Roxy extended her staff forward with one hand and began chanting fluently:
“At your command, grant the great protection of the earth, take form as a solid shield and stand before me!
— Stone Wall!”
(A/N: Actually, this is the chant for Earth Wall, from the Roxy side story manga.)
Controlling her mana output, Roxy successfully created a solid stone block about 60 cm tall and 40 cm in length and width not far away.
The three children simply stood by and watched her perform.
Soon, Roxy rapidly chanted four more times, creating four identical stone blocks, then precisely used an earth pillar spell to form a larger stone block about 120 cm tall in the center.
At this point, even Gawain could tell that Teacher Roxy was making tables and chairs.
Though he found it somewhat meaningless.
After completing the first step as planned, Roxy proudly flicked her braid, turned back to the students, and confidently invited:
“Please sit, everyone.
Even for outdoor lessons, we should still have a desk.”
Hehe, be awed by my skill, you genius brats!
You must know that the results of chanted magic are difficult to precisely adjust—unless you can control mana perfectly like I can.
Even I only achieved this level while learning Saint-tier Water Magic!
This is a gap you won’t be able to cross in ten or even twenty years!
Especially you, rude boy with a hundred times my mana—having more mana actually makes fine control harder!
Roxy suppressed the urge to grin wickedly.
She placed her bag on the table, leaned her staff to the side, and looked at her three students of different hair colors and heights.
“Thank you, Teacher Roxy.”
Rudeus was the first to respond.
He placed the two bamboo baskets he had taken from Gawain onto the table, fully embracing his role as a bag carrier.
Unfortunately, Roxy didn’t see the reaction she wanted on his face.
Was he just an ignorant child who only had mana and nothing else at this stage?
But don’t worry—I’ll train you into a capable mage.
The well-behaved Sylphiette also moved to sit down, but Gawain stopped her.
“Wait.”
His tone softened slightly when addressing his sister—though it was barely noticeable.
Seeing this, Roxy finally couldn’t help but smile.
As expected, could this brat—whose mana was lacking but knowledge abundant—see the purpose of what she had done?
No matter, even if your talent limits you from becoming a Saint-tier mage, I can still train you into an academic master.
Roxy stared expectantly at Gawain’s next move.
Then, right before her eyes, Gawain raised a finger.
Without moving his lips or making any sound, the stone stool she created began to compress and deform, all its edges smoothing out into a rounded cylindrical shape like those she had seen in the King Dragon Kingdom.
?
A few seconds later, Gawain pointed at the stone table, and its edges also quickly disappeared.
?
“Alright, Sylphiette, sit.”
Gawain released his sister’s hand, sat down with her, and placed the two books he was holding onto the table—one a magic textbook, the other the Plant Encyclopedia he had allowed Rudeus to bring.
Roxy stared at Gawain in shock, her entire being seeming to fade a shade paler.
Rudeus glanced at the pitiful Teacher Roxy, then looked helplessly at Gawain, who clearly didn’t understand the situation, as if wanting to say something.
Gawain didn’t understand why everyone was staring at him.
After thinking for a moment, he refused:
“Rudeus, if you want it, change the stool’s shape yourself.”
Roxy looked at Rudeus in disbelief, her very soul cracking.
Gawain finally understood:
“Also change it for Teacher Roxy.”
A lesson where students teach the teacher is still a lesson
⭐ Enjoying the story?