Around the time they refilled the tea for the first time, Rudeus, who had been sneakily glancing between Roxy and Gawain, felt the timing was right.
He was very grateful that Gawain hadn’t ruined the atmosphere this time.
Otherwise, Teacher Roxy might really have flipped the table and left.
Although Rudeus didn’t think it would be a big deal if Roxy quit, he knew that Gawain actually valued her abilities quite highly and was eager to move into a new stage of learning.
So, she absolutely couldn’t be allowed to leave.
Go!
Rudeus, turn the situation around!
After preparing himself mentally, Rudeus cleared his throat:
“Teacher Roxy, it seems everyone has rested enough.
Shall we begin the lesson?”
Roxy, who had just tried to sneak another sugar cube into her mouth, immediately choked:
“Cough, cough…”
She looked at the three of them.
It seemed no one had taken her earlier resignation seriously.
Although she felt somewhat overlooked, she was also incredibly grateful, so she pretended nothing had happened and said:
“I’ve gained a preliminary understanding of everyone’s abilities.
Next, please each describe your learning progress.”
For everyone’s sake, the considerate Sylphiette stepped forward first.
After all, she felt she was the slowest and had nothing particularly noteworthy, though she was unwilling to accept that herself:
“Teacher Roxy, among the three magic systems, I’ve learned beginner-level attack magic.
For healing magic, only basic healing is at beginner level.
As for summoning magic, I can’t use it at all.”
After steadying herself mentally, Roxy asked:
“And chantless casting?”
Sylphiette answered honestly:
“At the moment, I can do all of them.”
Roxy still found it hard to accept reality, but forced herself to praise her:
“Sylphiette is only a little over three years old, right?
You’ve worked very hard!”
(A/N: In the original work, before Roxy arrived, Rudeus had learned all beginner-level attack magic and one intermediate water spell, but none of the others.
It took him four months to learn all intermediate attack magic, and another year to learn all advanced attack magic.)
Praised, Sylphiette smiled shyly.
Seeing her like this, Roxy gradually regained her sense of being the elder—so she wasn’t completely useless as a tutor after all.
“I’ll go next.”
Rudeus seized the moment.
In his view, Gawain, as the main force, should go last.
Displays of strength needed to build up for maximum impact.
He had clearly forgotten that they weren’t supposed to scare the teacher away.
“As for me, I’ve learned all attack magic up to intermediate level.
At advanced level, I’ve only tried Inferno Flame Bullet and Frozen Domain.
For everything else, it’s the same as Sylphiette.
But I can only use chantless casting for attack magic.”
Roxy’s smile became even more strained.
Fortunately, she believed she was already unbreakable and would never envy her students’ talents—she absolutely wouldn’t become like Professor Jinas.
The fact that this boy with a hundred times her mana could already graduate from Ranoa Magic Academy… wouldn’t affect her at all.
Roxy forced a “that’s fine too” smile:
“Rudeus, that’s an incredible achievement at your age.”
More like something even fantasy novels wouldn’t dare to write.
Rudeus scratched his head, a little embarrassed:
“Not at all, I still have a long way to go.”
Please don’t be humble at a time like this.
Roxy was crying inside.
She instinctively looked at the last one—the annoying black-haired boy, sitting calmly and sipping tea.
Honestly, she didn’t really want to hear him show off.
Gawain, unlike his younger siblings, had no such thoughts.
He simply stated objectively:
“All attack magic below Saint-tier, beginner and intermediate healing magic, beginner detoxification magic, and beginner barrier magic—I can currently use them all without chanting.”
Why don’t you be the teacher instead?!
I only know one more Saint-tier water spell than you!
And I don’t even know barrier magic!
Roxy wanted to crouch in a corner and draw circles on the ground, but she had already resolved not to lose face in front of these three children.
She had to be a proper teacher to regain her dignity.
Roxy stammered:
“V-very impressive… even though you’re one and a half years older than Sylphiette and the others.”
Their adorable teacher decided to skip her planned self-introduction.
“In any case, I’ve fully understood your progress.
Although I still don’t understand why you need a tutor, let’s begin with Saint-tier water magic—Cumulonimbus of Heavy Thunder Rain!”
Mm…
She had accidentally voiced her desire to escape.
If she taught them her ultimate spell, she could leave this terrifying village sooner.
This had to be something like a Hero’s Village, right?
“Teacher Roxy, please don’t say foolish things like Rudeus.”
Perhaps from spending too much time with Rudeus, Gawain occasionally used polite phrasing—though his tone was never polite.
He continued instructing:
“In practical study, Rudeus and I have found many errors in this introductory attack magic textbook revised and widely sold by Ranoa Magic Academy.
Presumably, as the forefront of magical scholarship, the academy has already established a more rational theoretical system.
We hired you to bring us this latest foundational knowledge, so please start from the beginning.”
Realizing that she was actually important, Roxy straightened her back, placed a hand on her chest, and said proudly:
“Leave it to me.
I’ve also studied magic circle theory quite well.”
Even if she had been forced into it for credits.
Gawain was finally satisfied with her attitude:
“Then tell us everything you know.”
Seeing the atmosphere improve, Rudeus—who had been relieved—almost spat out his tea:
“Big Brother Gawain!
Are you interrogating her?!”
In any case, the lesson finally began.
Roxy laid out the teaching materials she had prepared and pulled over the Greyrat family’s magic textbook, flipping to the table of contents.
She adjusted herself, returning to the calm, composed demeanor she used even when facing questioning from high-ranking nobles, and asked:
“I’ve read this textbook as well.
What errors have you noticed?
Even if we won’t cover them immediately, I can note them down in advance.”
Gawain had long been bothered by this.
Compared to the knowledge taught by the [Viltrum Empire Emperor Development System] in his mind, the native knowledge system of this planet was practically garbage.
He immediately began reciting:
“First, page one: a person’s mana is basically determined at birth.”
Roxy couldn’t sit still anymore.
The composed “cold-faced teacher” persona she had just put on shattered instantly.
She slammed the table and stood up, shouting the question she had been obsessing over all night:
“So, when you said ‘about the same as Sylphiette now,’ this is what you meant?!”
In the end… she was the only one who still remembered that line.