Chapter: 395
The final showdown of the club competition was a four-person match. I felt like my mind was going to burst just from the text Beatrix sent, hinting at her participation. No, calling it a hint would be an understatement. She straight-up expressed her intent to join!
So, after reading the message a few times, I quietly turned my gaze out the window. The weather was clear, but tears began to pour from my heart like a monsoon.
‘Why?’
Soon enough, the fundamental question emerged. Why was Beatrix intruding on the children’s fun? And why on earth did Louise invite her?
Let’s put a hundred things aside; I could understand Beatrix joining. It wasn’t her idea; it was the only suggestion from her sole student, and if Beatrix stepped in, the magic department students would likely weep and cheer as though they were welcoming a deity. Sure, there’d be a ruckus, but as a teacher, leading the students into a new world isn’t a problem, right?
There would be a commotion, but…
‘Why invite her?’
However, I absolutely couldn’t grasp any reason for Louise’s sudden decision to invite a final boss like Beatrix. If Louise was the reckless type, I might understand, but that’s not her at all.
After all, Louise was witness to the chaos last year during the four-person match—the legendary incident of the royal assault, which caused a rare case of job suspension. She witnessed what became a tale for the history books, and she wouldn’t just stir up trouble for no good reason.
‘Guess I’ll have to confirm it with them.’
With a little sigh, I eventually replied to Beatrix, suggesting we talk more during club hours.
In the end, the only solution was a triangle discussion with Louise and Beatrix.
*
When club time rolled around, I sat Louise, who entered with the look of a puppy that just crapped on the carpet. Fortunately, she seemed to feel guilty, making the conversation easier.
Next to her, of course, I seated Beatrix. While I could somewhat understand Beatrix’s participation in the four-person match, that didn’t mean I was on board with it. If one of my students makes a strange suggestion, it’s my duty as a teacher to rein them in, not just take it as a positive notion.
“Do you know why I’m doing this?”
“Yes, yes…”
Louise slightly nodded in response to my loaded question.
That nod and response showed a hint of gloom, so I couldn’t help but smile. If she’d been as shameless as Erzevet, I would’ve pulled my lips tight, but I didn’t want to be too hard on someone who was aware of her errors.
“I’m not angry. Just a bit surprised.”
Hearing my gentle tone, Louise slowly lifted her gaze. The club members, who were watching intently for something to happen, began to relax.
“Was there something going on?”
“Uh, yes… that’s right.”
As Louise nodded repeatedly, I felt my heart begin to ease.
Yeah, there’s no way she’d do something like this without a reason. There must have been some unavoidable circumstances.
“It’s just that the magic department students begged me too strongly.”
“The magic department?”
I frowned at the phrase “begged too strongly.” Sure, the magic department students might be obsessed with Beatrix, but surely they wouldn’t exert that kind of pressure on their own mentor? Did I underestimate the craziness of mages?
“Oh, it was really just a request. No other pressure.”
Noticing my uncertainty, Louise hastily added.
At least it was good to hear it wasn’t out of pressure, but still, just a request made her act. How desperate could their request have been?
“Studying together every week isn’t enough for them, huh?”
That’s unpleasant. Being part of Marcilio’s teachings is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yet they’re showing such greedy ambition. Couldn’t they be satisfied with the lessons without bothering my third wife and moving my second wife? What gall!
“Um, big brother. Actually, there was a slight issue with the recent classes.”
“Hmm?”
At that, I tilted my head. An issue with classes?
I directed my gaze to Beatrix, wondering, how could there be an issue with her classes? She’s the top authority in magic, giving her all to teach, after all.
‘Oh wow.’
But seeing Beatrix awkwardly looking down confirmed it for me. There really was a problem.
‘Is she just teaching it casually?’
It’s a strange conclusion, but it’s also highly likely. The magic department students, receiving lessons of a lifetime, are saying things like, “Let’s send Marcilio out for the four-person match!” That indicates their existing classes aren’t fulfilling their desires.
If Beatrix, who’s not accustomed to teaching others, has grown bored and is slacking off, then I could understand their bizarre requests.
“Are the students having trouble keeping up?”
Yet, I couldn’t just ask Beatrix if she was slacking off, so I brought up the concern about the students following her advanced teachings.
But now that I mentioned it, it’s increasingly likely. Just because someone has vast knowledge doesn’t mean they can teach well. Even in my previous life, it was common for undergrads to struggle with their professors’ teachings.
“It’s…”
As Beatrix, who hesitated for a moment, finally opened her mouth, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Beatrix’s teachings had no issues. There’s a saying that “geniuses don’t understand the minds of the ordinary,” but Beatrix kindly and thoroughly explained everything to her students. It made sense that the magic department students would go into a frenzy over her kind guidance.
Because of it, aside from Beatrix’s one-sided instructions, there were countless questions from students, and even during class hours, Beatrix willingly answered them.
During the first semester, Beatrix perfectly grasped the passion and levels of the magic department students.
And the disaster began in the second semester.
“I realized their level, so I planned to hold more advanced classes starting the second semester. It was designed to focus on presentations and discussions.”
Of course, the magic department students didn’t let the barriers of presentations and discussions stop them from dancing in a frenzy of passion and madness. They were happy to voice their opinions in front of a respected authority figure.
For just one week.
“An impressive presentation. It’s clear you tried to view existing magic from a new perspective.”
“Th-thank you!”
“Incidentally, that magic was one I created 70 years ago.”
“…….”
Unfortunately, having to present in front of a living legend in academia was a horror story.
“—based on that principle, I created a new magical tool.”
“Excellent! It’s a minor yet significantly important idea.”
“Thank you!”
“I had created the same magical tool thirty years ago. It didn’t become commercially viable due to a flaw, but it’s important that you came up with that idea on your own.”
“…….”
And that legend wasn’t just knowledgeable but was at the pinnacle of utilization as well.
Magical research and magical tool creation were the paths Beatrix had walked. Because of that, whatever the students presented, they were bound to be overshadowed by her overwhelming experience.
Most students were in a state of ‘this is actually good,’ but—
“Ah, that theory was established by my father. I made some personal adjustments too, look how well it turned out.”
From that day onward, all students fell silent.
‘Whoa.’
As I felt bad for the flustered Beatrix, I almost let out a gasp. Marcilio’s father is known as the ‘Damnation Duke’ for his obsession with magic. He was hailed as the greatest magician of his time, creating countless spells and papers, raising his status to a level that makes it hard to describe.
This meant that the presentations prepared by the students were heavily influenced by the Damnation Duke’s papers, and hearing about her father’s legacy only filled Beatrix with joy, leading to her offering meticulous feedback.
So yes, that feedback was a bit too detailed.
‘Feedback from a theory a hundred years old?’
That’s horrific. The Damnation Duke died a hundred years ago, so his theories stopped there too.
No more revisions had been made, and the theories enshrined. To the students presenting, that was indeed material of the highest quality, but unfortunately for them, Beatrix was updating her father’s theories solo—without presenting them to the magical community.
So what else could they do? The magic department students lost their courage to present in front of Beatrix, and classes for the second semester had lost their vitality.
…
“I’ll have a good talk with the principal.”
“R-right. Thanks a lot…”
Only now did everything click. The despairing students of the magic department wanted to see Beatrix’s teachings, not in theory, but in practice, which is why they begged Louise. Having crushed the students’ spirits, Beatrix felt a bit guilty for acquiescing.
‘You were affected too.’
Now that I looked over, even Lather’s expression had turned bitter at some point.
It truly was a sad state of affairs.
*
News of my second sister-in-law participating in the four-person match spread quickly. Though she imposed a restriction saying, “If it turns into a one-on-one situation with other classes, I’ll withdraw for fairness,” the magic department students seemed unconcerned about fairness. They cheered just for the fact she was participating.
‘Is it really that great?’
It was almost a wonder seeing the magic department students buzzing with excitement.
I can’t understand it. If you compared it to our swordsmanship club, it would be like my brother showcasing a sky-splitting move during the four-person match—
‘That’s amazing.’
I got it immediately. I would have been thrilled too.
And now a slight twinge of jealousy began to rise within me. The magic department was thriving with happiness, and the pinnacle of magic was participating—all while our swordsmanship club needed to bring in a heavyweight too!
“Erich.”
While I was lost in thoughts along these lines, someone touched my shoulder and spoke.
“Rutis?”
Turning around, I saw Rutis wearing an expression like he had made a significant decision.
His solemn face caused me to involuntarily swallow.
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