"Yeah, don't you remember me saying I'd take you as my disciple last time? Why are you so surprised?"
"No, it's just that you're usually so strict. I didn't expect you to teach me magic so directly."
I thought she'd make me run errands before teaching me anything.
Given her personality, she usually increases the workload bit by bit whenever I'm on duty. I expected her to do the same this time.
But to teach me so willingly?
It feels awkward.
"Should I make you run a few errands before teaching you?"
"Oh, Professor. You're just saying that, right? You know how well I handle the tasks you give me."
"Hmm, I'll let it slide this time. But if you do it again, I won't go easy on you."
Her response sent a chill down my spine.
Her empty, unfocused eyes made me shiver involuntarily. I should never say anything that might upset her again.
If I mess up, I might really be in trouble.
"Ah, before I teach you, there's something I need to tell you. Look at this."
As I turned my head and let out a sigh of relief, Nam Hwa-yeon, who had walked into the living room, handed me a piece of paper.
It was filled with dense writing, clearly some kind of document.
Let's see.
"Practical Guidance Education? Is this a new curriculum?"
"Exactly, but only for first-year students."
"...I think I know what this is about."
A single thin sheet of paper.
Contrary to its appearance, the content written on it was anything but light.
Was there something like this in the original story?
Ah, I should've read it at least once.
I carefully read every word on the document.
Then, a question suddenly popped into my mind.
"Professor, I understand that designated teachers will guide students after school, but what about after-school clubs? It seems like there won't be enough time."
"Club activities will be suspended for the time being. The plan is to focus on practical training during the first semester."
"The board has really pushed this through."
Focusing on practical training is a kind of declaration.
The academy is an educational institution.
Although it has the characteristics of a military academy that trains hunters, its essence is purely a place for knowledge exploration.
The existence of facilities like the Forbidden Library isn't for nothing.
However, the board's decision this time has flipped the academy's direction.
Instead of time for acquiring knowledge, they want us to hone our wisdom and combat skills.
'But why are they showing this to me?'
As I read the document, a question arose.
The 'guidance education' mentioned here is to be handled by professors.
So, shouldn't Nam Hwa-yeon be the only one who needs to know about this?
Unless… she's planning to pass this on to me in exchange for teaching me magic?
"...Professor, surely not. Right?"
"What?"
"You're not planning to dump this on me in exchange for teaching me magic, are you?"
"Of course not. I'm a professor, so I have to do it whether I like it or not."
Phew, that's a relief.
She wasn't planning to dump this on me──
"─But I did include your name as well."
"...What?"
"You're doing this with me. We're short on people."
This is a mess.
She's passing on the role without even getting my consent.
Well, being a guidance teacher isn't a bad position for interfering with future episodes.
At least for the first semester, I'll be in the closest position to the students.
"Surely, an educator wouldn't refuse the upper management's educational policy, right?"
"I'm not a professor, just a teaching assistant."
"What can I do? There are too few professors to teach all the students."
"What exactly do you see in me to entrust me with this education?"
6,000 students in total.
With 2,000 students per grade, there are far too few professors. That's why veteran teaching assistants are also participating in the education.
But I'm not a veteran, am I?
I'm a newbie who's only been here for a month.
There's no reason for the board to specifically designate me as an educator.
"A trace was found at the scene of the last attack."
Her words made my body stiffen.
Not out of tension.
Some unknown force was gripping my ankles.
It forced me to listen carefully to Nam Hwa-yeon's words.
She continued, now that I was ready to listen.
"Scars."
The traces of battle aren't left only on people.
They are deeply engraved in the surrounding natural environment and terrain.
A true master of martial arts can glimpse the level of skill of the combatants through these traces.
And Nam Hwa-yeon has the skill and eyes to do so.
"You don't need to hide your strength like that, do you?"
"...."
"I'm curious why someone of your caliber would hide their strength and be exiled here, but right now, it's more important to increase the number of educators."
"...If you've heard the rumours about me, you wouldn't say that."
"Rumours don't matter."
Nam Hwa-yeon's hand grabbed my face.
With her right hand, she lowered my head to meet her eyes.
Her eyes, still as wide and calm as the sea, were eerie and devoid of life.
"This curriculum is for the students. We don't know when another incident like the last attack will happen."
"Wouldn't it be more certain if the professors were determined to protect them?"
"No, one must protect their own life with their own strength."
The academy is an educational institution, not a shelter or daycare.
Professors can't always protect the students.
So, they must develop the strength to protect themselves.
"That's why. Bear with it a little."
"Well, if I have to do it, I'll do it..."
"...I feel like I'm dumping too much work on someone who's already busy."
Indeed, Nam Hwa-yeon should know this.
I hold numerous positions and titles that are beyond my capacity.
A new teaching assistant at the academy. The head of the Cheonho Baek family. The chairman of the Cheonho Group. A hero who saved students from an attack. A trash wrapped up in all sorts of scandals. And the team leader of Nine-Tails. Among other things.
Roles that would normally be difficult to handle even one of.
But I have to do all of them.
Even if some are just honorary positions, I must fulfill them to ensure that I and everyone else can survive.
Adding the role of a teacher to this is nothing.
'It's not that hard.'
It's not that I take the duties of a teacher lightly.
It's just that there are so many things I have to do that this seems relatively easy.
I'll probably have to cut down on my already scarce sleep time.
I shouldn't even think about resting in the future.
But I'll endure this much.
If it means I can survive.
If it means this world can end with a happy ending.
***
I unpacked my bundle in the living room.
All the magic books I've read.
Fortunately, I was able to borrow all of them from the library.
"There are more than I thought. How many do you usually read a day?"
"It varies, but on average, I read about three to four books."
"You must be a fast reader."
"It's more that I don't have enough time to read, so I have to read quickly."
Speed reading isn't a good reading method.
While it has the advantage of allowing you to read many books in a short time, it's difficult to read carefully and thoroughly. Thanks to my talent for [Magical Genius], I can read without missing any passages even with speed reading.
But it's definitely less efficient than reading carefully.
When you read carefully, you can realize and feel things during the process. Yet, I had no choice but to give that up and read quickly.
Magic books aren't books that end with just reading.
The realization after reading, and the organization of knowledge.
That's the most important part.
It also takes up a lot of time.
Unlike a librarian who can spend all day reading, I have to handle my teaching assistant duties and train in magic and skills in the training room every day.
I'm also worried about future scenarios, and lately, I've been suffering from pain every night.
My tight schedule has also given me insomnia.
'Ah, insomnia is actually good since it reduces my sleep time, right?'
Anyway, being able to read and master three or four magic books a day while my schedule is packed is an achievement worth boasting about.
At least, it's not something you can do while sane.
"...How many hours have you been sleeping lately?"
"Lately?"
"...I'll rephrase the question. When was the last time you slept?"
Nam Hwa-yeon's sudden question.
She was staring intently at the corners of my eyes.
I pondered her question.
When did I last sleep?
Well, of course, yesterday... and the day before.
...Huh.
"This week has been... rough?"
"Sigh, I won't nag you to sleep well, but take care of your body."
"Yes, I know."
After sighing, Nam Hwa-yeon immediately reached for the magic books in the bundle.
She skimmed through the covers and contents.
"You've only briefly studied curses and spells. Well, they are old disciplines."
After flipping through a few pages, she put them away.
It seemed she didn't need to read any further.
Just from that, Nam Hwa-yeon could tell what I had learned and to what extent.
"Oh my, you've even dabbled in healing magic. Though it's just one book."
A green hardcover.
The book I fought over with Seo Yerin last time.
She said it was a basic book and opened another one. This time, it was a different genre.
She held the book and smiled faintly.
"Telekinesis is inherently easy to start, so there are no difficult books. And, oh my, you've even touched on Incantations."
Incantation, magic that causes changes through words.
Once, along with the magic hierarchy called Circles, it was a popular magic across the continent.
But as the times advanced, it declined.
And the person responsible for that decline was right in front of me.
"What, do you have something to say?"
"No. It's nothing."
Nam Hwa-yeon is called the Demon King for a reason.
Most of the modern magic systems are her creations.
Her magic is easy and efficient.
Enough to render the once-popular Circle and Incantations obsolete in just a few decades. Her achievements are great.
Perhaps she's on par with Baek Seok-ho, a high-ranking martial artist.
Of course, she's a scholar, and Baek Seok-ho is a martial artist with the title of High Ranker, so there's a difference in combat prowess.
But why is Nam Hwa-yeon smiling while looking at the magic she rendered obsolete?
'...I don't want to know the details.'
I shook my head to dispel the distracting thoughts.
I don't want to think about it anymore.
The void in my mind is created by dispelling the distracting thoughts.
A curiosity rose to fill that gap.
"Professor, can I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"Is there a way to get stronger faster?"
"A shortcut? Or the proper way?"
"Either is fine. As long as I get stronger."
At my answer, Nam Hwa-yeon thought for a moment.
Why is he in such a hurry?
It's as if he's being chased by something.
It's not impatience towards a realm. Then, it must be a desire to get stronger quickly.
The combat skills glimpsed from the scars left all over the academy were outstanding.
It must have been traces of spear techniques.
Even among the professors, few could wield spear techniques at that level.
"Alright, I understand. Do you have a preferred magic or combat style?"
Well, that's why I took him as my disciple.
The head of the Cheonho Baek family, a natural talent for magic, hidden strength.
Each one is far from ordinary.
I don't know what's driving his impatience, but—
A good teacher should provide a solution here.
Nam Hwa-yeon stretched her neck and spoke.
"I mainly use fire magic. I also mix in telekinesis and curses."
"It's more combat-oriented than practical. And completely focused on firepower."
"Yes, I'm very interested in that kind of magic."
"If it's fire magic, you could use your memories or parts of your body as fuel..."
"...."
"Well, I didn't ask for such a nonsensical answer."
At the suggestion of using my body or memories as fuel for the flames, I answered with a cold stare, and Nam Hwa-yeon changed the subject.
No matter how powerful it is, I have no intention of sacrificing my body.
Not when I'm going through all this trouble for something.
"Then, can you show me your flames?"
"Just the flames?"
"You said you're interested in combat, right? Then, with the maximum power you can muster."
I pondered Nam Hwa-yeon's request.
The maximum power I can muster with flames.
Then, the only thing that comes to mind is combining these two.
[Pyrokinesis]
[Fox Fire]
Whoosh!
Flames of telekinesis with physical force and mass rose.
Above them, various curses intertwined and transformed into a purple hue.
Instead of hot heat, Nam Hwa-yeon stared at the cool embers and spoke.
"From what I see, you're ready to start with activation words."
"Activation words?"
"Yes, try creating one."
Activation words.
A concept derived from Incantations, though less efficient.
They add absolute power to the strength and deployment of magic.
A simple example is that each car has its own unique key.
A key designed specifically for each car.
With it, we can locate the car or start it.
Something you can't do with another car's key.
Similarly, for a magician, an activation word is like a car key tailored to their magic.
"The simpler the activation word, the better. For example, some magicians I know use intuitive words like 'rise' or 'bloom.'"
"What about you, Professor?"
"Me? I don't need such things."
"...."
As expected of the Demon King.
Indeed, activation words are just one of many tools for someone who has mastered magic.
But I'm different.
'I don't have time to master multiple magics.'
I don't know what activation words are, but if they can make me stronger quickly, it's better to learn them. I listened carefully to Nam Hwa-yeon's words for the sake of learning.
The theory was simple.
The important thing is to find the optimal word for me to unleash my flames.
Words have power, and activation words are magic that actively utilizes this.
Depending on the activation word, the firepower, direction, and range can change.
"Burn. Or Spread?"
"For fire magic, incineration or combustion, or simply 'Ignite' would work."
Contrary to the theory, the actual process of using it was complicated.
Choosing the activation word was one thing, but the bigger problem was creating the process for the magic and skills to activate according to the word from scratch.
Since it's magic taught by the Demon King, I expected it to be difficult.
But experiencing it firsthand, it's much harder than I thought.
It's not something that can be done overnight.
I'll have to spend time researching and training consistently.
***
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