Chapter 9: The Geezer(1)
Chapter 9: The Geezer(1)
"...Why do you ask?"
My heart sank, and it felt as if the blood in my entire body had turned to ice.
I couldn't quite hide the tremor in my voice as I asked Lina back. At the same time, I made sure to casually cover my right hand.
Lina looked puzzled for a moment by my flustered reaction, but she soon offered an explanation.
"Most of the scribes working in the Imperial Palace have calluses there. I wondered if it was the same for you, Isaac."
As she said, this world had yet to invent the typewriter, so all documents had to be written by hand. Naturally, those who spent their days writing—especially the scribes in the Imperial Palace—would develop calluses.
My brain whirred at high speed in this moment of crisis. Fortunately, Lina had no idea I was writing a book. If I could provide a plausible explanation, I could navigate this situation wisely.
After agonizing over my options, I finally managed to squeeze out a suitable answer.
"...It's from studying. I have a habit of taking notes while I read. It helps me remember things more easily."
"Hmm... Really? Well, it's not strange to develop a habit like that when you're trying to fully absorb knowledge. I was the same way when I was receiving my tutelage at the palace."
Fortunately, it seemed to work to some extent. Although she still gave me a suspicious look—likely due to my initial reaction—it was much better than being caught.
As I let out a silent sigh of relief, Mari, not Lina, suddenly chimed in.
"But looking at them now, your hands are really beautiful. Can I see?"
"Huh? My hands?"
"Yeah. Let's compare them with mine."
Mari held out her hand, palm open, and gestured for me to do the same. I was taken aback at first, but since it didn't seem like a big deal, I complied.
"Wow. Your hands really are pretty. I think they're even prettier than mine."
Comparing her hand to mine, Mari marveled with genuine sincerity. And she wasn't wrong; aside from the writer's callus, my hands were quite aesthetic.
My fingers were long and slender, and my skin was so white and smooth that the term 'slender jade hands' suited them perfectly.
I gave an embarrassed smile and scratched my head at Mari's praise. My mother had complimented them before, but hearing it from someone else made me feel strangely shy.
"Do you use some kind of special treatment?"
"No. They've just always been like this."
"I'm so jealous. My skin gets chapped so easily, it's annoying."
Mari grumbled, though her hands were also very beautiful. Being the daughter of a Duke, she must have put a lot of effort into her appearance, among other things.
Perhaps because the atmosphere had shifted, I felt my racing heart gradually calm down. I chuckled as I watched Mari complain while looking at her own hands.
"Oh, right. Cecile, do you want to show us your hands too?"
"Me? My hands?"
"Yeah. I'm curious to see what a Demon's hands look like."
Cecile blinked her red eyes at Mari's sudden request. She didn't seem to mind that Mari had addressed her so casually.
After a moment's hesitation, Cecile cautiously showed her hands. However, they were far too calloused to be the hands of a princess. Her palms, in particular, were rough and cracked like a tortoise shell.
While everyone fell silent at the unexpected state of her hands, I looked closer, feeling as though I had seen palms like that somewhere before. They looked exactly like the hands of my father, my brother, and my sister.
These were the marks of countless hours of training.
"Do you practice swordsmanship?"
"Ah."
At my question, Lina let out a small gasp of realization. Cecile covered her hands as if embarrassed and replied.
"Yes. I've been learning swordsmanship since I was a child."
"Aren't Demons usually specialized in magic?"
That was what I had heard when I was gathering information about the Demon race.
Along with Elves, Demons are naturally superior to other races when it comes to magic. While humans manifest magic through complex calculations, Demons cast spells as naturally as they breathe.
Furthermore, the 'Black Mana' that only Demons can use is several times more powerful than regular mana. So, while an average mage might throw a fireball, a Demon could drop an entire meteor.
"That's true, but as a Princess of Helium, I've been trained in various martial arts. As you know, 'Restraint' is an essential virtue for us Demons."
"A healthy mind in a healthy body. Is that it?"
Even in my past life, athletes, firefighters, and special forces soldiers possessed incredible mental strength along with their physical prowess.
When you have to give up what you like to do what you must, and are occasionally pushed to extreme limits, your mental fortitude is bound to be forged.
As I voiced that thought, Cecile's eyes widened. Wait, did I say something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?
Cecile then nodded as if she had reached a great realization and whispered softly.
"A healthy mind in a healthy body... That's a truly wonderful saying. I must keep it in mind."
"...I'm honored if it was of any help."
I stole a glance at Lina and saw a subtle look in her eyes. I did my best to ignore it.
A moment later, just as Lina was about to speak—
Clap!
The sound of a single clap suddenly echoed through the classroom. If it had been a simple clap, it would have been buried by the ambient noise, but this one resonated like an echo, drawing everyone's attention.
I, along with the other three, turned toward the front. An elderly man, who must have entered the room unnoticed, stood proudly before the chalkboard.
If Professor Virius, the humanities professor, had a strict and fastidious image, this new professor looked quite benevolent.
With his thick beard and long white hair, he looked exactly like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
"Hmm. It seems you are ready to listen. Break time is over, so everyone focus."
The new professor gave a heavy nod as the students focused on him. I looked at the Gandalf-like professor and checked my timetable first.
The name 'Leif Megner' was written there. He was a professor of Magic and one of the critics who had bashed Xenon's Life.
"My name is Leif Megner, the professor who will be imparting knowledge of Magic to you. It is a pleasure to meet you."
As soon as Professor Megner introduced himself in a level voice, a round of applause broke out. While clapping, I took out the notebook and magic pen I had brought earlier and placed them on the desk.
I hadn't felt the need to take notes during Professor Virius's humanities lecture, but I felt this would be different. Not only was his style different, but this was Magic.
Magic—the power that naturally comes to mind when one thinks of fantasy.
As I mentioned before, magic is a privilege reserved almost exclusively for the upper class. Even when knowledge related to magic is published in books, they are filled with incomprehensible jargon. They are written so poorly that only other mages can understand them.
"You seem very interested in magic. You weren't like this earlier."
"Yeah. I'm very interested. I've never seen it before."
I gave Mari a short answer when she asked in a surprised tone. Magic! What a wonderful word!
Even if I couldn't manifest magic directly like martial arts, just listening to the theory was enough. To me, a former inhabitant of Earth, this was more valuable than any other knowledge.
Before long, the applause died down, and Professor Megner spoke in his aged voice.
"Before we begin the lecture in earnest, I heard something that was a bit grating to my ears. Was it called Xenon's Life?"
"...Hmm?"
Why is Xenon's Life being mentioned right at the start? Just as I thought that—
Professor Megner made no effort to hide his displeasure and made a statement that made the skin under my eyes twitch.
"Please be careful not to mention such low-grade trash in my class if possible. I refuse to even recognize such a thing as a novel."
"..."
Is this some new form of hate-commenting? No, hate comments are what I saw in the newspapers; this was just a straight-up curse. And he was hurling it right in front of the author.
He probably didn't know the subject of his vitriol was in the same room, but it still didn't feel good. In fact, it felt downright disgusting.
But what could I do? I just had to think of him as an old fogey. I let out a long, frustrated breath and looked to my left and right.
Sure enough, everyone's expression was sour. Cecile's was the worst; she looked ready to fight, her face contorted as she radiated a fierce aura.
She seemed to be barely holding it back with whatever patience she had left, but as an ordinary person, it was a bit scary.
"...Cecile?"
"...Yes?"
"I'm starting to feel a bit of a chill..."
"Ah...! I-I'm sorry..."
Fortunately, when Lina quietly pointed it out, Cecile hurriedly pulled back her aura and apologized immediately. I rubbed my goosebump-covered arms and looked forward.
The atmosphere had turned icy. After Professor Megner openly disparaged Xenon's Life, the classroom became deathly silent. Regardless, Professor Megner clicked his tongue in pity.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... That piece of kindling has lowered everyone's standards. It's a pity. Truly a pity."
Then maybe you shouldn't have used such difficult words from the start. It's ridiculous to blame others when you're the one who filled your books with jargon even nobles find hard to understand. I could practically see my common sense waving goodbye as it left the building.
Professor Megner began his lecture, unbothered by the suddenly cold atmosphere. The vibe was distinctly different from Professor Virius's class, but I figured it was best to just listen for now.
"First, you must understand that studying Magic does not mean you will be able to use it. What is the difference between the two? It's simple. Magic Studies is about learning knowledge related to magic, while Magic is, quite literally, the act of using it."
To compare it to my past life, Magic Studies is like learning the history of machinery, while Magic is actually building the machine. Even if magic is a power granted only to the elite, it is already integrated into daily life, so its history must be vast.
'It would have been better if he hadn't said those useless things at the start.'
I was very interested in Magic Studies. But the professor was a total prick.
My dislike for Professor Megner had long since plummeted through the floor and into the mantle. Anyone would be pissed if the work they poured their heart into was insulted right in front of them.
Scratch, scratch.
I calmed my boiling insides and took notes with my magic pen. Perhaps because no one else had a notebook and pen, the sound of my writing seemed particularly loud.
"Now, before I take questions... you there, the red-haired student."
"...Me?"
Why me again? Is it because of this damn red hair?
While I was flustered, Professor Megner explained why he had called on me.
"You've been recording something for a while now. If it's related to magic, do not record it."
"...And why is that?"
"Magic is a power that has traditionally been reserved for the chosen few. It must never be spread carelessly, even if it is merely fragmentary knowledge."
"No, what kind of..."
What kind of elitist nonsense is that? Then what about this magic pen, or the temperature control in the dorms? Or the refrigerators?
It was so absurd that the words got stuck in my throat. Furthermore, that statement directly contradicted Professor Virius's beliefs.
No wonder books about magic were so rare; it seemed all mages were elitists like him. It was obvious, seeing how they took such thoughts for granted.
"Then, Professor, are you denying the idea that knowledge should be widely shared?"
Finally, a student who couldn't watch any longer fired off a question. I had wanted to say the same thing, so I waited for Megner's answer.
However, after hearing the question, Professor Megner stroked his thick beard and gave an unexpected response.
"Not at all. This only applies to magic; other knowledge is fine. Magic is a truly dangerous power. You can see that by looking at the races that use it as naturally as breathing—the Demons and the Elves. And what if, like the Demons, they occasionally lose control? They become nothing short of walking disasters."
"..."
"In that piece of kindling, they are portrayed as beings with a tragic destiny, but in the end, a Demon is just a Demon. No matter how much they pretend to be human, their essence never changes."
That was blatant racial discrimination. Naturally, as soon as Professor Megner made that statement, many eyes turned toward Cecile.
I was worried she might explode in anger, but she only gave a bitter smile. Her expression suggested she had expected as much.
After all, no matter how much Xenon's Life had changed perceptions of Demons, many still viewed them as a source of instability. Especially an elitist like Professor Megner, who rejected the novel entirely.
"It's okay, Cecile. You don't have to listen to what that professor says. Okay?"
"...Yeah."
Even though Lina whispered words of comfort, Cecile's face didn't brighten. Instead, she hung her head dejectedly.
Seeing that, I racked my brain. Even if I ended up getting kicked out of the classroom, I was going to give Professor Megner a taste of his own medicine. A humiliating blow he would never forget.
As luck would have it, Professor Megner singled me out again.
"Now, putting aside useless talk... you there, the red-haired student."
"...Yes, Professor."
"What do you think magic is?"
What else? It's a damn amazing power.
If I said that directly, I wouldn't be able to humiliate him and would just get kicked out immediately, so I gave a vague answer.
"...I believe it is a power that can lessen human labor."
"Could you be more specific?"
"Hmm..."
I slowly stood up from my seat. Just like in Professor Virius's class, I felt all eyes on me as I stood.
Then, I threw Professor Megner's own logic back at him.
"Magic is certainly a dangerous power, but if used well, it can save lives or help achieve one's goals."
"What?"
"...Isaac?"
Professor Megner frowned at my statement, and Cecile's eyes widened as she looked at me. But I wasn't finished.
"Magic may be reserved for the chosen few, but if you look closely, it is integrated into our daily lives. The ability to control the temperature in this classroom is magic, and the student IDs we received upon entering Halo Academy are imbued with magic. In this way, magic is a power that is like a double-edged sword. At times it threatens lives, but at other times it saves them and adds convenience to our existence."
"..."
"It shouldn't matter if the one using that power is a Demon. Even we humans use magic as a weapon of mass destruction, so discriminating against Demons is illogical. Therefore, I believe the 'disaster' you mentioned, Professor, is not the Demon race, but the mages themselves."
The more I spoke, the more Professor Megner's expression hardened. Honestly, I'd be annoyed too. A mere novice had just completely rejected everything he believed to be right.
Professor Megner let out a deep sigh as if to suppress his anger and spoke in a low, cold tone.
"...Dressing up nonsense beautifully is a talent in itself, I suppose. However, my question was about the definition of magic, not such a pathetic defense."
"Then what would you like me to do?"
"I am asking for the definition of magic. The definition."
To that question, I replied with a sarcastic tone.
"Even if I explained it using difficult words, you wouldn't understand, would you? As you said, Professor, the students here have low standards."
Hahaha!
A ripple of laughter spread through the classroom at my words. Mari burst out with a "Pfft!" and Lina let out a refined chuckle, clearly finding it satisfying.
Only Cecile looked at me with a complicated expression, and when our eyes met, I gave her a bright smile.
Seeing me smile, she, who had been dejected until a moment ago, let out a small laugh.
"Phew... You there. Student."
At that moment, Professor Megner called out to me. As he did, the classroom that had been filled with laughter instantly fell silent.
"Yes, Professor."
"I have no need for a disrespectful student like you."
Then, with a face flushed with anger, Professor Megner delivered his sentence.
"Get out."
"...Excuse me?"
"I shall lower my standards and speak plainly, just as you wished. Leave."
Professor Megner pointed toward the door and spoke firmly. The atmosphere in the classroom plummeted even further.
I had a brief staring contest with Professor Megner before looking to my left and right. Mari was watching the situation unfold, Lina looked shocked, and Cecile was looking at me with eyes full of worry.
I gave a small smirk and spoke as if to reassure them.
"I'll be back for the next class anyway."
"What are you muttering about? Get out this instant!"
Finally, Professor Megner lost his temper and roared. He was so angry that his voice was loud enough to echo.
As soon as he shouted, I hurried toward the door. As I walked, I heard Professor Megner muttering under his breath while glaring at me.
"Insolent brat. Kids these days..."
Yeah, yeah. I heard you, you old fogey.
But you know what? The humiliation doesn't end here.
I pretended to head for the door, then turned back as if I had remembered something. As soon as Professor Megner saw me returning, he asked irritably.
"Why are you coming back?"
"I left something behind."
"And what would that be?"
As soon as he asked, I looked him straight in the eye. I could vividly feel the students sitting at their desks watching us.
Now, it was time for the final blow. You old hater.
Without stumbling once, I poured out a massive string of words.
"It is an object composed of a large quantity of blank paper upon which one can record information, summarize or organize learned knowledge, is necessary at times for analyzing information, can be used for drawing, requires the assistance of a printing press to manufacture, boasted a high price in the past but is now easily obtainable on the market."
"..."
"..."
Whew. I'm out of breath. I guess movies really are just movies. Still, I was satisfied that I managed to say it all without stuttering.
I tried my best to look nonchalant as I checked Professor Megner's reaction. He stood with his mouth slightly agape, looking as if he didn't know what he had just heard.
"...What on earth is that?"
What else?
"A notebook."
The notebook I had intentionally left behind.
Hahaha!
At the identity of the object, which was so simple despite the long-winded explanation, laughter erupted in the classroom once again. Professor Megner's face, however, was flushed with humiliation.
After glaring at the students, Professor Megner rebuked me in a voice that sounded more bewildered than angry.
"You could have just said 'notebook.' Why did you explain it like that? Were you testing me?"
No, I was humiliating you.
I couldn't say that directly, but I could give an answer with the same intent.
"I thought a professor with such high standards would be able to understand."
Hahahaha!
Unlike the classroom, which had become a field of laughter, Professor Megner's expression was a sight to behold. Leaving the despondent professor behind, I went back to my seat and grabbed my notebook and pen.
"Isn't that too reckless? What if you get suspended or even expelled?"
As I was picking up my things, Lina expressed concern for my well-being. Even as she said it, she had a smile on her face, as if she also found it satisfying.
In response, I shrugged and answered in a casual voice.
"Then that professor's reputation will only get worse, won't it? Well, I suppose it's already hit rock bottom."
This level of political maneuvering was simple. If I were to receive an excessive punishment, Professor Megner's own position would be in jeopardy.
In front of many students, Professor Megner had disparaged Xenon's Life—which had caused a sensation—as low-grade trash, and had gone even further to discriminate against Demons. This alone carried a slight possibility of him being socially ostracized.
'I'll probably get a lecture from my parents, though...'
It was at that moment.
"...You really are interesting."
"Pardon?"
"No. It's nothing."
Even when I asked again, Lina only gave me a beaming smile.
*
The next day arrived. As I took my seat in the lecture hall, Mari, a white-haired beauty, sat down next to me and shared some shocking news.
"Hey. Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"You know Professor Megner? He was stripped of his professorship."
"What? Really?"
"Yeah. Apparently, calling Xenon Biography trash was the final straw."
"... ..."
Once again, I realized the sheer power of my work.
At this rate, if I write a bad ending, I might actually get burned at the stake, right?