Chapter 26: If Only It Had Just Been About Pointing Out Her Outfit
It was a tantrum that was bound to work—a very powerful one. If only it had just been about pointing out her outfit. Hearing the parents of her student tell the empire's greatest genius mage, "Teacher, your outfit is too revealing; it's uncomfortable entrusting my child to you"—and in a roundabout way, no less. I wanted to crawl into a rat hole right then and there.
"Ah, no! I-I absolutely didn't mean it like that!"
Iris waved her hands frantically, stumbling over her words.
"Th-this is because today is... special! Yes, it's a monumental day welcoming my disciple, so I dressed up formally... Normally, I dress very, very conservatively! Really!"
"Is that so? That's a relief."
Corinth smiled good-naturedly, visibly relaxing.
"I'm sorry for bringing up such a sensitive topic."
"Y-yes... haha...."
Iris laughed awkwardly in return. Cold sweat trickled down her back.
I should've listened to Seria.
Wear a suit. Or at least try it on for fitting.
Suddenly, the sensation of her waistline feeling unusually tight bubbled up from a spot she'd paid no mind to moments ago. What had she been thinking, deciding "this should be fine" just because it covered a bit more cleavage? Seria's nickname for her echoed in her ears.
Iris von Evergarden was an idiot genius.
The next dawn, in the conference room of the Magic Department.
The professors seated around the circular table looked like their faces were rotting away. The reason was simple.
The department's rookie—dead last in seniority, Professor Iris—had called an emergency faculty meeting at the crack of dawn.
Normally, they'd have shot it down with a "Who does this baby think she is?!" But the problem was that this "baby" wasn't just any rookie.
A genius. The youngest Grand Mage in imperial history. And the direct disciple of the previous department head—making her equal or even superior in the departmental lineage to these old fogeys gathered here. She was a walking time bomb, ready to explode if poked.
So they'd all dragged themselves here, gritting their teeth. But the moment Iris sat down, she lobbed a bombshell.
"Give my disciple, Kasian del Parne, a personal research lab."
She slammed her hands on the table, adding gravely,
"Right now."
"...Huh."
Hollow laughs erupted among the professors.
So that was it. The Magic Department's cute little granddaughter figure, Professor Iris, had dragged all these uncles and grandpas out at dawn—for this? Just to demand a research lab for her disciple immediately after it got rejected?
And it wasn't even a formal rejection. Department Head Eric, in charge of admin, felt his blood pressure spike.
Among everyone here, he might be the only one who didn't dote on Iris quite as much. Other departments dumped the department head role on their youngest professors in their late thirties as a formality. But here in the Magic Department, thanks to Iris von Evergarden's special status, Eric—now in his late forties—still had to handle it as a seniority hand-me-down.
He pressed his throbbing temples.
"Professor Iris. Didn't I explain this in writing?"
Fatigue and irritation coated Eric's voice.
"It's not rejected. It needs procedural review, so I said we'd put it on the agenda for the next regular meeting. Is this so urgent you had to drag everyone out at dawn?"
It was a perfectly reasonable point. But Iris's red eyes flashed undeterred.
"It's urgent."
"What's so urgent about it?"
"I almost lost my disciple."
"...Ha."
Eric let out a disbelieving scoff.
"To who? Which department dares poach a magical prodigy from our Magic Department?"
The old professors snorted too.
"Heh, the Knights' Department or something?"
"Ridiculous. That'd make him the first in history with talent in both sword and sorcery."
"Or maybe Alchemy? If he wants to go there, let him. They wouldn't appreciate Magic Department's value anyway."
Their pride pierced the heavens. Magic—what a noble, exalted discipline. Someone with a mage's talent turning their back on the Magic Department? Unthinkable.
Water flows down, talent flows to the Magic Department. That was this world's truth.
But.
"Muller Viscountess, Herbology full professor from General Studies."
The name from Iris's lips silenced the professors' snorts.
"And Knights' Department Military Science full professor, Wilhelm von Kreuz."
"...."
Silence. Eric's jaw dropped.
"...Who?"
"They came to my lab yesterday in person. Asked if I'd consider handing over my disciple."
"Th-that insolence!"
Eric sputtered. Iris adjusted her silver-framed glasses with a fingertip.
"That's not all. When persuasion failed, the three of us went straight to the Parne Mansion in the capital last night. Left it to the student's choice."
"And? What did the student say?!"
"Fortunately, he honored his bond with me."
The professors' mood shifted. This was no joke. The opponents were Muller Viscountess—who slapped cheeks with bundles of herb cash—and Wilhelm von Kreuz, the empire's living military legend.
At this level, they weren't just rival department professors. What made that student with all the mocking nicknames so special?
Then, Hiks Professor—the department's power player and highest in seniority here—who'd been silently watching Iris, finally opened his eyes with interest. The white-haired old man slowly stroked his beard.
"Hmmm... no exaggeration, then."
Hiks's gaze turned to Iris.
"This barbarian, illiterate, starving second son rumor mill—is he really multifaceted enough for those heavyweights to covet?"
"Yes."
Iris replied with utter conviction.
"He's a genius. One we can't afford to lose."
The research worms' eyes began to sparkle with curiosity. It was the first time Iris had called anyone else a genius.
But Eric regained his composure and struck at the core.
"Even granting that. What does it have to do with assigning a research lab?"
Eric snapped his document folder shut.
"You said you almost lost him. Enroll him first, then. Have him sign the oath and stamp it. I'll prioritize him in the lineage records. If you'd pushed that as top priority instead of lab assignment, I'd have processed it without delay. You don't need a lab to make a disciple."
"...!"
Iris's face stiffened. Mental breakdown incoming.
Enrollment? I haven't even properly reeled him in yet!
Tell the truth? "My disciple's too picky; I have to meet all his conditions"? They'd brand Kasian as arrogant. Lying wasn't an option either.
In the end, Iris played her wild card.
"You have to. I promised him."
"Ha, a promise? You made a personal promise breaking regulations?"
Eric scoffed and waved her off. In that instant, Iris went all-in.
"If approval's impossible."
She shot to her feet.
"I'll vacate my personal research lab and give it to Kasian."
"...Pardon?"
"And request reassignment. I'll clear out my stuff today, so consider it done."
"Y-you're insane...."
The professors gasped. That wouldn't do. To them, Iris was everyone's daughter or granddaughter. Mages' individualism meant no over-the-top "I'd put my eye out for her" doting, but they all remembered the tiny girl under ten staring at the magic they'd devoted their lives to with pure eyes. They'd fondly watched her climb on a chair, grip a tiny chalk in her little hand, and scribble formulas on the blackboard.
That bond was special. And everyone knew Iris—soft-hearted—knew it and was exploiting it now.
It was a tantrum bound to work, a very powerful one.
Eric's face turned ashen.
"No, Professor Iris! What nonsense is this?!"
"My disciple's worth it."
Iris was resolute. No backing down.
And finally, a jolly laugh broke the standoff.
"Kuhahaha!"
It was Hiks Professor.
"Just give it to her."
"Senior!"
"What can we do? We raised her to be this spoiled. Time to own it."
Hiks soothed Eric with a kindly smile, then turned gently to Iris.
"You like the kid that much?"
"...Yes."
Iris's cheeks flushed faintly.
"I really do. A once-in-a-lifetime connection."
200% sincere. That earnestness moved the elder professor.
"Fine. Bring him here."
"...Pardon?"
"I'm curious about this amazing disciple you picked. Promise to show him off to us old folks, and I'll authorize the lab right now."
"...."
Not bad. If anything, it was considerate; accepting was a given.
Yet Iris hesitated. Kasian hated hassle. Dragging him before professors? He'd hate it.
Still, "right now" was too sweet. Yesterday's trauma of nearly losing him over no lab was too fresh.
...He'll understand just once, right? His master wants to brag a little.
"Understood. I promise. In return, could you attend my class next week?"
"Deal."
Iris sealed the deal with her tantrum.
Phew. Might get an earful, but it's fine.
She nodded to herself. But then, worrying about his scolding, she thought,
Am I really the guardian here?
Wasn't this the fretting of a kid who'd messed up and was scheming for forgiveness? Self-loathing crept in with the doubt.
Right after arriving at school, in front of Iris's lab.
I opened the door and sighed immediately.
...Fuck.
Where'd the dress go? There stood Iris again, buttons done up to her neck in a stuffy suit. Sure, that was professor attire, but.
People are fickle. I'd been enjoying the view of that killer figure.
Of course, knight-killer outfit. Yeah, it is.
But this sister's guilty here.
I missed the cleavage. The lines blatantly shown over her clothes—especially hips and that curve. I hid my regret and plopped on the sofa.
"Back to your regular suit, huh?"
"Yes. But this one's only for today."
"Pardon?"
What? Only today? Did that mean a dress tomorrow? Whoa?!
Excitement stirred just as Iris added gravely,
"Tomorrow, a different suit."
"...?"
What bullshit was this? The conversation plunged deeper into a maze.
"That was the plan all along. Ladylike."
She rambled on.
"After class today, Seria and I are hitting the boutique for more suits. Different styles."
"...Ah, yeah. Have fun shopping, if that's your thing."
I gave up thinking. Trying to grasp this woman's fashion philosophy would overload my brain first.
She wasn't asking me to tag along. But it kept veering that way, so clearly I wasn't following.
Whatever.
"Anyway, where's the key?"
"...Is that all you care about?"
A hint of pout formed on Iris's lips. Dissatisfied expression, but I steadfastly held out my hand.
"Obviously. This is huge for me."
"Sigh."
She pulled a brass key from the drawer and placed it in my palm.
"Here."
The hefty metal feel. Finally. Personal lab acquired!
Now I could sprawl in an air-conditioned room.
"I'll fill the options quick. Furniture, gear, whatever. Tell me directly if you need anything. AC's already ordered—ceiling-mounted."
Buying individual system ACs for embedding? What a pain.
"Take your time. Just the space for now."
I pocketed the key and started to stand. But.
"...."
Iris's face looked off. Fidgeting, fiddling with her glasses frame—super suspicious.
"What's up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your face screams 'I fucked up' in big letters. Spill it."
"That's no way to talk to your master. So rude."
"Fancy words don't cut it. I kept my loyalty, didn't I? Brushed off Muller Viscountess's temptations."
Couldn't say I brushed off Grandpa Wilhelm's too. I leaned back on the sofa, staring her down.
"So spit it out. Watching you fret's making me nervous too. What is it?"