Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: First Lecture
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Late at night.
Owen was already asleep on my bed, letting out faint breaths. It had started late, and it must have been tough for him since he was still so young.
Still, he'd tried his best to focus, especially on the parts about souls since they related to his own field. It was commendable how hard he'd worked to absorb even one thing.
Pinden A had naturally fled and hadn't returned.
She was probably back in her room, sleeping by now.
Erika, who'd stuck it out until the end, was summarizing what she'd felt from the lecture.
"As expected of such unfamiliar knowledge—the lecture itself was highly satisfying. I'd love to hear it again."
"Yeah."
"But you're trying to cram too much information in a short time. You won't last long as a teacher like that. You need to show some restraint."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a lecture, but you don't have to just lecture. Especially since you're a black mage, some students might be tense around you, right?"
She had a point.
In fact, dealing with those kinds of students was my biggest worry.
If they had to learn but were too afraid of the professor, how could they focus?
They probably couldn't even look at the blackboard properly.
"So, do some icebreakers to loosen them up, or tell a joke. That'd be fine."
"......"
Did she really think I could do something like that? Erika seemed to realize it herself after saying it, crossing her arms and pondering for a moment before speaking again.
"Or you could share stories from your experiences. You went through a lot this summer break, so use that to draw their attention or give their minds a break."
"Hm."
"Or hand out snacks or something the students would like during the lecture. That could help a lot."
They didn't sound like bad ideas. Honestly, Erika's advice was proving quite helpful.
"Thanks. That was useful in several ways."
When I expressed my honest gratitude, Erika smiled softly.
"No need to thank me for that. More than anything, I liked seeing you genuinely trying to do the professor job."
I didn't bother replying.
Since I was getting paid, I planned to give it my all anyway. Plus, the academy was full of major and supporting characters, so my lectures might help a little.
"Um, but..."
Erika hesitated for a moment. It seemed like something hard to bring up, as she opened and closed her mouth several times before finally meeting my eyes.
"What exactly is that student Aria Rias?"
I'd never expected Aria's name to come from her lips.
"I met her during summer break. Dante? It's an unfamiliar group, but I fought alongside her against their black mages."
"You did?"
"Yeah, in the Romethiu Forest. I went there looking for spirits to learn spirit magic like you mentioned."
I'd sensed a unique aura around her, but it turned out to be a spirit.
Erika seemed to have grown a step further since before.
"I saw Aria there. From killing people without hesitation to... her abnormal obsession with you."
"......"
"I want to follow your lead, of course, but I'm a professor too, Deus."
Erika clenched her fist tightly and declared firmly about Aria.
"We can't have a dangerous kid in the academy who wouldn't hesitate to kill even for a professor."
I agreed with that.
I nodded slightly in response.
"Yeah, I'll take responsibility for her."
"...If you ever need help, call me. After all, I'm... somewhat of a... witch, you know."
Erika stammered, emphasizing it unnecessarily. Her reaction was odd, but I didn't pay it much mind.
"Yeah, I'll ask if it comes to that."
At that, Erika flashed the bright smile she only showed in private moments.
"Yeah!"
* * *
"Wow, first time hearing a lecture in the grand hall."
"It's not just first-years—it's all grades, right?"
"Don't make eye contact with the seniors carelessly."
The grand hall where Deus's lecture was about to begin. Since any student enrolled in the all-grade general elective could attend, most of the academy's students had gathered here.
The first-years were glancing nervously at their seniors, but the second- and third-years were doing the same—especially toward the professors lined up at the back of the hall.
They'd anticipated lectures bunching up at this time and scheduled around general education, so nearly all the professors had come to hear Professor Deus's lecture.
"It's quite something."
"Black magic, of all things. Honestly, I still find it unsettling."
"Well, His Majesty approved him personally. He's probably different from what we knew."
"Come to think of it, didn't Professor Gideon take leave?"
"Oh, right. The Zeronia family has been making waves lately."
Even the usually composed professors couldn't help whispering among themselves.
Erika, known as Deus's fiancée, drew envious and jealous gazes, but unlike her innocent smile from last night, she stood with arms crossed, staring coldly toward the hall.
It wasn't just that the second- and third-years were watching the professors.
Naturally, the first-years had a real heavyweight among them.
Elenoa stared fixedly at the hall without doodling, even though she had pen and paper—something rare for her.
No one dared look her way, lest they make a mistake in front of the kingdom's princess.
Beside Elenoa, Aria waited with wide eyes.
The two girls were anticipating when Professor Deus would arrive.
A bit earlier than scheduled, Professor Deus stepped onto the platform.
"Since so many are waiting, we'll start a little early."
The moment everyone had been waiting for.
Some harbored fear.
Some suspicious doubt.
Some lingering disgust.
Some excitement at the prospect of a new discipline called black magic.
All with varied emotions, they focused on Deus's lecture.
Meanwhile, Deus—who'd worried and even rehearsed how to conduct it—was utterly calm, no different from usual.
It was natural, really. He hadn't practiced standing before people.
He'd practiced imparting his knowledge to large crowds.
He'd already spoken confidently before audiences several times larger at the grand debate, so there was no hesitation in his actions.
"For starters, let me introduce my assistant."
The unexpected opening made Erika's eyebrow twitch slightly.
Had he changed something based on her advice?
All eyes focused, wondering who Deus's assistant was, and his finger pointed right beside him.
"This is the black necromancer working with me."
[.......]
The black necromancer standing next to Deus panicked for a moment, pointing at herself.
[Eek?! Me? Y-you can see me?!]
She looked at Deus in shock, and he gestured with his chin as if wondering what the fuss was about.
"Greet them."
At that, she turned toward the crowd. For her, who'd been holed up in the lab honing necromancy every day, the stares were quite burdensome.
[Uh, hello. I'm the black necromancer.]
She bowed her head in greeting.
Come to think of it, Erika, Karen, and the dean had seen her before, but whatever.
"Now, my assistant just greeted you all. Did you see?"
The black necromancer stared at Deus with a dumbfounded expression.
No!
The students replied in one voice.
[Wha-wha-what?!]
Thinking she'd been teased, she clenched her fist and glared at Deus, but he ignored it and continued.
"But my assistant is definitely here."
Then he looked at the black necromancer.
"Show them."
[...I really hate this.]
Grumbling, she still summoned her mana, producing a simple flame.
A necromancer's flame, tinged purple.
The hall stirred instantly.
Most students and professors here could handle mana, so they easily realized the flame wasn't made by Deus.
Staring at the sudden purple blaze in astonishment, they had to admit something was there.
"Nothing is visible, yet mana manifested in an instant and became magic. I will teach you about these invisible yet existent things."
A captivating lecture introduction.
Some professors admired how excellent the start was, and Erika hid a faint smile at the praise.
"Also, to the student who matches my assistant the black necromancer's appearance by the end of my lectures just before winter break, I'll give this."
Swish.
Deus pulled from his pocket a golden card that fit neatly in one hand.
At first, no one knew what it was. Even looking closely, it was unfamiliar, leaving them speechless.
Then, a gasp escaped from the princess amid the students.
"Wow, a Royal Millennium Library pass?"
"What?!"
"Whoa, jackpot."
"I heard you need a fortune just to get in once?"
For the Griffin Kingdom's mages, the Millennium Library was a bucket-list staple.
A treasure trove of knowledge with originals of countless grimoires.
It was originally from the dean.
But since passes were already issued to him as a necromancer, he didn't need two.
Following Erika's advice that giving prizes would boost focus.
"Yes, the royal treasure. A pass to the Millennium Grand Library. Not for forbidden books, but you can access all others."
Deus swept the pass over the students like dangling a fishing lure.
"As I said, to the first student who matches my assistant the black necromancer's appearance. Listen well to my lectures and work hard—it's entirely possible."
[I-it's embarrassing somehow...]
The black necromancer ducked her head bashfully.
But the effect was clear.
Even before the lecture began, most students were fired up with enthusiasm.
Deus slowly picked up the chalk and approached the blackboard.
"Let the lecture begin."