Why Is My Super Sweet Master Here?

Crystal-like scales, and a small crown sprouting from its head. Could there be two such snakes in the world?

"Nemi Laiters."

"Yes."

It was only natural that Amaen would think of his snake teacher. But the place where that teacher was perched was strange. A staff held by a professor he'd never seen before, with the snake coiled around it like a crystal ornament.

"Max Meira."

"Here!"

It lay there utterly still, like it was dead. No, not alive—like a crystal sculpture. It sure looked that way. Why on earth was his master hanging on some stranger's staff like a decoration?

"Amaen Riddle."

Yeah, that had to be it. Putting animal ornaments on a staff wasn't anything special. People carved dragons or eagles on theirs, even beetles sometimes. The professor must just have a taste for snakes. Not bad taste at all.

"Amaen Riddle."

At that moment, Lania poked Amaen in the side.

"Ah, yes!"

"Attendance will be called only once from now on. Understood?"

"Yes, sir…."

The other students glanced at Amaen and chuckled. His face flushed with embarrassment.

"Why were you spacing out like that?" Lania whispered.

"You trying to become a fanboy like Nemi?"

"No, it's not…."

"They say he's a magic genius. Didn't you want to become a mage too?"

"It's just… that snake, I mean the staff, it's unique."

"Snake?"

Lania looked at Professor Obern Grimoire's staff.

"Wh-what… oh."

She jumped in surprise too.

"Ah… pretty, such a pretty staff…."

There was definitely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠something off about Lania's reaction. But flustered Amaen didn't notice.

The two fell awkwardly silent.

Professor Obern Grimoire didn't seem the friendly type. Instead of chit-chat to loosen things up, he dove straight into the lesson, lightly raising the staff with the snake on it.

"Fire."

A fireball formed.

"Water."

And beside it, a blob of water.

"Earth, and wind."

A lump of earth, a compressed sphere of air. The four elemental orbs hung motionless in midair, neither scattering nor drifting.

Amaen's gaze, fixed solely on the snake until then, was stolen by Obern's magic in that instant.

…Amazing.

Extraordinariness shines in the simplest things. Lighting a fire or stirring wind is easy. But stably forming elemental orbs and suspending them in the air like that? Not simple at all.

Obern began his lecture while maintaining all four spells.

"To know the four elements that make up the world."

And the orbs began to gather in one place. Water, fire, earth, wind—swirling without fully mixing.

"Is tantamount to knowing the entire world."

The professor's voice wasn't loud, yet it dominated the vast lecture hall alone.

"The add-drop deadline is at the end of this week. If you can't keep up, make up your mind before then."

A bold declaration: if you can't follow, get out. For a new professor, it bordered on arrogance. But the students' eyes filled with admiration instead.

The class lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes. Unlike other professors, Obern didn't even take a single break. Yet the students' focus never wavered. He wasn't just a good speaker—his voice was captivating too. Aside from the opener, he showed no flashy magic, but his lecturing was masterful.

At exactly 1:40, the professor ended class precisely.

"That's it for today. Dismissed."

Even ending so curtly brimmed with charisma. Nemi and a few other girls, plus some boys, gazed at him starry-eyed in awe.

Amaen stood.

"Be right back."

He told Lania that, then dashed down the lecture hall stairs and caught up to the departing Obern.

"P-Professor."

Up close, Obern was huge.

"What is it?"

His downward gaze carried real intimidation. Cowed, Amaen realized he had no prepared words. Blurting out "show me the staff" would earn him a whack, and deservedly so.

"I, uh, I had a question, sir."

He held out his notebook.

"What is it?"

"In the wind magic compression part, this equation…."

It went beyond today's first-lesson material. Amaen scribbled a formula he'd just thought up on the spot.

"I'm not sure if a suitable value exists here."

He handed the notebook to Obern. The scribbles were actually from a tough problem in a book he'd read recently. Practically pranking the professor, but he'd take a scolding.

Boldly, that's what Amaen thought. Meanwhile, he sneaked peeks at the staff.

Master…?

Up close, it really resembled his master. But subtly different. The crystal gleamed more beautifully, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠above all, it was too small. His real master could strangle a man's neck; this one would look like a pretty necklace dangling there.

No, must be a mistake.

And besides. If it were his master, why stay so still? The one he knew would have said, "Hey, Amaen!" But… he wanted a closer look.

As Amaen thought that—

"Amaen Riddle."

"Y-yes!"

He startled and looked up; Obern was handing back the notebook.

"Next time you have questions, formally request an office meeting."

"Understood… sir."

And Obern left. No answer, just gone? Stunned, Amaen checked the notebook.

"…!"

The answer was written beside his scribbles. Perfectly matching the book's solution. He'd solved that brutal problem mentally in seconds?

Amaen just stared blankly at Obern's retreating back.

Amaen….

I felt a bit annoyed, a bit sad.

How could you not recognize me?

I hadn't expected Amaen in Obern's first class. Seeing his name on the roster, I figured it was a coincidence. But that cream-colored curly hair from afar? Definitely him.

The kid snoring in the carriage cargo, reading by firelight. Seemed like yesterday. I'd taught him magic from that half-nonsense book from the start. Sure, mostly passing on what Pellelian told me, but that didn't make Amaen Pellelian's disciple. Disciples of public enemies become public enemies. I couldn't let that happen to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him.

So I, the kind snake, took him as my disciple.

But why didn't he recognize me for sure! One "Master?" from him, and I'd have surprised him with a "Ta-da!"

Yet even up close, he just gawked. He must not have been certain it was me.

No snake in the world is as petty as you.

But…!

Even with Pellelian's scolding, I had a point.

Me, your sky-high master, caught playing staff ornament… hard to greet first, right?

Sky-high my ass, heh.

It was true. Posing as Obern's staff was my idea. Absorb the hell magic from it, and gain dignity through Obern.

Next time, I'll greet first….

If I got a quiet moment alone with Amaen, I'd speak up. Man, it was great seeing him after so long. And more than that.

If getting my subordinate Obern hired as Emerald School professor was worth it….

The effects were plentiful. No, I just couldn't fathom it. Followers from one class? Before I was worshipped as Ouroboros, I ended wars and bit enemy generals.

He speaks better than expected.

True, teaching's more about that.

Obern's magic talent was just "gifted." But his looks, eloquence, plus Pellelian's knowledge? Genius synergy.

Just now too—Amaen's problem? Pellelian eyed it and mentally solved it for him.

Perfect for me. But something odd happened.

When we entered the faculty research building with Obern's private lab.

The admissions dean rushed up to him.

"Professor Grimoire."

"Ah, Dean."

"You've drawn the short straw. You can handle it, right…?"

"What do you…."

Even as he asked, the old dean just chuckled and left.

Other professors approached too.

"A handsome young guy like you is perfect."

"We old fogeys? They'd hate us. Can't even communicate."

"Don't worry too much. Once enrolled, they're students here. You're an Emerald School professor."

One by one, dropping lines like that.

Sudden encouragement was funny, but it felt like relief: "Glad it's not me."

"Still, it's an honor. Tutoring the prince personally."

I figured it out quick.

This year, Solion Kingdom's third prince enrolled at Emerald School as a freshman. To help him adjust, one professor would handle his full curriculum, counseling, and oversight.

And that honor went to newbie Professor Obern Grimoire. Probably the "new guy takes the crap job" principle.

A real prince appears.

Time to see a true royal face.

Truth be told, tutoring a prince is an honor for professors too. Even if the third prince was far from the throne.

The title "Prince's Tutor" was coveted by all.

And they gave it to newbie Obern Grimoire? Sure, hired on the headmaster's rave reviews, but a young nobody from a fallen noble house? No connections, no experience?

The world doesn't work that easily. There's always a catch with the fruit everyone passes on. Too sour, too bitter.

Philly Aden Solion, the third prince, was surely that bitter fruit.

Obern and I met the third prince. For a pre-class consultation.

Hmm, doesn't look princely.

That's what I thought of Philly Whatever Solion. Philly sounded half-assed, and he looked plain. Brown hair, freckles under his eyes. Sulky gaze and dark circles were his only standout traits.

Amaen looks more princely.

Nothing special about royals. This one's a wilted cabbage.

Harsh. Just plain-looking.

But royalty must intimidate humans. Obern was stiff with nerves.

"I've set Your Highness's curriculum like this. It includes all my first-year classes. Any specific courses you'd prefer?"

Not groveling, though. Obern's way of navigating: polite but proud. Kept him from seeming weak.

"Whatever. Don't care."

Look people in the eye when talking! The prince avoided it entirely. Just leg-bouncing, scanning the room.

Obern didn't call it out. I'd have snapped, "Knock off the leg-shake, punk."

From plain-faced Prince Philly's mouth came something not plain.

"…This is boring as hell."

"…."

Obern didn't reply. Probably couldn't.

"Heard you were a genius prof, thought your lab would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have something fun. But it's more boring than my dad's office."

"Professors' work isn't that exciting."

"Obern, right? Who are you anyway?"

The prince looked the part of a commoner. But his mouth was pure spoiled brat.

"Grimoire? Never heard of you. You really a genius mage?"

"…."

Whoa, royal insight? Impressive he saw through, but the constant snark was wearing thin.

"That ugly staff's kinda fun, though."

…Me?

"Gimme it. Lemme see."

The prince stuck out his chin. Hand over the staff.

Professor authority's in the gutter. Obern, gotta discipline this kid, right?

"Very well."

But Obern tried to hand me over.

You psycho, why me?

S-sorry. I'm weak to authority….

Obern froze mid-handover.

"What? Gimme."

"…."

One word from me to Obern.

"Your Highness, would you look over there for a moment?"

The instant the prince turned—

I cast the spell.

A transparent hand slammed his temple; Prince Philly crumpled like a dropped puppet. Langrei's knockout punch!

"Wh-what?!"

Obern gasped.

It's fine, calm down. Just knocked out.

Honestly, didn't expect it to land so clean.

I-if we're caught…!

I got potions. It'll be fine.

Not like he was really dead. Just a rude brat to me, prince or not.

And I hadn't just meant to discipline. I wanted to check what royals pack.

Wonder what's worth stealing from a prince's status window.

I focused my eyes on Prince Philly.