Be Quiet When Explaining
In the small auditorium, Laen's briefing began.
The main subject was the state of the empire and the reason they had been summoned because of it.
"As you all know, a great many things have been happening in the empire of late. Monsters are appearing on a scale without precedent, and in the north especially there is constant friction with external forces—the so-called foreigners—alongside the beasts."
Even after the empire had pacified the continent, noise had never truly ceased. This time, however, the clamor felt unusually loud.
How urgent must the situation have been for most of the academy's faculty to be dispatched on imperial orders, leaving gaps within the academy itself?
"Those of you gathered here will, for the next week, work with the remaining professors and the external guards to strengthen the academy's defenses. Given how delicate the times are, I ask that you all cooperate smoothly."
Some students nodded in agreement. Others wore open expressions of discomfort.
From that low murmur of discontent, one student quietly raised a hand.
"A question?"
"A suggestion, actually."
At the word "suggestion," Laen paused a moment, then gave a slight nod.
The girl who had been basking in the sunlight with languid eyes—Yutia Fren—rose from her seat.
"I believe the academy's current circumstances, and those of the continent as a whole, have been judged correctly by the professors. And it is true that we ought to respond accordingly. However—"
She let her gaze sweep slowly across the students.
"—since we are being asked to give up our time, I think there should be appropriate compensation."
Compensation.
At Yutia's words, the students who had been nursing private grievances began to nod.
"She's right."
"Compensation would be nice."
The pushback was expected. In the end, it was they who would be spending the time and bearing the responsibility.
"Exactly, Professor. Midterms are almost upon us—taking our personal time is a heavy burden."
With Yutia's question as the spark, complaints began to pour out like a breached dam.
Whether from confidence at having successfully steered the room's opinion, or simply because she considered the reaction only natural, Yutia stood at ease.
She's a mage, but at the end of the day she's still from the Fren family.
The prestigious house that had produced chancellors of the empire—and not only chancellors, but any number of imperial officials.
The discontented voices grew steadily louder.
Even the students who had been listening in silence made no move to intervene; whether they simply had no desire to stop it or thought compensation sounded fine, they continued to listen quietly.
"I heard this morning that the patrols will be split between morning and afternoon—how exactly will lecture hours be guaranteed?"
One student's sharp complaint drew more nods.
"Everyone, please quiet down—"
The student council had barely raised their voices to soothe the rising tide of discontent when—
"Why bother attending lectures? There's no nutrition in them."
A clear voice cut cleanly through the hall.
Heads turned.
In the very back row, a girl with pink hair that swayed as she moved—Serean—was smiling brightly, swinging her legs.
"Even without going, the people who get it already get it. Maybe you're just stupid?"
At Serean's question the noisy atmosphere instantly settled.
"What…?"
"I said you're stupid. Is not being able to attend lectures really an excuse?"
Serean smiled at the student who had just spoken.
At her words the others began to glance around, gauging the mood, and naturally every gaze settled on Yutia, who was still standing.
Their temperaments were a disastrous match for each other.
Breaking the brief silence, Yutia answered first in a soft voice.
"Miss Serean."
"Hm?"
"I already know you never learned manners, but I am curious why you would interrupt someone else's question even in a public setting like this."
Yutia did not even turn her head as she pointed out the rudeness.
"Just because I'm curious~"
"If you're curious, think it through with your own head. Don't let it leave your mouth."
At the firm rebuke Serean blinked, then rested a finger on her chin.
"Hmm."
She fell silent, as if considering.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then she nodded.
"Yeah, thinking about it, you really should attend more lectures, Yutia. You lose to me every single time."
"…"
Yutia slowly turned her head.
"What?"
Serean offered a leisurely smile, but the tension coiling between them made the students in the auditorium begin to edge away from their seats.
Any further and the atmosphere would boil over.
In the end Laen, unable to watch any longer, brought his cane down hard in warning.
"Enough."
At his intervention Yutia bowed her head; Serean, as always, crossed her legs with easy grace and let them sway.
"Both of you—do not create unnecessary tension and inconvenience the other students. And Serean: if I see one more instance of such discourteous speech, it will not end with a simple demerit."
"Yes, sir!"
Serean answered brightly with a smile. Laen quietly sighed and mentally added her name to his demerit ledger.
Once the situation had calmed, Herbology Professor Zygmunt—who had been standing uncertainly—pushed up her glasses and scurried up onto the platform.
"Regarding… the matter of compensation that was raised."
She cleared her throat, drawing the students' attention.
"Yes, well, the Chancellor has promised that those who participate will later receive… useful benefits."
Benefits promised by the Chancellor.
Considering the Chancellor's standing in the magical world, they would hardly be ordinary ones.
"If the Chancellor is guaranteeing it…"
"One-on-one consultations? Or recommendation letters?"
Some students still nursed grievances, yet the Chancellor's guarantee held tremendous appeal for those nearing graduation.
Even Yutia, who had first raised the issue, seemed satisfied by the mention of the Chancellor's benefits and sat down without further protest.
"…Then I will continue the explanation."
Laen, having barely restored order, resumed speaking at a measured pace.
He carefully listed the details of the week-long patrols and the handover procedures.
"That is all. If you have questions, come to my office."
With Laen's explanation finished, the students rose one by one and filed out of the auditorium.
Serean kept smiling at Yutia until the very end; Yutia simply brushed past her shoulder in silence and left.
Laen watched them for a moment, then gathered his things and stepped down from the platform.
"Professor."
As he descended, Laen turned. Waiting for him was the girl who had listened quietly from the very front row.
Eline Payless.
"Yes, Eline."
She was the one he had half-expected to be the most difficult among those being conscripted.
If she had set her mind to it, she could easily have manufactured grounds for refusal.
And yet—
There is one condition.
Unexpectedly, Eline had said she would agree at once if only a single condition were accepted.
"…I heard the condition you proposed. Is that truly enough?"
"Yes."
Laen found himself smiling faintly without meaning to.
"And the other party's consent?"
"I am going to obtain it now."
"Interesting."
Her sole condition had been this: that whenever she went on patrol, one companion would always be assigned to accompany her.
She had not named the companion, yet Laen knew perfectly well who it was.
"I will leave it in your hands. Things have been rather unsettled of late."
"Understood."
Eline bowed once more, then left the auditorium.
Honestly…
Laen watched her retreating figure.
In his mind she remained the most startling student he had met in the past ten years.
Outstanding. Flawless. Thorough.
Whether in a good sense or a bad one, the impression she left was that of a carefully crafted work of art—a homunculus composed of nothing but mana, devoid of feeling.
And now?
The back of the girl walking quickly to meet the lover she simply liked was that of an ordinary student.
…A lover, is it.
An amusing story.
Laen finally left the auditorium and opened the door—
—only to see a student racing down the corridor toward him.
Covered in dust, a scrape gouged into one cheek.
Spotting Laen, the student put on even more speed, then skidded to a halt in front of him and began to look uncertain.
"Is it over?"
Laen nodded.
"You're late, Valrod."
One more name was added to his demerit list.
Was I a little late?
No—we had agreed on lunchtime.
…
Still, I should walk a little faster.
If he happened to be waiting… I would feel sorry.
I quickened my pace.
I did not run, but I walked as fast as I could.
Yesterday…
Had he gotten back safely yesterday?
I had climbed the stairs quickly and watched his back disappear beyond the window.
I had kept watching until the darkness swallowed him.
Had he been tired?
If he had returned to the dormitory he would have been exhausted, so he had probably lain down at once.
…Had he slept with a pillow under his head?
…
I stopped.
I calmed my racing heart again and began to walk slowly.
One step, two steps.
A fresh breeze brushed against me as I walked at an unhurried pace.
The wind that had always soothed my weary self now seemed to bless me, tickling gently.
One step, two steps.
And then—
I lifted my head and found the boy standing there.
He was studying the outdoor menu board with a thoughtful expression.
"…"
I took a deep breath.
I slowly cooled my flushed cheeks and brought my heartbeat back to normal.
I walked toward him unhurriedly.
One step, two steps.
Tug—
When I took his unguarded hand he still startled, though less than before, and turned his head.
Our eyes met, and he smiled faintly.
"You're here?"
His large, warm hand.
"Mm."
Eline simply liked that hand.