Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Sleepy Magic Tutor
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"Young Lady, the Magic Tutor the Family Head mentioned has arrived. She's waiting in the parlor right now."
"...Right now?"
It was evening.
No, it was more accurate to call it night. We'd already finished dinner, after all.
Naturally, I was caught off guard.
I'd assumed she'd come tomorrow since it was so late, and I was just getting ready for bed. Her showing up now was ridiculous.
It was an absurd situation all around, but I decided not to dwell on it too much.
"...Lize, could you grab my cardigan?"
"Right away."
She was late, but I still needed to greet her.
I threw the cardigan over my pajamas and stepped out of my room.
Showing up in just pajamas seemed rude.
Even if it was late, this was my first meeting with my Magic Tutor. The least I could do was this much.
"Ah, there she is..."
"Sorry. I was lying in bed, so it took a bit to get ready."
"No worries. I was just munching on snacks anyway."
"I see..."
I entered the parlor and met the Magic Tutor for the first time.
I sat across the table from her and finally got a proper look at her face.
She looked a bit tired, but objectively speaking, she was a beauty. She had light blue eyes and pretty sky-blue bobbed hair.
Just objectively pretty, despite the fatigue.
"........."
"Um... Teacher?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Would it be okay to ask your name? I forgot to check with Father."
"Uh... name... sure..."
"........."
She seemed a little odd.
Not slurring, but like she found everything bothersome...? That was the vibe.
Her expressions screamed annoyance and exhaustion, which only amplified it.
"Ashley. That's my name."
"Ah... So, should I call you Teacher...?"
"Yeah. That works."
"Haha..."
...Yeah. That makes sense.
They say a lot of mages are eccentric. I figured it was par for the course and let it slide.
"Um, Teacher?"
"Yeah."
"Would it be okay to ask why you arrived so late tonight?"
I hadn't expected her after dinner, so her showing up this late piqued my curiosity.
I thought it was a fair question.
Plus, William wasn't home today, so I had to handle something like an interview in his place.
Her position as my Magic Tutor was already set, but we still needed to have this talk.
"Ah..."
"?"
"I was sleeping."
"Pardon?"
"...The sunlight was extra warm today, and the mana in the air felt so cozy... I slept."
"........"
"They said as long as I came sometime this week. So I came right after waking up."
"I see..."
...Huh.
I had plenty to say, but I kept it to myself.
"...Where's my room?"
"Huh?"
"Room... The Viscount said he'd provide one. Somewhere I can sleep."
"Oh... I'll let you know about that shortly. But first... I have some questions about the lessons. Is that okay?"
"Uh... If it's under ten minutes..."
"........Yes."
Yeah. Fair enough.
Still...
At least if she taught magic well, that was what mattered.
The world has all kinds of people, some just quirkier than others. As long as she did her job...
It'd be fine.
Her first impression wasn't great, but she was pretty, so I was giving her a pass for now.
"...Ahem."
I'd realized today that I really liked pretty, cute things, but duty called.
"How many lessons per week do you plan?"
"Lessons... per week. Hmm."
"The other tutors do one or two per week now. Subjects like history, literature, liberal arts, economics...?"
"Got it."
"Uh... How about magic lessons? Since it's not just theory, I thought one or two per week might not be enough..."
"Hmm... Then... uh..."
"........."
If her face weren't so pretty, this would've been a lot worse.
I definitely overvalue looks. Otherwise, I'd be frustrated right now.
"Three."
"Three?"
"For starters. Might change as we go. Probably."
"I see..."
Three times... That was decent.
Nearly half the week, so it felt reasonable. She seemed to think so too.
"How will the lessons work? I've never studied magic before..."
"Hmm. Mana first. How to sense it, how to use it... yeah..."
The more we talked, the more her fatigue turned to outright sleepiness.
Man... Even dozing off looked pretty on her.
"Will the first lesson be tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Let's do that. Not much else to do anyway... besides sleep..."
"...Should we save the rest for tomorrow then...?"
"Yeah."
...Quick reply this time.
Honestly, chatting this late when I was sleepy myself was worse than postponing.
She'd slept all day and night, but we wrapped it up there.
...She seemed a bit weird, but according to William, she was fairly renowned for magic in the capital.
Her skills were solid, so we parted on that note.
I had Lize show her to her room, then headed back to mine.
"...Lize."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"...Nah. I'll talk tomorrow."
"...Is something wrong?"
"Eh... It's nothing. Really better to discuss tomorrow."
I'd see how the lessons went first.
Judge and gossip after.
It was our first meeting today, after all. Tomorrow's proper lesson would tell.
*
The next day, lessons started in the morning.
Earlier than expected, but she'd asked if it worked for me, and I'd said yes.
"Like I said yesterday, sensing mana is key. Magic fundamentally requires mana or holy power as materials."
"Uh..."
"First, sensing mana. Uh... Just stay still."
"Uh......"
She was acting totally normal, unlike yesterday.
Seeing Ashley behave like a regular adult was... something.
From entering the lesson room onward, she was so different—perfectly ordinary.
Her face wasn't super sleepy anymore, just normal.
Of course, she'd slept day and night... Makes sense. Still startling.
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"...?"
Ashley stood, placed her hands on my shoulders and head, and did... something.
No clue what, but yesterday's Ashley felt less awkward than this normal version.
"Hmm..."
"...?"
"Miss Camellia, I'm about to spread mana around you. If you feel it or see it, say so."
"Yes."
No idea what, but I scanned around as instructed.
Nothing visible.
"...I don't see anything."
"Figured."
"Yeah, nothing. I don't even know what mana looks like."
"Well, most can't see ambient mana right away."
".......?"
Then why tell me to look?
She's weird after all.
"Alright, now the real way to see mana. First... hand?"
"Yes."
"Holding hands. Sending mana to you through physical contact."
"...Pardon?"
"Kids aren't used to mana. Their bodies are less developed than adults, mana reserves low, so unfamiliar with the stuff."
That's why kids can't see it, Ashley explained.
She was forcing mana into me via contact to make it visible.
She kept holding my hand while explaining. Embarrassing, but same gender.
Just holding hands.
"Hmm... uh..."
"How's it feel?"
"Something... coming in...?"
Hard to describe, but definitely something entering.
From our clasped hands, up my arm toward my heart...
"Is this mana?"
"Yep."
"Ooh..."
"You have some naturally, but at eight... it's too little. Slow infusion like this... you'll see it soon."
"........"
I blinked rapidly, feeling more mana enter.
Eager to see it.
Unlike William's business or economics lessons, this showed results right away.
Of course it'd be fun and engaging.
"Ooh..."
"See it?"
"Yes... I do..."
Focusing again while holding her hand, I saw it.
Sparkly bits. Things invisible before now visible.
Not a ton, but there.
"Uh... Teacher?"
"Yeah."
"This on my shoulder..."
"Oh, you see it clearly, huh?"
"...Yes?"
I turned my head slightly and asked about the sparkles piled on my shoulder. Ashley reacted casually.
Like it was no big deal, her doing.
"Some kids lie about seeing mana when they don't."
"Ah...."
Got it.
Phew.
Thought it was something else, but glad it wasn't.
After that, mana lessons began.
What mana was, how to use it—pure mana basics.
It was so interesting I sat quietly listening to Ashley.
But... how long are we holding hands...?
"Hmm... That's enough for today. Next lesson... in two days..."
"...?"
As the lesson wrapped, Ashley's face changed.
Almost like our first meeting.
Eyelids drooping, head swaying forward, back, sides... like someone fighting sleep.
The normal teacher from moments ago suddenly acting like this raised questions.
"...Gonna sleep now."
"...Pardon?"
"............"
"....Teacher?"
Lesson over, she... fell asleep.
Hand still clasped from the mana infusion.
Her head ended up on my tiny shoulder...
"...Sigh."
Had to call Lize.
Anyway... definitely quirky and strange.
But lessons were good, so I dropped the planned gossip with Lize.
A Magic Tutor just needs to teach magic well.
"She's pretty, so that's a plus too."
Mainly because the lessons were solid.
Looks helped less than quality, though still a lot.