Magitech Class (2)
'Nah, that's not enough to go on.'
I briefly wondered if the magical beast studies professor might be in league with that last king of Drelin, but I quickly shook my head and dismissed the idea. Sure, getting Yustina to pull off something like that was shady as hell, but it wasn't solid proof he was the Imperator's inside man. Evidence was too thin. There were plenty of jerk professors in the world...
Graduate school is definitely off-limits.
I swallowed hard, thinking of Yustina, who'd been pushing me toward grad school after graduation—even dangling a professorship. If some creep like the magical beast studies guy ended up as my advisor, I'd have to bolt from the academy, Flower Garden quest or not.
Just keep it in mind, but don't jump to conclusions.
I plopped down on a rickety chair and watched the magical beast studies professor get treated by the healer lady. Occupational habit, maybe, but my eyes went straight to the gash on his leg.
That's...
Not your run-of-the-mill bump or bruise. Not even a clean slice from a blade or spear. The flesh was torn ragged and brutal—not like a stab or slash from sharp metal. More like it'd been mauled by fangs or claws.
Beast... oh, a magical beast?
The thoughts chained together. He taught magical beast studies, so maybe he'd gotten careless managing or researching the ones in the back hills. But I felt less sorry for him and more like calling him lucky. Getting off with just that wound instead of losing a limb? That was divine intervention for a professor.
All that bragging...
Still, I couldn't help smirking inwardly. In class, he'd strutted around like hot shit, puffing himself up: soloing dozens of beasts, taming the back hills' lot, conducting them like a maestro if he felt like it. For a guy like that to get mauled by one of his "tamed" pets? Ego must've taken a brutal hit.
"Ah, aaah...!"
"Aigoo, grown man making a fuss. It's done—hold still!"
"S-sorry... haha... but just a bit gentler... urk?!"
"I said it's done!"
Up close, though, something felt off. Hard to pin down, but the guy in front of me didn't match the arrogant prick from class. That one was haughty and nitpicky; this one radiated a friendly, gentle vibe. Same face, but they felt like totally different people.
"There, all done. You're good to go. Next patient!"
"R-really? No infection? It still kinda hurts..."
"Aigoo, a professor acting like such a baby."
"I-it'll be trouble if it hurts tomorrow. I figured my class was canned anyway, but then a horde of new students flooded in..."
"Hmm, what subject do you teach, Professor?"
"Oh, magitech. Just the first-years, though. Heh."
Magitech professor? My eyes went wide at the twist. Same features as the magical beast studies guy, but magitech? What the hell?
"Wait, not magical beast studies—you're the magitech professor?"
"Y-yeah. And you are...?"
Curiosity surged, chasing away my exhaustion. I stepped forward and introduced myself.
"Deneb Lehinar, first-year. I'm in your magical beast studies lecture, and I just signed up for magitech too."
"O-oh! R-right, I remember you. One of the new faces in magitech..."
"Yeah, so... um..."
The man straightened his slumped shoulders.
"Right. I'm Winston Gehel. Embarrassing, but I'm the first-year magitech professor. Nice to meet you—really."
"Hello."
I shook the hand he offered. So, magitech prof was Winston Gehel; magical beast studies was Alexis Gehel, as far as I knew. Same surname—family, obviously. But this identical? Had to be twins. Mystery solved.
"Um, hey..."
"Yes?"
"You don't need treatment right now? Not saying stick around for me, but I have some questions... Kinda weird asking a patient stuff like this, though..."
I glanced past Winston at the healer. She met my eyes and shrugged. Come whenever—just wrap it up.
"Go ahead. I had something to ask too."
"H-haha! Great! You first, then..."
"No, you first, Professor."
"Right? Yeah. One sec..."
Winston pulled a notebook from his pocket, flipping pages and glancing between it and me. Student dossiers? I waited ages for the question.
"So, what made you sign up for magitech?"
"Hmm, reasons?"
"Y-yeah. It's not exactly popular. Embarrassing to admit, but it was nearly canceled... Not blaming the subject—my fault, really... You get it."
His self-esteem seemed rock-bottom. Ambitious class on the brink? Fair. A few of us had resuscitated it, but that just added pressure.
I kept it straightforward, no fluff.
"Got interested in magitech lately. Still in add-drop period, shopped around, and it looked good."
"I-interest in magitech~! Great, that's great. More pressure on me... Gotta step it up..."
From there, I deployed assassin-grade smooth talk. Winston, who'd stuttered and lacked confidence at the start, perked up as we chatted. Even the healer auntie perked her ears.
A few minutes later?
"Haha, hahaha! Deneb, didn't you have a question for me? When're you asking?"
"Oh, right. Slipped my mind."
He seemed fully at ease now. Room for two questions, easy.
The first was a softball; second, trickier.
"You know the magical beast studies professor?"
"Ah, him. Alexis Gehel—my big bro."
"Aha, figured."
He answered breezily, like he'd heard it a million times.
"Twins, right?"
"Twins...? Yeah, look-alikes. But he rocks flashy clothes and struts confident; I slouch in rags. Side by side, you'd tell us apart quick."
"Makes sense. Twin professor brothers—who knew."
I nodded slowly; he sighed.
"Common question. Bro teaches the hot class, so kids he scares end up scared of me too."
"Haha, easy mix-up."
"If I were popular, no issue... Sigh."
So, different guys. I'd guessed twins from the vibe clash, but confirmed. Both professors at Denebergen, the empire's top academy? Parents must be proud.
"But Professor, one more thing..."
"Hm? Another? Class content? Tomorrow's lesson? Ask away—I'll answer anything!"
"Haha, no. Just curious."
I pointed at his leg, where the wound had been, eyes wide with innocent kid curiosity—no suspicion.
"How'd you get that gash?"
"...Ah, that one?"
Despite his "ask anything" line, Winston froze, eyes trembling as he eyed me carefully. Picking words like it was a minefield.
Something's off.
A weird disconnect. I'd pegged it as a beast or magical beast mauling—fits a magical beast studies prof. But on a magitech prof? Why would he be back there with the beasts?
Why? How? What for?
Winston answered curtly.
"Ahh~ Tripped and tore it. Haha, gotta watch my step. That new paper was so gripping..."
Lie. Pure, 100% bullshit. Anyone could see it was a beast attack, but he claimed a trip? The healer behind him didn't call it out, but her brow furrowed involuntarily. She knew. Healers spot that stuff.
...Bad vibes.
A toxic fog of unease rose from my ankles, faint but poisonous.
Couldn't press here, though—weird. Let him go for now.
"S-see you in class tomorrow!"
"Sure. Pro—cough!"
"Wha—hey?! You okay? Help him!"
Then my head spun, body wobbling off-balance.
...Right. I'd been on the verge of collapse from exhaustion.
"Kid! Told you to hurry up! These professors work you kids to death. Poor thing's half-dead, and they don't even notice..."
Predictably, I got buried under the healer auntie's scolding barrage, helpless as she pumped healing magic into me.