Miriel Succeeds in Getting a Job(?)
"M-Master?"
I'd been excommunicated out of the blue one afternoon. Had I done something wrong? No matter how hard I racked my brain, nothing came to mind that could be a problem.
Sure, there was that time I blew up Master's study while practicing magic, but he'd forgiven me... And yeah, when I was tinkering to make Bianca the automata, I wrecked his precious high-grade mana core and mithril, but he forgave that too once he saw how perfectly she'd turned out... Oh, and the first time I nailed a dual-attribute spell demo, I accidentally torched the house—but he forgave that one as well...
No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for him to suddenly kick me out like this. I rolled my eyes around anxiously, and Master gave me a sly little grin.
What the—? Was that a joke?
"Miriel. How long do you plan to hole up in these deep mountains? A young talent like you needs to go out into the world and shine... So, off you go down the mountain."
With those words from Master, the door flew open like he was telling me to scram right that instant.
"Eek!! Nooo!! I can't lose my happy life! I'll protect it no matter what!!!"
I flung my arms wide to block my room. I'll never see the outside world again... Huh? Without my say-so, my body floated up light as a feather. And just like that, I was booted outside.
"Gaaah!!!! This has gotta be Master's doing!"
I whipped around, and there he was, striding out like he was dead set on kicking me to the curb for good.
"Isn't the outside air just delightful?"
I wanted to argue, but first things first—I'd play along. Huuuuh— I took a deep breath, biding my time for an opening. Yeah, being in the mountains really did make the air crisp and fresh. Nothing like the smoggy, dusty crap from the cities back on Earth in my past life.
So I'll protect this for sure!!
"But... keeping talent like yours cooped up in these mountains feels like such a waste."
No it doesn't? I'm good with this? Rolling-around-in-peace life! Where else is there a paradise like this...?
"That's why I've found you a great spot. You might've heard of it..."
He took a breath. Uh... this feels familiar... No way, right? Yeah, clichés don't hit this hard...
But as they say, the world doesn't bend to your whims. Master handed me a sheet of paper. My hands shook as I took it—oh crap. There in huge letters was "Medeia Academy."
Me, go to the academy at a time like this when my life's in turmoil? Why learn anything when I can hole up in these mountains?! This place is way more peaceful than that accident-prone academy packed with dangerous incidents! I can learn magic from Master! Food, clothing, shelter from Master... Huh? Am I a parasite?
I shook my head vigorously and looked at Master, but he just smiled benevolently.
"I've submitted a recommendation for you as an assistant professor at the Medeia Academy."
"Whaaaat?!?!?!?!?!?"
How the heck did things end up like this...? Right now, I was riding in a carriage with my master, Rodis Bern.
Clackety-clack—the wheels bumped over the gravel path, jostling us around, but inside it was pure bliss. Like riding in a luxury sedan. Whoa, magic! Praise be!
Clackety-clack—the gravel sounds kept going.
"Master? I must've misheard you."
Master must've lost his marbles. Me, a teacher at the academy? Not even a student? I'm Miriel, and this year I'm thirt—er, fifteen! Fifteen!! Sure, when we first met I goofed and said I was ten, so that's kinda stuck... But anyway, fifteen! Everyone wants to be young again, right? I made my dream come true? Heh heh...
Anyway, new academy students are fourteen. Graduates are seventeen. So normally, I'd aim for transfer student status, right...?
"I wonder if there's anyone else fit to teach you besides me. Sure, subjects like court etiquette or law and ethics might be worth your time..."
I shot him a side-eye glare. He'd basically just said I had no manners or morals. After living decades in that ultra-polite Eastern land, this guy has no idea.
"Hmph... Guess I'll have to assign you a personal tutor for that. Can't have you embarrassing the princes and princesses, after all..."
Right—in the story, the Fourth Prince is a fourth-year, and the Third Princess is a first-year at the academy. Fair enough... Even if I'm the picture of politeness (as a young lady), talking to royalty would make anyone nervous. I get the worry, but...
I'm a certified loner from the East! Never did anything outside work and home, social skills in the gutter—but hey, who cares? Just avoid them and no problem! So why are we heading somewhere I have to work again?
"Master? This humble Miriel still has much to learn, so perhaps more training here..."
I plastered on my most pitiful, needy expression. But Master was iron-willed. My plea fell flat. Maybe he was thrilled to finally ditch his headache baggage (me)—he looked way too happy. Wait... is that a victory smirk?
"At just fifteen, wielding three attributes, miniaturizing magic circles for a tiny automata, with more total mana than an imperial court mage... If you need more training, then everyone short of the tower lords does too."
Mmm... hard to argue when you put it like that... Wait, no? In the game, every academy student could handle three attributes and make automata, right? This is totally average... Plus, mine's not three attributes—it's attribute-less magic, and Master knows that.
"This year, they say the professors' dorms come with top-grade wool beds."
Hm? Top-grade wool beds? Now that's tempting. Mountains are nice and all, but cut off from civilization. Basics are covered, sure, but the quality's rough. That's why I whipped up magic tools now and then to kill time. Mostly for my rolling-around life, of course... Like Bianca... and others...
Anyway, even in rolling-around paradise, reality bites. A rickety shack patched in a hurry, lumpy quilts stuffed with leaking cotton and full of elbow dents, meals of meat (hunted by Master with magic), prepped and grilled by him, plus veggies he foraged himself. No wonder I'm always sore and sluggish from "sleeping." Yeah... it's not my laziness; it's the crappy living conditions. Can't buy new stuff—neither of us has cash to spare...
So yeah, top-grade wool beds sound pretty sweet...
"Oh, and end-of-month, they rent out a top restaurant for the whole day."
"Ooooh..."
"Research materials covered by academy funds, too."
"Oooooh!!"
Super tempting offers. Master's cooking isn't bad, but variety's limited... And materials for my rolling-around gadgets? Pricey. Hard to source yourself sometimes... Dragon hearts are a no-go, so wyvern hearts or magic alloys... top-grade mana cores, that kinda thing.
"Well? Not a bad deal for you, right?"
Hmm... maybe not so bad?? Lectures? Use my future knowledge to slap together a curriculum, assign self-study, hand out credits. Then I can nap full-time in the dorm... eat at the fancy restaurant... Slurp... This could be peak rolling-around life!
Falling for that untimely gaslighting, I packed my bags that day and set off for the imperial capital in the carriage with Master.
"But Master, why are you coming along?"
Weird. I heard he'd cut ties with the world. Why tag along with me? Worried about his unreliable disciple? Master... do you really distrust me that much...?
"Heh heh... Because I'm your full professor, of course."
"Huh?"
First I'd heard of it!!! I don't have every professor memorized, but a five-attribute mage on staff? Never heard or seen that. If he was there, I'd have noticed—professor choice mattered big-time in the game.
Take Perdita, the genius mage ally to the protagonist. For mana boosts, you'd pick magic classes based on the prof's stats. Perdita handles water, lightning, wind. Professor Boares teaches fire magic, Zephyros wind. With her, Zephyros gives +2 mana, Boares +1. That kinda difference.
If my master Rodis Bern with five attributes was there? I'd pick him in a heartbeat—probably +5 mana. So he's definitely not in the original game... How'd this happen?
Oblivious to my thoughts, Master just continued calmly.
"Alright, Miriel. While we travel, let's go over the academy, full professors, assistants, and such."
"Gaaah!!!"
Theory and history—my least favorite!! I busted out my eyes-open nap skill, using the bare branches and fresh snow outside as ambiance to tune out Master's lecture. I already knew it all from the game anyway. Gotta protect my sleep time...
Thwack—
"Ow!!"
Master's staff hovered over my head. No spells in the carriage, but he'd amped it with raw mana for a solid whack.
Ugh... trying to kill your fragile disciple?
"No sleeping. Listen up. You're about to be an assistant prof—gonna nap through classes too?"
Guh... H-how'd you know?