No Snoozing on Opening Day!
Professor Miriel... what a nice ring to it. "Nyaaah..." Even with my eyes closed, I could feel a bright light. I'd definitely drawn the blackout curtains before bed, so why?! I rubbed my sleepy eyes and cracked them open just a sliver. There was Bianca. That mischievous little orb... But hey, I'm a kind creator, so maybe I should hear her out first?
"Ughhh... Yeah, Bianca? Why'd you wake me up? It's still sleeping time, y'know..."
Bianca promptly brought over a tray. Apple juice? I peered closer and saw a calendar instead. Hmm... this feels like déjà vu... Nah, just my imagination. Yeah, totally imagination. Bianca pointing at March 1st? Also imagination. No way it's already March. Just to reiterate, in the Portia Empire, March 1st isn't a holiday. Which means it's the first day of the semester. But it was February, like, just the other day, right?
I hugged the penguin doll Master had bought me as a birthday present extra tight. Hehe—Master... I told you not to spend so lavishly, but you went and got me this adorable Penggu. What a great guy... Anyway, from now on, you're Penggu!
I channeled some mana to draw the blackout curtains. As for Bianca trying to pull them open, I tossed a barrier inside that kept her from coming out and left her in the corner. Just as I was drifting back to sleep...
Knock knock. Someone was at the door. Ugh!! So noisy! I just want some shut-eye!! Should I cast a soundproof spell? But then the knocking got even louder.
Bang bang! And Master's voice rang out.
"My disciple Miriel! Today is March 1st, the first day of the semester!!! Get up this instant!!!"
"What?!"
Sleep vanished at Master's words. Not for any other reason—it's Master. If he came to wake me and I don't get up, who knows what'll happen! I bolted out of bed. Still groggy, I rubbed my eyes with one hand while clutching the Penggu Master gave me with the other as I went to greet him.
"Aigoo... what a sight. This won't do. Cordelia, can I leave my disciple in your hands?"
"Just leave it to me, Rodis Bern. I'll make Miriel presentable."
Huh? Who's that? I forced my droopy eyes open a bit wider. There, next to Master, was a flash of pink. Oh, a person. Let's see... Wait, is that Cordelia? Her pink hair was neatly done up, and she was wearing the classic maid outfit—black and white, with lace trim on the skirt hem, hands demurely clasped, a headband, and most importantly, those huge... things that her clothes could barely contain!!
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Cordelia bowed toward me. Oh my god!! What is that?! Back in my old world, this situation would've been a total disaster. Bending over like that makes it hard to know where to look... S-sorry about that. Not immune to this stuff... Huh? Wait a sec, doesn't it not matter now? I'm a girl, right?
With a smidge of ulterior motive, I let my gaze wander—only for Cordelia to start approaching me. Why's she coming over here? What's going on? Anxious, I flinched and scooted to the middle of the bed without thinking. That's when I noticed the grooming tools in her hands... E-eh? No way?
"Miriel, if you stay still, it'll be over quickly."
Ehhh? For real? I shook my head desperately. Didn't faze Cordelia much. She went for a two-handed grab. I dodged with Evasion. She followed up with a tackle. Master's magic hit dead-on. Super effective.
Yeah... I'm screwed... With my legs bound by Master's spell, I put on the most pitiful face I could muster and opened my mouth.
"Um... Miss Cordelia? I can change clothes by myself..."
"No time. Rejected."
It's over... The dignity of a full-grown adult...
Drip. This single tear sums up my heart...
"Ooh." In a flash, I was dressed. The outfit wasn't what Cordelia brought—it was my usual robe—but not only changed, I even got light makeup. Staring in the mirror, I didn't look like my usual self.
"Truly splendid work, Cordelia."
"You're too kind, Rodis. As head maid of Medeia Academy, I merely ensured all professors—including our tomboyish ones—arrive at the auditorium on time."
Wait, did she just call me a tomboy? Pretty sure that was aimed at me? I shot her a death glare full of dissatisfaction. But Cordelia ignored me completely and started tidying my room. Ahh!! That's—! I dashed over and snatched Penggu before she could grab him.
"This... no way."
Yeah... this one's precious.
"Can't tidy without putting that away."
Still no...
"That doll was my first gift to my disciple, so I trust you'll understand..."
Master!! You think that much of me? Then treat me better on the regular!
"By the way, Miriel. You're taking that doll too?"
Huh? Uh... obviously, gonna use it as a pillow.
Master shook his head at my face.
"Even as a professor, looking that childish might be a problem."
"Eh..." Is it? Okay, Penggu. Stay here for now. I'll be back. I cast protective isolation magic on my precious bedding with utmost care. Hmm—safe now.
Cordelia sighed, shoulders shaking in disbelief at the sight.
"Both of you need to hurry to the auditorium."
"Haha... Understood, Cordelia. My disciple's room is yours."
"Yes, Rodis."
Leaving Cordelia behind, I hurried after Master. The auditorium already had a few professors seated. As the doors opened, all eyes turned to us. Glancing around, they were all familiar faces from the original story—I'd seen them countless times.
The first to greet us was none other than the ultimate scaredy-cat prof, Melian.
"Good day? Professor Rodis Bern, in charge of Attribute Magic Theory."
She bowed to my master first, then lowered her gaze to me with a soft smile. That warm grin, her light green hair matching her beige scholar's robes—it melted hearts. If memory serves, she ranked in the top 10 professor popularity poll purely on looks, not skill...
"Have a good night? Professor Miriel, in charge of Understanding Attribute-less Magic."
"Ooh..." What a nice ring to it. Professor Miriel... Hot damn!! No no no!! Almost got gaslit again. The workplace life is zero help for my roll-around-and-relax dreams!!
"Vice Professor Miriel. Up on time for once?"
A huge guy with jet-black hair—gauntlets on both hands, totally mismatched for alchemy prof Jed.
"Indeed—thought you were busy prepping for the new semester since you wouldn't come out."
That mocking tone midway through? High Swordsmanship prof Terrier.
"Sleeping a whole month to recover from a four-day carriage ride? So young, yet that weak... Tsk tsk tsk. That's why swordsmanship matters! What can you do with weaklings like this..."
Oh, right. This guy's one of the empire's rare swordmasters who looks down on mages as "magic squabblers." No idea why a swordmaster's stuck nurturing students here, but he's hated mages from the start. Whatever, doesn't matter. In the game, no playable sword users, so I barely dealt with him. Better avoid him.
"She's young—must've been so boring and tiring stuck in a carriage. Should be out running around at that age, yet here she is teaching others. How admirable!"
Ooh—go Melian prof!! Heart as big as her... assets!! No wonder she ranks high on popularity despite lacking skill...
"Hmph—academy's gone to the dogs. What was the chairman thinking, making a kid like this a professor..."
What? Kid? Okay, I am a kid, but "brat"? Should I clap back? Oh right, he missed my duel with Layered—sword instructors were all dispatched then. Sigh... As the adult (30+5), I'll endure. Endure it.
"Professor Terrier! Professor Miriel beat Professor Layered Pilot in a 1-on-1 duel! She's more than qualified!"
Ooh, Melian's got my back.
"Correct, Professor Terrier. Professor Miriel has more than enough skill to teach!"
Blue hair, gray robe like mine—Water Magic prof Naiad Portridge. Mages are all on my side, huh.
"Downplaying her is like downplaying Archmage and former Imperial Court Mage Corps leader Rodis Bern, no?"
The redhead looking ready to erupt with mana from both hands—Fire Magic prof Calden Prosper. Whew, fire attribute lives up to the temper. I rolled my eyes desperately, searching for Master to bail me out. He was chatting with the chairman. Ah, doomed. Strength drained, I lost the will to retort. It's just... too much hassle to fix this. I plopped into my assigned seat. Eyes closed, ears plugged—sleep crept in. Can't sleep though...