Chapter 14. Recruitment
Yael, the promising teaching assistant from the Theory Department at the Magic Academy, had returned to work after her expedition. In the meantime, she'd gained a new junior TA. The newbie, hired a month after she left, was a human woman named Nis with a friendly face and a bubbly personality. She wasn't exceptionally talented, but her diligence and hard work had won over the professor. She followed her senior Yael around without a hint of shyness.
Besides the new addition to the Theory Department staff, the academy had seen plenty of drama. The biggest buzz was around the popular Combat Department and their freshly hired TA—a fairy. Fairies were superior not just physically but magically as well. They fought well, cast spells brilliantly, and looked stunning. Honestly, humans were an inferior race by comparison. They only dominated because of their superior breeding rates. Anyway, word was that this beautiful blonde fairy had already turned down multiple recruitment offers from heroes. It was baffling that someone like her would choose to be a TA instead of joining a solid hero team, where she'd be treated like royalty and rise through the ranks effortlessly.
Rumors swirled about her, but Yael didn't pay much attention. It was none of her business. She had mountains of her own work. With the Captain due back any day, she was hell-bent on nailing down a solid lead on double casting before then. The druggie TA didn't slack on her thesis either. This week's topic was a theoretical breakdown of double casting. Her advisor had raised an eyebrow at the sudden pivot from her previous research, but he'd showered her with praise, saying the quality had skyrocketed.
"As expected from our Theory Department's star!"
Especially her take on double casting—multiple incantations—was a hot topic. It was territory most avoided, so her bold dive drew attention across the academy. Not all of it positive, though. Theory folks clapped her on the back as a prodigy; Combat snobs sneered like, Who does she think she is? Truth was, they were jealous of a backwater department producing work this good. Her junior Nis, with her middling talent, had her eyes wide open reading it, practically frothing at the mouth.
"Do you think I could ever reach your level someday, Senior?"
"...I'm nothing special. Don't hype me up like that."
"If you're ordinary, then I'm just some street pebble rolling around—!"
The cheeky junior hovered around her senior constantly, claiming she wanted to soak up every scrap of knowledge from such a promising talent.
Anyway, Yael's days blurred into a frenzy of double casting practice, thesis writing, and research. She crashed at the team mansion maybe once a week. The rest of the time, she lived at the academy. Then one day, an unexpected visitor showed up at her TA office: the genius Combat Department newbie everyone was talking about.
"I'm Leni Grape from Combat. You're TA Yael, right?"
"Ah, yeah. That's me. ...What brings you here so suddenly?"
True to her fairy nature, she had a frosty vibe and stiff tone. Talented, sure, but zero social skills. Nis is way better, Yael thought.
"I read your paper on double casting. Fascinating stuff. Approaching it from a pure theory angle was refreshing."
"Oh, glad you liked it."
Leni Grape was a junior from another department, so Yael kept it polite. No need to give the Combat pricks ammo to trash all of Theory over some petty slight.
"I'd love to chat about it. ...You free?"
Of course she was, but Yael wasn't thrilled. It felt like the fairy wanted to gobble up her hard-earned insights for free. That knowledge came from blood, sweat, and tears. Plus, she had zero interest tying herself to Combat's arrogant crowd.
"Ah, bad timing. I'm swamped right now, need to focus. ...I'll swing by when I have a sec. Cool?"
The fairy wasn't clueless; she backed off quick.
"Got it. Sorry for stealing your precious time."
"No worries. Thanks for the interest."
The Combat fairy TA left. Soon after, her junior TA popped in, plopping into the chair across from her with a goofy grin.
"Senior, that fairy TA was just here, right? ...Saw her leaving. What'd she want?"
Nis looked curious as hell.
"Just about the recent paper. Seemed interested."
"Ah, the double casting one? Geniuses recognize geniuses, huh. That thing's a masterpiece. ...You think Combat's eyeing you for recruitment?"
Yael snorted at Nis's wild speculation.
"Cut the bullshit and get back to your research. You got time to chit-chat? Theses aren't written on playtime."
Nis just grinned through the nagging.
"I've been grinding non-stop. Just taking a quick break."
"I'm busy right now?"
"...Um, Senior, could you take a quick peek at my thesis? First time writing one, not sure what's missing. ...Too much to ask?"
"Fine, whatever. Bring it later."
Yael wasn't heartless enough to shut down a simple peer review between juniors. If Nis were a guy, she'd watch her step, but same sex made it easy. TAs fooling around happened all the time in these tight quarters—natural, really. A way to reward their grind. But Yael had never once wanted a academy fling. No interest in romance amid the ink and paper stench. Besides, she had a man she loved.
...Ah.
Thinking of the Captain suddenly set her body ablaze. Right in front of innocent little Nis. ...Though compared to stripping bare and spreading her legs next to teammates, this was tame.
Truth was, she masturbated to him every night. Her dirty secret. No way this pure junior guessed her icy, rock-solid senior was sluttier than a whore.
Yael played her role to perfection: cool, rational, competent TA. All while fantasizing nonstop about the Captain—his cock, sadly sucking fingers instead of tongue, fingering her ass like a maniac. But her chest always ached empty. Only he could fill that void. She flailed in constant deprivation.
"You heading out?"
"Ah, yeah, going now."
Nis stood.
"I'll bring the thesis later, Senior."
"Good. Work hard. ...Or you'll never make professor."
"Hehe, me, a professor? With you around? ...Nah, I'll stick as a researcher. Suits me better."
"Keep at this crap? ...Survive one year, that fantasy dies."
"Then we'll see in a year."
Nis left with a gentle smile. Now the cramped TA office was Yael's alone. Stuffy and tight, but familiar now—cozy, even.
...Gotta nail double casting soon.
Not easy. Even basic spells were hell to dual-cast with both hands. She felt her talent's cruel limits. If only I had a bit more gift... The thought lingered. But she wouldn't quit. Couldn't. She had to become what the Captain needed. That's why she was learning combat magic too. Low-level fire spells had hit their ceiling against that demon. Problem was, Theory Department meant no one to guide high-level stuff. Her advisor sucked at combat magic.
Then she remembered the Combat fairy TA.
...Maybe learn some battle spells from her. Trade for double casting tips.
Lost in thought, someone knocked. She snapped up, eyeing the door. This girl can't wait, huh... Figured it was Nis with her thesis.
"Come back later. Busy."
- Got it. See you later, Yael.
She froze, head snapping up from her desk, eyes wide. Shock locked her in place.
Definitely the Captain's voice. No mistaking it. She'd longed for it so bad—!
"C-Captain—!"
She kicked back her chair and bolted up. Gone was the rational TA. She flung open the door. There he was, turning back—her Captain, the one she'd waited for.
Ah, ah—.
She crashed into his arms. Three months apart. Tears nearly spilled.
"What if someone sees? This is the academy."
Ah—! She came to her senses, glancing down the empty hall.
"W-Wanna come in?"
She ushered him into the tiny room. Her body burned, driving her mad. Not planned, but instinct took over. Cock, cock, cock. Only thing on her mind. Three months pent-up—way past breaking point. Jerking off had barely held her, but seeing him burst the dam.
"You been good?"
"...Yeah."
Lie. She'd been dying without him. Prayed desperately for his return. Her body trembled, urges uncontrollable. Wanted to pounce right then. Forced it down, barely.
"This your workspace?"
"Y-Yes."
"Feels stuffy. Tiny window too."
"Used to it now."
The Captain was still so damn hot. Now a proper C-rank hero. Perfect man, no flaws.
Ji-hyuk glanced around the room, then back at the druggie TA. Scrolls piled high on her desk—headache-inducing. He felt a surge of respect for mages. Dedicate a lifetime to one spell? Admirable grit.
"Took longer than expected, huh? ...Should've learned magic myself. Teleport around easy."
"The continent would've flipped."
Space teleport was ancient lost magic, 8th-level nightmare. He hadn't meant it seriously. Even if he'd started in loop 1, no chance. Top mages wouldn't touch it. He lacked mana talent anyway—innate, hard limits. Ditched magic early.
"Double casting coming along?"
Ah—.
Yael nearly lost it right there. Double casting evoked his cock naturally. Ngh. She clamped down hard.
"...Y-Yeah. Working hard."
"Good. Big hopes for you. Won't be easy, but you'll nail it."
Ah, ah—.
Her eyes glazed. She cracked. The druggie TA shot up. Ji-hyuk looked up, puzzled. She strode over, dropped to her knees. Mouth parted, panting—intent crystal clear.
"Captain, can I... have your cock...?"
The demand was blatant.