Episode 1244
Episode 1244
'To make such a mistake while bearing the name of Oculogard!'
Paridim was deeply frustrated.
This was a mistake even a first-year student wouldn't make. How could she have made such a verbal slip?
Clearly, the Einrogard professor and senior student before her would be furious about...
"Well, that's understandable."
"I get it. We hear that often."
"?!!"
The two showed excessive sympathy toward the statement about wanting to hit a fellow magic academy mage, leaving Paridim even more flustered.
"What are you saying! How can that possibly be an understandable statement!"
Ironically, it was Paridim from another magic academy who was questioning this.
Of course, it was true that Paridim had once felt the impulse to hit a mage from the Wardanaz family.
But that had been nothing more than a momentary impulse. The rational part of Paridim's mind strongly condemned such impulses.
How could she entertain such ungrateful thoughts when the Wardanaz mage had treated her so well in the Punishment Room (even if he occasionally ignored her words)!
"Aren't you both from Einrogard too? Perhaps you don't get along with Lord Wardanaz..."
"N-no, that's not it."
This time it was Professor Garcia's turn to be flustered.
The mage from Oculogard seemed to have grown quite close to student Lee Han during her time here.
"Of course I'm also very fond of Lee Han."
"Now that I think about it, I heard you were one of the professors who locked Lord Wardanaz in the Punishment Room...!"
"What?"
In that instant, Paridim foresaw a violent and ominous future.
While Oculogard mages never bent their divination even before a blade, Paridim found herself shouting instinctively—it was a reflexive reaction.
"...It's nothing."
"Einrogard has many baseless rumors, so be careful. Outsiders invited here often get misled, you see? Isn't that right?"
At Professor Garcia's words, Golem Senior immediately exclaimed:
"That's right! Einrogard is full of baseless rumors. Especially the malicious rumors about Professor Garcia—you must never believe those!"
Professor Garcia nodded in satisfaction at her disciple's outburst.
"And Lee Han tends to attract a lot of jealousy normally, so this isn't surprising."
"Jealousy...? What do you mean?"
"What you just did, Paridim, was jealousy."
"That's absurd! How could I harbor such improper emotions!"
Paridim jumped up again in protest.
How could she, trained at Oculogard, possess such irrational and improper emotions?
"Everyone does it sometimes. Even students at Einrogard who you wouldn't expect to feel that way."
"That I...could feel jealousy..."
Paridim's face darkened abruptly.
"...Don't take it so hard. I sometimes feel like hitting my juniors too. I'm sure Professor Garcia does as well."
"What nonsense? I've never felt that way."
Professor Garcia answered shamelessly. Golem Senior cursed inwardly.
'Just trying to maintain your image as the kind professor, aren't you!'
But there was no helping it. Hadn't the master-disciple pair of the Divination Magic school been caught trying to push their work onto Wardanaz to avoid dealing with Professor Garcia?
From Golem Senior's perspective, he was also a victim who got dragged into this, but academic factions meant shared responsibility. He could only resolve that later he'd cause some major trouble himself and pin it all on Professor Kraer's name.
Thanks to their comfort, Paridim regained some composure. But this principled individual wasn't so easily swayed.
"I must return to Oculogard and report this properly to receive punishment according to the rules."
Professor Garcia's expression turned uneasy.
If it was Oculogard's school regulations, then perhaps...
'Wouldn't there be fines and even grade demotion for improper emotions and statements?'
"...Let's reconsider reporting this later! I heard you had many discussions about magic with Lee Han—how were they?"
Professor Garcia skillfully changed the subject. Paridim, unaware of the shift, answered.
"He possesses truly exceptional talent. I can see why your professors wanted to invite him."
"Lee Han is indeed quite outstanding."
"He also showed interest in Oculogard's divination arts. He even tried to learn and use some of the Secret Arts himself."
"...But he uses Einrogard's divination more often, doesn't he?"
Golem Senior answered without thinking.
Students from each school of Einrogard basically held affection for their own school unless under very special circumstances.
This affection particularly manifested when dealing with outsiders.
Even if a student normally mocked their own school by saying, "Our school has no gold coins and our professor is a madman," they would immediately seek a life-or-death duel if an outsider dared to say, "Your school has no gold coins and your professor is a madman."
In that sense, Golem Senior's immediate response was only natural.
"Lord Wardanaz was so interested in Oculogard's divination that he said he'd look into it during the vacation."
"It's just curiosity. An Einrogard mage would never use such extreme methods."
"Lord Wardanaz is an exception because he possesses unique magical power."
"Tch."
Golem Senior suddenly felt like punching Wardanaz, who wasn't even present.
This shameless junior!
How could he have already learned the notoriously difficult Oculogard divination arts in such a short time?
"Both of you, stop. Each has its own merits."
Professor Garcia stepped in as the mediator between the two.
As someone who knew both Einrogard and Oculogard's divination magic, her words carried weight.
"Understood."
"My apologies, Professor."
"It's fine. Both of you spoke out of genuine passion for magic."
Professor Garcia smiled faintly as she looked at these future talents who would uphold the Empire's divination magic schools.
However, the professor was mistaken about one thing—mages were, by nature, petty and spiteful creatures.
"Then let the professor decide. Which method would suit Lord Wardanaz better?"
"That sounds good. By the way, I've attended Professor Garcia's lectures four times. Last semester, I even assisted with her research—please don't forget that!"
"......"
Professor Garcia let out a deep sigh.
These childish mages!
"Enough. Both of you."
"If the professor decides, even that guy will have to accept—"
"I said enough."
"Yes!"
True to their reputation as outstanding divination mages, both knew when to back down.
As they fell silent, Professor Garcia slightly regretted her earlier outburst and spoke again.
"Didn't you talk about anything else? Not magic, but school life or..."
"Ah. He often mentioned looking after the other Einrogard students."
Seizing the moment, Paridim decided to ask a question that had been bothering him.
He still didn't quite understand.
"Lord Wardanaz is also a second-year student, so why is he managing the other second-years?"
"......"
"......"
"Does Einrogard have something like a grade representative?"
"...Didn't you talk about anything else?"
Though flustered by the professor answering a question with another question, Paridim replied anyway.
"Well... Ah, he talked about the professors. The admirable professors and..."
Paridim paused as something occurred to him.
Come to think of it, the mage from the Wardanaz family had also cursed some of them.
"Did he curse Professor Verdus too?"
"Of course he cursed Verdus. Who else would Wardanaz curse?"
"...!!!"
How did she know?!
Paridim was stunned.
"Y-yes, that's right. And he also said he was sorry to Professor Garcia and that he deeply regrets it."
"!"
Professor Garcia's eyes widened in shock. Beside her, Golem Senior silently marveled.
'Wardanaz... If you planned this, you truly have the qualifications to become the next Grand Mage of the Divination Magic School!'
To borrow the mouth of a trustworthy outsider to convey his remorse...
Whether intentional or not, it was a masterstroke. Indeed, one could see Professor Garcia's expression visibly soften.
Golem Senior suddenly felt greedy. If he pushed just a little harder here...
"Speaking of respected professors, Professor Garcia must have been mentioned too, right?"
"Huh? Yes."
Professor Garcia's expression softened even further. Golem Senior swelled with pride.
But then the Skeleton Principal appeared.
What rank was she?
"?!"
At the sudden appearance of the Empire's most renowned Grand Mage, Paridim hastily tried to rise from his seat to bow.
The Skeleton Principal conjured a Bone Hand in midair to wave dismissively, signaling him to stay seated.
"G-Lord Gonadaltes! What an honor to meet—"
I asked what rank.
"Pardon?"
In Wardanaz's ranking of respected professors, where does Professor Garcia stand? Above or below Professor Voladi?
"......"
"......"
As Paridim froze in confusion, Golem Senior trembled with rage.
How can someone be so wicked and underhanded!
With a single question, he ruined Professor Garcia's good mood and sowed discord...
"No need to answer. I'm not curious."
Fortunately, Professor Garcia didn't fall for the Skeleton Principal's tricks.
After years under his rule, did they think she'd be fooled by such petty divisiveness?
Personally, I think Professor Voladi would rank higher.
"...You two get along well. I'm not surprised."
And Professor Kirmin would probably rank above you too.
"What?!"
Professor Garcia flared up before she could stop herself.
She could grudgingly accept Professor Voladi given their shared history, but Professor Kirmin? Why?!
'Oh no.'
Reacting like this meant dancing right into the Skeleton Principal's palm.
Naturally, students always feel closer to professors who get into mischief with them than those who discipline them. Professor Voladi, of course, but Professor Kirmin too...
The Skeleton Principal deliberately left his sentence unfinished. Some words are more effective when left unsaid.
But Professor Garcia didn't back down easily either. She countered firmly.
"I'll be satisfied as long as I rank above you, Principal."
I'm probably at the very bottom. Harsh truths are bitter pills to swallow, after all.
"Professor Verdus would be the lowest. Even you couldn't beat Professor Verdus at that, Principal."
......
This time, even the Skeleton Principal had to admit he'd been checkmated.
When it came to getting under people's skin, Professor Verdus was truly a born talent. This was an ability no amount of effort could replicate.
Alright, let's end it here. I heard you'll be going out soon—are you also heading to get scolded by His Majesty?
"Yes. I'll go take my punishment."
Professor Garcia joked lightly.
Both the Skeleton Principal and Professor Garcia knew full well—
While the Emperor might scold the Skeleton Principal, he would never reprimand Professor Garcia!
Professor Garcia's actual purpose for leaving was to visit another magic academy.
With her student studying so diligently even in the Punishment Room, someone of Professor Garcia's temperament couldn't possibly stay idle.
The Skeleton Principal's grumpiness stemmed from having been thoroughly berated by His Majesty this time. Understanding this, Professor Garcia patiently humored him.
"!!!"
But Paridim, lacking sufficient Einrogard experience, took the conversation at face value without grasping its underlying meaning.
"Professor Garcia is going to get punished?!"
Lee Han was so shocked he nearly dropped the glass orb he was holding. Jowurin hastily caught the cream-filled orb next to him.
"Yes..."
"What a vile bastard! To sell out the professor like that!"
Paridim tilted his head in confusion, not understanding.
"Who are you referring to?"
"Uh... that is... hmm... Jowurin knows not."