Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: One-Day Lecturer
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To gather more detailed information on the Imperial Academy and our major client Helen, the method I chose was a direct approach.
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Max, the instructor for today's one-day lesson on illusion magic. I run the 'Hall of Illusions' on the outskirts of the capital, a place that showcases desires. It captures the essence of illusion magic, so I hope those of you interested will stop by."
Becoming a one-day instructor to observe Helen and those around her throughout the day at the academy.
So, I immediately contacted the headmaster and said I wanted to give a short lecture on illusion magic for the students.
-Max, you want to be a one-day instructor? I'll make room for you anytime!
Though illusion magic didn't receive much respect, it remained an essential subject at the academy.
That made sense, as the back alleys and black markets—commonly called the dark underbelly—routinely evaded the guards and investigators using illusion magic.
It had no combat power, but it was a great skill for fugitives to dodge surveillance.
'One of the reasons illusion magic gets a bad rap.'
The kind of magic back-alley thugs would use.
To catch wanted criminals like that, you had to learn about illusion magic, but there were hardly any wizards who specialized in the Illusion School.
Pretty much just Professor Meiko and me.
As a result, illusion magic was often taught as a side gig by wizards from other schools, not illusion specialists.
I wasn't on Professor Meiko's level, but I was still a wizard recognized by various schools.
That was why the headmaster welcomed me with open arms.
A lecture from a specialist in illusion magic visiting the academy after so long.
He must have thought it would be quite helpful to the students.
Standing before the packed classroom of Imperial Academy students, I felt a fierce glare of hostility from somewhere.
I knew who it was without even looking.
Helen de Silvesta, no doubt.
She'd suspect my sudden visit.
Wondering if I was here to blackmail her.
'Don't worry. I'm just here to make your pure desires even more detailed.'
And to promote the shop while I'm at it.
Business has been terrible.
I need side gigs like this just to keep it afloat.
"Alright, since you all already know the basics of illusion magic, let's talk about some things you probably don't. Most academy students learn it to detect the illusions used by wanted criminals..."
Throughout the lecture, I scanned every student in the room.
And I found the 'loser' that Helen despised and loathed so much.
A cowering gaze.
Hunched shoulders.
Even peeking nervously at the delinquents sitting next to him.
Anyone could see he was at the bottom of the class food chain.
'So that's what he looks like.'
No wonder he hadn't stuck properly in Helen's mind.
He had a completely ordinary appearance.
The kind of student you see anywhere.
Just a bit worn clothes aside, he was utterly average.
"To detect or dispel illusion magic, you're looking for gaps, but that's a high-difficulty dispel method. There's a better way: track the mana flow. It's hard to sense normally, but there'll be points where the flow is disrupted. For example..."
Having observed the loser enough, I refocused on the lecture.
I made full use of the full two hours without a single break.
I got paid, so I had to do the job right.
As I taught, I checked the faces and personalities of the students in the class.
I couldn't peer into their deep inner selves one by one, but just from their focus during class, I could get a rough sense of each cadet and commit it to memory.
'That should feel real enough to Helen.'
The most important one was Prophard Youngsik, the 'loser' in her mind.
Throughout the class, I clearly felt Helen glaring at me.
She must have been super tense.
"...And that concludes today's lesson. I trust you've gained a bit more understanding of the essence of illusion magic."
Finishing up, I addressed the cadets.
"Oh, and as I mentioned earlier, the Hall of Illusions is always waiting for customers. Anyone interested in desires and illusions, come visit anytime."
With the final promotion done, I gathered my materials and headed out.
"Hey. M-Max... I mean, Instructor."
Helen called out to me as I was leaving.
"What's up?"
"What are you doing here? What's your game?"
She glanced around cautiously and growled in a low voice.
"I'm here to teach illusion magic. What else would it be?"
"...What do you want?"
"You don't think I'm here to blackmail you, do you?"
At my question, she checked her surroundings again.
"Come out here."
From the outside, she looked like an enthusiastic student eager to ask about the lesson—what was she so worried about?
I followed her out of the classroom to a secluded spot.
"I didn't expect you to show up so brazenly."
"You're misunderstanding. I have no intention of blackmailing you, Lady Silvesta."
"Then why are you here?"
"...You've seen our shop, so you know. Business is bad. No customers. The one-day instructor gig is to earn living expenses and promote the place."
"That bad?"
"Yes. Barely any customers."
"...Really? No lies at all?"
"Of course. I have zero intention of blackmailing you. Every customer is precious. Want me to swear on my mana?"
I truly had no intention of blackmailing her.
Just gathering info.
So, no lies, right?
Only then did Helen, finally grasping my sincerity, step back.
"...Sorry. I thought you came to blackmail me."
"I wouldn't do that. Don't worry. Come visit if you think of it later."
"..."
"I wouldn't dare touch the Silvesta family."
Why poke a hornet's nest?
I'd just get hurt.
"Anyway, if that's all, I still have things to do."
Helen nodded.
Good, she finally seemed to get my true intentions.
Free of Helen, I went looking for the 'loser' she'd mentioned.
Away from the delinquents, he stood there looking more at ease than in class.
"Prophard Youngsik."
"Ah, Instructor."
"Wanna talk for a sec?"
"Me...?"
"Yeah. Need a quick background check."
For our precious customer.
When the owner of that illusion shop showed up at the academy, I was really startled.
'Is he here to blackmail me?'
There are guys like that sometimes.
Ones who dare to target or covet the massive halo of being a Silvesta.
I wondered if this man was one of them.
Throughout the lesson, I watched him with suspicion-filled eyes.
He definitely had some ulterior motive.
But Max ended the class more normally than expected.
No telepathy sent my way, no blackmail messages.
Even the lesson was useful.
I picked up quite a few illusion magic tips you wouldn't hear from regular professors.
"As I mentioned earlier, the Hall of Illusions is always waiting for customers. Anyone interested in desires and illusions, come visit anytime."
Just leaving like this?
No way.
He had to be after something.
No way he'd leave just like that.
I hurriedly grabbed Max as he tried to go.
But his response was...
"Business is bad. No customers. The one-day instructor gig is to earn living expenses and promote the place."
Helen recalled the shop she'd seen.
Not a single customer the whole time she was enjoying her illusion.
'Was that because there were no customers?'
No way.
Really?
"I wouldn't dare touch the Silvesta family. Anyway, if that's all, I still have things to do."
With that, he left as if he had no interest in her at all.
"He really came just to teach?"
His actions made it seem like he'd erased all memory of last time, and suddenly I felt embarrassed.
It felt like I was the only one vividly holding onto that day's memories.
'I feel like the only slutty one.'
Like I was clinging because I couldn't forget that pleasure.
"No. Get a grip."
This wasn't about clinging because I couldn't forget that pleasure. I just asked because I was anxious he might be trying to blackmail me.
Yeah.
That's it.
'Pull yourself together. Don't waver.'
Sighing to steady her mind, she spotted Max taking the loser—no, Prophard Youngsik—away.
"What?"
Why was he taking that loser?
He said he wouldn't blackmail me.
"No way..."
Was he using that guy to blackmail me?
She hid and waited for Max, who had entered the counseling room with Prophard Youngsik.
She wanted to eavesdrop, but the room was perfectly soundproofed to protect student privacy.
"Ah, can't hear anything."
Helen paced anxiously near the counseling room, stomping her feet.
'Why am I the one freaking out? I'm a Silvesta lady.'
Everyone should be looking up to and respecting her.
The one who should be nervous wasn't her—it was that Max.
"Ugh... annoying."
But the one clearly holding the reins was that man.
Because she had a weakness in his hands.
That's when it happened.
The door swung open, and the two came out.
"Thank you."
Prophard Youngsik—no, the loser—exited the counseling room, smiling brightly at Max.
"If you have any more worries, talk to me. You seem to have plenty of magical talent, so don't worry too much."
"You're the first one to tell me that. I'll work really hard."
Like an ardent devotee, the loser bowed deeply to him and headed back to the classroom.
Helen followed the loser and called him out.
"Hey, loser."
"Uh, y-yes? L-Lady Silvesta."
"What did you talk about with that instructor?"
"Huh? The instructor? Why...?"
"Don't try to hide it."
Her voice was icy.
Interrogating Max wouldn't yield anything anyway.
So, the loser was all that was left.
She just needed to dig out what that illusion wizard had said to him.
Blackmailing a guy like this was child's play.
"Spit it out quick. You're pissing me off."
"See, it was..."
"Ugh, hurry up!"
She was angry.
Was it because of the experience in the illusion?
Every time she saw this guy's face, her disgust grew thicker.
"He said I have outstanding magical aptitude. If I wanted, he'd write a recommendation for the Meister School..."
"That's it?"
"That's everything..."
"..."
That was really all?
I'd been pacing in front of that counseling room for this crap?
"Don't lie."
"I-It's true! Why would I lie? I can swear on it."
That guy, Max, said he could swear too.
On his mana.
"Then do it."
"Huh?"
"Swear on it. Swear on your mana that what you just said isn't a lie."
"...O-Okay."
In a completely cowed voice, he gathered mana.
He carefully pressed the swirling mana in his hand to his chest.
-I swear on the laws of mana. That those words hold no falsehood.
The runic vow ended, but nothing happened.
It was true.
"That's really everything?"
"Yeah... Um, Lady Silvesta, do you have some issue with that instructor? Why are you so desperate..."
"None of your business!"
Yelling, Helen glared at the loser for a moment before storming off.
No. There had to be something.
A wizard who could use illusions like that must have pulled some trick she didn't know about.
Can't trust it so naively.
Arrogant.
Way too arrogant.
'Max... what the hell are you thinking?'
Deciding she'd have to go confront him again and confirm, she headed back to the classroom.