Chapter 89
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The New Semester's Archmage (1)
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"Next week, the second semester starts already."
The faculty lounge on the third floor of the main building.
A teaspoon clinked against a teacup, accompanied by a deep sigh leaking out.
"I have no idea how those two months flew by."
"Tell me about it. Blink, and opening ceremony's here."
"Doesn't this vacation feel especially short?"
It wasn't just the students who dreaded the start of school.
The professors felt the exact same way.
"Professor, I heard you went to the Rosen Kingdom in the south this time. I'm jealous."
"I took the family on a trip to clear my head a bit."
"They say the seafood dishes are famous, right?"
"They're incredible, for sure. Especially the lobster grilled in butter..."
Trivial chit-chat flew back and forth, a desperate attempt to postpone the end of vacation even by a moment.
If only they could turn back time.
"By the way... have you all heard the news?"
But harsh reality crept ever closer.
"Student Lunaris Evermoon finally claimed the title of Archmage."
And with it came the unprecedented calamity(?) of the world's first student Archmage.
"Yeah, well... Head of the Magic Department, Raymond, was shouting it from the rooftops."
"Heh heh. Who would've thought it'd come to this."
Sighs escaped here and there amid the silence.
Even professors focused on their personal work, ignoring the conversation, perked up their ears at this topic.
"I figured she'd become an Archmage before graduating..."
"But I never imagined it'd be this soon. One semester to break through the wall? No way."
"Exactly! And the real headache is that this Archmage is just a student—not a professor or even a TA."
The thought of spending another seven semesters—three years and six months—with this natural disaster made their heads throb.
At least the Swordsmanship Department professors, Political Science, and Economics could watch from across the river.
"So... starting next semester, we have to teach magic to an Archmage?"
But for the Magical Engineering and Magic Department professors, this was no one else's problem.
"Heh heh, heh heh heh heh..."
Especially for the professor in charge of Basic Magic Theory for first-years, it felt like a meteor crashing right overhead.
All he could do was laugh. He was, indeed, a top-tier professor.
"Can you picture it? Me writing formulas on the board while an Archmage lounges in the back row, arms crossed, yawning—that horrifying scene."
"Wh-what do we do...!"
"I'd probably apply for a sabbatical."
"What difference does it make from last semester? Upper Mage or Archmage, both are uncontrollable."
Claiming he'd already let go, the professor gazed into space with a enlightened expression.
"Lunaris skips class a lot anyway. Even when she shows up, she'll sleep through the whole thing."
So no point in waking her, he said in utter resignation.
"You still have to at least pretend to wake her. Gonna ruin the study atmosphere?"
"The other students don't even see Lunaris as a regular student anyway."
With the dragon(?) snoring blissfully—kooo, pfuuu—no brave soul in Elterion Academy would dare wake her.
"At least theory classes are in the morning indoors, so that's better."
This time, the Practical Magic course professor clutched his head and groaned.
"The practical course I teach... it's a total disaster."
Afternoon Lunaris was a cat—no, a dragon—well-rested from a full night's sleep.
A bundle of chaos, overflowing with energy she couldn't contain, causing endless trouble.
"The idea of performing magic tricks in front of an Archmage twists my gut. I'd rather learn from her."
"Any countermeasures?"
"Same as last semester: ask for a magic demo on the first day and waive attendance for the rest."
Essentially admitting defeat in teaching her.
Last semester, he'd even written a self-criticism and taken a pay cut for abusing professor privileges.
"Isn't that the best for me, her, and the other students?"
Yet no one blamed him.
They just nodded, calling it wise.
"What about Magical Engineering?"
The Magic Department professors asked their dozing Magical Engineering colleague.
"Isn't Magical Engineering the one in the hottest water? It's her major, after all."
"Hm? Oh, well, Estelle's on primary babysitting duty..."
The Magical Engineering professor scratched his head sleepily.
"And starting next semester, Department Head Lilliana's taking the lead herself. She's handling the lower-year basic design course."
"Whoa— the department head personally?"
"She's probably the only one in Elterion Academy who can teach Lunaris anything."
Envy-laced groans rose from the Magic Department professors.
"The Magic Department needs Head Raymond to step up more aggressively!"
"He's already covering all of Thursday. Without that... ugh, just imagining it is nightmare fuel."
Then, someone gazing out the window tossed out a bombshell.
"But you know."
"...?"
"Lilliana might have plenty to teach in Magical Engineering, but for pure magic, can Raymond even control Lunaris anymore?"
"...!"
A chill silence washed over the lounge like ice water.
Until now, a thick wall stood between Raymond and Lunaris.
Upper Mage vs. Supreme Mage—the gap between mere mages and Archmage.
But not anymore.
With Lunaris awakening as an Archmage, their levels were effectively equal.
And her specialty? Chantless, formula-free instant-cast magic.
"If she snaps and hurls a spell in a fit..."
"...Whoa. I just pictured a star falling before my barriers even deploy."
"Second semester... won't be easy..."
Sighs leaked out once more from every corner.
It was a day less than a week before the second semester began.
"Tomorrow's the start of school."
Linea Hall basement, maids' lounge.
In the somewhat cramped space, the maids stood in neat rows.
All eyes were on the head maid, Odette.
A tense silence hung in the air.
Only the gulp of dry swallows and the hum of the air conditioner—Lunaris's magitech leftover—echoed faintly.
Ironically, the cool air soothing summer's heat now felt like the chill of a battlefield.
"Linea Hall's residents represent Elterion Academy's finest students. We maids must support them fully so they can focus on their studies."
Odette paused, scanning the maids.
Her eyes flashed sharply.
"...Especially."
That single word made the maids' shoulders twitch.
"For the person of interest, Miss Lunaris... we need special measures."
Odette's expression was gravely serious.
The other maids mirrored her, resolute as knights before war.
"It's highly likely Miss Lunaris won't meet the attendance requirement this semester."
"..."
"So we must drag her out of bed, by any means necessary..."
"Um, Head Maid..."
A rookie maid timidly raised her hand.
"Can... can we really wake an Archmage?"
Worried voices erupted everywhere.
"No way it's possible."
"Even if we all rushed in, she'd wipe us out with a flick."
"No dreams, no hopes."
Amid the defeatism, some desperately clung to optimism.
"B-but! She's been in bed two weeks straight, not a step out. Eats in bed too. If she's slept this much, she'll walk herself tomorrow..."
"Abandon that false hope! Don't you know Lunaris yet? She could sleep a month and still need another week!"
The veterans snapped them back to reality.
"I've thought about it, and Lunaris is definitely a dragon."
"Right! She's out playing in the human world, enjoying hibernation!"
Someone even burst into tears.
"I don't care if I get hurt. But this helplessness... I can't take it!"
"Sniff, sob!"
To reiterate: these weren't soldiers heading to die.
Just maids tasked with waking one sleepy student.
"Everyone, calm down."
Odette raised her voice firmly.
"I know it'll be a tough fight. I'm scared too."
The sobs quieted at her confession.
"Even so, we must wake her."
Because it was the pride and duty of Linea Hall's maids, the academy's top dorm.
"Only we can save Miss Lunaris from repeating a year. Don't forget that."
The maids wiped their tears at their respected head maid's plea.
Resolve reignited in their eyes.
"The good news? The first week starting tomorrow is just skirmishes."
Elterion Academy's first week was orientation and course change period.
"Miss Lunaris will use that as an excuse to hole up in her room all week."
Rules were rules.
Not even the rule-makers foresaw someone like Lunaris exploiting it.
"So we'll use it too."
Odette's eyes gleamed, declaring it Lunaris's combat assessment and strategy phase.
"Our final goal this semester: 70% attendance for Miss Lunaris."
The maids buzzed at the absurd target.
"Impossible!"
"Over 30% absence per class means automatic fail!"
But Odette was resolute.
"You want rumors of an Archmage repeating spreading across the Empire?"
"Th-that's..."
The maids fell silent at her rebuke.
"And we're not alone. Her Highness Celestina has approved pulling knights from the palace, and Head Raymond's promised full support."
"Ahh, Her Highness... Head..."
Hope finally dawned on their faces.
Archmage, knights, maid alliance—now they stood a chance.
"Rest well tonight, everyone. Tomorrow, it gets real."
They steeled themselves until Lunaris reformed.
...To stress again: this wasn't war or dragon-slaying.
Just maids' tearful struggle to civilize one lazy student.