Chapter 56
Evil (3)
“Then, please show me around the academy. You’re a graduate, so you must know it well, right?”
“Is there any particular place you want to see? As long as it’s not the professors’ private research areas, I think there’s nothing off-limits that students couldn’t go to.”
“Since I’ve come to another academy, I’m curious about what they teach here.”
“Well, that should be doable if we time it right. But you won’t be able to leave in the middle, so be prepared for that.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean all of a sudden…?”
“Weren’t you talking about sitting in on classes? If we’re lucky, we might be able to catch at least one.”
Saying that, Lowell received Temia’s access pass from a nearby guard and cheerfully turned in the direction of a nearby building. Temia, confused, followed him as he led the way. Once inside, Lowell began scrutinizing the papers posted on the doors.
‘Wait… really? I was just curious about what kind of student Lowell was…’
By now, Temia realized what he was looking at: a timetable showing which classrooms were in use. It was similar to the system at Rostia Academy, so the format was familiar.
“Um… usually, is it okay for a graduate to just barge in like this?”
For a moment, Temia wondered if the rules were different here due to the relatively free-spirited nature of the mages. Unfazed by her confusion, Lowell answered casually:
“It’s just auditing, anyway. You’re not a mage, so practical lessons might be difficult… How about introductory theory or history lectures? They can be a bit boring, but they might suit your interests, Temia.”
“Really, it’s okay to go?! You don’t have to go to such lengths…”
“Of course. It’s fine since I’ll be with you. The west annex isn’t far. Let’s go!”
“Hey, listen to me first!”
“All right, everyone’s here. Let’s take this time to discuss the awakening and regulation of magic.”
Professor Bruce immediately spoke upon entering the classroom, pushing up his glasses and scanning the students. True to his strict personality, he quickly estimated the number of students before starting the lesson. The students, familiar with this behavior, straightened their backs and lifted their heads.
“…Huh?”
A group entered the classroom late. From the attendance check, no students should have been absent… The professor’s eyes narrowed as he studied them more closely, and soon, his eyes behind the polished lenses widened in shock.
“Ah, no…?! You—!!! Why are you here? Am I seeing things?”
The students’ gazes immediately turned toward the two. Temia smiled awkwardly, dabbing the sweat from her hands on her sleeves. Lowell, on the other hand, boldly plopped down and rested his chin on his hand.
“Seeing things, you say? That’s disappointing to hear, student.”
“Y-You! Why are you in this classroom?! You graduated ages ago! What are you doing here?!”
The professor, flustered, waved his hand in disbelief. Lowell, unfazed, shrugged with a cheeky smile.
“I just happened to be visiting the academy. A guest wanted to audit the class, so we thought we’d quietly listen and leave. Please continue without worrying about us.”
The sheer audacity of his demeanor made the professor clutch the back of his neck. From his perspective, Lowell’s behavior was nothing short of taunting. How was it possible that someone he had trouble with for every encounter now waltzed into his classroom?
‘Damn it… today is going to be ruined.’
To the professor, Lowell remained the unparalleled headache of a student.
Lowell had always been the troublesome type who stubbornly skipped attendance, though he maintained his grades enough to avoid failing or being held back. Even if the professor had summoned him for consultation, Lowell would dismiss it with something like, “It’s not really a time I want to sit here.” A dreadful, impudent child!
Annoyed by his arrogance, the professor had once adjusted the exam difficulty or explained extra material verbally during class, only to see Lowell’s answers remain top-notch without attending. When content couldn’t be used as a fault, the professor docked points for illegible handwriting. Humiliated, he watched Lowell submit perfectly neat answers on the next exam, even leaving a note expressing concern for the professor’s health.
He suffered hair loss from stress for a while. After such nightmares, he had stopped calling attendance and grew even more sensitive.
Yet as soon as he heard of Lowell’s early graduation, he had applauded and welcomed him years ago. And now, to see him sitting in the classroom again… he wanted to faint.
Unaware or unconcerned with this, Lowell smiled mischievously—personal as it was—and explained that he only came to audit the class briefly. The audacious student who ignored both professors and learning in his undergrad days—what was he doing now?
It was absurd to the point of disbelief, but the professor, now experienced, could not allow one peculiar student to ruin the lecture.
‘I’m not the flustered new professor I used to be!’
He exhaled sharply, steeling himself. Clearing his throat, he calmed the murmuring classroom in a composed tone:
“Hrm, hrm… Meeting an old student has gotten me a bit excited. Everyone, please remain quiet as the lecture continues.”
The students’ attention, shifting between Lowell and the professor, gradually dispersed. However, once distracted, the atmosphere was hard to regain. The professor struggled to proceed, and the class ended in a somewhat awkward state.
As the professor hastily gathered his materials and left, the students whispered among themselves:
“What happened today? Has a class ever ended early before?”
“Was it because of that earlier incident? He’s a graduate, right? What’s their relationship…?”
Sensing the potential for more questions, Temia hurriedly grabbed Lowell’s hand and left the scene before anyone could ask. Lowell followed without complaint, sparing them further trouble.
“Lowell, be honest. You don’t get along with that professor, do you? Then why go to that classroom?”
“I’ve never thought we didn’t get along. It’s more accurate to say I have no particular feelings either way.”
“Then what about the trouble you caused in the past?”
“…Well, his lectures happened to coincide perfectly with my nap time, so I missed quite a few. But is that really a problem? Look, Lerry was dozing off too.”
Indeed, Lerry still nodded drowsily, not fully awake. Feeling sympathetic, Temia let Lerry rest on her shoulder and whispered a mild scolding.
“Lerry isn’t even that professor’s student! Don’t make excuses. Who’d think an inattentive student is cute?!”
“He was a top student, so he got a bit of leniency. Ah, speaking of which, this is a good chance to revisit the spot I used to nap. I think you’d like it too, Temia.”
“Lowell—!!!”
Meanwhile, in a corner of the academy, professors were in heated discussion. The sudden emergency required immediate attention.
“This is serious. I didn’t expect something like this…”
“He’s really unlucky. The train was delayed at the worst possible time. And if the tracks are damaged, repairs will take even longer…”
“Well, it can’t be helped since this couldn’t have been anticipated.”
“Hopefully, he’ll return soon. The problem is the next class, which is about to begin!”
The class in question was Advanced Potion Making II, a major subject. Its professor, Robby Amburton, was absent, and arranging a make-up class wasn’t easy. Senior students’ schedules were packed with external practicals, and other professors in the same course were away at seminars.
“This is a real problem. We can’t find someone to teach the students at this point.”
“Professor Hogan’s class should have just ended. Could he substitute? I remember his minor was related to potion practice.”
“Oh, you didn’t know? He only completed the middle curriculum and moved to history. That’s why he’s teaching that class now.”
The professors, frustrated, were discussing when someone knocked on the meeting room door. All heads turned. It was Professor Hogan, arriving late to join the discussion—but with someone unusual in tow, someone who normally wouldn’t appear there.
“Dean, what brings you here?”
“I heard Professor Amburton couldn’t make it due to an accident. Is that true?”
It was the dean. The professors averted their eyes, uncomfortable at the thought of facing him. Eventually, one brave professor spoke up:
“Yes, we were just trying to find someone who could cover as a substitute.”
The dean’s eyes lit up at once.
“By chance, a perfectly suitable candidate is visiting the academy. Why not have him step in?”
