Nastrond (7)
Agoris Continent, Atlas.
An unexpected commotion was taking place.
“…And so, Professor Frondier has returned to his hometown.”
Headmistress Carla explained to the students in the classroom.
Sighs and groans erupted from the students as soon as they heard the news. This reaction alone showed how much trust Frondier had earned from them.
“What about Professor Elodie?”
“Professor Elodie is a promising mage and often travels abroad.”
Carla explained, feeling that she hadn’t lied.
…Well, to be honest, the explanation that ‘her family’s health had deteriorated’ couldn’t really be considered the truth.
‘He said his brother had passed away…’
That’s what Carla had heard from Elodie and the others. Frondier had flown to the other continent as soon as he heard the news.
Naturally, Carla didn’t know who Azier was.
So she couldn’t even begin to imagine how Frondier must be feeling.
Whatever empathy she felt would be multiplied several times over for Frondier.
“Then when will he be back?”
“…Hmm, I’m not sure.”
When would Frondier return? Carla didn’t know.
Frondier had left for the Etius continent. Gregory couldn’t send his ravens that far.
When would Frondier return?
No, would he even return?
‘…Let’s focus on the task at hand for now. He’s Frondier, after all. There’s no need to worry.’
Carla pushed aside her thoughts and looked around at the students.
“So, I’ll be taking over Professor Frondier’s Mana Theory class for the time being. It’ll be a short while, but please bear with me.”
She had decided to take charge of Frondier’s Mana Theory class.
There were other magic teachers, but Frondier had subtly raised the students’ levels. The best person to proceed smoothly was the Headmistress herself.
“…Professor.”
Just then, someone raised their hand.
It was Basileo.
“What about the Magical Engineering class? Is it canceled?”
Frondier had originally been in charge of three classes:
Mana Theory, Combat Theory, and Magical Engineering.
Carla was taking over Mana Theory, and Aster had been taking Combat Theory.
That left one. Magical Engineering, an elective.
Was it canceled because it was an elective and therefore not a high priority?
“Ah, that class–”
Carla gave Basileo, who had thought so, an unexpected answer.
* * *
“Hmm, I’m Ludovic, and I’ll be in charge of the Magical Engineering class from today. Nice to meet you.”
Ludovic spoke in front of the students gathered for the Magical Engineering class.
Basileo, Pielott, Aias, and Glaucus. The four of them stared blankly at Ludovic.
Glaucus tilted his head.
“…It’s nice to meet you.”
“Hmm.”
Ludovic seemed a little stung and pursed his lips.
If you walked around Atlas, you’d get to know the teachers’ faces even if you didn’t take their classes. But Glaucus was seeing Ludovic’s face for the first time.
It was only natural. He was a last-minute substitute. Ludovic wasn’t doing anything else but this class.
Pielott spoke with half-closed eyes.
“…Sir Ludovic.”
“Call me Professor.”
“…”
Pielott let out a deep sigh and spoke again.
“Zodiac, Sir Ludovic de Fabre.”
“P-Pielott!”
Ludovic exclaimed in bewilderment.
The remaining three, not understanding what it meant, exchanged puzzled looks.
“Zodiac?”
“What’s a Zodiac, Pielott?”
Aias asked, and Pielott explained.
“Simply put, it’s like a Paladin.”
“Paladin? One of the Twelve Knights of Palma?”
“Yeah. But there’s something similar in the continent I’m from. Twelve Imperial Weapons.”
They gasped.
Ludovic did.
“P-Pielott! Don’t go around saying such things…!”
“Continent?”
“Empire?!”
Basileo, Aias, and Glaucus’ eyes sparkled as they leaned closer to Pielott.
“So there was another one! Another continent!”
“Pielott, you’re from there? That explains it! I thought you were incredibly skilled for a family name I’ve never heard of!”
“An Empire! You said Empire, right? There’s an Emperor there?”
Everyone was chattering away, each focused on their own thoughts.
Before Pielott could even answer, they were already letting their imaginations run wild.
Ludovic said in a flustered voice,
“Pielott! What are you thinking, saying such things so carelessly…!”
“Sir Ludovic.”
Pielott called out to him with a calm expression that contrasted with the others’.
“Please watch this.”
Pielott turned his body.
He gripped the sheath of his sword, lowered his stance, and drew upon his aura.
Swoosh!
A single strike that cut through the air.
An ultra-high-speed draw that didn’t even show the sword leaving or returning to its sheath…
“…It looks that way, but it’s not. It’s aura.”
Ludovic exclaimed in admiration.
To be able to cut with just aura, without using the sword itself. Moreover, his hand hadn’t moved. It was a high-level technique that fired off aura without the need for any drawing or sheathing motions.
‘That’s incredible. If only those attacks could be chained together, even I…’
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
A triple strike that stopped Ludovic’s train of thought.
Pielott, maintaining his stance, cut through the air three times before relaxing.
By that time, Ludovic was speechless, staring at Pielott.
Pielott then spoke,
“These three.”
Pielott pointed at the three students.
“Please consider them to be on par with me in terms of skill.”
“…What?”
Ludovic’s eyes widened as he looked at the three of them.
On par with Pielott in terms of skill.
He couldn’t judge everything based on a single technique of firing consecutive aura strikes.
However, Ludovic knew all too well that there were numerous prerequisites to achieving a single high-level technique.
“They’ll be of help.”
When Pielott added that, Ludovic understood his intentions.
“…You, you’re aware of the situation, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know the details. But I’ve been through something like a war myself.”
Pielott, who had faced countless demonic clouds and cut down an immeasurable number of them.
At that time, Pielott had been prepared to die, and yet he had returned alive.
“When I smell a similar scent, I can’t help but recognize it.”
“…I see.”
Ludovic nodded.
He looked at the other three students.
“Are you three truly that strong?”
The three of them grinned and replied,
“Hell yeah!”
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