Prologue: How I, a Jobless Freeloader, Became a Part-Time Magic Instructor

It was a scene from one early morning.

“Y’know, I’ve been thinking lately,” the man—Glenn—said, his expression as serene as a sage who’d attained enlightenment after years of ascetic training. “I believe that working really is just a losing game.”

He lazily propped his cheek on one hand, casting a relaxed gaze at the refined woman seated across from him.

“Thanks to you, I’m still alive. I’m so glad you’re here for me.”

Meeting Glenn’s gaze, the woman—Celica Arfonia—elegantly uncrossed and recrossed her legs. Tilting her teacup with graceful poise, she responded coolly.

“Hmph, is that so? Then drop dead, you leech.”

The venom in her words slipped out effortlessly, yet a delicate, almost charming smile bloomed on her refined features.

“Haha! Man, Celica, you’re harsh!” Glenn laughed it off with his usual carefree grin, completely unfazed. “Oh, by the way—seconds, please!”

Still chuckling, he boldly slid his empty soup bowl across the table, right under Celica’s nose. “You’re refreshingly brutal.”

Celica’s smile lingered, her expression dreamy, as if yearning for something far away.

“Normally, a freeloader who doesn’t work would show a bit more humility.”

“Oh, and today’s food was a bit too salty, don’t ya think? I prefer it lighter, personally.”

“And you’ve got the nerve to critique it? I’m impressed.”

Celica kept smiling for a moment, then—

“《Whatever・just・explode》”

She suddenly chanted a strange three-part spell in runic tongue.

In that instant, a deafening blast roared, and a crimson shockwave filled Glenn’s vision. The spell Celica invoked unleashed a magical explosion that mercilessly blew him away. The luxurious dining room, adorned with expensive furnishings, was reduced to rubble in a heartbeat.

“Y-You idiot! Are you trying to kill me?!”

Charred black, Glenn hacked and coughed on the floor, yelling furiously.

“Kill you? No, no. Disposing of trash is called cleaning, Glenn.”

“Don’t say awful things with the gentle tone of a mother scolding a child! At least treat me like a human!”

Unfazed by Glenn’s sharp tongue, Celica let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping.

In stark contrast to Glenn’s loser vibe, Celica exuded an otherworldly elegance.

She looked about twenty. Her lavish golden hair blazed like wheat fields at dusk, and her crimson eyes evoked fresh blood. Up close, her breathtakingly perfect features could send chills down anyone’s spine. A faint, seductive allure hinted at something almost demonic. Her lithe limbs and graceful figure boasted flawless proportions, like a living work of art. She wore a long black dress-robe, its modest air offset by an open neckline and a belt that accentuated her curves, radiating a captivating allure.

Her flashy, enchanting appearance was matched by an overwhelming presence that carried it effortlessly—Celica was a woman who seemed detached from the mundane world. Yet, her regal bearing screamed highborn nobility. She was the mistress of this grand, mountain-like aristocratic mansion, while Glenn was merely a freeloader.

The gap in their social standing was painfully obvious even to an outsider.

“By the way, Glenn… don’t you think it’s time you started looking for a job?”

Celica fixed her crimson eyes on him, staring straight down as she spoke.

Glenn, struggling to stand, froze for a moment.

“It’s been a year since you quit your last job and became a freeloader in my house. Every day, you eat, sleep, eat, sleep, and do nothing but laze around. What a waste of your life.”

Celica sighed, but Glenn puffed out his chest confidently.

“No worries. I love who I am now. Compared to the old me, slowly dying as a cog in society’s machine, the current me shines way brighter!”

“How do you even compare to conclude that a mooching, shut-in lifestyle is ‘shining’? Just die already, please.”

Glenn flashed a bright smile, even giving a thumbs-up, leaving Celica utterly exasperated.

“Seriously, you… Don’t you feel even a little guilty that I’m taking care of you out of old friendship?”

“Tch, don’t be so cold. You and I go way back, right?”

“《It shall return to the cycle of providence・the five elements to the five elements・the form and reason…”

Apparently pushed too far, Celica began chanting a menacing spell with a steely glare.

“Wait!? That’s the chant for [Extinction Ray], isn’t it!? H-Hold on! Anything but that! It’ll blast me to bits! Noooo—!?”

Panicking, Glenn scrambled back, voice cracking as he screamed, pressing against the scorched wall.

Facing Glenn’s utterly pathetic display, Celica decided it wasn’t worth dirtying her hands and canceled the spell.

“Whatever. Using magic to deal with you would be an insult to magic itself. It’s like pointing a legendary sword at a cockroach.”

“That’s harsh, isn’t it? At least cockroaches deserve some respect.”

“That’s your issue!? So, you do have some self-awareness. You’re the worst!”

Exhausted, Celica’s head drooped heavily.

“Look, it’s about time you moved forward. You can’t keep wasting time like this forever, right? Deep down, you know that, don’t you?”

This time, even Glenn couldn’t brush it off. He could tell Celica was genuinely worried about him.

“Even if I wanted to work… what the heck am I supposed to do now?”

Glenn pouted like a sulky child, turning away.

“I knew you’d say that. So, how about I arrange a job for you?”

“A job?”

“Yeah. There’s an opening for a lecturer at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy right now.”

“Magic Academy?”

Glenn frowned suspiciously.

“It was a sudden staffing issue, so they can’t find a replacement lecturer for a while. I was thinking you could fill in as a part-time instructor for the time being.”

“Hold up. Why me? That academy’s probably crawling with idle instructors, right? Just make one of them do it.”

“Don’t be like that. The faculty’s swamped preparing for the Imperial Magic Conference in the capital soon. Unfortunately, no one has time to deal with students right now.”

“Oh, right, it’s that time of year.”

“Anyway, it’s for one month. I’ll make sure you’re paid as much as a full-time lecturer. Depending on how you do, we might even consider promoting you to a permanent position. Not a bad deal, right?”

It was an undeniably generous offer, but Glenn’s face clouded with unease.

“Hmph…”

Dropping his usual playful tone, he let out a self-deprecating scoff and walked to the window.

“…No way.”

He muttered, staring out the window.

The misty morning sky stretched endlessly blue. Beyond the window lay the familiar quaint townscape with its sharply angled rooftops—and far above, floating in the sky, the translucent, massive form of an ancient castle.

That majestic and gallant castle, known as Melgalius’s Sky Castle, was the symbol of the city of Fejite. An unreachable, untouchable phantom castle, its origins and purpose shrouded in mystery.

“No way? Why not, Glenn?”

“You know why. I don’t have the right to teach anyone…”

Glenn’s back, as he spoke, seemed tinged with a lonely shadow.

“Yeah, you don’t. I mean, you don’t even have a teaching license.”

“Ugh, don’t ruin my cool moment by throwing reality in my face!”

Celica’s sharp jab made Glenn pout in protest.

“Don’t worry about the license. My position and authority at the academy can handle that. Besides, if you perform well, getting a license issued through some backchannels won’t be hard.”

“Whoa, what!? Abuse of power!?”

“Your skills as a magic instructor should be fine. You used to dabble in magic back in the day, didn’t you? So, what do you say? Wanna give it a shot?”

“Hmm… Alright, I’m a bit nervous, but maybe I’ll just go ahead and say no♪”

Glenn tilted his head, pressing his index finger to his lips in a cutesy gesture that’d be charming if a girl did it.

“That reaction is beyond creepy. And you’re refusing? I genuinely want you to drop dead.”

Blue veins pulsed at Celica’s temple. Her patience was wearing thin.

“By the way, you don’t have the right to refuse.”

Celica declared with a strained smile.

“Oh? And if I say no?”

“Would you prefer to be struck by lightning? Or maybe barbecued by flames? Oh, how about being frozen solid?”

“Hah, resorting to violence when words fail? Does that really solve anything?”

“That’s infuriatingly logical, but I don’t want to hear it from you!”

A terrifying surge of magical energy gathered in Celica’s palm.

“Fool. You still don’t grasp the true terror of who I am…”

Yet Glenn didn’t flinch, smirking boldly as he faced Celica.

“You should know. If I get serious, a mage like you is nothing to me—”

“—Tch.”

Glenn’s words sent a faint ripple of tension across Celica’s face.

“Your cheap threats only made me get serious—!”

No sooner had he spoken than Glenn kicked off the floor, leaping nearly to the ceiling. With a graceful backflip, he landed at Celica’s feet—on both knees, hands, and forehead.

“Please keep supporting me!”

A flawless flying dogeza.

“…I’ll admit, you did make me shudder.”

“Please, Celica-san! I absolutely don’t want to work! Just keep taking care of me! I’ll lick your shoes or anything!”

“What… Don’t you have any pride as a human being?”

“Idiot! Can pride put food on the table!? Huh!? Say it!”

“And you’re snapping back? I really want to kill you.”

“…Heh, I’ll grant you the honor of supporting me.”

“Die!”

Celica mercilessly stomped on Glenn’s face as he looked up from his groveling. Even the famously thick-skinned Celica was on the verge of tears.

“Enough! Just work! If you won’t work, get out! If you won’t leave, I’ll disintegrate you! I’m so done with seeing you act this pathetic!”

“What are you, a demon!? I’m not asking for world peace or anything grand! I just want a simple, peaceful shut-in life! Is it a crime to have such a modest dream!? Besides, you’ve got more than enough money to support me forever, so what’s the big deal!?”

Glenn doubled down on his shameless deadbeat attitude without a hint of remorse.

“And you know, don’t you!? How much I hate magic—so much that even hearing its name makes me sick!”

“…Glenn.”

“Anyway, I’m done! Absolutely, positively, never touching magic again! Hmph! I’d rather beg on the streets than be a magic instructor—”

“《It shall return to the cycle of providence・the five elements to the five elements・the bonds weaving form and reason shall diverge》”

As Celica rapidly chanted, a wave of light surged past Glenn, accompanied by a sound like something being sucked into the void.

When Glenn glanced in the direction of the wave, he saw a perfectly smooth, circular hole carved into the wall beside him. It wasn’t physical destruction but a supernatural phenomenon—magic’s handiwork.

“Tch… My aim was off.”

Celica fixed a cold stare and an outstretched palm at Glenn, who stood frozen, mouth agape.

“I won’t miss next time… 《It shall return to the cycle of providence・the five elements to the five elements・the bonds of form and reason…”

“M-Mamaaaa—!?”

And so, Glenn’s re-employment was decided, more or less by force. The job he landed after a year of idleness was as a part-time instructor at the prestigious Alzano Imperial Magic Academy—a one-month, temporary gig that left his future uncertain.