Chapter 3: A Tiny Spark of Motivation

The next day, before the morning bell for class.

While Rumia diligently prepared for the lesson beside her, Sistine propped her cheek on her hand and gazed absently out the window at Melgalius’s Sky Castle floating in Fejite’s sky.

The castle in the sky, a symbol of Fejite. Why was it there? Since when had it been there? It was a phantom castle filled with mysteries and wonders no one could unravel. If she had a moment to spare before class began, Sistine’s secret ritual was to gaze at it from afar and let her thoughts drift to its enigma.

……

…………

“Look, my dear Sistine. That’s Melgalius’s Sky Castle.”

Perhaps it was because that tactless instructor had indirectly insulted her great grandfather yesterday.

Suddenly, the warm words of her grandfather surfaced in Sistine’s mind.

“Isn’t it beautiful? That castle has been floating in Fejite’s sky like that for an unimaginably long time. Yes, for centuries… millennia… forever and ever…”

She remembered how her grandfather’s eyes always sparkled when he spoke of the sky castle.

“Hahaha, everyone flatters me, calling me a great mage who left behind grand achievements… but honestly, it’s nothing special. The reason I sought to master magic was… yes, just to take a single step into that castle. To catch a glimpse of its majestic entirety up close, even just once. To unravel the mystery of the sky castle that no one has solved for thousands of years. That’s all.”

No matter how much dignity age had lent him, his face was always that of a dreaming boy—

“After all, some say that castle is a remnant of a super-magical civilization that perished in ancient times, or even the divine throne created by the Mother Goddess herself. Legends claim it holds all the wisdom of this world. If that’s true, who built it? Why does it exist there? My head has always been filled with the most exquisite mystery in this world. The romance of it sets my heart racing… As a mage, how could I not want to challenge that enigma?”

Sistine loved listening to her grandfather’s theories, hypotheses, and research findings about the sky castle.

But… in his later years, when his legs grew weak and his health faltered, her grandfather seemed a little lonely whenever he spoke of it.

He wanted to step inside, to see it just once. All his dreams were spoken in the past tense.

A mirage of a castle, intangible, merely visible from afar.

Even if one tried to fly to it with magic, it would vanish like a dream upon approach—a cruel illusion.

That castle, so tantalizingly close, was an especially cruel dream.

Perhaps, in his final years, her grandfather had realized—he would never reach that castle.

Did you give up on your dream, Grandpa?

Once, unable to bear it, Sistine had asked him that. Looking back, it might have been a cruel question.

“…Sadly, this world is full of things that don’t go as we wish… My father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather… all of them, they never even found a clue to reach that castle…”

But her grandfather simply stroked Sistine’s head gently.

“It’s truly… a pity…”

He said.

Then, as if looking at something distant, nostalgic, and dazzling, he turned his gaze back to the sky castle.

The weather was clear, sunlight poured brilliantly into the azure sky, and the translucent castle shone vividly.

At that moment, the radiant castle and her grandfather’s figure, gazing at it, seized Sistine’s soul.

Because her grandfather’s gaze was so painfully poignant—and because the phantom castle was so dazzlingly beautiful—that day, in that moment, his dream became Sistine’s.

If that’s the case, I’ll do it.

I’ll become an even greater mage than you, Grandpa.

I’ll unravel the mystery of Melgalius’s Sky Castle in your place.

…………

……

“Hey, White Cat.”

A brusque voice suddenly rained down from above.

Sistine’s back jolted, her consciousness snapping back to reality. She didn’t need to look to know. Standing beside her was that detestable part-time instructor.

“Oi, you listening, White Cat? Answer me.”

“Wh-White Cat? You mean me…? Wh-What’s that supposed to mean!?”

With a clatter, Sistine stood, shoulders trembling with anger, glaring at Glenn.

“Don’t treat me like an animal! I have a name, it’s Sistine—”

“Shut up and listen. I’ve got something to say about yesterday.”

“What!? You want to pick up where we left off!?”

Sistine braced herself, shooting Glenn a gaze brimming with hostility.

“You’re that desperate to shut me down!? To insist magic is worthless!? Well, I’ll—”

Glenn was clearly the better debater. She’d likely lose in a war of words. But even so, she couldn’t back down. She carried her grandfather’s dream. Steeling herself for a thorough fight, even if it meant making a fool of herself—

“…I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“Huh?”

The last words she expected left Sistine frozen in place.

“Well, uh, you know… what’s important varies from person to person, right? I hate magic, but… saying stuff about you was, uh, out of line, or over the top, or maybe just immature… anyway, uh, yeah, I messed up.”

Glenn muttered an awkward apology, his face sour as he averted his eyes and dipped his head ever so slightly.

Was he… trying to apologize?

“…Haa?”

Unable to gauge his intentions, Sistine stood baffled as Glenn turned on his heel and headed for the lectern, as if the conversation was over.

Why had Glenn even come here? It wasn’t class time yet. For Glenn to show up in the classroom without being late… something was off.

“What’s… going on? What’s happening?”

“Hey, Kai? What’s gotten into him?”

“H-How should I know…?”

The other students were just as confused, unable to hide their bewilderment at Glenn appearing in the classroom before class started.

Sistine shot Glenn a glare that screamed, What’s your deal? But Glenn, arms crossed, leaned against the blackboard, eyes closed, completely ignoring the suspicious stares from the class.

Soon, the morning bell rang. Contrary to everyone’s expectation that he’d just stand there napping, Glenn opened his eyes and stepped up to the lectern.

And then he said something unbelievable.

“Alright, let’s start the lesson.”

A wave of murmurs swept through the classroom. Everyone exchanged glances.

“Now… this is the textbook for Incantation Studies… right?”

Glenn flipped through the textbook, his face growing more sour with each page. Finally, with an exaggerated sigh, he snapped it shut.

As the students braced for what was next, Glenn strode to the window, flung it open…

“Take that!”

And tossed the textbook out the window.

Yup, classic Glenn. The students, all too familiar with his antics, sighed in disappointment and opened their own textbooks. Another self-study session was about to begin.

But.

“Before we start the lesson, I’ve got something to say.”

Standing at the lectern again, Glenn took a deep breath—

“You guys are really idiots, you know that?”

And dropped an outrageous bombshell.

“For the past eleven days, I’ve watched your attitudes in class, and I’ve figured it out. You lot don’t understand a damn thing about magic. If you did, you wouldn’t ask moronic questions like ‘teach us the common translation of spells,’ or do something as brain-dead as copying magic formulas under the guise of studying magic.”

The students, who were just about to start copying magic formulas with quills in hand, froze.

“I don’t wanna hear that from a third-rate mage who can’t even do a basic single-line chant for [Shock Bolt].”

Someone muttered. The classroom fell dead silent.

Then, stifled snickers of derision rose from all corners.

“Well, honestly, that stings a bit.”

Glenn turned away, feigning nonchalance, picking at his ear with his pinky.

“Sadly, despite being born a guy, I’m fatally lacking in mana control and shorthand chanting skills. I struggled a lot as a student. But… whoever just said ‘Shock Bolt’ and ‘Basic’—sorry, but you’re the real idiot here. Haha, you just proved it yourself.”

Irritation spread through the classroom like wildfire.

“Whatever. Let’s talk about that Shock Bolt spell you mentioned. It’s probably just right for your level.”

The class erupted in outrage at the blatant insult.

“Now you’re going to explain a basic spell like Shock Bolt…?”

“Oh, please, we mastered Shock Bolt ages ago.”

“Yes, yes, here’s the spellbook for Black Magic [Shock Bolt]. Take a look—full of cringey, puberty-poem-like text, formulas, and geometric shapes written in runic script. These are called magic formulas.”

Completely ignoring the students’ complaints, Glenn held up a book and started talking.

“You guys can do single-line chants for this, so I’ll assume you’ve got the basics down: mana manipulation, vocalization, breathing techniques, mana-biorhythm regulation, mental control, memory techniques… all the fundamental skills of a mage. I’ll also assume your mana capacity and mental capacity are at an acceptable level for a mage. So, memorize this formula perfectly, chant the designated spell, and—voila!—magic happens. That’s what they call ‘learning a spell.’”

Then, facing the wall, Glenn pointed his left finger and chanted.

《O Thunder Spirit・With the shock of violet lightning・Strike down》

A bolt of violet lightning shot from Glenn’s fingertip, hitting the wall.

As expected, his three-line chant drew scornful glances, but Glenn didn’t seem to care. He began writing the spell he’d just chanted on the blackboard in runic script.

“This is the basic incantation for Shock Bolt. Those with a knack for mana manipulation can cast it with just 《O Thunder Spirit of violet lightning》—as you probably know. Now, here’s the question.”

Glenn divided the spell on the blackboard into segments.

《O Thunder Spirit・Of violet lightning・With the shock・Strike down》

The three-line spell became four.

“What happens when you chant this? Take a guess.”

The classroom fell silent.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know what would happen—it was confusion over why he’d ask such a thing.

“Chanting conditions… let’s say, speed twenty-four, pitch three and a half, tension fifty, initial mana-biorhythm in a neutral state… the most basic chanting style. I’ll let you off easy. So, anyone know?”

Silence continued to reign. Not a single student could answer.

Even Sistine, known as an honor student, sat silently, beads of sweat on her forehead, frustration evident.

“This is pathetic. A total wipeout?”

“That’s not fair! There’s no such thing as a spell segmented like that!”

One student, a twin-tailed girl named Wendy, couldn’t hold back, slamming her desk as she stood.

“Gya—hahahaha!? Wait, you’re serious!?”

Glenn’s response was crude, mocking laughter.

“That spell wouldn’t activate properly. It’d fail in some way.”

Another student, Gibul, who ranked just below Sistine, stood, adjusting his glasses and retorting defiantly.

“Fail in some way, huh!? Pfft—hahahahahaha!”

“Wha—”

“Look, I deliberately altered a complete spell, so of course it’d fail! What I’m asking is how it fails.”

Ignoring Gibul, who sank back in defeat—

“There’s no way to know what’d happen! The result would be random!”

Wendy barked back, undeterred.

“Ran-dom!? You’re saying random for this dirt-simple formula, with such detailed conditions!? Didn’t you say you’d mastered this spell!? You’re killing me here—hahahaha! Stop, I’m dying, help, Mommy!”

Glenn kept laughing, mocking them relentlessly.

By now, the class’s irritation had reached its peak.

“Enough. The answer is: it curves to the right.”

After laughing his fill, Glenn chanted the four-segment spell. As he’d declared, the bolt, which should’ve shot straight, arced sharply to the right and hit the wall.

“And furthermore…”

《Thunder・Spirit・Of violet lightning・With the shock・Strike down》

He segmented it further with chalk.

“It’d also reduce the range to about a third.”

This, too, happened as he said.

“And if you do this…”

《O Thunder Spirit・Violet lightning With・Strike down》

Now, he restored the segments but erased part of the spell.

“The output drops drastically.”

Glenn suddenly shot the spell at a student.

The student, seemingly unharmed, blinked in confusion.

“If you’ve ‘mastered’ it, you should be able to do at least this much, right?”

Twirling the chalk between his fingers, Glenn wore a smug grin.

It was infuriating, but no one could retort. This third-rate mage, Glenn, clearly saw something in spells and formulas that they couldn’t.

“To begin with, do you even understand why memorizing this cryptic book and chanting weird words causes supernatural phenomena? Doesn’t that seem odd, if you think about it rationally?”

“Th-That’s because the formula interferes with the world’s laws—”

Gibul’s reflexive response was immediately seized by Glenn.

“Yeah, that’s what you’d say, right? I get it. So, what’s a magic formula? It’s just a bunch of words, equations, and symbols humans can understand and created. If a formula interferes with the world’s laws, why can it do that? And why do you have to memorize it? Plus, why does chanting a spell, which seems unrelated to the formula, activate magic? Haven’t you ever thought that’s weird? Nah, probably not. That’s just how this world works.”

Exactly as Glenn pointed out, none of the students—not even Sistine—had questioned it. They’d taken it for granted. After all, diligently memorizing formulas and spells let them use more and more magic. Their questions about magic revolved around mastery or practical application, not fundamental principles.

Learning itself was fun and prideful, and they’d competed over how many spells they’d memorized. The number of spells mastered was proof of excellence. They hadn’t had the leeway to ponder the deeper truths.

“So, today, I’m gonna teach you the absolute basics of formula structure and spells, using Shock Bolt as the material. If you’re not interested, feel free to nap.”

But at that moment, not a single student in the classroom felt even a hint of drowsiness.

Glenn began with a review of one of magic’s two great laws: the Law of Equivalent Exchange.

The macrocosm, the world, corresponds equivalently to the microcosm, the individual—a classical magical theory. Changes in the world affect people, and changes in people affect the world.

“Astrology’s a prime example of this. Observing the stars to read human fate—calculating the world’s influence on people. Magic’s the opposite.”

So, what’s a magic formula?

It doesn’t directly affect the world. It affects the individual. It transforms their subconscious, which in turn intervenes in the world’s laws. That’s the true nature of a magic formula.

“In short, a magic formula is an ultra-sophisticated form of self-suggestion. You guys love to say magic is about seeking the world’s truth or whatever cool nonsense, but that’s wrong. Magic’s about delving into the human heart.”

Runic script, then, is merely a specialized language humans developed over history to efficiently, effectively, and universally induce subconscious transformation through suggestion.

“What? You don’t believe words alone can have the power to alter the subconscious? …Tch, always gotta argue. Oi, White Cat.”

“I’m not a cat! I have a name, it’s Sistine—”

“…I love you. Truth is, I fell for you the moment I saw you.”

“Wha—!? …W-W-W-W-W-W-What are you saying!?”

“Alright, attention! White Cat’s face is bright red, yeah? Just words had a clear effect on her consciousness. If surface consciousness, which is relatively easy to control with reason, reacts like this, imagine the subconscious, which reason can’t touch—oww!? Hey, you idiot! Stop throwing textbooks!?”

“The idiot’s you! You idiot, idiot, idiot—!”

After the commotion, Glenn, face red and swollen, began explaining the relationship between formulas and spells.

“To cut to the chase, it’s like grammar and equations. There’s a system for transforming the subconscious into the shape you want.”

He explained that spells are keywords that activate the formulas ingrained in the subconscious. Chanting the keyword triggers the formula to transform the subconscious.

“It’s basically a word-association game. Like how hearing ‘White Cat Girl’ makes everyone think of white hair, spells and formulas work the same way. Framing spells in runic script creates a mutual—oww!? C’mon, please stop throwing textbooks—argh!?”

Another book left a mark on Glenn’s face.

Basically, what matters most for a mage is understanding the magical laws governing spells and formulas—the grammar—and how to derive the equations. But you lot skip right over this and focus on copying and translating, prioritizing memorization. The textbooks are all like, ‘Don’t sweat the details, just memorize!’”

This time, the students had no comeback.

“So, translating spells and formulas to make them easier to memorize—that’s the ‘clear lessons’ you’ve been getting. And copying stuff like crazy to memorize it—that’s your ‘studying,’ right? Honestly, how dumb can you get?”

Glenn shrugged, snorting in exasperation.

“Now, about those magical grammar and equations… trying to understand them all would take more than a lifetime. …No, don’t get mad, I’m serious here.”

Accusatory glares turned on Glenn for hyping it up only to say that.

“That’s why I said I’d teach the basics, didn’t I? There’s a framework you need to understand before you can grasp higher-level grammar and equations. If you get what I’m about to explain…”

For a moment, Glenn tapped his temple, deep in thought.

《Whatever・Anyway・Get zapped》

He slowly chanted a strange spell in three runic segments.

Astonishingly, [Shock Bolt] activated. The students’ eyes widened.

“Huh? The power’s weaker than I thought… Oh well. You could improvise a spell like this to this degree, at least. Accuracy usually drops, so I don’t recommend it.”

Finally, the students’ view of Glenn began to shift.

“Alright, now I’ll dive into explaining the basic grammar and equations. If you’re not interested, go ahead and nap. Honestly, it’s gonna be boring.”

But, as expected, not a single student in the classroom felt even a trace of sleepiness.

———

—At the same moment, somewhere in Fejite.

“Is the plan proceeding smoothly?”

“Oh, yes, quite smoothly.”

In pitch-black darkness where not a single ray of light pierced, the man answered the voice echoing from the halved gem pressed to his ear, a gentle smile on his face.

“And? Where’s that instructor… Huey Lysen?”

“Haha, ‘him’? He’s ‘gone,’ of course.”

“Fuh, haha, so he’s ‘gone,’ huh?”

“…Yes. The issue is the one who took his place.”

“Glenn Radars, huh. We expected they’d replace the instructor, but not this quickly. Seems it’s that witch’s doing.”

“Haha, things don’t always go perfectly, do they?”

The man shrugged playfully.

“But a mage brought in personally by Professor Arfonia… Are we sure it’s fine?”

“As for whether Glenn poses a threat to our plan, I’ve judged he’s no issue.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I looked into this Glenn, since he was brought by that witch, and… he’s nothing special. A third-tier, third-rate mage. No match for us.”

“Then, as expected…”

“Yes, the plan’s execution date remains the day of the Magic Society conference. That day, all the key professors and instructors will be away from the academy. And only ‘that’ class will be at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy. It’s the perfect opportunity.”

“…What happens if the target misses classes at the academy for some reason?”

“Simple. We abandon the plan. To that organization, this strategy—and our worth—amounts to little more than that.”

“Haha, we sure pledged loyalty to a troublesome group, didn’t we?”

“No matter. That organization will give me everything I need.”

“A mutual arrangement, then?”

“Indeed.”

“Heh, well then, let’s pray for the plan’s success. Glory to the wisdom of the heavens—”

────.

Time flew by in a flash. Glenn’s lectures weren’t like those of some fake charismatic instructor—relying on quirky personality or slick rhetoric to captivate students—or the kind that pandered shamelessly to win their favor. No, his were the real deal, made possible by a deep understanding of the knowledge he taught and his ability to explain it clearly and logically.

“…That’s about it for the formula and incantation of [Shock Bolt]. Any questions?”

Glenn tapped the chalkboard, covered meticulously with neat letters, symbols, and diagrams.

Not a single hand went up. Part of it was the overwhelming presence Glenn exuded, but the honest truth was there was no room for questions—his explanation left nothing unclear.

“If you understood even a fraction of what I covered today, you should at least grasp how insanely risky and precarious it is to compress a three-verse incantation into a single verse. Sure, with a knack for mana control, it’s not hard to pull off in practice. But you’d better understand the bare minimum: the risk of a catastrophic misfire from a chanting error. Don’t you dare call it ‘easy’ or act like it’s no big deal. Get cocky, and you’ll screw up and die someday.”

Then, Glenn fixed the students with an unprecedentedly serious expression.

“And here’s the most critical part… As I explained, in terms of mana efficiency, a single-verse chant will never beat a three-verse one. From the perspective of efficient spellcasting, three verses is still the gold standard. So, I strongly recommend sticking to three-verse chants. This isn’t me being bitter because I can’t do single-verse casting myself, okay? Seriously. I mean it, alright?”

(He’s totally bitter about it…)

In that moment, the students’ thoughts aligned perfectly.

“Look, right now, you lot are just ‘spellcasters’ who are decent at using magic. If you ever want to call yourselves ‘mages’ in the future, you’d better think hard about what you’re lacking. Not that I’d recommend it. Wasting your life on this pointless hobby is far less meaningful than the countless other fulfilling paths out there… Anyway.”

Glenn pulled a pocket watch from his coat and glanced at its hands.

“Ugh, I went over time? Man, can I even claim overtime pay for this…? Whatever, we’re done for today. See ya.”

Muttering complaints under his breath, Glenn shuffled out of the classroom.

The students watched him go, dazed. The moment the door slammed shut, as if it were a signal, they all frantically began copying the chalkboard notes. Everyone scribbled with the fervor of someone possessed.

“Unbelievable… He got me.”

Sistine covered her face with her hands and let out a deep sigh.

“To think that guy could teach a class like this…”

“Yeah… I was shocked too.”

Rumia, sitting beside her, had her eyes wide in surprise.

“It’s frustrating, and I hate to admit it, but… as awful as he is as a person, he’s a genuinely amazing magic instructor. Awful as a person, though.”

“Haha, you don’t have to say it twice…”

“But… why did he suddenly get serious about teaching? He was saying all that nonsense yesterday… Huh?”

Glancing casually at Rumia, Sistine noticed something.

“Rumia… Why do you look so happy? You’re practically beaming!”

“Hehe, am I?”

“You totally are! You’re in an unusually great mood. What’s up?”

“Ehehe, it’s nothing!”

“Liar! That face says something’s definitely up!”

“Ehehehe…”

No matter how many times Sistine pressed, her best friend just dodged the question with a delighted smile, leaving Sistine no choice but to tilt her head in confusion.

The incompetent instructor Glenn had awakened.

The news sent shockwaves through the academy. Rumors spread like wildfire, and students from other classes started sneaking into Glenn’s lectures during their free periods, only to be floored by the quality of his teaching.

Until now, for the academy’s instructors, a mage’s rank was the ultimate measure of their status, authority, and ability to win students’ admiration. But the rigid, authority-driven atmosphere that had pervaded the academy was shattered overnight. For some, it was nothing short of a nightmare.

“That guy Celica-kun brought in is something else, isn’t he?”

Headmaster Rick’s excited voice echoed through the headmaster’s office.

“Those first eleven days, his reputation was abysmal, and I was worried where things were headed. But it seems my concerns were unfounded—excellent, excellent!”

“…Tch.”

Halley let out a frustrated groan. Ever since Glenn started teaching seriously, attendance in Halley’s own classes had subtly dropped. Some students were skipping his lectures to attend Glenn’s instead.

“Heh heh heh… No need to hide it—Glenn’s my prized disciple, trained from the ground up by yours truly.”

Seizing the moment, Celica puffed out her chest proudly.

“What’s that?! Celica-kun, you took on a disciple?! Didn’t you swear you’d never take one?!”

“He’s the one exception. Though, honestly, he wasn’t the brightest.”

“Well, well, isn’t that something! But why keep it a secret until now?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If Glenn turned out to be a lousy instructor, it’d be embarrassing for me, his mentor. So I kept quiet.”

“You two are cut from the same cloth, aren’t you?!”

Halley’s exasperated retort echoed futilely through the office.

“Oh, come on, Halley. Flatter me all you want, but you’re not getting anything out of it.”

“Shut it! That wasn’t a compliment, you dimwit mentor!”

“Man, Glenn’s got zero talent for magic, but he’s such a hard worker. Back when he was a kid, no matter how many times I told him he wasn’t cut out for it and should try something else, he insisted he wanted to be an amazing mage like me. And now, even if he’s just a third-rate mage, he’s at least made it to a decent level, right? I always knew he had it in him if he tried. Oh, and speaking of, when I first started teaching him magic, there was this one time—”

Grinning ear to ear.

Celica, her usually stoic demeanor nowhere to be seen, launched into a gushing rant about her disciple.

Halley, trembling with irritation and veins bulging on his temple, had zero interest in this unsolicited flood of private anecdotes.

(Curse you… Glenn Radars…!)

Shaking with rage, Halley suddenly recalled an incident from just a few days ago—

“Hey, Glenn Radars! You listening, Glenn Radars?! Answer me!”

That day.

Halley, intent on putting the notoriously delinquent Glenn in his place as a senior instructor, barked intimidating words at Glenn’s back as he lazily strolled down the academy corridor.

But then Glenn suddenly looked around, glanced briefly at Halley, tilted his head curiously, and—ignoring him completely—started walking again.

“Hey, what?! What’s with that ‘Who’s this guy even talking to?’ attitude?! You’re Glenn Radars, aren’t you?! There’s no one else it could be!”

Halley stormed in front of Glenn, blocking his path and glaring at him fiercely.

“You’ve got the wrong guy. Mistaken identity.”

“No way in hell! That ridiculous face is unmistakably Glenn Radars! Besides, I’m the one who conducted your hiring interview, you idiot!”

“Oh, wait, you’re that senior instructor, Harem-san, right? Yo, what’s up!”

“It’s Halley! Halley! Are you mocking me?!”

“Nah, nah, not at all, uh… Har… something-senpai.”

“Do you really hate remembering my name that much…?”

Burning with anger and humiliation, Halley finally got to the point.

“I’ve heard the rumors, Glenn Radars. You’ve been acting in ways utterly unbecoming of an instructor, haven’t you?”

“…”

“Don’t get cocky. The only reason you’re enjoying such an outrageous position is not because of your ability or worth—it’s solely because of that witch, Celica Arfonia’s arrogance! No matter how great a mage Celica Arfonia is—”

“Isn’t it exhausting, calling people by their full names every time?”

“Shut up! Don’t interrupt me! Even if Celica Arfonia is a mage who’s reached the seventh rank of the divine realm, don’t think this kind of tyranny will go unchecked forever!”

“Right? Celica’s been way too full of herself lately, hasn’t she? She’s totally gonna get divine retribution one of these days.”

“Why do you sound like it’s someone else’s problem?! Anyway, your contract’s only for a month, but don’t think you’ll last that long in this academy! I’ll use every means at my disposal to get you kicked out immediately, so brace yourself… Huh?”

Halley noticed Glenn bowing deeply before him.

“Thank you so much! Please, do your best! I’m really counting on you, uh… Har… Yurei-senpai!”

“Y-Y-YOU LITTLE—?!”

…

Had there ever been anyone who mocked him so thoroughly?

(That clown of a man is supposed to be a better instructor than me?! I won’t accept it! I refuse!)

“And then, he worked so hard and finally succeeded with that spell, and he came crying to me, ‘Thank you, Celica!’ Oh, he was so adorable back then. Anyway, that incident made me see him in a new light. Don’t you agree? Huh?”

Oblivious to Halley’s boiling frustration, Celica’s insufferable disciple-praising continued.

Truly, this mentor-disciple duo was insufferable.

(Grr… Damn you, Glenn Radars! I swear, I’ll drive you out of this academy one day…! Be ready…!)

His face red with fury, Halley silently vowed to bring Glenn down…

The second-year Class 2, assigned to Glenn as their dedicated instructor, became the envy of the entire academy. Empty seats in the classroom were gradually filled by students from other classes dropping in, and after ten days, some even stood to attend his lectures.

As Glenn earned the students’ respect, some instructors began questioning the conventional approach of “teaching only to increase the number of memorized spells to raise one’s rank.” Younger, passionate instructors started attending Glenn’s classes to learn from his teaching methods and magical theories.

Completely unaware of the attention he was garnering, Glenn continued his usual apathetic demeanor, grumbling through lessons as if they were a chore.

“…Magic is divided into ‘General Magic’ and ‘Original Magic.’ Today, we analyzed the formulas of General Magic, which you lot tend to scoff at because anyone can use it. But I hope you’ve realized how meticulously refined and precise General Magic is compared to Original Magic.”

Glenn tapped a section of the magical formula on the chalkboard with his chalk.

“That’s only natural. Even a basic general spell like [Shock Bolt] is the product of hundreds of mages—far more brilliant than you lot—who spent centuries refining and perfecting it bit by bit. And yet you have the nerve to call these great formulas ‘unoriginal’ or ‘outdated’? Honestly, are you guys idiots or what?”

The students who had once insisted Original Magic was the pinnacle could only hang their heads.

“You lot fetishize Original Magic as some sacred, one-of-a-kind creation unique to each mage, but honestly, making Original Magic isn’t a big deal. Even a third-rate mage like me can whip one up with ease. The real challenge? You, alone, have to craft a formula that somehow surpasses the perfection of General Magic, which took hundreds of brilliant mages centuries to complete. Otherwise, there’s no point in using Original Magic.”

Seeing the students visibly deflate, Glenn smirked mischievously.

“Feeling a headache yet? As you saw today, the General Magic you mocked is already a flawless masterpiece with no room for improvement. Without extraordinary effort, any Original Magic you make will just be a shoddy knockoff. I tried it myself back in the day, but the results were so pathetic, I gave up. Hah, what a colossal waste of time.”

Half the students chuckled at his bluntness, while the other half frowned. Though they respected Glenn’s teaching prowess, many bristled at his utter lack of reverence for magic.

“When it comes to this level, talent and instinct come into play. Still, studying the formulas of General Magic crafted by our predecessors is valuable. It hones your ability to construct spells and helps you avoid redundant ideas. If you ever dream of creating your own Original Magic, this is even more crucial. That said, wasting time on such trivial self-indulgence seems pointless when there are far more meaningful ways to live your life… Anyway.”

Glenn pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time.

“…Time’s up. That’s it for today. Ugh, I’m exhausted…”

As he declared the end of the lesson, a relaxed atmosphere spread through the classroom.

Glenn grabbed the eraser and began casually wiping the formulas and notes off the chalkboard.

“Wait, sensei! Don’t erase it yet! I haven’t finished copying the board!”

Sistine raised her hand in a panic.

Glenn shot her a blatantly wicked grin and started erasing the board with the speed of a man possessed. Shrieks of protest erupted from students across the room.

“Bwahahahaha! Half of it’s gone already! Take that!”

“Are you a child?!”

Sistine, utterly exasperated, slumped onto her desk.

“Haha, I’ve got the notes, so I’ll let you see them later, Sistie.”

“Thanks… But, ugh, his teaching is great and all, but can’t something be done about that warped personality?”

Sistine glanced at Glenn, who, while erasing the board, accidentally scratched it with his nail and was now clutching his ears in agony. What a pitiful, comical sight.

“Really? I think sensei’s fine as he is.”

“Rumia… Are you serious?”

“Yup. He’s kind of childish and cute, don’t you think?”

“Your taste is beyond me…”

“…Oh, sensei!”

Suddenly, Rumia stood and bounded toward Glenn like an eager puppy.

“Um, need help carrying those?”

Glenn was about to leave the classroom, struggling with a stack of ten thick books.

“Hm? Rumia, huh. I’d appreciate the help, but… they’re heavy. You sure?”

“Yup, I’m fine!”

“Alright then, just take a couple. Thanks a ton.”

Glenn handed two books to Rumia, giving her a gentle smile he rarely showed. Rumia beamed back, utterly delighted. The scene was like that of affectionate siblings. Watching it, Sistine felt oddly irritated.

“H-Hold it right there!”

Reluctantly, Sistine approached Glenn as well.

“Hm? You’re… uh, Sis… terina? That it?”

“It’s Sistine! SISTINE! You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?!”

“Yeah, yeah, sure. So, what’s Miss Sis-whatever got for me?”

“I-I’ll help too… I can’t let Rumia do all the work, can I?”

“…Oh? Here, take these.”

With a sly grin, Glenn dumped the entire remaining stack of books onto Sistine.

“Eek?! W-Wait, these are heavy!”

Sistine stumbled but barely managed to keep her balance.

“Haha, nothing beats empty hands!”

Ignoring her, Glenn strode off cheerfully.

“What’s with this?! Why do you treat Rumia and me so differently?!”

“Rumia’s cute. You’re a brat. That’s why.”

“You stupid instructor… Just you wait—!”

Despite the insults hurled at his back, Glenn’s lips curved into a faint smile.

After the students had all gone home, Glenn leaned against the iron railing on the academy’s rooftop, gazing absently at the quiet scenery. The streets of Fejite, ablaze in the sunset, looked like a crimson-painted castle from a dream—unchanged from back then. The only thing that had changed was himself.

Glenn’s thoughts drifted to his days as a part-time instructor at the academy. Above all, he vividly recalled two girls who kept getting tangled up with him.

Rumia, the adorable, puppy-like girl who, for some reason, was oddly attached to him.

Sistine, the cheeky, kitten-like girl who, for some reason, always picked fights with him.

He had no idea what drove them to engage so actively with someone like him. But, if he was honest, didn’t he find their interactions… pleasant?

And he couldn’t deny he was curious. How would they grow from here? What paths would they take?

Rumia, who might carve out new possibilities for the wretched thing called magic.

Sistine, who charged forward without hesitation, fueled by a passion for magic he’d long since lost.

Young and still naive, what would they achieve? How would they mature? To say he didn’t want to help them along the way… would be a lie.

“Well, I guess…”

He still hated magic. It made him sick. The world would be better off without it. That belief would likely never change. But these peaceful days—

“Not bad… huh.”

Without realizing it, Glenn was smiling.

“Ooh, look at you, getting all wistful in the sunset. So youthful!”

A teasing voice hit him from behind, and Glenn turned his head to look.

“How long have you been there, Celica?”

There stood Celica, poised like a refined lady, her stunning figure dyed in the burning crimson of the sunset. Her golden hair, reminiscent of a sunlit wheat field, swayed gently in the breeze.

“Hmm, how long indeed? A little quiz from your teacher to her not-so-bright student. Guess.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. No mana fluctuations, no shifts in the world’s laws. You obviously just snuck up on me.”

“Ooh, correct! Haha, it’s surprising how many people miss such a silly punchline. Especially those who believe every mystery in the world can be explained by magic.”

Celica smiled, clearly pleased with Glenn’s quick response.

“What’re you doing here? Aren’t you swamped preparing for that conference starting tomorrow?”

“Hey, can’t a mom check in on her son?”

“Son? We’re not even related.”

“But I’ve been looking after you since you were just a little kid. Doesn’t that give me the right to call myself your mom?”

“Think about the age gap, you witch. It’s more like grandma and grandson.”

No matter how you looked at her, Celica appeared to be a young woman in her early twenties.

But Glenn knew she wasn’t as young as she looked. After all, they’d known each other since his childhood, and her appearance hadn’t changed a bit since they first met.

Why didn’t Celica age? How old was she really? She was stubbornly tight-lipped about herself, but… certain historical facts made it clear she was at least in the triple digits.

“Ugh, you were such a sweet, adorable little boy back then, and now you’ve become this jaded guy… Time is cruel.”

“…Leave me alone.”

Glenn, sulking, averted his gaze from Celica.

“You seem… brighter. That’s good.”

“Huh?”

Glenn let out a clueless sound at Celica’s cryptic murmur.

“Haven’t you noticed? You’ve been a lot livelier lately. Your eyes don’t look like a fish that’s been dead for a day anymore.”

“…Hey.”

“They used to look like a fish dead for a month.”

Glenn sighed and scratched his head.

“…Sorry for worrying you.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s my fault, after all.”

Celica lowered her eyes, her voice frail, a far cry from her usual confident tone.

“I must’ve been an overproud parent. I was so proud of you. That’s why—”

“Stop it. I’ve told you before, it’s not your fault. I was the idiot who got carried away and lost sight of reality.”

“But you still despise magic.”

That one sentence made Glenn finally understand Celica’s true intentions.

“…I see. So, you wanted me to remember even a bit of the joy of magic, and that’s why you made me a magic instructor?”

Glenn recalled something. Come to think of it, the happy memories from his childhood always seemed to be tied to the magic studies and experiments he did with Celica.

“Tch, how old are you supposed to be? You’re surprisingly childish, you know. Magic isn’t the only thing connecting us, is it? Sure, I came to hate magic, but that doesn’t mean I’d ever hate you.”

“I see. Yeah, you’re right… That’s a relief.”

Hearing Glenn’s words, Celica smiled gently. It was a somehow radiant smile.

“Ugh, damn it, is that how it is? So, what? If I’d just said that from the start, I wouldn’t have been forced into this part-time lecturer gig?”

“Idiot, that’s a separate matter. It’s about time you started earning your own keep.”

“Yeah, yeah, I can’t heaaar you!”

“You hopeless man…”

Celica shrugged in exasperation and continued.

“Well, whatever. At any rate, it’s good to see you’re re-integrating into society smoothly. Keep it up and make sure to cure that illness of yours too, alright?”

“Illness? What’re you talking about? I’m perfectly healthy—”

“You think you’re not worthy of forming deep connections with others, and you don’t want people getting too close to you—so you deliberately act in ways that rub people the wrong way or brush off those who show you kindness. That illness.”

“…Ugh.”

At Celica’s pointed remark, Glenn broke out in a cold sweat, his cheek twitching.

Celica, with a mischievous grin, shrugged again.

“Hey, Glenn. In your case, it’s because of your past, but you know, that’s usually a child’s illness, right? To think you’ve let it fester this badly at your age… Well, while you’re re-integrating into society, maybe it’s time to finally fix—”

“S-Shut up! Leave me alone!”

Blushing furiously with embarrassment, Glenn shouted.

“Besides, that stuff about brushing off people who show me kindness isn’t my fault! When you’ve grown up around a woman with your ridiculous figure, how am I supposed to be interested in just any ordinary girl?!”

“Oh? So, what you’re saying is, you were lusting after your mother? You absolute pervert.”

With a sadistic and seductive smile, Celica sauntered up behind Glenn, draping her arms around his neck and pressing herself close.

“No way in hell! And stop acting like my mom every chance you get! Gah, get off me! Stop pressing your chest against me! Don’t blow in my ear! It’s creepy!”

“Heh, such a cold guy. What’s the big deal? It’s just a little parent-child bonding.”

Satisfied with Glenn’s reaction, Celica smirked, pulling away and turning her back to him.

“Well, I’ve got preparations for the Magic Conference starting tomorrow, so I’m heading out.”

“…Right. You’re going to the Imperial Capital, Orlando, in the northern part of the empire, yeah?”

Glenn responded with a sulky attitude. Celica’s teasing was nothing new, so it was best to let it slide and forget about it.

“That’s right. The academy’s conference attendees, including me, will be teleporting to the capital tonight using the transfer array at the academy.”

“Traveling a distance that’d take three or four days by horse in an instant… Man, magic sure is something.”

“Well, you do your best with your classes starting tomorrow, alright?”

“…Huh? The academy’s on a five-day break starting tomorrow, isn’t it?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected comment, Glenn panicked.

“I’m just a part-timer, so I’m not going, but aren’t all the professors and instructors like you attending that Magic Conference starting tomorrow? I thought the academy was closed to match that schedule.”

“Oh, your class is the exception. What? Nobody told you?”

“What?!”

“Your predecessor, Huey, up and vanished one day without any warning, so your class is behind on the curriculum. That’s why your class is the only one with lessons scheduled during the break to make up for it.”

“Nobody told me about this!”

“Aside from the guards at the gate, there won’t be any academy staff around starting tomorrow, so don’t go pulling any weird pranks, got it?”

“As if I would?! …Wait, hold on a second.”

Glenn caught a strange inconsistency in Celica’s words.

“Your predecessor… vanished? Hold up. What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Your predecessor, Huey Lysen, disappeared one day out of the blue. We still haven’t found any trace of him. He’s missing.”

“Hey, that’s not what I was told. They said this Huey guy quit for personal reasons…”

“That’s the story for the general student body. If he’d formally resigned, we wouldn’t have been left without a replacement instructor for a whole month.”

Glenn scratched his head, his face twisting into a grimace.

“This is starting to sound kinda shady…”

“Well, things have been a bit turbulent around here lately. I don’t think you need to worry, but still, be careful while I’m gone.”

“…Yeah.”

The word “disappearance” certainly carried a sense of foul play. But would it actually affect him? Probably not. Still, Glenn couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of unease, like a thorn pricking at his heart.

Just then—

“Oh, there you are! Sensei!”

The door to the rooftop swung open, and the familiar duo he’d grown all too used to appeared—one with a bright smile, the other with a scowl.

“Oh? Professor Arfonia. Did we interrupt something?”

“No, I was just about to leave. What’s up? Got business with Glenn?”

“Yes.”

Smiling like a blooming flower, Rumia stepped toward Glenn.

Sistine, looking thoroughly displeased, reluctantly followed.

“Didn’t you two already head home?”

“Oh, we were at the academy library, going over our notes and reviewing today’s lesson, but there was something we really wanted to ask you about… or rather, Sistie did.”

“W-Wait?! You promised not to say that! Traitor!”

Sistine’s face turned beet red as she yelled, but it was already too late.

“Ohhh? What’s that, Sistine-kun? Don’t tell me you’ve got a question for the one and only, the legendary instructor, the great Glenn Radars-sama? Hmm?”

Glenn leaned into it with zero hesitation, oozing smugness. His condescending smirk was so infuriating it practically begged for a fist to the face.

“That’s exactly why I didn’t want to ask you! And my name is Sistine! How many times do I have to tell you to get it right?!”

“Eh, your name’s kinda hard to remember, so I’ll just stick with White Cat.”

“Ugh, that’s it—!”

Sistine’s eyes welled up with frustrated tears.

“Sensei, do you have a moment? I realized after thinking it over that I didn’t fully understand that part either…”

“Yeah, my bad, Rumia. I felt like I didn’t explain that part of today’s lesson as clearly as I could’ve. Probably that section, right? Let me see.”

“W-Wait, why’s there such a huge gap in how you treat me and Rumia?!”

“Rumia’s cute. You’re a brat. That’s it.”

“Mrrghhh—!”

As the trio bickered noisily, Celica watched them with an affectionate smile for a while. Then, as if reassured by something, she quietly slipped away from the rooftop.

Having endured the humiliating ordeal of bowing her head to Glenn for help, Sistine made no effort to hide her irritation and displeasure as she walked home with Rumia.

“…Seriously, what is with that guy?!”

Contrary to Sistine’s foul mood, the town of Fejite was as peaceful as ever. Her raised voice echoed futilely down the quiet central street, empty in the evening, dissipating into the air. The scarlet glow of the sunset bathed the town in a soothing, gentle hue. Being the only one so worked up felt almost foolish.

“And you, Rumia, what’s so great about him? You seem weirdly fond of the guy!”

“Huh? But Sensei’s kind, isn’t he?”

“Oh, sure! He’s awfully kind to you! Only to you!”

Trembling with frustration, Sistine’s fists shook violently.

“Normally, nobody would be that blatantly, shamelessly biased, right!? Shouldn’t he at least care a little about how it looks to others or what people think!? And yet, that guy…!”

Rumia gave a wry smile, trying to calm her down with a gentle, “Now, now.”

“There’s definitely something going on here! That’s it! He’s probably misinterpreting your kindness and has some creepy ulterior motive toward you! Yes, that’s got to be it! Listen, Rumia, don’t ever be alone with him, okay? If that creep lays a hand on you, I swear, I won’t hold back next time…!”

Just then—

“Hehe.”

Rumia let out a soft chuckle.

“…What’s so funny, Rumia?”

“Oh, it’s just… It’s kind of amusing how much you’re worrying about me.”

“Of course I’m worried! We’re family!”

To Sistine’s indignant response, Rumia murmured softly.

“Do you remember three years ago?”

“Three years ago… When you first came to my house, right? What about it?”

Sistine couldn’t fathom why Rumia was suddenly bringing this up.

But Rumia continued, her smile tinged with nostalgia.

“Back then, we were always fighting.”

“W-Well, yeah… I mean, back then, you were so timid, selfish, and such a crybaby… Not that I was any better, failing to understand how you felt after being abandoned by your real parents…”

Sistine scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Then one day, I got mistaken for you and kidnapped by some bad people.”

“…Oh, right. There was that incident, wasn’t there?”

“I managed to come back safely, and when I did, you suddenly hugged me.”

“…Ugh.”

“That night, we held each other and cried the whole time. You kept saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m so glad you’re okay.’”

“…Tch, w-well, that was…”

Sistine’s face flushed as red as the sunset, embarrassed by the memory.

“I think that’s when it started, wasn’t it? When we became this close.”

Rumia directed a warm smile at Sistine.

But even after hearing this, Sistine still couldn’t figure out why Rumia was suddenly bringing up the past.

“…What’s with you? Why bring this up now?”

“I don’t know… Lately, I’ve been thinking about the past a lot.”

Then, Rumia turned a slightly wistful smile toward Sistine.

“…I wonder why?”

Even if asked, Sistine had no way of knowing. What had triggered Rumia to dwell on events from three years ago? Her true intentions were a mystery. But Sistine understood that those memories from three years ago were likely painful for Rumia, filled with layers of misfortune.

So—

“We’re family.”

Quietly, Sistine spoke her honest feelings.

“I don’t know why you’re suddenly fretting over things from three years ago, but I’ll always be by your side, Rumia. So, um…”

As Sistine stumbled over her words, embarrassed, Rumia smiled like a spring breeze.

“…Thank you, Sistie.”

The town of Fejite glowed in the burning light of the twilight sun.

Two shadows stretched endlessly, side by side, as if clinging to one another—