“……I need to learn magic.”
I muttered to myself, making sure no one could hear.
I didn’t know why Basileo was suspicious of me, but in the end, I had ended up using a bit of a cheat.
I could replicate the skills and magic of others, but I couldn’t imbue skills into my Workshop creations. Therefore, the only time I could use them was when the opponent was actively casting.
Furthermore, since I hadn’t used Menosorpo, what I had created was just a flashy fake.
‘When I create objects, the replication is completely invisible, but when I replicate magic, it at least looks the same.’
That was probably because replication itself was magic. Since I couldn’t actually conjure matter, it was invisible when I replicated objects. But when I replicated magic, at least the outward appearance was identical.
Even if it was a fake.
To borrow Joan of Arc’s analogy, it was like an invisible ghost becoming a visible ghost.
‘This kind of trickery won’t work forever, so I need to learn how to use magic properly. At least the basics.’
Since I had decided to teach them properly, I needed to demonstrate properly as well.
Of course, I already had a wonderful teacher who could teach me magic, so I didn’t need to worry about how to learn. What I did need to worry about was the limited time.
“Ah, there you are, Professor Frondier.”
Just then, Instructor Giotto approached me.
This man was, how should I put it… the type of character who was written to be unreadable, but ended up being very readable.
He was two-dimensional yet somehow three-dimensional, incredibly familiar and cliché, yet somehow also quite refreshing.
“How was your first class? I trust it went smoothly?”
“Good, good. If you encounter any difficulties, don't hesitate to let me know. It must be challenging to adjust to life in a new place.”
, he appeared to be a kind and caring senior colleague who was concerned about the new instructor, but behind his gentle smile, I could sense ulterior motives.
It was like those panels in manga where the protagonist, moved by their kind boss, remains oblivious to the boss’s sinister grin.
“Speaking of which, Professor Elodie seemed to be contemplating her approach to teaching the students. Perhaps you could offer her some advice?”
“Hm, I haven’t heard anything about that from her. If she needed my input, I’m sure she would have come to me directly.”
This question, too, was nothing more than an attempt to confirm that Elodie and I were unrelated. He definitely seemed interested in Elodie. And not in a subtle way, either.
‘Well, it’s understandable, I suppose.’
She was one of the most beautiful women on the continent, and a mage of unparalleled skill. It was only natural for anyone to admire her or hold her in high regard.
It was just that Giotto was old enough to know better than to act so blatantly.
“Hmm, about that, Professor Frondier.”
“Yes, Instructor. What is it?”
Giotto hesitated, as if troubled.
Of course, he wasn’t troubled at all, and it was obvious he was just pretending to hesitate, which made it difficult to humor him.
“We were considering entrusting you with the battle theory classes as well. What are your thoughts on that?”
“We heard that you possess exceptional knowledge in the theory of all domains. It would be a waste to confine such talent to just one field, wouldn’t it?”
It wouldn’t be a waste at all.
It would just double my workload.
“The other instructors are quite interested in you as well. Having you teach battle theory would also motivate the related instructors and benefit them greatly.”
They might be motivated, but they wouldn’t benefit from it.
He was just trying to start a fight.
Was he just being petty? Actually, that seemed plausible. It wasn’t often that you met someone whose ulterior motives were so transparent. Maybe that was why there wasn’t much to him.
However, the timing was rather curious. Giotto Made his move right after I had displayed my magic in the classroom and handled Basileo’s mishap.
There was no way word of what happened during the lesson had already spread. There was no reason for it to. But I didn’t think Giotto’s sudden actions were unrelated.
In other words, if Giotto, who shouldn’t know what I did in the classroom yet, was acting this way because he did know…
I considered the most common possibility that came to mind.