Basileo, a student of the magic department and one of Atlas’s prized talents, had recently become obsessed with observing every single move of his teacher, Frondier.
Frondier’s spell that he had shown before was bothering him to no end.
Just how did he manage to cast it so fast? Frondier’s magic, which didn’t even reveal the process of its technique, had become Basileo’s obsession. He believed that if he could only learn its secret, he could become even stronger.
However, he felt awkward asking during class because of the incident last time, and Frondier was always too busy outside of class.
As he learned more about Frondier, he realized just how busy the man was. Other students may not have noticed yet, but his schedule was definitely not normal.
Not only did he teach both combat theory and magic theory, but he was also responsible for teaching almost all of the 3rd year classes. Was Frondier being greedy, or was it an order from above?
‘And yet, you always have such a relaxed expression. It’s kind of creepy, Teacher.’
So, Basileo decided to try his luck after school. It just so happened that his last class was near the faculty office.
As soon as class was over, Basileo headed to the faculty office, but Frondier was nowhere to be seen.
This wasn’t the first time Basileo had failed to meet Frondier. No matter how quickly he searched after school, Frondier was always gone.
His incredible speed was astonishing, but the fact that he could disappear from a classroom this close was beyond surprising, it was strange.
“Excuse me, Teacher. Do you know where Teacher Frondier went?”
Determined to meet Frondier this time, Basileo mustered up the courage to ask a nearby teacher. The teacher thought for a moment before answering.
“I saw him go outside, heading towards the cafeteria, I think.”
And so, Basileo headed to the cafeteria.
It was strange, even as he walked. Why would a teacher go to the Atlas cafeteria after school? Did he like the food here that much?
The Atlas cafeteria was vast. As soon as Basileo entered, he began diligently searching every corner for Frondier.
And after a long while…
It was a complete bust.
Basileo, as if to soothe his bitter heart, began to shovel food into his mouth. He was so busy looking for Frondier that evening had come, and the smell of the cafeteria naturally made him hungry.
“Munch, munch, where could he be, chomp, chomp, he’s like a ghost teacher. Gulp.”
A rib with meat attached entered Basileo’s mouth and came out clean. He gulped down water between his puffed-up cheeks. The feeling of the food and meat filling his mouth and going down with the water relieved some of his stress.
The Atlas cafeteria was open quite late, but no matter how long he waited, Frondier was nowhere to be seen.
He hadn’t seen him when he first arrived, so it made sense that he wouldn’t suddenly appear now. It was rare for teachers to come here anyway.
“──I heard there’s a ghost.”
Basileo flinched, stopping mid-bite.
At the table next to him, two female students were chatting.
He had unconsciously called Frondier a “ghost teacher” earlier, and it was now on his mind. Basileo strained his ears to listen to the two girls’ conversation.
“No way. What kind of ghost?”
“I’m serious! It’s in the gymnasium. They say that late at night, when no one’s around, the lights suddenly turn on in the dark gym.”
“Someone must have turned them on.”
“No, I heard it’s a light so bright it can’t be compared to ordinary lights.”
“…That’s… probably just their imagination. You know how lights seem super bright in a dark place.”
“But think about it. Our gym only has one light switch, by the door, right? You can’t turn on the lights without going there.”
“They say that when you see the light and open the door to turn off the gym lights, the light disappears, and there’s no one inside.”
In other words, someone had to be at the door to turn the lights back off, but the story was that the lights turned off by themselves with no one around.
The face of the girl listening to the story turned pale.
“S-stop it with that story. It’s just a ghost story.”
“And they say the light starts out red, then turns blue, like the color of a ghost…”
“Stop it! I told you to stop!”
One girl shook her head in terror, while the other laughed in amusement.
And Basileo, who had been listening quietly…
He muttered to himself.
The gymnasium wasn’t far from the cafeteria.
Come to think of it, the reason the teacher he asked earlier thought Frondier might have gone to the cafeteria was probably because he couldn’t imagine him going to the gymnasium.