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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Absent Professor
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…Excerpt.
A magician’s rank is determined by their level of mastery, progressing from , , , and , to
Luspell O El is a Master-level magician.
He possesses a genius-level talent for fire magic and was reputed to have already reached the Legend-class in offensive magic by the age of fifteen.
After focusing his research and experiments on destructive power, he entered a long period of rest following the Demon King’s retreat.
It was a complete disappearance, with not a single research paper or experimental record to be found.
Then, five years later, he resumed his activities by participating in the construction of the Grand Plaza.
From that point on, he concentrated his research on practical magic, specifically in the field of construction, and commercialized half of his inventions.
Master Luspell holds a total of 117 patents. The profits earned from them are enough to sustain three generations for a thousand years. Among his most notable inventions is the .
—Excerpt from .
***
“Oh, so the Duchess has heard of him. Yes, that’s right. Master Luspell is in charge of the introductory magic course.”
“……!”
What, Luspell is teaching children? The “Mad Dog” Luspell?
“I heard his personality… isn’t quite suited for a profession like teaching. This is unexpected.”
“Haha, while Professor Luspell is a genius, it’s true he doesn’t have much of a knack for teaching.”
“Did Master Luspell volunteer to become a professor?”
“I wish that were the case, but to be honest, I couldn't leave him on his own, so I had to drag him here myself.”
“……?”
Before I could voice my confusion, Oswald quietly opened the classroom door and whispered.
“Now, let’s go inside.”
I stepped into the lecture hall.
My meeting with Leonhart was a disaster, but Luspell should be fine.
My heart pounded with anticipation.
“……?”
The classroom was filled with children, but Luspell was nowhere to be seen.
Oswald, with a grave expression, asked the children.
“Chase, where has Professor Luspell gone?”
“The professor hasn’t arrived yet.”
“What? Again?”
Oswald, who had just raised his voice, glanced at me and forced a smile.
“Ah, is he still in his lab? Well, when one is engrossed in research, it’s easy to lose track of time, hahaha!”
“Pardon?”
“A-Ahem! I’ll go check his lab. Wait here quietly and don’t make a fuss.”
Grandpa, your acting is a little too clumsy.
Why is a magician being late such a big deal that he has to try so hard to cover it up?
‘Is he experimenting?’
Luspell’s concentration was terrifying.
Most magicians were like that, but Luspell was on another level.
Once he started an experiment, he would completely forget about the real world.
He wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t sleep. He didn’t even realize he was hungry. He wouldn’t notice if someone was dying next to him.
And yet, no one thought it was a serious problem.
No one asked if he was okay, even when he emerged from his lab looking like a skeleton after every experiment.
Magicians are human, too.
So, I used to drag Luspell out of his laboratory.
To keep him from starving. To make sure he washed at least once a day. To ensure he got a minimum amount of sleep.
“Pel, let’s go grab a beer with the guys.”
“Can’t you see I’m in the middle of an experiment? And I told you not to call me that!”
“Lus, wanna go for a beer?”
“Just don’t call me anything. Please, stop talking to me!”
“Oh, come on. You know you like talking to me.”
“...Are you insane?”
“You haven’t eaten a single meal today, have you? Should I bring you a lunch box?”
“Eat it yourself!”
“Can’t you try being a little nicer? It’s such a waste of that handsome face.”
“Hmph! Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Can I watch your experiment later?”
“No! You think I don’t know you’re just going to nag me to sleep again?”
“Pel, were you that embarrassed to let me see you sleep? Don’t worry. You don’t even snore; you sleep very quietly.”
“...That’s it. You and I are finished today. Don’t you move a muscle.”
“Alright, we’ll go on ahead to the pub. Take your time, wash up, and come out.”
“Get back here! Hey!!!”
I had stubbornly dragged Luspell out of his lab, and each time, he would follow, foaming at the mouth.
It’s a common story, really—we fought so much we ended up becoming friends.
Now that there was no one like me to interfere, he must have gone back to his old ways.
‘Still, if you’re a professor, you should at least be on time for class.’
Oswald turned to me, scratching the back of his head.
“My apologies, but I must go to Professor Luspell’s lab for a moment. Would the Duchess prefer to wait here?”
[Step 3: (With a look that says, ‘How dare someone like you bother me?’) A mere professor is causing such a hassle. I’ll go with you.]
I sighed at the instruction.
“A mere professor is causing such a hassle. I’ll go with you.”
I had planned to go with him anyway.
If Luspell was lost in an experiment, it would be difficult for Oswald to get him out alone.
I met Piache’s gaze.
“Piache, you and Luna stay in the classroom. These are children you’ll be seeing often, so it would be good to introduce yourselves.”
Piache, with an anxious look, gently tugged at the hem of my clothes.
“C-Can I… c-c-can I go w-with the D-Duchess, p-p-please?”
“Why, are you afraid of the other children?”
“N-No… I-It’s just, I-I’m not g-good at t-talking…”
[Step 1: (Coldly) The name Ivrante is wasted on you.]
My expression turned cold.
As the atmosphere shifted, Piache froze.
“What is your name?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked for your name.”
“...It’s P-Piache.”
“Is that all?”
“N-No, I’m P-Piache I-Iv, Ivrante.”
[Step 1: (Cynically) You know this, and yet you act this way?]
“That’s right, you are Piache Ivrante. Do you know what that means?”
“I-I’m sorry. I-I-I don’t, don’t know.”
[Step 2: (Sternly) There is no one in this classroom who can disrespect an Ivrante.]
“It means that no one in this classroom can dare to disrespect you.”
I paused, raising only my eyes to scan the room.
“I’m sure every child in here knows that. And if they don’t, I can personally enlighten them.”
The children who had been peeking at us quickly turned their heads away.
Hiccups started to sound from here and there, likely frightened by my piercing glare and somber tone.
I swept my gaze over the terrified children before turning back to Piache.
“Do you still want to come with me?”
“...No, I-I’ll stay here. P-Please, go on ahead.”
“Luna, stay by Piache’s side.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Oswald and I left the classroom and went back up to the fifth floor.
Oswald knocked on the door to Luspell’s lab.
*Knock, knock.*
“Professor Luspell, are you in there?”
As expected, there was no sound from within.
*Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.*
“Did you forget you have a class? Professor Luspell, I know you’re in there, please answer!”
The lab remained silent.
Oswald’s knocking grew faster as he raised his voice.
*BANG, BANG, BANG!*
“Professor Luspell! Master Luspell! Luspell! Hey, you damn brat! …Hmm? Is he really not here?”
Oswald, who had been shouting and pounding on the door as if to break it down, finally tilted his head in confusion.
“I was sure he’d be in his lab, but it seems he’s stepped out. Phew, I truly have no excuse to offer the Duchess.”
Just then, Undine’s telepathic voice entered my mind.
[Rian, should I go see if he’s inside?]
I glanced at Oswald before giving a slight nod.
Thoroughly embarrassed, Oswald let out a deep sigh.
“I suppose I should be honest. Every year, around this time, Professor Luspell becomes… well, a little depressed. That’s why he sometimes skips class or arrives late.”
The words ‘Luspell’ and ‘depressed’ were like oil and water; they didn’t mix.
Luspell, of all people.
If the phrase “I alone am honored, in heaven and on earth” were a person, it would be Luspell.
He was always brimming with confidence. He was the type to eliminate obstacles rather than avoid them.
His own feelings were his top priority, and he never cared what anyone else thought.
When he was angry, he would erupt like a volcano, and when he was happy, he would laugh boisterously, regardless of the time or place.
‘What could have happened to him to make him like this…?’
Hiding my impatience, I feigned disinterest and asked.
“Did something bad happen to Professor Luspell?”
“Adela Helsington died around this time of year, didn’t she? It seems the shock was quite severe for him.”
“...What?”
“He blamed himself so much, saying he couldn’t save her even though he was right there, that Adela’s death was his fault. He couldn’t get a grip, so I brought him to the academy. I was too worried to leave him alone.”
What? It was because of me?
