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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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A golem was an artificial lifeform powered by a magic stone core.
It felt more like a robot, following pre-programmed commands, than a living being… but regardless, a golem’s power varied greatly depending on the materials used and the mage’s magical power.
This characteristic had caused him much deliberation.
If the golems were too weak, they would collapse before the lesson even began.
If they were too strong, the students would be in danger.
Moreover, the students had to be able to fend off his surprise attacks while dealing with the golems…
Being a teacher was a difficult job.
‘Fortunately, the difficulty adjustment seems successful.’
The surprise attacks had initially caught them off guard, but they’d managed to form a decent battle line after a while.
The Royal Class students, in particular, stood out.
Reinhardt blocked the Wood Golems head-on, Ariana flanked them with surprise attacks, and Amy steadily chipped away at their health with area-of-effect magic from the rear.
Sena’s divine magic ensured no student suffered lasting injuries.
They were practically an invincible party.
‘If I hadn’t adjusted the difficulty considering the Royal Class, this would have ended quickly.’
Just as he was about to make his move, he noticed Lux standing quietly in the back.
She looked picturesque just standing there, but this was a battle. He stealthily approached her from behind.
“Are you alright, Your Highness?”
He was currently using his Divine Power to mimic the Shadow Serpent’s camouflage ability.
An ordinary human wouldn’t be able to detect him.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
However, Lux responded without hesitation, looking directly in his direction. He moved around, wondering if it was a coincidence, but her dark red eyes followed him unerringly.
“You can see me.”
“I have good eyesight. Although you’re blurry… it’s impressive camouflage.”
Lux blinked, a faint smile playing on her lips.
As expected of someone said to be naturally sensitive to magic. She’d sensed his weakened magical power, blended with nature through the Shadow Serpent’s ability.
“Were you waiting to counter my surprise attack?”
“Yes. I thought it was better than needlessly expending energy.”
“I see.”
In that case, he needed to increase the difficulty.
He snapped his fingers, and the Wood Golems’ eyes turned red. He’d included a berserk mode, just in case.
“Their power suddenly increased! Everyone, be careful…!”
“Aaack!”
The sudden surge of power shattered the students’ formation. The mages in the rear panicked.
“Hold on a little longer!”
“Goddess of Dawn, protect them!”
Reinhardt’s exceptional swordsmanship and Sena’s protective magic barely held the line, but they would soon be overwhelmed without a decisive strategy.
Lux, seemingly aware of his intentions, rolled her eyes.
“You have terrible taste.”
“I can’t stand seeing people slack off.”
“I wasn’t slacking off, but… I understand your intentions.”
Lux sighed and extended her hand, focusing her magical power. A brilliant, multicolored light gathered at her snow-white fingertips.
The spell shot out like a missile, striking the hand of a Wood Golem about to attack a male student with a sword.
“Uwaaaack!”
Crash!
“Huh…?”
The male student turned around in surprise as the golem, which should have been on top of him, stumbled backward.
Looking away during combat? Points deducted. He mentally noted the student’s dumbfounded expression and addressed Lux.
“Excellent magic.”
“…Thank you.”
“Keep it up.”
He passed by Lux, who was pouting, and approached Amy, who was diligently firing spells from the rear.
“Damn it! Is this even right?! This damn professor!”
As noted in her report, she had quite a fiery personality. Her polite demeanor in the dining hall must have been an act. It seemed punishment was in order.
“Hey…!”
Lux noticed him and tried to shout, but it was too late. He blew gently on Amy’s ear.
“Hoo~”
“Eek?!”
Amy jumped in surprise, disrupting her spellcasting and pushing the front line back further. He shook his head and offered some advice.
“A mage responsible for firepower shouldn’t fail to cast a spell, no matter the circumstances.”
“P-Professor?!”
“Because of you, the students at the front are in danger.”
“Anyone would be surprised if…! Heeek?!”
Instead of accepting his criticism humbly, she offered excuses. He sentenced her to the Tickle Torture. After tormenting her until she teared up, he moved her away from the battle.
“You’re out. Think about what you did wrong and how you should have reacted.”
“Hee… hee…”
“Was that too much?”
Leaving Amy to recover, he moved on to his next target.
“Amy! What are you doing?! What happened?!”
Ariana, startled by the sudden interruption of Amy’s fire magic and her scream, was clearly distracted, unable to focus on the Wood Golems.
This meant she still didn’t feel her life was in danger. If it were a truly dangerous situation, she wouldn’t have the luxury of worrying about the rear.
‘She definitely has the talent of an officer. This is fun.’
He grinned and targeted Ariana’s sides.
“Eek! Professor?!”
Oh, as expected of a swordsman who trained her body, she was resistant to tickling. Perhaps he should try something more drastic?
“P-Professor?! Ah… there…! Aaahn…!”
He lightly grazed her back, and Ariana dissolved into giggles. The faint Aura around his fingers must have intensified the sensation. Even so, those suggestive moans were making him look like a criminal! He quickly moved Ariana next to Amy.
“You’re out too, Ariana. Reflect on your actions with Amy.”
“Nnngh…”
He turned his attention away from the two giggling girls and assessed the situation. Two golems down, three students remaining.
The absence of Amy, the strongest mage, and Ariana, the sturdy front line, had clearly taken its toll.
Of course, the pebbles he’d flicked at them while “dealing with” the girls had also contributed to their struggles… Since the remaining students were all from the Royal Class, there was no need to continue.
“Let’s wrap this up.”
About fifteen minutes left. He snapped his fingers as he approached Reinhardt, severing the magical connection to the Wood Golems.
Whirr
Reinhardt was startled as the Wood Golems abruptly stopped moving.
“Huh? Why did they…?”
“You have to finish them off when you have the chance.”
“Huh? Ugh…!”
He kicked Reinhardt in the stomach, sending him flying. Was he being too rough with Reinhardt?
Well, he couldn’t treat him the same way he treated the girls. He had no interest in tickling a guy. He deactivated his Shadow Serpent Transformation and called out, “Class dismissed. …Sena?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Please take care of those two rolling around over there.”
“Yes, sir!”
Sena moved with unusual briskness. Thanks to her, the students quickly recovered. Once Amy and Ariana joined the others, he continued the lesson.
“First, Reinhardt!”
“Yes, sir!”
He smiled, seeing Reinhardt standing at attention like a new recruit, likely due to the recent kick.
“You did well holding the front line. Deflecting my pebbles was a good reaction too.”
“Thank you!”
“However, refrain from taking unknown attacks head-on. If that were a Shadow Serpent, you’d be fighting for your life due to poisoned darts. I’ve lost count of how many people died that way around me.”
“U-Understood!”
“Lastly… never hesitate against an enemy.”
He could overlook other mistakes, but this last one was unacceptable. Even if it was just a class, and they were inexperienced students, this lesson had to be ingrained in their minds.
“A warrior on the front lines carries the lives of those behind them on their shoulders. Do you think it ends with just your death? Your comrades behind you will die, and beyond them, your friends and family. Remember that.”
“…Yes, sir!” Reinhardt shouted, his face pale.
That should have gotten the message across. If he repeated the same mistake next time…
“I-I’ll keep that in mind!”
“Good.”
He turned his attention to the other students. They flinched nervously as they met his gaze. He decided to stop here before they developed any trauma.
“I believe you’ve all learned the dangers of savages. Write down your reflections for next time and submit them.”
“Yes, sir!”
“You all did very well for your first time. I’d say you’re A-class recruits.”
His praise seemed to ease their tension. Just as he was about to dismiss the class, he met Lux’s gaze.
“……”
Her eyes seemed to be asking if he had anything to say to her. He scratched his cheek awkwardly. He’d almost forgotten about the princess.
“Lux…”
He inadvertently used her name, and the students gasped.
“…Gasp!”
“H-He used informal speech…?”
Was it inappropriate to use informal speech with a student, even if he was a professor…? It was too late to take it back. He had to commit.
“If you can detect me, there’s no Shadow Serpent you can’t see, unless it’s a chieftain.”
Still, just standing there with her arms crossed wasn’t helpful. There wouldn’t be any pre-announced surprise attacks like this in a real battle.
“Next time, announce the enemy’s position loudly. Or use light magic to illuminate the area. Shadow Serpents are paralyzed for about a second when exposed to sudden bright light.”
“Understood.”
Lux nodded obediently. Unlike the other students’ dramatic reactions, she seemed satisfied.
“Even the most threatening savages have at least one weakness. There’s a reason why knowledge is power. I had to learn their weaknesses the hard way… but you have the convenience of a library.”
The students frowned and nodded at his implied instruction to study. He understood they didn’t want to study, but they had to if they wanted to survive.
“Just so you know, there will be a written exam in my class. So, study hard.”
“Yes, sir!”
“That’s all for today. Good work, everyone.”
Contrary to his expectations, the students simply collapsed where they stood. Had he made it too difficult?
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That night, as Amy lay in bed after showering, a terrible pain washed over her.
“Ugh…!”
Mana exhaustion, the result of overusing magic.
“That mean professor! That was too much…!”
It had been a while since she’d experienced mana exhaustion so severe that it made even eating difficult. At least, it was the first time since she’d entered Minerva.
“…How many battles like that has he been through?”
Thinking back, Allen’s class had been carefully calibrated.
It had been challenging after the Wood Golems’ eyes turned red, but still manageable with enough time. Allen’s surprise attacks were nothing compared to a real battlefield.
She wouldn’t have been forced to laugh from tickling; she would have been dead.
“Professor Allen must have gone through the same, while also protecting Eil.”
She remembered Eil lying unconscious in his hospital bed.
He’d been hit by a Shadow Serpent’s poisoned dart. Eil had said, with a laugh, that he would have died if Allen hadn’t been there.
She could almost hear Allen’s voice in her ear.
‘A warrior on the front lines carries the lives of those behind them on their shoulders. Do you think it ends with just your death?
Your comrades behind you will die, and beyond them, your friends and family. Remember that.’
Allen’s expression had been terrifying as he said those words. In some ways, it was even scarier than her father’s, but… Amy had also glimpsed bitterness and sadness in his eyes.
“I need to study.”
She had never felt so powerless in her life. She never wanted to experience it again. Amy drifted off to sleep, resolving to visit the library tomorrow.
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Meanwhile, Lux was also thinking about Allen.
“In the classroom, and… today as well…”
Knowing about Master-level Divine Powers, Lux recognized that Allen’s abilities stemmed from one.
“What does it mean?”
During the first class, when he’d blocked Amy’s magic, Allen’s hand had turned green. Today, when he’d used his camouflage, black scales had appeared on his neck. She didn’t know how many of her classmates had noticed… but she had definitely seen it.
“Can he… use the power of savages…?”
Duke Paulo Robert, the Taurus of the Zodiac Knights, had said that aside from the Pope, perhaps only Allen could solve her problem.
“…I have to be careful.”
She wanted to run to him and confess her troubles, but… her position as a princess prevented her. She had to endure a little longer. She could withstand the constant onslaught of emotions and pain.
“Because I am a princess.”
Enduring the familiar yet unbearable agony, Lux closed her eyes. Still air, deep darkness, endless despair. She suddenly remembered Allen, who had treated her not as a princess, but as an ordinary student.
‘Lux…’
His words, his voice, still echoed in her ears. She drifted off to sleep, hoping, praying, that he would be her prince, her savior.
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