"Well done," Strass said and patted my shoulder repeatedly. Despite his usual expressionless face, I could tell he was genuinely pleased.
"Hey, Strass-san! Why are you praising her?!" Eliza raised her hands in anger.
Strass tilted his head in response and said seriously, "She scolded those fools who were being disruptive and interrupting classes. What's wrong with that?"
Eliza held her head in her hands and placed her elbows on the table. Ignoring the dejected Eliza, I glanced around the restaurant.
It was a slightly dim but spacious restaurant. There were wooden tables and leather sofas, with potted plants placed along the walls and around the pillars.
Both the staff and the customers were refined, making it clear at a glance that this was a high-end establishment.
" … Are you okay with the bill?"
I had earned some money during my travels, and I didn't have the impression that these two were financially well-off. I remembered Eliza mentioning something about it to the dormitory director.
When I voiced my concern, the two of them looked at me with serious expressions.
"Teachers at Fiddiq Academy are well paid! A meal like this is no problem!"
"Come to think of it, Aoi, you haven’t received your salary yet, right?"
Strass's words made Eliza's eyes widen in realization. I had been misunderstood.
"No, I'm fine with the payment, but… Eliza-san, you mentioned being worried about the cost of inns in town before."
Strass looked at Eliza.
She arched her eyebrows and averted her gaze. "… My research funds are tight. Occasional meals aren’t an issue, but regular expenses are another matter. I've heard rumors that senior teachers earn three times as much as general teachers…"
Eliza looked at me with a hint of longing.
Strass gave her a half-lidded stare. "Don't mooch, Eliza. Aoi is a new teacher."
Eliza looked reproachfully at Strass, who naturally called me by my first name. "I'm older than you, Strass-san. You should show some respect and sponsor my research…"
"Don't become like this, Aoi."
Listening to their amusing conversation, I voiced a question. "I have one question. I believe that any magician capable of becoming a teacher at Fiddiq Academy can earn sufficient money elsewhere. Why choose this academy?"
The two of them exchanged looks.
"There are various reasons, but broadly speaking, there are two… no, three main reasons," Strass said.
Eliza nodded and raised her index finger. "The first is for country. People come to the academy to make their presence felt. For example, there’s Famous Grouse-sensei. Famous-sensei teaches to elevate the status of his earl family and showcase the high level of mages in the Karvan Kingdom."
She followed with her middle finger for the second point. "The second reason is for family. For example, people from noble families that have fallen into decline find it extremely difficult to rise again within their country. Well, rising noble families tend to be more highly regarded than those who have failed once. Such people come to Fiddiq Academy, where they can be evaluated fairly and make a name for themselves."
She raised her ring finger for the third point. "The third reason is for themselves. Some dedicate their lives to magic, aiming to develop a particular type of magic. Some are even looking for a marriage partner."
I nodded in understanding. "So, what about you two?"
"For myself."
"It's for myself."
They both answered immediately upon being asked.
"For yourself?" I confirmed.
Strass nodded. "The Verted Kingdom already has a senior teacher. My family is only of baron rank. Just becoming a teacher here has raised the name enough. Therefore, I want to test how far I can go as a magician."
Strass said something that sounded like the protagonist of a shounen manga and quietly sipped his drink.
Eliza nodded with a laugh. "I'm similar. While it would be great for the Grandsands to produce many magicians, the number of teachers and students has increased significantly compared to before. So I'm developing new magic for my own goals."
Eliza clenched her fists in front of her chest.
"New magic?" I asked.
"Yes! Earth magic can be used in a variety of places, from road construction to building walls! However, once the mana is exhausted, it all turns to soil. This is true for both advanced and special-grade magic. Even if you change the nature to stone, it crumbles. So I want to develop earth magic that lasts! If successful, it can be used to build structures, bridges, and so on!" Eliza explained passionately.
Strass let out a groan. "I check every time, but is such lasting magic possible? Wouldn't it require continuous mana output?"
"Magic has infinite possibilities! I believe there is potential in lost ancient magic circles! After all, there are ancient ruins with structures that clearly seem man-made…"
Before I knew it, the two of them were engrossed in a discussion about magic.
"What do you think, Aoi-san?!" Eliza asked.
"Honestly, I think it's a shame to waste time on impossible research," Strass answered.
"Don't say such pessimistic things!"
With the two of them closing in on me as I was eating a chicken wing, I answered with a wry smile, "I don't think Eliza-san's research is wrong. In fact, there are still weapons, armor, and buildings made using magic circles. The magic circles lose their effect if the lines break, so they are protected and hidden by covering them with the same material."
Both Eliza and Strass widened their eyes.
"Y-y-you know about magic circles?!"
"… Aoi, could you also be researching magic circles…"
While they were both shocked, I suddenly sensed someone standing nearby.
When I looked up, I saw Speyside.
Speyside looked at each of our faces in turn, frowned, and let out a deep sigh. "Could you please be quieter? This is a public restaurant. Please consider the people around you."
Eliza immediately looked startled and bowed her head. "S-sorry! We got a bit carried away. We apologize!"
Speyside looked down at apologizing Eliza, snorted, and turned on his heel.
Although Strass seemed slightly annoyed by his attitude, we were clearly in the wrong, so we couldn't complain.
However, there was one thing that concerned me.
"Excuse me."
Speyside stopped and turned his head slightly towards me.
"I apologize for the disturbance. By the way, are you here alone, Speyside-sensei?"
He looked displeased for a moment but soon answered. "… I'm with Fore Pern Roses-shi. Please make sure not to cause any more trouble."
Speyside returned to his seat. It seemed they were eating in a private room at the back.
"Is this person called Fore also a teacher?" I asked.
Strass grimaced, and Eliza nodded with a wry smile.
"He's one of the senior teachers. He's… a person with a strong sense of nobility. Strass-san and I don't have many opportunities to talk with him…"
Hearing that, I somewhat understood the look on Strass's face.