Classes were progressing smoothly, and I was becoming quite familiar not only with the city's surface but also with its dark side.
I was pleased with how well things were going. But one day, I was summoned by Principal Glenn, and an ominous shadow descended upon me.
"Phew."
With a sigh, I looked down at the letter I had received from Glenn. It seemed like a troublesome matter.
As I sat on a chair in the academy's courtyard, thinking about this, I noticed three figures walking towards me. It was Strass, Eliza, and Shenley.
"Oh, there's Aoi-sensei!" Shenley called out my name with a bright smile. This drew the attention of Strass and Eliza as well.
"Good morning." I stood up from the chair and bowed.
Shenley hurriedly placed her hands on her thighs and bowed deeply.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Aoi-san."
The three of them stood before me and returned my greeting.
"Did something happen?" I asked.
Strass glanced at the letter in my hand. "I heard a rumor that a high-ranking official from the Maple Leaf Holy Empire has appeared in the city, and he’s accompanied by an infamous court magician."
"Infamous?"
To my question, Eliza frowned and answered. "Well… the magician is known as Crown Windsor, the Magic Maniac. Despite being in his mid-thirties, he is a genius magician who has already created ten new spells… However, it's said that countless slaves were sacrificed in human experiments for those new spells. And now, Crown Windsor is coming to the academy…"
"A magician from the Maple Leaf Holy Empire… I see."
Understanding Strass and Eliza's explanations, I opened the letter in my hand. "I was wondering why I was chosen, but now it makes sense."
I held up the letter so that Strass and the others could see its contents. The three of them leaned forward to read it.
"… An invitation to the Holy Empire? Establishing a new magic academy…"
"I've never heard of such a thing…"
"Eh? Aoi-sensei, are you going to Maple Leaf…?"
Each of them looked confused. The content was as they said, an invitation from the king of the Maple Leaf Holy Empire, the top of the Holy Empire.
It would be difficult for Principal Glenn to refuse.
Understanding this, Strass looked at me with a grim expression. "What about the principal?"
"The letter states that an envoy from the Holy Empire will come. Principal Glenn will speak directly with the envoy and try to convince them to let me stay at the academy."
Strass and Eliza exchanged looks. Shenley looked down with a troubled expression.
"… I don't want to speak ill of my homeland, but the current king…" Shenley mumbled, hesitant to continue.
Seeing this, Eliza spoke in her place. "Well, the previous king of the Maple Leaf Holy Empire was a moderate who focused on domestic affairs… But his successor, the current king, is taking drastic measures to elevate the country's magical prowess. That's why a magician like Crown has become a court magician…"
Eliza spoke hesitantly, perhaps because she was criticizing another country.
I nodded in agreement, considering their words. If their information was accurate, the letter's content was understandable, and it was clear that they wouldn't give up easily.
Thinking about this, I put the letter away and sighed. "Well, I'm not going anywhere just yet."
I had just gotten accustomed to Fiddiq Academy. First, I needed to promote chantless magic and magic circles here.
If I could elevate the students’ and teachers' knowledge and understanding of magic, new magical theories that neither I nor Owen had thought of would surely emerge.
After achieving that, I might consider complying with the request.
While I was thinking, the three of them had puzzled looks on their faces.
"You'll go eventually?"
"Are you abandoning the academy?!"
"I'll follow you wherever you go, Aoi-sensei."
Hearing their simultaneous statements, I shook my head. "If the situation at the academy changes, I'd like to visit other academies. But that's not happening right now."
Although they didn't seem entirely convinced, they calmed down for now.
"Principal Glenn predicted that the envoy might arrive as early as tomorrow, so I think I should go back and prepare."
"Prepare?"
"Changing clothes?"
They tilted their heads at my words.
I smiled and nodded. "If a magician from the Maple Leaf Holy Empire is coming, I want to see just how powerful their magic is."
The three of them all grimaced. I wondered why.
The next day, after packing my prepared items into a bag, I headed to the principal's office.
"You called for me?"
"Oh, I'm glad you came."
As soon as I opened the door, I met Glenn's eyes and exchanged words.
"I received the message by courier yesterday, but considering the character of the person coming, they might be traveling as fast as the courier. That's why I said they might arrive as early as tomorrow."
"…? Yes, I understand." I nodded, puzzled by his strange phrasing.
Glenn suddenly frowned and shook his head. "I didn't think they'd actually arrive the day after I received the message."
Hearing this unexpected statement, I asked in surprise. "… They've already arrived?"
Glenn, still frowning, nodded. "… Yes. They're already waiting outside the academy for permission to meet. Ahhh… What a bother. What should we do?"
"Even if you say what we should do, is there any way we can avoid meeting them?"
"Impossible."
"Then we have no choice but to call them in."
Hearing my suggestion, Glenn made a face like a child faced with food he didn't like. "No way! It's such a bother! And what's more, the Magic Maniac came as well! They definitely won't listen to reason! Ah, I just want to go home…"
Glenn's spirit was completely crushed.
"… Then I'll go meet them. In the meantime, please prepare yourself."
"Oh, oh… thank you."
After the exchange, I left the office.
Since Glenn was so reluctant, it was clear that Crown Windsor was a very troublesome character.
I needed to brace myself as well.
With renewed determination, I walked down the hallway.