After parting ways with Joan, I climbed the hill and entered the boys’ dormitory.
When I went upstairs to the second floor, I noticed two men sitting on a sofa in the lounge area, facing each other.
One of them was wearing a uniform, and I recognized him.
“Senior Andy”
“Hmm? Oh, Tsukasa. Were you out somewhere?”
“Yes. By the way, I just saw Senior Joan out there.”
“Hmm… was she out too?”
“Probably, don’t you think? Oh, and who’s this?”
I was curious about the person talking with Senior Andy.
Not only had I never seen this person before, but he wasn’t wearing a uniform, and he looked older than my father. Though I couldn’t tell his exact age, from the texture of his skin and the way his blond hair, brushed back, was receding, I would estimate he was over forty.
“Ah, you don’t know him? This is Mr. Wallace who teaches classes related to magical artifact creation.”
“Ah, Mr. Wallace, good afternoon!”
Upon realizing he was a teacher, I greeted him.
“Yes, good afternoon. Andy mentioned a ‘Tsukasa.’ Is this you?”
Mr. Wallace, after returning my greeting, looked toward Senior Andy.
“That’s correct. This is Tsukasa Nagase from the first-year D-class.”
“Hmm… what a coincidence. Nagase, please sit down.”
Mr. Wallace extended his hand beside Senior Andy, gesturing for me to sit.
“Uh… aren’t you in the middle of a conversation?”
“I’d like to ask you something as well. Do you have something on your mind? If so, we can reschedule…”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Then could you spare a bit of time?”
With that, I sat nervously next to Senior Andy.
“You started school in May, didn’t you? So, it’s only natural you don’t know me. I’m Wallace Thorn. I teach the first-year C-class and, as Andy mentioned, handle lessons related to magical artifacts.”
“Magical artifacts…? Oh?”
“Indeed.”
“Hmm…”
“What is it?”
“Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Mr. Wallace,” Senior Andy stepped in, “Tsukasa seems concerned about factions and also the incident with Matthias.”
That’s exactly it!
“Ah… I see. Nagase, let me first say this: factions barely concern teachers.”
“Really?”
“Indeed. If you ask your parents, they’ll probably say the same thing. Back when we were young, the Academy had no factions. It’s only been a few recent years that they’ve been introduced. Thus, most of us teachers avoid getting involved in such matters.”
“So that’s how it is…”
“Your parents graduated from here, didn’t they?”
“In any case, Ms. Jenny, who teaches your classes, is very independent. But ideologies are personal matters, so I won’t comment on them. The same applies to the students.”
“I had no idea she was so independent.”
“Likely not. So, don’t worry about me being the C-class teacher. Regarding Matthias, his behavior was excessively discriminatory, so an emergency meeting was held, and his indefinite suspension was decided. However, before that could take effect, Jaccard’s family informed us of his voluntary withdrawal.”
“So he was on indefinite suspension…”
“Yes. You seem to be working hard, and I hope you continue learning here.”
I thought maybe I’d hear some criticism, but this teacher seems genuinely decent.
“I’ll work hard.”
“Good. Let’s move on to the main issue. I wanted to ask you about the incident in the forest near the lake when you encountered the Grizzly Bear.”
Ah, that’s why he was talking with Senior Andy.
“Alright. What do you want to know?”
“Just to confirm, was it truly a Grizzly Bear?”
“Yes. It was a huge gray bear. There’s a dead body at Klaus, a blacksmith in the industrial district—I’m told he used to be a teacher here.”
“Ah, Klaus… He was my teacher when I was a student. I see…”
Mr. Wallace ponders deeply.
“Um… is something wrong?”
Did I say something wrong?
“Oh, it’s just that I’m wondering why despite Andy having a charm to repel beasts, it still attacked them.”
Now that you mention it, he did say something about it.
“Could it have been broken?”
I’m not sure if such a concept even exists, but…
“No, this charm was made by me and given to Andy. I just checked, and there seems to be nothing wrong with it.”
Mr. Wallace pulled out what looked like a charm from his pocket, tilting his head.
“Ah, so you made it, Mr. Wallace?”
“Indeed. I specialize in creating these sorts of things. If you’d like one, just say so.”
“Actually, I’d prefer something that attracts them instead.”
“Attraction… Hmm, that’s an idea I haven’t considered before. Let me think about it…”
Mr. Wallace starts deep in thought.
“Mr. Wallace, perhaps you should take that back to your lab. This is Tsukasa’s day off, after all…”
Senior Andy scolds our teacher for zoning out during our conversation.
“Oh, you’re right. Sorry about that!”
“No problem…
Is this what it’s like to be in a research role?
“Anyway, the reason I asked if the repelling charm worked is because I wanted to know if there was anything unusual when the Grizzly attacked you.”
“Anything unusual?”
I pass the question over to Senior Andy.
After all, the two seniors were attacked.
“No… just that it appeared close to the surface, that’s all.”
“Hmm… I see. By the way, Nagase, you’re a combat-type wizard, aren’t you?”
“Yes, it’s the only thing I can do.”
“Do you plan to go to that forest again?”
“Yes, I do.”
I’m going there with Sharl next Sunday.
“I see. If anything happens again in the forest, please let me know.”
“Of course, I’ll report, but I won’t really understand much—I’ve only been there once.”
“Will you be going alone?”
“No, with Sharl… the Student Council President.”
“Hmm? Wait… you mean Ivell?”
Mr. Wallace looks surprised.
“Charlene Ivell, yes. We made plans today.”
“Ah? Oh… well, I don’t mean to pry into personal matters…”
Ah… so Mr. Wallace knows I’m from La Folle.
Yeah, considering he knows my parents, that makes sense.
“Indeed. It’s personal. I met the Student Council President when I first enrolled, and she’s been very supportive.”
“I see… well, if Charlene is with you, it makes more sense. If you two notice anything unusual, please report it.”
“Understood.”
That’s something I’d naturally do, and even if I didn’t, Sharl would certainly do it.
“That’s all then. Sorry for taking your time on a Sunday. Thank you, Andy.”
“It’s fine, I was just leaving too.”
“I’m leaving as well.”
“I see… then, let’s work hard starting from tomorrow. I’ll take my leave here.”
With that, Mr. Wallace stood up and descended the stairs.
We watched him go while still seated.
“…Senior, are you and Joan together?”
“Are you asking THAT now?! You’ve got terrible timing, don’t you?”
I just wondered…
And I figured Sharl was probably going to ask him about it anyway, so I beat her to the punch.
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