I’m Not Becoming a Graduate Student! – Chapter 51

The next day.

Sion found himself in the forest with Patrick.

Of course, this wasn’t just for a leisurely stroll.

“…I can’t get used to this classroom route at all.”

“Tell me about it. Ugh… why on earth does Professor Lunia hold classes in a place like this…?”

“…I’m sure there’s a reason.”

“What reason could there possibly be! It’s probably just convenient since it’s right in front of her house. Ugh, my legs.”

Patrick grumbled while diligently moving his legs.

Right. They were on their way to the hut where Professor Lunia lived.

Right in front of it, she would be giving her lecture.

‘…It’s a spot where spirits gather, so that’s why she teaches here.’

Sion, who was close to Professor Lunia, knew this fact but kept it to himself.

After all, talking about it amidst their tiring hike wouldn’t make much difference.

About ten minutes later, the familiar hut appeared in sight.

And in front of it…

“…Huh?”

“What, what changed so much?”

“Seriously…?”

Nothing had been there during orientation day.

So students had to stand and attend the entire lecture.

Then the following week, after hearing Sion’s suggestion, Professor Lunia had prepared chairs.

They were stone chairs, but hey, at least they were something to sit on.

But now—

‘…An ancient theater?’

In front of the hut, there was a stage.

And behind it, the seats were arranged diagonally like a staircase.

With this setup, even if you sat at the very back, you’d still have a good view of Professor Lunia’s face.

It felt grand, like looking at a theater or a huge auditorium, and Sion thought.

‘…Did she make this herself?’

Students had already grouped together, sitting in various clusters.

Even the chairs had armrests, not to mention, makeshift desks for note-taking were built into the armrests!

Sion and Patrick also plopped down onto the stone steps.

“…Doesn’t it seem like this professor is getting better and better?”

“Right….”

“The stone floor is a bit hard on the butt.”

“Well, I’m thankful we can sit at all, dude.”

As they waited for class to start, a male student approached them.

Naturally, it was Geivolg.

“Hahaha! Good to see you again, Sion and Patrick!”

“Good morning.”

“Hmm? Sion, looks like you bought new clothes? And got a new wand too!”

“Ah… this?”

Sion awkwardly smiled and showed off the wand.

It was the ‘Wand of Manifestation’ he purchased at the Magic Tool Shop with Serenne the day before.

It wasn’t flashy, and it looked like a straight stick from a factory, but its effects were definitely reliable.

The robe he was wearing was also bought alongside Serenne.

“I heard you got it from the Magic Tool Shop yesterday.”

“Looks good on you! You have great taste.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“…Uh? Could you wait a moment?”

Geivolg, now seated, looked towards the side.

Sitting right in front of Sion and Patrick, at the far right, was Serenne.

Dressed in the exact same robe.

“…W-what? Why… what’s this?”

Patrick and Geivolg’s eyes turned to Sion.

“You’re not trying to say it’s a coincidence, are you?”

“I haven’t said anything yet!”

“It’s not that hard to figure out! Didn’t you both leave class together?”

“…Yeah, we went shopping together.”

As Sion readily admitted it, Patrick’s eyebrows began to twitch oddly.

Ah, he knows. Those eyebrows.

They were the telltale sign before Patrick properly teased Sion.

“Couple outfits? C-coupled outfits??”

“…Cut it out.”

“What do you mean cut it out? We haven’t even started yet.”

“Hahaha! Sion, couple outfits aren’t embarrassing! They show the fresh side of new couple students at the academy!”

“No, that’s not it… Ugh, enough. Let’s just not talk.”

“Is it so nice you can’t say anything? Right?”

“……”

Sion just shut his mouth.

No matter what he said, it was clear they’d tease him, so staying silent felt like the best option.

Even when Patrick and Geivolg kept harassing him, he held it in.

“Ah, good morning…”

After about three minutes.

Professor Lunia finally appeared, causing their mouths to close for what seemed like the first time.

…Well, they had to close.

‘Is that really Professor Lunia…?’

At first, she had come out in somewhat shabby clothes.

Last time, she had just neatly changed her outfit.

But today, she looked completely different from head to toe.

Her messy hair had transformed into silky strands that shimmered in the sunlight.

Adding a bit of makeup to her previously plain face made her beauty shine.

…Did she just come back from a salon or something?

Wearing a perfectly fitted shirt and high-waisted skirt made her look a hundred times more intellectual than usual.

“Um… I’ll… start the class now.”

Her voice was clear, and her words were articulated well.

Although it was still a bit awkward, she was definitely getting better.

The conversations they’d had together flashed like a ray of light in Sion’s mind.

– Appearance is important too. If you look too natural, students won’t like it much.

– Is that so…?

– Yes. And your voice is too quiet, and your articulation is unclear, especially in the classroom.

– Ugh…

– So, you should get your hair done at a salon, and as for pronunciation, practice consistently…

‘…She’s working really hard.’

It had only been three weeks.

It hadn’t been a month since Sion met her and gave some advice.

But the changes she had shown were truly remarkable.

“…Hey, are you crying?”

Patrick asked Sion.

Sion was rubbing his eyes.

“……I’m not the crying type, but get this, tears are coming out.”

“…Did I make you cry? Sorry. I won’t tease you with Geivolg anymore.”

“That’s not it… Just forget it.”

Thinking Patrick thought he’d made him cry, he was at a loss.

Meanwhile, Sion didn’t pay him any mind.

He was too busy watching Professor Lunia’s lecture.

‘Right, she has to show the magic directly while explaining… She’s doing well.’

Sion watched her lecture like a parent observing their child’s school presentation.

With teary eyes and a warm, fatherly smile on his face.

*

“…That wraps up the theory part… Good. Next, we’ll get to practice. It’s time to test Spirit Affinity. Please wait a moment while I prepare something.”

About an hour later.

Professor Lunia’s class was over.

Technically, the class had only reached the halfway point.

‘It was about Spirit Affinity, right? That was today’s lecture content.’

Spirit Affinity.

It’s an essential talent for learning Spirit Magic.

The higher the Spirit Affinity, the more and higher-ranked spirits one could form contracts with.

“…And Sion, could you please come with me for a moment?”

“…Huh?”

“Quickly, please.”

Creak.

Before Sion could voice his confusion, Professor Lunia slipped into the hut.

…Why is she calling me all of a sudden?

“I helped during the last class, but is that why she called me?”

“…I wonder?”

“Hahaha! Sion, since the professor is waiting, you should hurry in!”

Sion sluggishly got up and entered the hut.

Creak— the old wooden door creaked as it closed behind him.

Inside—

“Ugh! S-Sion!!”

“…Yes?”

“Th-this itches… Please, quickly scratch it!!”

“……???”

As soon as he stepped into the hut, Professor Lunia ran up to him.

The spot she pointed at was her back.

…She says her back itches?

“Ah, are you saying it’s because of your shirt that you can’t reach it?”

“I can’t get there like this… Is it because it’s new? It’s so itchy… I think I’m going to go crazy… P-please…”

“You can’t reach it with your own hands…?”

“…Yup!”

“?”

Professor Lunia made an odd sound and tried to twist her arms behind her back.

But her chest… and underarm area got so tight that her arms were barely scratching her shoulders, let alone her back.

“P-please hurry…”

“…”

She turned her back to Sion and pleaded.

Her flushed face showed just how badly it itched.

Her ragged breathing and half-closed eyes made her look like she was in utter distress.

‘…Why does it have to be so suggestive?’

Sion closed his eyes for a moment and tried to calm his mind.

The person before him was a professor. He might even become a graduate student. Plus, the hut was still dirty.

He tried to cast a self-hypnosis on himself and worked to chase the nefarious thoughts from his mind.

“S-Sion…?”

“Yes, I’ll scratch for you now. Where is it?”

“H-here…”

Referencing the pitiful finger that pointed him in the direction.

Sion formed his hand into a hook shape and scratched her back.

The moment he did so…

“Ahhhh!!!”

“…P-professor?”

“A-ah, I-I’m sorry… it just felt so good….”

“……”

“C-could you do more…? It’s still itchy… Ahhh….”

Every time Sion moved his hand, her body trembled slightly.

She looked as if she might melt from how good it felt.

‘…Until the rivers and mountains dry up…’

Before the blood flowed to his lower body, Sion mentally sang the national anthem.

The moment any change occurred in his body, and Professor Lunia noticed it…

Their relationship would inevitably become awkward, and worst-case scenario, his school life could come to an end.

“P-please do more…”

“……”

“A-ah! Y-you can do it there… it feels good….”

“…………….”

For about a minute, Professor Lunia’s requests continued.

…That minute was the longest and most torturous minute Sion had encountered since coming to this world.