Episode 347

“Still, couldn’t we at least stop by once…?”

Ignoring Gainando’s muttering beside him, Professor Garcia turned to Lee Han.

“If you all want to tour the shopping district, I’ll treat you.”

“Is that really all right?”

Lee Han looked at Professor Garcia, puzzled.

Judging by the atmosphere at Einrogard, it was unusual for a professor to buy things for a student.

Was this okay?

“It’s not typical, but there are sometimes exceptions. Just this once, I’ll treat you all.”

When Professor Garcia signaled with her eyes, Nillia chimed in knowingly.

“Because he’s such an outstanding student, he gets to be the exception?”

“No, it’s because he’s such a pitiful student that he gets to be the exception.”

“……”

Lee Han grew sullen and followed after Professor Garcia. Nillia, feeling sorry, patted Lee Han on the shoulder.

• * *

Even among the crowds of various races in the streets of Granden City, Professor Garcia stood out.

Of course, in this big city, the people of Granden didn’t act like bumpkins by fleeing at the sight of Professor Garcia or shouting, “It’s a troll! A troll’s in the city!”

Instead, they nodded calmly.

“Hmm. A walking troll.”

“Maybe he’s been the subject of a magical experiment, or perhaps it’s a wizard transformed into a troll.”

“You’re not scared, are you? I think your legs are shaking?”

“What do you mean? Why are you avoiding looking?”

Even if they didn’t flee or scream, people’s bodies still stiffened involuntarily.

“Professor.”

Lee Han whispered, and Professor Garcia answered reassuringly.

“Don’t worry about me, Lee Han. I’m used to people reacting that way.”

“Ah. It’s not that… I was going to ask if I could shut those people up.”

Sometimes the true disciple is not the one who worries about the professor, but the one who wants to silence those who insult the professor.

But Professor Garcia didn’t give in.

“…You may not.”

“I can’t?”

“No. Hands off your staff.”

Professor Garcia spoke firmly.

Boll—no, whoever it was, he worried his student might be relying too much on force.

“But those guys will just keep running their mouths.”

“I said it doesn’t matter. Now, this restaurant’s steak sandwich is really delicious. My treat, so go on in, everyone.”

Professor Garcia pointed to a three-story building beside the main street.

At the entrance, built solidly of red brick and adorned with a weathered brass sign showing food, stood a long line.

‘Must be a famous spot.’

When Professor Garcia took his place at the end of the line, people ahead suddenly began giving up their spots with suspicious generosity.

“Ah, I just remembered… suddenly, I have an appointment… You go ahead of me.”

“I owe a mage a favor, so I’ve gotten used to giving way to mages whenever I meet them.”

“……”

“……”

The students lost their words in shock.

What nonsense…

But Professor Garcia just shrugged. He’d seen it all before and wasn’t surprised.

“Everyone’s giving way. How lucky. Shall we go in?”

‘Even Professor Garcia feels like an Einrogard alum at times.’

Thinking Professor Garcia might be hurt by this, Lee Han followed him in.

As the professor said, the steak sandwich was delicious. Between the crispy bread, a thick, well-cooked steak, onions, tomatoes, and sauce filled it, providing a deeply satisfying bite.

Gainando looked at Professor Garcia with great respect, thinking how wonderful it was to get into such a popular restaurant without waiting.

“Professor, you’re amazing.”

‘This idiot has no sense.’

Lee Han thought about tossing his drink at him.

Luckily, Professor Garcia didn’t get angry, and answered with a laugh.

“One of the few advantages of being a half-troll.”

“Could I become a half-troll?”

“If you practice transformation magic hard enough, you can.”

Professor Garcia encouraged Gainando, even if the motivation was odd; he was always supportive of any student studying magic.

“But I don’t intend to learn transformation magic.”

“Then it may be difficult?”

“Is it impossible with any other magic?”

Professor Garcia paused to think, recalling what magic Gainando had studied.

Recalling black magic, Professor Garcia spoke.

“You don’t have to be a half-troll, but black mages do tend to get shun—Ah. Never mind.”

He realized he’d slipped. There was no need to talk about the sad reality of black mages in front of a student studying black magic.

Gainando didn’t notice, but Lee Han already had.

‘I understand, Professor.’

Lee Han gave a knowing look. Professor Garcia felt even more apologetic.

“…Eat your sandwich. And drink something, Lee Han. Want a vanilla egg cream, or a soda ice cream?”

“I’m really fine.”

Lee Han felt sorry seeing Professor Garcia apologize.

The real blame lay with the other professors, so why was Garcia feeling bad?

Of course, Garcia wasn’t completely blameless, but compared to the others, he was practically an angel.

“I’m having a great time. Right, Nillia?”

“Oh? Uh, yeah! It’s, it’s great. Isn’t it? Wow. Really great.”

Nillia, sipping her milkshake, panicked, nearly spilling her glass.

Just then, Professor Garcia’s face changed.

“Everyone, keep eating. I’ll just step out for a moment.”

“?!”

As Professor Garcia quickly walked out of the restaurant, the friends turned to Nillia.

“Why’d you answer like that?!”

“I—I got flustered because it was so sudden! I couldn’t think!”

“Professor isn’t angry, right?”

“…Yo, Yoner. Can we change seats? I want to sit next to Lee Han.”

“Stop babbling and stay put, Gainando.”

Lee Han grew curious.

Why had Professor Garcia suddenly gone outside?

‘Did he spot an acquaintance?’

But his expression seemed rather stern for that.

• * *

“Professor Craer. Hurry. Hm? Quickly.”

“Ah, if you keep running your mouth, I’ll stuff tree bark down your throat, so just know that!”

Professor Craer, the professor who taught divination at Einrogard, replied with a voice full of irritation.

He was never close with Professor Verdus, but right now the ill-tempered personality was at the surface. He had no patience for Verdus’s nagging.

But Professor Verdus was just as stubborn.

“Enough, just hurry up. You can stuff it, just find it for me.”

“……”

Professor Craer suppressed a curse and drew a divination stick from the tube.

The search area had been narrowing for some time. Just a couple more times and…

“What the hell are you two doing?”

“……”

“……”

Even Professor Verdus shrank at the voice behind them. At its sound, Professor Craer’s nasty personality fled far inside.

Dragged out, the timid personality muttered excusably.

“P-Professor Garcia…”

“Any more personalities going to show up, huh?”

“……”

The nasty personality resurfaced.

Professor Garcia glared at them and asked,

“What are you two doing here?”

“Divining…”

Professor Verdus mumbled sheepishly.

“Divining what?”

“Tube-draw fortune…”

Tube-sticks were used to read omens and divine the future—an expert diviner like Professor Paselete Craer could easily locate a single student.

“If I’ve done wrong, I’m sorry! Please forgive me, Professor Garcia! We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“My friend is your other personality, not you, so keep your mouth shut.”

Professor Craer fell silent. He was afraid of Professor Garcia’s tightly clenched fist.

“Were you looking for the student for a reward?”

Professor Garcia had already grasped the situation.

Being one of those at Einrogard with a sizable collection of artifacts, Professor Verdus could easily have wagered one to ask Craer for help.

Even if Craer’s main personality refused such a risky offer, not all his others would.

That nasty one definitely jumped at it.

“Mm…”

“What did I say when I sent you back last time?”

“To wait until the semester started…”

“Then why?”

“It just sort of happened…”

“……”

Professor Verdus’s shameless response left Garcia speechless.

After all, what good was threatening someone crazy enough to talk back to the skull principal herself?

That she even pretended to listen to Garcia was probably lucky.

“Go back. You can meet when the semester starts.”

“But then the other guys will want to split time…”

“They’re not ‘other guys,’ they’re ‘other professors,’ and it’s natural to share student time, isn’t it?”

“But my magic is more importa—”

“Please, would you just shut up?”

Craer’s nasty personality whispered desperately.

Verdus might not care if her life was on the line, but Craer’s nasty side certainly did.

“Please. Both of you. Go back quickly.”

Once dismissed, Professor Craer quickly turned to leave, dragging Verdus along.

She was clearly afraid Professor Garcia might change her mind and unleash a blow of wrath.

Professor Garcia sighed, watching them go.

She’d known Professor Verdus wouldn’t listen, but to act so soon after being told off…

‘…Surely the other professors aren’t all like this, too.’

• * *

“Ah, you’ve returned, Professor Garcia. Was there something going on?”

At the students’ concerned looks, Professor Garcia lied.

“I just ran into someone I knew and talked for a moment.”

“Wow. The professor really does have a lot of friends.”

Nillia was impressed.

Do professors know someone among all the passersby on the main street of Granden City?

“That’s not really the case. Are you all finished? Shall we get up? What will you drink? Alcohol? Coffee? Tea?”

“Tea for me, please.”

“Perfect. Let me take you to a lovely tea house I know.”

Professor Garcia led the students to his regular tea shop.

Unlike the restaurant, it was deep inside a side alley and had a quiet atmosphere, the fragrance of tea wafting from beyond wooden walls covered in thick ivy.

“I like the green tea here. Would you all like to… Wait. Everyone, continue enjoying yourselves—I’ll just step out for a moment.”

“???”

As Professor Garcia stood up and walked out again, the students looked at each other in confusion and concern.

What in the world was going on?