An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won’t Leave Me Alone! - CH 108

108 – The Old Man From The Countryside Scorns An Offer

“No, no, no… what…?”

Lucy’s words make me sputter unconsciously.

“I’m going to give you a decent salary,” Lucy said. “I don’t think it’s a bad deal, you know.”

“Ah, no, that’s not my problem?” I said.

Don’t talk like you’ve already gotten my consent.

Whether it’s swordsmanship or magic, teaching involves passing down skills and traditions, so I think it’s reasonable to generate money from it.

It’s reasonable, but the way this story is going is pretty weird, to begin with. Why am I, someone who’s just a normal swordsman, supposed to teach at the Magician’s Academy?

“I think it’s impossible…” I said. “I can’t use magic.”

Even from the perspectives of the students, you wouldn’t trust an instructor who couldn’t use magic to teach you at a magic school.

The Magician’s Academy is a place where those with magical aptitude go to further develop their talents.

Of course, most people would be excited about magic. My dojo is also a place to learn swordsmanship, and of course, only people who are interested in swords gather there. Not many people are willing to go through the trouble of paying if they don’t want to learn it, period.

No matter how you think about it, it’s an entirely different matter to consider an old man that doesn’t even know a thing about magic. I think I’m getting used to Lucy’s unreasonable requests, but I think this consultation is pushing past the limits.

“What, I’m not telling you to teach magic, you know?” Lucy said. “No matter how you look at it, you’re just a swordsman, Beryl.”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about, you know…?” I said.

That’s right, I’m just a swordsman no matter how you look at it. I just went to the Magician’s Academy because Miu was going to attend, and I didn’t ask for anything more than that.

“I want you to teach swordsmanship,” Lucy said. “Beryl, aren’t you already a swordsmanship teacher? I don’t think it’s a problem.”

“Hmm…” I grumbled.

It’s not that I don’t like teaching for its own sake. If I didn’t enjoy it, I couldn’t have taken over my father’s dojo as I did.

However, when it comes to teaching swordsmanship in a school that’s supposed to be for learning magic, it feels strange. This may just be my personal opinion, but even so, once I feel uncomfortable about something, it won’t go smoothly.

“I agree,” Thyssel said. “I would like to see Master’s swordsmanship again.”

“Ah, I see…” I said.

And now the sword magic department professor voices her support.

I have to wonder if she really is okay with it. What Lucy is trying to do is take Thyssel’s potential students from her, someone who was already supposed to be a professor.

There are some people not cut out for teaching. I could see that due to Thyssel’s personality, she couldn’t teach others swordsmanship and magic from scratch.

However, if you continue to pull outsiders who can fulfill the need, she won’t develop as a teacher herself. Even if Thyssel is not good at teaching, she can’t just keep claiming it’s beyond her. Not everything is determined by seniority, but if you stay in the same environment for a long time, you’ll soon have more juniors and subordinates.

Except for the fact that it’s hard for me to accept it emotionally, I’m also worried that if I make a commitment here, it will hinder Thyssel’s development as a mentor herself.

“How about you, Miu?” Lucy asked.

“… I don’t mind. Whichever way…” Miu mumbled.

And now, the student of the sword magic department gives a neutral reply, neither for nor against.

If I bluntly heard from her that didn’t like the idea, I would have been hurt, but then, I could have refused the offer for that reason. For now, it seems everyone is in favor of me going to the Magician’s Academy.

“But I became a Special Instructor thanks to an appointment letter with the Royal Seal, didn’t I?”

“Alexia said she’d be fine if you taught about once a week,” Lucy replied.

“Is that so…?” I said.

I tried to invoke my title of Special Instructor and Alexia, but Lucy got ahead of me. I think this every time, but how fast does this woman move and execute her plans when she’s motivated? It’s like she’s dug and filled a moat before I even make a move myself.

“Speaking of which,” I said. “Even if Alexia agrees, how can I work two jobs when I’ve been royally appointed?”

It was this next point that bothered me a little.

Ultimately, I’m just a hired hand, but the problem is the position of the people who ultimately hired me. This was the King we’re talking about, after all.

I don’t think I should be more obliging than necessary because I’m dealing with royalty, but on the other hand, I should at least say “Yes.” I would have no choice but to reject this offer if I was told it would conflict with my being a Special Instructor.

“Mm, there’s no problem there,” Lucy said.

“Why?” I asked.

“I can’t say the specific details, but I’ve ensured there would be no problems,” Lucy said.

“Huh…?”

Just how far is Lucy willing to go? Can not even the royal family can’t escape her machinations?

I can’t imagine what she did to make the issue go away, but at least I know she’s not a liar or incompetent. If she says it’s good, it’s good. I don’t know how she got to that point.

“Well, that doesn’t mean it’s compulsory or a royal order,” Lucy said. “It’s just a consultation, after all.”

And with everything she’s said so far, Lucy once again relaxed her hard stance.

Hmmm. You could say that makes me feel a little better, but if she’s not pushing it, I can’t help but feel that she’s trying to reel me in instead.

“Mmm……” I went.

Now then, what to do?

Again, I don’t hate teaching swordsmanship.

I will be teaching at the Magician’s Academy, which is the opposite of my specialty, and then also become a Special Instructor for the Knights of Rebelio. It is these two points that give me the worst worry.

When I first went to the Knights, I got a lot of dubious stares. It’s not hard to imagine it’d be even worse at the Magician’s Academy.

When it comes to my teaching, I want to teach comfortably. In the case of the Knights, it disappeared thanks to my demo with Henblitz, but how about over there?

Since it’s Lucy, I feel like she’d check all the major points and let the rest flow as it will. She’s the type of person to take care of all the details and emotional aspects on the spot.

In the end, the most trouble is the on-site aspect. I wasn’t too excited to relive the questioning stares like my first time at the Knights.

On the other hand, Lucy has already finished talking with Alexia, I don’t know why, but my formal employers the royal family have also signed off on it, and there’s Thyssel, who should have been teaching my potential students, is fine with that, and even Miu was neutral on it, which makes it difficult to refuse.

“For the moment, is it okay to see the reactions of the students once?” I asked.

As a result, I threw out a compromise: visit with Thyssel once, see the students’ reaction, then decide after.

“I don’t mind,” Lucy said. “You may be wondering what kind of students you’ll be dealing with.”

Lucy’s reaction is still fine, it feels.

It’s not the first time I’ve been to the Magician’s Academy, but it’s still my first attempt to step into the position of a teacher there. First, let’s see how the students react, I think that’s reasonable for me.

Also, when I was in the dojo, it was the students that came to me, but the Magician’s Academy is different. I’d be the one going to them.

“Fufu, this is going to be fun,” Thyssel said, her upper body shaking as she smiles and laughs. It looks like she’s in a good mood.

“Then, should I prepare the documents?” Lucy said.

“No, I haven’t decided to teach yet…” I said.

“It’s best to be prepared,” Lucy said.

“That’s right, but right now…”

If I were to teach the sword at the Magician’s Academy, it would be a new form of employment. In that case, it is objective fact that you have to prepare the corresponding documents.

However, if you prepare so much, to begin with, it feels like my escape route is blocked.

“There are some quirky people at the Magician’s Academy, but basically they are all good kids,” Lucy said.

“I’d be happy if that is the case…” I said.

Ah, yeah, when it comes to teaching, I’m happier with an obedient child than a problem child.

“Then, I’m not giving you a tour of the office, but I’ll let you know when it’s time to go see it,” Lucy said.

“Ah, sure,” I said.

I feel like I’ve been pushed aside for some reason, but I haven’t committed to anything yet, so let’s think about it thoroughly.

“I’ll let you know the schedule,” Thyssel said. “It won’t be too long.”

“I see,” I said.

By the way, how are they going to contact me? Will they get into my house again? I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a form of communication from Alexia to Thyssel.

“Master, see you,” Thyssel said.

“Oh, yeah, be careful,” I said.

Lucy leaves my home with Thyssel.

In the end, Thyssel almost didn’t speak and the matter was almost settled, but I wonder what Lucy was doing by dragging her along. Well, it’s Thyssel that Lucy is teaching at this stage, and I wonder if she’s taken her out to get her talking.

“… Fuhn,” Miu snorts, annoyed.

This kid is still embarrassed. Is it really so shameful for her, that I’ve learned about her desire for swordsmanship? I love it.

“You could have told me about sword magic,” I said.

“… Fuhn…!” Miu snorted, sulking now.

I thought of teasing her because I thought she was cute.

This Old Man feels a little remorseful.

“Then, I’m going to go prepare dinner… wait,” I said.

I should mention that when our guests left, the sun had set for a while.

And when I got up to prepare dinner, I saw clothes piled up in the back room.

“Mui. If you just toss your clothes like this, your uniform will wrinkle,” I said.

“… Fuhn,” Miu grunted.

“You were it every day, you’ll look terrible, you know, Miu,” I said.

“… I get it,” Miu grumbled, annoyed.

As she walks from the living room, she reluctantly folds her uniform up.

“”

Yes. Her uniform was provided by the Magician’s Academy, after Miu started officially attending.

The mostly blue school uniform was a dress with a pelisse decoration and a skirt. It’s a very novel design and quite clean, typical of an urban elite academy.

Apparently, Thyssel and Quinella’s robes were proof they were full-fledged magicians, so students did not wear them.

Instead, it seemed to be this uniform that proved you were a student of the Magician’s Academy. By the way, men use trousers instead of skirts.

“It suits you well, you know,” I said.

“…… Shut up,” Miu grumbled.

“Hahaha.”

This may be parental favoritism, but with Miu’s blue hair, the blue-based uniform looks good on her. Aside from her naturally sharp eyes, the unified shades of blues match really well.

Is it rude for Miu, like putting clothes on a cart-horse? However, I was deeply moved that a tomboy like her could wear such fancy, awe-inspiring outfits.

I’m not going to tell her to be more girly or anything like that. I hope she can grow up free to choose.

However, I would like her to at least learn the knowledge, the culture, and the gestures that form the basis of society, while I am still looking after her and can reach her.

After all, there is a shortage in that area, it’s ultimately Miu who’d be in trouble. I can’t be her shield all the time, and eventually, she will grow up and have to stand alone.

At that time, I would like to avoid a situation where Miu would end up embarrassing herself. So, although she doesn’t like it very much, I do sometimes shoot some sarcasm back.

“There’s a lot to learn about swords, magic, and culture, isn’t there?” I said.

“Fuhn,” Miu huffed.

Eventually, she will stop being a handful, I’m sure.

I can’t wait for that time, and I’m happy about it. At the same time, I feel a little lonely.