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 110

110 – The Old Man From The Countryside Goes To The Academy

It was the day after Lucy told me about the situation. As agreed to, I was going to the Magician’s Academy in the North District instead of the Knights’ HQ.

I had plenty of time, and Miu wasn’t with me today, so I’m taking a leisurely walk from my home to the Academy. It’s nice to walk unhurriedly while keeping an eye on the various sights along the way.

“Oh, I should go to that store next time,” I said.

As I do, I find a small, restaurant-like building and make an internal reminder for myself.

After all, there are still many things I don’t know about the capital city of Baltrain. I have to update my geographic information little by little.

In the Central District, there are various headquarters centered on the organizations that play key roles in the Kingdom of Rebelis, such as the Knight Order of Rebelio’s Headquarters and the Adventurer’s Guild’s Baltrain Branch Office.

Although not as tall as the Rebelis Royal Palace, the buildings, in general, are quite large and luxuriously decorated.

On the other hand, there are many shops including pop-up stalls in the West District’s commercial areas, but the buildings don’t reach as high. The city is a city, but if anything, the West District’s the place where you can feel the atmosphere of a crowded downtown area. Well, it’s just a comparison with the Central District, so it must be that the West District is also prospering.

Today’s destination, the North District, has the royal palace as its centerpiece, as well as the Magician’s Academy and a Suphenian Church. Also, it seems that the residents here are mainly aristocrats and other persons of note.

There are residential areas in both the Central District and the North District, but it seems that most of the general public live in the East District, which is one giant residential zone. I’m certain that Kuruni and Thyssel lived in the East District. Who said that the Central District and the North District have high real estate places and aren’t usually meant to be lived in?

Even though it’s a little off the heart of the place, I’m still a little reluctant about having a house in the Central District, but I can’t help but get one there. Let’s make full use of it.

While watching the waves of people go about their mornings, I head on alone.

By the way, I thought Miu was going with me because the schedule was so generous, but perhaps because she was embarrassed, she left home early today.

I used to go with her when we were taking our tour of the Academy and when she enrolled at the school, but this time it seems that she wants something different. She chowed down on breakfast as usual, and then she rushed out of the house.

“Maybe she really doesn’t want to walk with me, huh…?” I mutter to myself.

Perhaps she doesn’t want to be seen wearing her uniform and walking beside me.

Ever since Miu started going to the Magician’s Academy, she and I rarely left home at the same time. The school has fixed times for class, but my job as a special instructor has no clear beginning and end, so I have the flexibility of time in every sense of the word.

I’ve been walking around, casually stopping at shops intentionally or on a whim, but I wonder if it’s embarrassing for her when she wears that uniform.

We’re too old to be called siblings. More importantly, we don’t resemble each other at all.

However, to be honest, I don’t think we’ve got as good a relationship you need as parent and child.

I’m not looked at oddly by the citizens of the city, so that’s helpful.

Miu feels like a daughter but I wonder what I am, from Miu’s perspective.

I think that being her guardian is definitely possible. It feels like I’m in the dark about what she really feels about me. It’s not something I feel impatient about, and it’s not something I’m forced to ask, so she can take her time and I can digest what’s going on.

“Oh, Master,” Thyssel said.

“Hey, Thyssel,” I said. “Did I make you wait?”

“Mm, not at all,” Thyssel replied.

And while I was walking around and thinking about all manner of things, I reached the main gate of the Magician’s Academy.

There stood Thyssel Harveller, a black-haired woman in a robe.

Today, I’m planning to observe Thyssel’s lecture and learn how she teaches Sword Magic on the ground level. That said, I don’t know much about magic, so it could be just a tour.

Lucy told me that it was okay, but after all, the sensation of being out of place is incredible. I don’t want to make a major blunder in front of my disciples by just quitting here, but I still feel like wanting to go home.

“What about Miu?” Thyssel asked.

“Ah, she went earlier than me today,” I said. “It seems she’s embarrassed to go with me.”

“I see,” Thyssel said.

Seems she thought I would come with Miu, Thyssel nodded without expression.

I am definitely interested in how she teaches sword magic. Lucy claims she’s “dog shit” at it, but if I can improve her with my advice, I’ll secretly teach it to her even after class is over.

“Then, let’s head to the classroom,” Thyssel said. “Today’s lecture is in the morning.”

“I see, let’s head in right away,” I said.

Thyssel goes through the main gate and heads towards the school building. This is the third time I’ve come here, but the size of the building and the size of the site are unmatched. It’s so big that if you wanted to, the whole village of Bidden would fit on campus.

Well, the countryside is the countryside, and the fields are large and full of empty space, so that wouldn’t be the case. I used to run around that village. It’s a nostalgic memory.

“Good morning, Professor Thyssel!” says the students who pass us by.

“Mm, morning,” Thyssel replied.

I’m deeply moved that she’s acting like a professor after all.

Speaking of which, Alexia is a Knight-Captain, Selena is a top-rank adventurer, and I’m sure there are other successful disciples, but for some reason, I can’t help but look at Thyssel as a parent would. She’s probably the same type as Kuruni. And it’s hard to imagine Kuruni teaching anyone as she is right now.

“By the way, how many students are under the Sword Magic Department?” I asked as we walked.

I was curious.

Ms. Quinella said it wasn’t very popular, but how many students are interested in learning? I don’t think there are only one or two, but on the contrary, if there are too many, Thyssel will be in trouble.

It’s natural, but in teaching, the smaller the number of subjects, the easier it is. You only have to think about how to teach according to the individual.

But when it comes to a large number of people, the story changes a little. In particular, magic is a world where your talent decides everything. If the starting points are different, the goals that each person envisions will change significantly.

“… There’s five of us now. Not many,” Thyssel said.

“I see……” I replied.

Thyssel’s face does not change as she answers. However, her expression is mixed with a bit of dreariness.

For sure, 5 students feel a little small. According to Ms. Quinella, there should be about 600 people at this Academy right now, so the ratio of them is quite small.

I wonder if learning the sword in a magical school turned out to be a bad idea, after all. I am a bit sad that I’m a swordsman and a swordsmanship instructor and here I’m seeing interest in the subject faltering.

“But if it’s you, Master, you’ll be fine,” Thyssel said. “You’ll be popular.”

“Huh, is that so…?” I asked.

Like Alexia and Selena, I wonder where this unconditional trust of me comes from. It’s not unpleasant, but sometimes my heart feels like it’s about to be overwhelmed by the expectations being put on me.

“We’re here,” Thyssel said. “This is our classroom for today.”

We walked around the school building for a while before Thyssel stopped in front of one room.

Are those 5 students waiting behind this door? I’m not teaching them, but I am a little nervous.

Perhaps they’ll look at me like, “Who is this old man?” It’s a feeling I never got when I was teaching swordsmanship at the dojo. It was like the gazes I got when I first went to the Knights’ HQ, but I still feel like I haven’t gotten used to it.

Oh, whatever. I haven’t decided I’m teaching yet, I’m just sitting in for a class. Let’s go in without discomfort.

“Everyone, good morning.”

With the end of my declaration of resolve, Thyssel opens the classroom door.

I follow after her and, as Thyssel said, there are 5 people who seem like students waiting in the chairs.

And Miu was one of them. Seems she was under the Sword Magic Department after all.

Like Miu, they also wear blue-based school uniforms. It’s nice to have a sense of unity like this. The Knights of Rebelio also look fantastic if they’re all dressed up and wearing their coat-of-arms over their armor. Well, it’s overwhelmingly more common for me to see them in practice clothes, swinging around wooden swords.

The looks they gave me were easy to understand, I could sense their doubt and the feeling that something was off. Well, that’s just to be expected. You think you’d take a sword magic class like usual, then all of a sudden your professor brings in a strange old man. I’d wonder who I was, in their place.

“Good morning!” says someone who seems to be a female student of Thyssel.

But, she’s the only one. The other students give light bows or just move their eyes.

Hmmm. I’m not saying that Thyssel is disliked, but it seems that there aren’t any children with a very positive attitude towards her. The student who greeted me with a loud voice a while ago seems to be motivated, but what about the others?

“Professor Thyssel,” one of the doubtful-looking students asks. “Who is that?”

He is a little younger than Kuruni and Thyssel. He has short, dark brown hair and slightly angular eyes. Somehow, I feel an aura radiating from him.

I think he’s probably the same type of person as Princess Salacia or Prince Glen. Then, is this kid the son of an aristocrat? No, that’s just my bias and experience.

“This man is Master Beryl,” Thyssel said, looking a bit smug. “He was my swordsmanship mentor. In short, he’s your Professor’s professor.”

I wonder if this is just a thing with my former disciples, they’re so fond of smug faces.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Beryl Gardenant,” I said. “Today, your Professor and Lucy… the Headmistress asked me to sit in today. I hope you can learn as usual without worrying about me.”

And with that greeting done, I pass the baton to Thyssel.

Today I am just a visitor. First of all, take a close look at what Thyssel teaches, and if I can speak from there, I will offer advice to the extent that I don’t jam up the works.That was the plan.

The reaction to my words was as expected. It’s about a 50-50 split of convinced looks and doubtful faces.

Well, their reactions don’t really matter to me. To begin with, let’s observe Thyssel.

“We will now start today’s lesson,” Thyssel said. “Hold your wooden swords and swing them a thousand times.”

“Thyssel, wait a minute,” I said.

I had to speak almost immediately.

You didn’t do that in my dojo, did you?