Child Rearing Journal of the Strongest Wiseman～About My Daughter Being the Cutest in the World( Saikyou Kenja no Kosodate Nikki ～Uchi no Musume ga Sekaiichi Kawaii Ken ni Tsuite～) - Chapter 23

The following day, at first period class, I looked for the blackboard eraser.

It was to erase the word “self-study” that was always written on the blackboard.

I hadn’t used a blackboard eraser since I became a teacher, so it took me a while to find where it was.

With the help of Harmonia, who was in charge of organizing the class, and my daughter Fiona, I erased the word “self-study” on the blackboard.

Upon witnessing this, the students in the classroom began to get agitated.

Some were rude, just like Chloe, that they even complained that it was going to snow today.

As the commotion started to turn into a murmur, I put my hands on the podium and made a statement to the students in the classroom.

“For the past month, I’ve had you doing nothing but self-study, so today I’m going to give you a rare lecture on magic.”

As he announced this, the agitation turned to astonishment.

“That Kaito-sensei is giving a lecture!?”

“What should I do!? I didn’t bring my textbook because I thought there would be no class!”

“Nah, we need those for self-study, remember? You never did any self-study?”

“I mean, I entered this school thinking it was a bridal school…”

“Or rather, isn’t this class full of problematic teachers as well as problematic students?”

In the midst of this conversation, I announce.

“Ah, everyone, please be quiet. What I’m about to share with you is a valuable and profound lecture from Kite-sensei. I believe it will be useful whether you aspire to be a sorcerer or any other profession.”

Perhaps it was too much of a surprise to hear such serious words from a teacher who usually spent most of his time reading books. The students listened to my words in silence.

“Good. When listening to others, please be quiet. That’s a basic rule. It’s not about magic, it’s about being a person.”

I nodded and continued.

“I’m aware that some students have been calling me a “NEET teacher” or a ” salary thief” or whatever lately.”

Upon hearing these words, some of the students’ expressions began to change. I guess they are aware that they have been talking behind my back.

But I’m not offended. Rather, I admire them.

“Bad-mouthing your teacher is perfectly fine. In fact, I’d rather scold the student who didn’t say anything bad about me.”

“Eh? Is it okay to speak ill about our teachers?”

“Of course. Growing up is a rite of passage to question what adults are saying and doing. It is only when you are dissatisfied with the adults around you, most of whom are probably your family members or even your teachers, that you can grow up.”

“But, my grandfather is a respectable person. I’ve never had a complaint about him.”

Harmonia raised her hand to voice her objections.

She had an interesting expression on her face. She looked as if she wouldn’t give up on this one thing.

“Here’s where the argument comes in. I’m saying that adults are not right, but there are also some girls who think that the adults around them are worthy of respect.”

“Does it mean that Kite-sensei is wrong?”

One of the students asks, and I shake my head slightly.

“It just means there’s more than one answer. Harmonia says her grandfather was a respectable grandfather, but that may not be how others see him, even if it appears that way to Harmonia’s eyes.”

Harmonia is taken aback by his words.

“My grandfather is an honorable person that everyone respects!”

“Respected by everyone?”

“Of course. When he was young, he served as a military sorcerer, and after he retired, he left behind many achievements as a wise man in this world. Everyone respects him.”

“So he was a sorcerer in the army, which means he stood on the battlefield at some point.”

“Yes. I’ve been told that he earned a brilliant military career. That the emperor has bestowed upon him the medal of Rosenkreuzer.”

“That’s right. Your grandfather must have saved the empire with his magic and saved the lives of many of his allies.That’s why he was awarded the medal.”

“However,” I continued.

“Saving the lives of your allies on the battlefield means that he must have taken the lives of even more of his enemies on the battlefield.”

“Tha, that’s……”

Harmonia faltered, unable to refute the statement he had just made.

“The soldier whose life was saved by your grandfather may never be able to thank your grandfather enough, but the family of the enemy who lost their life to your grandfather will curse him. You can’t deny that.”

“But, but ……”

Still, He stopped Harmonia’s attempt to defend herself. He felt this was getting sidetracked. And besides, this lecture was not the place to question her grandfather.

What I told them is just one example.

What I really wanted to tell the students was about the nature of magic.

After making that point, I went on to say that the same could be said about magic.

“Magic is also meant to be seen from multiple perspectives.”

“Multiple perspectives?”

“Many of you may have entered this school believing that magic is useful to people and contributes to the progress of civilization, is that correct?”

“Of course. It’s written in the admission guide.”

Harmonia insisted with a snort.

“But on the other hand, magic can be a terrible thing if used improperly, do you understand that?”

““…………””

“In addition, there are extreme people in this world who believe that magic basically exists to hurt people.”

I didn’t include the words ” just like me”.

This lecture was not a place to educate students about ideology.

It was a lecture to make them understand how dangerous and perilous magic is.

One student raised his hand.

“Sensei, I can understand what sensei is saying. It means that magic can hurt people depending on how you use it, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Exactly.”

“But what about recovery magic? Recovery magic doesn’t hurt people. Doesn’t that mean that there is magic that can never hurt people?”

“No, not necessarily. Basically, any kind of magic can hurt people if it is used incorrectly.”

Expecting that response, I brought out a potted plant that I had prepared in advance.

I could have prepared a small animal as a sorcerer ought to, but I’m an animal lover, so this will have to do.

Then, I cast a recovery spell on the plant.

Of course, since it was recovery magic, it should have no offensive power at all.

The students seemed to think so, then I put my magic power into the recovery spell I was casting.

As much as I could.

And what happened? The plant, which had been full of vitality, withered away in a matter of seconds.

“”Eeh??””

Why? My students have that look on their faces, but Harmonia is the only one who remains calm.

She politely explains.

“…… I’ve heard it from my grandfather, that recovery magic can be both a positive and a negative kind of magic. He said that if you put too much magic into it, it can destroy the cells of living things.”

But this shouldn’t happen unless you put in a powerful magic power, she mumbled to herself. Well, the magic power that I just put in was indeed a powerful one, and this performance seemed to have an extraordinary effect on the other students.

They recognized the danger of magic.

“W-Wow, awesome!” and they acknowledged me as a top-class sorcerer.

However, there are still some students who don’t agree with me.

“However, isn’t that the same with blades? Blades are essential for human life. It can be used for self-defense against monsters, and as a kitchen knife, it can be used to make delicious food. Depending on how we use it, it can hurt people, but humans can no longer live without knives.”

“Yeah, that’s a good point. You’re right. Human beings can no longer live without blades. So there’s no point in trying to get rid of them now.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be the same with magic? Magic is something that already exists, and it can’t be eliminated.”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

I briefly responded to the student’s question.

“Blades existed at the same time as the cradle of human civilization. But magic is different. It was created after civilization had taken shape to some extent.”

“So you don’t mind that it’s gone?

“That’s right.”

“But, magic is used in every part of our lives. It is no longer possible to lead a normal daily life as a citizen without it.”

“That’s true. But there are alternatives to magic. Once we shift to that, we won’t have any trouble living.”

After I said that, I proceeded to the main topic.

“I’m sure those of you who have enrolled in the School of Magic know the definition of magic, but I thought I’d need to ask.”

I pointed to the appropriate student.

The student was puzzled, but then proceeded to explain the definition of magic.

“Magic is a secret art that can only be activated by those with magical powers. And It cannot be used or mastered by ordinary people.”

“That’s right. That’s why the magic schools you attend exist all over the world, and why you’re such a valuable resource.”

“But,” I continued.

“There are people who are trying to contribute to civilization in a different way than through magic.”

As I said that, I took out gunpowder.

I ignite the gunpowder which is placed on a plate.

Of course, it didn’t explode. The gunpowder just burned.

It would take one more step to make the gunpowder explode.

“Just now, in an instant, I had performed a magic just like《Ignite》. Just by setting it on fire, it burst into flames. This is not magic. It’s chemistry. Incidentally, the matches used to ignite the fire, which were simply phosphorus rubbed on a wooden stick, are a phenomenon which is also called chemistry or a science. This is a technique, so to speak, that can be used not only by us sorcerers, but also by ordinary citizens. Anyone can recreate it.”

“”………………””

Perhaps it was because we were experimenting with an obvious phenomenon in an obvious way, but the students did not react well.

It’s not surprising.

The students in front of me had entered this school with dreams of becoming sorcerers. They are not interested in events that anyone can reproduce.

“Not much of a response, huh? But this science is a byproduct of magic, right?”

When I said this, some of the students became a little more interested.

“Science and magic may seem like two opposites, but they are actually like twins. The gunpowder I mentioned earlier was a byproduct of the process of changing base metals into gold by sorcerers hundreds of years ago. Today, it has become a tinder. We don’t usually use gunpowder, so I guess matches would be easier to understand.”

I said, pointing to a student. He is one of the best students in the class at using fire magic.

I ask him.

“I see you’re good with fire magic. Do you use the《Ignite》magic to light the fireplace in your house?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Why not?”

“That’s because the magic《Ignite》is harder to control than it seems. One wrong move and our house could be on fire.”

“I agree. Making a small fire is more troublesome than it seems. That’s why many sorcerers rely on matches to light their cigarettes instead of《Ignite》. As for me, I’m a non-smoker.”

“In my house, the maids are the one who lights the fire. With matches.”

One of the girls said.

“My family too. If matches had not been invented, there would be more work for the maids in the world. They might have used flint like in the olden days, or they might have had to rub wooden sticks together to ignite them.”

“When you think about it, matches are amazing.”

My daughter, Fiona, said in conclusion.

“You see, this is how magic, or rather science, is contributing to people’s lives, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

“What I mean to say is that becoming a sorcerer is not the only way to benefit the world. Of course, both science and magic can hurt people if they are used in the wrong way. But science can be used by everyone. Magic, on the other hand, can only be used by us sorcerers. That’ s the difference.”

“So, that’s why sorcerers need to develop self-discipline and a sense of duty to serve the citizens.”

One of the students said with admiration, and I agreed as well because it was generally true.

In fact, one of the mottoes of this school of magic is that a sorcerer shall become a service to the people.

Magic is not for one’s own prosperity, but for the sake of improving this society. If you think that way, at least you won’t become a sorcerer like me.

If they don’t think, as I did in the past, that magic can be the answer to everything, I’m sure they won’t go astray.

“Magic is just a means to an end. As long as all of you are aware of that, you will probably be able to maintain your equilibrium.”

It was the answer I had come up with after spending a thousand years in the field.

Yet, I was also aware that it did not resonate well with the young people who wanted to study magic.

As a matter of fact, there were only a few students who listened to my lectures and showed interest in science, a magic that could be used by everyone.

(Well, it would be a problem if they suddenly become mature and reach the same conclusion as a wiseman who lived for a thousand years.)

I mean, what was the point of me living for a thousand years then?

But still, I didn’t want my students to become sorcerers like me.

Perhaps I wanted them to be lazy sorcerers like I am now, not a sorcerer like I was a few hundred years ago, who believed in magic, assumed it could solve everything, and used its power to hurt a lot of people.

That is why I’m telling them this roundabout story.

It was an expression of my determination to be a serious teacher, but at the same time, it was also a confrontation with the person I was hundreds of years ago.

Now that I have presented such a way of thinking here, will I be able to guide all of them?

Hopefully, I could at least do some justice for my salary.

With that in mind, I explained the upcoming class schedule to my students.