Chapter 2: Opening Ceremony (1)

Chapter 2: Opening Ceremony (1)

[Its a fight!]

Ngh?

I was abruptly jolted out of my reverie by the yells emanating from outside.

Looking at the time, it was around 7:30 a.m. It was right around the time when the students were about to arrive at the school. Since today was the first day of school for the new term, it was reasonable to hear them yelling just now. They were most likely searching for a senior or a teacher to break up a fight.

I am going to sleep.

But it doesnt suggest I should make a special endeavor to find them.

It was too much of a hassle. When I was about to lower my eyelids again in preparation for another restful sleep, a flurry of footsteps burst into the empty classroom.

Teacher Kanaki! I knew you were here! What are you sleeping so peacefully!

Oh Arti, is that you? Your energy is fine in the morning, but unfortunately, Ive been up all night. Id appreciate a few more hours of sleep before the staff meeting begins.

I plopped down on the desk again, apologizing, but Arti paid me no mind.

Come on! Lets hurry up and go! The outside is just too dangerous!

Um, did you hear what I said?

And you know what, that was not a good sentence, right?

Arti, who dashed out of the classroom and ran briskly away, seemed to have no doubt that I was coming after her. With this, I cant refuse her.

Sigh, it cant be helped.

If I had simply stayed in bed, it would have been fine, but Arti would have subsequently reacted negatively to that. I was a benevolent teacher, in principle.

So, Im going to be gone for a bit.

In the back corner of the infirmary, toward one of the beds with the curtains closed, I gave my word and started running after Arti, who was ahead of me.

I was led to the school gate by Arti. Even though it was still early in the day and the number of students coming to school was sparse, there were plenty of students there for once.

The root of the problem was the two first-year students physical confrontation, which blocked the school gate.

Take a bite out of this!

One of the fighting students pointed his palm at his opponent. His body gave out a faint glow, and there were multiple lights flowing across the bracelets, which were copper in color and could be seen from his sleeves.

Flameblade!

A blade formed by flames, slightly larger than the palm of his hand, eventually emerged in his palm.

Thunder!

The other student likewise aimed his index finger at his opponent, seemingly determined to not be outdone. Soon, the ring on his finger began to sparkle, and electricity shot out from his fingertip like a serpents tongue.

Hey, hey, fighting with magic even this year too?

At this time of the year, fights amongst freshly enrolled first-year students were prevalent. And every year, a fierce battle involving the use of magic broke out among them invariably.

Arti turned to face me while I was pondering the reason that private fighting employing magic was strictly prohibited.

Look, teacher! Hurry up and stop!

Be sensible, please. I am a school nurse, you know. Treating students injured by this kind of thing is my responsibility, and preventing such injuries from happening in advance is the work of the teachers of the Department of Magic and the members of the Public Discipline Committee

But Teacher Kanaki also works in education! Someone will suffer injury if nothing is done!

Leave it to me when that time arrives. I will quickly and efficiently heal them.

That dependability is exactly the kind of thing is needed right now!

The two simultaneously unleashed their magic as if taking Artis whining as a cue.

However, the magic that was let loose did not collide with each other.

Xenia Marius, who was standing next to me, spoke to me in a whisper.

Well, I had some things to deal with yesterday. Aside from that, its become a conditioned reflex for me these days to crave to sleep at the sheer sight of the deans face.

Just like Pavlovs dog, I added in my mind.

Indeed, the deans talks are always dull.

Xenia was the second-youngest teacher, after me, among the faculty.

As an alluring woman, her mature and sexy appearance has earned her high popularity among her students apparently. The only flaw in her character was that she was an alchemy geek and would talk about the wonders of alchemy in class while inattentive to her students.

Even so, arent you in a tough spot, Teacher Kanaki?

What do you mean?

The class you teach. You have to oversee the first grade in addition to serving as the school nurse.

Ahaha Well, the teachers are short-staffed this year.

I offered Xenia a bitter grin as she lowered her eyes in compassion.

Due to a teacher shortage in the first year, I was assigned the responsibility of teaching homeroom even though my primary role was to tend to injured students in the infirmary. Accordingly, the hospital assigned a nurse to work in the school infirmary under the pretense that she was my assistant, but the workload was still excessive.

Thats all because of the cases of the disappearance. It really has made things raucous in this city, hasnt it?

Yes.

As Xenia said, there have been a number of disappearances in the City of Seal. The culprit has yet to be discovered and the stationed troops have been struggling to find the culprit. Furthermore, on the list of missing people was also the instructor who was meant to be in charge of my class.

The dean was still continuing the speech. I softly looked at the girl in the front row who was listening to it.

Princess Ortesia, who had also given a speech as a representative of the new students, listened to the deans speech without making the slightest movement. Even the faculty members eyelids would naturally droop as they listened to the deans speech.

How could she be so serious? If only she werent in my class and didnt adhere to the ideals of the competency-based approach.

At the prospect of the misfortune that awaited me and the never-ending talk of the dean, a sigh left my lips.

Teacher Kanaki! Didnt you yawn when the dean was giving us a speech earlier?

I was halted in my tracks as I made my approach to the classroom by a female whose energy seemed to have taken shape.

Oh, Arti. You were on the same page with me during the ceremony earlier.

Oh, Teacher Kanaki, you were watching over me! Im so happy!

It was meant to be a retort, but when she was so pleased with her broad smile, I let out a sigh.

Seriously, why are you sighing? You have the most miserable look on your face.

Arti well, youre certainly not directly involved.

My impending first homeroom with my students was the real cause of my faltering steps.

Every student in the class will be meeting each other for the first time at this time, and our own Princess will obviously be present in the homeroom.

When I received the class roster for the first time in the morning, I unconsciously cast my eyes upward. Why was the name of the Princess in my class, as if she were a pinch hitter?

It didnt particularly bother me that the Princess thought less of me, but it would be disastrous if the rest of the class did the same. The worst thing that could happen to me would be if the class entirely lost coordination. Thats why I thought I should get a firm grip in the first homeroom

I see, it seems like you are prone to be underestimated based on your face

Arti, when you say it, its fifty percent more convincing but yeah.

I took a deep breath out and changed my mind right then.

After tightening my tie and adjusting my jacket, I flashed a smile at Arti.

Now that Ive spoken my true feelings to you, I feel a bit better. Ill focus on doing what I can right now. Thanks for listening to me.

No problem. Good luck, Teacher!

Artis encouragement drove me to resume my walk down the corridor.