CH 39

“Lou! I’ll give you special permission, so please teach me well.”

Josephine looked at Lou and stated outright.

It was the kind of speech, bursting with an air of superiority that was peculiar to a noble young lady.

But Lou laughed and slowly shook his head.

“Josephine … This is a school. I’m not putting airs as someone eminent. But that’s not the way to ask someone something.”

“What are you talking about? You’re a lowly commoner, aren’t you? You…”

When Josephine heard Lou’s answer, her eyes rounded in anger, and she hurled contemptuous words at him.

Her tone completely expressed her disdain of Lou.

Lou, on the other hand, remained as calm as ever.

“I knew from reading books that this kingdom was built on a status system. However, I am the teacher at present, the master so to speak, and you are the student, the disciple. You need to reconsider how you talk to me.”

“Wha-wha-what the hell? Disciple? I’m your disciple?! You’ve got to be kidding!　You’re just a commoner. How dare you talk to me, a nobleman, like that! H-huh?!”

Lou’s words enraged Josephine anew…

”Gah!” She froze.

Again, it was because Lou had paused when he was about to snap his fingers.

Josephine swallowed her words with a ‘gulp’ and fell silent.

She must have thought he would cast another Silence Spell.

“Phew! T-That’s not fair, that spell…”

Josephine glared at Lou resentfully and puffed out her cheeks cutely.

Lou smiled, looking at her.

“Well, good. We’ve got a limited time. Shall we, Josephine?”

“A-All right, if you insist! I’m left with no choice, so I’ll follow you.”

What!

Josephine’s tone of voice drastically changed.

Lou’s gentle smile seemed to have cooled down the furious Josephine.

In response to Lou’s invitation, Josephine…held out her right hand.

“Isn’t it proper for a gentleman to escort a lady like me?”

Lou smiled and nodded, and gently grasped Josephine’s hand.

He led her to the place where the students were lying down.

The appearance of Josephine walking quietly with her hand in Lou’s…

She was like a bashful young girl who was protected by the man of her dreams.

Josephine’s transformation was uncanny…

As a result, the three students around her stared in surprise, with their mouths agape.

They staggered after the two, as if their souls took flight.　

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

Thus…

All the students of Fran’s class, Second Year Class C, lay down on the campus lawn, as they pleased.

The students’ expressions were all calm and content.

While doing breathing exercises, they were enveloped by the spring breeze…

They realized that they were also a part of this great nature.

Even Josephine, who had been so annoyed…

She closed her eyes and slowly tried to find a Breathing Technique that worked for her.

Just then!

Someone touched Josephine’s cheek.

Huh? Who is it?

In the magical attribute test in her first year, Josephine discovered that she possessed a wind attribute…

Apparently, her talent was higher than she thought.

The one who was playfully caressing Josephine’s cheek…

What!

It was a Sylph, a spirit who controlled the wind.

When a spirit like Sylph finds a good match, she tries to make her presence known in some way.

However, spirits didn’t speak in concrete terms.

Therefore, confirmation of their intentions was possible through the communion of souls.

Of course, Josephine had not yet reached the master level.

Spirit Sylph had no choice but to give up on the idea of communicating with her…

Nevertheless, she seemed interested in the Breathing Techniques that Josephine was performing. 

Before long…

Josephine’s Breathing Technique and Sylph’s breath became one. Josephine was struck with a mild sense of elation.

Aaah! Me! Me!

Now, from a Great Being…Power!

I’ve been given power!

Josephine was in a state of elation, her entire body tingling with joy.

Some of the other students, though not as good as her, had found their own optimal Breathing Technique with the blessing of the spirit.

The other students, including Fran, also experienced an unprecedented mental stability that they had never experienced before.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

Break time after the first period, 2nd Year Class C…

Back in the classroom, the students were talking about the class they had just taken.

Some of the students were happily teasing each other, saying things like, “Lady, be more graceful.”

Everyone was smiling and looking forward to the next class.

Meanwhile…in the principal’s office.

“I can’t believe how smooth the lesson went. Thank you, Lou. I knew you’d be great!”

Fran was thrilled after the students thanked her, along with Lou, one after another right after the class ended.

The job of a teacher, which had never been worthwhile to her before, was now so much fun!

It was all thanks to Lou.

She couldn’t thank him enough.

“It’s not me, but my grandpa. He’s the one who taught me all the training methods I know. But now it’s … your turn to be in charge.”

As things stood presently…

Lou, as the assistant homeroom teacher, stood out.

“Don’t worry, Fran. You will do fine.”

Lou assured her with a calm smile.

“But…you were having fun holding that girl…Josephine’s hand earlier, weren’t you?”

Fran said sulkily, and Lou looked stumped.

“I’m just kidding. She’s a student. I have no choice.”

When he said that, Fran…

She had to admit that she got jealous.

Even though she was well aware that Lou was only treating Josephine as a student…

Nonetheless, she wanted his kindness to be directed only at her.

But Fran, as a woman, also wanted to be recognized for her strengths and to be loved by Lou.

Let’s endure here…

Lou was right, she’d try her best in the next class. 

Fran made up her mind and beamed at Lou.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

Spring semester, 2nd period, 2nd year ClassC…

“Thanks for your hard work earlier. How are you all feeling?”

“What?”

“What?”

“What’s going on?”

As Fran worked on the students, the students in the classroom showed confusion and surprise.

The atmosphere was so different from the blunt Fran of the past.

Also…

“Sensei, that was amazing.”

“There’s something about it that just fills me with magic!”

“I feel so much better!”

Compliments poured one after another.

Their remarks took Fran by surprise at first, but…

The students’ expressions were all smiles.

The girls felt a great affinity for Fran and Lou, who had worked so hard to teach them.

Of all the girls, the one who had changed the most was Josephine.

Her disregard toward the class was completely different from the way she used to be.

Why did she change so much?…This was a drastic change.

“Now, open your Magical Studies I! We’ll spend this period reviewing things that will help your concentration and imagination.”

Fran started and the second period of the lecture began.

Magic is an unrealistic phenomenon.

In order to realize such unrealistic phenomena, it is essential for the practitioner to be able to focus his attention and imagine the results in his mind.

To develop imagination, it is necessary to read deeply and profoundly into things.

Reading deeply naturally requires concentration and the ability to see things from various angles.

Speaking of which, according to Magical Studies I…

As an initial training to improve concentration and imagination, it is recommended to choose one of your favorites and imagine it thoroughly.

The reason for choosing a favorite is because things that interest a person makes it expedient and easy to imagine.

“Pick something that interests you, something you like, and imagine it. It can be anything.”

As soon as Fran said this, Josephine stood up and pointed at Lou.

“Lou-sensei, would you come this way, please? I’ve got a lot to think about you, Sensei.”

Fran, as well as the students, including Celia, who was seated next to Josephine, were stunned.

In the midst of all this…

Josephine smiled mischievously while staring at Lou.