Episode 21. invite

The way to escort the Mint student, who was about to get into trouble to the Akula guys, to the dormitory.

The wind was not cold for a winter night.

‘Is it very inconvenient?’

A Mint student who walks while looking at the ground without paying attention to the stars and lantern lights.

Considering what I had done to her, that kind of reaction was understandable enough.

Wanting to break the uncomfortable atmosphere even a little bit, I spoke indirectly.

“Spearmint.”

“Yeah?”

“I heard that professors don’t even come to lectures for D and E class students, is that true?”

“Yeah.”

“You must have had a lot of trouble so far. Could you tell us a bit more about the discrimination you experienced as a low-ranking student?”

“… I don’t know which one to start with.”

Students in the lower ranks were dumbfounded by the fact that the faculty building was designed so that they could not go up to a certain number of floors.

Listening to the blatant discrimination that the Mint students slowly released, it made me think that the students in the lower grades couldn’t help but hate the school and the faculty.

“It’s much worse than I thought… .”

“… In fact, very few students in this school get good grades by self-study alone. Students with a lot of money take one-on-one lessons from private magic instructors and get high marks.”

“Actually, the professors teach casually.”

“Yeah… . Because all students who want to escape from the lower ranks can do is memorize. Because there was nothing I could do other than put magic language and magic circles into my head… . I was very surprised when Professor Ian taught me how to feel mana.”

“Are you surprised?”

“No one here taught me that.”

Discrimination in education, education gap due to private education… .

It was a strangely realistic story to hear in the world of fiction.

Even at Pyeongeun High School, there were obviously teachers who were only focused on writing student records for upperclassmen, and there were also students who complained that public education alone could not produce high grades.

This must have been the world Ah-young created to escape from reality. Why do things like reality happen even here?

“… thanks. It must be an uncomfortable memory to bring out.”

“no… .”

“I will change this place. A place where students voluntarily open books and the path to learning is open to anyone. It won’t be easy, of course, but I’m going to put my all into it.”

“… .”

As we continued talking, we arrived at the front door of the dormitory before we knew it.

“It has been a lot of hard work so far. Be careful not to get involved with me in the future.”

The Mint student looked up at me with a slightly dazed face, probably not understanding what I was saying.

“Even if it’s about next semester, you won’t be discriminated against. Your talent will get a lot of attention soon. You won’t be ignored by professors.”

“Yes… That’s right.”

“Like those who just attacked you, there may be times when your strength threatens you… . Don’t worry too much because you’ll get more attention and protection from professors than that. Instead, never walk around alone like today.”

“I-“

“As you know since you attended my second class, I am already being treated as a heretic in Kiruna. Staying with me will only harm your reputation, so you’d better break up before anyone sees.”

Even though I unlocked my unique magic, I can’t hope that Mina will take risks and join me with that alone.

‘When I think about our first meeting or class, I can get a rough idea of what he thinks of me… .’

Still, looking at the fact that he was willing to reveal his dark past at my request, it doesn’t seem like he’s looking at me worse than I thought.

‘Yes, this is enough. At least I shouldn’t block the child’s path.’

A relationship that can only be described as a coincidence.

Even though Mina Spearmint is a unique magic user, I don’t want to force her to be by my side. I don’t want to use students, and I don’t think I can.

Since she doesn’t even appear in the novel, it’s hard to know exactly what she’s thinking, but if you see the passion that comes out of the library late at night, she’ll grow up on her own even if you leave her alone.

Wouldn’t it be appropriate to have a sense of distance to help her when she went through a crisis like this after watching her grow rapidly with a lot of interest and support from her professors?

So I thought it would be good to draw a line at this distance between the Mint student and my relationship.

“I… .”

* * *

“… Anything else to say?”

“me too… . I want to be with you. The power I gained, please let the professor use it to change this place.”

“… Spearmint, you are not in debt. That power originally belonged to you, and I only accidentally brought it out.”

“The only person who listened to my story here was Professor Ian.”

Mina clenched her fist.

Even when she was confused by her first feelings, Professor Ian was sorry for the reality here and was trying to move for the sake of the students.

‘What have I been doing?’

“When no one opened the door to me at Ereb or the Mage’s Tower, I was very grateful for the opportunity to get out of this school. The fact that he remembered all of my personal history, and the fact that he held my heart when he came to me rudely twice.”

“… .”

“I was very embarrassed because it was the first time in my life that I received attention from a professor, so I was late to say thanks… . I dare you to tell me. I don’t want to receive attention from other professors who are pouring in now.”

when you were at the bottom. Instead of remembering your face, will the people who used to ignore me when I approached and talked to them now come and greet me?

Even when she was an inferior student, she never wanted their favor.

Truly, as Professor Ian said, if the professors who discovered her talent belatedly approached her with a pretentious smile… . I don’t know if I can properly manage my expression in front of him.

“I hope there will be no more students who are hurt like me in the future. I also want to change this place. So, please let me help by the professor’s side.”

“… It’s a tough road.”

“Yes, I was prepared.”

‘No matter how much you try to discourage him, he will continue to walk the thorny path. You, who follow, will bleed too, but that person will be stabbed by more thorns.’

Can you handle someone who wants to take the right but dangerous path?

To Carly’s question at the cafe, Mina answered like this.

‘I… . I want to help him.’

He is probably the first professor I respect that I will never forget in my life.

I can’t leave you to shoulder everything alone.

Mina, recalling the fact that is much more important than the emotions she can’t immediately know, turns over his suit without listening to Ian’s answer.

“for a moment… .”

“Please accept this too. It’s not enough to repay what I’ve received so far… .”

Mina, who forcibly handed over the chocolate, bowed her head to Professor Ian. I felt so relieved that I was about to shed a few tears.

“I hope to go along well.”

“… thanks.”

“I still lack a lot, but… . I will study hard, and I will definitely be a source of strength.”

* * *

It was a not too late night when the emperor was still struggling for the sake of the empire.

“Gina, what do commoner girls like?”

“You will be moved by Princess Frill’s kind heart alone.”

“Eh. Don’t do that.”

Princess Frill’s maid, Jina, was sincere.

‘How many members of the royal family are as benevolent as Princess Frill?’

Zer-nim, the emperor might not know… . Among his children, the one who grew up the most righteously might have been Princess Frill.

‘I hate cesareanism! I hate sorcery! I hate studying… !’

Unlike other relatives, Princess Frill had no interest in school since childhood, so it was possible because the court wizards and ministers rejected all the noises they made when they approached… .

Anyway, the innocence that was preserved like that seemed to be shining now.

‘If His Majesty sees me like this, she’ll be very proud.’

Because the obedience he wants is not obtained through blood, but through encounters and conversations.

Even if the tower of blood built by the previous emperor doesn’t collapse… . One day, his sincerity may reach the citizens.

“… This is my personal opinion, but if you want something to accompany your letter, how about candy?”

“Five! Okay! The restaurant hasn’t closed yet, has it? I need to order right away! Let’s go, Gina.”

Frill jumped up from her chair, and Gina smiled and glanced at the letter across from her.

A handwritten letter with round letters.

‘Do you want to practice magic with me?’

‘… Do you know how valuable something written by you is?’

“By the way… . Maybe you’re not embarrassed to call me a princess… ?”

“Didn’t you say you were a student with whom you had several conversations? Then a letter like this would be fine.”

“yes? thank god.”

It was a lie, of course. Of course it would be embarrassing.

what about it though she is a princess You deserve this much joy.

‘Did you say the name of the child to receive this letter is Mina Spearmint? Even if it’s burdensome, you should make some sacrifices for the happiness of the princess.’

Gina was thinking about that while picking out candy for Mina with Frill.

* * *

smart.

Mina, who had fallen asleep, woke up to the sound of knocking from the morning.

The head of the dormitory, Mina thought.

‘I’m going to ignore it and go back to sleep.’

I don’t know why I came here since morning, but I haven’t had anything good with the Agoge supervisors so far.

smart.

Again, a cautious knock.

‘Oh really… ?’

huh?

“Who is it… ?”

Who are you to knock on the door like that?

If it were the housekeeper, he would have woken us up by kicking the door with his foot, but when he knocked softly on the door, only Mina, who was a light sleeper in room 2-17, woke up.

Mina washed her face and looked around. Only Carly’s seat was empty, and everyone else was fast asleep.

‘Carly, you still haven’t come… .’

Last night, after Professor Ian sent me off here.

Everyone in Room 2-17 was asleep, so I tried to find my seat carefully.

‘Is it Mina?’

‘Carly? sorry. Did you wake up because of me?’

‘No, but why are you so late?’

I briefly talked about what I had been through with a light heart to Carly, who was just awake.

‘What? Attacked at night? Did they all come together?’

‘Yeah, but it’s okay-‘

‘What’s okay, if it wasn’t for a real professor, I would have been in big trouble… !’

‘ah… .’

‘I’m crazy. Knowing how famous you’ve become here lately, it’s my fault for leaving you alone like that.’

‘do not do that… . uh? Where?’

‘I’ll take responsibility and solve it.’

‘What? how!? Carly… ?’

Carly ran out early in the morning leaving only those unknown words, but it seemed she hadn’t returned yet.

‘Wouldn’t someone waiting outside give me news about Kali?’

“Get out now.”

After Mina answered the third friendly knock, she opened the door with sleepy eyes.

The person Mina faced with her hair floating was a tall, attractive person with light brown hair… was a maid

“hello. Are there any Mina students here?”

“uh… . hello. That’s me.”

“Ah, Mina Spearmint student? My name is Gina, a maid from Paideia. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah yes. But why are you looking for me… ?”

“I am Princess Frill’s personal maid. The princess told me to give this to student Mina, so I came to bring it to her… . It seems too early. sorry.”

princess?

… suddenly!?

Mina hurriedly pressed her tousled hair with both hands and answered with a trembling voice.

“No, it was time to wake up anyway… .”

“Thank you for your understanding. Please accept this.”

Gina handed Mina a small letter.

“This… what is it?”

“It’s an invitation.”

“Yeah-!?”

“You wrote it yourself. It’s a personal letter.”

With trembling hands, Mina tried to open the invitation… . I looked up at Gina, wanting to be okay.

“… I will replace you.”

“thank you… .”

Gina cautiously but skillfully opened the dignified envelope and unfolded the cute letter inside to show Mina.

‘Do you want to practice magic with me?’

“Aren’t you cute?”

“Yeah… ?”

“If you look at it like a statement from hell, the princess might be sad.”

At Jina’s advice, Mina forced a smile and pointed at something hanging next to the letter.

“What is that… ?”

“It’s candy. The one the princess picked for herself last night.”

“ah… ?”

“Please understand. The princess is a pure person, so she doesn’t know much about her authority yet.”

I knew this would be the reaction. who wouldn’t

Gina held back a laugh as she looked at Mina, who was very flustered.

“When would be a good time to visit? You asked me to speak to you at any time convenient for you.”

“I-I always… .”

“okay. So, is it possible right now? I will look forward to it.”

“Yeah? I prepare my heart… .”

“Actually, the princess was so full of expectations that she couldn’t even sleep properly, and woke up early in the morning-”

“I’ll be right there!!”