Episode 34. Semifinal (2)

“Are you qualified as a professor to do something that shakes the faith in your alma mater after gathering so many students!”

“I want to ask you what it means to have shaken your faith.”

“Students graduating from Kiruna Magic School are recognized wherever they go. Kiruna’s diploma itself guarantees the student’s future. But what? You, who were not even students here, are saying that schools are not responsible for the future of their students, aren’t they?”

Euril kept her mouth shut for much longer than I expected, so I wanted to start a fight at some point.

‘By the way.’

Considering Auril’s question from my point of view.

‘If only I could somehow get a diploma from S University and enter a large company. Wouldn’t it be a waste of life even if I wasted my time in it?’

seems to be the claim.

If a student talks like this, how should he respond?

“No one doubts that a Kiruna Magic School diploma can be a shortcut to the future you want.”

If there is a student who has studied only to pass S University or join a company, I would cheer for his success.

‘At least during the application period, you should think long and hard about the future you want.’

There are many cases of regret after applying for a department that does not suit the aptitude in order to enter a higher university.

Obviously, academic background is the fruit of effort and the power to support one’s future. It is absolutely not to deny the effort itself to enter the school.

“And if you have Kiruna’s diploma right away, students will be welcome no matter what research institute or magic tower in the empire they apply for.”

“I mean, that… .”

“but… ! The diploma is not responsible after that. Life is long. Life is not determined by just graduating from school and going out into society.”

He looked at Euril, whose face was reddened, and continued talking.

“If you don’t think about what kind of life you want to live and what kind of study you think you will need, you will end up chasing the shadows of others and being weeded out.”

“anyway… ! After all, this school isn’t perfect!”

“You seem to be completely misunderstood.”

“done! I will not allow you to spread sophistry any further. The student council has the right to suspend classes that are not normal, so I order it. Stop classes immediately and stop the heinous acts of deceiving students!”

It is not the right of an individual to refuse class, but the right to completely stop the class that was in progress?

‘No, what kind of student government wields that much power.’

The time when I was dumbfounded and couldn’t answer.

“That is dogmatism.”

Frill got up from his seat and calmly fired at Euril.

“The student council represents the students? Even during the cold winter vacation, there are many students who came all the way here. Do you think the individual student president can block their right to attend classes to the end?”

“Of course. Disquieting classes disturb the minds of students and destroy academic traditions! So, I, the student council president, manage it.”

“How did you judge what the class content was like? Are there any standards? Why does my sister arbitrarily decide whether or not it is a legitimate class?”

Frill looked at Euril as if he was tired now.

“… Because it’s a princess?”

“This is real… !”

“Everyone listen to me. Students who feel the student president’s words are right may leave this place. From the beginning, Professor Ian didn’t even stop the students from leaving the class… . anyway. If you are going out with your sister, don’t disturb the class and leave now.”

but.

“If you want to take this class to the end, but there are students who are forced to leave because they are afraid of disobeying Princess Auril’s orders, sit still.”

“What!?”

“It’s okay, the imperial family won’t chase you just because you’re sitting. I am a princess too.”

Along with the sound of whispers, I heard some students getting up.

Even if it rots, it’s called Junchi. Quite a few people left because of the remarks made by the princess, Euril, who served as the student council president.

‘but.’

“Hey, what are you guys up to! The student council is funny!?”

About half of the students stayed seated while avoiding Princess Auril’s eyes.

I’m not sure why. Did I find that much fun or value in my class? Or is it because fighting among princesses is interesting?

Either way was good for me. If you see the student council, which was the de facto ruler of Kiruna, being pushed back like this, the aftermath will spread quite large.

“Professor Ian!”

However, the battle between the princesses did not last long.

“Hello, Associate Professor Hadley. I didn’t know you were observing my class.”

“Professor Ian, follow the directions of the student council president right now! Princess Auril is exercising her rightful rights.”

‘That’s a pity.’

Euril, who had been boosted by the support of Vice-Professor Hadley, shouted to the students who looked like student council executives as if they couldn’t wait any longer.

“Class is over. Guys, put out the lights!”

At her command, the auditorium, where the students couldn’t even leave, was instantly covered with darkness.

* * *

Revealing the bare face of the student council to a large number of students. And, sowing the seeds for students to have self-directed thinking.

The goal of today’s lesson has been achieved.

‘Today will be the last time I’m going to play a game, right?’

Thinking that I had done enough for today, I was about to leave.

The auditorium, without a single light, was completely pitch black, and the class was over.

The moment when only the rustling sounds of students packing their bags spread throughout the large auditorium.

After a moment of stillness, when the eyes had not yet adjusted to the darkness.

“Eid-!!”

Fishuong-!

Like a signal flare announcing something, a strong beam of light flew in an arc.

It emitted a fluorescent light so deep that it left an afterimage that looked like a tail, and it became a crown decorated with flowers in the sky.

‘Is it a frill?’

I wonder if she is the emperor’s daughter after all.

As I feel now, Frill is definitely gifted with free magic.

“Princess Frill, you are wonderful-”

It didn’t end there.

“Eid… !”

This time, a mint-colored garden bursting out to fill the sky.

Butterflies, flowers, trees, and an unknown man and woman walking together were spread out in the auditorium like a painting.

Spearmint.

“Eid-!”

It’s still very immature, so it’s faint, but because it’s so dark here, I can still see the moon and rabbits.

yucca… ?

It was from then.

“… It’s pretty.”

Thanks to Princess Auril turning off the lights, the auditorium became a playground of light.

“Eid!”

“Eid… .”

“Eid?”

“Hey, this is fun. Is this magic too?”

“Is this the right way to do it? how did you do that?”

Many students started to challenge the free magic that they only watched today. Clumsy and dim, but unique lights flew across the ceiling, walls, and pulpit to create a festival.

Clovers, carriages, monsters, helmets, dancers, hearts… .

It was like being at an amusement park. These ever-changing lights shining in a pitch-dark place were all someone’s memories, precious memories, and novel ideas.

“stop!! Please stop it. everyone… !!!”

Professor Hadley tried to stop the students, but the children hiding in the dark are starting to have fun.

Someone had floated a light in the shape of the angry Professor Hadley’s face on the ceiling, and it must have been the work of a fairly talented student, and it stayed on for quite some time. Laughter erupted incessantly.

Associate Professor Hadley called out to me in an almost tearful voice.

“Professor Ian!! Take control of your children right now. Isn’t that your class!!”

Yeah, I won’t be provoking my boss-to-be anymore. Even now it seems to be too late… .

“… Id.”

It lit a soft light in the sky.

All the lights that covered the main auditorium faded, surrounded by my light.

Auditorium with lights off.

Like a scene in a play, I was standing alone in the light.

Thankfully, everyone quickly quieted down, and I spoke to the invisible children hiding here.

“When everything feels meaningless. When it is pitch dark, meaning can be a ray of light. If one’s subjectivity is upright, the fearful jet-blackness is only a drawing paper of light. You all saw and drew it here today. great.”

The light that illuminated me slowly faded.

I bowed my head with sincere respect to those who remained here until the end.

“My class ends here. I express my gratitude to all of you who focused until the end.”

After a while… .

The light completely disappeared and the students left the podium.

While tidying up the lecture table, I had some doubts.

‘By the way, why was Auril quiet in that situation?’

“lol.”

* * *

right after the lights go out.

It was when the frills shot a light into the sky in pitch black darkness.

“for a moment… . What was behind Professor Ian? Rize, did you see it?”

“Yeah? no, nothing… .”

“It’s not? I guess something happened… ?”

I felt bleak for a moment. A feeling of uneasiness that could not be passed over came over Euril.

After that, the second light spread across the ceiling. Mint light flower garden.

It was only then that Euril became contemplative and began to pull Rize’s collar.

“Hey! What’s behind Ian… ! Can’t you see it’s looking at me right now? yes!?”

“Yeah? I really can’t see-“

“Don’t be kidding… . yes?”

It was the first time Rize had ever seen Euril so afraid of something.

Seeing Euril completely terrified, Rize looked at Professor Ian again several times.

‘No matter how much I look at it, I can’t find anything?’

Come to think of it, then… . When Professor Ian threw an ice spear at me, his surroundings became terrifyingly dark.

A black fog that couldn’t shine even the most intense sunlight, twilight, was spinning around Ian.

“Lee, Rize. It’s watching me… ! Among all these people, they are looking at me correctly… . It’s bleeding, it’s bleeding, what should I do… ! I was stabbed… !”

“how… . what is this… .”

‘Are you sure Professor Ian was a devil worshiper?’

Auril seemed to be on the verge of passing out, so Rize quickly informed the nearby guardian knights of the situation.

“It seems that the princess is looking at nothing… !”

I wanted to immediately tell the knights that Professor Ian was a devil worshiper, but there was no clear reason to do so.

If it was said to be as it should be, Princess Auril’s guardian knights would attack Professor Ian without hesitation… .

The stumbling block was that Princess Frill cared for Professor Ian.

If I got it wrong, if Princess Euryl is really looking at something stupid… .

He couldn’t handle Princess Frill’s anger.

“Ahh! Sorry… ! Stop hating me, I’m sorry… !!”

As if being chased by something unknown, Princess Auril was supported by the knights and quickly left the auditorium.

* * *

Meriel is a ghost. A spirit that is still organizing its thoughts.

Though the thoughts have already been washed away 100%… . She is a ghost who has not yet attained the qualifications of a guardian spirit without Elma’s permission.

And usually, as Ina said, ghosts often substitute their form for a terrible shape.

It’s hard to even look at it for more than 5 seconds.

“You only showed your true self to Auril?”

“He almost passed out.”

“I guess so.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve done it, but when I shine a light in a dark place. Even normal humans can still see me.”

Of course, since he was stripped of his thoughts, he could control them voluntarily now.

“Euril will be quiet for a while… .”

“By the way, why are you asking about things now?”

“Because I want to escape from reality.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, just open it. Could it possibly explode?”

Two days passed after the eventful 3rd class.

I was groaning in front of the emperor’s personal letter that flew in front of me.