“Excuse me. I’ve brought the guests.”
Taking one step inside and announcing this, Louis stepped aside to the side of the door as if to clear the way.
Then, a spacious room came into view. In the front, there was a pair of large sofas with a low table in the middle. Beyond that was a simple-designed desk with a chair with a large backrest. A middle-aged man sat alone in that chair.
He was a somewhat plump man with brown hair parted in the middle. He had a well-groomed beard on his chin and looked somewhat stern.
The man looked at us and narrowed his eyes.
“…I am Ord Quaker Rosenstiel. Are you the teacher from Fidic Academy?”
“Yes. My name is Aoi Konominato. Nice to meet you.”
I greeted him while giving a light bow. Then, Ord glanced at Shenley and returned his gaze to me.
“…I’m sorry even though you came all this way, but Shenley is scheduled to withdraw from the academy voluntarily. Have you already heard about this?”
“Yes. I have heard. I came here to have that plan changed.”
I honestly shared my thoughts in response to Ord’s words. Then, Ord crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“I’ve heard the reports. She transferred to Fidic Academy, but Shenley’s healing magic didn’t improve much, just like before she left Maple Leaf. In that case, it would be pointless for her to continue trying as a magician.”
At those words, Shenley’s shoulders jumped with a start, and she looked down. Ord showed no sign of caring about his daughter’s appearance and looked at me expressionlessly.
That attitude made me feel irritated despite myself.
“…You probably received reports about Shenley-san’s situation in the Holy Capital. However, that perception is wrong. Shenley-san is very excellent and has advanced to the higher division at Fidic Academy a year early. This is amazing even within Fidic Academy, which is said to be the world’s best.”
I explained Shenley’s excellence with passion. However, Ord looked at Shenley with cold eyes, then looked at me.
“I’m troubled by having your opinion forced upon me. We’ve received reports based on reliable investigations. Regardless of how you judge, the decision of whether to send Shenley to magic academy is mine to make. In other words, voluntary withdrawal.”
When Ord said this, Shenley’s face turned pale. I felt something strange about Ord’s stubborn attitude of trying to make her quit the magic academy.
“…Shenley-san is only fourteen years old. Why must she withdraw from the magic academy so early?”
When I asked for the reason, Ord sighed deeply and glared at me.
“Let me ask you something too: do I need to answer such intrusive questions?”
Ord clearly showed his intention to refuse.
This was troubling. Indeed, if it’s said to be a family matter rather than about magical talent, I might not be able to stick my nose too deeply into it as a teacher. Although I receive treatment equivalent to ministers and other state guests within the Maple Leaf Holy Empire, I don’t want to rely on such borrowed power personally.
I need to face the family problem between Shenley and Ord not as a magician treated equally to ministers, but above all as a teacher.
With renewed feelings as a teacher, I raised my face.
Looking at Shenley, she already had an expression that looked like she was about to cry.
“…However, Shenley-san doesn’t want to quit the magic academy. Could you at least tell us the reason?”
“You’re being persistent. There’s no necessity or reason to discuss that.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
Taking the completely dispirited Shenley with me, I left the room asking for a moment to have a discussion.
“Aoi-sensei…”
In a tearful voice, Shenley called my name.
“It’s alright. I’ll manage somehow. Let’s try to persuade him once more. However, for that, I need to know why you can’t attend the magic academy.”
I said this and looked at Shenley.
“Is there anything you can think of?”
When I asked, Shenley looked down anxiously.
“I don’t know… Ever since I went to Fidic Academy, I never received any communication…”
She answered powerlessly that she didn’t know. Just watching her like this made my chest ache.
While I was thinking about what to do, I noticed a human figure walking at the end of the corridor. It was Louis and an unfamiliar girl. Seeing white hair and a white tail similar to Shenley’s, I found myself following her with my eyes.
“That child is…”
The moment I said this quietly, Shenley noticed my gaze and murmured.
“Katy… she’s my younger sister. She should be attending a magic academy in the neighboring territory…”
Shenley’s younger sister. I see, that’s why they’re similar. However, despite introducing her sister, Shenley’s voice was somewhat hesitant. I felt something strange about that.
“…Are you not very close?”
“We’ve hardly ever talked… It’s just that, unlike me, Katy has talent for healing magic…”
As she spoke, her expression darkened again. She had probably been compared to others countless times in the past. However, even so, she was far too devoted to healing magic.
As I was thinking such things, Shenley, looking dejected, opened her mouth.
“……Aoi-sensei. Would you like to go to the courtyard? There’s a peaceful place there.”
“Yes, I’d like to see it.”
I nodded and agreed to Shenley’s words. Even Shenley didn’t understand the reason why she had to leave school. There was no point in thinking about it endlessly here.
With that thought, I went out to the courtyard under Shenley’s guidance.
It seemed there was a garden inside the U-shaped building. However, looking around, it was a large courtyard with spacious gardens and even fountains. I had heard from Court or someone that residences, of course, but also mansions and gardens are made luxurious to be seen that way by others.
In other words, it’s to show off status, power, and wealth. When I think about it that way, I might not be able to appreciate even this beautiful courtyard honestly.
However, Shenley narrowed her eyes nostalgically and looked at the large tree beyond the fountain.
“……This is a place of memories with Mother. Even when I couldn’t use healing magic and was crying alone, only Mother would gently comfort me.”
Murmuring bit by bit, Shenley approached the tree and gently placed her palm against it.
“Looking back now, Mother was the only one who accepted me for not being able to use healing magic……After Mother passed away, Father……”
Shenley bowed her head while keeping her hand pressed against the tree.
At that moment, I saw a figure on the other side of the tree. It was the elderly butler, Louis. Louis looked in our direction and approached with an expressionless face.
“How did your discussion go?”
Louis asked me while glancing sideways at Shenley’s condition.
“The situation isn’t very good. Since it’s unclear why Shenley-san must quit the magic academy, I can’t find a way to persuade even if I try.”
Judging Louis to be on Shenley’s side, I honestly confided my troubles. Then Louis showed a momentary gesture as if thinking, and immediately raised his face.
“Excuse me.”
With that preface, Louis looked at Shenley and opened his mouth.
“Shenley-sama……How much may we discuss with Aoi-sama?”
Suddenly asked this, Shenley looked straight back at Louis.
“……She’s the person who saved me at the academy. I think she’s a more wonderful teacher than anyone else, and for me, she’s someone I can trust much more than family, I suppose.”
She answered the last part somewhat shyly and looked in my direction. As if drawn by Shenley’s gaze, Louis also looked at me.
I nodded at that gaze and opened my mouth.
“Louis-san. As an educator, I cannot overlook a student being forced down a path she doesn’t want. Shenley-san has genuine talent as a mage and is a serious student who spares no effort. Above all, if you see her positive attitude toward learning magic at Fidic Academy, any teacher would want to help nurture that talent. The same goes for me. If Shenley-san wishes it, she could become a court mage or anything else. However, it would be meaningless if her family obstructs that. If possible, I would like to convince Ord-san and have him support Shenley-san’s path as a mage.”
When I said this, Louis closed his eyes as if thinking for a while, then pulled his chin back.
“……Please wait a moment.”
Murmuring this, Louis walked away somewhere without waiting for my response. Even the dejected Shenley involuntarily turned her eyes toward him.
As I wondered where he had gone, after a while, a woman’s voice could be heard from the distance.
“Here? What could possibly be good about such a place……?”
“This is a place where Katy-sama’s mother used to come when she was troubled by something. Shenley-sama also used to rest here often. Since Katy-sama seemed to be thinking about something, I thought this would be the perfect place.”
Louis said this and guided Katy toward the tree where we were. Since we were on the opposite side of the large tree, it seemed our figures weren’t visible.
Somehow, Shenley and I looked at each other and made ourselves small as if hiding behind the tree.
Why had Louis brought Shenley’s sister here? From what we could hear of the conversation, it didn’t seem like he was trying to make them talk to each other.
As I was thinking such things, I sensed Katy letting out a deep sigh.
“……How ridiculous. I hardly ever met Mother, and I have no interest in that failure either. Besides, my job is already finished. I properly conveyed the requested information to Father, and the failure will quit the academy as planned. This should put Father at ease.”
Hearing those words spoken in an annoyed manner, I felt my brow furrow.
I was angered by the way she spoke about her real sister, but the content about someone being involved to make Shenley drop out was also problematic.
Just who, and for what reason, was targeting Shenley…….
As various question marks floated in my head, Shenley had already jumped out from behind the tree.
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