NOVEL NEXT WORLD chapter 16
16 – Part-Time Academy Lecturer and the Ties of the Past
The academy’s HR officer blinked repeatedly as they alternated between looking at the documents and my face.
It must be the first time they’ve encountered a half-human, half-demon. It’s not such a common race, so it can’t be helped.
“Good day. I am Plum R. Orchid, appointed as a part-time lecturer for the academy this semester.”
“…Half-human, half-demon?”
“That is correct.”
My new cover identity, ‘Plum Radiant Orchid,’ was that of a non-hereditary titled noble, granted by the Frontier Duke. To be cooperating with the Frontier Duke—an individual disinterested in central politics—was proof of the organization’s surprising influence.
Whatever the original mission I was supposed to carry out at the academy, it was clear that it was no ordinary task.
Of course, when compared to infiltrating the Demon King’s castle and becoming a spy, any mission might seem ordinary… but it was what it was.
“…Oh, my apologies. I was just a bit surprised. We hadn’t heard that the new lecturer… would be half-human, half-demon.”
“It seems that his lordship, the Frontier Duke, being a strong advocate for meritocracy, does not consider other matters of significant importance. This may have led to some information being overlooked.”
“Yes, that is the kind of image he has…”
I responded to the HR officer’s awkward laugh with a bright smile of my own.
There’s an old saying that you can’t spit in a smiling face. As a half-human, half-demon–a race discriminated against everywhere on the continent–it was crucial not to give anyone a reason to nag or pick faults.
“The course outline remains as what you’ve previously submitted?”
“Yes. When do the lectures start?”
“In two weeks’ time.”
The subject ‘Plum’ was employed to lecture was ‘Fundamentals of Magical Theory’—a straightforward course that could be taught by anyone who could read the textbook, even those completely incapable of magic. Indeed, there were many who, lacking any magical talent, delved only into its theory.
The course outline was arranged so that it wouldn’t be too burdensome for any lecturer to handle. It was simple yet reflected the craftsmanship of its creator. This must have been done by a member of the organization. I would have to check that later.
It was only after I had registered at the employee dormitory that everything was finally prepared.
I felt like I’d taken on a medium-term mission that would last six months. Since I’m doing it, I might as well teach properly.
*
In the main lecture hall of the academy’s Department of Magic. The students who signed up for the ‘Fundamentals of Magical Theory’ course were exceptionally excited.
Their excitement wasn’t for the lecture itself, but simply because school had just started, and anything seemed fun. Learning administrative paperwork from a family bureaucrat or helping out with their parents’ business, submerged in ledgers, was much less enjoyable than studying at the academy.
Students at the Academy clustered together by age, abuzz with various rumors. Among them was gossip about the adjunct professor who had taken on the “Introduction to Magical Theory” lecture.
“The professor teaching magical theory this term is from the ‘Cursed Clan,’ they say.”
“The Cursed Clan?”
“Half-human, half-demon.”
“A demonkin, huh?”
“Technically, a half-blood of human and demon origin. By continental law, they belong to the ‘Ain’ race, and the imperial law explicitly prohibits discrimination against them.”
“Really? How come I didn’t know?”
“Because you don’t study.”
“Pfft.”
The chatter among the students ceased as a man entered the room. Even those who had been talking thoughtlessly fell silent at his arrival. A chilling silence descended upon the previously buzzing lecture hall in an instant.
Instinctively, everyone knew. This man entering was none other than the half-human, half-demon at the center of all the gossip. At first glance, he appeared to be an ordinary human, but any student sensitive to mana could tell. He was different from us. It felt like a frog’s body stiffening at the sight of a snake, a biological instinct ringing an alarm in the human brain, reacting to the presence of a natural predator: a demon.
The silence was broken the moment the half-human, half-demon man picked up the chalk. He wrote his name on the blackboard.
“My name is Plum R. Orchid. I will be teaching the basics of magical theory to you all for this semester. Please, take care of me.”
Sighs of relief wafted throughout the lecture hall. Tensions eased, and the noise level rose as some students began murmuring among themselves.
Just as the professor named Plum was about to calm the noisy students.
A voice was fired off a beat prematurely.
“Ha! To think we would learn magic from a ‘Cursed Clan’ member?”
Once again, a dreadful silence swept through the classroom.
If the previous silence was the product of instinct, the current one was social. This quiet bore the meaning of “Is this lunatic for real?” or possibly “Why the outburst?” Neither was positive.
All eyes in the classroom turned to the young woman who had provoked this silence. A few students nodded upon recognizing her; she was from a noble family that held significant political influence.
She was the last survivor of the once glorious ‘Primrose’ lineage, which had been eradicated by demons. The Primrose domain, now in ruins, was known to be the homeland of a great hero. She had inherited the title of nobility with the help of the Sovereign despite her house’s fall and the complete loss of its foundation. Such was Rosa Primrose.
Her aversion to a being so close to demonkind, a half-human, half-demon, could not be helped, but—
Whether the professor would understand was another matter entirely.
The students waited for the professor’s reaction with throbbing hearts.
Would he burst into anger? Demand her to leave? Use grades as a weapon or threaten by taking the matter up with the Academy administration?
Finally, Plum spoke.
“We won’t be learning anything today. It’s just orientation.”
It was an unexpectedly gentle and almost amused response. Disappointment sighed from the lips of a few students who had anticipated turmoil, while suppressed laughter burst from others.
Blushing furiously, Primrose growled out her objection.
“I have no intention of learning anything from the likes of demonkin.”
“She is not a demon, but a half-human, half-demon. Hmm, so her name… would be Rosa Primrose… correct?”
“Don’t dare utter my name with your filthy mouth-“
“I owe a great debt to the late Lord Primrose. It is my honour to meet his successor.”
“…What?”
*
‘Why is she acting like that?’
A young girl screaming, face flushed red, apparently having a considerable dislike for demons.
It was only after checking her name in the student register that I understood why.
Rosa Primrose. The last heir of the Primrose family. I already knew her.
“I owe a great debt to the late Lord Primrose. It is my honour to meet his successor.”
The Primrose territory had been destroyed due to the invasion of demons. Thanks to an old woman who always used me for dealings related to demons, I too was at the scene when a certain family was destroyed.
Back then, the late Lord Primrose was still alive. A person who left a deep impression on me.
– “…Ah, you must be the one sent from our organization. Welcome.”
– “Have I arrived too late?”
– “You’ve arrived just in time. I just finished my drink.”
– “Ah, I’m sorry I missed it.”
– “If you’re sorry about the drink, you should take all the bottles from the cellar beneath. What use is a sliver of ale for a doomed family?”
– “So you’re planning to go yourself?”
– “A family of knights with a flower for a name, we’ve been mocked by the central nobles all our lives. If we ran at this moment, the whole continent would laughter us…
At that time, Lord Primrose seemed more like a knight who swore loyalty to a person than the head of a family. He seemed to have no clinging to life or death. He had no interest in honor or chivalry.
All that was left in him was will. If he had any regrets left, it was for his only daughter.
– “Half-human, half-demon, please take our daughter to King Ruskin. He probably would agree to take her in…”
My mission at the time was to retrieve some sort of symbol kept by the Primrose family.
There was no reason for me to follow his request. After all, Lord Primrose had already handed that ‘thing’ to me. If he was an evil man, he might have made returning that object a condition for help his daughter, but he was an honest person.
He knew that the object was merely left in his care. He wasn’t trying to use it for trade.
And since he was an honest person.
– “Understood.”
I also did not refuse his request.
I believe that dedication should be rewarded.
He was certainly a man deserving of reward.
“Thank you… At last, I can shed the final vestiges of lingering attachment.”
The ‘daughter’ from back then was none other than Rosa Primrose, now blushing right over there.
It feels just like yesterday when she was crying so sorrowfully, searching for her daddy, and now she seems to have grown up so much. A smile of fondness unwittingly spread across my face. Rosa had even given me a small ring back then… It’s a bit regrettable that I can’t act like I know her.
That’s the problem with working for the organization, I suppose. Even if you meet someone you know, you have to pretend you don’t.
I really should retire soon. Hang in there, hero. Defeat the Demon King quickly.
“I once received fine wine from the previous Count Primrose. He often spoke of his daughter, but I never imagined I’d meet her in person.”
“Don’t just blabber—”
“Do you still cling to Brown and sleep every night?”
“…”
Brown was Rosa’s favorite teddy bear. There were times it was troublesome because she wouldn’t let it leave her arms, even while traveling.
Wow, what a walk down memory lane. How many years ago was that?
I’ve worked for the organization quite a long time, too. I really want to retire soon…
“Then, let us continue with the orientation.”
For the remainder of the orientation, Rosa didn’t open her mouth even once. I wonder why?