“No way!”
“…Hmm, even after begging this much, it’s still a no?”
Before me stands a very petite girl who looks to be around upper elementary school age, bowing her head towards me.
Her silky blonde hair and jewel-like sapphire eyes stand out, and above all, her long, pointed ears. She belongs to a race called the Elves, and though she looks like a young girl, her age has long surpassed 100 years.
“No matter how much you ask, Anon, I can’t do it. Why should I suddenly have to become a teacher at the magic academy?”
“Didn’t you say you were a teacher in your pre-vi-ous life?”
That’s right—my previous life. I’m what they call a reincarnator. I was born and raised in Japan, lost my life at the young age of 35, and somehow found myself reborn into this world as Gill. Now, I’m 28 years old.
“Sure, I mentioned I used to teach while doing research in my previous life, but I’m surprised you remembered.”
“I even heard that this ‘lab coat’ you’re wearing was from your previous life.”
“Ah, this is the mark of a true researcher!”
My current outfit consists of a shirt and a lab coat. After all, nothing suits a researcher or mad scientist better than a lab coat, right? In this world, magicians and scientists are similar, but unfortunately, no one else wears lab coats… I really want to make it a trend here.
“Well, setting aside the greatness of lab coats, I simply don’t have the time to be a teacher right now. I’m too busy with my magical research.”
“Didn’t you just say your latest research was finished not too long ago?”
“Yeah, I wrapped up my studies on spatial magic. I’m just about to dive into research on gravitational magic.”
“You magic-obsessed fool…”
You might call it a cheat ability, but in this world, I have a talent for magic. Coupled with the knowledge from my previous life, I’ve been passionately pursuing magical research since I was young. As a result, I earned the title of Grand Sage at a relatively young age.
Magic in this world is very similar to mathematics in my previous life—complex, yet incredibly fascinating. The thrill of solving intricate equations feels almost identical to the euphoria of constructing an efficient magical formula. My love for research in my past life is probably why I enjoy it so much here.
While I could’ve chosen the adventurer route, which is a classic for people who reincarnate in other worlds, I opted for the magic academy, where I could immerse myself in research. And so, I became a magic researcher.
“There’s no other way… Gill, I’m cashing in that favor you owe me! Help me out!”
“Hmm, so this is an issue big enough for you to use that favor…”
Anon isn’t a romantic partner, but we’ve been close since I graduated from the academy. She’s one of the few people I’ve shared my reincarnation secret with. Back when I was younger and reckless, she helped me out of countless jams, leaving me with one major debt to her. I never thought she’d call in that favor here.
“Yes. Bounce National Magic Academy has a long history, but its teacher quality has significantly declined, and the school is in quite a crisis.”
“Wow, I can’t believe my alma mater has fallen that far. Well, who cares? The motivated and talented ones will thrive no matter the environment.”
Anon, who became the headmaster of Bounce National Magic Academy last year, is now in charge of my old school. Back when I was a student, it was considered the top magic academy in the country. What a fall from grace.
“The problem is that the environment is becoming so bad that even the motivated and talented ones can’t flourish…”
“That’s just a total failure as an educational institution…”
If that’s the case, then what’s the point of calling it a magic academy?
“Alright, if repaying that favor from back then will settle this, I’m in. My research has just hit a lull, and I’ve been holed up in the lab for the past 7-8 years, so it might be a nice change of pace.”
“R-Really?!”
“Yeah. But just because I was a teacher in my previous life doesn’t guarantee I can pull it off here. I’ve never taken on any apprentices, and I tend to teach quite strictly.”
“That’s perfectly fine! Even though you’re a commoner, your title of Grand Sage gives you significant authority. It’s far better than the current teachers, who suck up to the children of influential nobles.”
“Fire all those incompetent teachers!”
“How can adults let themselves be intimidated by kids…”
I get that the noble system here makes things more challenging than in my old world. But when I was at the academy, the teachers never kowtowed to the students.
“Many of the current teachers are skilled in survival tactics and manipulation, so it’s not that easy to dismiss them. Their behavior is rubbing off on the students, making them even more arrogant. As headmaster, I can’t even speak out strongly—it’s giving me ulcers…”
I never thought I’d hear Anon, who’s far stronger than me in combat, complaining like this.
“Alright, alright. I’ll do what I can, so cheer up.”
“As expected from the Gill I love so much!”
“…Don’t do that at the academy, I swear.”
This girl has a habit of hugging me at every opportunity…
I trust she’ll act appropriately in front of the students, but if she doesn’t, it’ll definitely stir up trouble.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
“Hey, where do you want to go after school today?”
“How about the new sweets shop that opened on Verok Street?”
“Oh, that sounds great!”
“Hey, why don’t we skip class and go somewhere fun now?”
“Good idea, let’s do it!”
“………………”
Hmm, this is about ten times worse than I had imagined…
A few days after agreeing to Anon’s request, I was employed as a temporary teacher in charge of Defensive Magic at Bounce National Magic Academy. Unlike part-time instructors in my previous world, this position granted me the same authority as a full-time teacher for a year.
Today, I visited Class 1-B for my first lesson, and it was pure chaos. The class of about 20 students ignored me entirely and carried on with their chatter as if I didn’t exist.
Clearly, they underestimated me as a temporary teacher. If all classes were like this, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it school collapse, not just classroom collapse.
And it’s deafening. There’s no way they’d listen if I just raised my voice. Not that I intend to bother shouting at them anyway.
“Alright then…”
I extended my right hand, forming magic silently to cast a Silence spell, enveloping the classroom—and my ears—in soundproof barriers. Following that, I constructed and activated a voice amplification spell.
Several students noticed the magic and shielded their ears or ducked under their desks. At least a few were somewhat competent, which was a mild relief.
Snap!
“Ugh, what the!?”
“M-my ears! Aaaaagh!”
The enormous sound from my magically amplified finger snap shocked most of the students into screaming.
“What the hell was that for, you bastard!”
“Hey, that’s way too loud!”
Snap!
“Agh, again?!”
“Stop making that sound!”
Snap! Snap!
“Arrgh!”
“Kyahhh!”
I kept snapping my fingers until the brats, who had clearly underestimated me, fell silent.
Ah, this reminds me of my elementary school back in the day, when the principal would time how long it took for everyone to quiet down during morning assembly. However, these brats wouldn’t stop unless I forced them.
“………………”
Finally, they all covered their ears and stopped yelling. Satisfied, I lowered my hand and canceled the spell.
“Now then, I am Geek, your temporary instructor for Defensive Magic. I’ll be here for a short period, so let’s get along, you little brats. Take your seats.”
To avoid complications, I kept my true name, Gill, hidden. As someone with the Grand Sage title, revealing my identity would only cause unnecessary trouble.
“Who do you think you are!?”
“Yeah, what’s your problem?”
“Calling us brats, huh? You’re just a temp teacher!”
“………………”
As soon as I finished my concise introduction, the brats started yelling again.
It feels less like I’m teaching at a school and more like I’m managing a zoo.
“………!”
When I raised my hand as if to snap my fingers again, the brats immediately covered their ears and fell silent. I lowered my hand once more.
“Stop yapping, you little brats. If you can’t show even a shred of respect for your teacher, then brat is exactly what you’ll be called. If you want me to address you properly, start by calling me ‘Teacher.'”
If this were my previous world, such a statement would have gotten me fired instantly. However, Anon had assured me that I could be firm, even harsh, within reason. I have no patience for brats who disrupt motivated students.
“You’ve got guts to talk to me like that! I’m Gale Carlisle, the eldest son of the Earl of Carlisle!”
“Come on, Gale. This guy’s just a commoner who doesn’t understand noble hierarchies.”
“Man, he’s screwed now! A temp teacher picking a fight with nobles? He’ll be jobless by tomorrow!”
Three students approached me, led by a slightly chubby boy—Gale Carlisle.
Judging by his pompous introduction, he probably thought his noble status gave him untouchable authority. However, titles belonged to his father, not him.
“Introducing yourself with your family name to intimidate others only highlights your lack of personal ability. Besides, the Earl’s title is your father’s, not yours, so you’re nothing more than a brat.”
“Y-you dare insult my family name!?”
“Let’s deal with this commoner, Gale!”
“I didn’t insult your family; I insulted you. Pay attention.”
As if he’d actually listen.
“You’ve gone too far! Take this—Lightning!“
Gale extended his hands, summoning lightning magic that shot straight at me.
Snap!
“Wh-what!? Gwaaah!”
The lightning was deflected by a translucent barrier I conjured with a snap, redirecting it back to its caster.
Hmm, slow spell construction and no contingency against his own attack. To top it off, attacking a teacher with offensive magic? This kid is beyond help.