“Oh, Gill, huh? Sorry, but I’ve been busy for a while, so I don’t think I’ll be able to go on a date anytime soon…”
“……………”
When I went to the headmaster’s office, Anon was literally buried in a mountain of paperwork on her desk. Since she’s short, her face couldn’t be seen.
Her voice sounded exhausted, but since she could still joke around, it seemed like she was just about holding it together.
“I’ve told Eliza and Sophia about Manati. At least, it seems like they don’t blame Anon for what happened.”
“…You didn’t do anything unnecessary, did you? No matter how much Gill helped those two, it was the school’s responsibility to hire that teacher.”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything. In fact, Anon was thanked for searching for the two of them with all her might.”
I honestly wanted to ask for forgiveness if she hoped for the dismissal of the headmaster, but I had to let that go.
“I see. I really owe those two an apology…”
“No one could keep track of every action of every teacher. It’s impossible to predict that a teacher who should be guiding students would go that far. I didn’t see it coming either.”
From behind the paperwork, I heard Anon’s voice, still unseen.
The papers around her were reports on the recent kidnapping incident and documents related to Manati. There were also reports on projects he had been involved with before becoming the headmaster, such as research on magical sealing rings.
As this was the Bounce National Magic Academy, a research institution for magic, studies on magical sealing rings were part of their projects. It seemed that Anon was going over information she might have missed in connection with this incident.
“Even if I can’t grasp everything, and even if no one could have predicted it, I want to do whatever I can to make sure something like this never happens again.”
“…I see.”
Anon usually acts carefree, but deep down, she’s really serious. In this case, even though she could have blamed the previous headmaster, she chose to be honest and apologize sincerely to the involved parties, Eliza and Sophia.
Because of that, I want to help her.
“Alright, Anon. Focus on that for now.”
“Mm. I’m sorry for having Manati handle the basic magic classes temporarily…”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m actually enjoying teaching.”
I’ve already finished preparing for the next day’s lessons by 5 PM, answering students’ questions during the study session. I only had two to three classes a day even when combining all four classes, so I think I can manage three subjects.
“The acquaintances I talked to beforehand don’t seem to be a problem. I’ll confirm on my end, but I think I can also teach basic magic. It’ll take about two more weeks to prepare, but with all the chaos from this incident, it might actually be good timing.”
“Oh, that helps! Yes, there’s a lot to report to the government and knights’ order, so it’s tough for the academy to bring in new teachers immediately. I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ll rely on you until then.”
“Got it. If you need help with anything else, don’t hesitate to ask. It’s the worst to handle everything alone.”
“…You’re still the same, Gill. Mm, I’ll definitely take you up on that offer when the time comes!”
“Leave it to me.”
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
“Hmm, correct. You’re learning well. You may return to your seat.”
“Yes!”
This is the basic magic class for Class A. Thanks to all the previous lessons, all the students are seated and paying attention. Well, the rumor about Gariel from the Marquis of Marseino being expelled has spread, so there are probably some students who’d like to rebel but can’t.
Still, it’s much better than when they wouldn’t sit down properly or chat openly during the first lessons.
In this class, I follow the textbook and write problems on the board, calling on students to answer them. When I was a student, some teachers would call on students in order by their attendance number, but I try to call on them randomly, so it doesn’t feel biased.
It’s better to have the uncertainty of not knowing when you’ll be called on rather than having a predictable order. It keeps the right amount of tension so they don’t fall asleep. It’s also important to teach using specific examples of magic from the textbook while keeping the class engaging.
“Alright, the next question is for Fiona.”
“Y-Yes! Um…”
I called on Fiona, and she stood up and approached the board. While Bilk quickly answered the previous question, Fiona seemed to be struggling a bit.
“Here’s a hint. If you adjust the fire magic circle like this, what happens?”
“Ah! I got it! Is it like this?”
“Mm, correct. Well done.”
“Yes!”
Of course, each student has different levels of understanding, and they excel in different subjects. It’s important to give the right hints and guide them to the answers, so they can gain as much experience solving problems on their own as possible.
When they figure it out for themselves, it’s important to praise them. No one dislikes being acknowledged and praised. Of course, it’s also important to scold them when they do something wrong.
There’s no one perfect way to teach. As I teach the students, I, as their teacher, continue to learn as well.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
“So next week, it’s the real combat training, huh? Rather than excitement, I’m feeling a bit nervous.”
“Ugh… I’m getting nervous…”
Next week, we’ll be going outside the academy for a practical class in defense magic. Since Cyril and Melia have no experience fighting magical beasts using magic, they seem a bit nervous.
