"A little... covetous, were you?"
Dark turned to look at Ignaz Cooper in the compartment, recalling the details of the dream he'd entered inside the Magic Guide Motorcar.
Perhaps the man really had only been "a little" covetous.
But so what?
From the moment he'd decided to act, there was no making this right again.
As for the business of nominating Dark as a candidate for the Divine Son — that was even more laughable.
Where did they get the confidence to think they could seduce a duke's son into joining a sect not even six years old?
Did they really think the duke's son was some naive child?
Oh. Right. He supposed he was, technically.
…
Dark shook his head. Since the Cult of Knowledge's original intentions hadn't been malicious, and what came after was purely Ignaz Cooper's own doing, there was no need to dig any deeper. A fitting punishment for Ignaz Cooper alone would suffice.
The Duke's household had its own reputation to consider, and it handled matters according to reason.
Unreasonable things were not, as a rule, done.
Unless the situation called for something unusual.
As for hauling him before a court?
Given that this affair wasn't suited to public disclosure, better to leave it be.
Dark said to Chris, "From here on, this fellow's fate is yours to handle."
"Won't you have a word with him yourself?" Chris asked, curious.
Dark shook his head. "No need."
There wasn't any point.
The man was an insignificant nobody.
"By the way, how did his teacher happen to pick me out?" Dark suddenly remembered something before leaving, and asked.
Chris explained slowly. "It seems he witnessed Young Master's brilliant performance at the Easter Dueling Festival held at St. Marian's Academy, and discovered from that your Magic Guide Spirit's intelligence level exceeded 3.0.
For any Magic Guide Master, that sort of technique is the pursuit of a lifetime. And given that what they worship is the very embodiment of 'Knowledge,' they'd be desperate for any means capable of granting intelligence. Someone possessing such a means, Young Master, would naturally fit their definition of the Divine Son perfectly."
Chris went on. "And as far as I can tell, none of the other twelve Elders could possibly find a candidate who fits the definition of Divine Son better than Young Master. If you wanted it, becoming this cult's spiritual leader would be a foregone conclusion."
"I see," Dark said after a moment's thought. "Then let them know I have no intention of accepting. I hope they'll understand my difficulties."
"No problem," Chris said with a smile.
…
Since Dark himself had no interest in staying, Alvit naturally had no reason to linger in the cold storage chamber either.
She left the rest entirely to Chris to handle, fully at ease doing so.
As for the Cult of Knowledge — because they had genuinely been doing good works for the common people, every faction had so far turned a blind eye to them.
But now that they'd crossed that line themselves, there was no reason to show them any mercy.
While Alvit was quite pleased with her precious child's composure over the matter, she herself had no intention of letting it drop so easily.
…
Before long, the four of them returned to the surface.
Only then did Dark casually ask, "Since everyone agrees that the Cult of Knowledge setting up schools is a good thing, beneficial to the common people, then why don't we do it ourselves?"
Alvit looked at him with some surprise, then couldn't help grabbing her precious child's arm and hugging it, saying happily, "That's because the Holy Church has already taken up part of that responsibility. Nowadays, every church across the kingdom teaches literacy. And it's free — people only need to attend Sunday services at the church."
"To draw in followers that way?" Dark asked, curious.
Alvit nodded. "That's certainly one of the subtle effects. After all, it's getting harder and harder to fool people these days. Only by actually doing good works can you earn people's trust and belief."
Dark said, "But as far as I know, what the Holy Church teaches is just the most basic literacy, isn't it? At most a bit of simple arithmetic. That can hardly be called a school."
"That's true," Alvit said. "Truly universal education involves weighing a great many things. We all know it would benefit the people and drive overall development.
But we also know that once there are more and more clever people, the concentration of power runs into trouble. So spreading education widely requires tremendous resolve."
"The Cult of Knowledge, as an individual entity, can afford to do that. But as a political power, we would encroach on the Holy Church's domain on one hand, and inevitably face opposition from the stubborn nobility on the other."
"Still, the times are moving forward at great speed. To ride the crest of this age, one needs the foresight to see the future."
"I, for my part, have always supported founding schools and spreading education. Once it begins, the Demon family will lend it full support."
"But I'd want Eliza to be the one to propose it."
At this, a trace of worry for Eliza crept into Alvit's expression.
"She really does worry too much."
Dark's face softened, and he pressed a little closer to Alvit.
…
The matter of universal education was a major undertaking.
Alvit had long had ideas about it.
The Eldest Princess had likely considered it too.
But putting it into practice would take more than tremendous resolve alone.
If it succeeded, it would give her a decisive edge in the succession struggle.
But if it failed, she might be forced out of that contest entirely.
The times were shifting, the road ahead uncertain, and no one could easily part the clouds and make the choice.
…
That night, Dark extracted another 1.5 points of "Pride," and then the day of the interviews arrived.
At half past eight in the morning, Dark was already seated in the ground-floor reception room, with Alvit and Gatomon beside him, and Claire next to them.
Ollie and Trina stood behind Dark, one to each side.
City Lord Montielfali was not present.
Behind the long table sat the three humans and one beast, sipping tea and chatting idly.
Alvit and Claire had cleared their schedules and come specifically for this interview, determined to select the most suitable candidate.
As for Gatomon, she represented the Magic Guide Spirits.
Dark also wanted to use her presence to observe how the applicants would react.
"I didn't expect Professor Buckner Sellers to apply," Claire said, flipping through the files, somewhat surprised.
"The intent is a bit too obvious," Alvit said, shaking her head slightly, not thinking much of the "Silent Sage."
"As for the professor..." Claire thought a moment, then said, "He's a genuine scholar, truly devoted to magic-guide research — but that was a long time ago. I don't know what state he's in now. By comparison, I have higher hopes for the two little princesses' tutor, Ms. Monica Cook."
Alvit smiled as well. "Indeed. Not only does she have extensive teaching experience, she's conscientious and genuinely fond of children. I don't think there's a more suitable candidate than her."
Claire agreed wholeheartedly, then picked up Camilla's file and remarked mockingly, "On the other hand, I have no idea what Camilla is doing here. Isn't she worried about tying her husband permanently to our ship?"
"Perhaps we should look at it from another angle," Alvit said. "She's applying precisely to make a public statement of that attitude."
Watching the two women converse so fluently, Dark asked curiously, "Why couldn't Aunt Camilla be here for Aurora's sake?"
"She'd probably like that, but being part of a great house, it isn't entirely up to her," Claire said. "Whatever decision she makes must factor in the family's considerations. In fact, your birthday banquet has already stirred up subtle shifts in the political situation of the capital."
At this, both Claire and Alvit couldn't help smiling.
As the saying goes, an idle willow branch planted without intent can grow into a shade tree.
As information about the guests at Dark's birthday party spread, particularly the fact that the Greatbear family and the Flotly family had both attended the Duke's household's private tea gathering after the banquet, certain initial speculations were now taken as "confirmed."
In just these past few days, quite a few people with business ties to the Greatbear family had been quietly probing around, trying to find out more.
Viscount Greatbear had made clear that he'd simply brought his daughter to a classmate's birthday party.
But that only made people suspect the opposite even more.
Some had even outright asked whether he had intentions of arranging a marriage alliance with the Duke's household!
Even the elders within his own family had summoned him for a thorough questioning.
Some elders who normally stayed out of politics hadn't cared much about the matter at first, but the instant the topic turned to "marriage alliance," their interest shot up instantly.
Viscount Greatbear was rapidly finding himself overwhelmed...
It was fortunate that the blood relation between Viscountess Camilla and City Lord Montielfali hadn't been made public — otherwise he'd have had even more headaches to deal with.
In any case, over these past few days, everyone in the Greatbear family, top to bottom, had come to know that the Valkyrie's troublesome son had placed first in his year at St. Marian's Academy, and was no longer the spoiled, useless boy he once was.
Those close to Diana would tease her about it whenever they ran into her, sending her chasing after them in furious embarrassment.
For a while, the Greatbear household was filled with a lighter, more cheerful atmosphere.
In short, the worries and anxieties belonged to the Viscount and Viscountess alone; everyone else went on as usual.
…
Meanwhile, at the Flotly household.
None of the things Viscount and Viscountess Flotly had feared came to pass.
The matter had only just begun to spread, and most of the attention was still fixed on the Greatbear family; the Flotly family remained largely unaffected.
It was only that, two nights before, the Viscountess Flotly had unexpectedly received an invitation to a tea gathering, which left her both pleasantly surprised and deeply anxious.
To work off their worry, the couple went scurrying about like squirrels, having people search out books related to magic-guide knowledge, then stacking them up at home in tall piles.
If nothing else, they had money.
Viscount Flotly had even started planning to find a tutor for Rose.
But a qualified Magic Guide Master's tutor wasn't easy to hire, and lacking connections in that world, they found themselves quite troubled.
…
All this information, down to the smallest detail, made its way without exception to Alvit's office.
Alvit and Claire discussed the current situation and agreed it was favorable to the Duke's household, but decided it wasn't the right moment to push things actively — better to watch quietly and let things develop a while longer.
…
While the group was chatting, several people had already begun arriving outside the Duke's household one after another.
The first applicant to arrive was a graduating senior of St. Marian's Academy — Debbie Giles.
This young Magic Guide Master, only eighteen years old, wore her mage robes with great formality and had applied light makeup, clearly taking the interview very seriously.
For her, this was an opportunity.
One she meant to seize!
…
After Debbie Giles, the "Silent Sage," Buckner Sellers, slowly climbed down from a carriage.
The eighty-three-year-old "Silent Sage," despite using potions to maintain his health, still bore the deep marks of time upon him.
He stood hunched, leaning on a cane, his face creased with deep, weathered wrinkles.
A maid waiting at the entrance immediately came forward to help him inside.
Then, from a carriage that rolled up slowly, descended the sixty-one-year-old former director of the Royal Botanical Garden — Ms. Bardi Plant.
More than twenty years younger than the "Silent Sage," Ms. Plant was still quite robust, though a certain natural haughtiness of one accustomed to high status showed between her brows.
After she too was shown inside, the two little princesses' former tutor, Monica Cook, arrived at last, somewhat late.
And finally came the "Silver Wolf Knight," Camilla.
Camilla, dressed in plain clothes, walked openly into the Duke's household without any attempt at concealment.
Clearly, she and her family had already reached some sort of understanding in this very short span of time.
A marriage alliance, perhaps?
Looking across the entire capital, at least for now, there seemed to be no one better matched to their family's jewel than Dark.
The only issue was that Dark's combat prowess was somewhat low, which didn't quite align with the Greatbear family's general aesthetic preferences.
…
Inside the reception room.
Head Maid Jasmine came in from outside and murmured a few words in a low voice.
Alvit asked, "Is everyone here? What about Camilla?"
Jasmine nodded. "Everyone's arrived. Lady Camilla has arrived as well."
Alvit nodded, then turned to Dark seated at the head of the table and asked, "Who should go first?"
Dark tapped the tabletop lightly twice with his finger and said, "First come, first served."
Jasmine replied at once, "That would be Miss Debbie Giles, followed by Sage Buckner Sellers."
Dark looked up. "Then let the senior go first."
"Yes, Young Master," Jasmine said.
With that, Jasmine withdrew from the reception room.
The others in the room composed their expressions, waiting for the applicant.
About three minutes later, Debbie Giles was led into the room by Jasmine.
A single chair had been placed in the middle of the reception room.
"Please, sit," Jasmine said with a smile.
Debbie Giles sat down with a bit of stiffness, then faced the four judges.
"Huh?"
Her gaze couldn't help drifting to the only non-human among the four judges.
But a memory quickly surfaced in her mind, reminding her that the white cat had appeared before, in a dueling match — it was Dark's Magic Guide Spirit!
"Why would they let a Magic Guide Spirit sit as a judge?"
Debbie Giles couldn't help wondering.
"Even if Junior Demon's Magic Guide Spirit has an extremely high intelligence level, surely it couldn't serve as a judge in a situation like this?"
This unexpected turn threw her off a little.
And that slip in composure did not escape the notice of Dark and the others.
"Debbie Giles, graduating senior of St. Marian's," Dark said, studying the young woman carefully. "Let's start with a self-introduction."
"Of course."
Debbie Giles immediately began introducing herself.
The introduction was clearly more concise and better organized than what was on paper.
At the very least, her self-introduction was flawless.
Satisfied enough, Dark went on. "Giles, tell me — as a proper Magic Guide Master graduated from St. Marian's Academy, why did you decide to apply here?"
Debbie Giles relaxed a little, then said, "I'm a Fool's House student. When I graduated, I didn't have much of a foundation, and I need to keep building up my qualifications through my own effort if I want to go further as a Magic Guide Master. I've also seen Junior Demon in person, and if the one I'd be teaching is you..."
"Stop."
Dark raised a hand, cutting off her explanation.
"I need to correct something here. The one you'd be teaching isn't me — it's my Magic Guide Spirit."
…
For a moment, astonishment flashed across Debbie Giles's face.
She clearly hadn't expected this at all.
But she quickly glanced at Gatomon, sitting composed beside Dark, and asked hesitantly, "A Magic Guide Spirit... has sufficient capacity to learn?"
Gatomon, under her gaze, frowned slightly and spoke directly. "Do you doubt that?"
That voice genuinely startled Debbie Giles.
It was a while before she cautiously asked, "What would I need to do?"
Dark frowned. "Wasn't it stated in the job posting? Complete a basic education within three months."
Debbie Giles's face fell at once. "But I thought I'd be teaching... at most, some other noble children."
Dark said, "It's not about what you thought. It's about what I intended."
"All right, don't be so hard on her," Claire interjected, smoothing things over. "So, Giles, do you have any other questions about completing the basic education of a Magic Guide Spirit within three months?"
Debbie Giles said helplessly, "Professor, I have no confidence in teaching a non-human."
Claire smiled faintly and glanced at Dark. "I think this interview can conclude here, don't you?"
Dark nodded. "Then, Senior Giles, thank you for coming all this way."
Debbie Giles said with a hint of disappointment, "No trouble at all. It's my own shortcoming."
Dark studied her carefully for a moment, then said, almost as an afterthought, "If you're still interested, the Flotly family seems to be short a tutor. You might try there."
"The Flotly family?" Debbie Giles considered this for a moment, then looked up. "I'll look into it. Thank you."
Dark nodded. "Fate willing, we'll meet again."
…
After Debbie Giles had left, Dark sighed lightly. "A pity. I'd hoped she might teach some of the magic-guide basics at the academy."
Alvit said gently, "Not everyone can accept becoming a teacher of Magic Guide Spirits, and she's fresh out of school — she probably doesn't have much confidence in her own teaching ability yet."
"Can't be helped," Dark said, taking a sip of tea. "Next, then."
…
The second applicant.
The "Silent Sage," Buckner Sellers, was helped into the reception room by a maid.
Once seated, he looked up at the panel and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. "Claire, you're here too?"
"Yes, Professor Sellers," Claire said with a smile. "It's been years. How has your health been?"
Buckner Sellers rested his cane against the side of the chair, straightened as much as he could, stroked his white beard, and said, "Don't let this fool you — I'm actually doing fairly well. It's just my legs that aren't as steady as they used to be. I have to keep moving every day."
"Good to hear," Claire said. "You needn't introduce yourself, Professor. Would you tell us why you'd want to come teach at the Duke's household?"
Buckner Sellers narrowed his eyes, letting his gaze sweep across Alvit and Dark, before finally settling on Gatomon.
Then a look of understanding crossed his face. "I've never seen a Magic Guide Spirit with such rich intelligence. If the ones I'd be teaching are these Magic Guide Spirits, I'd like to try to see just how far their wisdom can be raised. If not, then permit me to take my leave."
"So it is, then?"
The three exchanged glances.
Claire and Alvit both looked to Dark, waiting for his decision.
Dark smiled. "Well then, Sir Sellers — do you believe my Magic Guide Spirits might be capable of mastering magic, or even becoming Magic Guide Masters themselves?"
That question was the very answer Dark had been chasing all along.
But after an entire school year, all he'd managed was to get his Magic Guide Spirits to grasp simple control over magic power.
Buckner Sellers burst into hearty laughter. "That would require a deeper look before I could say. But it seems our goals align rather remarkably."
"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Dark's smile widened. "Here's what we'll do. We'll sign a one-month trial contract, and after that month, depending on both sides' wishes, we can renew it. If things go well, perhaps it won't be limited to three months — it could become a much longer arrangement!"
"Exactly what I was hoping for!"
As Buckner Sellers said this, his whole posture straightened noticeably.
Even his spirits visibly lifted.
"Jasmine," Dark said, turning to the head maid.
"Bring in a chair, and let Professor Sellers wait here beside us for a while."
…
And so the "Silent Sage," Buckner Sellers, remained in the reception room.
The third applicant was then summoned in.
The former director of the Royal Botanical Garden, Ms. Bardi Plant, walked straight in, glanced at Sellers seated to the side, and frowned. "Already decided, has it?"
"Please, Ms. Plant, have a seat first," Dark said. "We're planning to hire at least two tutors."
Ms. Plant sat down in the middle chair, then asked, puzzled, "There are many to be taught?"
Dark nodded. "Yes, roughly eighteen... hmm, perhaps one more, soon."
He was thinking of the Moon God Spirit.
"Nineteen students? That's not so many," Ms. Plant said. "Then surely the one to be taught isn't you. Might I ask who it is first?"
"It's me, Ms. Plant," Gatomon said calmly.
Ms. Plant's eyebrows shot up sharply.
Of course, she'd noticed the Magic Guide Spirit from the start, but hadn't thought much of it.
Unlike Debbie Giles, she didn't seem confused at all. "You want me to teach a Magic Guide Spirit? I do have experience teaching plants. This Magic Guide Spirit can actually speak?
Then surely it has sufficient capacity to learn as well?
Living this long really does turn up more and more interesting things. If you have any grass-type Magic Guide Spirits, I could try teaching them magic as well. What do you think?"
"There is one grass-type, actually, and even one grass-type's natural nemesis."
Dark rubbed his forehead. Ms. Plant was old, but she carried herself with quite the presence, and her openness to Magic Guide Spirits was remarkably high.
But what did she mean, teaching plants?
Had all the plants in the Royal Botanical Garden turned into spirits, too?
Dark thought for a moment, and something suddenly occurred to him. "I wonder how much Ms. Plant knows about a plant called Catnip?"
"Catnip? Is that a new species?" Ms. Plant asked, puzzled.
Dark felt a small pang of regret, but said anyway, "It's a mimicry plant with the full characteristics of an animal. If Ms. Plant is interested, I could show you sometime."
Ms. Plant considered this, then asked, "Does this mean I've passed the interview?"
Dark shook his head. "Not yet. May I ask why you'd like to apply for this tutoring position?"
Ms. Plant answered bluntly, "I'm retired, looking for something to do. At my age, if you don't keep your joints moving now and then, you rust."
"Fair enough," Dark said, nodding — a reason he could accept. "So, what subjects can you teach?"
Ms. Plant said confidently, "Basic literacy and arithmetic education, no problem at all. And I could also try teaching basic magic. That man sitting over there is a Magic Guide Master, isn't he? My specialties don't overlap with his."
"Basic magic instruction?"
Dark nodded slightly.
If possible, he was a bit interested himself — perhaps he could sit in sometime.
So he quickly made his decision. "Then, a one-month trial period. If both sides are satisfied after that, we can renew the contract, and afterward, every June, July, and August, you'll have priority to be rehired. Agreeable?"
"June, July, and August, is it?"
Ms. Plant thought it over for a moment, then said suddenly, "Well, all right then. Three months of work a year isn't bad at all."
"Sounds like we're in agreement," Dark said, breaking into a smile.
He didn't dislike energetic old women like this one.
…
Right after, Ms. Plant took a seat beside Sage Sellers.
The two elderly figures exchanged a few words, and then the fourth applicant was summoned in.
It was none other than the two little princesses' former tutor — Ms. Monica Cook.
Upon seeing Ms. Plant and Sir Sellers, Ms. Cook also showed a flicker of confusion.
But unlike Ms. Plant, she didn't ask outright, and simply took her seat in the middle following procedure, waiting for the interview to begin.
Without question, of all the applicants so far, hers was the most professional demeanor.
That alone earned her a good deal of goodwill from Dark.
He skipped the self-introduction and asked her directly about her reason for applying.
Ms. Cook said with a hint of helplessness, "The two princesses have grown up, and I felt there was nothing more I could teach them, so I resigned on my own initiative. After all, I'm not a Magic Guide Master. And of course, once I resigned, I naturally needed to find new work. Someone happened to recommend the Duke's household to me, so I decided to try it."
"A perfectly legitimate reason," Dark said, nodding. "So, what range of subjects can you teach?"
Ms. Cook proceeded to list her areas of expertise, one by one.
It was truly comprehensive — from calligraphy, arithmetic, geography, to history, music, and tea ceremony. Aside from magic, magic-guide studies, and combat, she could teach everything.
This reminded Dark of his own tutors from before.
Indeed, tutors chosen by the royal family were nothing ordinary.
Compared to Ms. Plant and Sir Sellers, Ms. Cook was clearly the true professional.
If she were made the center of the whole teaching program, the Magic Guide Spirits would likely receive the finest education possible.
So Dark gestured toward Gatomon and said, "One final question. What do you think about the fact that the students you'd be teaching are Magic Guide Spirits?"
"Magic Guide Spirits?" Ms. Cook said, somewhat puzzled. "I don't know much about Magic Guide Spirits. But can they understand human speech?"
"Of course we can," Gatomon said, a touch exasperated.
Ms. Cook was briefly startled, but quickly composed herself. "Well, that's fine then. But are all your Magic Guide Spirits this... um, cute type? I mean, I might not be very good with the fierce, savage sort."
"No such thing here," Dark said with a small laugh. "They're all quite adorable."
Ms. Cook let out a long breath and smiled. "Well, since they understand speech and can talk, I think I can give it a try."
Dark shook his head. "They can all understand speech, but not all of them can speak. In fact, some of the Magic Guide Spirits will need some language instruction."
"That's..." Ms. Cook hesitated. "Then I can only promise to do my best."
"That'll do," Dark said, nodding.
For someone to not be put off by Magic Guide Spirits at all was already remarkable enough.
He went on to discuss the contract terms with Ms. Cook, and the matter was soon settled.
…
"Just one left."
Dark let out a breath.
Of these five applicants, aside from the senior, all had been quite impressive.
In fact, he'd been somewhat surprised — the senior might simply have lacked the aptitude for it, along with a bit of confidence.
That wasn't uncommon among Fool's House students.
A bit of a shame, really.
But the other three had all been excellent, giving him the feeling of having struck gold.
"So, all that's left now is to deal with Ms. Camilla, and today's interviews will be over."
Dark exchanged a glance with Alvit and Claire, and all three broke into faint smiles.
It seemed their thoughts were quite aligned.
If Camilla had come for Aurora's sake, Dark would agree to her application.
But if it were purely a political consideration, Dark had no wish for his Magic Guide Spirits to become entangled with politics.
So, the next interview would need careful handling.
…
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