When Mia said that, Seraphina didn't even lift her eyes. She stayed calm and cool, flipping through the papers in her hand while casually explaining,
"The 'refrigerator' is a magical device I invented myself. It uses an ice-element rune array to keep things cold, for food storage and preservation. As for yogurt... you could say it's a specialty from my hometown."
"Ohh, I see!"
Mia nodded twice, pretending to understand, but her eyes couldn't help darting back to that big white metal cabinet.
Seraphina lightly tapped her pen in that direction and said in her usual flat tone,
"The yogurt's on the top shelf. Just open the fridge door—you'll see it."
Following her directions, Mia walked up to the smooth white "iron box" and curiously pulled the handle.
A wave of icy cold air rushed out, instantly cooling the warm afternoon air around her.
She squinted her eyes a bit, then widened them again in surprise.
Inside… were so many things she'd never seen before! Bottles and jars, both clear and colorful, neatly filled with all kinds of liquids and solids.
Could all of these… be as delicious as those pancakes?!
Her eyes sparkled like stars, and she couldn't help swallowing hard.
Cough… calm down, be ladylike, Mia. Don't embarrass yourself in front of the teacher!
She straightened her back, schooling her expression, and looked carefully until she spotted a neat row of small white boxes that seemed to match Seraphina's description of "yogurt."
Mia carefully took one out—it was cool and smooth to the touch—then gently closed the fridge door.
She found a straw, poked it in, and took a cautious sip.
The thick, chilled liquid slid over her tongue—smooth and creamy, with a gentle tang that was quickly balanced by a rich milky sweetness. Refreshing and unbelievably tasty!
Better than any milk or goat's milk she'd ever had. The mix of sweet and sour, the cold silky texture—it was a completely new experience!
"Mm! Teacher, this yogurt is amazing too!"
Mia couldn't hold back her excitement and took another big sip, feeling instantly refreshed.
As she drank, she sighed in genuine admiration,
"Teacher, you're incredible! You're not just a powerful mage, but you even invent these amazing magical devices. You're just like that genius Einstein who showed up a few years ago! He invented all sorts of weird but useful magical stuff too!"
At the mention of the name Einstein, Seraphina's pen suddenly paused. A small blot of ink stained the page.
She didn't look up—after a brief pause, she continued writing, her tone perfectly calm.
"I'm not that amazing. You're giving me too much credit."
Mia giggled, completely unaware of the subtle shift in the air. She happily finished her yogurt and kept chatting.
"But really, that name 'Einstein' sounds kind of strange, doesn't it, teacher? And it's weird—he suddenly showed up a few years ago, made all those inventions that caused a huge stir, and then just… vanished. No one's heard anything about him since. I wonder where he went?"
Seraphina said nothing. Only the soft scratch of her pen against the paper filled the room.
When Mia finished the last of her yogurt, she licked her lips in satisfaction, tossed the empty cup into the bin by the door, and bowed politely.
"Thank you for the snack and the yogurt, teacher! I won't bother you anymore—goodbye!"
"Mm." Seraphina gave a faint reply without looking up.
The door closed quietly behind her, and the sound of footsteps faded away down the hall.
Only then did Seraphina slowly put her pen down.
She lifted her head, her wine-red eyes gazing toward the door, thoughtful and deep—as if she could still see the gray-haired girl walking away.
She frowned slightly and murmured under her breath,
"As I thought… there's something strange about that girl."
She had sensed it faintly when they first met in the classroom, but hadn't been sure. That was why she'd used the "punishment cancellation" as an excuse to call Mia to her office—to observe her more closely.
Now, there was no doubt in her mind.
Mia wasn't an ordinary commoner or noble.
——
Time slipped by quietly, and soon the sun was setting.
After finishing her paperwork and lesson plans for the next day, Seraphina rubbed her tired eyes.
Sitting for too long always left this petite body feeling stiff and sore.
She stood, stretched lazily, her joints letting out soft little cracks.
After tidying her desk, she left the office and headed toward the faculty housing area.
Oserenka Magic Academy truly lived up to its reputation as the Empire's most prestigious school—overflowing with wealth and resources.
Not only did they provide the students with spacious dorms, but every teacher also had their own private villa surrounded by calm, quiet scenery.
But what Seraphina appreciated most was—without question—the salary.
A staggering 20 gold coins per month.
In this world's currency system:
1 gold coin = 100 silver coins = 10,000 copper coins.
One copper coin had about the same buying power as one unit of her previous life's currency.
So, 20 gold coins—was basically 200,000 a month. After tax.
Honestly? It beat working herself to death coding in her last life by miles. That paycheck alone was one of the main reasons she'd taken the Elemental Studies teaching job.
When she reached her assigned villa, Seraphina unlocked the door. The interior was simple but cozy.
She lazily slipped off her small leather shoes at the entrance, revealing her dainty feet in short white socks, and slid into her favorite bunny slippers.
Then she hung up her academy uniform neatly—no need for disguises at home.
Heading straight to the bathroom, she let the hot water wash over her, rinsing away both fatigue and the faint scent of magic dust that clung to her after a full day of teaching.
Dinner was homemade: sweet-and-sour ribs, spicy shredded potatoes, and a bowl of steaming white rice.
Bread might've been the staple food in this world, but Oserenka Academy's location—right in the Empire's busiest trade district—meant you could find imports from all over the continent. Rice wasn't common, but not too hard to get either. And for Seraphina, nothing felt more comforting than a bowl of rice.
After a hot bath and a satisfying meal, the day's exhaustion melted away.
She dried her hair, changed into a loose nightdress, and sat down at her desk. Unfolding a sheet of paper, she dipped her pen in ink, and the quiet scratching sound filled the room.
To my dear friend Teresa:
Today was my first day teaching at Oserenka Magic Academy. Overall, I'd say things went rather well. The students… were just as I expected—some of them mischievous, but all "handled" properly. The classroom discipline is beginning to take shape, and also…
She went on to describe the main events of the day—her demonstration of the Source Code Theory, the students' reactions, and a few interesting observations.
Halfway through, Seraphina suddenly felt a sharp, familiar twist in her lower abdomen. Her hand trembled slightly, the pen tip pausing mid-stroke.
A faint flush crept over her cheeks. Her toes curled unconsciously inside her slippers, and her breathing grew a little unsteady.
The air around her seemed to thicken—carrying with it the faintest trace of a sweet, warm scent…