The morning after our session at Eva's villa found me leaving the dorms earlier than usual. My destination: the Headmaster's office.
Chizuru and Ayaka had both expressed a keen interest in meeting Negi Springfield, but since I was the only one summoned, I'd had to talk them into staying behind. Ayaka, in particular, had looked like the world was ending as she watched me walk away—a look of pure, unadulterated tragedy.
"Oh? Axel-kun? You're early today. What's up?"
I was near the school entrance when a voice called out. It was Akashi, the girl who sat directly in front of me in class. She looked different than usual; instead of the standard school blazer, she was decked out in her basketball uniform.
"Just a bit of business to take care of," I replied. "You... morning practice?"
"You bet," she said, giving me a bright, slightly sheepish grin. "Our basketball team is pretty weak, so we have to put in the extra hours just to stay afloat."
She let out a cheerful "te-he" sort of laugh. "But what are you doing in the main building this early?"
"I forgot my drink in the classroom. See?" She held up a bag that likely contained a sports drink. "I worked up a sweat and realized I had nothing to hydrate with, so I had to make a dash for it."
She checked her watch. "Well, I better get moving or the coach will have my head. See ya later, Axel-kun!"
"Yeah. Good luck with practice."
I watched her jog away, leaving a faint, clean scent of sweat in the morning air, before continuing toward the office. I passed a few other girls who had arrived early for their own clubs, some of whom gave me curious, lingering looks. After a month as the only "male" student in a middle school for girls, I'd long since grown accustomed to being a local curiosity.
I reached the heavy doors of the Headmaster's office and took a breath.
I wonder if the rumored "Kid Teacher" has arrived yet.
I knocked.
"Who is it?"
"Axel Almar."
"Ah, Axel-kun. A bit early, but... come in, come in."
I pushed the door open. Konoemon was alone, seated behind his desk. There was no sign of Takahiti, the man who was supposedly friends with this Negi kid.
"Is Takahata out meeting him?" I asked.
"No, he had some business to attend to first. He'll be joining us shortly. I've asked Konoka and Asuna-chan to pick Negi-kun up from the station."
"Is that related to what we discussed?"
Konoemon's expression tightened slightly. "Indeed. I know it goes against my son-in-law's wishes—he wants Konoka to lead a peaceful, ordinary life—but leaving someone with her level of latent magical power in the dark is far too dangerous. I want her to start learning the truth about our world."
"You sure about that? He's been pretty adamant about keeping her away from the 'business.'"
"As long as she is here at Mahora, I can protect her with everything I have," Konoemon said, his eyes narrowing. "But Konoka won't stay here forever. High school, university, a career... she will eventually leave this nest. What happens then?"
"So you want her to be able to defend herself before she steps outside the barrier," I surmised.
"Exactly."
It made sense. If Konoka left Mahora without knowing how to control her mana, she'd be a beacon for every predatory mage and spirit in the country. Even with Setsuna Sakurazaki as a bodyguard, a single slip-up or a long-distance ambush would be enough to lose her. Heck, if I wanted to snatch her, I could do it in seconds using my slimes.
"Fair enough," I said. "On another note, Eva seemed a bit blindsided by the fact that the newcomer is a Springfield."
Konoemon winced. "Yes... she ambushed me this morning and grilled me for details. I kept it from her because I knew she still held a flame for Nagi; I thought the news would unsettle her, but that plan backfired spectacularly. We've agreed to talk it over later... though I suspect I have you to thank for her not tearing my office apart?"
"More or less. She's not stupid. Attacking the son of the 'Thousand Master'—a hero's child and the next generation of the magical community—would cause too much heat for her to handle, and she knows it."
"Indeed. I have a few ideas to smooth things over with her, provided she's willing to listen..."
As we settled into some idle small talk, the sound of heavy, frantic footsteps began to echo from the hallway.
"Ah," Konoemon noted. "It sounds like they've arrived."
"Yeah. But it sounds a bit... chaotic."
The doors flew open with a violent bang. A small group practically tumbled into the room. There was Konoka, a very irritated-looking Asuna in her gym clothes, and Takahata trailing behind them with a wry smile.
And then there was the boy.
Asuna was holding him by the back of his collar like a stray kitten. He was a small kid with messy, reddish-brown hair and a pair of spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose. Despite his size, he was lugging a massive rucksack and a staff that was significantly taller than he was. The fact that Asuna was hoisting him, his bag, and the staff with one hand was a testament to her absurd physical strength.
"Headmaster! What on earth is the meaning of—oh? Axel?"
Asuna had been ready to launch into a full-scale rant, but she stopped dead when she saw me sitting on the sofa, calmly sipping tea.
"Axel-kun? What are you doing here?" Konoka asked in her usual, breezy Kansai lilt. "Morning, by the way!"
"Morning," I replied. "The Headmaster will explain my presence in a bit. Just hang on."
"Explain later? Forget that!" Asuna pointed at the boy dangling from her hand. "Headmaster! Why is this child supposed to be our new teacher?!"
"Now, now, Asuna-chan, settle down. Negi-kun, I've heard the details. Sent to Japan to teach at a school as part of your training... they've given you a truly difficult task, haven't they?"
"Y-Yes, sir! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
The boy, Negi Springfield, gave a stiff, formal bow. He looked incredibly nervous, his eyes darting around the room as if he expected a trap. He glanced at me with a confused tilt of his head before turning back to Konoemon.
"I understand jumping straight into a teaching role is a tall order," Konoemon continued. "So, from now until March, we will designate you as a student teacher on a practicum. Does that work for you?"
"Yes, sir! I'll do my very best as a student teacher!"
"Wonderful. By the way, Negi-kun, do you have a girlfriend? What do you think of my granddaughter, Konoka? She's a catch, isn't she?"
"Grandpa, stop it!"
Konoka's reaction was instantaneous. She produced a large wooden mallet from seemingly thin air and brought it down on Konoemon's elongated head with a sickening thud. It was the kind of sound that usually indicated a blunt-force fatality, though the old man seemed largely unbothered.
"Forget Konoka!" Asuna shouted. "Headmaster, a child teacher is just wrong! It's... it's a violation of the... the... Labor Something Law!"
"The Labor Standards Act," I corrected quietly. She really was the quintessential 'Baka-Red.'
Konoemon chuckled and smoothly ignored Asuna's protest. He looked Negi in the eye, his gaze turning serious. "Negi-kun, this training will be harder than you imagine. If you fail, you will be sent back to Wales, and you may never get a second chance. Are you prepared for that?"
"Yes! I'll do it! Please, let me try!" Negi shouted, his resolve clear.
Konoemon studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Very well! We shall start immediately. Now, there are some people I want you to meet... Takamichi, where is Shizuna-kun?"
"She's running a bit late, sir," Takahata replied.
"I see. Well, in that case, let's start with him. Axel-kun?"
I stood up from the sofa.
"Axel Almar," I said, offering a small nod. "I'm a 'test case' for the school's potential shift to co-education and grade-skipping. I'm a student in Asuna and Konoka's class. Good to meet you."
"Huh? But... I thought this was a girls-only campus?" Negi asked, looking bewildered.
I gave a small, dry smile. "That's why I'm the test case. I'm the only guy in the entire class. We might be on opposite sides of the teacher's podium, but we're the only two males our age in this sea of girls. If you run into trouble, come find me."
"Oh! Right. I'm Negi Springfield. It's... it's nice to meet you, Axel-kun!"
He reached out for a handshake. As I took his hand, I couldn't help but notice how tiny and soft it was.
"No need to be so formal," I said. "We're in the same boat here. Let's look out for each other."
"R-Right!" Negi beamed, a bright, innocent smile crossing his face.
The kid was a "Good Boy" through and through. It made sense, given his upbringing, but it was a jarring contrast to what I'd heard about his father. According to Eva, Nagi Springfield was a wild, reckless brat who never quite grew up. This kid was the polar opposite.
"Um... Axel-kun? Is there something on my face?"
I realized I'd been staring. "No. Just thinking that when you get to the classroom, things are going to get very loud."
"Ah, you've got that right," Konoka giggled. "The Class Rep is gonna absolutely flip over a kid as cute as him."
Asuna, who had been dead-set against a child teacher, sighed and nodded in grim agreement. "Yeah. No doubt about it."
"Wait... what? What's going to happen to me?!" Negi squeaked, looking genuinely alarmed.
"You'll find out soon enough. By the way, mind if I just call you Negi?"
"Sure! I don't mind at all. In that case, I'll call you Axel-kun too."
"Excellent," Konoemon said, nodding with satisfaction. "It seems you'll get along just fine."
Just then, there was another knock at the door.
"Headmaster, my apologies for the delay."
"Ah, Shizuna-kun. Come in."
Shizuna Minamoto entered the room with a professional air.
"Negi-kun," the Headmaster said, "for student life, you can rely on Axel-kun. But for your duties as a teacher, you will follow the guidance of Shizuna-kun here. She is your supervisor."
"I'm Shizuna Minamoto. Nice to meet you, Negi-kun," she said, patting his head with a warm smile.
Konoemon waited for the introductions to settle before dropping his final bombshell of the morning.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Konoka, Asuna-chan? Since we haven't found a place for Negi-kun to live yet, I've decided he'll be staying in your room."
Name: Axel Almar
Level: 38
PP: 625
Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272 | Defense: 272 | Evade: 302 | Hit: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Enhance Slime performance via SP consumption)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain: Air: S | Land: S | Sea: S | Space:
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (4 SP) | Effort (8 SP) | Focus (16 SP) | Direct Hit (30 SP) | Awaken (32 SP) | Love (48 SP)
Skills:
EXP Up, SP Boost, Telekinesis Lv.10, Attacker, Gunfight Lv.9, Infight Lv.9, Will Limit Break, Geass
(Gray), Magic (Fire, Shadow, Summoning)
Total Kills: 376
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