The Academy Regressor is Obsessed

Master has been acting strange today. No, perhaps it started yesterday.

I couldn’t even gauge exactly when I realized it, but at some point, Master stopped meeting my eyes. Her answers were always short as usual, but the emotions contained within seemed anything but short, rather complex.

“Ahem, ahem…”

For a child to survive in the slums, they must constantly strive to please adults. They could only grow up safely if they perceived the adults’ moods and maintained an appropriate attitude.

In that sense, Asel was well-versed in perceiving others’ emotions. It was no challenge at all to grasp what Ena was feeling as she let out a meaningless cough.

‘She’s feeling confused.’

Suddenly confused? It wasn’t an emotion someone who had been sitting and reading all day would have. It seemed some incident must have triggered it and was stirring up her mind, but there was nothing he could do since she wouldn’t answer even if he asked.

“Master.”
“Eep!”
“…?”
“A-Ahem! Why did you call?”
“…It’s nothing. I just called out to you.”
“I see.”

The conversations were always like this. When Asel called Ena, she would let out a strange scream and drop the book she was holding. Ena’s high-pitched voice, so different from her usual calm tone, was rare enough to make even Asel flinch. He couldn’t help but think, “I never imagined Master could make such a voice.”

Sometimes she wouldn’t even answer when he called her. Whenever he looked at her then, Ena was always blankly staring at the ceiling. It seemed like she was muttering something with her lips moving, but her voice was so quiet that Asel couldn’t hear it clearly.

He could have eavesdropped using magic if he wanted to, but Asel deliberately didn’t go that far.

They say a magician without curiosity is a corpse, but that doesn’t mean one should extend that curiosity into others’ private lives.

“…Hmm.”

Anyway.

There were many strange things about Ena’s behavior. She couldn’t meet his eyes or continue conversations for long. If he tried to forcibly make eye contact, she would turn her head away abruptly, unable to keep her pupils still. Then she would blink as if even she didn’t know why she was acting that way.

It seemed her mind was too complicated to allow normal communication.

That was the opportunity.

Asel planned to get a definite answer from Ena today about releasing him from confinement. It would be impossible with the usual Ena, but it shouldn’t be too difficult for her in this confused state.

The plan started from the moment he thought of it. Asel cleared his throat once to draw Ena’s attention to himself, then carefully put down the book he had been reading on the bed.

“…”

Though pretending not to, Asel noticed that all of Ena’s attention was focused on him. Whether she lacked talent in peeking at others or not, her sidelong glances were clearly felt. But Asel deliberately pretended not to notice her gaze and stared out the window with a wistful expression.

While doing so, he muttered:

“…I miss them.”
“…”
“Ah, I want to see my friends. I wonder how long I have to stay here.”
“…”

Will she bite? Or will she show no reaction at all?

Asel continued looking out the window with an inwardly anxious heart.

At that moment, the sound of a book closing was heard from behind.

Hearing that, Asel inwardly smiled broadly.

It was a big catch.

“…Do you want to leave?”

Ena said in a slightly apologetic voice. Asel turned to look at her with a bitter smile.

“Ah, did you hear? I’m sorry. I was talking to myself.”
“No, it’s understandable.”

Though they were conversing, Ena still wouldn’t meet Asel’s eyes. Normally he would have been disappointed, but now it was a most welcome reaction.

Asel’s heart ached a little at having to deceive the woman who had cared for him all his life, but he couldn’t stay cooped up here forever. It was undoubtedly time for a decisive move.

But before Asel could open his mouth, Ena spoke first. She rummaged in her bosom and took out a letter as she continued speaking.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be able to return to the Academy soon.”
“Pardon?”

This was an unexpected answer. He thought she was definitely trying to keep him confined since she only kept him locked up in the cathedral, but apparently that wasn’t the case.

But if so, there was no reason to keep him confined here. Why had she been so wary of him going outside?

Asel desperately racked his brains to figure out Ena’s intentions. But he couldn’t exactly grasp Ena’s meaning.

It was natural. The reason Ena had kept Asel in confinement that wasn’t quite confinement here was simply because she wanted to spend time alone with her disciple who had been separated from her for a long time.

She might think it was to make it difficult for him to escape quickly if Virsia attacked, but the emotions and desires slowly growing deep inside her gave a completely different answer than her reason.

She wanted to have personal conversations with Asel. She wanted to discuss magic with Asel while sticking close to him. As fellow lightning magicians, she wanted to share understanding of each other’s formulas. Going further, she wanted to feel his body temperature, to make skin contact and communicate.

It was in the realm of the unconscious. A greed even she didn’t know about, produced by instinct and desire. An obsession with her disciple, along with the desire to protect and possess him, had been slowly growing inside her since who knows when.

She just hadn’t realized it yet.

But as always, sweet times pass quickly. The confused emotions and complicated feelings had to be pushed aside for now.

Ena re-read the letter she had taken out and hardened her expression.

A letter with the seal of the Academy headmaster clearly stamped on it. Frida had sent it directly.

[You can come to the western mountain of the Academy in two days. There we can minimize the damage.]

Unlike the large letterhead, the content was only brief. But that was enough. Ena put the letter away again and closed her eyes.

“The Academy will probably start a temporary break in two days. It will end after about a week, so stay here until then.”
“You mean a temporary break?”
“It’s the period needed to publicize and deal with what happened to you this time. Don’t worry too much. I’ll take care of everything.”

She was so used to breaking and burning things that it was almost boring. It was the first time doing it inside imperial territory, but there was no need to hesitate since she had the headmaster’s approval. Of course, she would have to hold back, but there was no need to worry about the aftermath of destruction before using magic.

Ena thought that as she opened her eyes.

At the same time, her gaze met Asel’s, who was now sitting in the chair opposite her. Asel leaned his upper body slightly towards her and asked:

“You mean you, Master?”
“Uh, uwaaaaah…!”

Ena’s face turned red as she stood up at the unexpected ambush.

She still needed more time to regain her sense of distance with Asel.

There are things commonly called vested interests in the Academy. It mainly refers to professors and staff from high noble backgrounds. They not only have deeper affection for the Academy where they work than one might expect, but also tend to think of it as their own honor.

Even in regular meetings, they always want to raise the status of the Academy itself more than the students, and look very unfavorably on those who express opposing opinions. In severe cases, they don’t hesitate to persistently harass people to make them leave the Academy or silence their voices.

Of course, they didn’t resort to extreme methods like assassination. Not because of conscience or morals, but because they worried that if rumors spread of an Academy staff member being assassinated, wouldn’t the Academy’s status fall?

All of this was to fill their own rice bowls. Luminus Academy treats those who belong to it as highly as its reputation. Not just students, but professors and staff as well. Because working at the most prestigious Academy on the continent itself is equivalent to having one’s abilities recognized.

And money naturally falls to those whose abilities are recognized. Whether salary or bribes. The amount going into their pockets was truly beyond imagination. That’s the underlying reason why they regard the Academy’s honor as their own honor.

They speak as if they care about the Academy more than anyone, but contradict themselves by caring about the Academy less than anyone.

That was the vested interest in the Academy. It was all their doing to prevent the publicizing of this first-year incident as well.

“Let’s bury it quietly. We just need to silence Saya and a few others. It’s unfortunate that they died, but the living must go on living. There’s no need to incur losses by revealing the Academy’s incompetence. Isn’t that right, Headmaster? From our position with families to support, it’s best if nothing happens to tarnish the Academy’s honor. Please think of us as much as you think of the students.”

When one of the vested interests said that, it was natural for the others’ mouths to shut.

Of course, a few people stood up saying not to talk nonsense, but they were the minority. And these public opinion battles always favored the majority.

Even Frida had no choice. It’s not like she was building the Academy alone. Though her say wasn’t weak, she still lacked in some areas to go against numerous high nobles.

So even if she arbitrarily ignored their opinions, if they became uncooperative in the upcoming midterms and other events, the situation would become quite tricky.

She wanted to rip out not just the vested interests but their entire group from the roots, but it was impossible now when it wasn’t the time to recruit personnel. At minimum, the midterms would need to pass and an appropriate justification would need to be grasped to sweep them away.

“…Sigh.”

The more she thought about it, the more infuriated she became.

If not for the responsibility that came with the position, she would have danced with swords in both hands like in the old days, but it was just so vexing.

Still, if there’s a downhill, there’s an uphill too. There’s no law saying you have to suffer alone until you die.

In that sense, receiving a letter from Asel reporting his survival, and not long after receiving a letter from Ena saying she would smash the Academy, was nothing but good fortune.

Normally she would have torn her hair out and struggled to stop Ena, but not this time.

Justification? Sufficient. Her disciple nearly died, but instead of compensation, they’re only rushing to bury the incident. Even if she came and smashed everything, a judge would side with Ena at this point.

Sense of crisis? This too was sufficient. If a great magician rampaging about spraying lightning indiscriminately isn’t dangerous, what is?

A situation perfect for giving the Academy staff a sense of crisis, and the justification for those actions fits perfectly too. As soon as Frida grasped this, she made a deal with Ena.

You can smash the Academy. But please do it in a place with minimal damage, and in the end, instead of retreating, demand publicizing, compensation, and apology regarding the incident with your disciple. Then we’ll play along accordingly. And as compensation for granting this request, we’ll grant you one thing you want!

She conveyed a letter to Ena with roughly that nuance, and surprisingly, Ena agreed.

Frida, who had inwardly thought Ena would reject her request, jumped up and danced with Plum the moment Ena’s agreement arrived. Plum, thinking Frida had finally gone senile, held back tears and played along with her.

A magician more terrifying than anyone as an enemy, but more reliable than anyone as an ally. With Ena, a force of a thousand troops, at her back, Frida had nothing more to fear.

That’s why her hysterics had decreased recently.

“Hehehe.”

She chuckled lowly as she stirred her teacup. She soon placed cookies and cake baked for refreshments on the table, opened the window with a clear view of the western mountain, and settled into the sofa.

Two days had already passed since she informed Ena of the place and time to destroy.

Today was the appointed day.

Since access to the western mountain had been strictly forbidden for the past few days, there was no need to worry about victims. She had even cast detection magic just in case, so there was no need to fret about Ena possibly killing someone.

Everything was perfect.

The first collaboration between an elf aged several hundred years and a great magician. Frida smiled broadly as soon as she saw the white flash cutting across the sky.

Kwaaaaaang!!

A sudden white lightning struck as if to split the peak of the Academy’s western mountain. Everyone moving about the Academy fixed their gazes there for a moment, and Frida bit into a cookie with intrigued eyes.

‘I decided to intervene about 30 minutes after Ena starts rampaging, so until then…’

I should just enjoy the show.

“Hehehehehe.”

To watch the Academy grounds she had cultivated all her life being destroyed.

The tremendous sense of blasphemy made her feel elated.

Eat shit, you vested interest bastards.