Chapter 85

Episode 85

#85. The Dawn of Lenslet (2)

“So you’re saying we don’t have to do homework?”

“Yeah! Just the amount needed for future classes.”

“Phew~ Thank goodness. I had so much other homework!”

“So we can play now?”

“That’s right! What should we play?”

“Don’t we still need to do homework for other classes?”

“It’s not like it’s mandatory or anything, right?”

“Hmm…”

Sigh~

The former Clay Witch, Lulu, watched the still-joyful children and exhaled a long puff of mana smoke with a sigh.

‘This is getting out of hand…’

At their age, talk of sad parents or future careers held no weight at all.

‘And yet this is such a precious opportunity they’ve been given!’

All she had to do was teach the bare minimum as per her contract with Arad…

But even then, she felt a pang of guilt.

‘Free tuition, textbooks, meals, uniforms, dorm fees… There’s nowhere else on the continent like this!’

Lulu inwardly lamented.

It frustrated and saddened her to see these young ones waste such a golden chance.

‘At least there’s Daisy in this class, the oldest one. She seems promising.’

Lulu smiled faintly at the serious-eyed girl sitting front row, who showed great potential and focus.

‘I should make at least ten students study like Daisy!’

That way, four or five from this class could enter the Lenslet Mage Guild in the future.

She realized she needed to spark their interest in studying at an appropriate level.

‘So this is why they created scholarships…’

She recalled something Professor Arad Jin mentioned recently.

“Hey! Did your homeroom teacher tell you? If you’re in the top five, you get a prize!”

It’s always about effort and reward.

“Twice a year, before vacation, we’ll tally up your grades. And if you’re in the top five, we’ll give you a scholarship.”

Vague results aren’t as effective as clear rewards.

“First place gets two silver coins, second place gets one and a half, third gets one, fourth and fifth get half each. What do you think? And we’ll give it directly to you, not your parents.”

“Gasp! Silver coins?!”

“And that’s not all! If you’re in the top five, you’ll get a fancy certificate. Imagine how happy your parents will be when you bring it home!”

“!!”

“Oh! You’ll also get a special badge to wear on your uniform. It’s a magical badge made by Director Jin himself, super cool!”

“Magic badge!!”

“And the biggest factor in these scores will be magic studies. Even if you fail everything else, a perfect score in magic will do.”

It worked.

The children’s eyes were burning brighter than ever.

Especially Daisy, who was already memorizing the runes taught today.

* * *

Though newly established, Lenslet Academy operated systematically thanks to my Earth-born influence.

We admitted anyone regardless of gender if they showed talent.

The school system followed local customs: seven years total – three for elementary, two for middle, and two for high school.

Students advanced automatically until high school, where promotion depended on performance.

In a world where fifteen and sixteen-year-olds are considered adults, and without Earth’s advanced academics, this sufficed.

This applied to those not yet of age.

“…Personally, I think running things division-based during normal times, then forming temporary project teams for specific tasks is ideal. This matrix organization or mobile administration method… though it does risk unclear command structures…”

Saturday evening, or Tera’s sixth day in Arcadian terms.

Normally I’d be off work or tutoring Mary privately, but not lately.

I stood lecturing at Lenslet Academy.

Ding ding ding~

Right in the middle of my lecture, the bell signaling the end of class rang.

I immediately set down my magic chalk and cleared the board with a wave of my hand, possible thanks to the magical blackboard.

“Well then, that concludes today’s administrative studies. Good job everyone despite the late hour.”

Northern Region desperately needed skilled individuals.

Children were important, but adults required education too.

This was night school for adults.

“Thank you for your hard work, Professor Arad Jin!”

“I won’t assign any homework since you’re all busy adults. Not like you’d do it anyway.”

“Hahahahaha!”

“But please review the material.”

Before Lenslet Academy opened, Northern Duchy lacked proper educational institutions.

Most educated locals had studied abroad in imperial cities or received private tutoring from retired bureaucrats or scholars.

“Have a good weekend. Remember to bring your abacus for Monday’s management and accounting classes.”

“Yes sir!”

I watched the students file out with a sense of accomplishment.

From young priests to balding middle-aged bureaucrats, to female mages in robes…

They carried textbooks I personally wrote, printed using the press machine originally created for Medi Kit manuals.

“Being a lecturer isn’t bad, aside from the fatigue. Definitely different from private tutoring. Reminds me of the special lectures I gave back at my alma mater.”

I initially considered asking Bishop Entaire to recruit professors from the empire.

But I dropped the idea quickly.

Not many would want to come to such a cold place, it’d cost a fortune, and chances of spies were high.

Besides…

“Good thing I took business as a double major in university.”

Nothing they could teach seemed better than what I knew.

Back in college, I chose business as a double major thinking it might help with future ventures.

Aside from administration, I also took occasional courses in accounting and taxation.

I applied all that knowledge very successfully to grow my startup into a solid company.

Both theory and practice mastered.

Meaning teaching administration, accounting, or business from me would be better.

“Is my version of Jin Industries doing okay back on Earth? My body too?”

Using Earth knowledge for lectures made me miss home.

“Just don’t put me in some vegetative state scenario. If I return and find that crap, I’ll definitely defect to the empire!”

After the students left, I remained alone in the brightly lit lecture hall thanks to light attribute magic stones, warmed by heat attribute thermal stones.

Sitting quietly, I felt almost sleepy in the cozy warmth.

“How far do they expect me to go before sending me back? This is pretty decent compared to history, right? Surely they don’t expect me to stay here forever…”

I was alone in the lecture hall for two reasons.

One, it was warmer inside.

Two, I was waiting for certain people I’ve connected with here.

Five more minutes passed.

“Director.”

“Mary! How did your class go?”

“Yes sir.”

Mary entered first.

She had been teaching basic literacy and arithmetic to adults in the adjacent classroom.

While I taught advanced subjects to bureaucrats, priests, and mages…

She and Te handled fundamental education for illiterate adults.

“Everyone must be tired, yet you still volunteer for this. Truly appreciate it.”

“It’s joyful and fulfilling work. Haven’t felt this way before, maybe I don’t realize how exhausting it is.”

By now you might wonder:

What about the old witches or Lenslet Mage Guild members? Why not use retired High City bureaucrats?

“While others fight illiteracy across the North, this is nothing.”

The Northern Region was vast; we couldn’t limit education to just High City.

If we’re struggling, imagine how much harder it is elsewhere.

* * *

Leaving the academy building with Mary and Te, the two pillars of my company.

“Still chilly at night, isn’t it? And it’s already April.”

“It’s High City after all.”

The cold northern night air refreshed my slightly weary mind.

“At least it chased away my sleepiness.”

“You’ll get used to it eventually. The only advantage of cold air.”

True enough.

Initially cold, but breathing in the pristine fantasy-world air free of fine dust made my body and mind feel lighter.

“Thank you for your hard work, Director Jin.”

“Our night escort tonight is Knight Eopte, correct? We’re in your hands.”

Knight Eopte approached leading my special-grade horse outside the building.

“Lady Mary and Sir Teo’s horses are here as well.”

“Thank you, Knight Eopte.”

“Thanks.”

I nodded appreciatively to Eopte before mounting my horse.

Mary and Teo followed suit.

“Let’s head out while it’s still cold.”

“Where to, sir?”

“We’re going out for drinks. To the commercial district outside High City.”

We rode casually through Arad Workshop.

Though cold at night, streets lit by magic stones kept it from being dark.

Our group numbered fifteen.

Not just Eopte, several knights accompanied us as escorts.

Security tightened considerably after the last attack on Arad Workshop.

Arriving at the bustling commercial district filled with restaurants and taverns.

This area, once having only a few modest inns and taverns, flourished greatly since Arad Workshop’s establishment.

“Hm?”

Approaching the carriage stand to stable our horses, familiar carriages came into view.

“Bishop Company arrived already?”

Luxurious carriages lined up outside the upscale inn on the outskirts of High City.

“The wheel tracks indicate they just arrived.”

Knight Eopte observed around the carriages.

“Brave of them to travel at this hour. Those Red Wolf escorts must be exhausted.”

Twenty large carriages in total.

From cargo wagons to passenger coaches, broughams, and troikas, they varied widely but shared one trait – all were grand and luxurious.

Showcasing the might of Bishop Company, the only imperial trading company capable of traveling the North with over twenty members.

“So Entaire Bishop is worried about the upcoming coronation? Must be why he rushed here.”

Bishop Company always came in similar numbers, but this time the fleet seemed even fancier due to Entaire Bishop’s presence.

“Shall we greet him early?”

Te suddenly asked me.

“Nope, we need rest too. If I get caught by that man, my precious day off will vanish.”

I quickly turned my horse to escape Entaire’s clutches.

“Let’s dine elsewhere then. Or how about heading to headquarters? I’ll show off my cooking skills.”

“Really?”

“Wow! This is a rare treat for our taste buds!”

Both visibly delighted by my suggestion.

Even Eopte and the knights seemed pleased.

“What do you feel like eating?”

“Can we have chicken and beer?”

“Of course.”

Jarvis, the building caretaker, worked hard preparing everything in the middle of the night, but otherwise it was a perfect evening.