“It’s indeed a refreshing morning.”
Luke stretched and opened the window.
The pleasant sunny weather was very impressive.
Thinking about going to the Academy after a long time, he had already taken out his school uniform.
After all, the vacation was over.
Luke closely examined his face in the mirror.
Perhaps because he molted a few days ago, the mark from the eye patch had faded.
At this point, he probably didn’t need the eye patch anymore.
Finally thinking about bidding farewell to the oppressive eye patch made Luke feel even better.
He skillfully finished getting ready for school and opened the door, leaving a greeting for Yerna.
“Yerna, I’m off now.”
“Okay, have a good day.”
Yerna waved at Luke with a slightly tired expression.
These days, she had started working, and since she was also looking for a new house in her spare time, she seemed quite weary.
But for Yerna, he had already prepared a potion for fatigue recovery, so after telling her to drink it if she couldn’t stand the fatigue, he stepped out.
As he walked a bit down the road, he saw a familiar face at the bus stop.
A boy standing stiffly as if he felt a bit awkward— it was Third.
“Third! How’s the school uniform?”
“Ah, Master. You’ve come.”
As soon as Third saw Luke, he immediately bowed his head in greeting.
“It seems the uniform fits pretty well. However, it’s unavoidable that I feel awkward wearing such clothes since I’ve never worn such before. How does it look to you, Master…?”
Luke glanced over Third’s outfit.
However, contrary to his concerns, Third’s neat school uniform suited him quite well.
Though, due to his lack of knowledge, Third couldn’t enroll in Tigr Academy like Luke and ended up going to a slightly less prestigious school, there seemed to be no reason for him to feel inferior.
“Hmm, you look very good. So, straighten your shoulders.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Third relax with that remark, Luke patted his back a few times and asked,
“Have you been taking the potion I taught you regularly as per the recipe?”
“Ah, you mean my medicine. Of course. It’s to heal my body after all.”
“Good, make sure to take it consistently without forgetting. That way, your shattered soul won’t fall apart any further.”
“Thank you so much. How can I repay this kindness…?”
Luke waved a hand as if it was nothing in response to Third’s gratitude.
“It’s fine. If you want to repay me, just make many friends at school.”
Then, after a moment’s consideration, Third nodded.
—–
“Master, do I really have to go to the Academy?”
At Third’s question, Luke answered firmly without a moment’s hesitation.
“Of course.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s simple— if those of us from the back alleys want to integrate, graduating from the Academy will certainly be a huge help.”
Indeed, an Academy diploma opens up many opportunities.
Isn’t it the very thing needed to become a Mage?
Even outside of that, diplomas had a lot of utility.
“So you must enroll in the Academy.”
At Luke’s words, Third shook his head and exclaimed as if he was clinging on.
“But, you’re already teaching me magic, right? You’re not thinking of giving up on teaching me, are you? If that’s so, I’ll try even harder!”
“No, I have no intention of stopping teaching you merely because you go to the Academy. However, conversely, if you decide not to go, I might not want to teach you anymore.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I start to doubt whether the magic I’ve taught you will truly help your life.”
“…!”
Luke continued as he looked at Third’s expression, which seemed to be in shock.
“The Academy doesn’t just teach magic; it teaches a wide range of things. Knowledge necessary for living, as well as experiences for making friends. Such things cannot be easily learned anywhere else.”
Though he hadn’t attended the Academy consistently, he had still learned plenty of common sense and gotten close to other kids, hadn’t he?
For Luke, it was a simple matter due to his past experiences, but for Third, who had lived his whole life in the back alleys, it must be an entirely different world.
Emerging from darkness into light wasn’t simply about striving in the dark.
“So, you need to go to the Academy.”
Luke finished his words.
After hearing this, Third pondered for a while before finally speaking up.
“I understand. If that is what Master wishes, then I shall go.”
Third decided to understand Luke’s words.
Those born in the dark can only see darkness.
That’s true; he doesn’t know the world of light.
Therefore, he is ignorant of how darkness spreads over the world and how light dispels that darkness.
However, if he learns about light at the Academy, it’s only natural that his perspective will broaden.
Thus, Master insists that graduating from the Academy will be of great help to him.
After all, he needs a subordinate who is not just a pawn to be disposed of but one who can act and judge independently.
Moreover, to simulate a normal life, such knowledge and skills to acquire allies can also be learned at school, can’t they?
Third lifted his head and asked, “Then, what should I do at the Academy?”
“Simple, study and make a lot of friends.”
“Friends? How many, exactly…?”
“I won’t mention a specific number; it’s more about how well you connect than how many. However, it’d be good if it’s many.”
——–
Suddenly recalling their past conversation, Third spoke to Luke.
“Ah, Master. Can you see my smile?”
Master had certainly said, “To make friends, you must know how to smile.”
Since Master was already attending the Academy, it must be an undeniable truth.
But previously, he had trouble smiling, and it was quite burdensome.
After all, there hadn’t been anything to smile about.
Luke smiled softly in response to Third’s words.
“Oh, have you been practicing? Then go ahead and give me a smile.”
“Um, yes. Here goes…”
Third took a deep breath before contorting his facial muscles.
“How about this? Would this be enough to make friends?”
However, upon seeing Third’s face, Luke showed a somewhat ambiguous expression.
He seemed to be straining just to raise the corners of his mouth, making his face tense, resulting in a gaze that came off as sharper and definitely not a natural smile.
He wondered if such a smile would lead to bullying.
“Hmm… It seems like you’re making an effort, but you’ve put too much strain on your face. It would be better if you relaxed a bit more, like this.”
Luke demonstrated a light smile as an example.
At that, Third was taken aback and took a step back.
The reason being that, in such a Master’s expression, he had the irreverent thought of ‘cute.’
Even though there was nothing cute about it!
It was amazing how something as simple as moving one’s face could twist perceptions so much.
A remarkable skill surpassing any perception transformation magic.
“How about now, do you understand?”
To be able to freely employ such a smile at any moment is indeed a masterful skill.
He wondered when he would reach such a level…
Third unknowingly swallowed hard, feeling nervous.
“Wow, you’re amazing, Master… You’ve been a great help.”
“Ha ha, was it that effective?”
——–
When Luke arrived at the Academy and opened the classroom door, quite a few students had already settled in or were chatting about events from the vacation while laughing.
Seeing the lively children made Luke’s mood rise as he approached his seat, which was next to Shirud.
“Shirud, did you have a good vacation?”
“Ah, Luke. I didn’t expect you to show up at the opening ceremony…”
Shirud’s expression was genuinely surprised, as if he couldn’t believe Luke was there.
“Oh, are you feeling better now?”
“Yeah, I’m doing well, thanks to you.”
Seeing Luke smiling brightly at him caused Shirud to shyly avert his gaze and reply.
“I’m glad to hear that…”
Looking at Luke’s face brought back memories of the experiences they shared during vacation.
The image of Luke from that time still lingered in his mind as if it would never be forgotten.
Especially, the swimsuit that peeked through that dress…
Thinking of that caused a pang in his heart.
As he busily tidied up his desk, Luke mumbled to himself.
“By the way, this uniform feels quite refreshing. Not bad at all.”
“Yeah, it’s summer uniform.”
The design of a short-sleeved shirt with a light vest was neat and modern and quite impressive.
Realizing this, Luke suddenly thought that this was the first time he was seeing Shirud in his summer uniform.
After all, Luke hadn’t come to school at all during the hot season.
And shortly after, Mary approached Luke and shouted.
“It’s definitely you, Luke! What happened to your horn? When I saw you from behind, I nearly didn’t recognize you if it wasn’t for the tail!”
“Oh, it’s you, Mary. It’s nothing; I just had a fight with an old acquaintance. It’s not something you need to worry about, so let’s not talk about it.”
“Is that so… Okay, I understand. That must have hurt.”
Mary nodded.
It was understandable that nobody wanted to share the story of a fight with a friend.
No need to forcibly drag out a story that one didn’t want to tell.
Mary raised her voice again to lighten the mood.
“By the way, you cut your hair too! I cut mine! We’re the same!”
“Oh, is that so? You cut your hair too.”
Luke nodded as he saw Mary’s hair, which had been long enough to touch her waist, now only barely reaching her shoulders.
“Why did you cut it? It was quite long. Were you not growing it out?”
“Well, sort of, but this summer was just so hot… What about you? You don’t seem like someone who would get hot.”
Previously, Luke had appeared unaffected by the heat when he was alone in the greenhouse.
It wouldn’t have been a reason for him to cut his hair either.
“Um, just something happened.”
Luke brushed it off lightly.
He couldn’t exactly tell these kids that he had offered his hair as a sacrifice to Sigarmata, a being that transcends dimensions.
But Luke’s response was enough to give Mary something to ponder.
For a girl who used to keep her long hair, cutting it required quite the determination.
Even someone like him, who doesn’t pay much attention to hair care, would feel that way; Luke, who always took great care of his hair, would have had to make a significantly larger commitment.
And the typical reasons for such change in a girl usually aren’t about the heat but about affection.
“So, did someone you like make you cut it?”
“No, it’s not that at all. Why do you think that?”
Mary felt her logical reasoning break down upon hearing Luke’s very firm statement.
It was perplexing that even the usual bashful reactions from kids weren’t forthcoming.
“Eh… really? You didn’t cut it to look good for someone you like?”
“No, that’s not it. And I’m planning to grow it back like before.”
“I see… then there’s no one you like…?”
“That’s right; there’s nothing like what you’re thinking.”
Mary thought Luke’s adamant declaration made him seem almost like a golem.
Shirud looked at Luke with a sidelong glance and thought, “He says he doesn’t like anyone? That can’t be true! Then what was I to him?!”
When asked about his changed appearance at the beach, Luke had touched his hair, asking a bit dreamily, “Do I look strange to you now?” and smiled beautifully with gratitude when complimented!
And yet…!
After going so far as to compliment his bob cut, he now talks about regrowing it!
What then was the purpose of asking if it suited him back then?
And what about the kiss story they had joked about during the fishing bet?
Not to mention all the hints that pointed towards affection— saying “I don’t like anyone” only felt like a betrayal.
“I feel betrayed.”
“Betrayed? What do you mean? Who betrayed you?”
“You, seriously…!”
Shirud swallowed the words he wanted to say at Luke’s oblivious tone.
He wanted to say something about it but what could he do? He himself bumbled through everything.
Luke seemed to casually smile at anyone, hug anyone, and even joke about kissing everyone.
It’s astonishingly becoming something he accepted without surprise.
“…Never mind, it’s nothing.”
“…?”
Luke failed to understand the emotions behind Shirud’s words.
Why was this child so disappointed?
Could it be that the bob cut looked so good? Did the news that he intended to grow it back disappoint him so much?
“Huh, this is a first for me.”
Understanding kids’ thoughts is, after all, not easy.
How exactly should one comfort a child during such a moment?
He couldn’t very well just grow his hair back either.
