Volume 3 Chapter 5 Associate Professor
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The faculty meeting for the Magic Academy’s Simple-type Department commenced in the first-floor conference room.
The department consisted of three labs: my own Magic Laboratory, the Resonance Systems Laboratory on the third floor, and the Synchronization-type Laboratory on the second. The meeting was a gathering of assistant professors, associate professors, and professors, all here to figure out our collective schedule.
”Can we proceed with the lectures and practical training as we did last year?”
Professor Elga, the department head, posed the question. Under normal circumstances, this would have been settled with a brief, “Yes.” However, with two professors absent since the start of the third term, the situation was precarious. More specifically, the complication stemmed from my own lab. Since I, the lead of my lab, had failed to attend a single lecture, I remained entirely ignorant of our standing.
”Assistant Professor Eida, can you handle it? I’m afraid I’m a bit lost,” I muttered.
Eida sighed, her tone measured. “It is not that I cannot, Professor, but… must I do it alone?”
”I’m sorry, I’m begging you. I don’t think I’d be of any help, either.”
I reviewed the documents. I was on the hook for one lecture per week. Thank the heavens the practical training had finished in the second term. It was pathetic, but I pleaded with my assistant, and she reluctantly agreed—though she made sure to emphasize that I had best be prepared for the next term.
Meanwhile, Professor Lizabel, the newly appointed head of the third-floor lab, answered immediately with neutral, clipped precision, “There will be no issues, just like last year.”
Aside from that, something nagged at me. Professor Elga and Professor Lizabel refused to make eye contact. Lizabel even let her assistant handle all the responses. The air in the room was positively frigid.
”Moving on, regarding this term’s academic conference…”
Of course, it wasn’t just about allocating classes.
Every year, the Magic Academy organizes the Magic Symposium in the thirteenth month. This time, it was Medical Magic’s turn to manage the program, but the Simple-type Department couldn’t just sit idly by. The routine was set: a lecture from the professors of our labs, followed by presentations from students and research students. The question was, who would represent us?
”If possible, I would like Professor Larry to take the lecture.”
I immediately declined, citing that a young upstart like myself couldn’t possibly take precedence over Professor Lizabel.
”I haven’t had any new findings worth presenting since I gave my lecture two years ago,” she said, her voice dripping with cool, aristocratic detachment as she side-stepped the request.
”Yeah, well,” I stammered, “in my case, most of my work involves military secrets, so I’m not sure I can present anything at all.”
”You can just make something up,” Elga interjected, her tone firm and bureaucratic. “If we all used that excuse, my Golem lab wouldn’t have anything to present either.” I couldn’t argue with that. Since her lab sent most of their graduates to the former Golems Battalion, our positions were effectively the same.
”In your case, Larry,” Elga continued, “if you just fly a Fixed-wing Drone through the lecture hall, the audience will be satisfied enough.”
”Is it really that simple?” I asked.
In my past life, I was forced to handle biannual presentations for the hospital at the Medical Magic Society and act as a moderator. I thought this would be just as grueling, but it seemed surprisingly lenient. (Phew, what a relief.)
”Please,” the department head warned, her voice stern, “at least keep them entertained for thirty minutes.”
As if she’d read my mind, she warned me. But in a world without microphones or projectors, a thirty-minute lecture was a daunting task.
On top of that, each lab was assigned two poster sessions for the students. These would be peer-reviewed, and since my students were brilliant, I figured they’d manage fine on their own.
”You must be the one to give the lecture, Professor,” Eida reminded me, noticing my gaze.
Then, they demanded an update on this year’s graduates and the status of our research students.
”We need to allocate the incoming students for next term, so please have your reports in by the end of the month,” Elga dictated. “The exams for research student candidates will be in November. Applications are due in October, and since the Magic Laboratory is currently without a full professor, you, Professor Larry, will have to write the recommendations.”
(I have to do that?) Come to think of it, with the cycle of students coming and going, I suppose I was responsible for their futures. And letters of recommendation?
I looked at Assistant Professor Eida, but she just shook her head.
I thought I could just lock myself away and do research, but here I was: middle management, faculty, and a career counselor. I considered asking Professor Lizabel for advice, but for a dozen different reasons, I felt that was a bad idea. I’d ask Professor Karl instead.
I thought the meeting was over, but it was just getting started.
”Professor Larry, I have a special request.”
Professor Elga, her associates, and even the three from Professor Lizabel’s camp were all staring at me. I was already drowning in work, and now this? The best way to handle this was to pretend I wasn’t listening, but the air in the room made that impossible.
”If it’s within my capacity… I am still just a junior professor, after all,” I replied.
”Don’t look so tense,” Elga dismissed. “It’s an order from His Majesty, so you won’t be able to refuse.”
(So it’s not a request, then?) They should have just called it an order from the start.
”To put it bluntly, we need you to train pilots for the Fixed-wing Drones.”
”Oh, what a coincidence,” Lizabel cut in, her voice smooth and refined. “That’s exactly what I was hoping to ask for as well.”
Professor Elga’s expression darkened as if she’d bitten into a sour fruit. “Could you please be silent for a moment, Lizabel? This is an urgent matter of national defense.”
”In that case,” Lizabel countered with icy politeness, “this is also a matter of urgent national interest for us.”
”How so?” Elga snapped.
I’m fairly certain this was the first time the two professors had actually looked at each other—and the sparks were flying.
”Are you aware that gold production in the old Harritz territory is declining?” Lizabel asked, her tone clinical. “To maintain our country’s fiscal policy, we have been ordered to conduct underground resource surveys as soon as peace is restored in Straba Province.”
”Then you should just crawl around on the ground looking for it, like you always do,” Elga retorted. “Where is the need for a Fixed-wing Drone?”
”And this is why you’re an amateur.”
According to Lizabel, one could narrow down a potential gold vein based on terrain and vegetation. The drone was essential for quickly surveying a wide area from the sky.
The department head couldn’t fully deny that logic. The debate reached a stalemate, and that’s when Assistant Professor Eida raised her hand.
”It’s me, Assistant Professor Eida.”
”We in the Magic Laboratory saw the drone for the first time today,” Eida explained calmly. “After hearing your explanation, we anticipate that the uses for these drones will be vast.”
”And?” Elga prompted.
”We believe it will eventually become a pillar of our laboratory, and we have students and research students who are eager to get involved. We would like our laboratory to participate in the pilot training as well.”
If they learned to fly them, they could suggest improvements and provide feedback from a user’s perspective. Would they understand that, though?
”I see,” Elga conceded. “A carriage maker must also be a coachman, I suppose. Professor Larry, how many people can you train at once?”
The assistant’s proposal wasn’t rejected. Was the professor’s dismissal of Lizabel just a personal grudge? These people were impossible, but I decided to answer honestly.
”It depends on how many training drones we have, but I’d need at least three basic models and one official craft. Even then, ten people at most.”
”By ‘basic,’ do you mean something that won’t break if it takes a little abuse?” Elga asked.
”Exactly. The ones used on the battlefield are expensive because of the advanced functionality packed into them. The first hurdle is just getting the thing to fly. If my students start by repairing the basic models, they’ll understand the structure and find it easier to advance to the next stage.”
The real ones were expensive. The security deposit alone was 15 million Yen—enough to buy a waterwheel mill in Strock Village.
”Understood,” Elga said. “Then we’ll start with ten. I need to train personnel for immediate deployment, so I’ll send five. What about you, Professor Larry?”
She skipped over Professor Lizabel and went straight to me.
”Three.”
I meant Katarina, the lead research student who said she’d pay for the drone, Tura, the Elf mage research student, and Rosa, a student who looked like she was from the Dwarf tribe. I shot an apologetic look at Professor Lizabel.
”That’s fine,” Lizabel replied, unfazed. “I’ll have Assistant Professor Efa Schmidt and one student join.”
It was decided surprisingly smoothly.
”What is the training period?” Elga asked. “How long until they can handle the equipment?”
Professor Elga asked the obvious question, but I couldn’t answer clearly. It’s like riding a bicycle: some learn in a day, others never learn at all.
”Just to learn the controls, five days consecutively. Some won’t be able to do it, and it takes time to adjust. Then they have to learn the theory and the regulations. Beyond that, it’s up to them.”
”Then let’s make it two weeks, including the lectures and reserve days. If they fail, they’ll have to wait for the next opportunity.”
Two weeks of my time wasn’t the end of the world. It was less of a burden than I had expected.
”What about the time slot?” Lizabel suggested. “Since students will be involved, how about 4:00 PM, after classes end, starting at 4:10 PM after a break?”
No one objected to Professor Lizabel’s proposal. We agreed to start next week, as we needed to gather the equipment. Between the security deposit and the equipment needs, I had to head to the Arsenal Bureau immediately.
After the meeting, Assistant Professor Eida turned to me.
”What will you be doing now, Professor?”
I told her I wanted to check on the materials I received from Professor Lizabel today, but she scolded me, telling me I should go see Marie for once. The day was still young, and I had only visited the nursery twice since then. As Eida suggested, for the sake of my own peace of mind, I really should go.
I returned to my lab to change clothes, and Pamela called out to me.
”Master, are you going somewhere?”
I told her I was going to see Marie.
”Sometimes,” Pamela said, her voice small and innocent, “I would like to eat… outside.”
Kenze, despite being a slave, has the gall to make luxurious requests. Even so, being the soft-hearted guy I am, I begrudgingly tag along while the two of them change into their “going-out” clothes.
Pamela is in white Gothic Lolita. Kenze is in a black skirt that covers her ankles and a white linen blouse. I went to the trouble of buying it for her, but she complained she couldn’t move in it, so she went ahead and sliced a slit up the right side of the skirt, all the way to her hip. Well, it does make her tanned, toned legs look erotic, so it’s not all bad. I wonder if this Amazoness1 realizes how much attention she’s drawing.
”Aren’t you taking the Children (urns) with you?” I asked.
”I fed them a while ago, so they’ll be fine until tonight,” Kenze replied.
I feel like the time between feedings is getting longer compared to before. Apparently, they are supposed to emerge from the urns in November. I can’t help but feel a bit afraid of what might come out. By the way, because the children have grown, the containers were upgraded from jars to larger urns. It’s just that they’ve grown bigger, but it seems Amazonesses call the larger ones “urns.”
Taking the two of them, I stepped out onto the street between the Medical Ward and the affiliated hospital, and after walking east for a while, we reached the nursery.
”Ange, your heartless papa has finally come to visit!” Marie exclaimed, rocking our daughter in the visitation room.
By the way, my daughter’s formal name is Angelica Novakova. Ange for short. She isn’t registered under my family name.
”I heard about it, you know,” Marie continued, her tone sharp. “That you became an associate professor and committed adultery at the same time. Your papa is such a hopeless, barefoot-running ‘fool,’ it’s really troublesome.”
”Who did you hear that from?” I asked.
”Darina,” she replied. “She came with Professor Karl for his new semester greeting this morning.”
Darina is from the same hometown as Marie, is a student of Medical Magic, and is in a relationship with Professor Karl with marriage in mind.
”So it was Karl in the end. That guy has a loose tongue.”
”Professor Karl said he heard it from you.”
That’s right—the moment I told him, my luck ran out. Let’s change the subject.
”Marie, is your health okay now?”
”With a husband who acts like an idiot, my future is so uncertain I can’t even eat.”
”Glad to hear you’re doing well.”
”You complete fool!” she snapped.
In the middle of that exchange, I felt like Ange had smiled.
”She just smiled,” I noted.
”Don’t be silly, I heard they don’t start smiling until two months in.”
Again, it looked like Ange had broken into a smile.
”It’s true, it’s amazing. Ange is a genius. She’s beautiful like me, so she could even become a queen in the future.”
I suppose this is what they call being a doting parent, but as a father, I’m happy that her growth is fast. When I tried to take Ange from Marie, who was holding her, I was rejected.
”You two get along well,” Pamela remarked, sounding surprisingly happy.
”Since when?” Marie and I said in unison.
”By the way,” Pamela continued, “are you not going to talk about the house situation?”
That’s right. I told Marie that I’m currently sleeping at the Laboratory, but I’ve been told to move out. I also mentioned that I’m thinking of buying a house that’s being sold cheaply after the previous owner was punished for the recent rebellion.
”We need a bath, you know,” Marie said.
Kenze and Pamela strongly agreed. And it seems she plans to move in with us. Well, I don’t mind as long as Ange is with her.
”I want it to be big enough for Teressa and her child to stay too,” Marie added.
Marie knows that my sister has given birth to her first son. Eventually, Nico’s children will be born too. That’s right, it might be good to let the children live here eventually to receive the advanced education of the Royal Capital. For that, I should probably get a slightly larger house.
For now, regarding the Silver Coin aspect, I plan to go to the Arsenal Bureau first thing tomorrow morning to properly discuss the deposit for the Fixed-wing Drone, and then head to the Joint Government Building.
However, Marie also told me something unsettling. Apparently, there are rumors that the servants of houses that were punished for the rebellion are taking advantage of their masters’ absence to engage in bad behavior.
”When you buy a house, you absolutely must interview the bondservants first,” she advised.
She was right, of course, but I felt like it was such a hassle.
We left the nursery, had a meal at a restaurant on the ground floor of a hotel on the street with the pasta shop, and returned to the Academy.
The next morning, I chartered a carriage and headed to the Arsenal Bureau across the river. I’m also taking Pamela and Kenze with me since we’ll be going straight to the real estate agent afterward.
First, at the Arsenal Bureau, I was severely scolded by Captain Aslan, the Chief, for taking the Fixed-wing Drone and the improved Coilgun without permission. After the rebellion, while he didn’t have the leeway to scold me, I had run off to the Old Master’s village. It seems the Royal Army deployed in South Bohemia has been sending orders for various military supplies, and they are still having a hard time.
”I was so pissed off that I deducted the deposit from your bankbook, but it didn’t mean a thing,” he growled.
I couldn’t bring myself to ask how it didn’t mean a thing.
”So, I heard you became an associate professor, and with professor-level status to boot.”
”Yes,” I muttered.
”I don’t want to lend a hand to a heartless guy like you.”
He has a look on his face that says he sees right through me.
”Don’t say such painful things. Won’t you just listen to me for a bit?”
I tried acting humble, but he gave me a look that said he wasn’t going to listen.
”I have a condition,” he stated.
”What would that be, Master?”
”If you work for no pay this week, I’ll wipe the deposit and give you the parts for a basic Fixed-wing Drone. Just the parts, mind you.”
How does he know that? In this world, despite having no smartphones or internet, information always stays one step ahead of me.
”Um…”
”If you don’t like it, that’s fine too. Oh, that’s right. Associate Professor, I could actually give you some advice on where to send your graduates and research students.”
He brought out a card I couldn’t refuse.
”If you were to become hostile to the Arsenal Bureau, your graduates would have nowhere to find employment. Oh, those poor students.”
He said something close to that in a roundabout way. This guy used to treat me with much more gravitas, but now he’s a shadow of his former self.
”I’m living at the Academy right now, and I really have to buy a house today,” I said, trying to change the subject.
”Alright, I get it. Then I’ll introduce you to a good house.”
”Huh?”
”Don’t worry, my introduction isn’t good enough for you?”
”That’s not it, but I do have my own requirements.”
”What is it? Speak up.”
”First, a bath.”
”It’s not huge, but it has one.”
”And the number of rooms. In the future, I want to call my sons from the village and have them attend school in the Royal Capital.”
”Then there’s nothing to worry about. It has five guest rooms.”
”What is that size?”
”Anything else?”
”I need space for that carriage.”
”No problem.”
”You know an awful lot about people’s houses.”
”That’s because I lived there a long time ago.”
I see, that part makes sense, but whether I buy it or not—I have to see it for myself and be satisfied, because it’s a high-priced purchase.
I couldn’t say that out loud, so I tried to project that vibe instead.
”Then it’s settled. Seventy million Yen in a lump sum, okay?”
”No, wait a minute,” I pleaded. “Read the room, or at least the vibe.”
”Good, then I’ll wait for you until three o’clock today. Go to the Belladonna Trading Company on the second floor of the Joint Government Building and tell them you talked to me. They should take good care of you. Come back once you’ve finished moving. We have tons of work to do. I’ll write you a letter just in case, so wait a second.”
Finished moving, he says. Well, there’s absolutely no furniture, so all I’m really bringing is Kenze’s urn. That in itself is a sad story.
—
Summary:
Larry navigates a tense Magic Academy faculty meeting where he is pressured into accepting additional responsibilities, including writing student recommendations and managing a drone pilot training program. Despite the clear animosity between Professors Elga and Lizabel, they converge on the necessity of utilizing Larry’s drones for national defense and resource surveying. The meeting concludes with a finalized training schedule for students, leaving Larry to contemplate his next move, including a visit to the nursery.
The protagonist navigates the complexities of domestic life and professional obligations as he prepares to purchase a new home. After a tense yet affectionate visit with his daughter and Marie, he deals with the bureaucratic pressure of the Arsenal Bureau. The chapter ends with the protagonist being strong-armed into a real estate deal by his former superior, Captain Aslan.
—
Trivia:
The Magic Symposium is held in the thirteenth month of the year.
The security deposit for a single drone is 15 million Yen, equivalent to the cost of a waterwheel mill in Strock Village.
Drone pilot training is scheduled for two weeks, occurring daily at 4:10 PM.
Kenze and Pamela are adapting to the protagonist’s lifestyle, with Kenze even modifying her clothing for practical reasons.
The protagonist is currently sleeping in a Laboratory and has been pressured to find his own living arrangements.
The concept of “urns” for the “Children” is a specific trait of the Amazoness culture mentioned in the text.
The protagonist’s daughter, Ange, is not officially registered under his family name.
Captain Aslan’s familiarity with the house suggests a deeper, potentially shared history or personal connection to the protagonist’s world.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Elga – An imposing, stern, and direct Magic Academy professor who serves as Dean and department head of the Simple-type faculty. A former battalion deputy commander, she runs a laboratory with authority over research students, golems, and the protagonist’s staffing, while maintaining personal attendants. As a prominent academic managing administrative affairs, she frequently finds herself at odds with Lizabel.
• Ho – Ho, a comrade of the protagonist. A member of the military unit that defended Garao Village and was slaughtered alongside Marx-san.
• Eida – A 28-year-old Assistant Professor from Ulm Village with short dark brown hair, she is a mother of two who wears civilian clothes off-duty. At the Magic Academy, she serves under the Associate Professor, manages the lab and finances, supports Larry, and handles administrative and academic scheduling. She oversees research and uses a tough-love approach, frequently scolding the protagonist.
• Lizabel – A newly appointed Magic Academy professor in her late thirties, this dignified, flirtatious, and manipulative noblewoman boasts a striking, voluptuous physique and wears revealing silk dresses. Sharp-witted and confident, she lives next door to the protagonist, eager to investigate their inventions. Known for a scandalous private life, she has a fierce rivalry with Professor Elga Dean, connections to Larry and Katarina, and deep knowledge of the Academy’s inner workings. She recently left her Resonance Systems Laboratory in unrest following property sales of fallen nobles.
• Larry – A 14-year-old Japanese reincarnated protagonist and cynical Royal Magic Academy associate professor who balances tactical engineering with intense administrative duties. Equally aged to Rosa, this debt-ridden, abrasive dueling champion designs advanced coilguns and drones. Currently recovering from injuries post-ambush, he is arrested while leading students to safety and interacting with the coven.
• Karl – A handsome Third Medical Magic professor and cynical acquaintance of Larry, who considers consulting him for academic guidance. He was absent from the celebration but is well-informed about royal movements. He is in a relationship with Darina and shares information about the protagonist.
• His Majesty – The King of the realm. He possesses a face described as an expressionless Noh mask, though he shows a flicker of amusement during the legal proceedings. He presides over the high-level deliberations and gives the final word on legal transitions such as duels.
• Harritz – A territory associated with the protagonist’s classmates.
• Katarina – A 29-year-old human female, Chief Researcher at the Royal Magic Academy, and lead Research Student in the Magic Laboratory. Diligent and nearing her thirties, she serves as Earnest’s attendant, manages the protagonist’s personal needs, handles expedition rosters, and assists with technical operations. Escorted to safety during a skirmish, she faces expulsion after being used as Professor Pauman’s sexual outlet. She is fascinated by drone piloting.
• Rosa – A 14-year-old first-year academy student from the Marquis Sabaski territory who resembles a Dwarf. This cynical fisherman’s daughter is a headset-wearing “boku-girl” with a genius mind for drone piloting, motor tech, and combat coordination. While her talent attracts the Magic Armored Division, she is held by a “hag” and is a young subordinate struggling with the harsh realities of war.
• Tura – Nineteen but physically resembling a five-year-old, this dramatic, highly emotional Elf Mage from a mining family is a Royal Magic Academy research student. Passionate about Earnest’s flying devices, she serves as his field assistant and attendant alongside Katarina, operating fixed-wing drones. Escorted to safety with Katrina, she is deeply impacted by others’ sacrifices for her protection.
• Schmidt – The family name of Henrietta, the Synchronization-type mage and Golem researcher assigned to oversee Larry’s studies.
• Efa – An assistant professor in Lizabel’s lab.
• Marie – Larry’s blunt, sharp-tongued wife is a Magic Academy student and lab employee from the protagonist’s hometown. Currently on maternity leave at the postpartum rest facility she manages, she is Ange’s mother and keeps her hair in an inner pocket as a talisman. Despite marriage, she shares a close, affectionate bond with the protagonist, who previously loved her and gave her a separate task.
• Mar – A battle‑hardened veteran, clad in worn armor, uses door panels as shields and captures enemy crossbows; Larry’s comrade who teases him about his sister‑in‑law’s pampering, known as Martin to his companion Edmond.
• Pamela – An arrogant, long-lived Elven Mage of unknown age who wears white Gothic Lolita fashion. Formerly Henrietta’s slave, she is now Larry’s loyal, protective companion, assistant, and mentor on his military expedition. A sharp-tongued, stubborn academy student and Arsenal Bureau resident, she handles logistical equipment, confirms payments, and fiercely defends the protagonist, who must bring her home safely.
• Kenze – An exceptionally powerful, muscular Amazoness slave from Tashkurgan and former deputy general under Earnest, she is a short-haired companion to the protagonist and Larry. Blunt, stoic, and foul-mouthed, she uses a dagger and bow. She shares a bed with Pamela, protects Larry—whom she once tried to kill—on his expedition to raise her offspring, and deeply dislikes Southern Continent Amazonesses.
• Ange – The daughter of the protagonist and Marie, formally known as Angelica Novakova. She is an infant showing signs of early development.
• Angelica – The eldest daughter of the protagonist, currently a toddler.
• Novakova – Headed by Marie, the Novakova family carries a dignified surname tied to their Barsheni ancestry. Maintaining a modest yet respected status, they hold enough wealth to fund an attendant’s living expenses. Their deep regional roots and local identity command respect, shaping their supportive yet authoritative relationships with the village community.
• Darina – A city-polished 13-year-old Barsheni native, this Academy research student of Medical Magic is Marie’s devoted maid and the caretaker for her and the infant. A childhood acquaintance of the protagonist, she has strong Complex-type mana, is in a relationship with Professor Karl, and coordinates with faculty to deliver crucial orders while gathering spider silk for the Royal Capital relocation.
• Teressa – Blonde, short-haired, and blue-eyed, this elegant Gothic Lolita is a Getys House member, village head, and Larry’s pregnant wife/sister-in-law managing Strock Village. Formerly Iffens’ widow and Henrietta’s pupil, the motherly yet sharp woman is acquainted with the protagonist and Marie. Behind her cold, composed exterior lies a mischievous, vulnerable core with a sharp wit, manipulating shared Mana with Larry.
• Nico – Petite and silver-haired, Teressa is a mana-less fabric merchant’s daughter, Harritz’s granddaughter, and cousin to the Marquis’s captive. A practical yet anxious Bizan Magic School worker, she was abducted by the Marquis but saved by the protagonist, Larry. Now expecting his child, she relies on her confidante Marie and clings to Larry, her romantic partner and sole anchor through recent trauma.
• Aslan – Aslan Gar is a captain, Director, and Arsenal Bureau Chief with an authoritative, high-pressure bureaucratic presence. He manages military equipment, logistics, and personnel. Working directly alongside the Fourth Sage, he leverages his position to oversee the training, development, and strategic deployment of new recruits, blending martial command with strict administrative control.
• Al – Alberto (Al), a massive red‑haired man recently wed to Mary, lives near the Dish Basin. He’s a companion of Hans, helping intimidate and rally elders as a villager and leader.
• Belladonna – The bald, heavily built merchant representing the Belladonna Trading Company who handles high-value real estate transactions with a fast-talking commercial rhythm.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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