VCAM 04

Chapter 4

“The Mysterious Visitor and the Collapse Flag of the Lovers’ Contract”

That morning, a black carriage stopped at the academy’s main gate.

A jet-black four-wheeled carriage, bearing the royal family’s crest.

Teachers, students, even servants—all were wrapped in tension.

“A royal envoy… coming to the academy, of all places?”

When the royal family moved directly, it was the same as declaring war.
And the envoy’s destination was—

“I have come regarding Lady Rutia von Valenstein.”

In the headmaster’s office.

The envoy spoke coldly.

“Rumors say a noble lady has entered into a romantic relationship with an unverified commoner teacher. His Highness the Prince has also heard of this.”

Rutia’s expression froze.
At her side, Kai sighed and muttered:

“…So, the prince’s pride got hurt, huh. What a hassle.”

“Silence, you lowborn.”

The envoy glared at Kai with an icy gaze.

“Are you abusing your position as a teacher to trifle with the lady? Do you think such conduct could ever be tolerated?”

“Trifle? All I handed out was candy, y’know?”

“That frivolous tongue is itself an act of disrespect.”

Rutia stood abruptly.

“Enough! It was by my decision that we made this ‘contract.’ He bears no blame!”

At that, the envoy’s lips twisted.

“In other words, you yourself have chosen to sever ties with the royal house…?”

Rutia’s hand trembled.

◆◇◆

That afternoon, Rutia did not appear.

Kai stood alone at the lectern, beginning class before the students.

“Alright then—today we’re covering applications of trigonometry. Looks hard, don’t it? But don’t worry. I’ll explain ‘layered magic circles’ with numbers.”

A faint light returned to the students’ faces.

Among them were many branded as “unable to use magic.”
Even noble-born students, who had nearly resigned themselves because they “couldn’t manipulate mana.”

“Magic, see, it’s like a puzzle made of equations. You turn mana into letters, plug it into formulas, and operate it by the rules.”

“For example—if the amount of mana flowing in this circle is ‘X,’ its angle is ‘θ,’ and the overlapping magic circle is ‘f(θ),’ then it looks like this.”

On the magical blackboard, Kai drew unfamiliar “functions” and “vector formulas.”

“The balance between X and f(θ) is the key to activation. Go on, give it a try.”

The students tried.
And from the hand of a silver-haired girl—who had never once managed to cast anything—a small flame floated up.

“…Eh… I-I did it…!”

“W-wait! Weren’t you told you had zero mana—?”

“Sh-shut up! But… it’s real…!”

That was the trigger. One after another, students succeeded.

Small flames. Light. Wind.
Each one weak, but undeniably their “first magic.”

“…I did it…! I really used magic…!”

“Whoa… Professor Kai, you’re seriously a wizard…”

(…No. I ain’t no wizard. I’m a math teacher.)

Yet deep inside, his heart warmed, just a little.

◆◇◆

That evening, when Kai was resting in the courtyard, Rutia appeared.
Her face lacked its usual boldness. Her eyes were uneasy.

“…Everyone was praising your class. For noble students to hold respect for a commoner teacher… it’s unheard of.”

“Well then, I guess I’ve done somethin’ useful for the academy.”

“…What are you, really?”

“Eh?”

“You’re supposed to be nobody, yet little by little, you become ‘special’ to everyone. …It’s unfair.”

Kai quietly held out a candy to her.

“Something sweet helps keep you from thinkin’ too much.”

Rutia accepted it, her lips softening slightly.

“Hey… maybe, when I’m with you… I actually kind of—”

“Rutia!”

The voice cut her off.

A golden-haired youth—Prince Leon Adelheit.
Suppressing his anger, he stared at her.

“Tomorrow. Come to the royal castle. My father wishes to discuss you and this teacher.”

Rutia’s face stiffened.

“…To the royal palace?”

“Since you’ve severed your ties to the royal family, the choices you’ve made… you will be held accountable for them.”

The prince cast a sharp look at Kai as well.

“That you are not merely a teacher… is already obvious.”

That night, Kai lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, muttering:

“I only ever meant to be a math teacher… so how’d it end up like this…?”

At the same time, Rutia whispered alone in her bed:

“…Maybe it can’t just be make-believe anymore.”