VCAM 16

Chapter 16

  The Envoy of Wind, Shaken Loyalty, and the Knights’ Conspiracy

The southern gate of the royal capital, Celefia.

The envoy who appeared there carried a “pressure” far heavier than expected.

“Seventh Seat of Wind Law, Elstra Mage Corps—Commander, Zelda=Rag Falion, reporting.”

The young man with flowing silver hair was one who seemed to house both elegance and madness.
His slender frame was matched with a strangely flawless face and unreadable eyes.
On his back rested a hexagonal magical apparatus—the supreme tool of wind and spatial interference—[Storm Dragonbone].

“Today, I have not come merely for diplomacy.
I bear both a royal letter from King Elstra, and the mission to judge the worth of that man.”

A stir spread among those present.

That man—the teacher from another world, Cross Kai.

The news reached the royal academy immediately.

“…Again? Me?”

Kai, slumped over his desk, was doodling on the illustrations in his textbook.

“Is a math teacher really something a whole country clings to this much?”

“It’s because you’re a math teacher.”

The one who entered the classroom with that remark was Rutia.

“It’s only natural foreign mage corps would take an interest in you.
Everyone knows you hold the key to overturning this kingdom’s entire magical system.”

“Still… math ain’t a weapon, y’know…”

“But that’s what I like about you.”

Caught off guard by her direct gaze, Kai quickly looked away.

“…You’ll make me blush.”

◆◇◆

That night.
Rutia, with an escort, was invited to a royal banquet.

The official pretext: an informal meeting with the Elstra Mage Corps.
The reality: a face-to-face arranged for the purpose of a noble maiden as bargaining chip.

“Lady Rutia of House Valenstein. I’ve long heard the rumors.”

Zelda=Falion extended a hand with a smile that carried the chill of a blade.

“You interest me greatly—your ties to ‘Kai Cross’ included.”

Rutia refused the hand, answering firmly:

“He is my teacher. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Fufu… I see. Then allow me to test it—
your loyalty, and his so-called resolve.”

Midnight.
The underground magical layers of the capital.

When Rutia awoke, she was in a dark room.

(…What? Where am I…?)

Magical restraints bound her arms.
The space was one of complete magic suppression.

“…Tch… this is no banquet—it’s kidnapping under the name of diplomacy!”

“Correct answer.”

Emerging from the darkness were Zelda’s subordinate wind mages.

“A ‘mere commoner’ drawing close to a noble lady.
Such precedent is troublesome for us.”

“Kai Cross will be secured as a nucleus of knowledge.
You, meanwhile, will serve as a hostage for negotiations.”

(You…!)

Rutia tried pouring all her power into her restraints, but no spell would activate.

Magical Seal Formation—Cage of Air Law.
It was a high-grade restraint that restricted “the very occurrence of magic” by magical coordinates themselves—
a technique even Kai had never witnessed.

The next morning, the news reached the academy.

“Rutia… was kidnapped?”

Philia cried out, pale-faced.

“By who… why would anyone…!”

Kai silently pushed back his chair.
Slowly, he drew out from his robe a small bundle of folded chalk sticks.

Everyone in the classroom felt the air change.

“Where are you going, teacher…?”

Philia asked in a trembling voice.

Kai turned, after drawing a circle on the blackboard.

“…A teacher doesn’t abandon their students.”

◆◇◆

That night—

Kai Cross set out to shatter the Cage of Air Law, a seal even the Ministry of Magic feared, armed only with chalk and functions.

If knowledge and determination could become a force to fight—

Then, as a teacher, as a man,
he finally resolved—
to fight.