VCAM 21

Chapter 21

“A Sudden Visit, the Duke’s Dinner, and the Guest in the Shadows”

That morning.
As usual, Kai was writing on the blackboard in the lecture hall.

“Alright y’all, today’s lesson is ‘Logarithms and Magical Power Decay.’ You see, an exponential function is just like love—it rises fast but cools off just as quick.”

“Professor, was it really necessary to compare it to love?”

“Love connects to every phenomenon.”

Laughter and chatter spread through the classroom.

At that moment—

BOOM!
A heavy sound rang out as the lecture hall doors swung open wide.

“Lutia von Valenstein!”

A deep, booming voice echoed.
A middle-aged man draped in a crimson cloak stood imposingly in the doorway.

It was the Duke himself—Lutia’s father, Siegfried von Valenstein.

“Father!? Wh-why are you—”

“No words! How dare you treat my daughter so poorly…!”

His sharp gaze fell upon the man at the blackboard—the “ordinary math teacher.”

“Uh, pops? I dunno what you mean by ‘poorly,’ but I always give her candy, y’know?”

“Candy!? You try to placate my daughter with sweets?”

“I ain’t placatin’! It’s called culture!”

The classroom erupted in laughter.

Lutia slammed her hands on the desk and stood up.
“Father! Who exactly is being treated poorly here? I’m cared for more than anyone, every single day!”

“Wh-what…?”

“Just watch him during class!”

Grudgingly, the duke stood at the corner of the lecture hall, arms crossed, glaring.
But as the lesson went on, his stern face began to soften.

“Professor, what is a logarithm?”

“Excellent question. A logarithm’s all about revealin’ the original form. Like, when a prince takes off his mask and you see his morning face—that’s the prime number right there.”

“The prince’s morning face!?”

“Hey! Who’s laughin’ over there!?”

One after another, the students fired off questions.
Kai answered each one with humor and a clear, Kansai-accented warmth.

“So basically, magical power decay is like bathwater that’s gone lukewarm. Leave it alone, it cools down—but stir it up or add fuel, and it lasts longer.”

“I see! That makes so much sense!”

The wrinkles between the duke’s brows eased.

By the time the class ended—

“…Magnificent. Look at their eyes—all alive with curiosity.”

“Right? I just like teachin’, that’s all.”

“Indeed… Sir Kai Cross—no, Kai. You are the man who should stand beside my daughter!”

“Ehh!? That’s fast!”

“We must check the cathedral’s schedule in the capital for a proper ceremony…”

“Father!? You’re already at that stage!?”

Lutia’s face turned bright red, but she nodded proudly.
(Girl, you ain’t even denying it!?)

That night.
Kai was invited along with Lutia to the prestigious capital restaurant, Sōkyūkan (Azure Pavilion).

Glittering lanterns, the savory aroma of roasted meat, floors polished like mirrors.
As they stepped inside, the duke and duchess awaited with two young men.

“Welcome. I’m Lutia’s mother, Eleonora. Thank you for looking after my daughter.”
“This is our eldest son, Wilhelm, and our second son, Julius.”

The mother was graceful, the brothers dignified.

“Howdy, name’s Kai Cross. Just a math teacher who hands out candy.”

“Hands out… candy? Sister, are you sure about this man?”

“Yes—he’s perfect!”

“I… see…”

Once seated, the atmosphere quickly turned warm and cheerful.

“Sir Cross, I hear your lectures are quite unconventional. I’d like to hear one myself.”

“Even y’all too? A’ight then—think of magical flow like a river. A wide river’s calm, a narrow one’s rapid. Throw a stone in, and you get whirlpools.”

“Fascinating… so easy to grasp!”

“Mother, couldn’t we apply that logic to our sword training?”

“Indeed, brother! That’s brilliant!”

“Exactly. Which means even magical battles can be analyzed like equations.”

“Sir Cross—no, Brother-in-law!”

“Hold up, that’s too soon for name upgrades!”

The laughter continued as drinks were poured.
Even Lady Eleonora smiled softly.
“With this man, I can entrust our daughter.”

Then it happened.

A loud crash came from behind a sliding door deep inside the restaurant.
A waiter, pale as a sheet, came running.

“M-my deepest apologies, my lords and ladies! The private room in the back—it’s been taken over by the ‘Great Outlaw Gang,’ wanted throughout the capital!”

The hall erupted in alarm.
The duke’s brows shot up.

“What!? In the heart of the capital, those scoundrels dare—!”

“Yes, we’ve already contacted the City Guard through the back entrance, but—”

Lutia was already on her feet, hand gripping her sword.
Kai let out a long sigh.

“Dang it… right when the food was gettin’ good.”

The next instant, the sliding door was kicked open.

Bloodshot-eyed thugs, a sorceress radiating dark mana, and a grinning shadowed leader appeared.

The battle lines were drawn—
A group of veteran criminals, facing off against the duke’s noble family…
and one candy-loving math teacher from the royal academy.