The Elf Has Arrived!
At the start of the week, just before magic training class began at the academy, the Vice-Guildmaster called me in.
Since Dad also teaches wood magic as an instructor, he was the one who actually came to fetch me.
For today’s magic class, Mr. Muscle-Squirrel and Mr. Sand, the bear beastman, would be handling wood magic training, so I followed Dad to the meeting room where the Vice-Guildmaster was waiting.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Come on in~”
A familiar voice called out, and when I entered, the Guildmaster, the Vice-Guildmaster, and an unfamiliar man were there.
He wore something like a cape, but also had long pants and lace-up boots—looked like a traveler’s outfit.
Maybe I stared a little too long, since he was the first outsider I’d ever seen. Our eyes met.
Huh? I think… his ears are kind of long?
“Well now, is this the child who wanted to learn about the mysteries of magic? She’s even smaller than I imagined. Could it be she’s actually a dwarf who just looks like a child?”
“Teacher, Miss Vio is a genuine human child—five years old.
Vio, this is the man I told you about the other day—my former teacher, Professor Danbury Doua.”
… Wait, what?
Did he just say Danbury Doua?
That’s… dangerously close to a certain world-famous headmaster’s name! He doesn’t have a beard, though.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Vio, human, five years old.”
“Well, well, truly human, I see. I’m Doua. I hear you’ve got questions and theories about magic. I’ll be the one to teach you—personally.
Heh, heh, heh… how exciting! These days, students only care about things like how to cast better or how to make spells stronger. It’s dull—no real curiosity anymore.
To think someone would actually want to ask about life magic, which has long since become commonplace… what a delight!”
Oh wow. This guy’s got the same vibe as the Vice-Guildmaster.
Total magic nerd.
Dad looked blank, the Guildmaster seemed exasperated, and the Vice-Guildmaster just kept nodding enthusiastically.
Well, if I can learn more about weird magic stuff, that’s great! And if this old elf takes credit for the water-making spell I came up with, even better!
“Given Miss Vio’s creativity—the Karuta cards and the playing cards—I doubt she even needs to attend regular classes at the academy.”
“What!? I won’t get to study with everyone anymore!? But I’ve barely learned anything yet!
The cards and games were just tools to help everyone learn numbers and letters! I still have so much more to study!”
Startled by the Vice-Guildmaster’s words, I couldn’t help blurting out.
There’s still so much I want to learn—about this country, about adventurers, even all the theory classes!
“Oh? A child who wants to study more? Are the lessons here really that interesting?”
The elf teacher peered down at me with amusement.
Honestly, studying with kids my age is fun. I don’t remember liking school much in my previous life, but now—with magic and all these new things—I can’t get enough.
“Yes, well, martial arts training has become quite lively lately, so I thought you might not need magic class anymore. But Ariana reported that the fine work involved in creating your cards has visibly improved your mana control.
The other students have also been positively influenced by your presence, so you may continue attending lessons.
Just remember—the academy’s purpose is to teach the basics required to become an adventurer. Once you reach Copper Rank, you graduate. You’ll likely finish before the others. You’re nearly Bronze, aren’t you?”
Right—so the academy was originally founded because too many young adventurers died on their first hunts, going out unprepared.
Reading lessons are for understanding quest forms and avoiding shady contracts, math helps prevent being cheated when taking payments or buying at market stalls, and magic class teaches how to handle basic spells safely.
By graduation, you’re supposed to have full control over your mana.
And martial arts training is… well, obviously for staying alive.
Once you’re strong enough to safely take outside quests as a Copper Rank, you no longer need the academy.
So, once I understand all that, I just need to work hard till I get there!
“Yeah, I’m just five points away from Bronze. I’ll probably reach it today or the day after tomorrow.”
"Ha! Or you could just rustle up them five points right here today!" Dad said with a grin.
I checked with him—turns out, that’s totally doable.
Normally you get three points a day, but if it’s not Healing Grass, you only need to gather half the usual amount for the same reward. Still, harvesting fifty leaves one by one is pretty tough work.
“This child is five, you say? She’s already registered as an adventurer? But the baptism ceremony isn’t until age seven.”
“Ah, yes, Teacher, that part also requires explanation,” the Guildmaster said.
Then the three of them—Guildmaster, Vice-Guildmaster, and Dad—took turns explaining my background.
Occasionally, they’d ask me a question, and I’d fill in the details.
“I see… so her mother has passed away, her father’s whereabouts unknown. Likely her mother was a wielder of holy magic… and the child herself has affinity for all elements?”
Yeah, the fact that I’m not Dad’s biological daughter is pretty obvious from my looks.
My hair’s brown now, so we sort of match color-wise, but humans have weaker genes compared to other races.
When they mix with beastkin, sea folk, elves, or dwarves, the non-human traits usually dominate.
For dwarves, half-human boys tend to have lighter body hair, so you can’t always tell at a glance.
But me—no animal ears, no tail—I’m pure human, through and through.
“Well then, on weekdays, you’ll study here with the others as usual.
But on your two weekend days off, I’ll teach you personally.
Your way of thinking about magic intrigues me. Let us explore together the differences between life magic and conventional magic—a topic I’ve never reconsidered until now. What say you?”
The elf teacher said I didn’t need to quit the academy—and on top of that, he’d teach me magic himself!
Weekends were my usual time for herb gathering and training with Dad, but I could just move that to weekday afternoons.
“Professor Doua, I look forward to learning from you.”
“Haha, what a remarkably composed child. Miss Vio, I look forward to it as well.”
And so, my lessons under the amazing elven magic master began.
What do you think about this chapter?
