Subtlety (2)
Grace, standing on the lecture platform, glanced at me.
Today, instead of a sword, she held thick bundles of papers.
I subtly nodded, so she could feel at ease.
“Do you remember the 『Four Seasons』 from the last lecture?”
The hall was silent.
Surely, everyone remembered. Except for Ellis, of course.
Still, the reason no one spoke was because no one felt confident enough to explain it.
Naturally so.
It had taken me two full days just to prepare those research materials.
And I’d stayed up all night, skipping meals.
“I’ve judged that it might be a bit too much for you to learn 『Four Seasons』 all at once. So I will break it down in more detail, simplified to match your level. Moreover, I’ve split the single 『Four Seasons』 technique into four separate techniques.”
Grace was, as always, consistent.
Consistently expressionless in front of the students.
But I knew.
How nervous she was right now.
“Thus, the theme for this semester has been revised to 『Four Seasons』, focusing on 『Spring』.”
So the lecture began.
Before explaining 『Four Seasons – Spring』, Grace talked about ‘elemental fusion.’
Elemental fusion was one of the most basic theories used in both magic and swordsmanship.
“Both swordsmanship and magic derive from mana. Mana that has not been attributed to any property, the kind accumulated within the body, is what we call ‘pure mana.’ Elements begin from pure mana. Water, fire, wind, and finally earth. These four are unmodified and are thus referred to as the basic or pure elements.”
What Grace was explaining now was something every student here had already learned in their early academy days.
To put it simply, it was like teaching arithmetic at a university—Springwind, no less, the top of the top.
“Elemental fusion? Are we seriously sitting through a lecture on composite elements……?”
“C’mon, it’s probably just a refresher before the real content.”
“Yeah, but who here doesn’t know about composite elements?”
“Are they underestimating us……? I graduated top of my class from Reven Academy.”
Murmur, murmur—
The students’ reactions were easy to read.
Their expressions varied, but they all shared the same sentiment: doubt and dissatisfaction.
Honestly, I had wrestled with whether to include this part in the introduction.
Because I knew this kind of reaction would come.
But no matter how much I thought about it, it was a necessary step to properly convey what ‘we’ intended to teach.
We weren’t teaching them that 1 + 1 = 2.
We were teaching them why 1 + 1 equals 2.
Then someone raised a hand.
Just as both Grace and I noticed the hand held halfway up—
“Excuse me, but we’ve already learned this.”
The students nodded in agreement.
Grace silently stared at the student.
The student quickly continued.
“N-no, I mean…… that is……”
Instead, it was the student who grew flustered under Grace’s unbroken silence.
They were probably intimidated by Grace.
After all, she had shown them something incredible during the first lecture.
“……Sorry for the interruption.”
“It’s fine.”
It wasn’t that Grace crushed the student with her presence.
She wasn’t the type to get into power struggles with students.
The reason she said nothing, no—couldn’t say anything, was…
“Rohan.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Water, please……”
……she was just nervous.
Even I, watching from the side, had a pounding heart. Imagine how she felt.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
Grace chugged the 500ml water bottle I handed her in one go.
She really was nervous.
But I couldn’t just step in and take over……
“……Therefore, to successfully utilize composite elements, one must first fully understand the four basic elements.”
At first, I had considered doing the explanation myself.
But that might’ve had the opposite effect.
The students’ view of Grace had already shifted since the first lecture.
Their idol, who they had only seen through photos and videos, was slowly being reduced to a smug talent-flaunting brat.
Not just because that’s how the story originally went.
It’s simple human psychology.
People love to clip the wings of someone better than them, to bring them down a notch.
Not everyone, but most.
When Grace lost her left arm in chapter 138, her students laughed.
There was no sympathy in that chapter.
「“Serves her right, acting all high and mighty.”」
Only satisfaction.
「“Fall further. Break even more.”」
Jealousy from those who couldn’t accept someone being better than them.
And the unbridgeable gap between genius and ordinary people.
What I had to do here was make the students look up to Grace—not envy her, but respect and trust her.
To do that, I had to first help them see Grace as a proper ‘professor.’
“The introduction of 『Four Seasons – Spring』 begins with a composite of wind, water, and fire spells.”
Mana flowed from Grace’s hand, threading through the air like strands of yarn.
Eventually, the tautly drawn mana took the form of the “warm breeze” spell I had previously reproduced.
“As an apology for my misstep in the first lecture, today I’ll dissect this spell in detail.”
The once sharp, skeptical stares slowly began to glisten with curiosity.
Just like that first moment when they met Grace.
***
It was exhausting.
I was more nervous and tense watching than she was performing.
I was afraid she’d make a mistake, or that the materials I prepared had errors.
Not that I’d ever taught anyone before.
But the moment the lecture ended.
The moment I saw the brightened faces of the students.
All that anxiety vanished in an instant.
“It’s thanks to you, Rohan.”
Grace approached me as I caught my breath on the office sofa.
In her hand was the 『Four Seasons – Spring』 lecture material I had given her that morning.
“When did you even make this…… You didn’t have time.”
“I promised I’d handle the explanation. I simply kept that promise.”
Grace looked at me quietly.
Words she couldn’t say danced in her trembling eyes.
She must’ve been speaking to me inwardly in many ways.
Grace was someone full of unspoken thoughts……
“Thank you. And… I’m sorry.”
…….
“I should be the one helping you, yet you’re the one helping me. I don’t know what to say.”
……Perhaps you don’t know.
Just the fact that you’re still alive—
Is a source of immeasurable strength and help to me.
The value your existence holds in my life.
That I…
「“Live.”」
……desperately want to keep you alive.
That’s when it happened.
[ ‘Grace Euclid’s fate is changing. ]
Just like before, a strange symbol appeared above Grace’s head.
ㅤㅤ【Grace’s Fate】
○━━━○━━━━━●
At last, Grace’s fate had shifted.
And in a good direction.
〔 15P Acquired 〕
I had secured quite a lot of Plausibility, and Grace looked visibly more at ease.
But I couldn’t relax just yet.
I had merely passed one hill—the prologue, if this were a novel.
I still hadn’t even encountered the true “main character” of this story, of this world.
Nor had I met “Queos Lumière du Noir,” or the protagonist’s stepsister and root of all evil, “Ariel Lippenstein.”
Once they entered the picture, I couldn’t predict how that fate line would change.
Still, for now—
“Professor.”
“I’m listening.”
—I could enjoy this page a little, right?
“Feel free to speak casually, at least when we’re alone.”
“What do you mean?”
Grace asked back without showing any particular discomfort.
I mean, you know—when you’re feeling down, your tone softens. You’re more gentle.
“I simply wish for you to be at ease with me. Sometimes I miss those times. When we could talk comfortably, with no barriers between us…… I apologize. I spoke out of turn. Please forget I said anything⸺”
“No. It’s fine… it’s really fine.”
Despite her words, Grace hesitated.
She looked shy, as if she might smile at any moment. And I liked that about her.
I mean, we’ve known each other for over ten years now. Even if we’re superior and subordinate, there were times when speaking comfortably was fine, right?
“Is this better, Rohan?”
“……Yes. Please continue.”
I really do love this side of My Lady.
That forced distance doesn’t suit her.
And then—
“You look tired.”
It came suddenly, like sunlight falling across my eyes one day.
It was Grace’s touch.
“You’ve worked hard… for my sake.”
A pale, slender thumb brushed beneath my eye—something I never thought I’d ever experience.
My thoughts vanished completely. All that remained was the name “Grace,” filling me up.
Thump-thump.
Perhaps because the office was so quiet, my heartbeat echoed like a construction drill in my ears.
“……Would you like some coffee?”
“Coffee? Sure, sounds nice.”
“Then I’ll go buy some. Please wait here for a moment.”
I clutched my pounding chest and fled the office.
***
Carrying two Americanos from a café near the university, I walked down the street.
“What a fool I am……”
I couldn’t hold back.
Grace had stepped well beyond the 50cm gap I needed to maintain my composure.
If I’d stayed any longer, I might’ve suffocated in her scent.
“……Not bad, though.”
It wasn’t bad at all.
When was the last time I felt like I was with someone I truly liked?
It had been so long, and it felt so good.
Almost overwhelmingly so.
“……But this is only the beginning.”
I forced myself to face reality again.
Grace had someone she loved.
And it wasn’t me.
Michael Lippenstein.
Grace loved him.
Even now.
Someday, I would have to watch her walk away from me.
Because that was her destined path.
……Damn it.
“Assistant Professor.”
Someone called out to me.
Without thinking, I turned toward the voice.
“You’re the new assistant professor, right? From the Swordsmanship Department.”
“……”
「Her silver-white hair shimmered with every step, evoking the illusion of snowfall in May.」
An unforgettable description.
No—it was one I mustn’t forget.
“Was your name… Rohan?”
「In her voice, devoid of hope or despair, her eyes reflected a darkness so deep I dared not name it.」
“Nice to meet you. I’m a freshman at Springwind University⸺”
「From a crumbling family, in a collapsing empire, my only hope. The one I must protect at all costs.」
“I’m Ariel.”
「The name I gave her. ‘Ariel Lippenstein.’ She enrolled at Springwind this year.」