第１０９３堀：交換留学生 (Part1)
Chapter 1093: Exchange Students
Side: Kagura
“...And so, that is what is entailed by the concept of an exchange student program.”
Thanks to Lara’s polite explanation, what was expected of us became crystal clear. I see—so the very existence of the Lancer Magic Academy has been called into question ever since intercontinental exchange began. That is why we from the New Continent were summoned here.
“In other words, by spending time at this academy, we are to produce some sort of result that convinces the various nations that this institution is essential to the continent?”
“That is correct, Kagura.”
“Huh? But wait, if they were to shut down this academy, wouldn’t that cause trouble for all the other countries too? That’s what I think, anyway.”
Mikos is right. As she pointed out, this is the premier facility on the continent for researching magical power and sorcery, as well as for training new talent. The idea of shutting down such a precious resource is, frankly, insane.
“Mikos is correct, of course, but it seems there are quite a few people who are dead set on seeing this academy dismantled.”
Principal Popuri sighed, looking utterly exhausted by the situation. It seems enemies exist everywhere. As Yuki has grumbled before, these kinds of conflicts seem to persist regardless of which continent you are on.
“Well, to those idiots, this place was already an eyesore, and now that they’ve seen what other continents have to offer, they probably view this as a place that produces no results and holds no power.”
“Yes. If you look at it through that lens, I suppose it’s natural they’d have a complaint or two, but that’s a very short-sighted view.”
I understand what Enora is saying, but idiots are truly impossible to deal with. The notion that Principal Popuri and her staff haven’t produced any results is preposterous. Besides, as Stasia said, if they shut down this academy, it is obvious that the development of magical technology on the If Continent will stagnate. The reason magic here is limited is due to the ongoing magical depletion phenomenon on this continent, not because the academy itself is inferior. After all, Popuri is a disciple of the legendary Comet and an exceptional individual who maintains ties with Weed. To those of us who know the truth behind the scenes, destroying a place led by such a person is madness.
“I understand the situation now... but Yuki, what exactly are we supposed to do?”
“Basically, just go through the academy’s standard curriculum. Start by giving us your thoughts on the classes.”
“Yes, I’d appreciate that to start with. If you find areas for improvement, feel free to offer your opinions. Since this is an exchange program, it’s important that we discover each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
Principal Popuri shares Yuki’s sentiment, asking me to point out the differences between this academy and the magic academy I attended. It feels a bit premature to judge based on this alone, but she is a truly respectable person with a genuine drive for improvement. ...Even if she is quite small.
“That may be fine for Kagura and Mikos, but Stasia and I will surely struggle to keep up with the classes here, won’t we? I am, after all, merely a priestess.”
“And I am a former general and princess who never truly learned to wield magic properly.”
That is true. While Mikos and I were students at a magic academy and could offer feedback as exchange students learning the craft, these two never studied magic in a formal setting. Though both possess a wealth of general knowledge due to their stations, their magical knowledge is... wait, they might actually have more than I thought.
After all, our family is filled with people who possess vast magical expertise. We have Lulu-a, Lady Lilishe, and Lady Hifie for healing magic. As for offensive magic, we have not only the anomaly that is Yuki, but also the Fairy race like Narjia, the demon Zargis, the magic sword user Agil, and the former Dungeon Master Comet—a collection of talent that could be considered the best researchers across all continents. They have been receiving lectures from these very people.
As I was thinking this, Yuki offered some reassurance.
“Don’t worry about it. Just think of it as relearning from the basics. It’s a good way to learn the differences between what we’ve taught you and what they teach here. Besides, since Zargis and I have been dumping specialized knowledge on you, there might be gaps in your foundation, so it would be good to have Popuri and her staff teach you the basics properly.”
“I see. That is one way to look at it.”
“Hmm. Relearning from scratch at my age... though I must admit, I am surprisingly slow to pick things up...”
“You don’t need to worry about that. A good teacher is one who can explain things clearly, regardless of the student’s level.”
“Indeed. That is the very essence of a place of learning.”
True, a school is a place for teaching others. My ancestors always said that the hallmark of a school—and its most important function—is that it provides knowledge equally to everyone, regardless of their starting point.
“But even if we study here, that won’t be enough to make the idiots on the If Continent quiet down, will it? Principal Popuri, what is your take on that?”
“Indeed. If we study here and provide a positive evaluation, the Lancer Magic Academy will certainly be deemed internationally necessary. However, I do not believe those types will be silenced by such a small thing... We know this because we have been fighting those fanatics.”
“True. I share the same opinion as Enora and Stasia.”
“Ahaha... those people are something else. Even Mikos was surprised...”
Exactly. People who resort to such underhanded, persistent tactics do not give up easily. Well, I doubt they are as tenacious as the Aquenoki, but we cannot afford to let our guard down.
“I don’t expect this to settle everything perfectly either. But it is enough to buy us time. After all, when the wives of Yuki—who hails from Weed, recognized as the leading authority on magical research—declare that this academy is necessary, that carries significant weight.”
“Our projection is that by enlisting the cooperation of Lady Kagura and the others, not only the If Continent but also the Rogali Continent and the major powers of the New Continent will support the continued existence of the Lancer Magic Academy. If they try to push for exclusion despite that...”
“They would be making enemies of everyone. They might even lose their current standing.”
“In that case, they wouldn’t be able to move, would they? I see. And in the meantime, we investigate the enemy and... *pop* them.”
“That is certainly effective. Even if we can’t uncover their true identities, if we use the time we’ve bought to produce results and build a track record...”
“The Lancer Magic Academy will likely not be excluded. ...Though, if the opponent is truly fanatical, they might still go rogue.”
“That would only make things easier. If it comes to that, I doubt any nation would listen to a group harboring criminals. More importantly, I won’t let my wives get involved, and I certainly won’t let them come to any harm.”
Ah, that makes perfect sense. So that is the real reason we were called here.