Twelve, thirteen—no matter how old you get, learning’s still important, huh.

Master Javir moved in with us.

He started helping out with the production guild, and finally got out of those all-nighters.

These days, I even have time for breakfast, but today’s especially slow.

Reason being—today’s the once-a-week teacher’s day.

At Kyle Academy, he teaches what he learned as a former adventurer—monster knowledge, basic combat techniques, fundamentals of magic, how other towns are doing.

Basically, he’s teaching the basics of staying alive in a dangerous frontier.

Important work. The guild’s busy, but he keeps teaching.

Now that I’m living with Master Javir, breakfast’s actually lively.

Lyuco’s cooking is delicious. I’m just lazily poking at my bacon when the teacher cuts in.

“Right, Craft. I’ve been asked to teach now and then.”

“Wait—teach? You?”

“Aye. I’ll be taking charge of the basics of magic you’re teaching now. Kyle’s been worried you’re overworking yourself.”

“Kyle…”

He’s a proper one, that lad.

“Still, won’t that make you busy?”

“I’ve only got Kyle’s medical duties to handle right now. No need to worry.”

“If you’re not overburdened, then fine. My students’ll learn better from you.”

“You’ve got a bit of a freehand approach to magic, to be honest.”

“Aw, I’m embarrassed.”

Back in my adventuring days, I didn’t have any coin, so I’d bow to senior adventurers—especially the mages—and beg them to teach me the basics.

Teaching the fundamentals at the academy wasn’t much of an issue, but if Professor Javir’s the one doing the teaching, that’s perfect.

“I’ll handle the theory. You’ll take charge of practical combat—offensive and defensive magic.”

“Leave it to me, sir!”

“Hmm. Then let’s head to the academy.”

“Understood! Take care of things at home, Ryuuko.”

“Yes.”

A crisp, flawless bow—Ryuuko’s farewell.

The teacher and I walked side by side toward the academy.

Golden Dawn’s pretty safe, but not zero crime. I steeled myself. I’d guard the teacher.

No one’s touching him!

“Craft, this walk’s hard….”

And I got scolded for no reason.

◆

The moment we stepped into the massive academy, a crowd of students were walking cheerfully toward the school buildings.

In Goldendown, attending the academy was mandatory for children.

Kyle had clearly struggled hard to overturn the common belief that children were just labor power.

If kids could be taken away just for working even part of the morning, parents weren’t exactly thrilled. But now, thanks to generous support—free meals at lunchtime, subsidies for parents who sent their children to school—it was just normal.

Of course, that only worked because Goldendown was booming.

As we approached the main hall, the three of them stood there—Bep, Bardack, and Morda.

They’d split from Raidock’s group and formed a new party.

“Huh. You’re on guard duty today?”

“Craft. Long time no see.”

Bardack, the mage, answered.

We haven’t seen each other much since they formed a party—production guild’s been swamped lately.

"Yeah, good to see you’re doing well. But you’re on guard duty? You three, of all people?"

"Got a class this afternoon. Perfect timing."

"Ah. Makes sense."

In the academy, kids do their mandatory lessons in the morning. Then they eat lunch and go home.

Afternoon’s for open classes—reading, writing, arithmetic for regular folk who can’t do those things, and more advanced stuff for those who want it.

Of course, half-breeds and beasts can join too.

Bardack, always the type to hear about something like Professor Javir’s advanced magic course at the adventurer’s guild.

"Still, if you’re on guard duty, I’ll sleep easy."

"Yeah. Leave it to us."

I waved at the three of them and headed for the staff room.

Morning school is mandatory for ten years, from age six to sixteen.

At sixteen, you're considered an adult, so after that it's optional higher education.

Morning school lasts ten years, so there should be ten grades, but since the academy has just started, there are only three for now.

Classes for six to eight years old.

Nine to eleven years old.

Twelve to fifteen years old.

That's the one I'm teaching.

I walked into the classroom, and the students were already chattering away.

"Alright, everyone, take your seats. Starting today, Professor Jabil will be teaching the lectures. He's an amazing teacher, so listen up."

"Yessir!"

The students slowly settled into their seats. One person, though, didn't move at all.

Persia. A knight of undeniable skill, but more of a disappointment than anything else.

She stands rigid at the back of the classroom.

Not here for Professor Jabil’s lecture. Not exactly. There’s a reason, of course.

It’s this.

……huh

Midway to the back, one student turns her face toward me.

A girl with shimmering golden hair and a perfectly shaped face. That’s Maina—the twin sister of Kyle.

Persia is Maina’s guard.

Irrelevant, really. Kyle’s officially become a noble lord, so his name’s now Kyle Goldendown von Eriksil, the Marquis of the Frontier.

But Maina stays Maina Bairoroad.

If she doesn’t find a good wife soon, the Eriksil line’ll stay stuck with one person forever.

The academy claims to offer equal education regardless of rank.

So Maina attends. But naturally, they can’t leave a noble’s daughter unguarded among commoners. Hence this arrangement.

I ruffled Maina’s head as we passed, and she huffed, showing she wasn’t pleased.

Then a loud voice cut in from nearby.

“Hey! Craft brother! That teacher’s just a kid, isn’t she!?”

“What!?”

Who the hell said that!?

I looked over and saw the orphan troublemaker. Ed Kendall, the wolf beastman.

Not a proper bad kid. Just a wild one.

He’s one of the kids from the orphanage run by Azur, the beastman priest of the Lumiscent Church.

Azur’s a beastman who became a priest. That’s impressive. He’s also an old friend of mine, so I brought him here to manage the church and the orphanage.

Before I could even scold Ed, the rabbit beastman sitting beside me snapped.

“Hey! That’s disrespectful to a teacher!”

“Huh? But she’s tiny!”

“Say that again!”

SaiKa, another orphan like Ed, started tugging at Ed’s cheeks, laughing.

Then the lesser panda beastman boy stepped in, hesitating.

“Hey, you two… stop it. It’s class time now…”

““Kyle, shut up!””

“Ah…!”

The boy called Kyle blinked, eyes watering, turning sideways for help.

The cat beastwoman girl beside him glanced over, unfazed.

“Hmm. Just leave ‘em be, I think.”

“Eh… stop it, Wamika-chan…”

“Nah, probably not.”

Kyle was left floundering, tossed aside like a discarded toy.

Ed, SaiKa, Kyle, and Wamika had no blood ties, but they were all given the name Kyle as siblings—adopted by Kyle himself.

Now the orphanage had grown, but these four had been here from the start, the ones who kept everything together.

Ed’s just like me when I was a kid—can’t help but worry about him.

Ed and Sika’s thing brings back memories of me and Azur.

I was about to call it quits before it got out of hand, but before I could, Maina stood up and stepped between the two fighting.

I watched, wondering what she’d do, when Persia beside me gave a tiny, sharp snort.

No, no, no!

What’s with you, Persia? Way too childish!

Maina, clueless about our little drama, let out a soft “hmm” and patted both Ed and Sika on the shoulders.

They froze, mid-motion.

“Sorry, Maina.”

“Sorry, Maina-san.”

They didn’t even need her to say much—just that, and they calmed down, quietly going back to their seats.

Then Maina turned to us, gave a little huff through her nose.

(That was excellent! My lady, Maina!)

I thought I heard a mental scream from beside me.

Calm down, Persia.

I gave a slight nod back, and Maina, satisfied, returned to her seat.

"Hmm. Then let us begin the lesson."

Jabir, who’d been watching the scene unfold, nodded with approval and started the class.

Maina’s growing up.

Funny how I feel proud of both Kyle, who built this academy, and Maina, who’s working hard.

I listened to the teacher’s lecture as usual…

But my mood kept sinking.

(Hey, Craft. What’s wrong? You look pale. You not feeling well?)

(…No, it’s just that the teacher’s explanation is painfully clear. I’m losing all my confidence.)

(…Is that so.)

Someone, please punch me in the face for the way I used to teach those students!

(Shall I cut you?)

(No cutting!)

Damn it!

I’ve gotta pull my own weight, too!

It's been forever since I last updated, and here I am at rank nine overall—

I was thinking, “Maybe I can take a break for two or three days,”

but now I can’t afford to slack off anymore (sweat)

Gotta push myself!

The second volume of the manga compilation is set to release on June 12th, so please look forward to it! m(__)m