A certain space within the main building of Academia, where students were not permitted to enter.
In a room bearing a nameplate that read Faculty Lounge, five people sat facing one another around a round table.
Each was different from the others.
Their genders, ages, and even races varied so much that anyone would think they had nothing in common—except for their eyes.
The eyes of those who considered themselves professors of Academia, entrusted with teaching students, were alike.
Slightly authoritative, yet the eyes of educators determined to teach all students with as little prejudice as possible.
“Now then, since all the professors in charge of the first years have gathered, we will begin the meeting.”
Among the five seated around the round table, Professor Ran opened her mouth and continued.
“How many first-year students have enrolled this year? Professor Jian.”
The small-framed man whom Professor Ran had called Jian cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ahem. At present, there are 55 in the Department of Theology, 50 in the Department of Law, 35 in the Department of Combat, 34 in the Department of Relics, and 20 in the Department of Mysticism, for a total of 194.”
“A fairly ordinary number this year as well, just like last year.”
At Professor Jian’s explanation, the middle-aged man seated beside him casually let out his impression.
Unlike the comfortable attire worn by the other professors seated there, he was dressed in a red formal uniform of the sort worn by military officers, and dazzling medals hung from his chest.
He gave off the strong impression of a retired general rather than a professor.
“Professor Jian, among those you just mentioned, there are no withdrawals or additional acceptances, are there?”
“Yes. As with last year, it seems no such special circumstances have occurred. The entrance ceremony is already tomorrow, so I believe you may rest assured.”
“Whew. Do you know how much trouble our Department of Combat had when that fellow appeared last year? We had finally finished writing individual curricula for each student, only for an additional admit to suddenly arrive. I thought I would lose my hair trying to adjust the schedule.”
“Haha, Professor Jyugin, you’ve truly become a professor now.”
“...These days, the sound of approval documents arriving without warning feels more frightening than the sound of enemy gunfire.”
At the joke from the man in formal uniform, Professor Jyugin, the professors seated nearby laughed lightly, easing the atmosphere.
Professor Jyugin, too, smiled faintly, knowing that his joke had landed.
“Now, casual talk is all well and good, but there is another reason we first-year professors have gathered here, giving up our break time, is there not? Professor Jian, please show us the documents containing the personal information of the notable students.”
At Professor Ran’s request, Professor Jian nodded and placed several documents he had brought on the table.
“I have separately compiled information on the students entering tomorrow who have unusual backgrounds or special circumstances. Unlike other years, this year the notable students are evenly distributed across each department. It is a good thing that the burden on any one department will be reduced, but it also means friction may arise in various places.”
“Hmm.”
“Ugh.”
As the professors in charge of each department picked up the documents Professor Jian had placed down and examined them, groans naturally escaped their mouths.
“An adopted daughter of the Jevitz family? Since when did that man take in an adopted daughter?”
“...This year, a child of the Fracht family with fairy blood has come as well. Just imagining how rigid the scion of an authoritarian family deep in the west must be is enough to give me a headache, Professor Ran.”
“Oh, a beastkin student from the East has come as well? I’ll have to give the assistants a separate word about this.”
“They say there are no conditions to following the teachings of God, but even so, it is somewhat surprising that the Emperor permitted the admission of a colonial subject who is not even in the Department of Mysticism.”
“Haa. It seems there will be no quiet days this year either. In the case of last year’s first years, one student was the problem, but this year, problems will break out evenly in many places.”
The man who had brought the documents, Professor Jian, cleared his throat once to draw the attention of the professors, then gathered everyone’s gaze.
“Ahem! Professors, it is well and good to look over the unusual students entering your respective departments, but please take a look at this.”
Flutter!
Feeling everyone’s eyes gather on him, Professor Jian took out a single document from within his coat.
“What is that?”
“It is the personal information of one student entering the Department of Mysticism this year. Given the nature of the Department of Mysticism, Professor Ran would know this better than anyone, but...”
“Ah, I know what you’re trying to say. Due to the nature of our department, all sorts of people do enroll.”
“That is correct.”
Professor Ran had said, rather gently, that all sorts of people enrolled, but every professor present knew the truth.
The Department of Mysticism was established to cultivate those who would one day become mages.
Therefore, unlike other departments that performed a certain degree of screening through exams or interviews, anyone who had the ability to resonate with aether was forcibly admitted.
The point to note here was anyone.
Anyone.
As long as there was the possibility of becoming a mage, truly anyone.
A bandit, the heir to a great merchant company, the scion of a high-ranking noble family, a beggar who had spent day after day wandering the streets, a colonial subject, and even a murderer who had killed someone.
Anyone, so long as their crime was not too grave, was admitted into the Department of Mysticism without question.
That was why the professors present, upon seeing the document Professor Jian held out, unconsciously accepted it.
Ah, that could happen, they thought.
“...A witch’s child?”
“That is correct. Among the students entering the Department of Mysticism this time, there is said to be a child who was raised by a witch during childhood.”
“Ha... So in the end, our Academia is even taking in such a person?”
Yet among the professors, the one in charge of the Department of Theology, famous for her gentle nature—
Professor Jan spoke with an uncharacteristic frown.
“Are witches not the traitors who created that dreadful Black Forest in the northern reaches of the Empire? No matter what, is it truly acceptable to admit the child of such a criminal into Academia?”
“Hmm. You’re speaking more harshly than usual, Professor Jan. That child is not a witch, so is there any reason to reject them to such an extent?”
“Professor Jyugin, as you were once a soldier, you must know well—the horror of the Black Forest that raises those undying immortals. That Black Forest, which forcibly drags back souls that should be at rest in the embrace of God and creates dreadful monsters from them. Who was it that made such a place?”
“Urgh.”
At Professor Jan’s explanation, Professor Jyugin groaned and lowered his head as if taking a step back.
Indeed, as someone who had once held a position commanding many soldiers, Professor Jyugin could not bring himself to refute Professor Jan’s words.
Why was the Empire unable to expand its domain to the west or the north?
To the west lay the Great Forest of the fairies, who were so powerful that humans could not even compare, and to the north lay the Black Forest, the forest of the undying immortals.
Coincidentally, both were forests, but the infamy of the Black Forest was incomparable to that of the fairies’ Great Forest.
In the Great Forest, expanding territory was merely difficult because of the mystical creatures that dwelled there and the vastness of its nature, but the immortals of the Black Forest clearly killed humans who entered the forest with hostile intent and organized purpose.
It was even a troublesome place that, at certain intervals, spewed out the immortals piled up within the Black Forest toward the surrounding cities and villages as if vomiting them forth.
How violently Professor Jyugin himself had shuddered during his days as a newly commissioned officer.
At that stench, and at the wicked malice of the witches who could ruin humans to such an extent.
“A child raised by a witch who created something profane that should not exist in this world? I fear what influence such a child may have on the character of our Academia’s students.”
“Professor Jan...”
“Whew... I apologize. I became far too agitated. Since admission to Academia has already been permitted, I, as a mere professor, am not in a position to decide that person’s eligibility. However, I will have to lodge a protest with Headmaster Den.”
Clatter.
As Professor Jan pushed her chair back and tried to leave, the professors around her could not bring themselves to stop her.
That was because they knew her usual conduct.
Because her fellow professors knew how much she cared for the students, and how uprightly she lived, to a degree that did not shame her faith.
But one person alone—
Professor Ran of the Department of Mysticism, who would be in charge of the witch’s child, stopped Professor Jan as she tried to leave.
“Professor Jan, sit down.”
“Professor Ran?”
“The meeting is not over yet. Sit down.”
She spoke to Professor Jan in a firm tone that allowed no rebuttal.
“We are also well aware of your concerns, Professor Jan. And there is no ignorant person here who does not know the doctrines of the faith. So I fully understand why you are acting this way.”
“Then—”
“But that child has enrolled in the Department of Mysticism, which I am in charge of. Therefore, the primary responsibility for that child lies with me.”
Halt.
Professor Jan’s steps, about to move away, stopped at Professor Ran’s clear words.
“And the semester has not even begun yet. If a professor were to protest to the headmaster already, it could set an unfavorable precedent. So let us give that child a chance.”
“What sort of chance do you mean?”
“A chance to see whether that child has truly been tainted by the witch, or whether, despite being raised by a witch, they possess the ordinary character of a human being. We can discuss the matter of that child’s expulsion afterward.”
“But if there are already children who have been tainted in the meantime, then I—!”
Professor Ran raised a hand to cut off Professor Jan’s words and spoke calmly.
“If that happens, then I will take responsibility and have that child expelled. I stake my entire career as a professor on it.”