The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 248

The man sat quietly on a tree stump, looking up at the blue sky.

He was wearing a neat shirt, a silk vest, linen trousers, a blue overcoat, and a magician’s robe.

It was an overbearing outfit, but he had no choice but to appear neat. Still, with no one watching, he could relax a bit more.

He took out some tobacco to smoke. It was a bad habit he had picked up while spending time with senior professors, but there was nothing better for organizing his thoughts.

Looking up at the sky, he listened to the birds chirping. He thought of the past, the present, the future, and the Cliff Point. He had many thoughts, but one thing was certain: he knew what he had to do.

The man was still alive.

And there were inevitably questions that followed his survival.

Questions about how he should go on living.

***

It was the first time in two years that Trayciana Bloomriver had come to Silvenia Academy.

“I guess I ended up back here after graduating…”

After paying the driver, she grabbed her belongings and hopped off the carriage. She looked across the water toward Acken Island.

During the catastrophe that occurred a couple of years ago, Mexes Bridge had collapsed. Since then, the newly constructed Bloomriver Bridge had taken its place.

It was much larger and neater than the old Mexes Bridge. As it had been built with the support of House Bloomriver, it was named the Bloomriver Bridge.

After Trayciana got off the carriage, an elderly woman followed behind her.The head of House Bloomriver, Sinir Bloomriver.

Along with several servants, she stepped down from the carriage. Looking toward the bridge that led to Silvenia, she spoke.

“The construction was well done. I know it’s been a while since the bridge was completed, but I’ve been so busy that I’ve only just been able to see it in person.”

“Mom… I-I mean, Sinir. You were busy managing the household back home. It’s only natural that you were delayed in seeing the bridge yourself.”

“Still, since it was something that cost our House a great deal of money, it’s something I should come and see. Well… I’ll be seeing it often from now on.”

Sinir put on a leather cloak as she smoothed down her outfit.She was a new Alchemy professor at Silvenia Academy.

Silvenia Academy had lost more than half of its staff during the calamity. In order to recruit as many new faculty members as possible, all sorts of individuals had been called upon.Those interested in teaching quickly agreed to help, though most declined.

Even though it was Silvenia, the academy had suffered greatly from the disaster. Its future felt unstable, as no one knew how the school would develop going forward.

But over time, the school’s reputation began to recover as new positions were rapidly filled by heads of research societies and Magic Towers, retired knights and famous mercenaries, and well-known figures in the field of Alchemy.

Sinir Bloomriver already had much on her plate as the head of House Bloomriver, but she trusted her daughter to manage the House’s future. That was why she had decided to try becoming a professor.

Those who had survived when the Holy Blue Dragon ran wild seemed to have managed to preserve the school somehow.

Two years and several months after the calamity, much of the damage the academy had suffered had been restored.

Sinir was one of the professors who had been asked at the last minute to join. In a sense, she was among the first professors after the school’s renovation.

More than seventy percent of the buildings had been destroyed. However, thanks to the support of the Imperial Household and the Telos Religious Group, many were rebuilt.

One could only hope that the shiny new buildings would mark the beginning of a new golden age.

However, the scars of that day remained.

A large stone monument had been erected near the end of the Bloomriver Bridge.It bore the names of every victim of the catastrophe from a few years ago.

It was erected so that they would be remembered and never forgotten. It stood several meters tall.

Looking at the names carved into the monument, Trayciana let out a sigh.

“These names must weigh heavily on your shoulders, since you were here during the incident.”

Trayciana had been a student during the disaster that occurred a few years earlier. She had been a senior about to graduate. At the time, she had turned back to protect her underclassmen as best she could.

She tried to save as many as possible, but many had still lost their lives.

Trayciana gazed at the monument for a moment longer, then shook her head, feeling refreshed.

***

“O-Oh my…! Oh my goodness! I didn’t hear… that Senior Professor Sinir would be arriving today…! I apologize! Even though you’ve come such a long way! Right now, we’re short on manpower, so we’ve been extremely busy…! Still, you didn’t deserve to be treated like this… I… I apologize…!”

Despite someone as distinguished as Sinir agreeing to become a professor, no one had been able to give her a proper welcome.

Under normal circumstances, Sinir would have had every reason to scold them. However, after seeing the state of the newly rebuilt Trix Hall, she held her tongue.

Every person there looked utterly overwhelmed with work.

With a faculty reduced to barely half of its former size, they still had to operate the massive academy.

Cleoh, who had been promoted to full professor sooner than expected, crossed Trix Hall with exhausted eyes, holding a thick stack of documents.

As she was also in charge of personnel management, she was the one assigned to greet Professor Sinir.

“You seem quite busy. I should get to work as soon as possible, then.”

Sinir responded politely.

Even though she maintained a dignified and composed demeanor, Professor Cleoh suddenly burst into tears.

“Senior Professor Sinir… is a person with basic human decency…”

“…Pardon? Did I do something wrong?”

“No. It’s just… after I apologized, hearing you respond so respectfully, with such encouraging words… for some reason… I couldn’t help but cry…”

Despite being a professor, just what kind of treatment had she been enduring?

Sinir chose to remain silent. Asking further would only reopen the wound.

“All right, then… Ah, that’s right. Student Trayciana. I see you’ve become quite dependable. You’ve grown so much since you were a student here that I barely recognized you. Even though it’s only been a couple of years… people really do change quickly.”

“Assistant Professor Cleoh… Ah, I mean, Professor Cleoh. How have you been?”

“I’ve been… well, I can’t lie. There’s a lot of work, since things are still returning to normal. But it’s manageable, at least. Thank you for asking, Trayciana. Haha, it’s strange talking to you now that you’re no longer a student.”

Cleoh placed the large stack of papers onto the desk and cleared her throat.

“Assistant Professor Trayciana.”

***

While Sinir went to inspect her private laboratory, Trayciana followed Professor Cleoh to receive her assignments.

Professor Cleoh headed toward her own lab while giving instructions along the way. As soon as they arrived, she opened a window to ventilate the room.

Trayciana immediately glanced at the mountain of paperwork on Cleoh’s desk and clicked her tongue. There were even more documents than when Cleoh had still been an Assistant Professor.

Professor Cleoh always complained like a pitiful mess, but in reality, she was handling the workload of several people by herself.

She no longer resembled an assistant professor at all, having grown remarkably capable. Her former student assistant, Anise, had already graduated, yet Cleoh’s efficiency had only increased.

“Assistant Professor Trayciana, you haven’t been told who your advisor is yet, correct?”

“Yes… Isn’t it you, Professor Cleoh?”

“At the moment, I can’t take responsibility for anyone else…”

“Ah… I see…”

Trayciana’s disappointed expression mirrored Cleoh’s own.

Professor Cleoh quickly pulled a document from the stack and reviewed it one last time.

It appeared to be the advisor assignment list.

After scanning it, Cleoh let out a strange laugh.

“Hahaha, it seems you’re in for a difficult time as well.”

“Pardon? Is my advisor strict?”

“No. Rather than that…”

Professor Cleoh handed the document to Trayciana.

The name listed next to hers was familiar.

[Ed Rothstaylor.]

“…Huh?”

“You recognize it too, right?”

“Of course. But he was in his third year when I graduated… Why is he listed as my advisor?”

Professor Cleoh hesitated, then decided to start with the conclusion.

“He was specially appointed as a professor at the beginning of this year. He received letters of recommendation from Princess Penia, who has been appointed as the next emperor, as well as from Saint Clarice. As soon as he graduated, he was granted the title of professor. It seems that after only a few more years of experience, he’ll be promoted to Senior Professor as well.”

“A senior professor at his age…? That’s unheard of…”

“Besides his outstanding achievements during the disaster, he’s also a master of both Elementalism and Magic Engineering. Even the other professors can’t deny his accomplishments. And when it comes to Celestial Magic, he’s practically unmatched…”

He was a professor who could teach both Elementalism and Magic Engineering, and one of the very few capable of Celestial Magic.

On top of that, he came from a noble family and possessed the charisma to lead students.

From the academy’s perspective, which was struggling with a severe lack of manpower, he was an irreplaceable asset.

That was why Silvenia Academy had hired Ed Rothstaylor with unprecedented benefits befitting an unprecedented talent. There were even rumors of additional conditions negotiated with House Rothstaylor to ensure he remained at the school.

Regardless of the truth, House Rothstaylor had undeniably become one of Silvenia Academy’s primary backers.

“……”

A senior professor in his early twenties. Comparing that to her own position as an Assistant Professor, Trayciana keenly felt the difference in status.

Even Professor Glast, who had been considered a fast-rising prodigy, had already been in his late thirties when he became a senior professor.

“You must be shocked that your former underclassman is now your advisor.”

“No, I don’t mind. He’s the son of a duke, after all—it would be more awkward not to treat him with respect. But… I can’t imagine what kind of work he’ll assign me.”

“That’s actually something I’m worried about as well. Professor Ed Rothstaylor is difficult to get in contact with.”

“…What?”

His rise had been astonishingly fast. In no time at all, he had reached the same rank as Professor Cleoh.

It was obvious that he would surpass her soon.

His achievements had already made him famous throughout the empire, and many new students eagerly awaited the chance to see him in person. Trayciana, however, knew none of that.

“He completes all his duties properly, but he’s extremely hard to meet because of how busy he is. Normally, he rarely leaves his private laboratory in the North Forest, but during breaks, it becomes even harder to track him down.”

“I see…”

“He has many obligations outside the academy… so we seldom see him. You’d think he’d return to House Rothstaylor during break, but lately we’re not even sure if that’s the case…”

“W-Wait. He doesn’t inform anyone where he’s going? He just disappears?”

“…But since he completes his work, we can’t really complain. And honestly, having someone of his caliber working here at all is a miracle…”

Trayciana rubbed her chin thoughtfully.Did I really end up with such a troublesome advisor?

“There are three documents we need to deliver to him. Assistant Professor Trayciana, please pass them along. If he’s not in his North Forest lab… then… I honestly don’t know where he might be.”

“O-Okay… the documents…”

It was her very first assignment.

Finding Ed Rothstaylor and delivering the paperwork.

“And please prepare the graduation ceremony for the fourth-year students. Since the youngest professor is usually responsible for it, this task will fall to you.”

She also had to organize the graduation ceremony.

“I can handle at least that much.”

“That’s good to hear, Assistant Professor Trayciana.”

Professor Cleoh looked at her with a hint of nostalgia. She remembered when she herself had been the youngest professor, burdened with endless work.

Though now she was the one assigning it, her own workload had hardly decreased.

Trayciana glanced down at the documents.

“These are…?”

“Professor Ed will be handling them during the break. Technically, he only needs to complete one of the three.”

“Only one?”

“Yes. They’re all important, but it’s unrealistic to expect him to complete everything before the break ends. If he can finish even one, that would be more than enough.”

The break was nearly over. After the entrance exams for first-year students and the graduation ceremony for the fourth years, the next term would begin.

“I know he’s busy with the entrance exams as well, but I hope he can manage one of these.”

“I understand…”

Trayciana examined the first document.

“Pulan…?”

“Do you know it? It’s known as the land of cattle, where dairy fields stretch as far as the eye can see.”

“Yes…”

“Recently, the academy was contacted by a research team. There have been records of the ultimate wind spirit, ‘Tyrcalaques,’ appearing in that region.”

“Tyrcalaques… the giant bear-like spirit the size of a mountain?”

“That’s correct. External research like this isn’t our highest priority, but neglecting it would displease the Imperial Household. So we must handle it properly.”

Cleoh continued signing documents as she spoke.

“Ancient texts referencing Tyrcalaques have been discovered within Pulan’s religious records. It’s a significant find in Elementalism. Since Professor Ed is the only available Elementalism specialist, we’re assigning him to investigate.”

“I see…”

“It’s not especially dangerous, but it’s best to send someone capable of combat, just in case.”

Trayciana nodded and moved on to the next document.

“This one… concerns the commercial city of Oldek?”

“Yes. It’s a business trip request. Not academic—logistics and distribution. It’s time to renew our contracts with the Elte Company, which manages Silvenia’s inventory.”

“Why is Professor Ed handling this?”

“He has strong connections in that field. And there are rumors that the situation in Oldek has become unstable. The academy wants to establish a reliable foothold there.”

“Unstable how?”

Cleoh paused, then tilted her head.

“Do you know the current director of the Elte Company? It’s the old merchant, Slogg Keldricks.”

“Wasn’t it Lortel?”

“Officially, Lortel was only the Deputy Director. At Silvenia, that title carried weight, but at headquarters, it didn’t grant real authority.”

When Lortel overthrew the Golden King Elte, she had promised Slogg the director’s position.

“However, rumors suggest that after graduating, she has no intention of relinquishing control. She may be trying to restructure Oldek’s entire power balance.”

“Greedy merchants… I’m not accustomed to dealing with them…”

“Neither am I. That’s why Oldek is concerning. Professor Ed’s connections make him the best choice.”

It was a sound decision.

“Then the last document…”

“That’s a business trip to the Lamelin Mountain Range.”

“Why are there so many trips?”

“Those with ability are always given more responsibilities.”

Trayciana swallowed as she read.

“You know Amputator Zellan, right? The magician who fought alongside Professor Glast and Kaleid during the non-human war. Recently, she’s been sighted in the Lamelin Mountains searching for traces of Archmage Glockt… supposedly investigating his past.”

“Are we trying to recruit her?”

“She’s talented. And she’s shown interest in Celestial Magic. That’s why we want Ed—our best Celestial Magic specialist—to approach her.”

“Inquirer Glast. Outlaw Kaleid. Amputator Zellan.”

Zellan had been one of the three magicians who lived with Obel during the war.

“It’s too much for him to handle all three during break…”

“Exactly. So tell him to complete just one.”

“Yes… but how do I even find him?”

Professor Cleoh grinned.

“Start with his North Forest lab. If he’s not there, search the academy. And if he’s still missing…”

She unfolded a map of the empire.

Trayciana finally understood her unease.

“Wh-What…?”

“From here.”

Cleoh pointed to the northern edge of House Rothstaylor’s territory.

“To here.”

She pointed to Baroness Palerover’s lands in the south.

“If you search between those places, you’ll find him eventually.”

Trayciana’s face turned pale. Cleoh herself couldn’t locate him on Acken Island—how was Trayciana supposed to find him across the empire?

On her very first day, she was already being sent on a journey that would take several days.

She wanted to complain.But she couldn’t.

That was the fate of the youngest professor.