In a darkened room.

After finishing my class, I was writing in my notes, accompanied by a flickering lantern.

[Special Class Observation Log.]

Taking notes was essential to keep track of the students' progress as they grew day by day.

It had already been 10 days since the class started. There were no noticeable improvements, but since it was a stage of breaking the mold, there was no need to be impatient.

Because I planned to make them feel their growth through a strong enemy in the near future.

"Haaaam..."

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Yes, come in."

Hans, who had returned from his class, approached me with a tray of steaming tea and simple refreshments.

"Saint."

"Oh, Hans."

"I thought you might not have eaten anything, so I brought some simple refreshments."

"Oh, you didn't have to.... "

Hans must be tired too after just finishing his class, so why did he bring all that.... I was secretly pleased and welcomed him with a small smile. My mouth was getting bored anyway.

"You've worked hard today too."

"Not at all."

"Haha."

I smelled the aroma of the tea Hans handed me and asked softly. Because it was a familiar scent.

"Is this... Mandrake tea?"

"Yes, it is. I heard it's good for relieving fatigue, so I brought it."

"Ah."

I don't like Mandrakes...

I had to control my expression in front of Hans, but since I had drunk it so many times, I wasn't keen on it. Because I had drunk it countless times while improving Mandrakes with Malik.

-Try this too.

-If I drink any more, I think I'll become a Mandrake human.

-Drink it. It's good for you.

-You should drink some too, President.

-Ahem...

Hans, who noticed the subtle change in my expression, looked at me and expressed his concern in a low voice.

"I'm sorry. I'll bring another tea."

"No, it's fine. I've just had it a lot, haha.. I'll just drink it."

"I'll bring a different tea next time."

"Thank you for your consideration."

-Slurp...

He doesn't have to be so formal.

At Hans's stiff and formal demeanor, I let out a short, hollow laugh and leaned back in my chair to enjoy the leisure. If I said anything, he would surely say that he didn't want to show a disheveled appearance in front of a 'god'.

"It's busy."

"Because they are all friends with strong personalities."

"Haha... that's why it seems more fun."

For someone who was aiming for a life of leisure, I had been moving busily, so it was only natural for my body to accumulate fatigue. Even so, not a bit of fatigue had accumulated in the body of a Sword Master, but the fatigue of a loafer who liked to play and eat couldn't be helped.

"I'm tired."

After letting out a short complaint, I looked at the clock on the wall and said. It's 1 o'clock, but Elysia isn't here yet?

"Hasn't Elysia arrived yet?"

"No, she said she was going to catch a Death Knight today."

"Ah, she went to catch a Death Knight.... What?! A Death... Knight? Do you mean that level 3 monster?"

"Haha... that's right. I was also very surprised when I heard, but since Elysia-nim wasn't fainting as much as I thought, she said she thought she could do this too."

"Haha..."

To think that she would subdue a Death Knight with only the members of the healing department. I was amazed at Elysia's unconventional actions. No matter how good the compatibility was, it was unreasonable to catch a Death Knight with only students.

"It must mean she's grown that much."

At my words of admiration, Hans shook his head slightly and said.

"Haha... I don't know."

To be honest, I don't know either.

"What have you been teaching lately, Hans?"

"Lately, I've been conquering Stonehide Trolls."

"...Do you mean the trolls with skin like rock?"

"Yes."

"Aren't they the trolls with magic resistance? I heard that even skilled magicians have a hard time dealing with them."

"They're doing well without fainting..."

"..."

This guy seemed like a tough one too.

Hans looked at me and asked. What was I, the Saint, teaching them?

"I'm teaching them about Acnegoblins..."

"...Pardon? The one that's a fusion of a goblin and a spider-type monster...."

"Yes, that's right."

"Haha... is it possible for the students to do it on their own?"

"Seeing that they're not fainting, I think it's possible."

Hans made the same expression as I had when I looked at him and shook his head. He seemed to have had the same thought as me.

"Haha...!"

"Hahaha!!"

We let out an awkward laugh and drank our tea. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like the teacher was a product of their group.

"Still, you're late today."

On the first day, we had finished the class in sync, but since then, the time we finished together rarely overlapped. Because we each had our own teaching methods.

On days when I came in early, Hans came in late.

Conversely, on days when everyone came in early, there were times when I didn't come in, so I was used to it now.

"The healing department students will have a lot to say."

"Haha... if I were a student, I would want to avoid Elysia-nim."

"It's the same for me."

"Haha..."

It wasn't a lie, it was really scary.

Anyway.

Enjoying the long-awaited break, I asked Hans in a low voice. If the class was okay. I asked Hans if there were any difficulties, since Luin would be interfering.

"It's fine."

Hans gave a short answer and continued to speak.

"Luin, who I thought would ruin the atmosphere of the class, has given up and is following along well, and the other students are also keeping pace and following along well. I was surprised that they came back without getting seriously injured even when I threw them into the orc's den."

"That's surprising for an algae. I thought he would throw a tantrum."

"Haha... he became quiet when I threw him into an orc's den with a peculiar taste. Of course, I put up a barrier."

"...?"

For some reason, a familiar image came to mind. A zoo where you watch crocodiles in a cage.

-Aaaaargh!!! Damn it! Damn it!!

-Hey... hey!!! The way those guys are looking at me is weird!

-Hey... really... really...!!!

Hans, who had given Luin a cruel memory, smiled slightly and muttered to himself with a proud tone.

"Teaching seems to suit my aptitude more than I thought."

"..."

"Luin seems to understand my feelings too."

"Haha..."

Hans smiled faintly and carefully asked a question that all teachers would be most curious about. Bragging about one's disciples was a common topic of conversation for a teacher.

"Who do you think will achieve the greatest results, Saint?"

"Hmm?"

"Haha... the atmosphere in the magic department has been unusual lately."

"The fact that you said that... means you have a student in mind."

"I will speak after hearing your answer, Saint. It's presumptuous, but I'm embarrassed to speak first."

"Haha... I."

Smiling slightly at Hans's question, I looked at the flickering lantern and fell into thought. It was hard to choose because everyone was following along well.

Hanna was doing her best in her own way.

Mikhail was a talented person, so he showed the appearance of a protagonist.

Malik was perfect without a doubt.

As for Rohan and Luke...

Ah.

I thought of a student who had been showing scary growth recently and said to Hans.

"I think the student who will achieve the greatest results is 'Veilin'."

"Ve... Veilin?"

"Yes."

Hans, who was quietly lost in thought, burst out with a small smile and recalled the memory of their first meeting.

"You mean that friend with no presence?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Veilin... indeed, I was also surprised because she was a friend with so little presence. Her presence was really faint, as if she had been cursed."

"Did you feel that way too, Hans?"

"Yes, it was scary."

It was also a family trait.

Veilin's family, even her parents, had such faint presences that they appeared as a gag element in the novel.

-...

-...

-Gasp! How long have you been there!?

I remembered because Yuria's flustered appearance was described in the novel.

I smiled slightly and said.

"The student who I think will achieve the greatest growth is Veilin. And the student who I think will undergo the greatest change is probably Hanna Histania. Because she is a student with outstanding talent."

"I see."

Hans nodded his head and smiled. It was now his turn to answer the question.

"Who do you think is the biggest ace in the magic department, Saint?"

"Oh... is it a quiz?"

"Haha, that's right."

I smiled slightly and thought about it. This kind of quiz wasn't bad.

Was it 'Luin', the pride of the magic department who had as much importance as the protagonist in the novel, or was it Chartia, who had inherited the royal blood?

It was probably neither of them.

Because there was a genius who didn't see the light in the novel.

With a small smile, I said to Hans. It seemed like there was no one else I could think of as a talent.

"Tetra Schuen."

"How did you know?"

"I knew it."

"I thought you would say Princess Chartia or Luin, Saint."

I nodded my head slightly and said to Hans. A genius with outstanding abilities in magic always had one strange part somewhere.

"Because I know one more genius like Schuen."

"...Is it the Saintess?"

"Yes, it is."

Hans recalled the prowess of Olivia he had seen at the academy in the past and shuddered.

"The Saintess is truly a monster."

The talent Olivia had shown at the academy was so great that no magician could follow her.

"If the Saintess had continued to research magic, she would have become a tremendous monster."

"That's right. She might not have become a great magician, but she would have been able to face several archbishops alone."

"Haha..."

Hans shuddered and gave an awkward smile.

"I know well because I was soundly defeated in a mock battle."

After about 10 minutes had passed, Hans looked at me and asked in a low voice.

"Um... Saint."

"Yes."

Hans, who was holding the teacup, was endlessly raising and lowering his head. He was not keeping his lips still, like someone who was about to say something that was not easy to say.

I said to Hans.

"Speak comfortably."

Tell me without worrying.

"As long as it's not a request to introduce you to a woman, you can speak comfortably."

"...That's."

"Yes."

-Grip.

"...I want to return the magic to Luin."

At the unexpected question, I gave an awkward smile.

"...Hmm."

This was something I needed to think about.

"I want to hear that story properly."

At Hans's unexpected proposal, I smiled faintly and my eyes sparkled. I never thought I would hear the words about giving magic back to Luin from Hans of all people.

It was magic he himself had stolen.

Magic he had stolen from Luin, who was drunk on his talent. And it was magic he only returned when he was about to die in the original work...

-It must all be my fault. Envying you... and dabbling in black magic.

-Hans...!!

-I was sorry... for killing our master.

-...

-This is my gift to you.

At Hans's proposal to return it when not even a year had passed, I smiled awkwardly and shrugged my shoulders.

"The 'magic' you're talking about, Hans-nim, is the fire rune you stole from Luin, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"And you know that the fire rune is a 'unique magic' that maximizes the efficiency of 'fire magic'."

"Yes, I know it better than anyone."

"I'm sure you do."

"..."

"But... you're saying we should return that magic?"

At the probing question, Hans nodded his head heavily.

"Yes, that's right."

Because he was the one who coveted Luin's unique magic more than anyone else.

"If used well, it's a magic that can turn the entire empire into a sea of fire. Because it's a 'unique magic' that reduces mana consumption to a small amount and maximizes its power."

"...That's."

"To transfer a magic with such great potential without any compensation... honestly, I can't understand."

For Hans, who knew the potential of the 'fire rune' better than anyone, to return it to its owner had several meanings.

Either it was out of 'affection.'

Or it was because he couldn't control the 'fire rune.'

If Hans said he wanted to return it out of guilt for Luin's broken state, I was planning to refuse Hans's request.

"Hmm..."

The reason was simple.

Because there was no benefit to me in returning the magic to Luin.

Even now, I wasn't sure if Luin would be of any help to me, so blindly giving him a treasure I possessed had no meaning other than becoming a pushover.

I needed a precise basis and efficiency.

The benefits we could gain after returning the fire rune we had stolen from Luin.

I placed my clasped hands on the desk and said with a faint smile.

"What kind of person is Luin to you, Hans-nim?"

"..."

"A friend? Or an enemy?"

At the heavy question, Hans clenched his fists and continued his answer.

"In the past, he was an object of jealousy, but now he's just a past connection. Friendship and memories were all left in the past."

"Don't you hate the past?"

"It would be a lie to say I don't. My inferiority complex was also a big problem... but I think it's all in the past now. Though to Luin, I might be an enemy he wants to kill."

"And you're still going to return the magic to Luin despite that risk? The tip of the sword could be pointed at you, Hans-nim."

"That's..."

I looked at the hesitating Hans and asked.

"Is it because of affection?"

Is it because of past 'affection'?

I wasn't saying that affection was bad. I also had a friend to whom I had given 'affection,' and if it was a friend's request, I could become a fool who would accept a loss.

I just asked out of curiosity.

How Hans, as a person, thought of Luin. As a reader and as a friend, I wanted to know about him.

I just hoped that he wouldn't become too soft due to guilt over a bad relationship.

A minimum of guilt is necessary for a person, but if that guilt goes beyond a certain point, he would end up like the past 'Mikhail.'

"...No."

The not-so-honest Hans, who had paused at the word 'affection,' began to answer the question. As if he had expected such a question, his words flowed without interruption.

"It's not because of affection."

"Then why?"

"...I thought that if I returned the magic to Luin, there would be a benefit. From a strategic point of view, I think its effect will shine."

"Is that so?"

"..."

"My personal opinion is that returning the magic to Luin is not a good idea."

"..."

"There's no need to take a risk by giving it to Luin, who could point the tip of his sword at us at any time, when we could give it to the beastkin we took from the slave traders and still get a good result."

"..."

At my negative words, Hans's expression began to harden. Even though I wasn't trying to scold him.

"If we return the magic to Luin, the threat to the academy will be reduced."

"...Hmm."

"Right now, the academy is heavily dependent on Mikhail and Hanna. The academy professors were of no great help even when the heretics invaded. From the moment Mikhail regained the holy sword, that dependence is bound to grow."

"..."

"Isn't that why you, Saint-nim, decided to teach the academy students?"

"You knew."

At the direct question, I smiled faintly and nodded my head. The reason I agreed to the special class was not only because of Malik's request, but also because I wanted to prevent the academy's problem of relying on Mikhail.

"I didn't know you knew that much."

The heretics are watching the academy closely.

They'll be concentrating even more from the moment the holy sword falls into Mikhail's hands, and Hans was predicting that an episode with many casualties would soon appear.

Hans, encouraged by my nodding reaction, began to speak vigorously.

"So I thought it would be good to return the magic to Luin to help with the academy's safety."

I nodded my head and said to Hans in a low voice. That I had heard his prepared story well.

"That's the official reason, I suppose."

"What?"

"Did you think I wouldn't know? You're someone with a greater passion for magic than anyone else."

"...That's."

"Shall we talk about your inner thoughts now? Isn't it hard to keep it all bottled up?"

"..."

"There's a decisive reason, isn't there? A reason biased by personal feelings."

Hans, with an expression like he had been hit in the head, added, 'As expected, I can't fool the Saint-nim,' and let out a long sigh.

"Actually..."

"Yes."

What is he going to say?

Guilt.

Or is he going to say it's because of friendship?

Whatever it was, in order not to ignore Hans's inner thoughts, I opened my heart and focused on his words.

Because I am not a god who gives the right answer to every choice.

Hans, with his fists clenched, began to open his lips with difficulty, and at Hans's answer, I couldn't help but open my mouth.

Because he had given an answer that was beyond my imagination.

"I want to feel a greater pleasure."

"Hmm?"

"When I first took Luin's magic, I told him to live like me for the rest of his life, but this time, I had a desire to stomp on the Luin who had regained his magic, so I wanted to give it back."

"...What?"

"I wanted to get rid of the excuses."

'This is ridiculous.'

At Hans's words, which were more shocking than the answer I had expected, I made a blank expression.

I thought he was going to say he wanted to return it because he had repented of his wrongdoing, but I was quite flustered by his heretical mindset, which had a more perverted taste than I had thought.

"You're cruel."

"...Haha. Since I'm going to stomp on him, I want to do it properly."

"That's amazing."

"You know it too, Saint-nim. That guy Luin, once you stomp on him, you have to do it properly. So, to help him, the arrogant saint of the Saint-nim has brought this up with difficulty."

I unclenched my clasped hands and lifted the teacup. In fact, from the moment Hans never used Luin's magic even once, I had a feeling that he would return it to him.

Though I think he said this because of 'affection' rather than a 'desire' to bully him.

I, understanding the shy Hans, said lowly. Because it seemed like it was time to give him the answer he wanted.

"Alright."

"Yes...?"

"I said it's okay to return the magic to Luin."

"...Saint-nim...!"

"In the first place, that magic wasn't under my jurisdiction."

"Saint-nim..."

I smiled brightly and said.

"I permit it."

Hans clenched his fists and let out a cheer.

"Thank you, Saint-nim!"

"Haha...! Are you that happy?"

"It is thanks to the Saint-nim's grace."

"Haha..."

I stopped Hans, who was about to bow, and made a request. Because I also had something to say to Hans.

"Ah, Hans-nim,"

"Yes, please speak, Saint-nim...!"

"I'm planning to be away for about 3 days starting tomorrow."

"...What?"

"I was thinking of going to see the young lady."

"Understood...!

I, who was emptying the teacup, smiled faintly at Hans and continued.

"I'd like you to roll the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments as much as you want while I'm gone."

"Understood!"

"Ah... that would be good too."

I said with a cruel smile.

"XXX."

"What? XXX, you say?"

"Yes, I think it will be fun."

Hans nodded his head.

"Certainly... it seems like it will be very helpful for practical experience."

While smiling cruelly.

*

"The formula..."

Luin, who was studying while sitting on his bed late at night, was taking notes with a lamp on, without the sleeping students knowing. His body was tired enough to faint, but he had to study.

He was still very lacking.

Theoretically.

And in terms of experience.

Just because his innate mana was high didn't mean he could use all kinds of magic.

Luin was honing himself to become sharper.

"Hah..."

Luin, holding the pen, stopped writing for a moment and swallowed a bitter smile.

"So that bastard Hans did this every day..."

Luin clenched his fist.

With the determination to work harder tomorrow.

And so, the next day.

"Huh...?"

Luin was standing in armor, looking at a huge castle.