The buzz caused by Wraith's greeting quickly subsided and the class began solemnly. Basically, there was no room for Wraith to get involved, and Helgar, standing in front of him, was explaining the procedures regarding the creation of the golem, even while using the text.

　Sitting in a corner of the air-conditioned classroom, Wraith listens to Helgar's lesson in a daze as he sits in a chair. It was all so obvious to Wraith that he didn't even need to open the textbook, but the students, who knew nothing about it, were desperately listening to Helgar's words.

The magic stone is essential in the creation of a golem. This is the power source of the golem and is the core of its activities. When the magic stone is broken or the magic power is exhausted, the golem stops its activities.

　Hearing those words that came out in the middle of class, Wraith remembered the golem that had been left in the workshop. Even now, he still had a lot of unresolved feelings about that transformation. He couldn't give up and has been thinking of ways to make it active somehow since then, but he still can't come up with an effective method.

　I believe that if I can share that emotion with my students, I'll be able to regain my lowered reputation, so I'd like to do something about it.

　As Lace was thinking about this all the while listening to Helgar's class, the bell suddenly rang. Apparently signaling the end of the class, Helgar is briefly announcing the content of the next class.

　Helger announces the end of the class and it is time for a break until the next class. The students begin to use the break to their heart's content, but more than half of them either look at Wraith and start whispering, or pack up to Leesha's place.

　As for Lace, she wants to scream out loud for them to spend more time on other things. Leisha, who is surrounded by students, also seems to be having trouble dealing with them and is handling the questions that are flying in one after another while smiling bitterly.

　As much as I would like to do something for her, I hesitate to do so because the situation is likely to get even worse if I do anything more.

　In the end, I decided to cheer him up and wish him luck in his mind and left the classroom.



　*****


　After a disastrous first day, Wraith returned to the workshop just as the setting sun was appearing, and what he saw was his own master, cross-legged on a chair, with a quizzical expression on his face. Rulimes didn't seem to notice the Wraith's return, and he occasionally growled and tilted his head.

''What are you doing, Master?''
Ah, welcome back, Mr. Ray. It's just that the flow of magic is a little strange.
Flow of magic?

　It's a feeling that Wraith, who is not a mage, doesn't understand. But I knew from Lurimes' appearance that he wasn't lying.

''Is there something wrong with the flow of magic?''
'No, it doesn't sound like it's having any ill effects on me... hmmm, what can I say? Like a small bone stuck in your throat?
That's pretty weird, isn't it?

　I've never actually had a small bone stuck in my throat, but I can vaguely imagine it as a way of saying it. It's also possible to guess that Rulimes is constantly paying attention to his surroundings.

''Ray-kun, how was the academy?
Okay, okay, so not bad...

　It wasn't something I wanted to talk about in too much detail, so I slurred my words appropriately. After getting lost and being late from the first day, I couldn't tell Rulimes that it was revealed to the students I'd never met before, even if I could talk about it. I was confident that I would be teased with this story for the next year.

　Hence, Wraith decides to dig up the earlier topic that is lying around just as well in order to cover up this topic.

''More importantly, Master, can't you investigate the anomaly in that magic flow?
It's not that big of a deal, even if you say it's an anomaly. It's probably at a level that an average mage wouldn't even notice. That's why it will be difficult to investigate.

　It's a feeling that Wraith can't understand, but Lurimes felt somewhat unnatural. It's as if someone else invisible to us is controlling the magic in this place. It's as if the magic power is taking a detour to a place it's not supposed to go, such a feeling.

　However, it's not like Rotia, the shop keeper, or even Mimi, is using any kind of magic. In the end, we can't figure out what's causing the flow of magic power to be out of whack.

'If it doesn't seem to have any negative effects, it's fine.
Hmmm, yeah.
Okay, I'm gonna go to Daisy's.



　*****



　A chemical smell that felt like it hadn't been there in a long time hit her nose. Without seeming to care about the smell, which would have made an unaccustomed person frown, Wraith proceeded to the counter.

　The familiar blue-haired girl blinked curiously at the sight of Wraith.

''Oh, how unusual.''
Well, it's a bit of a slow day, sometimes.
Aren't you busy?

　It was the first time Wraith and Daisy had seen each other since the 'King Dragon Festival'. Although I didn't tell Daisy, who was asleep at the time, the details of what happened, I still understood that Wraith was in a difficult situation.

　Hence, he figured that they wouldn't be seeing each other much these days.

''Well, there's that.''
Hmm, you're still in business as usual.
That said, I'll leave the shop keeper to you and I've got other things on my plate myself.
What, did you do something else?

　Without a moment's hesitation, Daisy asks, as if it were a conditioned reflex.

'No, why is it assumed that you're doing it...'

　Wraith couldn't help but interject with his own scattershot assessment. He's certainly done it, but he hasn't told us anything about the content yet. It's too early to be assured.

'On the contrary, why do you think they think you haven't done it?
'Don't use words that make my head hurt,'

　It's something that is said with a straight face and no joke, so Wraith asks earnestly. It seems like it's time to reverse the reputation my acquaintance has for himself.

'So, what have I done?'
'No, I'm supposed to be a temporary teacher at the Academy of Magic but I got lost in the school from the first day and was late. And on top of that, my students found out about it.
You're an idiot.

　Daisy's words, which she dismisses as a bustle, pierce Wraith like a blade. The damage is even more damaging because it's been a long time since she heard words without restraint.

　Wraith wanted to make a perfect debut as a teacher if he could.

''How do you think I can make up for it?''
Why do you ask me that...
No, because I don't want to talk about it to my mentor or whatever, it's like I'm vulnerable. Daisy would give me her opinion right there and then, no matter what it was, right?

　Although it's a tofu mental wraith, as expected, it's much better to take a blow from a meeting on the spot than to continue taking damage for a long period of time. Either way, if you're going to take damage, it's faster to heal once.

　It would be a perfect choice, except that the two choices we're forced to make are too terrible.



　Daisy, well aware of Wraith's alchemy skills, offers the easiest solution. In short, you just have to show up worthy of respect.

　Well, it's very possible that his reputation could be overturned by the way he behaves afterwards. Without mentioning that point, Daisy tells him.

''So that means we'll have to endure it until the exercise starts.......''
'That's your mistake and I can't blame you for it.

　For Wraith, it hurts my ears to be told that.
　Nevertheless, it's not far away from the start of the practical training. If he could show the students that he could actually do alchemy there, it would be possible to break the current situation.

''Let's go for it.......Thanks, Daisy. Speaking of which, how are things going with Daisy these days?

　Since Lace started her own shop, she hasn't been able to help Daisy with her shop or teach her alchemy. Hence, Lace has no idea how much she has grown now. In the meantime, the materials I gave her are still intact, so she can learn on her own, though.

''Do you want to take a look?''
Oh, well, let's see what you can do.

　Looking at the way he said it with confidence, I guess he hadn't neglected his studies on alchemy after all. Wraith followed Daisy's back and stepped into the materials management room at the back of the store for the first time in a long time. Daisy took out from among the many materials--

"Lamb weed.
Yeah, sure.

　I return the affirmation to Wraith's monologue.
　Some time ago, Wraith had used this rum grass to give a commentary on alchemy. At that time, Daisy had taken a few minutes to create a potion of intermediate efficacy. Time has passed since then, and I wonder how good Daisy's skills have become.

　Wraith looked on fondly.

''Huh........''

　Perhaps to improve his concentration, Daisy takes one deep breath.
　Then, just like when she met the Wraith, she carefully used alchemy for each process. It wasn't quite as instantaneous as the Wraith's, but the action was still much more natural than when she had seen it before. That alone was enough to show that she had been struggling to keep up her efforts.

　About two minutes later, a potion was created in front of Daisy's eyes. Daisy didn't check it herself, but handed the finished potion to Wraith without hesitation. Wraith guesses its intentions.

''Analysis (Analyze).''

　Examine the potion that was handed to you.
　The results in Wraith's eyes were the culmination of Daisy's efforts.

'Advanced potions.'

　Naturally, he was talking about the results.
　The time it took to make the product hadn't changed much, but the efficacy of the product had risen steadily. Intermediate to advanced. The changes might seem small, but it was surprising enough that he managed to pull this off in less than a year.

　Her dedication to alchemy is the reason for her improvement, even though the management of her shop should not be able to devote long hours to studying alchemy every day.

　Seeing Daisy's proud smile, Wraith smiled as well.

''Maybe one day I'll catch up with you.
Maybe. I'll look forward to it.