A Death Row Convict Teaches at a School of Magic

“Well then, I would like to go over the basics of medical magic today, with some practical applications.”

The lecture was given during the fourth period before the lunch break. To the students who had been crammed into the dimly lit laboratory, I offered a reassuring smile while continuing the discourse.

“This class is an irregular course, which you can attend several times a month by signing up, but I am also greatly elated to find out that we have some new students starting this month. No matter what, medical magic is the utmost in magic for bringing happiness to people―”

My words were welcomed with nods of agreement from the pupils. Among them were Eto and Arti, and in the very back seat was Fina.

Apart from those who aspire with the vision of becoming medical magicians, a number of front-line magicians attend this basic medical magic course for the sake of acquiring emergency treatment techniques, which has earned it top-class popularity within the academy―

“You all have already taken Teacher Ursula’s basic medical magic class, haven’t you? Today, I would like to turn the class into a hands-on training session where we will actually experience the concepts of the course. Please be aware that even though it is medical magic, if improperly utilized, injuries can occur, so keep a tight rein on your skills.”

“Yesー!”

“Yeah, Arti, your broad response is all well and good, but can’t you work on that prolonged pause?”

Laughter arose in the room. With Arti’s presence, any unwanted tension will be lifted, making things a lot smoother for me as the person conducting the lesson.

Having said that, the fact remained that today was a practical training session for which I needed to be on top of my game. The smile on my face was promptly replaced by a serious one, along with a slight lowering of my tone.

“Today, I am inviting a person from outside to cooperate with us in the practical training. They are your key training partner, therefore treat the practical training as if it were the actual performance.―Then, Ms. Harley, please enter.”

After my call, a sharp-eyed woman with short yellow hair made her way into the classroom. Perhaps due to this, several of the students seated in front of her who spotted her conspicuously adjusted their posture.

“Ms. Harley belongs to the Garrison Corps in this city and is practically the superior of the ‘Kaguya,’ which is comprised of students from our academy. She made the effort to come to our school today to assist us in our practical training.”

“I go by the name of Sitry Harley. Please take good care of my group today, even if it’s only for a short time.”

Harley, who addressed the group in a clear, penetrating voice, sounded like a soldier at heart. The intensity of her statement rendered Arti, who was perched in front of her, docile as if she were a rented cat.

“Teacher.”

One of the students raised a hand.

“What is it?”

“Excuse me, when Ms. Harley mentioned about her group… is it possible that today’s practical training is to treat the stationed soldiers?”

The student who posed the question had a slightly pale face, to which I denied with a smile.

“Even I would find that to be difficult for you guys to do it at this stage. However, the group you are going to treat today is also part of the stationed soldiers… So, Ms. Harley, please get right on it.”

“I get it.―Summon.”

A white light emanated from the ring that Harley wore on her index finger.

Immediately after, several vague outlines took shape around Harley, eventually manifesting themselves in a distinct physical form.

Eto voiced her amazement.

“Forest… Wolf?”

“Yeah, you are well-informed, Eto.”

Right, what Harley summoned was the Forest Wolves employed by the Garrison Corps.

Even though they may be petite in the wolf lineage, with their excellent sense of smell, they can contribute to the pursuit of criminals.

“These Forest Wolves have been wounded in the course of the Garrison Corps’ work. Today, I would like you all to heal them with ‘Lesser Heal’ that you learned in class the other day.”

No sooner had I uttered these words than the classroom was awash in a buzz of activity. Indeed, the pressure to heal a Forest Wolf serviced by the Garrison Corps would be quite a daunting task.

I raised my voice and addressed the students.

“Don’t worry; I’ll take care of everything that happens since I’ll be watching over you. Avoid faltering and undertake today’s practical training with the intention of practicing with a partner of higher skill!”

Perhaps my words had a minor effect on the students, as they regained some composure, but then Arti, who was occupying the front seat, vigorously lifted her hand.

“Then, Teacher! If by mistake I turn Ms. Harley’s Forest Wolf into fragments and splinters, will you do something about it!?”

“Yeah, it really is a wonder to me what kind of magic you are planning to cast. No, I will make the utmost effort, but when that happens, you’ll be given a failing grade nonetheless.”

In the event that such a thing was to develop, I would immediately send you off to Instructor Rivalz.

“I-I’ll do my best.”

Arti’s complexion was tense, but the person who gripped my shoulder from behind likewise had a fairly tense face.

“…Hey, Sir Kanaki. Are you certain I can put my faith in them for this? If anything were to befall these pups, I might end up being crushed to a pulp by my seniors…”

Harley’s color had gone beyond pale to an ashen shade.

“R-Relax. Even I am a medical magician, you know. Please leave it to me.”

Feeling pitiful at that moment, I put on a reassuring smile, trying to show off my good side.

“I-I see.”

A smile of awkwardness formed on Harley’s face, seemingly relieved by my words. Even though she was still young and could be described as an adequately attractive woman, a tinge of exertion, possibly stemming from chronic overwork, was lingering on her features.

■■■■■

“Teacher Kanaki, is it like this?”

“Yeah, it’s good. But, the amount of magical power can be a little more moderate. More accurately, it’s a small amount of magical power.”

As though the initial fears were unfounded, the practice progressed seamlessly.

Well, accidents would have been unusual since I had each and every one of them conducts the practice in front of me. Incidentally, I thought that the first person to finish would be free, so I made the first student work on the extremely difficult magic training book that I had borrowed from Xenia before.

“Teacher… what about this?”

“Yeah, as expected of Eto.”

Nodding to Eto, who was healing a Forest Wolf before my eyes, a feeling of contentment swept over me that I wanted to award her with a gold star.

“I knew that you would be a good match for medical magic, Eto… How about getting a job like this in the future?”

“…No, I have already settled on what I want to pursue in the future…”

“…I see.”

Eto declined my proposition with reservation, but her face was not the expression of a teenager sharing her dreams regarding the future. It was a wonder to me why Eto would go to such lengths to succeed in Matthias’ profession as a hit man.

While I was dwelling on this subject, the next student arrived. Looking at the student’s face, an involuntary “Eek!” burst out of me. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have done this.

“What do you mean ‘Eek,’ Teacher! Even I feel a little hurt by that!”

“Haha, I’m sorry, Arti. I inadvertently let my true feelings come out.”

“You are now feigning an apology and then follow up with another blow!?”

Arti was as loud… I mean, as energetic as ever.

Even the Forest Wolf, the subsequent to be treated, looked at Arti and growled, “Grrrrrrrrr.”

“My pups are especially responsive to deadly demons and threats against them. Sir Kanaki, is this female student of yours a troublemaker?”

“Yes, she is a hazardous one.”

“Hey! I admit that I am a troublemaker, but I pose no threat to anyone at all!”

“So you acknowledge that you are a troublemaker…”

With Harley smiling wryly and a contemptuous glance, I turned to Arti and adopted a grave expression.

“Well, today is a significant practical training session. Arti, let’s be serious today. I assumed you could handle the cane I lent you but is it really all right?”

“I am always serious but… well, the cane is fine. It’s almost identical to my own that I use all the time!”

Waving a cane the length of a baton, Arti was satisfied.

A cane was a magical tool used primarily to enhance the efficiency of magic or for more precise control of magical power, and was regarded as almost a necessity in the case of medical magic. Each individual cane required its own unique tuning, but as a school nurse with access to the medical records of all students, customizing a cane lightly for Arti was a cakewalk.

“Then you may begin.”

“Yes.―’Lesser Heal’.”

A faint green aura flowed from Arti to the Forest Wolf, and the Forest Wolf, who had been wary until then, pleasantly shut its eyes.

“Yeah. You can accomplish it if you put your mind to it.”

“Ahem. I told you, I practiced yesterday.”

The treatment went as well as Alti was proud of it, and Forest Wolf shuddered with a sense of satisfactory feeling.

Arti was so puffed with pride that she seemed to be saying, “Ahem,” even at this very moment.

“Heh heh. Are you afraid of me, Teacher Kanaki?”

“Putting aside the fact that I don’t feel the need to be afraid of you at all, you did a good job, Arti. Now go back to your seat.”

“EhーIs that allー! I am a troublemaker, yet I did such a good job!”

“You sure are conscious of that you’re a troublemaker, aren’t you? Please go back to your seat as soon as possible, because time is running out.”

Eto pulled Arti, who was still grumbling and complaining, with a troubled look on her face, and finally, the last student came. However, now that Arti had successfully completed without mishap, there was not the slightest concern about the last student.

“Well then, could you wrap this up quickly, Fina?”

“…Somehow, I am the only one who seems to be receiving poor treatment.”

The last student, Fina, asked with a tinge of doubt mixed in with the color of her distinctive eyes.

“No, no, frankly speaking, this much has been taught to you by Ortesia, hasn’t it?”

“Well, that’s true, but this is my first time dealing with Forest Wolf. Even this is a little nerve-wracking, so a few words of encouragement would be appreciated.”

“…”

You really have developed quite a silver tongue, didn’t you?

Half in surprise and half in joy, my mouth unwittingly fell open.

Seeing this, Fina cast an even more quizzical expression on her visage, and I was about to offer words of encouragement, as she requested, when―

“Grrrrrrr…”

“―Forest Wolf huh.”

Which student’s voice was that? When I noticed that one of the Forest Wolves that was supposed to be treated by Fina was snarling in my direction, it was in definite alertness.

“…That’s strange. Of all my pups, this one is the most intelligent. Even to criminals, it’s not often I hear a growl like this…”

“…”

Right as Harley was about to hush the Forest Wolf with a suspicious expression, the bell rang, signaling the end of the class.

“…Unfortunately, it looks like the time has run out. There is only one student who didn’t finish, but I will definitely make it up to that person at another time later on, so let’s call it a day. Thank you very much for your time today, Ms. Harley.”

“N-No. I, on behalf of the Garrison Corps, would like to thank you for what you did today.”

“Not at all. But if you say so, I would like to ask for your cooperation again next time, should the opportunity arise. Well then, that’s all for today’s lecture―”

With the students dismissed, my attention was eventually riveted to the Forest Wolf, who was still glaring at me, and Harley with her bewilderment over the situation―