Dream Life Vol II Chapter 28.1: “Teachers”

~Bennett’s Perspective~

　I, Aric Bennett, was pleased at first to hear that I would be in charge of the elite class of this new class, the 281st, and it seemed that my luck had finally turned.

　After all, I had heard that the son of Councilor Wagman, the Hope of the Council, would be enrolling this time.

　The headmaster was also concerned about this and called me over to say a few words.

“Mr. Bennett, this is a unique opportunity for you.” (Headmaster)

　He continued in a manner that suggested he was concerned about my future.

“I heard that Councilor Wagman’s son is a once-in-a-decade genius. If you can become his mentor and guide him well, you will become more appealing to the council members and influential councilors. It is about time that you were recommended for the position. Take heart.” (Headmaster)

　Yes, I am not a teacher because I want to be a teacher. I am a teacher only because the guild’s policy is to mentor younger students for a certain period of time. But the headmaster’s intentions are similar. If I can successfully mentor Councilor Wagman’s son, that alone will raise the reputation of the headmaster who chose me as his homeroom teacher. So, I am only concerned about it.

　On August 10, the general teachers, including myself, could not hide our surprise when we saw the successful candidates announced. I, as well as the other teachers, had believed that Councilor Wagman’s son would pass at the top of his class.

　What was even more surprising was that both the first and second runners-up were only ten years old. They were from a village called Rathmore, a village I had never heard of. I later heard that the guild was so upset that several magicians were dispatched to investigate the village of Rathmore.

　If that had been all, there would have been no problem, but Professor Ruspede, a well-known eccentric, was said to be interested in the two individual.

　After it was officially decided that I would be the homeroom teacher for class one of the 281st term, Professor Ruspede, who looked younger than I was, paid me a visit in the faculty room.

　Professor Ruspede, who looked younger than I was, said to me with a smile, “You must be Mr. Bennett?”

　The professor has been at the institute for nearly a hundred years and is a magician whom not only the headmaster of the academy but also the chairman of the council, in other words, the top of the guild of magicians in general, have respected.

　I think it is only natural. Most of those in leadership positions in the guild are graduates of this academy. In other words, they are reluctant to talk to Professor Ruspede, who knew them in their youth. Of course, I am one of them.

　Of course, an eccentric person like Professor Ruspede would not remember an unremarkable student like me.

　I managed to regain my composure and said, “Yes, I’m Bennett.”

　Professor Ruspede asked me again, “You will be the one to teach those two, aren’t you?”

　I immediately knew who those two were.

“Who are ‘those two’?” (Bennett)

“It’s definitely going to be Young Lockhart and Young Jakes, isn’t it? Lockhart is a once-in-a-millennium talent, and Young Jakes is a once-in-a-decade talent. Do you think there are any other students I care about besides these two?” (Ruspede)

　I brushed off his words and asked, “So, what can I do for you?”

“I wanted to ask you how you plan to teach them. They are such geniuses. Naturally, you have a special program in mind, don’t you?” (Ruspede)

　He looked at me with expectant eyes, but I shook my head.

“I will not discriminate against other students. I won’t teach them differently from other students. I’m going to make sure they take the same classes.” (Bennett)

　At my words, Professor Ruspede raises his hand in disbelief and shakes his head.

“Then you’re treating those two geniuses the same as those talentless children. …Don’t you have any discernment? They are precious gems. If we teach them properly from now on, how deep of a footprint will they leave behind. …Yes, even I don’t know. And he is just a mere child…” (Ruspede)

　He mumbled for a while.

　The other faculty members were listening to our exchange, careful not to make eye contact with Professor Ruspede.

　I was hoping for someone to offer a helping hand, but no one joined the conversation, as if they didn’t want to get involved with him.

　Professor Ruspede clapped his hands and said, “Yes. That’s right. This is better,” he muttered to himself.

“I’ll take those two under my direct supervision. Tell them that. I’m counting on you.” (Ruspede)

　With these words, he was about to leave the faculty office.

　I gathered my courage and said, “I can’t do that. At least ask the headmaster’s permission,” I said to his back.

　The professor looked back at me and said, “You want the permission of the headmaster, huh? I will have him approve of that,” he said, and started walking again.

　I was relieved that he walked away. However, I was shocked to realize that I had thrown the problem to the headmaster.

　I had no choice but to follow Professor Ruspede as he headed for the headmaster’s office.

　In the end, the headmaster and the faculty members discussed the matter, and it was decided that Lockhart and Jakes would be required to take the same classes as regular students.

　However, Professor Ruspede seemed not to have given up yet and returned to his own laboratory, saying, “I will be sure to teach them if they wish for me to do so.”

　I was beginning to regret being the homeroom teacher for the first class.

　All I could hope for now was that they would make it through the year in one piece. In order to do that, I had to think seriously about how to handle those two.

　Then the entrance ceremony was over and classes began.

　Every year properly educated students complain that the classes are too easy.

　I myself think that the level of classroom learning for first-year students is too low, but since it is the academy’s policy, I have no choice.

　Lockhart and Jakes took the first two days of class seriously, but from the third day, they began to miss my classes.

　This happens every year, so I have no particular reason to think about it. I myself had done the same thing, and I could understand that they felt pain taking my class.

　About ten days later, a middle-aged man came to me, claiming to be related to Councilor Wagman. When he heard how Lockhart and Jakes were doing, he immediately began speaking with an indignant expression on his face.

“Do you allow such selfishness! To think that the son of a councilor is taking a back seat to such people makes me furious!” (Old Man)

　I tried to quiet him down, saying, “But sir.”

　But he became even angrier. Then, after a long conversation.

“I think it would be a great honor for the councilor to be remembered if you could make his son, Mr. Quentin, the top of the class.” (Old Man)

　When I expressed my surprise, he grinned and continued.

“The councilor is an honorable man, and he loves Master Quentin very much. Of course, I am not asking you to get rid of them. I just want to persuade them to leave the academy… voluntarily.” (Old Man)

　He put pressure on me with the words “voluntarily” and “persuade”.

“Look, they are just ten-year-old, and they will be uncooperative, and they will be a nuisance to the other students. That’s when you… will convince them—mildly…” (Old Man)

　After he said that much, he stood up.

　Then he gave me one meaningful last shock.

“If Mr. Quentin becomes top of the class, you will be the mentor of the son of the next Chairman of the Council. Naturally, the memory of the next chairman will also be very clear. It will be a great opportunity for you. …If you don’t move, there will be someone transferring, which is rare for the academy at this time of the year. You know what will happen to you then… that is all, farewell.” (Old Man)

　After he walked away, I looked him up. I wondered if he was really related to councilor Wagman.

　As it turned out, he was, as he identified himself, a private staff member of the council. I then asked Councilor Isherwood, the father of my student Anita Isherwood, about him, and he told me that he was a sly man who had gone from being Quentin’s tutor to his close aide.

　When I was troubled, Councilor Isherwood said to me.

“I don’t know what is troubling you, but when it comes to His Excellency Wagman’s son, I think you should follow him. His influence is too great even for me to ignore.” (Miles)

　For my own well-being, I have decided to eliminate the two geniuses, Lockhart and Jakes.