Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch21

Chapter 21

"Stay here for the time being."

Lamiya said as she tucked the twins, Mary and Matthew, under the covers. Both children, exhausted from shock and crying, had fallen asleep the moment they'd laid down on the cozy bed. Media, who had clung to Lamiya and sobbed her heart out, was restless. Practical worries flooded her mind—she had no money to stay here. As if reading her thoughts, Lamiya preempted her.

"This is the inn I stayed at before being hired by the Academy. I'll explain the situation to the landlady, so you can stay here until things are settled. I'll make sure you can visit your siblings briefly after class. Don't worry about the lodging fees."

"But... I can't impose on you that much..."

Media hesitated. Being helped this much and then having to accept money as well—it was too much of a burden.

"I never said I was giving it to you. I'm lending it to you. You can pay me back after you graduate."

She added a condition, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Media's eyes widened, and she let out a weak laugh. This felt much easier to accept.

"Come here and sit for a moment."

Lamiya pointed to another bed in the room and called Media over.

"Yes, Professor."

As Media sat down on the bed as instructed, Lamiya took a small vial from her pocket and handed it to her. Media didn't know what it was, looking puzzled.

"It's a potion to help you sleep. You'll sleep peacefully without dreaming. I thought you needed it more than your siblings."

"Ah..."

Taking the potion, Media fidgeted with the vial in her hands and hung her head.

"...What about my father?"

She couldn't relax.

"What if my father comes for my siblings while I'm not there? Sob... what if he takes them back...!"

Just as she felt her breath catching again, a pale hand came to rest on her head. Lamiya slowly stroked her hair, telling her not to dwell on useless worries.

"That trash will never show up in front of you again."

Lamiya only came downstairs after confirming with her own eyes that Media had taken the potion. Just in time, the person she'd contacted arrived.

"Aide Benjamin."

"Professor Lamiya."

The kindly innkeeper had a general sense of Media's situation and agreed to look after the children during their stay. But they couldn't stay here forever. Lamiya had neither connections in the capital nor large sums of money. So she'd contacted the person she thought would be most helpful—the Headmaster's right hand, Benjamin.

"What on earth happened?"

Benjamin, having received Lamiya's message, was out of breath from rushing over. Lamiya explained the day's events without delay. He was speechless for a long while, clearly in shock.

"A parent... how could someone wearing the face of a human being..."

Benjamin had grown up seeing all sorts of things as a commoner. But even among the rumors he'd heard, cases like Media's were rare. He'd heard of stepparents or relatives committing such acts, but a biological father resorting to this level of violence...! He'd heard whispers, but never imagined that a Mariposa Academy student could be going through something like this.

"She endures most things well... but this was just too revolting."

Despite the gravity of the content, Lamiya's voice was flat and dry.

"Media... she must have been deeply shaken."

Benjamin spoke with concern. Lamiya nodded. But they couldn't just keep lamenting the situation. What mattered to her wasn't sympathy, but how to solve the problem.

"That's why I contacted you. Media is terrified that her father will come for her. She also needs a place for her siblings so she can focus on her studies. Is there any way?"

Benjamin thought for a moment, then answered.

"I'll speak with the Headmaster. The Academy will file a report to keep Media's father from approaching her. An institution will carry more weight than an individual. The Headmaster cares deeply about his students, so he'll likely offer a better solution than I could."

It was far more concrete and promising than Lamiya had expected. She'd actually anticipated answers like "the Academy doesn't have provisions for such cases." She'd contacted Benjamin anyway, intending to ask about other options if nothing could be done. Having only recently arrived in the capital, Lamiya still had much to learn.

"The children will stay here until a permanent arrangement is made. I also want to allow Media to visit her siblings once a day—is that possible?"

"Of course. You're the professor in charge of the magical potions class. You have the authority to make that decision."

Lamiya was relieved things were working out more smoothly than she'd expected.

"What a relief. Thanks to you, Benjamin."

"Not at all. You're the one who did it."

Lamiya shook her head.

"Anyone could have saved her in that moment. But it's not easy to find a fundamental solution like you did."

Benjamin thought she was being modest again. Even after doing something so important, she was still thinking only of her student...!

"If Professor Lamiya hadn't been there at that moment, Media's life might have been irreparably damaged."

Lamiya, in turn, thought Benjamin was the modest one. He'd handled what she couldn't do with such capability, and with such an attitude. The Headmaster's aide was indeed no ordinary person.

Fearing Lamiya would deflect more praise, Benjamin quickly changed the subject.

"By the way... how did you know Media was in danger?"

Lamiya answered as if it were nothing.

"I heard Media's voice while I was walking."

"You must have spoken with her quite often to recognize her voice from outside the house."

"No. I've spoken to her twice."

"...Twice?"

"Yes."

Benjamin went blank for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Pfft, haha!! Twice... twice, you say? Snort... Yes, I understand."

Lamiya tilted her head in confusion at his reaction—but that only seemed to spur Benjamin further, as he clutched his stomach and laughed even harder. What kind of teacher recognized a student's voice after hearing it only twice? Even a parent would find that difficult. And with that expression to boot.

Lamiya, on the other hand, thought that if it hadn't been her student, she would have passed by any other voice. To her, it was no more and no less than a professor's duty.

---

The next day, Benjamin reported the results of his discussion with the Headmaster. He'd said he'd take action as soon as possible, and he'd kept his word—he was more capable than expected.

"The Headmaster asked High Priest Garyu for assistance. Having heard the situation, the High Priest agreed to take in Media's twin siblings at the temple until she comes of age and becomes independent."

"Ah..."

Since it was the Headmaster's request and the temple was involved, Lamiya felt reassured. The High Priest... so he was someone of that standing. It struck her anew that the client with whom she'd so casually dined just yesterday was such an important figure.

"And the Blanchard family has agreed to sponsor Media and her twin siblings on an ongoing basis."

Suddenly?

"Why?"

"The High Priest said it was to repay part of his debt to Professor Lamiya... Have the two of you met before?"

Benjamin asked with curiosity in his eyes. Lamiya was momentarily flustered, but fortunately her naturally impassive expression and glasses didn't betray her. She calmly deflected.

"Ah... I once brewed a sleeping potion for him through the Headmaster. That must be why."

"I see. Looking at Professor Lamiya's hiring exam scores, the effectiveness goes without saying. In any case, I'm glad it worked out."

"Yes. Thank you, Benjamin."

He waved his hand with a pleasant smile, as if it were nothing.

"If anything like this happens again, please come to me anytime. For Professor Lamiya, I'm always available."

"?"

Lamiya nodded in bewilderment at his sudden, even greater warmth.

---

Three days later, Media returned to class. That was how long it had taken Benjamin to secure a place for the children at the temple and for Media to confirm her twin siblings were safe. Media reportedly accepted the arrangement, relieved that things had been resolved faster than expected. Her face, when she returned to the Academy, looked far healthier than before.

It's settled now.

Lamiya concluded that she needn't involve herself further and conducted class as usual.

Come to think of it...

Her gaze drifted to the back corner by the window. Akira Sorin was sprawled across his desk, asleep. Strangely, the grotesque pranks at her laboratory had stopped a few days ago.

Ran out of material, I suppose.

After all, he'd used up just about every animal, plant, and insect he could find in the area. Hmm...

Probably just preparing for his next prank.

For someone who'd been provoked, her responses so far had been rather mild. She thought that whatever he did, he should stop wasting lives pointlessly and use that good head of his to attend class instead.

Lamiya turned to the blackboard and began writing the brewing method for "Hair-Enhancing Potion." At that, the eyelids of Akira Sorin—who'd seemed to be asleep—slowly lifted.

"..."

His vivid red eyes fixed on Lamiya's back. There was no playfulness or hostility in them, as before. His gaze was unreadable, his thoughts known only to himself. Whether it was a new prank... or something else entirely...

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