Reincarnated as the Strongest Dragon

Chapter 67: Teacher Luna

“Now then, thanks to, uhm, that guy’s generous demonstration,” I said, pointing at the door. “Who can tell me the benefits of chantless casting?”

I glanced over the crowd, waiting for a response.

Did I go too far? It looks like they are too afraid to answer…

After a moment, a young man timidly raised his hand. “It’s faster?”

“Correct,” I replied with a smile. “Anything else?”

No one else said anything. I looked at Thomas. “What about you?”

“Me?” Thomas replied, surprised. “I’m just here to observe.”

“Didn’t you say you were here as a student today?” I smirked.

“I guess I did say that,” Thomas chuckled. “It’s harder for your opponent to react to your spells.”

“Also correct. There are others, but we can talk about them later,” I continued. “For now, let’s get into the actual lecture.”

I explained the logic behind it and how to properly train. The students gradually began to loosen up, and a few even asked questions during my explanation. Nyssa, who had returned from Thomas’ mission, was also paying close attention and taking notes.

After I had covered the basics, I chose a few of them to try it out for themselves, Zara being one of them. I knew that none of them would be able to do it for a long time, but I figured it would be beneficial for them to try while I was there.

“This is hard,” Zara muttered as her [Wind Cutter] missed the target. “You made it sound so easy.”

“I did say that you might need to repeat it a thousand times for the first spell, did I not?” I chuckled. “It will be faster after you master the first spell.”

It’s not like everyone has a pet dragon to help them… Did I just call myself a pet?

“I think that pretty much covers the basics,” I said as Zara and the other students returned to the crowd. “Does anyone have any questions?”

Zara’s hand immediately shot up. “Why don’t you use a magic medium?”

“I learned how to cast magic without one,” I replied. “And before you ask, that’s more advanced than casting without chants, so learn that first.”

One of the adventurers raised her hand. “Who taught you magic?”

“I taught myself.”

It’s not a lie, but being a dragon helped a lot.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” One of the male students asked with a cheeky smile.

“I have a girlfriend,” I sighed, rubbing my forehead.

“Oooh, rejected!” The student next to him laughed, nudging his shoulder.

I guess they are school students, after all.

“Any questions about the lecture?” I asked, glancing over the crowd. “Otherwise, I will end the lecture here.”

Since no one had any more questions, I ended the lecture. While everyone else was leaving, Nyssa and Thomas walked over to me.

“Good job today,” Nyssa said. “It was very informative.”

“I’m glad you think so,” I replied. “I found it exhausting. I’m not cut out to be a teacher.”

“Does that mean that you aren’t up for holding another lecture at a later date?” Nyssa wondered. “We had hoped to have you back sometime.”

“I didn’t expect you to invite me back after I almost killed a student,” I chuckled. “But no, once is more than enough for me.”

“It was an official duel and not one you started. It will be reported as such,” Thomas said. “There is also that other matter that we need to investigate further.”

“What other matter?” I wondered.

“With his staff,” Thomas answered, turning to Nyssa. “I don’t know if it’s an isolated case, but we have to make sure. I will personally come and check everyone’s magic medium the day after tomorrow. Make sure everyone is here.”

“There’s too many students for you to handle alone,” Nyssa replied.

“I will bring some people with me,” Thomas said. “But don’t tell the students about the inspection.”

“I will make sure that everyone is here,” Nyssa replied, writing something down in her notepad. She then put away her notepad and turned to me. “Before you leave, could you come and meet the headmaster? He wanted to talk to you.”

“I suppose so,” I said. “I’m not in a hurry.”

However, I do have an urge to go home and hug my body pillow.

When we arrived at the headmaster’s office, a man told us to sit down and wait since the headmaster was currently busy. As we sat down, I could hear voices coming from the headmaster’s office.

“Didn’t I make myself clear? Why did you allow this?”

“You made your opinion very clear, but others didn’t agree.”

“We have enemies at our borders, and you allow some adventurer to come and disrupt the students’ training. Are you aware of how many of the current students that will join the military after they graduate? Will you take responsibility for their lack of skill from wasting their time here on some absurd ‘new’ method of casting magic?”

“It’s exactly because we have enemies at our borders that I allowed this. The guildmaster himself vouched for it after seeing it with his own eyes.”

“You put too much trust into that man. There’s no way that something like this was suddenly discovered.”

“I choose who to trust, and in matters like this, I trust him more than most.”

One of those voices sure sounds familiar. I’m glad I came here.

“I can’t allow you to jeopardize the future recruits of the mage corps. If you don’t—”

“You forget yourself, Marquess. Within these walls, I’m in charge.”

“You serve the king!”

“I do, and I have done so for far longer than you.”

“Then you should—”

Thomas suddenly stood up and walked over to the door.

“Sir Thomas, please—” the man at the desk said before stopping when he was met with Thomas’ glare.

Thomas motioned for us to follow as he yanked open the door.

“What the—” Marquess Bluhelt blurted as he turned around, surprised by the sudden interruption. “S-Sir Thomas? What are you doing here?”

The Marquess then locked eyes with me. “What are YOU doing here?!”

“Do you two know each other?” Thomas asked, looking back at me with questioning eyes.

“We have met,” I replied with a mischievous smirk. I then took a step forward and did a slight bow. “I’m honored to meet you again, Marquess Bluhelt. The guildmaster of the adventurers guild sent me here to hold a lecture.”

It seems like he didn’t even know it was me who was sent here. Almost hurts my feelings.

Marquess Bluhelt’s face twitched as he tried his best to hide his emotions from hearing my sarcastic greeting. However, his strained expression quickly shifted into a more sinister grin as he looked back at Thomas. “It’s fortunate that you’re here, Sir Thomas. Perhaps you can help me convince the headmaster?”

“Convince him of what?” Thomas asked, noticing the Marquess’ expression.

“About that,” Marquess Bluhelt answered, pointing at me. “We don’t—”

“That is exactly why I’m here,” Thomas interrupted him. “I sat in on her lecture on the king’s orders.”

“The king?” Marquess Bluhelt mumbled.

“So, how was it?” The headmaster asked, looking at Thomas with curious eyes.

“It made me realize I still have a long way to go until I can call myself a proper mage,” Thomas chuckled. “I have no doubt the king will be pleased with my report.”

“That sounds promising,” the headmaster answered. “I would have liked to attend myself.”

Thomas then looked back at the Marquess. “Is something wrong?”

“N-Nothing at all,” Marquess Bluhelt stammered, his face now completely pale. “I have another appointment, so I really must be going.”

“I look forward to our next meeting,” I said, giving him a warm smile.

The Marquess hastily scurried past us, glaring at me as he left the office.

“He sure was in a hurry,” Thomas chuckled as the door slammed shut.

“If only you would have come sooner,” the headmaster said, letting out a deep sigh. He then stood up from his desk and walked over to me. “I suppose I should properly introduce myself. My name is Tristan, the headmaster of the magic institute.”

“Luna, a pleasure,” I replied, smiling at the man. I then noticed the striking similarity. Tristan, with his short white hair and beard, looked eerily similar to Thomas, although a few decades older. I briefly glanced at Thomas before turning my gaze back at Tristan. “Say, are you two related?”

“Thomas is my son,” Tristan answered, letting out a chuckle.

That might explain why he just stormed into the office.

“But, before we go any further,” Tristan said, motioning to the two couches on the other side of his office. “Please, take a seat.”

I sat down on one of the two couches in the office. Tristan and Thomas sat down on the couch opposite me. Nyssa, who hadn’t said a word since we entered the office, sat down beside me.

“You have been awfully quiet for a while,” I said, glancing at Nyssa. “Is something wrong?”

“Uhm, no, nothing at all,” Nyssa replied, shaking her head. “It’s just easier not to say anything.”

“Nyssa isn’t on the best of terms with the Marquess,” Tristan said.

“How do you know him?” Thomas asked, looking at me with curious eyes. “He didn’t seem happy to see you.”

“I met him once a few weeks ago,” I replied. “He is actually the main reason why I came here today.”

“What do you mean?” Tristan wondered.

“Initially, I was going to refuse, but I had no choice but to accept after Grahl said the Marquess was against the lecture,” I said with a mischievous smirk.

“I suppose I should thank him then,” Tristan laughed. “I’m grateful that you came, even if it was out of spite.”

“Don’t mention it. It was… fun,” I replied, thinking back on the events of the lecture.

“Could you tell us how to proceed after this?” Nyssa asked. “Since we need to train without you from now on.”

I did my best to explain how to train without the help from a dragon, focusing on the importance of mana management. Doing both morning and afternoon practice and investing in mana regeneration potions and items appeared to be the most logical step forward.

After answering all the questions I could, most of them from Tristan, I took my leave and left the magic institute.

I guess I should swing by the guild before I leave the capital.

I entered the adventurers guild and was met with a crowd of people.

It seems I came in the middle of the afternoon rush. I hope Grahl isn’t busy.

I made my way up the stairs and knocked on the door to his office but didn’t get an answer. I knocked again, but the result was the same.

He is the only one I sense in there.

I opened the door and entered. I then saw why Grahl didn’t answer. He was sleeping on the couch. I sat down on the other couch and cleared my throat. Not getting a reply, I kicked the leg of the table, which made Grahl sit up wide awake.

“Wha—”

“Good morning,” I chuckled. “Brave of you to sleep in here. What if Saria had caught you?”

“I was just resting my eyes for a moment,” Grahl muttered as he rubbed his neck. “How did it go at the magic institute?”

“I would say it went pretty well,” I replied.

I gave Grahl a summary of the lecture and the meeting with the headmaster.

“I was worried something might happen, but to think that a student would challenge you to a duel,” Grahl sighed. “What was his name?”

“Uhm, Rasmus, I think?” I said, trying to remember what he had said. “Rasmus Vanberg.”

“Vanberg, eh…” Grahl muttered. “If I remember correctly, Count Vanberg is in the same noble faction as Marquess Bluhelt. Both are involved in the military.”

“You think someone told him to make a scene?” I wondered. “He was fully convinced that the rumors were true, after all.”

“I’m more annoyed that someone actually spread such idiotic rumors,” Grahl frowned. “How little do they think of me?”

“So you’re saying you didn’t use me to gain more influence over the magic institute?” I asked with a mischievous smirk.

“Why would I want even more work?” Grahl muttered. “It was Tristan who asked me after I told him about you.”

“True, that might have an impact on your nap time,” I laughed.

“I was just resting my eyes,” Grahl repeated.

“Of course,” I smirked. “Is there anything else you need from me? Otherwise, I will take my leave.”

“No, thank you for the report,” Grahl replied. “I will add the payment to your account here.”

I didn’t even know I was getting paid.

“Alright, I’ll come by to play sometime,” I said, waved my goodbyes, and teleported back to Baruda.