CHAPTER 3: Royal Academy (Part 3)

CHAPTER 3: Royal Academy (Part 3)

Leaving the Class I, alone, made my way to the library tower where the instructor's research labs were located. The library took up three floors of the tower, with the remaining floors allocated to the instructors that taught at the Academy.

Celia's laboratory was in one such space underneath the tower. The ground floor entrance of the library opened to an exorbitant number of books, crammed snuggly into shelves sorted by subject.

Although I was curious about what kinds of books were available, I had other matters to deal with today and headed straight for the underground research labs once I'd completed the necessary forms at the reception desk.

Once downstairs, the basement consisted of a long passage illuminated by magic lamps.

"Ah! here it is," I said as I arrived at Celia's lab safely, as I knew the way, having already come to this place in the morning.

Knock, knock. I knocked slowly on the door.

"..." No response came from the other side of the door.

"Is she not here?" I tilted my head in confusion, but then I remembered she must have forgotten about me coming for the private lessons, So I knocked again, this time with more force. Knock, knock. Still no response.

"Professor Celia, are you there?" Knock, knock. I continued to knock as I was having fun while I called her.

Just as I stopped knocking, the door flew open, making me jump in surprise. Luckily, the door had opened inwards — if it were an outward-facing door, it might have smacked me in the face.\

"Oh my god, shut up already! Can't you read the sign? I'm in the middle of something right now, go away..." Celia protested loudly as she burst out of the room, but trailed off at the sight of my face. I stared back at her dumbfoundedly; my impression of her as a sheltered and proper noble daughter had flown out the window.

"Erm... I'm here for the individual lessons you mentioned..." I started my business hesitantly with a stiff smile under which I was trying to control my laughter.

"Huh? Ah, yes... R-Right... Welcome! Yes, I've been expecting you." With a pondering pause and gasp later, Celia recovered herself smoothly with a sweet smile.

Just as I thought she forgot, I thought with a strained expression and decided to play along anyway.

"My apologies for the inconvenience."

"It's fine!" Celia said, smiling a bit abashedly. "As your instructor, I can't just leave you behind."

"Thank you very much."

"Yes, well. There's no point in standing around, so come on in — ah." Celia turned around to invite me inside and immediately stiffened. as she thought 'Oh no. I forgot he was coming so I didn't clean the room!'

"What's wrong?" I asked from behind a silently panicking Celia as I enjoyed her reaction, and if she were to know that I am enjoying all this, then I am sure to receive a cute pouting glare from her.

"Eh? Ah... no, nothing. Yes. Um. My room's a little bit messy right now, but pay it no mind." Celia gave me her biggest and brightest forced smile to try and cover up her oversight.

"Sure, that's fine." I nodded, then stepped into the room and I recoiled at the chaos laid out before me. It was much worse than I imagined. The room was an impressive size of over 350 square feet, but the floor was scattered with documents, books, and other miscellaneous items of unknown purpose to me.

There was a desk that was also covered in books and papers, with the leftovers of a light meal — a plate and teacup — stacked at the end. It was hard to believe that this was the room of a cute young lady.

"I-It's normally cleaner than this! I was just a bit busy and my research was at a good stride so I put it off for later..."

Celia blushed on noticing my expression, while trying to explain herself, only to be unable to come up with a good response.

So as a gentleman, I decided to help her and when my eye caught the books, I complimented Celia, "T-Those are a lot of difficult-looking books, Professor. You're really amazing for such a young age!". It was a very low-effort response, but Celia latched onto it.

"Eh? Ah... aah, yes. I'm only twelve years old, you know? I should still be in the primary division at this age, yet I've already graduated from secondary school!" Celia proudly puffed out her small chest. Her cheeks were still a little red, but she seemed grateful for the change of topic.

"That really is amazing."

"R-Right! I actually wanted to dedicate myself to my magic research more, but the researchers here all have to take a part in instructing," Celia babbled. The way she was trying to act mature was strangely cute, making me smile faintly.

"Umm... I'll clear space, so just wait there." saying this she began cleaning up the items left on the desk and chairs in the middle of the room.

There seemed to be a certain methodology to how the items were haphazardly scattered, which allowed Celia to briskly organize them. Figuring I shouldn't move any of the books and documents myself, I decided to stand back and watch, but...

"..."

I noticed that Celia was bent forward as she cleaned, making her skirt flutter dangerously. Her slender legs had an elegant charm that didn't suit her age... I quickly averted my eyes and sighed at Celia's

obliviousness, but as a man of culture, I continued to take glances from time to time.

Several minutes later, I and Celia sat opposite each other at her desk, with several writing tools placed before them.

"Okay, let's start."

"All right."

"So where shall we begin... Okay, how about this — do you know what numbers are and what they mean?"

"I do," I answered immediately

Hearing my reply, Celia gave me some simple oral problems to solve and was surprised that I could do them. Then she gave me some additional questions on a paper, as to how I know that it's an additional problem, simply because even if the numbers and letters are different but mathematical symbols have the same meaning.

After that everything went as same in the novel, she asked where did I learn multiplication and division and I replied that I learn them from my dead mother, and while saying this my expression faintly darken....