Vol. 1 - Ch. 315 - The Duty of a Private Tutor (2)

"Words truuuuly can't describe my jealousy, Feria-san!"

"So indeed! Even in my wildest dream I did not think someone among our circle would be able to win the «Summer Course Private Tutor from Royal Academy» lottery! Some even say your odds are more significant in shooting down the enrollment for Royal Academy than to hope to win this!"

"To be truth, one of my acquaintances even went as far to claim 'An insider told me the selection procedure is just a facade, and picked candidates are merely paid audiences'?"

" "Anyhow, your Kay's now truly set~." "

A lively conversation, reflecting the speaker's excitement, over tea was taking place in the living room of the Oram family's house. The gathered ladies were a group of three mothers, with a common link between them being their children of the same age and their educational journey. 

"I feel it’s quite early to be worryfree. I mean, I know the academy only has generational prodigies, but teaching might not be part of everyone's forte. The hiring cost is also quite absurd."

Feria had barebones knowledge over the Royal Academy, so in her quest for any information over them, she unwittingly revealed the situation to the fellow mothers. Though she now felt a short peng of regret seeing as the other mothers were already imagining her son's success, oblivious to her concern, she spilled out her worry. 

Yes, her husband earned a commendable income, but even then, a salary of 50,000 rea for ten days was a sum beyond their status. In fact, even Lopics's expense, who's supposed to be a famed preparatory school, only was in the range of ten thousand rea, including the cost of supplement books and other study materials. 

She hadn't forgotten this fact. She just went along the flow, thinking ‘oh well, there's also no harm in participating.' Looking forward to the outcome wasn’t even at the back of his mind. And even if someone picked their request out of some miracle, it was still within realm to cancel.  

But, would she cancel it? The entrance exam was a monumental juncture of his dear son's life, and it certainly was within possibility to arrange the fee. Money might as well be dirt if it helps her struggling child. 

In retrospect, she also understood it was a high-risk low-reward situation. She had no doubt over the excellence of Royal Academy's success, but the crash course stayed for mere ten days. It's nearly an impossible task to improve Cain's knowledge within the duration... however this could be a chance, she thought to herself.

Cain was a smart kid, and he was capable of achieving great success. It's just, all he lacked was some sort of catalyst to give him that push. Now, one could say it was her blind affection for her child, but Felia firmly believed in her conviction, and so she convinced her husband to pay for the short summer crash course. 

A connection with a talented peer might prove to be that catalyst. 

"...So, who is the teacher? You should've already received the information I presume...?"

They must've been curious. 

The question came from one of the mothers, an unofficial fanbook of Royal Academy's students—it is apparently sold by grey businesses in the Royal Capital—held in her arms, her expression betraying her long-awaited curiosity. 

Feria placed a paper on the table. It had been mailed to her after making payment, and included simple information like the name of teacher, age, hobbies or simple biography.

"Mhm, the respected teacher is Duid Moonlit, a student of Class 2-E. He's the son of a viscount from Dragreid."

This was another of her worries. Felia was dejected when she learned the assigned teacher's details. 

As far as she had picked, the baseline of academic tests in Royal Academy was on par with the top-rankers of Civil Economy's candidates. The Royal Academy’s entrance exam was a sum of three category—combat technique, academic, and mana reserve. He might as well have strong grasp over the combat and mana reserve, but was so-so in academics. She had no way of knowing.

And to say the least, he hailed from the countryside, just the type who might be a natural prodigy than in know-how of methodical approach. 

If only the student would have been from Class-D... no, even a 3rd year from Class-E would've been fine. 

"Wait, Duid Moonlit!?"

Feigning an expression of calmness, Felia revealed the name of Duid, but the reaction she received was something beyond her expectation.

"It... it is indeed him. Is there something?"

"Something? It's much bigger than that. He's the childhood friend of Allen Rovenne! They even say the ongoing ‘Tempering oneself through life of commoner' trend at the general dormitory was first started by them together at first!"

"I, too, have heard of him! He's the founding president of Magic Car Club which is competing for the spot of top club in the Royal Academy! They even say he's another rising star among the present second year students, garnering attention from everyone, acknowledged even by Feyrune von Dragoon, the present head of Dragoon family! No, it's no longer luck, it's godsend... it's no less of a miracle, Felia-san! This is terrific!"

The more she listened to other ladies' gossip, completely taken over by the enthusiasm, the more Felia felt her throat becoming dry. 

She’d already known Cain's path would never intertwine with Royal Academy as his mana capacity was below the baseline Royal Academy wanted. With that among other things, Felia never felt the need to up-do-date with the circumstance of academy. 

It was one of the reasons why she was oblivious to Duid's information, but even if she knew sum zero about him or the academy, any family who's putting even the slightest bit of effort in an attempt for NOKM’s exam were bound to hear the name of Allen Rovenne and his private tutor. 

Unless they're a hermit living six feet underground, everyone and their mother had heard how Allen Rovenne beat down the cheating allegations against him, retaining his seat as Class-A student, an unprecedented scenario. And the one who built his character, the «Unceasing Fortitude» Schord Bainfaus. 

Maybe...  it's just wishful thinking from her end, but what if Duid, too, had inadvertently picked up some trick through his contact with Allen Rovenne. Then—

*Badump-badump*

The possible implication caused Felia's heartbeat to rise at the hope. 

N-no, It's too soon to assume any chances. Felia pushed herself to calm down, and turned her attention to fellow mothers, churning her thoughts on how to stop them from raising any victory flag yet when—*Knock-Knock* she heard the knock from their entrance door.

"Excuse me, I'm Duid Moonlit from Royal Academy."

"Oh dear! T-the teacher is here it appears. That's odd. I believe the appointed time was 1:00 PM."

Did she lose herself in the flow of time? Felia quickly took a glance at the clock, but it displayed 11:00 AM. 

"Mhmm, that's a pinch. Please, go ahead and welcome him. Think of us as wall decoration. We will excuse ourselves as soon as the teacher begins. Err... if it's not breaching the boundary, w-would you mind if we exchange a greeting?"

"O-of course, feel free to. —Cain! Come downstairs! The teacher is here!"

Felia excused herself from the seat, reminded Cain to come down from his room upstairs, and hurriedly made it to the entrance.

She found two young boys standing there. One of them, a simplistic youth strangely carrying luggage as if he's out on some journey, spoke first. 

"Nice to meet you, Miss Oram. I'm Duid Moonlit, the teacher who received your application to begin coaching starting today. Well... about this, I must apologise here. My relative suddenly fell ill... so if I have your permission, I would like to take the leave for four days. Instead, my close friend, he's from Class-A, who heard of my plight, volunteered to cover my absence. ...May I know if the arrangement is alright with you?"

A-a-a close friend from... Royal Academy, and a student of Class A no less? ...S-surely... no, it can't be. How could something, that even luck couldn't influence, happen to her?

"......Oh dear, this is awful to hear. It's quite polite of you to even find your replacement. Yes, it's alright."

Acknowledging Felia's affirmation at last, Duid swiftly glanced at his neighbour. The other young boy sharply stepped forward, bowed in an impressive 60 degree angle, and introduced himself in a sonorous voice.

"I'm Allen Rovenne of Royal Academy! It's my pleasure to meet you!"

*Clatter-Clatter*

As soon his greeting echoed, the sound of three tea-cups breaking apart reverberated from the inside.

◆◆◆

"I hope I haven't inconvenienced you by arriving earlier. I had thought it would be far better if lil Dui gets to explain the situation himself before the departure of his Mana Train. But, more importantly—"

Pausing for a moment, the young boy, who had his name thundered across the whole continent, raised his gaze from the learning materials handed to him, and gestured a faint smile.

"There's no rest in the war of exams. I prefer to utilise every single second if possible."

Once explaining the situation, he shifted his gaze back to the materials, and ran his gaze across them with a staggering speed. And beside the unfurled study materials were emergency portable ration—developed as a means to provide ample nutrients to the soldiers during war while also economising on space. 

She had asked him if he would live to have lunch, but the latter turned down, explaining he'd come prepared. The portable rations were placed just at the position to reach out quickly amidst the work, almost as if he'd measured the distance with a ruler. 

The learning materials were mostly Cain's mock exam's score he had taken at the Lopics over three years among other things. 

And finally, when he was seemingly done reviewing the materials—that too in a mere thirty minutes—he put down the last material and remarked an honest review.

"There's no absolute when it comes to exams, I firmly believe so. There's no shortcut to them, but... it appears it would be a cakewalk for Cain-kun to crack the exam if I and Dui teach him."

"I-I didn't mishear you, right?!"

Felia unwittingly remarked back when Allen laid out his review.

"Y-You can finally put your heart down, Felia-san."

"I, I did expect, but truly incredible."

"C-c-congratulations, Felia-san."

The other ladies promptly passed their well wishes. 

As a fact, the visit of the dear guest from Royal Press newspaper's front page—they'd learned of his exploit which rocked the entire continent just the other day—had greatly startled the ladies, so much so they immediately tried to leave the Omar house. But beholden by the confused, and nearly half-crying Felia, they'd lost their chance.

Allen was aware he'd arrived before the time, so he quickly cleared he did not mind their presence if Felia finds it okay, ultimately sealing their escape route. They shivered as if they'd been locked into a pen with a beast, and for a good while, only such short remarks came from them.

"However!"

"What is it?!"

The faint, but sudden rise in Allen's voice as he raised his finger caused Felia to react louder than she had wanted. She was here, but her mind had already shut down from the overloaded situation. If Allen pressed to double the fee, there's no doubt only a yes would be echoed.

"I believe you've already noticed it, but there's a bit of a problem we must tackle. ...I dare say, it's the restlessness of the heart."

Felia bit on her lips as she heard him. 

"H-he's sufficiently capable as long as he puts his mind to it. He just needs a push, like a boy of his age, but more talented, to grasp that moment!"

Allen gestured with a huge node as Felia's eyes brimmed with tears.

"I absolutely share the same reasoning. ...Please allow me to have some moments with Cain-kun, alone."

Allen pushed forward his request as he turned a warm smile toward Cain. The latter had a pale face as he sat by his mother's side all this while, and seeing that smile just had him shudder in fright like a lamb being offered as sacrifice to the altar of great evil.

◆◆◆

"Good lordy! Is this the CF10?! Man, you got an incredible IRD (Image recording device)."         T/N - In short, a camera. 

It was an old model, but a classic that had once taken the world by its storm. It was also Coco's first ever camera he had touched, as he told me, and apparently he still brings it to use sometime.

"I, I am sorry..."

I had barely entered Cain's room before my attention was immediately stolen by the said camera when Cain apologised for reason unknown.

"?? Why are you apologising? Mhm, this is definitely handled meticulously. Well, it must reflect your prim and proper attitude, eh?"

I was impressed by him. I mean, I quite liked the people who cherished their items.

"It is... well, a second-hand item I received when I was promoted to a higher group at Lopicks. My mother told me to focus on studies only until the entrance exam, so I've rarely used it..."

Heh, so that's how it is.

"Mhm, She's quite right about this. The heart of the problem, however, is how to make yourself focus on studying. ...Ooh, it seems someone has an interest in architecture."

I spotted a photo album among the other books in bookshelves and pulled it out casually, going over the pictures. 

It appeared to be a part of a series, judging by the spine of books put in a line, and depicted the architectural buildings from all over the world, like the palaces of royalties, historic ruins, temples, and even the world's library."

"How to focus... isn't it all about doing my best..."

I spilled a wry smile at the answer.

"It's not that easy. It doesn't matter how good you are, but it's not easy to regain focus when something has wormed itself in your heart. There are multitudes of examples. You must have been asked to try focusing more, but you couldn't, right? It's also a tutor's duty to find out the cause together, and figure out the measures."

Cain repeatedly blinked for a while when he heard me. 

"...Isn't the job...... simply to teach the subject?"

I shook my head.

"How is putting a mountain of books and just teaching the solving method any different from your cram school? A person who sticks to such a basic routine would never be a tutor in my eyes. Atleast, my tutor has been more than that."

Schord had been our family tutors for ages, and going into all the memory lanes, he would teach us the syllabus indeed, but he never considered only this as his duty. 

I had often pestered him, asking 'why is study necessary at all?', and he would explain to me steadfastly. Whenever he picked even the slightest of my interest in something, he would bring out that topic, telling about the inside story or the process. 

It was like he was just in my mind, always in the know-how of my thoughts. 

Cain hadn't understood the meaning at all, but I could see his eagerness to know more about my story. I patted his back with a smile. 

As they say, a picture was worth a thousand words. I decided to do just that.

"...Hey, isn't it a shame the weather is so pleasant, but we're here, coped inside the house? I know! Let's go for a walk, and bring your camera with us!"

Cain's eyes peeled back when he heard my suggestion.

"What?! But... are you sure, like, shouldn't we be studying? I mean, it's an important time..... and besides, I promised to not use it until the exam."

"When the winds are against you, you would only exhaust yourself trying to cut through. Instead, we might as well spend that time doing something else until you're stuffed. We can always talk while taking a walk. If you find it pleasing, we can even study outside. Anyway, come, teach me more about you!"

I pushed Cain, still seized in dumbfoundment, urging him to move as we left the room. —"We're going out to play." I shouted toward the living room and left for the streets of Royal Capital, a fine weather ornamenting its scenery.

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