Chapter 134: Practical Magic Class, Another Paul?
As Caelum, Paul and the E-Boy, now officially named Jinx, made their way back toward the dormitories, they spotted two familiar figures approaching from the opposite direction.
It was Voomie and Jojo.
Caelum’s attention immediately fell on Jojo’s unusually evil smile.
Hanging from his waist was a bulging pouch that looked as though it had been stuffed with rocks... or perhaps bundles of bamboo sticks.
"You... wait a minute!" Caelum narrowed his eyes before stopping abruptly.
He immediately grabbed Voomie.
Leaning closer, he noticed traces of food around her mouth.
"Who fed you?" he asked while slowly turning his gaze toward Jojo.
The panda simply nodded with an innocent smile.
"I treated her because I was in a good mood," Jojo replied without the slightest hint of shame.
"More like you were in a good money mood, woooofuuuu~!" Voomie barked before letting out a loud burp.
"..."
Caelum silently sighed.
Then he shot Voomie a long, meaningful glare and his message was perfectly clear.
Your good days are over.
Voomie immediately shrank her neck and looked away innocently, pretending she hadn’t understood anything. She resembled a ball more and more.
Meanwhile, Jinx perched atop Caelum’s head, quietly watching the scene unfold.
Without another word, the group continued toward the dormitories to get some much-needed rest.
***
The Next Day...
After finishing their morning classes, the children of Class A-1 once again changed into their combat uniforms and gathered at the training grounds for their next practical lesson.
Today’s subject was [Practical Magic].
"Hello, kids. I will be your instructor for Practical Magic. My name is Paul Baker," a striking young man in his late twenties with a magnificent mustache introduced himself with a smile.
"Another Paul has arrived!" Skyler commented immediately.
"I didn’t think we’d encounter this situation so soon either," Caelum muttered before looking toward his roommate.
"Paul, didn’t your family also own a restaurant?"
Paul’s glasses flashed as everyone turned to look at him with amused expressions.
Standing at the front, Paul Baker couldn’t help as the corners of his mouth twitched.
As a High Mage (4th Circle) from the Magic Tower, his hearing was naturally far sharper than that of ordinary people.
’So there’s another Paul in this class.’
His gaze landed on the spectacled child.
Fortunately, it wasn’t uncommon for multiple people to share the same first name.
"Human society is truly complex," Sénior added with a thoughtful expression.
"There are probably hundreds of Pauls in the world, some even share the same surname."
His own barbarian culture handled such problems differently.
If two people happened to share the same name, which was already extremely rare, they would introduce themselves together with their father’s name.
If they belonged to different communities, they would also mention their tribe.
After all, everyone within the same tribe shared the same surname.
Paul Baker lightly cleared his throat before continuing.
"So, who among you wishes to become a mage?"
More than half the class immediately raised their hands.
"I see." He nodded before asking another question.
"And who wishes to become a warrior or a knight?"
Once again, a large number of hands shot into the air.
Paul Baker’s eye twitched slightly.
Just as he had expected, most of these children still hadn’t decided which path they truly wanted to pursue.
As their mentor, however, helping them discover the most suitable path was part of his responsibility.
"I know Sir Bromwen has already begun your physical training and starting this week, your combat classes will also officially begin." Paul Baker said calmly.
He paused for them to understand before continuing.
"I also want to give all of you one piece of advice.
"Although Sir Bromwen’s training methods may seem... rather harsh, they exist for your benefit. His goal is to build an optimal body, whether you eventually become a knight, a warrior, or even a mage."
The moment training methods were mentioned.
Nearly half the class visibly stiffened, several students unconsciously shivered while others awkwardly looked away while fidgeting with their fingers.
Paul Baker blinked.
’...What exactly happened during yesterday’s class?’
He couldn’t help wondering about that.
Shaking the thought from his mind, Paul Baker smiled and continued today’s lesson.
***
Inside an office meeting room...
"Bromwen, why have there been so many complaints against you? And from what I know, that was only your first class, wasn’t it?"
Yelena, the Head of the Foundation Division, asked sharply as she looked at the burly man seated across from her.
Bromwen calmly sipped his tea before looking back at her.
"Complaints? From whom?" he asked.
Yelena felt a throbbing headache coming on.
No matter how much personal resentment she harbored toward this man, she was still the head of a division.
She had to judge matters fairly.
"That’s not important," she replied while rubbing her forehead.
"What matters is that nearly half the class submitted official complaints, you must have done something rather... special."
Bromwen leaned back and thought for a moment.
"Hmm... Then you must be referring to how I made certain students train harder than the others. Is that it?"
"No! That isn’t the issue at all!" Yelena immediately shot back.
"Hmm..."
Bromwen pondered for another moment before nodding.
"Then it must be the stretching exercises."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"The kids have actually grown enough backbone to file official complaints, I suppose I should strengthen their mental fortitude a little more."
"You are doing nothing of the sort! And also, that class is already sensitive enough as it is." Yelena snapped.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she continued.
"But why did you do it?"
Bromwen glanced regretfully at the empty teacup in his hand before placing it on the table with a soft clink. It was free tea after all!
"I suppose..." He paused briefly as the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
"I saw quite a few promising seedlings, no not a few, but a lot more than I expected."
Yelena remained silent after hearing his answer.
She already knew that Class A-1 was filled with talented children.
However, hearing those words from Bromwen carried a completely different weight.
After all, the man sitting before her wasn’t merely a physical training instructor.
He was the retired Genius General.
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