Märchen Meines Lebens (FGO × Twisted Wonderland fanfic)

Ch18: Questions and Answers

Arc 2: Night Raven College

Ch4: Questions and Answers

" Thank you for answering the questions, Mr. Gilmore. "

Crowley was asked by an elderly man with a white mustache, a monocle in his right eye, a black beret on his bald head, and aristocratic apparel.

" Did I pass, Headmaster?"

When Dire Crowley smiles while keeping his mouth shut, the elderly guy sighed and walked away with a defeated expression on his face.

According to rumors, the old Mr. Gilmore Giles is a descendant of the allegedly legendary dragon slayer Sir Giles. He has successfully answered numerous of Crowley's queries. Unfortunately, he was too old to be assigned to a teaching post, plus he has baggage from his previous teaching positions. The elderly man is said to be forgetful and easy to fall asleep while he was teaching.

Crowley believes that hiring Mr. Giles would be a bad idea. After all, he was such a good man that he doesn't want the students to suffer in their studies by admitting Mr. Giles as one of Night Raven College's professors.

Crowley waited for quite some time after Mr. Giles had left before the door to his office reopened and the next probable candidate entered the room. Unlike the previous applicants, this person's eyes were fixed on him and he didn't even try to look around. Crowley's smile expanded slightly as he recognized the person.

"Mr. Andersen, it's good that you came."

Andersen answered by walking towards him and sitting in the chair in front of the headmaster, his eyebrows lifted and a judging expression on his face.

" It's a chance for me; how could I pass it up?"

Crowley appears to be the one observing the person in front of him, but rather than him, it is the other way around. He believes he is being scrutinized and criticized by Andersen

" So, Mr. Anderson, what opportunity are you looking for specifically? The chance to teach at Night Raven College, one of the twisted wonderland's most prestigious academies?"

When he heard the question, Andersen scoffed and crossed his arms.

" The Library."

None of the responses Crowley expected came true.

"Excuse me?"

If you could see his face behind the mask, it would be one of astonishment. He expected answers such as prestige, money, or the opportunity to teach important students such as princes of the kingdoms. But Andersen's response takes him by surprise.

"Isn't Night Raven College a long-standing academy with a long history?"

Crowley is offended by the dubious tone and judging blue eyes behind the rectangle-framed eyeglasses. He responded quickly to dispel Andersen's doubts about Night Raven College. He cannot allow this individual in front of him to question the prestige and reputation of his school!

"Night Raven College is an academy with a history of more than 100 years! Of course, we have a library, and it contains books that are not even available to the public, Mr. Andersen!"

Crowley inquired, looking at the unconcerned Andersen, who had his arms folded.

" Would you consider applying if Night Raven College did not have a library?"

Andersen responded directly and without hesitation.

" The only reason I came here was to look at the library and the books it contained."

"I see. So you are an avid seeker of knowledge, Mr. Andersen, but you need money for your daily necessities, don't you? When I visited Ledusberg town, I noticed that you have been living at Mr. Ashray's home. Our Night Raven College provides free food and living quarters for my Academy's professors, after all, I am such a kind man."

After some thought, Andersen responded for a few moments.

"Indeed, I can't live forever in Ashray's home, but if I were a more trashy and scummy person, I could handle leeching off over Mr. Whitley's home. Fortunately, I still have a tiny bit of dignity left in my ugly heart.

In terms of food, if the headmaster hires me as a lecturer at this academy, you won't have to worry about my eating habits. "

" Oh? Why? Would you buy food with your own money? "

" No. I don't need to eat any food at all. "

" Excuse me? "

"Doesn't the headmaster notice that I'm not human? "

Crowley responded by bringing his palm to his chin and intently looking at Andersen.

" Based on your appearance, people might think you have dwarf blood on you. Making you belong to the fae kind...But I know you're not that, Mr. Andersen. You sometimes feel like a fae, but you aren't. Hmmm... You feel closer to the ghosts. The spirits of the deceased. But you're not them either. "

Crowley mumbled after a brief minute of thought.

" You feel like a familiar."

Andersen closes his eyes for a brief moment before answering Crowley

" Because magic exists in this world, familiars aren't out of the question."

"This world? You must be jesting, Mr. Andersen."

"Would I be the type to lie? Magic exists; why shouldn't I be in a world that appears impossible to you, Headmaster?"

Crowley remained silent for a few periods before interrogating.

" If you're from another world, Mr. Andersen, why are you telling me this?"

Andersen responded with a smile.

" If I were to teach a position in this Academy, the Literature subject is the most appropriate for an author like myself, and despite revealing this information to you, headmaster, I don't have any ounce of trust in you; it was more convenient for me to reveal this information to you."

" Impossible; the literature subject was removed from the students' studies years ago; students aren't interested in hearing the same story over and over again."

" But what if I have a way to make the literature subject interesting? I'm from another world, and I'm confident that I could teach your students stories they've never heard before that would pique their interest."

"Would it be different from Professor Trein's History lessons? I don't want it to be another case of Sleeping sessions, Mr. Andersen."

Andersen said a mischievous grin on his face.

" I can assure you that no student of mine would sleep in my class."

Crowley and Andersen's conversation eventually lasted many hours. The two people's queries and responses eventually came to an end.

Finally, Andersen persuaded the headmaster to hire him as a professor and return to the literature subject at Night Raven College. However, in addition to literature, it was considered that Andersen would teach a practical subject in the academy.

The Summoning subject.

What irony, a heroic servant teaching summoning.