"Thank you, everyone."
The lecture ended quickly.
The audience applauded thunderously.
These applause were genuinely sincere.
Gauss shared a lot of content that could inspire most people. If they could absorb just a bit, they would make considerable progress in casting techniques and practical combat.
Even students can tell which guest speakers give valuable insights and which just talk nonsense.
Then came the interaction segment.
Under the guidance of a female teacher, students began to stand up and ask questions.
"Mr. Gauss, there’s a part I didn’t quite understand."
"Can I ask you a few questions?"
"Go ahead."
"..."
This Q&A session lasted nearly two hours before it concluded.
A plethora of questions left Gauss almost overwhelmed.
Some asked about his magic, his fast training speed, his past experiences, and even his current romantic situation...
The session ended not because there were no more questions, but because it was noon.
The academy’s teacher realized it was time to end the interaction and have lunch, signaling the students to stop asking questions.
Gauss and Ivan enjoyed a lunch in a private room in the academy’s luxurious dining hall.
After the meal, Gauss discreetly sighed in relief.
Such enthusiastic students were hard to manage.
"Sir Gauss, your morning talk was just too good. It’s clear that the students all really like you," said Vice Dean Kieran Xavier with a kind smile.
"I noticed that many teachers were a bit jealous of you. After all, when they teach, students aren’t this proactive, hahaha."
"Maybe it’s because I’m closer to them in age, so they don’t feel too pressured?" Gauss chuckled.
"I think, Sir Gauss, why not become a guest professor at our academy?" The vice dean extended an invitation at the right time.
He had this idea from the beginning, and after Gauss’s lecture and answers in the morning, this thought became even stronger.
This younger man indeed had real talent, not just in the battlefield but also in teaching and nurturing students.
"This..." Gauss had already sensed the atmosphere while chatting during lunch and knew what the vice dean had in mind.
A hint of difficulty flashed across his face.
"We offer generous subsidies for guest professors, rest assured," Xavier added with a smile.
"It’s not about the money, Dean. You may have misunderstood me."
"I might be a bit different from most casters. I often take on commissions outside, so I don’t spend much time in the city, and my schedule isn’t fixed."
The reason he stayed in Farlim for a while was preparing for his level-up from 6 to 7, and later because Aaliyah had her breakthrough to deal with, delaying his departure.
From a bottom adventurer to now, Gauss has always been a quest enthusiast, and that wouldn’t change much.
Does he really need that guest professor salary?
The entire Red Dragon Team estate construction had already invested over 2,000 gold coins.
"No worries, a guest professor doesn’t need to come to the academy every day to teach."
"If you could spend one day each month to lecture the students, that’s enough."
"How about this, I’ll add a bit extra for you, Sir Gauss—100 gold coins per session?"
"The academy’s library will also be open to you."
How... how much?
Gauss blinked.
Did he hear an astonishing number?
Teaching one day for 100 gold coins?
His expression remained unchanged, but inside, he was a bit surprised.
Although Dean Xavier mentioned coming once a month, this was undoubtedly a lucrative job.
He indeed said money wasn’t an issue earlier, but, then again.
After all, he’s just talking, treating it as relaxation from his commissions, and getting 100 gold coins each time, why not?
He could also borrow some professional books from the library sometimes.
As he thought, Gauss’s lips slowly curved up.
"This..."
He pretended to think deeply.
"It’s hard to refuse, since Dean Xavier considered so much for me, it wouldn’t be appropriate to decline."
"I’m honored to join the academy."
"Welcome, Professor Gauss."
"Here’s your employment contract."
Kieran Xavier was well-prepared, evidently.
Gauss quickly read through the page and signed his name after confirming it was correct.
Of course, this was just a regular paper contract, not a Magic Contract, more of a formality.
Their hands shook, and both Gauss and Kieran Xavier seemed very satisfied with the outcome.
To Vice Dean Xavier, the family originally needed him to use this opportunity to contact this rising star; although the salary was high, it was the academy’s money.
As the top magic academy in a city like Farlim, the academy never worried about funding.
Every year, donations come in abundantly from graduates, city institutions, City Hall, wealthy merchants, or noble families.
gold coins per lecture was just a drop in the bucket for the academy.
Besides, Gauss really had true skills.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reached this caster level at his age.
If other students could learn even a tiny bit from his lectures, it could bring them great benefits and influence their entire lives.
Thus, his eagerness to recruit was more out of consideration for the students.
After all, at his level, even the Xavier family could hardly order him around. It was more about conveying the message, and the execution was up to him.
"Professor Gauss, do you need me to call the academy’s carriage for you?"
"No need, my coachman is still waiting outside for us."
Kieran Xavier escorted Gauss to the door, watching him board the carriage, and only after it disappeared down the road did he retract his gaze.
He could not help but wonder what he was doing when he was twenty years old.
What an extraordinary young man.
...
In the carriage.
Ivan, who had been observing silently, was stunned.
He had thought that his alma mater would warmly welcome his boss, but becoming a guest professor so quickly?
And wasn’t the salary a little too high?
Such an important matter being settled in just a few words?
It was easier than him going and buying a missing alchemical ingredient from a nearby shop.
Had the world changed, or was he just too out of touch?
He graduated from the academy, and now Captain Gauss was a professor at the academy. Does this mean the captain is now his teacher?
Mr. Gauss, Professor Gauss... hehe...
It actually sounds pretty nice.
Gauss looked at Ivan across from him, watching his silly happy face.
He couldn’t help but be a bit suspicious.
Why did he feel like his "chief steward" was heading in a strange direction?
Who changed him?
Could he get the stern professional back?
Lost in their own thoughts, the carriage soon pulled into the Red Dragon Team estate and came to a stop.
"We’re here."
Ivan’s expression immediately turned serious again.
Alright, he’s back to normal. Gauss felt relieved.
"Boss, I’m going to work now."
"Alright, go ahead."
Gauss slightly lifted his head and caught a familiar scent in the air.
As he walked into the residence, he found Aaliyah at the dining table.
"You’re back, it seems the breakthrough went smoothly."
"Yeah." Aaliyah nodded while chewing her food, then swallowed and asked.
"Gauss, where did you and Ivan go just now?"
"Found a great gig."
"Hmm?"
Gauss showed his employment contract.
"Ahem."
"So just a few days away and now you’re a magic academy professor?"
Aaliyah couldn’t help but widen her eyes after reading it.
In just a few days, Gauss had acquired a new title.
She was quite surprised.
Although with her current level, she could probably teach at some small to medium magic academies, the academy Gauss went to was well-known even to her.
And he was a professor there.
"It’s just a guest professor role."
Aaliyah then glanced at the salary on the contract, and couldn’t help but cough a few times.
gold coins per session?
So much money...
A month would be three thousand gold coins, and a year, a full thirty-six thousand gold coins!!!
She swallowed.
So envious...
"Gauss, do you need an assistant?"