I am a teacher and they are still children.

(Note: In the large-scale revisions from October 13th to 16th, there were significant changes to the character of Mariel Aries and her relationship with Seine. Existing readers, please keep this in mind as you read.)

The terrorist incident in Academic City during the training camp.

Although I only intervened at the scene of the transaction between the parties involved, looking into the details revealed a series of problems stemming from the root.

To summarize, it was the result of a chain of large and small corruptions in the city’s management system.

Of course, in a way, it could be considered predictable. Even in a society considered perfect, there are blind spots, and people who try to fulfill their personal desires by exploiting these points exist everywhere.

From simple embezzlement and bribery for private gain to excessive measures using the hierarchy, misuse of public funds, and so on…….

The holes in the surveillance network that emerged while hiding these problems were being shared as public information among those commonly called the underworld.

The attack on Haide a few months ago also exploited and penetrated these gaps.

Naturally, from the administrators’ perspective, as the incident occurred when they had been on guard, the handling and cleanup proceeded smoothly.

“……For that reason, I’m confirmed for overtime for the next few days.”

Of course.

Such quick handling doesn’t come without a cost.

“Is all this paperwork from the aftermath of this incident?”

“Compared to when grandfather was working, the scale has expanded so much that the work has increased accordingly. Of course, it’s a good opportunity, so I’m thinking of completely overhauling the outdated system while we’re at it.”

The piles of documents filling the chairman’s office.

A chuckle escaped Mariel’s lips as she looked over each of those documents one by one.

Although the amount is less compared to the documents she saw when visiting the student council room, the weight contained in each page has an astronomical difference.

Matters where the fate of thousands or tens of thousands could be decided by whether a stamp is affixed or not.

Nevertheless, as if resigned to her fate, she was preparing to carry out her duties with a relaxed attitude.

“By the way, they’re going too far, aren’t they? Saying things like what is the chairman doing when I’m always working hard on managing the city, or how I’m going to take responsibility for incidents caused by students not even under my jurisdiction.”

“I don’t know who said that, but it’s quite pitiful.”

“If you really think so, why don’t you comfort me? Preferably, just the two of us, intimately on the bed~♡”

Ah, this girl, as expected.

“Weren’t you busy with work?”

“Come on, a person can’t live just working all the time, right? We’re all trying to live comfortably, so we should make time to enjoy pleasures.”

Mariel, deliberately ignoring her work and hitting on me.

For me, who wanted to just talk about work and be done with it, it was a rather unwelcome response.

“……I’m sorry, but I have a lot of work piled up too, so it’ll be difficult for me to make time personally.”

“Haha~ I’m the chairman calling you, what could other people say?”

“If you don’t do your work and act like that, you’ll get scolded by your secretary.”

“Ugh. That’s a bit…”

At the mention of the secretary, Mariel’s face immediately turned pale.

Yes, the chairman’s secretary had been quite a formidable person since the time in the family.

Having worked for the Aries family even longer than me and entering the academy as Mariel’s home tutor, it’s clear she would be severely scolded if she slacked off unnecessarily.

“…What’s been decided for the criminals?”

So let’s focus on the main topic for now.

Mariel answered nonchalantly to the question I asked while watching her review the necessary documents.

“Well, what do you think happened? The ringleaders got life sentences, and those under them will rot in labor camps for over 10 years.”

“…No death penalty, I see.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“No, rather, I would have been disappointed if there was a death penalty.”

Haide’s embrace is too merciful for trash like them to enter right away.

Moreover, if you want to set an example, shouldn’t you show them suffering alive rather than burying them?

Of course, considering the human rights of criminals and such might have the opposite effect, but well… I guess we don’t need to worry about that part.

While this world might be behind the times, it’s even more severe than my original world when it comes to punishment because of that.

“But recently, even this has been quite worrying.”

Of course, Mariel had already stopped caring about such punishments.

What was important to her was not the trash that would never be released back into society, but the future of this academy.

“What do you mean by worrying?”

“Since the end of the war, the number of urban crimes occurring in Maris has greatly increased.”

Mariel muttered in a calm voice while still scanning through the documents.

From what I glimpsed of the contents, I could confirm that these were incidents of a completely different nature from what I had experienced before.

About another situation that occurred on the exact opposite side of the vast city…….

“……Did something even bigger than this happen?”

“Yes. As always, it just wasn’t announced publicly, but it happened almost simultaneously.”

Two incidents that could cause the collapse of the city occurring at the same time…..

No, there must be many incidents that were smaller in scale but handled at their own level without being reported upwards.

And if all that news were to be conveyed, this city would immediately fall into panic.

“We managed to stop it somehow, but this might be a precursor too. A precursor to even bigger things that might happen in the future.”

Of course.

It’s not just arms dealers or avengers who want war.

Rather, the ones I dealt with before, except for Deus Ex Machina, were ones who couldn’t even be called ‘dregs’.

Those who are determined to cause trouble will surely approach more secretly and meticulously.

“…It must be a heavy responsibility.”

“I’m prepared for it.”

Mariel answered with a bitter smile.

But even that smile soon began to be tinged with skepticism.

“The problem is that the ideals of those above are too grand compared to that preparation.”

Those above, huh. It’s nerve-wracking when the chairman of the international academy says such things.

But thinking about it, even the position of Maris’ chairman can’t be considered the highest leadership position when looking at the entire continent.

Just the incident the Guidance Department kids got involved in was influenced by the Emperor, wasn’t it?

Of course, even if the Emperor didn’t directly lead it, when those who receive his orders subcontract and further subcontract, matters tend to get terribly tangled.

Such problems always follow in society….

There’s no point in discussing what-ifs about things that have already happened, so for now, we can only adapt to the current system or hope for it to be fixed later.

“Well then, I’ve finished my business, so I’ll take my leave now.”

And the one leading that would be Mariel, who’s in power, not me.

I hope she continues to resolve things well in the future, I thought as I was about to withdraw from my seat.

“Seine, wait a moment.”

Just as I was about to leave the chairman’s office with the necessary documents.

I quietly turned back to her at Mariel’s call.

At that moment, she had even let go of the documents in her hand.

“You still don’t want to work under me, do you?”

“As I’ve said many times, I……”

Just as I was about to answer indifferently, thinking she was hitting on me again.

I realized that the atmosphere was quite serious and put aside my previous attitude.

Ah, yes. This is not a joke.

This must be a continuation of the proposal she made just before I entered this academy.

“……As I’ve said many times, my answer is the same.”

The armed group protecting the outskirts she manages.

Although it’s said to be an era of peace, I too had keenly felt their reason for existence through this recent incident.

After all, true peace is not achieved by words alone, but is established only when there is power to counter those who threaten one’s forces.

“Why?”

“I want to rest.”

But ideals and reality should be kept separate.

Coincidentally, having rolled around on the battlefield for 10 years, I too was in a state where I desperately wanted to live the rest of my life comfortably.

No matter how much I can trust a person, in the end, they are just one human being.

Unless I myself become the subject wanting to do something, it’s clear that the result will end up being worse than not doing it at all.

“…You want to rest, huh.”

Mariel made a dubious expression at my answer, but soon let it pass with her characteristic smile.

“Well, if that’s your choice, I should respect it.”

The conversation ended there.

After leaving the chairman’s office, I briefly skimmed through the contents of the documents I had received from her.

In a sense, it could be called an achievement that heavily relied on her power.

“……Well, I said I wanted to rest, but the problem is that teaching isn’t easy either.”

Receiving the management rights for the ancient weapons that the criminals tried to trade…..

This kind of thing would be impossible without the protection of someone in power.

Of course, from their perspective, they probably allowed it because they needed someone trustworthy to temporarily take care of something difficult for them to handle.

“A person with special abilities, of barbarian origin, and an ancient weapon……”

Even though it’s built on a border, all sorts of kids really gather here.

With so many different kids gathering, it’s no wonder this academy is never free from incidents and accidents….. Well, I’ll have to endure that too.

Because I am a teacher and they are still children.

The general public might consider such children dangerous, but if they had the leisure to look into the details, everyone would eventually realize.

That these children have no malice, they just don’t know much about the world.

Compared to adults who commit adultery shamelessly as if they’ve seen it all, aren’t such children quite adorable?

“Well then, let’s do our best today too.”

I’ve long since shaken off all hesitation.

I headed towards the infirmary, hugging the stack of documents to my chest.

Hoping that my current choice will have meaning in the future.

---

And, around the time when all the incidents from that day had been resolved.

Maya, who was still alone in the student council room handling affairs, lowered the pen in her hand and turned her attention to the door as she suddenly heard a knock.

“Chairwoman, may I come in?”

“Yes. Please enter.”

The one who entered with a familiar voice was a blonde boy with a small stature.

It was the infirmary attendance student she had personally called for business.

“Ah, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Fufu, thanks to you, I’ve gained some leeway.”

Maya smiled, thinking that if it weren’t for this child, she might still be struggling with accounting work.

In fact, the fatigue visible on her face had diminished compared to their first meeting.

Since that day, as various concerns were resolved, she had succeeded in securing the leisure time needed for sleep.

“……Dale. The reason I called you is none other than to make a proposal to you.”

Of course, calling this boy now wasn’t for such casual conversation.

“A proposal?”

“Yes.”

A rather serious attitude.

Sitting at her desk with her back to the sunlight, she exuded a dignity befitting her position as chairwoman.

“Student Dale Enberton. I’ll get straight to the proposal.”

That’s how serious the reason for calling this boy was.

“Would you please apply for the student council’s accounting position with my recommendation?”

Maya Karis, the student council president of Maris.

She was sincerely trying to give an opportunity to this boy who had been shunned by all the students of the academy.

Because this boy possessed a talent that no one else in this academy had.