Change

Creak, creak.

I moved through the Counseling Room with my posture lowered.

Three hours had already passed since I sacrificed Stella and fled.

By now, everyone must be exhausted.

“Phew…”

Hypnotizing Orca and Eileen to find studying enjoyable had been a good idea in itself.

The unexpected part was realizing that while Orca might act on whims, Eileen wasn’t the type to do something just because it became fun or interesting.

I’d carelessly forgotten she was the girl who abandoned even sword training – something she’d loved so much as a child.

…So I had no choice but to increase the hypnosis sensitivity and force her to solve one problem, but I never imagined things would turn out like this.

“Who could’ve guessed that setting the ‘enjoyment’ hypnosis sensitivity too high would create addiction…”

Just as I was suffering under two people who kept studying endlessly like drug addicts, Stella arrived – so I threw her to them and escaped.

Too cruel, you say?

What choice did I have? This curriculum is completely different from the education system I know.

Different country, different maps, even different physical laws.

What I teach would hinder rather than help.

Removing the hypnosis would return them to normal, but then they’d stop studying.

Stella’s sacrifice was unavoidable.

If anyone grew suspicious about their sudden change… well.

No choice. I’ll just make sure they can’t suspect anything.

“Now, is everyone aslee…”

Tap.

When someone touched my shoulder, I turned to see Stella’s hollow-eyed face staring at me.

Seeing her expression, I immediately knew:

I was in trouble.

Sure enough, Stella grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me violently.

“Teacher Ophelia…! You used me as bait and ran away…!”

“Kyaaak!”

“You! How dare treat a princess this way!”

“Spare me! Ugh?! I-I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

Stella stopped shaking me and suddenly started tickling my sides.

Though I tried blocking with my hands, without my hypnosis I stood no chance against Stella’s movements.

For a while I became her tickle doll, writhing on the floor as her snake-like hands evaded my defenses.

Only when I genuinely feared I might laugh myself to death did Stella finally stop.

“Hah… hah… I said… I was sorry…”

“Hmph. Your crimes include wasting my time without notice and making me worry.”

“…Worry?”

“I thought assassins had attacked Teacher Ophelia. What a fright.”

“Ah… Ah…”

So that’s why she’d mentioned enemies – she thought I’d been attacked.

Realizing Stella’s rushed actions were to help me, I felt deeply moved.

“Thank you, Stella.”

“…Hmph. It was nothing.”

“What about the other two?”

“Knocked out. Honestly, empty-headed girls shouldn’t have such enthusiasm. I organized all potential exam topics – they can study those themselves.”

“Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

The excessive enthusiasm was unavoidable. It wasn’t hypnosis to study well, but hypnosis to enjoy studying.

While I could’ve forcibly implanted knowledge, I refused.

That wouldn’t be their achievement.

The sweetness of success comes from earning it yourself. Even with hypnosis, good grades wouldn’t truly be theirs.

But making studying enjoyable was different – that success would come through their own efforts.

While good grades mattered, I wanted more to boost their self-esteem.

I believe in them. That they can earn good grades through their own power.

…Well, that’s the students’ responsibility now.

The important thing is why Stella came to me.

“Now, Teacher Ophelia. Putting aside earlier matters, I have something to discuss.”

“Hmm, I wonder. Are you puzzled that no assassins have come?”

“…How did you know?”

Stella seemed surprised I guessed her unspoken concern.

But to me it was simple:

The first assassins targeting Stella come from the Imperial Family, but subsequent attacks would be from Bright Light Society members.

With the Society gone, I expected the Imperial Family to send more killers, but her visit suggested no attacks occurred.

Since I couldn’t explain this directly, I adapted the truth.

“I have wide connections. Sometimes chat with the Principal.”

“…That old hag?”

“Yes. Oh my, the Principal recently visited the Imperial Family and mentioned unusual movements there.”

“I see… So that’s it…”

Of course this was lies, but she had no way to know.

The Principal did occasionally visit for drinks and had Imperial Family business, so Stella had to believe me.

“Then we’ll make this quick. What should we do?”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

Following my advice, Stella had steadily built her own faction within the Academy.

A fragile web of connections and minor influence that would shatter if the Imperial Family touched it.

Though Stella seemed doubtful this would help, it sufficed for now.

Left alone, her situation would gradually improve, but she wouldn’t trust that.

Better to give her a task.

An idea came.

“Then, how about seeking the Sword Saint’s traces?”

“…What? Wait. What did you say? I must have misheard. Surely…”

“You heard right. The Sword Saint’s tra…”

“Shhh!”

Startled, Stella covered my mouth while eyeing the counseling booths.

…Come to think of it, Stella had a backstory of meeting the Sword Saint as a child.

Knowing what the Sword Saint meant to her explained this reaction.

“Don’t worry. She already knows. I told her last time.”

“Teacher Ophelia, how do you… No, you won’t answer. You’re full of secrets. I won’t pry.”

“Haha… So, what will you do?”

“The Sword Saint’s traces, the Sword Saint’s traces…”

She couldn’t refuse.

For someone clinging to cliffs, the legend of the Sword Saint – strong enough to defeat the Principal – would be irresistible.

As expected, she nodded slightly and accepted.

“Fine, I accept. May I ask Anya to join?”

“Of course. Though I know her answer already.”

Originally, the quest to find the Sword Saint began with just two people.

Not allies, but obstacles hindering each other’s goals.

But now?

Eileen and Leo, who should have fought over the traces, were trying to cooperate.

Though for their own goals, Stella and Anastasia would join forces too.

Orca…? Might join if I asked…

If the others asked, she’d complain but participate, right?

…I hope so.

Regardless, this became a group effort.

May this help them become true friends who support each other in danger.

I sincerely wished for this.

“By the way, Teacher Ophelia. Shouldn’t we hear her opinion too?”

“No need. She won’t refuse.”

“…True.”

Stella clicked her tongue while looking at Eileen sprawled over a desk.

“How did such an active child become this lazy…”

“…”

“It must relate to her father’s disappearance. That’s my theory.”

Stella wasn’t wrong.

Eileen’s laziness began after the Sword Saint vanished.

Her original personality was completely opposite – lively and active.

“…If Stella helps find her father, you’ll understand.”

“Right. I’d appreciate her helping me survive too.”

Hearing Stella unabashedly say she’d create debts for her benefit, I wondered:

Did she think Eileen would help if indebted, knowing her childhood self?

Or did childhood memories make her want to help?

The answer remained unclear.

“We’ll officially search for the Sword Saint’s traces after the semester ends.”

“That works. Understood.”

“If anything happens, come to me without hesitation.”

“I will.”

Had things followed the game’s course, it would’ve been the former.

Not knowing the true answer meant my efforts mattered.

That’s what I believed.