Ch.115115. Delving In (2)

“I’d like to receive separate instruction from the professor.”

In that moment, forgetting that the title “professor” referred to me, I tilted my head and looked at Natalie. She was looking at me with the curious eyes of a student. As I slowly processed what she was saying, I couldn’t help but make a foolish expression.

“There’s not much I can learn from this class.”

Natalie continued speaking to me. It was exactly the kind of thing an excellent student would say, like a future graduate student. If I were really a professor, I might have given her secret lessons and recruited her as my future slave, but unfortunately, I’m not a professor. I had no intention of giving special treatment to anyone and stirring up controversy.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’m not a private tutor, but an academy instructor. If you feel my class doesn’t meet your standards, you’re welcome to change your course registration at any time.”

“Then there’s nothing for me to learn at this academy at all.”

Natalie persisted, questioning me relentlessly. I scratched my head awkwardly as I looked at her. As I was racking my brain trying to come up with a better solution, I noticed Eugene and Cora approaching Natalie. Eugene had an incredulous look on his face, while Cora’s face was inexplicably flushed red.

“You really have an unexpectedly odd side to you.”

“The Hero—I mean, the professor is clearly uncomfortable. I know you’re talented, but this isn’t right.”

Eugene and Cora grabbed Natalie by both shoulders as they spoke. Natalie, with an innocent expression, was dragged backward while being held by them.

“I apologize, Professor. This one is exceptionally talented. Since she’s at a different level from the others, I think she’s not satisfied.”

“This is a very challenging class that’s quite helpful for ordinary students.”

I fell into thought as I watched Eugene and Cora earnestly defending Natalie and making excuses to me. Natalie and the evil cult worshippers. Whether she was connected to them or not, I needed to get closer to find out… No, is this the time to be picky about methods? I let out a deep sigh.

“How about we do this?”

The two who were walking away and the one being dragged stopped in their tracks.

“I’ll set up a special lecture… for students who I think need additional instruction. In the special lecture, I plan to provide more intensive training. Of course, the conditions will be quite strict.”

The three freshmen blinked as they looked at me. Cora, who was the first to come to her senses, had a bright expression wash over her face. I approached the three who had been retreating.

“The criterion will probably be whether you can last more than 20 minutes inside that barrier from today. I’ll think about training that would be suitable for students at your level.”

I packed my lecture materials into my bag, leaving the two stunned students behind.

“Well, I’ll see you in the next class. Besides Natalie, will you two also participate in the special lecture?”

Cora nodded her head vigorously, while Eugene had an ambivalent expression.

“Training even more difficult than today’s practical…”

“It will be closer to actual combat. Today’s practice was still insufficient to be called real combat.”

Eugene’s expression twisted into something close to despair. Cora had a look of burning determination, while Natalie stared at me with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

“Will that be enough for Natalie?”

Natalie seemed like she had more to say, but then appeared to accept it and nodded. Those eyes definitely didn’t look like those of a heretic worshipper.

“Yes. I understand.”

I smiled bitterly and left the classroom, leaving the three behind. I could hear the three freshmen standing dazed in place, discussing the upcoming special lecture.

==

“…”

Nella Tarr stared at the Hero walking down the corridor. She had thought Ilroy would be floundering, having become an instructor out of the blue without knowing what to do, but he was adapting to academy life better than expected. The freshmen might find the Hero’s face intimidating, but they still greeted him diligently, and the Hero responded with a rather kind expression.

“…That guy wasn’t originally like that.”

Setting aside his slickness, he wasn’t someone who could treat people so kindly. Nella squinted as she watched Ilroy. Lately, whenever she came to her senses, she found herself staring at him. She wasn’t some lovesick girl. Nella clicked her tongue, feeling disgusted.

“I should avoid being noticed…”

It would be awkward if they ran into each other. Although Ilroy’s attitude toward Nella had become much more natural over the past few weeks, Nella’s attitude toward him hadn’t changed. If anything, she hated him more.

“You should at least look down on me.”

Let’s just forgive that guy. It doesn’t matter anymore anyway. Nella crushed the feelings that were rising within her. She had worked like crazy, determined to make the Hero regret sending her away. She couldn’t nod in understanding of the Hero’s actions now.

“Annoying guy.”

If she accepted it, it would mean admitting that she really was useless to the Hero’s party. It would mean acknowledging that she wasn’t good enough to stay in that party. Nella’s last remaining pride wouldn’t allow it.

Ding.

The elevator reached the first floor, and two professors disembarked, engaged in an earnest discussion. Nella watched them pass with bored eyes, then entered the elevator and pressed the button for the 11th floor. The doors, which were about to close smoothly, suddenly stopped and opened at an unnatural speed.

“…What are you doing here?”

It was the Hero. The Hero gave a hollow laugh, entered the elevator, and positioned himself in the corner opposite to Nella. That damn bastard was so tall that she had to look up at him even in her highest heels. Nella felt irritated by this trivial fact and stared at the elevator buttons.

“Did you just get on without knowing which floor you’re going to?”

In response to Nella’s curt question, Ilroy looked at her with languid eyes. Nella turned her head to avoid meeting his eyes, but then flinched when she saw Ilroy’s reflection in the mirror.

“Aren’t you going to observe?”

“Observe…”

Nella was about to nod, but then quickly turned to look at Ilroy.

“Do you have to be going there too?”

“I’ve been receiving reports consistently, but nothing beats seeing it with my own eyes.”

With those words, Ilroy stared intently at Nella. This was another problem. Lately, whenever Ilroy encountered Nella, he would stare at her as if she were a piece of art. Nella wondered if this was some kind of regret on the Hero’s part.

Just, she was really curious about that.

“What are you looking at?”

“Just wondering if you’re doing well.”

Nella frowned deeply and turned away from Ilroy.

“That’s none of your business.”

Unfortunately, the elevator didn’t stop once on its way to the 11th floor. Nella occasionally glanced at Ilroy, who didn’t speak further after her sharp response, and folded her arms. For today’s observation, she decided to stay as far back as possible and not say a word. Nella waited desperately for the elevator doors to open.

“I’m going ahead.”

Nella said this in a tone that implied “don’t follow me” and walked past Ilroy. Thankfully, Ilroy didn’t follow her. Nella glanced back slightly, as if reluctant, then turned forward again and continued walking.

.

.

.

“…As you can see, the current trajectory hasn’t changed, and it’s moving like an ordinary celestial body. At this rate, it will collide before summer ends.”

About 15 minutes ago, Nella had decided to just keep quiet. Before the observation began, Nella briefed the current situation with a face as rigid as a statue. What angered Nella more was that the Hero’s lifeless eyes sparkled like those of a student attending class when listening to her briefing. Nella glared once at the Hero’s teal eyes and continued her explanation. As always, the pink-haired magician sat beside the Hero.

“Today’s observation has the same purpose. To recalculate the comet’s speed and collision timing. As the comet gets closer, we’ll be able to determine the date more accurately.”

All the windows in the observation room were open. A spring night. The wind was still cold. Nella looked at the twinkling stars in the night sky. What were the spring constellations again?

“Now, I’ll activate the telescope and begin observation. The observation screen will be shared in real-time through the crystal, so please focus on the screen to the right.”

Nella returned to her seat after barely finishing the briefing. Even though she had only completed the briefing, she felt completely drained. Nella watched the telescope slowly turning like a giant deer. The screen on the blackboard showed a piece of the night sky.

“…Is that long-tailed thing flying there the Sixth Calamity?”

A professor attending the observation for the first time asked. Nella nodded and extended her pointer to indicate the comet. The comet was flying very slowly, weaving between the stars.

“Won’t it hit something? Like a floating rock, or maybe the moon?”

Nella sighed and shook her head.

“While that possibility isn’t zero, if this is indeed a calamity and it’s certain to collide with our planet, then the chance of the comet hitting something else on its way is significantly lower. Just looking at the reports about the fog, didn’t they say it’s closer to a living being with will?”

People were stupid. When faced with something bad, they try to avoid it somehow. Especially when it’s something difficult to resist.

“The collision point will be as expected. Since the comet has been moving at a constant speed, it’s not that difficult to predict. Summer. Probably around June.”

People murmured at Nella’s words.

“What happens if that collides?”

“You’re asking the obvious. We die. I think probably all humans living on this planet will die.”

The sound of people swallowing dry saliva could be heard from all around.

“Then, is there a countermeasure? Surely there’s some method you’ve thought of? You’ve been observing this for a very long time, haven’t you?”

“There are measures being considered. Of course, the professors will need to participate very actively.”

The professors fell silent, and Nella slightly turned her head to look at Ilroy again, then had a blank expression.

‘…So that’s his true face.’

The Hero’s face was filled with killing intent. Like a wolf eyeing its prey, he glared at the comet while stroking the sword he always carried at his waist. A chilling aura flowed out, and Nella bit her lip at that energy. That crazy Hero seemed to be seriously thinking about splitting the star in half. She had roughly noticed since the battle with the Kraken, but the person called the Hero was truly not in his right mind.

“From the next observation, we plan to hold an academic conference combined with a calamity countermeasure meeting.”

When everyone was quietly sitting and watching the approaching comet, Professor Edwin suddenly spoke.

“How to deal with that comet, what the expected aftermath will be. I hope you’ll think carefully and share your opinions by then.”

The observation meeting ended in an unusually quiet atmosphere. The Hero and the magician from the Hero’s party didn’t speak until the end, then left the observation room while having a serious conversation with each other. Nella followed their retreating figures with her eyes, then turned her gaze away. The telescope was still focused on the comet.

“You were looking at the Hero.”

It was Edwin’s voice. No one else remained in the observation room now. Edwin was looking at the night sky with his naked eye, not through the telescope.

“You said you disliked him?”

In a meaningful voice, Edwin asked. When Nella raised her head, she saw Edwin looking at the night sky with cold eyes.

“Huh?”

And those eyes turning to look at her gave off an inexplicably eerie feeling.