Ch.122Academy Transfer – 3

“When you ask me to become your reason for living, I can’t help but be taken aback by such a weighty request. Even if I were asked, I don’t have that kind of ability.”

Noticing my lukewarm reaction, the Chairwoman hastily added an explanation.

“I don’t mean to burden you, Mira. This is purely for my own satisfaction, and I want you for personal reasons. Even if you refuse, I promise by all my names that you won’t suffer any disadvantages. And I’m not asking you to become my real son—that would be too greedy of me. I just want to care for you more than I do now, embrace you more than I do now, and occasionally—truly just occasionally—receive a small reward in return—”

“I think you should calm down first. I understand your intention.”

“Y-you do? I see. Thank you.”

The torrent of excuses stopped, replaced by a sigh of relief. The grip on my hand loosened slightly.

“I understand your intention, but not your purpose. What do you gain from doing all this for me?”

“I told you. A reason for living. Or put differently, a driving force to continue living.”

Her interlaced fingers fidgeted, caressing the back of my hand.

“Just as a parent’s love needs no reason, I simply want to support you from behind without any reason, watch how far you can grow, share in your sorrows, celebrate your joys—that kind of relationship. If I don’t have something like that to keep me tethered to this world… I truly feel I’ll have no reason left to live.”

“…”

So to summarize, she wants to see me as something like a son.

She said with her own mouth that she’s not trying to make me a replacement for her daughter, so it seems she purely needs someone to care for. Perhaps the maternal instinct that developed while raising humans has finally awakened in her.

And now she has no outlet for that maternal love.

“Is what I’ve just explained not enough? If there’s anything you want, please tell me. I’ll grant whatever I can within reason.”

“It’s not insufficient. If anything, it’s the opposite. I was wondering if I should accept such an offer. I’m not the type to say something is good just to be polite, and if you’re expecting affection from me, that would be difficult. And since I already have a real mother, it would be hard to call you mother as well.”

In fact, I already have two mothers—my birth mother who gave birth to me, and the mother who gave birth to this world’s Mira Crate. Adding the Chairwoman would make for quite the complicated family tree.

“You don’t need to do that. What I want is simply to take care of you. Just being able to watch a child grow within my care is enough for me.”

“…If you need a student to look after, wouldn’t Leona or Aria also be options?”

I could understand why Leona might not be suitable since she’s a hero, but I surprised even myself by mentioning Aria’s name. Perhaps it was a sense of guilt for having taken everything that should have been Aria’s in the original story.

“Those children will surely grow up to be good kids too. But I can’t choose them.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t think I would find the same satisfaction in caring for them as I would with you.”

The Chairwoman stated firmly. I wasn’t sure what the difference was exactly, but I took it to mean that those two wouldn’t be enough to fulfill her strange desire.

“Alright. Do as you wish.”

Setting everything else aside, this was a deal where I had nothing to lose by accepting. She wasn’t treating me as a replacement for her daughter or asking for anything strange—she just wanted to help me.

I could think of it as saving a dragon’s life. The face the Chairwoman showed earlier when explaining made it seem like she might truly give up on life if I refused her request.

“Really?!”

The Chairwoman’s expression brightened considerably.

“Thank you, child…! Thank you so much!”

With overwhelming emotion, her long arms pulled me into a tight embrace.

For some reason, this was a position I had considerable experience with, so I could remain still despite the warm milk scent filling my nostrils and the soft chest enveloping my head.

“…!!!!!!”

Since I wasn’t sure where to put my arms, I wrapped them around her back, causing the Chairwoman to tremble with joy as if struck by lightning. Her arms tightened even more. If I had been an ordinary person, my spine would have snapped.

Honestly, I think it might have cracked a little at one point.

“S-sorry, child! It’s been so long that I couldn’t help myself…! Are you hurt anywhere?!”

And we stayed in that position for a full three hours. Thanks to that, my face, which had been pressed between her chest for so long, remained bright red exactly where it had been pressed even after being released.

“No, I’m fine. Except for having trouble breathing at times.”

“Ahhh…! I’m truly sorry! How can I possibly apologize…!”

The Chairwoman looked at my face and apologized repeatedly with a tearful expression.

“Then may I ask for one favor in return?”

“Why just one? Ask for a thousand or ten thousand. I’ll grant whatever I can.”

“I’d like to transfer a student here—would that be possible? She has no family, but I can vouch for her abilities, background, and status.”

Thinking this was a good opportunity, I brought up Elysier. Given her reaction, the transfer process would likely proceed much more smoothly.

“Of course it’s possible… but what a coincidence.”

“A coincidence?”

“We were just about to have another student join us.”

‘Come to think of it, there was one more person.’

“This is Karna.”

“I’m Ciel.”

Looking at the two standing side by side yet giving completely opposite first impressions, that thought crossed my mind.

I understood that living as the Demon King for nearly 500 years had ingrained authoritative speech and behavior, but it struck me anew how difficult it would be for her to get along with others.

‘So they both ended up wearing uniforms after all.’

Both Karna and Elysier, now using the name Ciel, were wearing school uniforms. While it made sense for Elysier as the Demon King, Karna would soon be turning 30, yet there was no sense of incongruity.

It was likely that Laura’s unconscious desires had been reflected in the setting.

“I’ll do my best from now on. Please take care of me!”

Karna bowed deeply with her hands folded in front of her lower abdomen. Applause filled the room. Perhaps because she was the Sword Saint’s disciple, most faces were welcoming, with only a few looking displeased.

“Some of you may have negative thoughts about me.”

In contrast, Elysier was aloof.

“Those people can come to the training ground. I plan to be there every day after classes end for the week. No need for long explanations—I’ll prove myself with skill.”

At this blatantly condescending remark, the students’ eyes blazed with competitive spirit. Even some who had been looking at her favorably changed their attitude.

Though we had agreed beforehand that it was better to let them confirm for themselves rather than suppress their dissatisfaction, it was certain that academy life would become quite tiresome.

At least her true identity hadn’t been exposed. Though we had only changed her face, hair color, and eye color, leaving her height and figure the same, her impression had completely transformed.

Even the Chairwoman hadn’t realized that Elysier was the Demon King.

“Were you really the Sword Saint’s first disciple? That’s amazing!”

“Nice to meet you! I’m…”

When break time came, Karna was surrounded by students. Since the Sword Saint was a famous figure known throughout the Empire, it was natural that his direct disciple would attract attention.

The fact that Elysier was giving off a “just try talking to me” vibe also contributed to more attention being directed toward Karna.

“You’ve become famous overnight.”

“It would be strange not to get attention as the Sword Saint’s direct disciple…?”

After saying that, I noticed something odd. First, the presence I sensed was incredibly faint. As far as I knew, there was no student at Bellium Academy who could suppress their presence to this degree.

“Who are you?”

When I asked that, I heard chuckling from behind me.

“Your senses have become sharper. It’s me. Have you been well, child?”

The voice was completely different from what I knew, but there was only one person who would speak like that and appear here.

“Did you come because you were worried about your disciple?”

I turned my head. As I expected, there was an ordinary-looking female student waving at me with a smile, but her presence and aura were barely perceptible.

“Rather than worry, I was curious. She’s no longer a murderous fiend, so what reason would I have to worry about that child?”

“But why the disguise…?”

“My appearance would put pressure on Karna. So I borrowed one of Valera’s leftover crude items. I heard the real one was given to that child called Ciel?”

“That’s right.”

The Sword Saint narrowed her eyes and examined Ciel. Even I couldn’t help feeling a bit tense at this moment. The Chairwoman had been deceived, but the Sword Saint might be different.

“She’s a child overflowing with talent. With a bit more polishing here, she’ll become a magnificent gem. You said you would vouch for her status? You’ve formed a precious relationship—cherish it.”

But my tension proved unnecessary as the Sword Saint praised Elysier with a smiling face.

The specially ordered transformation necklace was doing its job, but more importantly, the current Elysier was probably too weak to be considered the Demon King.

The Demon King in the Sword Saint’s memory would have been nothing short of a natural disaster, and Ciel was certainly not at that level.

“And, I’ll tell only you for now, so listen carefully.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“For the past few days, there have been simultaneous reports that the demons at the front lines are behaving strangely.”

“Strangely? In what way?”

“This is in the realm of speculation, but…”

The Sword Saint paused briefly.

“It seems a civil war has broken out.”