Ch.146Hangover (4)

Three weeks after the attack.

Daily life had returned to the academy once more.

Perhaps it was thanks to the swift response.

The chaotic atmosphere was remembered by the students as nothing more than a simple disturbance.

The faculty members had also somewhat relaxed their heightened vigilance.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“We’ve already identified the traitor’s existence, and the purge has already been completed.”

“As this is confidential information, everyone should keep quiet about it.”

They seemed to trust the headmaster’s vague explanation.

After all, the old man had been the head of Gallimar for the past 40 years.

It was a kind of bond between them.

Of course.

A faint tension remained.

The fundamental problem remained unchanged.

While the internal traitor had been dealt with, the fact that the academy was being targeted from outside remained unchanged.

The professors kept a sharper eye on their surroundings than usual.

That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Rather, it was good.

‘It’s better to maintain a reasonable level of vigilance.’

The story had changed.

Originally, by now, the academy should have collapsed completely.

But thanks to my intervention, the academy was able to remain intact.

However, since the course of the story had been drastically altered, it became even more difficult to predict the future ahead.

Therefore, to defend the academy, the faculty members also needed to contribute their strength.

They were a sufficiently powerful force, after all.

‘Besides, they’re all favorably disposed toward me.’

After the recent attack.

I received great appreciation from the faculty members.

I was recognized for discovering the hidden passage in the academy’s basement and for eliminating the cultists.

Especially my pale complexion while moving around in a wheelchair seemed to have left a strong impression.

Thanks to that, my reputation among the faculty members had skyrocketed.

“If it weren’t for student Judas… it could have been a disaster.”

“He prevented what could have been a serious accident.”

“The Star’s material is indeed exceptional.”

“I’ve underestimated him until now, but this time I have to acknowledge him. Remarkable courage. To face cultists directly to protect the academy.”

“Tsk tsk… it’s regrettable no matter how I think about it. I should have taken him as my disciple.”

“He went under Professor Selena, didn’t he? It’s understandable for a young man to be attracted to a mature woman. Hmph, I have no intention of taking a student who’s swayed by appearances.”

“Professor Lucy. Why don’t you just honestly say you’re jealous?”

“Ugh…! That’s right! My insides are twisting in all directions! Why Professor Selena?! I could treat him so much better!”

“How unseemly.”

It was strangely embarrassing.

I was already in a position of attention, but with this incident, my favorability seemed to have reached its maximum.

It felt strange to have these normally haughty individuals being so friendly.

Anyway.

‘It’s back.’

The atmosphere at the academy had returned to how it was before.

A winter without any tragedy.

Of course, having gone through such a bumpy process, there were also aspects that had changed from before.

If I had to pick the person who had changed most dramatically, it would definitely be Selena.

My mentor.

“Student Judas.”

The drunkard.

Even that nickname no longer suited her.

She had been staying away from alcohol since that day.

As the lingering intoxication gradually faded along with the smell of alcohol, the gloomy atmosphere was also brightening.

A faint smile now appeared on her face, which had previously been as grim as a broken doll.

The woman whispered.

“It’s all thanks to you, student Judas.”

Alcohol addiction requires long-term treatment.

It would take a long time to overcome it.

However.

The woman’s steps no longer dwelled in sorrow. Even if she staggered, she was clearly moving toward the light.

I believed that as long as her will didn’t break, she would eventually reach tomorrow.

I decided to watch over her.

“I… I’m going to try to live properly from now on.”

The promise she made to her sister.

Selena also approached the faculty members with whom she had been distant.

She broke the chilly silence and greeted them first.

It must have been confusing for the other professors.

After all, someone who had treated everyone around her like air for the past 7 years had suddenly changed.

Some even worried if she might have contracted a terminal illness.

It seemed it would take quite some time to form bonds with her colleagues.

Still, it was refreshing.

‘It’s good to see.’

When I watched her trying to change.

I would sometimes have the trivial feeling that I had actually changed something.

‘Should I say I feel proud?’

Needless to say.

There was also progress in my relationship with Selena.

The wall that had vaguely existed between us had crumbled, and the distance felt much closer.

The only problem was…

“Student Judas. May I ask you for a favor again today?”

“What favor might that be?”

Perhaps the distance had become too close.

The woman murmured in a soft voice.

“I’d like you to… hold me like you did then.”

Then.

Right after waking from the dream. Perhaps the memory of being held in my arms remained vivid.

Selena would open her arms and ask for a hug.

“Is that not okay…?”

A slight hesitation.

While raising her head as if thirsting for affection, her red eyes trembled pathetically.

As if afraid that the answer might be a rejection.

The woman always lacked composure.

Of course.

“If that’s what you wish, mentor.”

I didn’t refuse.

“…Thank you always.”

“No need for thanks. Come here.”

Each time, I would hold her for quite a while.

If we spent roughly 3 hours in the research lab, about 2 hours of that would be spent clinging to each other.

Selena would bury her face in my chest and desperately seek warmth.

It seemed that doing so stabilized her anxious mind.

I would stand still and gently pat her slender back.

For hours like that.

“……”

Eventually, it began to interfere with work.

After pondering for a few days, the woman finally decided to sit on my lap while working.

As a result, I had to process documents while embracing Selena from behind.

Perhaps because it was a position where we were so close to each other, I could clearly feel the other person’s body heat and curves.

Occasionally, when the scratching of the pen stopped and the purple hair leaned against my shoulder, our lips were at a distance where they almost touched.

Feeling our breaths intermingling at such a close distance gave me a strange feeling.

Even for a mentor and disciple, wasn’t this too close?

“This is nice. Being together.”

Selena murmured in a languid voice.

Her faint smile erased the unnecessary thoughts that had filled my mind.

The woman said.

“Thank you.”

“I think you say that too often.”

“Even that feels insufficient to me.”

“I’m just happy that you express it that way.”

“Thanks to you, I’ve found a new meaning. A reason to live for the future.”

A reason to live.

The woman’s finger seemed to point at me.

Her approaching fingertip touched my lips.

“So… I’ll cherish everything you’ve given me, student Judas.”

Then.

The drunkard took her finger with my lips on it and pressed it against her own lips.

The curved gaze that met mine was particularly seductive.

It was definitely what one might call experience.

A bewitching gesture and gaze.

The woman leaned in again.

“From now on, I’ll live for those things.”

Selena whispered softly.

I nodded.

Days passed with our body heat and breaths intermingling.

Our relationship was growing deeper.

***

As the days went by in circles.

As time passed, there were also small changes for me.

“Hmm.”

Namely, that my body had mostly recovered.

With my depleted vitality restored, I was able to resume daily activities.

Well… I could manage daily activities before too.

Still, it was refreshing to be able to say goodbye to the wheelchair I had been forced to use.

“That’s a shame. It was nice seeing you in the same condition.”

Elise spoke as if slightly disappointed.

She seemed to regret that our wheelchair duo of the past fortnight had broken up.

“If I’m in a wheelchair, who would push Your Highness from behind?”

“Well, my sister would push me. Sometimes Tanya would push me too.”

“That’s too much.”

“That’s rich coming from a physician who goes around flirting everywhere.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“This time it seems you’ve seduced a professor too. Be careful, or you might really end up getting imprisoned.”

“Ha, haha…”

The occasional peace passes by in a flurry.

And so, on a certain day, exactly one month after the cultist attack.

A mysterious letter arrived at my dormitory.

“Here, take this.”

“Hmm? What is it, Miss Irene?”

“It arrived by magical mail earlier today. Judging by the lack of sender, it seems to be from headquarters.”

“A letter from headquarters…”

I had a hunch about what it might be.

I carefully opened the seal.

Thwoop-

What came out was a thick document.

On the very front page was a title.

[Report on Manastone Disease]

[Author: Medro Andreas]

As I expected.

After briefly skimming through the report, I murmured.

“Has the time come?”

It seemed.

It was time to treat the Rose’s illness.