Ch.194The Final Destination of the NPC’s Snowball. (1)

As the sun set and Ira fell asleep late in the evening, there was one more person at their home today.

“Black tea or coffee. Which would you prefer?”

“Black tea.”

“Alright~ Please wait a moment.”

[I can’t believe the Dean would be present during our time. Surely the Dean isn’t also interested in Master…?]

“Don’t say such nonsense. Golem, do you know how many years apart we are?”

[There’s a 46-year age difference between us.]

“…Are you 3 years old?”

[That’s correct. My birthday… or rather, the day I was born is coming up soon, so I’ll be turning 4.]

“……”

While engaging in this pointless conversation, they waited for Ray to bring the coffee and black tea she was brewing, and then immediately got down to business.

“…About today’s demon attack. I heard from Ragni why you didn’t inform me.”

[I believe I did something wrong. I apologize. I’m sorry.]

“…So you’re aware that you made a selfish choice.”

“…I’ll apologize too. Even if I didn’t know, I understand why these two acted this way, as I’m ‘family’ too.”

“…I’m sorry.”

The matter was resolved by giving the children merit points, and thanks to the children’s efforts, everything ended without major issues. But the fact remained that their choice had put the children in danger.

The two had no intention of making excuses about that point, and Ray also bowed her head, thinking that she would have done the same if faced with such a choice.

“…Fine. Just make sure that if something like this might happen again, you absolutely tell me in advance. I won’t forgive it next time if you react too late and put the children in danger because you’re evaluated as lacking in practical improvisation.”

“B-but…”

“If there’s anything that could threaten the children, I’ll eliminate it ‘in advance.’ I have absolutely no intention of standing by and watching things that cause trouble for children in ‘my territory’ again.”

The three remained silent at the Dean’s firm words as she took a sip of her black tea.

If they had told her from the beginning, perhaps the dangerous situations that arose today wouldn’t have happened multiple times. They couldn’t deny that fact.

“Don’t worry, I also desire the ‘peaceful academy’ that you want. If necessary, I’ll listen to you and adjust my actions accordingly. And I’ll invest ‘the minimum necessary’ in Ira.”

[Specifically?]

“Ha. For instance, if something like today had happened, what if I had sent my high-ranking spirits to the children’s destination from the beginning? Or if I had sent spirits to escort Ira?”

“”…Ah.””

[Ah.]

The three wore expressions of sudden realization at the Dean’s words.

They had been so fixated on her exceptional personal combat abilities that they had completely forgotten about her powerful assets—her high-ranking spirits.

The Dean took another sip of her black tea, saying “That’s how it is,” and as she set down her cup, she concluded this topic.

“Next, let’s talk about ‘Ragni Bluemoon Ottoman’ and the Empire.”

“…R-Ragni?”

“Sorry. I captured a demon earlier today, and it wasn’t something I could just let pass without saying anything.”

[The important part isn’t that the Dean discovered Ragni’s identity. I even feel like she’s only just found out. The issue is, Dean, what do you intend to do?]

“Hmm. To be honest, I felt quite betrayed.”

“Ugh.”

As Ragni shrank back at the Dean’s firm and cold voice, Ray put an arm around her shoulders. She knew how Ragni had been treated in the Empire and how she was still being treated.

“To be honest, I’d like to deport you immediately and issue an entry ban.”

“W-wait a minute!! That’s too harsh…!!”

“N-no, Ray. What she’s saying isn’t wrong…”

“Yes, it’s absolutely not wrong. I am the ‘Dean,’ and as I said earlier, I have the responsibility to ‘eliminate in advance’ anything that could threaten the academy.”

[……]

The Dean stared intently at Ragni with emotionless eyes and continued speaking.

“That’s why this is such a headache, Ragni.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you have any intention of returning to your position as imperial royalty?”

“No. Not at all.”

“…Haaa.”

At Ragni’s answer, the Dean genuinely rubbed her face as if she had a headache, and the three women couldn’t say anything in response to her reaction.

After a moment of silence…

“…There’s no helping it then.”

“Surely… n-no, right?”

“……”

“What do you mean?”

“…D-deportation. You’re going to expel Ragni…”

[If that were the case, she wouldn’t say there’s no helping it.]

“Eh?”

“The golem seems to understand, but what about you, Ragni?”

“…Will it be okay?”

“Ha. Okay? How could it be okay when I have to send an ‘ultimatum’ to the Empire, not just some small country or neutral city?”

“…U-ultimatum?!”

Ray showed a surprised expression, and the Dean downed her cold tea in one go before answering with a gleam in her eyes.

“I’m sure I said this at the entrance exam venue this year. You were listening then, weren’t you?”

“…Ah!!”

[Here I swear on my life. My students, those who have come to study at my academy, and all currently enrolled students—you are all my children from this day forward. If anyone raises a hand against you, then by my name, Neiti Naika, and under the blessing of the Spirit King, I will not leave those who harm my children on this earth. You who have listened to my words here are witnesses to this, and this is my oath to myself.]

Before the practical evaluation of the entrance exam, the Dean had clearly sworn in front of the elementary division. She would never again stand by and let those who harmed the academy’s children go unpunished or forgiven.

“…B-but, Ragni isn’t a student, right?”

“I’m not, but…”

“She’s not a student, but she is a guardian responsible for a student’s safety. Today, a child enrolled in the academy and their family were targeted by a high-ranking demon sent by the Empire. If I don’t punish them immediately, I could lose the blessing of the Spirit King.”

[You’re cornered.]

“Yes. Of course, if I could avoid political conflict by giving up the Spirit King’s blessing, I would consider that a small price to pay. However…”

“…From the Empire’s perspective, if the Dean becomes weaker, she’ll just become an easier target again.”

The Dean nodded in agreement with Ragni’s conclusion. In other words…

“They targeted my temporary secretary and a ‘commoner parent’ who sent their child to the academy. If I back down here out of fear of the Empire, what weight would my words carry in the future?”

The middle-aged woman smiled with just the corners of her mouth raised, looking like an ‘adult’ who had already made up her mind.

Ray, Gor, and Ragni were somewhat surprised by the Dean’s demeanor.

“And, I hesitate to call it compensation, but Ragni.”

“Y-yes?”

“You’ll work without pay for six months. This is your punishment for allowing this situation to happen.”

“…Huh? WHAT?!”

[…Pfft. I see. Indeed, it would be problematic if there were no punishment for someone who became a cause of interstate political conflict.]

“Six months without pay. So she’s truly an intelligent unemployed person now?”

“W-wait!! Six months is too much!! What about Ira’s living expenses or academy tuition…!!!”

“Ha! Is that something I should worry about? That child erased her demerits today and earned 2 merit points. She only needs one more merit point to receive a scholarship for the year. You just need to teach her well so she ranks in the next written exam. Ira is smart to begin with.”

“N-no!! I eat lunch at the school cafeteria?!!”

“I know you’re not using the 30% teaching assistant discount but the 50% secretary discount. It was originally for Manie, but you’re being presumptuous for a temporary secretary.”

“Ah, ah!! Really!!!”

As Ragni clutched her head and flailed about, the Dean chuckled and then stood up from her seat.

“Well then, I’ll receive and inform you of any reply from the Empire in the future. And you. From now on, brew tea in my office. You did it quite well. Personally, I prefer Earl Grey.”

“…What? Me?”

“Yes, aren’t you in charge of tea?”

“Um, y-yes, but Earl Grey? What kind of tea is that? I’ve never heard of it before. And suddenly why…”

“Look it up yourself. If you don’t report for work within this month, I’ll punish you too.”

“Eh?!! Why me too?!”

[Pfft…]

“Ah, and you, golem.”

[How many times do I have to tell you it’s Gor…]

“There are too many holes that you and Ira dug in the training ground. Fill them all with sand. The 2nd and 3rd years of the elementary division and the middle division have practical evaluations too.”

[……]

“Hehe. Well then, I’ll be pulling an all-nighter again tonight to clean up the mess you’ve made. I’ll be going now.”

After assigning tasks not only to Ragni but also to Gor and Ray, she disappeared with a teleport, and the three women in the now quiet living room looked at each other’s bewildered faces and couldn’t help but smile slightly.

[She’s changed.]

“She has changed.”

“She’s changed so much it’s annoying.”

Even upon reconsideration, they understood that the Dean’s oath didn’t necessarily include protecting Ragni.

While there were grounds to protest the attack on Ira, Ragni wasn’t even Ira’s adoptive parent, let alone a blood relative.

Nevertheless, she had clearly designated Ragni as a ‘guardian’ and ‘parent’—a ‘commoner parent’—and was willing to confront the Empire over it.

No matter how they looked at it, it seemed she genuinely intended to protect ‘everyone’—there was no other way to understand her actions.

[Please take good care of Ira and our children.]

[Don’t worry, I will.]

“…She’s keeping her word to Jack.”

[I just hope she’s not actually after Master.]

“Ugh. That gives me the creeps—a 50-year-old hag as a love rival, how horrible!”

The three fell asleep peacefully that night, feeling slightly reassured by the protection of a dependable ‘adult.’

*

“Grace! Hello!!”

“Good morning! Ira. Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes!!”

“Miss Ira! Miss Grace! Good morning!”

“”Good morning to you too, Latina!!””

Early morning at the academy gates.

Though only one night had passed, the three felt their friendship had grown stronger as they started walking to school together. Indeed, so much had happened yesterday—in just two hours. Especially…

“Ira. That spirit I saw yesterday looked like a bird. What exactly was it? Can you summon it now?”

“Oh, yes! I saw it too, it was such a cute sparrow!”

“Um, well. My mas… teacher told me not to show it to people in public… and Piyak isn’t a sparrow. He’s a chick.”

“Eh? Ira, you have a teacher?”

“Aha, I thought so. Your skills seemed beyond what you could learn just from your brother and sisters. But a chick? There are chicken spirits?!”

“Pi—!! Yak!”

“Ah, ah!! Piyak, I told you not to come out!!”

“Pi~ Pii!!”

“Wow! It really is an animal-type spirit!!”

“Ch-chick?! I-Ira! Chicks can’t fly!”

Her spirit had been discovered.

Piyak, who had suddenly appeared on Ira’s head, kept dodging her attempts to catch him, flying into the air and then landing back on her head repeatedly.

Ira’s hopping around trying to catch him looked incredibly cute, and the two girls watching her with fond expressions were laughing loudly.

-Tap tap tap tap!!

“H-hello!!”

“Um, yes?”

“W-who are you?”

“I-I’m Harine from Class C! Y-yesterday…”

-Hop!

“Got you… Ah! Shield!”

“Pii~ yak—”

“Y-yes! That’s right! Y-you’re… Miss Ira, right?”

“Yes! Hello!”

Yesterday during practice, the girl whom Ira had helped hesitantly reached out to her.

“Hmm?”

“Um, thank you so much for yesterday. I was really scared. Th-this is a cookie I made…”

“Wow! Cookies!! Harine, you know how to make cookies?”

“Ah! Y-yes!!”

With both hands holding Piyak, Ira looked at the girl with sparkling eyes, amazed not by the offered package but by the fact that a girl her age knew how to make cookies.

As Ira’s gaze continued to meet the girl’s eyes, the girl’s face quickly turned red.

“Um, would you… w-would you accept this?”

“Hmm? Me?”

“Yes! I… I made it because I wanted to give it to you, Miss Ira!”

“Wow!!”

“Pii—!!”

-Grasp.

“Eep?!!”

After placing Piyak, whom she had been holding with both hands, on her head, Ira took the girl’s hand with her now free hands.

“Thank you, Harine!! I’ll enjoy the cookies!! By the way, would you like to be my friend too?”

“*Gulp* R-really?”

“Yes! I only have Grace and Latina as friends, and Rock Bell is… still just an acquaintance? So I’d be happy if you became my friend!!”

“Oh!! I-I’d be honored!!”

“Hehe! Yes!! Nice to meet you!”

Harine, who instantly became Ira’s friend, had tears welling up in her eyes. And Grace and Latina, who were quietly watching this scene…

“…This could become a big problem if we’re not careful.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Look around.”

Focused on Harine and smiling brightly, Ira was unaware of what was happening around her.

Students from other grades were just passing by or glancing briefly, but all the students who were clearly first-years were staring in their direction. Moreover…

“Does she like cookies…? Then, should I buy some cookies too?”

“No, she likes sweet things. I should get her something sweeter like chocolate!!”

“…Do you think she’d be friends with me if I gave her candy?”

“Isn’t that small one not enough? Maybe something more expensive…”

“No, I should just go say hello first…”

“She said she has two friends, and now she has three… if I go now, could I be in her top five?”

“But she just said Rock Bell is an acquaintance…”

“That’s probably because he’s a boy.”

“Huh? Does that mean she doesn’t make friends with boys…?”

“No, she said ‘still,’ so she’s probably trying to avoid misunderstandings…”

All the first-year elementary students, boys and girls alike, were looking at Ira with shining eyes. Some were even openly expressing their ambition to become her friend by offering her sweet treats!

This is…

“I-I need to give Ira cookies too! Otherwise, I’ll lose my best friend Ira…!!”

“N-no, I don’t think that will happen…”

“I-Ira! A-and you said your name was Hareni?”

“Um, no, my name is Harine…”

“Right! Harine! My name is Grace Müller!! Let’s be friends too! And let’s quickly go to our classroom?! Let’s chat together in the classroom before class starts!”

“Uh, what?”

“Hehe! Yes! Let’s go!!”

-Grasp!!

“Ah?!”

“Huh!!”

“Latina too!!”

“Ahaha. Y-yes.”

As Ira grabbed Harine with one hand and Grace with the other, smiling brightly at Latina, she also awkwardly smiled and followed behind.

And Gor, who had been quietly watching this scene like a roadside pebble…

[…She’s too much like her brother, which is going to be a problem.]

Though in a different direction, Gor smiled wryly at Ira’s friendliness that pulled in everyone around her.