Ch.36The Situation Is Strange. (2)

Lael left the dormitory just before dawn.

The reason she came out when most students were still asleep was simple.

‘I need to go see Crow.’

Of course, after the “get lost, now” incident, she couldn’t meet him in front of the workshop and walk to school together. But even watching him from a distance made her happy, so getting up early was worth it.

Lael hummed a tune as she hid in a secluded alley with a good view of the workshop.

What would he look like today?

Last time when he forgot to tie his hair and just came out, he looked so cool.

He also looked cool when he rushed out in a hurry because he was late.

While she was lost in anticipation, an unexpected figure appeared near the workshop.

Derin.

The thief who had gone on adventures with them.

Lael was shocked when she saw her.

Usually, Derin wore revealing clothes like a courtesan, but now she was wearing something that emphasized her femininity.

And in one hand, she was holding a handkerchief that was clearly…

‘That belongs to Crow, doesn’t it?’

There was a small crescent moon embroidery in one corner of the handkerchief.

After slowly examining Derin’s appearance, Lael was certain. This cat was a rival who was after the same man as her.

Thinking about it made her indignant.

Derin, who said she was just killing time nearby, not only appeared in front of Crow but was fully prepared to seduce him.

‘I’ve been deceived?’

Since she had somewhat anticipated this, she didn’t feel betrayed. It was a woman’s intuition. The intuition to identify a competitor.

Anyway, she needed to keep a close eye on her actions. If Derin made the first move, the situation could become complicated.

Sure enough, Derin began walking toward the back door of the workshop.

Seeing this, Lael hurriedly left the alley and ran to catch Derin.

The party leader was hiding nearby watching, and a party member was trying to make the first move? Absolutely unacceptable.

* * * * *

I woke up at my usual time and immediately headed to my master’s room.

“Good morning…”

Ah, that’s right. She said she was making a delivery at dawn today.

Just before closing the workshop yesterday, a party that seemed to have just started adventuring came to buy potions.

Unfortunately, we were out of healing potions, so I was about to close the door after directing them to another workshop.

The young man who appeared to be the leader replied that this was the last place they had visited, looking at me with desperate eyes.

I wanted to say something but held back.

They weren’t my party, and from the workshop’s perspective, they were customers.

When I asked if they had a Holy Magic user, he slowly nodded and looked at a girl. A girl who still looked young, probably not even 20 years old.

That’s when I knew it was over.

If they were attacked by monsters or evil thieves, they would simply die.

My master, who was watching the situation beside me, seemed to understand this too and sighed, asking them when they planned to depart for their quest.

In the end, she spent all night making potions and went out at dawn to deliver them.

Facing the morning alone felt somewhat lonely.

Just as I finished preparing for work and was about to leave, the back door creaked open.

My master, returning from the delivery, said with a deeply furrowed expression:

“Apprentice, you have a visitor.”

“Me?”

I was puzzled because Lael hadn’t visited in the morning since that incident.

“Yes, you. I need to get some sleep now.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine, just hurry up and get to work.”

“Alright, I’ll be going. Get some rest.”

When I went out through the back door of the workshop, I found Lael.

Somehow, I had expected it would be her. My master’s expression had been so sour.

The strange thing was that Lael seemed completely frozen.

“Lael, what are you doing here?”

Only after hearing my voice did she seem to come to her senses, bowing her head in greeting.

“P-Professor, good morning.”

“Why did you come here? You know my master gets angry.”

Lael silently turned her gaze to the side.

She didn’t seem to be feeling guilty.

“Why, is there a reason…”

Following her gaze, I was momentarily speechless.

Derin.

A member of the Black Crow party who had adventured with us, Derin was there. She appeared unconscious, sitting with her back against the workshop building.

“Lael, why is she like this here?”

“She was hit by Black Magic.”

“Black Magic…?”

Suddenly, memories from the past flashed through my mind.

“Did my master do this?”

Lael nodded vigorously with a terrified expression.

Having made potions all night and delivered them, my master must have been quite irritable.

In that situation, seeing not only Lael but another party member must have made her explode with anger.

…It’s fortunate that Lael is unharmed.

“Let’s go.”

“Is it okay to leave her?”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. She was definitely a visitor looking for me.

But there was something more important, so my answer was naturally…

“It’s fine.”

I need to get to work.

After all, I had left the Duke’s daughter outside before, so why should a thief be any different?

Leaving Derin behind, Lael and I began walking toward the Academy.

“I’m asking just in case.”

“Yes, Professor. Please go ahead.”

Lael answered with a smile as if nothing had happened.

Since she seemed to have switched to formal speech because of the people around us, I should respond accordingly.

“Student Lael, why did you come to the workshop? You haven’t visited for a while.”

“Um… that’s…”

Lael rolled her eyes around and bit her lower lip with her upper teeth. It seemed difficult for her to say.

“If it’s hard to talk about, you don’t have to—”

“Actually, I’ve been visiting every day.”

Huh…?

“I haven’t seen you recently though?”

“That’s… because I followed you secretly…”

Lael hung her head low.

Her ears, peeking through her red hair, were completely flushed, probably from embarrassment.

I understand she likes me, but honestly, it’s a bit scary.

All this time I thought I was alone, but she was actually watching me.

“…Please don’t do that anymore.”

“What?!”

Lael raised her head in shock.

Does she not know it’s inappropriate behavior, or does she know but her emotions take over?

Either way, I don’t care, but I sincerely wish she would stop.

“Frankly, it’s unpleasant.”

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped Lael’s lips.

I wonder if I was too blunt, but if I don’t say it this clearly, there’s a high chance she won’t understand.

“And it’s also strange for an Academy student and a professor to walk to school together.”

Me, who needs to evaluate fairly, walking around with a single student could raise suspicions.

That could harm not only my teaching career but the entire Academy, so honestly, even walking together until now was a careless decision.

“Then when can I spend time with you, Professor…?”

“Submit a plan.”

“What?”

“Submit a plan.”

It’s not that I dislike spending time with her.

Rather, she’s been a comfort during my somewhat difficult professor duties.

But do I need to think that far for her?

The person who wants to visit should make the preparations themselves.

Besides, I’m already busy enough with lectures and evaluation preparations, so I don’t want to worry about trivial concerns.

“If I write a proper plan, you’ll spend time with me, right?”

“Well, if I find it convincing.”

I was starting to look forward to what kind of plan she would submit.

When we arrived at the Academy, it was chaotic with students gathered around the bulletin board.

“Hey, what rank did you get?”

“I got 150th.”

“Wow… are you even human?”

“What about you?”

“149th.”

It seems the first semester evaluation rankings had been posted.

Actually, evaluation rankings don’t mean much except at graduation. There are no different benefits, so it doesn’t make much difference in Academy life.

The issue is at graduation.

The top 10 students in the cumulative rankings from four years of evaluations receive medals from the royal family.

I’ve heard that no commoner has ever received one, but if they did, they would become a baron.

For the rest of the nobles, it comes with a small territory and honor…

Considering how obsessed nobles are with honor, it seems worth the effort.

I stood on my tiptoes to look for the names of students taking the Black Magic course on the bulletin board.

The first one to catch my eye was, of course, Lael.

She proudly ranked 3rd.

The reason she probably fell from first place was because I gave her a B in my subject evaluation.

It’s unfortunate, but the evaluation was conducted fairly, so I have no regrets.

But Lael doesn’t seem disappointed at all.

“Professor! I got 3rd place!”

Seeing how excited she is.

After that, all the students I teach were within the top 50, so I could breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, whatever rank they achieve doesn’t really matter to me, but I do hope that those connected to me do well.