Ch.37The Situation Is Strange. (3)

Despite their high rankings, the students attended the lecture with enthusiasm, without a hint of arrogance.

I had worried the atmosphere might become lax, but it seems those concerns were unfounded.

Thanks to that, the lecture proceeded smoothly.

“That will be all for today’s lecture.”

Ending a bit early shouldn’t be a problem.

A collective sigh escaped from the students’ mouths.

Seeing them like that, I felt grateful for their attentiveness, but also somewhat sorry for them.

Even with all that effort, no one would praise them, just taking it for granted.

In that respect, I think I was fortunate to learn Black Magic from my master.

At least my master never held back praise when I did well.

I want to be like that too, but…

‘It’s not as easy as it seems.’

Having never praised anyone in my life, suddenly trying to do so left me tongue-tied.

While I was sighing deeply and lamenting to myself,

Ludmila stood up abruptly and said,

“Professor! We’re having a party today. Could you possibly join us?”

“A party?”

“Yes, everyone did well in the rankings. We’re having a party this evening to take a breather.”

A party…

I’d love to go, but it’s clear my schedule won’t allow it.

“I appreciate the invitation, but as a professor, I still have many duties to attend to, so I’m afraid I can’t.”

“That’s unfortunate, but can’t be helped. We’ll go ahead without you.”

“Yes, please just make sure it doesn’t interfere with tomorrow’s lecture.”

Ludmila’s attitude had completely changed since that day—the day Flan fell into the unexplored Labyrinth.

It’s as if she suddenly developed manners, and she no longer tried to involve me with Lael.

Actually, the same goes for the other students too.

Though not as dramatic a change as Ludmila’s, each of them has slightly altered their attitude toward me.

In a positive way, of course.

Still, a party… I can’t help but worry a bit.

They’re all adults, but parties inevitably involve alcohol.

When people get drunk, adult or not, they often stop behaving like humans. I just hoped nothing would go wrong.

“Well then, good work everyone today. Please enjoy the party in moderation.”

With those final words, I gathered my lecture materials and left the classroom.

I went straight to the professor’s office, sat in my chair, and let out an involuntary sigh.

The second semester evaluation plan was taking shape.

I’d been running around during lunch breaks asking questions, and everyone had kindly provided information.

What remained were the details and finding an adventurer for escort duty…

I had actually discussed this matter with the dean.

Whether we needed to hire escort adventurers when there was an A-rank party leader among the Black Magic students.

The dean’s answer was:

‘Of course we need to hire them. We can’t place such a burden on students.’

It was the answer I’d expected, so I had no complaints, but…

It’s still a hassle.

Typically, adventurers move in parties of four or five. But what I need now is a single B-rank adventurer.

A B-rank adventurer would likely belong to either a B-rank or A-rank party, and finding one isn’t easy…

The other professors seemed to have found theirs through their connections.

So what about me?

Where do I have connections…?

At that moment, someone’s face flashed in my mind.

The face of the woman who had collapsed unconscious in front of the workshop this morning.

But even so, that’s a bit…

I’d brushed it off this morning because I was in a rush to get to work, but I still don’t understand why Derin was looking for me.

I really have nothing to say to Derin…

Betrayal? I never even felt that.

I had somehow expected Derin would be like that.

It’s not like she didn’t treat me well…

It was just intuition. An intuition that detected danger.

That’s why even after that incident, I thought I would never see Derin again.

She killed Franz not for my sake, but because he tried to drug me.

There’s no point in overthinking this.

I should probably talk with her.

With Lael too, I avoided her and our misunderstandings only deepened.

Though with Derin, there aren’t really any misunderstandings to deepen…

I wonder if she’s regained consciousness properly by now.

* * * * *

Derin, who had lost consciousness, opened her eyes wide and looked around.

Gone.

That frightening woman was nowhere to be seen.

Only after confirming the absence of the woman who had cast Black Magic at her could she breathe a sigh of relief.

First of all, meeting Lael near the workshop had been surprising.

The reason was obvious—she must have come to see Crow—but honestly, Derin hadn’t expected her to be waiting there so early.

‘Where on earth was she hiding?’

Using her thief’s skills, she had checked all possible hiding spots with sidelong glances, but hadn’t seen anyone.

Anyway, when Lael suddenly appeared and told her not to go that way, Derin was dumbfounded.

She thought Lael was still secretly watching from hiding.

And then she started saying nonsense like a wedding invitation, which honestly made Derin snort.

While they were bickering, suddenly a voice came from behind.

She should have realized then…!

As soon as she heard that voice, Lael froze.

Clearly afraid of something, as if she had suffered some kind of trauma in the past.

Looking over Lael’s shoulder, Derin was speechless at the beauty of the voice’s owner.

She looked somewhat older, but that only made her more attractive.

Her well-ripened maturity combined with the dark circles under her eyes made Derin feel like she would be devoured just by making eye contact.

‘And her breasts were huge too.’

They were an unbelievably large size.

Derin looked down at her own slightly protruding mounds and sighed.

Honestly, there was no comparison.

They were bigger than not only Lael’s, but honestly even Elin’s.

Anyway, the woman appeared with a deeply furrowed brow and asked for her name.

So naturally, Derin answered “Derin,” but…

The woman suddenly clenched her fist, Black Magic flew at her, and after that, her memory went blank.

Why?

There’s too much she doesn’t understand.

Why that woman cast Black Magic, why Lael said not to go there, and where Crow had gone.

Not having information is so unsettling.

She’d have to ask Crow when he arrived.

* * * * *

When I returned from work, Derin was still waiting for me outside.

Given how late it was, I thought she would come back tomorrow.

Is it that important?

Derin spotted me and smiled brightly.

The wait must have been quite difficult.

“Derin, can you wait a little longer?”

“Huh? Well, I can wait.”

“Then please wait a bit more.”

I left her nodding and entered the workshop through the back door.

The magic device that provides light wasn’t on, so my master must still be sleeping.

Just to be sure, I slightly opened the door to my master’s room and peeked inside.

My master was sound asleep with the blanket pulled up to her neck, looking peaceful.

She must have been very tired.

Relieved to see her like that, I gently closed the door, grabbed an extra coat, and left the workshop.

“Sorry, did you wait long?”

“No, it’s fine. I’m the one who came without notice.”

“Here, take this.”

When I handed her the coat I was holding, Derin tilted her head in confusion.

“What’s this for?”

“You’re wearing a skirt and thin clothes, so I thought you might be cold. Was I wrong?”

My master usually wears clothes like that and feels cold.

“My original clothes actually exposed more skin…”

“Ah, right.”

I don’t know if all female thieves dress that way, but Derin’s outfit was honestly so revealing that I didn’t know where to look.

Compared to that, she’s actually quite covered up now.

“Well, I appreciate the thought. I’ll use it well.”

Derin smiled broadly and draped the coat over her shoulders.

“Derin, you came to see me because you had something to say, right?”

“Something to say… well, I suppose so.”

“Then let’s talk over dinner. I haven’t eaten yet and I’m hungry.”

“Sure, let’s do that.”

So we began our conversation in earnest at a restaurant a short distance from the workshop.

Of course, while eating because I was too hungry.

As I cut the delicious meat into bite-sized pieces, I asked,

“So, what exactly did you want to talk about?”

Silence.

She remained silent until I finished cutting all the large pieces of meat.

Having experienced this kind of situation before, I could roughly guess what she wanted to say.

“Don’t worry, just tell me. I’ll listen to everything.”

“Ah… okay.”

While I ate, she began to pour out everything that had happened to her until now.