Ch.62Academy (1)

When I stood at the podium, shaking off my nervousness, I suddenly recalled the day when the Empress had made her discreet proposal.

Back when I was hesitating about attending the Academy, fearing a future where Eshtiel might get hurt, she had suggested something.

“What if you were to join not as a student, but as a professor?”

“A professor… you say.”

“Yes, a professor. As a professor, you could move around the Academy without raising suspicion, and you would have sufficient authority to guide and observe students. Wouldn’t that allow you to protect Count Elenot, directly or indirectly?”

“That’s certainly…”

As a professor guiding students, I could expect to intervene to a minimal extent with legitimate justification. And it would also be good for maintaining a normal life while being part of the Academy.

The only problem was whether I had the qualifications to be a professor.

The Empress, as if seeing through my concerns, immediately suggested a solution.

“Someone of Grand Duke status would be worthy of being invited as an honorary professor at the Academy. You can prove your academic insight directly before your appointment.”

“I’m concerned whether I can prove myself.”

“Well, if you were directly educated by Rodrick, I believe you would have already reached the level of a professor academically.”

At that time, I couldn’t believe the Empress’s words. I had often heard from Rodrick that there was nothing more to teach me, but I had no experience competing with others.

‘Rodrick said something similar.’

For an assassin, the most important element isn’t stealth or combat ability, but knowledge.

Because knowledge helps you kill those who cannot be killed by force…

Therefore, Rodrick claims to have mastered everything regardless of field.

‘It wasn’t just boasting.’

In reality, I, who had Rodrick as my tutor, was appointed as a professor after receiving recognition from the Academy’s faculty at a symposium.

The result of that was the present, after a brief orientation.

An afternoon of being cornered and intensely questioned by Serin.

“How could you do this?”

“Serin…?”

“No, how could you keep it completely secret until now that you were coming as a professor, not a student!”

“I thought it wasn’t something that needed reporting since I was coming to the Academy either way.”

In truth, the Empress had asked me to keep it a secret with a mischievous smile. But I decided to shoulder part of the blame to protect Serin’s smooth relationship with her mother.

Hearing this, Serin hesitated slightly, as if her anger had somewhat subsided.

“No… who said you had to formally report it? You could have at least given me a heads-up between us…”

“I’m sorry. I was shortsighted.”

“Ugh, what kind of person doesn’t even argue…”

Muttering that how could she stay angry when I was like this,

Serin pouted and grumbled.

“Um… by the way, Serin.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

With her permission, I looked around at our surroundings and asked.

“Do we really need to talk in such a secluded place?”

“It’s because this place is secluded that we can talk.”

“What?”

“Rahilt, you don’t seem to realize what kind of attention you’re getting, but let me make one thing clear: here, you’re not a dragon.”

“I was never a dragon to begin with…”

“Ah, just listen.”

Despite being in a secluded place with likely no one to hear, Serin lowered her voice and leaned in closer.

I stepped back at the closeness and the scent of wild grass that wafted toward me.

Yet Serin paid no mind and moved forward just as much as I had retreated.

‘This is troublesome…’

I wish Serin would realize her own effect.

When her wolf-like eyes capture me, I feel dizzy like I’m drunk and might lose my self-control. Even though she would surely dislike such a man with no self-restraint.

Whether aware of my concerns or not, Serin hit the wall behind her with a thud and said to me.

“Do you know what the Academy is? This is a wilderness where people live. A perfect place to be eaten alive.”

‘Looking at her current appearance, it seems like Serin might eat me instead… or is that just my imagination…?’

“The Academy is not only a place to hone knowledge but also a social venue where people gather to meet each other.”

“I’m well aware of that…”

It’s because the Academy functions as a social venue that I wanted Eshtiel to enroll. Unlike me, Eshtiel had the grand dream of making 100 friends.

‘…Though it would be troublesome if all 100 were of the opposite sex.’

While I was mulling over these trivial concerns, Serin continued.

“No, you don’t know. Here, you’re not a dragon. You’re just a fragile mountain rabbit. A pure and pitiful rabbit that will be gobbled up the moment I take my eyes off you!”

“Pure and pitiful… rabbit…”

Serin’s lips describe me with concepts furthest from who I am.

Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing, so I lowered my gaze to the ground. But Serin was so close that I inadvertently caught sight of her prominent chest, something I wouldn’t normally dare to look at.

At that indecent mistake, I immediately jerked my head upward. What clumsy social skills.

Clouds drifted leisurely in the blue sky, and against those white clouds as a canvas, the scent of wild grass sketched the curves of the woman I had glimpsed.

I couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

“Haah…”

“Rahilt?”

“I… might not be just a mountain rabbit as Serin says…”

“Then what are you?”

“…”

“…”

Silence. A suffocating stillness.

In an environment filled only with the sound of chirping birds, I squeezed out my voice.

“It’s… difficult to say…”

“What on earth are you thinking that you can’t say it? Huh? Is Rahilt some kind of carnivorous jungle beast?”

“… Ugh.”

Perhaps, I might be comparable to that.

… But I couldn’t affirm that even with a knife to my throat.

So, I avoided answering and just stared off into the distance.

“Hmm… this isn’t good. I never imagined Rahilt would be hiding such indecency that he couldn’t even tell me about it?”

Serin openly teased and sneered, but I couldn’t deny it. I couldn’t bring myself to denounce the truth as a lie.

“…”

“… What is it? Really? Does Rahilt really think that way?”

“…”

“No, wait a minute. Since when? Since when did my Rahilt become a beast?”

Perhaps it had been long before you started questioning me. I wanted to confess that, but fearing Serin’s contempt, I foolishly kept my mouth shut.

“I… I can’t believe this.”

She rubbed her face with her hands.

“No, I mean, I said the Academy was a wilderness, but what if Rahilt also becomes a wild animal… no, what…?”

“It’s a misunderstanding…”

“You’re calling it a misunderstanding after all this?”

“It’s not… not that it’s not… not…”

“Oh my, now you’re openly malfunctioning? How directly must I have hit the mark for you to be like this?!”

“Ugh.”

I felt too guilty to face Serin any longer.

How dare I harbor indecent fantasies about her?

Although Serin had stimulated my fantasies, it was all surely innocent teasing. She might have been awkward in dealing with people due to the scarcity of peers she could associate with.

Above all… Serin had referred to me as ‘my person.’ Because of that, she probably treated me with excessive familiarity.

“Hey, Rahilt? Be honest. What kind of imagination did you have? There’s no one listening anyway, so what does it matter? Just open up and tell me.”

“That is…”

“Well, if it’s too difficult for you to keep bottled up, I might be able to help?”

“H-help? What do you mean…”

“Hey, do I really need to spell it out? Hasn’t Rahilt already imagined it all?”

“That might not necessarily match Serin’s expectations…!”

What makes Serin so naive? It’s natural for a princess of a nation to be unaware of a man’s obscene desires, but this is problematic.

If I were to show even a fragment of desire, it’s obvious she would run away with those graceful legs.

“Oh come on, just tell me. I’ll listen to everything.”

“Serin…”

“I’m fully prepared, okay? Despite appearances, I’ve known everything there is to know since I was a newborn. So hurry up.”

With that, Serin closed the already narrow distance to its limit. I tightly gripped my patience, which was reaching its breaking point, and squeezed my eyes shut.

Serin, unaware of my feelings, kept making statements that could be interpreted suggestively depending on the listener.

“Rather than Rahilt eating or being eaten, I’d rather eat him myself.”

“Kuh.”

That declaration was the burning fuse.

Squish, squish.

The plump softness in her bosom gently pressed against me, seductively stimulating my nerves. Unable to endure her defenseless demeanor, I abruptly moved to the side. To protect the dignity of both of us.

“Rahilt…?”

“… I deeply apologize, Serin.”

“What?”

“The time for my next lecture is approaching, so I must go now…!!!”

“Where do you think you’re going?! You have geography for the 3rd grade elementary class next, and there’s still 20 minutes left!”

“Why do you have my schedule memorized?!”

“Is that what’s important right now?!”

“Since it’s not important, I’ll be going now!”

“What nonsense…! Hey, Rahiiiiilt!!!”

I immediately turned and fled, lest I be caught by the indignantly questioning Serin.

The wailing cries of Serin behind me troubled me, but I deliberately ignored them. Rather than risking the ruin of our trust relationship with a hasty judgment, this was better. Thus, I was able to safely escape from the clutches of temptation.

… Later, as time passed and my racing heart calmed down, I felt secretly proud.

I was happy with the sense of achievement in protecting Serin’s nobility from base desires. It felt like I was finally fulfilling my duty as a guard that I couldn’t complete in the kingdom.

Let’s continue like this from now on.

To completely block desire-filled contact in service to the divine.

I will maintain proper conduct and also protect Serin’s propriety.

I firmly vowed so.

◇

Geography class for 3rd grade elementary.

Just as Serin had memorized, that was the class and subject I was to teach next.

For this class, I was determined to approach it with a solemn heart.

Although the students’ ages weren’t uniform, the average age was around 10. And it was also the class assigned to Eshtiel, who had turned a respectable 9 years old this year.

Honestly, I was afraid.

I was worried about how Eshtiel was being treated inside.

If he was drifting away from the group and sitting dejectedly in a corner… that might actually be fortunate.

But if he was being ostracized or enduring humiliation, I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t strike down lightning.

“The one who hasn’t grown at all… might be me.”

I might have even regressed.

Something changed after I fell into the contamination source of the black mage Rastali. I feel like I’ve become sensitive to emotions that I was once numb to. It seemed like a side effect of remembering the future I had lost.

This side effect is something I must endure alone. I cannot drag others into it and cause them trouble.

“Sigh…”

So, I steeled my resolve repeatedly and stopped in front of the classroom door for the 3rd grade elementary.

Eventually, my hand descended on the doorknob.

As I cleared my throat and opened the door, the first sight I saw was…

“Gasp…!”

Young students surrounding a large desk in a circle, and…

“Shturn lost in arm wrestling…!!!”

“Hehee.”

…… Eshtiel, who had defeated the boys with her strength.