Ch.64Love…? (2)

The sweet rest given after the evaluation ended, that one day passed in an instant.

I shared stories that had piled up with my mentor, had a meal together after a long time, and did just ordinary things, but it couldn’t have been more enjoyable.

But if it had been in the past, even if it was enjoyable, it probably wouldn’t have been to this extent.

Because those everyday moments felt so natural.

The story that one doesn’t know what’s precious because of being deceived by familiarity is already widely known, but humans are creatures that absolutely cannot go against it.

I’m the same way.

In that sense, it wasn’t just the students who grew from this evaluation.

‘Recognizing what’s precious and being grateful for it.’

I had grown a little as a human being too.

Anyway, the holiday ended and the day came when I had to go to work.

I naturally arrived at the Academy.

After stopping by the professor’s office briefly to gather materials needed for the lecture, I passed through the long corridor and opened the classroom door.

“Good morning.”

As I naturally uttered the morning greeting while entering, the students’ attention focused on me all at once.

“Hello, Professor.”

“Your hair looks a bit messy today.”

“Are you really going to lecture today too?”

The students were all saying different things, but they all had the same expression.

An expression with no worry or concern, just happy and joyful.

Seeing them like that made me realize anew that the second semester evaluation was over.

But regardless, I had to give the lecture.

That’s the role and duty of a professor.

At the very least, it’s proper to do what I’m paid for.

“I will be lecturing. Though it might be difficult since the fatigue hasn’t completely gone away, but as students of the Academy, your duty…”

“Professor!”

Before I could finish speaking, it was none other than Ludmila who cut in.

She placed one hand on the desk and raised the other hand high as she stood up.

She had quite a meaningful expression, so I was curious about what she was going to say.

“Yes, Ludmila.”

“Party! Let’s have a party! How about after all the lectures today?! You’ll come this time, right?!”

Even though a professor might feel uncomfortable, she invited me again, so I was grateful.

Besides, since I had declined the previous invitation and I wanted to attend a party anyway.

“Yes, I’ll come this time. But I can’t go together with you. I have somewhere I need to stop by briefly. If you just tell me the location, I’ll find my way there.”

“Then I’ll let you know after the lecture ends!”

“Yes, please do so.”

I confidently said I would attend, but…

‘I’ve never been to one before.’

Of course, I know what a party is.

A place to celebrate joyous occasions, where many people gather to eat delicious food and have fun.

The party Ludmila mentioned would surely be to celebrate successfully completing the second semester evaluation.

The problem is that I don’t know anything else about it.

Neither the attire nor the protocol.

It’s not an important occasion, and since it’s just something small among students, I probably don’t need to worry about it.

But given my position as a professor, I didn’t want to create embarrassing situations for myself.

Already feeling worried, I sighed and opened the materials I was holding.

“Now I’ll start the lecture, so even though you’re all tired, please try not to fall asleep and focus.”

I couldn’t waste lecture time with personal worries.

The students focused on the lecture despite their not fully recovered bodies.

But drowsiness isn’t something you can resist just by trying, so inevitably some students started dozing off.

This was the first time it had happened since I took charge of the Black Magic course.

It was both pitiful and amusing enough to make me smile, so I pointed my finger at Denevan, who was nodding off with his head bobbing up and down.

A small water droplet shot from my fingertip and slowly flew to hit Denevan’s face.

Splash—

Startled by the water, Denevan opened his eyes with a jolt.

“Are you very tired?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

Denevan bowed his head in apology and tried to focus on the lecture again.

But I hadn’t asked for an apology.

“It’s okay to be honest.”

When I said that, Denevan immediately conveyed his true feelings.

“Yes, I’m a bit sleepy. Even though I slept all day yesterday…”

To be honest, I wasn’t exactly wide awake either.

It’s just that unlike them, I was standing and constantly talking, so I was managing to hold on somehow.

I guess I should end the class here.

There’s no point in continuing with the material if the students can’t concentrate.

I teach so they can learn, not to kill time.

Tap—

I put the materials I was holding down on the desk.

“I’ll end the morning lecture here. Since everyone seems tired, you can rest for the remaining time.”

At the announcement of the lecture’s end, the students, as if by agreement, let out sighs and collapsed onto their desks.

The situation was similar for Lael.

Of course, she didn’t collapse onto her desk, but she was blinking her eyes, physically expressing her sleepiness.

As the students took their rest and the morning lecture time ended, lunchtime arrived.

And as always, there was someone who would come at this time.

“Professor, I’m coming in.”

Rather than asking if she could enter, Lael came into the professor’s office with a unilateral announcement and threw herself into a chair. Then she let out a sigh—whoosh—filled with fatigue and swept her hair upward with her hand.

It was something men would typically do, but…

‘What is this…’

Was it because it was so different from her usual self, full of aegyo and bright smiles?

I felt my heart strangely flutter.

Captivating—that was the word that best described her right now.

“Professor, have you eaten?”

“Ah, yes. I have.”

I had just been eating a sandwich that Riano made for me.

“Then, that’s good.”

“Pardon? What’s…”

Lael pulled an extra chair next to mine, side by side, and lay back on it.

Of course, she placed her head on my thigh.

I was taken aback by her sudden action, something that shouldn’t be done between a student and professor.

But since it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling, I decided to let it be.

She looked very tired anyway.

Ah, come to think of it, there was something I wanted to ask.

“Lael, may I ask you something?”

Lael, who was about to close her eyes gently, half-opened them and met my gaze.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Could you tell me a little about parties…”

I was embarrassed about asking a student something, so my voice unintentionally became quieter.

But even so, I conveyed the meaning clearly.

“What part are you curious about?”

She asked, raising her body.

“Things like attire, what to do when I get there, what to prepare. Overall, I don’t know anything.”

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that. We’ll prepare everything, and you just need to come and enjoy yourself, Professor. Any attire is fine.”

Of course, everything depends on the host’s preference.

Thinking that way, I was still confused because it didn’t match the image of parties fixed in my mind.

The parties I knew were where high nobles spent lavishly and enjoyed luxurious entertainment.

I wondered where students would get that kind of money, but considering they were children of nobles, it was entirely possible.

Anyway, according to her, it seems like a casual atmosphere where you just enjoy yourself.

That was actually better for me.

“But Professor, you said you had to go somewhere briefly?”

“I thought I should at least tell Riano where I’m going.”

“R-R-Riano?!”

Lael’s already large eyes grew even wider, and her mouth fell open.

She looked extremely surprised, as if she had discovered an unbelievable phenomenon.

Since I had always referred to her as “mentor” and now directly called her Riano, she must have assumed something had happened between us.

And naturally…

“Professor, what happened?! What did you do?! Tell me quickly!”

She began pouring out questions.

At this moment, I had two choices.

One was to tell the truth.

In this case, I would have a longer conversation with her and directly face her jealousy.

But it would allow for a clear and clean resolution.

The other was to brush it off and say nothing happened…

‘There’s no need to deliberate.’

Since the latter would surely only worsen the situation, my choice was naturally…

“We kissed.”

The former.

“Kissed?! Where, where did you kiss?!”

“On the lips.”

“Huh…”

A short sigh mixed with exclamation burst from her lips, and it seemed to contain countless meanings.

She lowered her gaze for a moment and narrowed her brow, appearing to be thinking about something.

When she raised her head again…

“Do it with me too. K-kiss.”

She had a pitiful look in her eyes, like a deer wet in the rain.