Ch.65Academy (4)

‘It’s a bit awkward… No, am I nervous?’

I paused briefly in front of the second-year middle school class. I felt I needed to prepare myself mentally before entering.

‘The class where Serin’s younger brother is enrolled…’

Rightfully, I should treat all Academy students equally, but it was unavoidable that knowing someone’s family member made things special.

If only he were my family like Eshtiel, I could treat him comfortably… but of course, it had to be Serin’s family.

Rather than worrying about hierarchical differences, I felt a creeping desire to make a good impression.

Wanting to manage my reputation shouldn’t violate the principle of equality, so it should be fine. I rationalized this to myself as I opened the classroom door.

“Ah…!”

As soon as I entered, someone let out a soft exclamation. When I traced the source, I found it came from a boy who looked very much like Serin – Tesser.

To be completely honest, I was quite flustered.

‘Isn’t his smile… excessively bright?’

Strangely, before I’d done anything at all, tremendous goodwill was already evident all over his face. It was almost burdensome enough to make me want to step back.

… I should consider this fortunate, I suppose.

‘Perhaps my nervousness was unnecessary.’

Bathed in this mysterious goodwill, I recited a brief self-introduction.

Tesser’s blue eyes, so similar to Serin’s, sparkled like the morning star. And so began the class, leaving behind a strange sense of discomfort.

◇

It was around the time when the class was well underway.

Several students who had been quietly listening to the mathematics lesson began showing various emotions in their eyes. Regardless of gender, they kept blinking and glancing at me in a way that was completely transparent. From my position at the podium, I could see everything while pretending not to.

It would be troublesome if they lost focus during our first class together. So even as I kept talking, I pondered ways to redirect their attention.

My concerns proved unnecessary as their intentions soon became clear.

“…That concludes my explanation of simplifying comparisons. Does anyone have questions?”

“…”

No one ventured to ask anything, but somehow their previously scattered attention was now focused on me. Especially Tesser, who had been staring at me the entire time, looked as if he might pierce through me with his gaze alone.

I was confused by this inexplicable change.

Just as I was about to move on to the next topic out of embarrassment…

One of the students raised their hand high.

“Professor!”

“Yes, Demian.”

“May I ask a question unrelated to the lesson?!”

“Ah, well.”

Judging by Demian’s stiff posture, I could tell he was quite nervous. I thought I should reward such fearless courage.

“Very well. Please continue.”

“Ah… yes! Then…”

Demian asks.

“Could you tell us about the Carnar Kingdom?”

“By ‘tell you’…”

“How did you… Professor, defeat the black sorcerers? I’d like to hear about that!”

“I see…”

A rather uncomfortable question had been fired at me. Although Serin and I had already agreed on how to respond to such inquiries, telling outright lies with my own mouth still pricked my conscience.

How could I, who nearly caused destruction while trying to save them and ended up being saved instead, have the audacity to boast heroic tales?

Still, unable to simply brush it off, I recited a fabricated story.

The main outline from the Mansion of the Sorcerer to the royal palace was similar, but everything after falling into Rastali’s source of corruption was altered. For instance, I claimed that Serin, the princess, Luca, and I had worked together to drive back the black sorcerers’ leader…

I ended up listing a series of absurd claims.

Regardless of my complicated feelings, the students’ reactions were dramatic.

“Amazing…”

“I’ve heard rumors about the princess, but the two from the kingdom are strong too.”

“As expected of the Grand Duke…”

The last comment came from Tesser. While I appreciated the favorable view, I felt like I was drowning in goodwill. His favor, different in nature from Serin’s, was quite burdensome.

At least until he quietly muttered one phrase.

“Fucking awesome…”

“What?”

“Pardon?”

When I reflexively asked, everyone responded with high-pitched answers. I quickly surveyed the confused classroom and corrected myself.

“No… it’s nothing.”

Yet internally, I kept turning over that all-too-familiar vulgar word.

‘Is it coincidence…? That the casual word he blurted out is the same vulgar expression that’s become Eshtiel’s habit. Surely a prince wouldn’t…’

I hoped it was just my imagination, but troubling thoughts kept swirling in my mind.

‘Come to think of it, he said he became friends with Eshtiel, and given the circumstances, Tesser is likely the one from whom Eshtiel learned such slang.’

Honestly, I wanted to question Tesser immediately, but the time and place weren’t appropriate. Above all, this wasn’t something to interrogate about as an Academy professor but rather as one person to another, so I needed to be more careful.

In any case, discussing such matters would become a conversation between a Grand Duke and a Prince…

I decided to just make a mental note and move on.

After the general story about the Carnar Kingdom concluded, more questions followed one after another.

“Professor, how old are you?”

“I’m twenty this year.”

“Are you seeing anyone?!”

“If you mean friends, I could say the Second Prince of the Carnar Kingdom.”

“I don’t mean that kind of relationship, but rather…”

“Like a lover…”

“Someone you love…?”

“…I don’t have one.”

As I denied the question that was drawing so much focus, I found myself shaking my head at the image of Serin that kept appearing in my mind.

That couldn’t possibly be love.

Harboring lust for Serin’s exquisite curves, fantasizing about the softness of her pink lips—such sordid desires couldn’t be love.

Could imagining freely holding hands, talking, leaning close with an infinitely comfortable distance really be called love?

‘It’s all… it’s all just playfulness.’

I’ve had physical contact with Serin many times before.

We’ve danced together, held hands while walking. In the carriage heading to the Carnar Kingdom, Serin even sat on my lap and pinched me mercilessly.

During such fleeting playful moments, I would unnecessarily feel improper emotions toward Serin.

Charitably speaking, it was just play.

Less charitably, it was mere teasing.

Serin probably has no reservations about such behavior with people she considers her own.

Therefore, I expect nothing more.

‘…Yes, I expect nothing.’

I only need to prepare to repay the kindness she has shown me. Let’s send away these complicated thoughts.

Despite my resolution…

The innocent students, oblivious to my feelings, kept throwing desire-laden questions.

“So you haven’t received any marriage proposals yet?”

“How much younger would you consider dating?”

“I wonder if you’ve ever had a first love…”

As one student trailed off, all the students in the class began chanting in perfect unison, as if they were one voice.

“First~ love!”

“First~ love!”

“Fiiiirst loooove~!”

‘This is maddening.’

When I taught Serin and Eshtiel’s class, I had judged teaching to be my calling.

But the middle school class was like another world compared to the elementary and university divisions.

‘…At least this is something I can answer honestly.’

Looking back objectively, it’s not a difficult question to answer. First love in my circumstances? That would be a luxury.

So I answered honestly.

“I believe most of you know my background. I lived a life focused on survival and earning money. That means I had a period when even forming connections with women was difficult.”

At five years old, I escaped the institution, and until I met Rodrick at eight, I lived like a wild animal.

I stole food and slept under bushes. Then I beat up Rodrick when he tried to kidnap me and ended up making him my guardian.

After that, I founded the Pinwheel Mercenary Group and focused solely on making money. Eshtiel, whom I took charge of during that time, was like a suddenly fallen, sparkling star.

“Hmm.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

As I recounted my upbringing, the classroom suddenly fell silent. Such a dramatic change made me feel I might have gone too far.

“…I didn’t mean to suggest this topic was uncomfortable. I was simply being honest about why I must answer in the negative. The past is just the past, so I don’t mind at all.”

Even so, they probably wouldn’t bring up truly deep topics.

Sincerely considering from the students’ perspective, they might be extremely curious about my background as a child of the deposed emperor. Or they might wonder how I, as such a child, came to be friendly with the current imperial family.

Those would truly be difficult topics.

…Let’s permit such subjects during history class.

That’s how I reached an internal agreement.

“Then, Professor…!”

“Yes, please speak, Miss Rua.”

She was a girl with impressively sparkling jeweled pins in her prettily arranged hair.

This girl, who subtly attracted the boys’ gazes, spoke in an excited voice.

“Have you… decided on a partner for this quarter’s Academy exhibition…?”

“Exhibition? I thought partners for the evening party were only for students.”

“No! Professors sometimes bring partners too when walking around! Not just for the evening party, but for the daytime festival as well!”

“I see. I must have misunderstood since I’m new.”

After indirectly revealing that I didn’t have a partner, some students’ faces lit up.

I tilted my head in confusion at the unclear intention behind the letter papers suddenly appearing on my desk.

◇

“Hmmmmmm.”

Eshtiel half-opened her eyes, pretended to contemplate, then abruptly extended her small hand. The male student facing her placed a candy in her hand and made a steeple with his fingers.

“Hmmmmmmmmmm.”

“…Ugh.”

Apparently one wasn’t enough, as the male student gave her another candy. Only then did Eshtiel suddenly open her half-closed eyes and slyly smile.

“I like it.”

“Quickly… tell me quickly…”

The male student was literally trembling at the knees. His unstable mental state resembled someone under the influence of drugs.

Even with this, Eshtiel kept him waiting, and he stopped shaking his legs and quietly stared at her. In this solemn atmosphere, Eshtiel’s mouth slowly opened.

“There’s a possibility.”

“Wooooooooooooooah!!!”

“Good luck. Fighting!”

“Thank you, Eshtiel!”

The boy finally grabbed both of Eshtiel’s hands to express his gratitude. Eshtiel proudly puffed out her chest and grinned.

The current appearance of Eshtiel’s seat was quite peculiar.

It was darkened on all sides, and Eshtiel’s position resembled a confessional booth, almost perfectly enclosed.

In reality, it was just an ordinary classroom, but Eshtiel’s once-started meddling had created this situation.

“He’s so lucky…”

“This actually works…”

“Sigh, life.”

Other children, regardless of gender, sighed.

The catalyst was the upcoming Academy exhibition. It all started with students worrying about who to walk around with during this festival.

During lunch break, as Eshtiel was wandering around the Academy, she happened to overhear a classmate’s concern…

[What should I do… Can I ask Ronia to be my partner…]

[Just try to be brave. Nothing will happen if you just keep worrying.]

[But we’re in the same class. If she rejects me, how will I face her the next day?]

[…That’s true.]

That’s when Eshtiel’s meddling shone.

[Huh? Ronia, the blue-haired one? She likes you too.]

[…What?! Wait, where did you come from…]

[Is that important right now?! You, what did you just say? Ronia likes me?]

He asked so urgently that Eshtiel helplessly spilled everything.

[Yeah, that’s right. Ronia likes you. But if someone else asks her first, she might give up on you?]

[…!]

For a moment, the boy was flustered, but he remained cautious.

[How do you know that…?]

[I know everything. I can see who hates who and who likes who. That other friend there likes the purple-haired one… Yuni?]

At Eshtiel’s merciless revelation, the friend who was with them stood up.

[Yuni… purple hair, could it be Yune? How did you…!!!]

[I told you. I know everything.]

[You liked Yune?]

[…Shut up!]

The boy, initially shocked by the unexpected revelation, soon regained his composure and asked secretly.

[…So, what does Yune think of me?]

[She doesn’t like you, but she doesn’t hate you either.]

[I see…]

[Hey! That’s good enough! As long as she doesn’t hate you!]

[This guy… getting all cocky just because someone likes him…?!]

Somehow they had come to completely believe Eshtiel’s claims. This is how the legend of Eshtiel, the Academy’s Cupid, began.

The result was her current position.

Eshtiel’s affection-detection service, with candy as payment.

“Hehee.”

Eshtiel bloomed with a victorious smile.

Later, Rahilt, who heard the rumors and came looking, confiscated everything in a mess.