At the Academy

This is the first time Scarl’s story has come up.

“So? Tell me more.”

I’m curious about Flare’s current assessment of Scarl.

“…That’s how he used to be. My sister and Professor Scarl have a long and complicated history.”

“A complicated history? What kind?”

“…Since we were little, he was a terrible lord who tormented and bullied me and my sister.”

I’m grateful she’s putting it so mildly.

‘The real Scarl is probably beyond redemption.’

“There are still lords like that?”

“I know, right! He’s like a villain from an old history book!”

Villain is a cute way to put it.

“If Flare says so, he must be really bad.”

She seems to have gained confidence, and her expressions are getting stronger.

“He’s just trash. Trash.”

That’s a harsh expression.

“…Is he really that bad?”

Realizing she went too far, Flare softens her expression again.

“He’s a really bad person! He recently left the lord’s mansion and my sister—this is too personal. Anyway! My sister says he’s changed, and he seems different with me these days too?”

“Then isn’t that a good thing?”

“He changed so suddenly, like someone about to die… I mean, that’s just how it feels. He’s been cursed so much by the territory residents that he probably won’t die anytime soon. Professor Scarl?”

I wonder.

I resolved to find out who was bringing Luna’s food every weekend.

The unidentified food I’ve been eating every day since coming to the capital is so awful that it sometimes makes me sick.

‘There’s definitely a bold maid trying to torment me.’

Luna, unaware, happily brings it to me.

“Butler, who exactly is making the food that the Head Maid brings every morning?”

Looking around, the butler speaks in a secluded spot.

“…Master, you must keep this to yourself.”

I nod in agreement.

“…It’s the Head Maid herself.”

‘That was Luna’s cooking?!’

I can’t even get mad.

I was looking at some documents in my office when Luna entered with a knock.

Even though it’s the weekend and she’s in her going-out clothes, she’s still holding a plate with something on it.

‘Please, let it be something edible.’

“Scarl.”

Today it’s scones.

There’s a bite taken out of the one on the far right.

Her confident expression is impressive, so I trust her and take a big bite.

‘Crispy on the outside, completely raw on the inside.’

Still, it’s a huge improvement.

“…Delicious. It’s delicious today.”

Luna’s left hand trembles as I give her a positive review for the first time in person.

“What’s wrong, Luna?”

Luna hides her hand behind her back and shakes her head.

“Nothing is wrong, Scarl.”

I could see joy beneath her expressionless face.

“That’s enough for breakfast, go have fun with Flare.”

“Yes.”

I wait for Flare in front of the lecture hall.

“Senior! How do you always finish before me!”

“Isn’t that just the lecture schedule?”

“Really! Next time, I’ll definitely wait in front of your lecture hall, Senior!”

She’s going to come to Room 404?

“It’s okay. Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

We eat lunch together again today and share trivial stories.

‘I wish I could just keep living like this.’

I reconfirm the preparations for the event.

I transform into Hati to match the time Flare arrives and leave Room 404.

“…Why is Senior…?”

I hear Flare’s voice from behind.

‘This is enough for now.’

I return to Scarl in the men’s restroom and enter the lab a little late.

“You’re here even when I’m not here, Flare.”

“Professor, did Hati just come by?”

“Who’s that? I’ve been outside the whole time. Don’t talk nonsense and move to the practice room.”

“…Yes.”

If Hati’s role is to loosen up Flare, Scarl’s role is to tighten her up.

“Straighten your back more there!”

“Extend the arm holding the sword straighter!”

Sweat-soaked, Flare collapses on the floor, unable to get up.

“Hah… hah… hah, hah.”

“Get up, Flare.”

“J-Just a moment…”

There’s still a lot to teach.

“Get up!”

Today, due to the sudden bad weather, I finished the lesson early and returned to the mansion.

“You’re back early.”

Luna, who took my coat, looks somehow happy.

“I’m back. Flare is receiving her training well, so don’t worry.”

“I know. It’s what Scarl does.”

Her tone suggests that Flare’s problems are no longer a problem.

“…I’ll skip dinner.”

“Pardon?”

“I ate out early.”

“I understand.”

I write a letter to leave for Luna in case of an emergency.

The stormy weather is just like my heart.

The next day.

I told Flare that there would be no classes today, so I had the carriage head to the secret auction house instead of the academy.

I call Kasha along the way.

“Scarl.”

“Half of the item we’ve been looking for is up for auction today. Succeed in bidding no matter what, Kasha.”

“Understood.”

In the game, there was a secret auction house tab that sold special items.

‘Here, it exists openly as an underground auction house.’

I bought the transformation ring that I use often here as well.

The item up for auction today is perhaps the most important item for the upcoming Flare event, and it’s an item that only the Hero can use.

I can’t let it fall into the hands of those who don’t know its value or can’t use it.

‘If it weren’t for my cheat, Flare at this time wouldn’t be able to buy this item… but Scarl is different.’

I wait in the carriage for Kasha to come.

“I bought it for 10,000 gold. Here.”

There was some hype, but I check the item that was successfully bid on.

‘Bingo. An ancient pattern with a vortex drawn on it.’

Now I just need to find the other half at the Aiden Guild.

“Find the other half quickly, Kasha.”

“Understood, Master.”

Kasha visited the mansion after a long time.

“Master. Here.”

She finally takes out the other half of the item I was looking for and matches it with the other piece.

Click.

The split stones stick together perfectly, as if they were originally one.

‘Event preparation complete.’

“What is this?”

“You don’t need to know. Just know that it’s a very important item.”

“Understood. And recently, more nobles have been borrowing money from us.”

“Who?”

“…Baron Gorgor… Count Bertos, Marquis Antonio…”

“Immediately get the money back from Gorgor, Bertos, and Antonio, and cut off their support.”

“Understood, Master.”

After Kasha leaves, I put the item in the drawer, lock it, and call Luna.

“It’s late, but let’s go out together today.”

“Pardon?”

We head to the clothing store I ordered from in advance.

‘There’s a dress I really want to give you.’

I barely made it in time for the event, both for the item and the dress.

“This isn’t the academy, it’s a clothing store. Scarl?”

“I know.”

The clothing store staff shows Luna the dress they prepared.

“…This is.”

Unlike the clothes I’ve given her before, it covers everything it needs to, and it’s elegant and beautiful, but it’s also easy to move around in.

‘It’s the dress that suits the you I know best, Luna.’

Luna’s exclusive heroic attire.

I couldn’t draw the image in my memory like a painting, so it took quite a long time to make it exactly the same.

Luna, who had changed, was looking at herself in the mirror as if she couldn’t believe it.

Academy Swordsmanship Department Professor’s Office, Room 404.

Today, I was writing a letter to Flare in Hati’s name and was slightly late for lunch.

‘Oh dear.’

I hurriedly transform in the bathroom and run to Flare’s lecture hall.

Flare, who is squatting outside the building and staring blankly in this direction, gets up and jumps up and down, waving her hands when she sees me.

“Senior!”

“I’m sorry. I’m late.”

“A little? I knew you’d come, so I was waiting!”

“I went to take care of something. Let’s go eat.”

“Yes!”

A few days later.

An unexpected guest visited Room 404.

“It’s me, Brother.”

“Sophia?”

She twirls in place in her school uniform.

‘I can see up her skirt.’

“Yes, it’s me~ How is it? Does it suit me?”

I just nod vaguely.

“Really! You didn’t even come to see me first!”

Bang!

Sophia slams the desk.

‘…She’s a princess, so I can’t say anything.’

“What brings you here?”

Sophia puffs out her cheeks at my indifferent reaction.

“Private lessons! No one will have received them until the final exams are over, right? I’ll be your first student—”

“There is one.”

“Huh?”

Why are you so flustered?

“I said there is one. A student. Hasn’t it been quite a while since I became a professor? I got one as soon as I was appointed.”

“T-That’s true. …Who is it?”

Is it that surprising?

“Flare.”

“What’s her family name? What’s her title?”

“None. She’s a commoner.”

Sophia sighs deeply.

“…A commoner? Ah, aha! Are you going to play with her as usual and then throw her away?”

That’s not even worth answering.

“You’re still the same. Your taste for tormenting subordinates—”

I cut off Sophia’s useless words.

“Stop talking nonsense and leave. If you need private lessons, go to the main building and submit an application according to the form. Then I’ll consider it.”

“Hmph! I understand!”

Sophia came and went like the wind.

‘The first semester is already coming to an end.’

Time really flies.