Discarded Words

“Tea-Teacher-nim…?!”

“…Teacher Ophelia. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be supervising exams elsewhere right now?”

“Ah, that. I got bored and handed it over to someone else. Turns out it really wasn’t my thing.”

Fortunately, since the Principal was aware this might escalate into something far more serious than exam supervision, finding a substitute wasn’t too difficult.

I just needed to ask a teacher who had break time during that period to cover – the Principal promised generous compensation anyway.

Even if some… forceful measures were involved in making the request.

…At least that teacher would believe they voluntarily took on the overtime.

“Wow, what a shock. Who’d have thought Teacher Ian was a terrorist?”

“…”

Though I said it casually, it truly was shocking.

I spent considerable time wondering why he’d be doing this here of all places.

As an instructor NPC, his role was teaching skills to students.

You know – level up, learn new skills, that sort of thing.

Naturally, such NPCs are classified as critical characters. Without him, all skill acquisition and upgrades would be blocked.

Such an important NPC shouldn’t be part of random encounters… but apparently, since I fell into this game-turned-reality, even system-protected characters could get caught in them.

“So? Why did you come here?”

“Huh?”

“To stop me? You of all people should know that’s impossible. Despite never having fought me.”

“Well, that’s certainly true.”

“Or perhaps as the counseling teacher, you’ll try to persuade me? …Hah. Persuasion won’t work.”

“Indeed. Who could persuade someone seeking revenge for their murdered wife and daughter?”

“…How do you know that?!”

Ah. Mistake.

The glare Teacher Ian gave me after my careless remark made me slightly nervous.

…Slightly? More like terrified. Seriously scary.

“Speak! How did you know?!”

“Uh, well… You mentioned revenge earlier, and talked about the Papal Court and Imperial Family from years ago? Most victims died in that incident…”

“…Then how did you know the victims were my wife and daughter?”

“Ah.”

Damn. Thought I’d dodged that.

I glanced around awkwardly. Students and teachers were staring at me strangely.

“If you won’t talk, so be it. You’ll die with me!”

“Oh crap! Duck!”

With grim determination, Teacher Ian pressed the detonator. Everyone braced for explosion, closing their eyes…

Nothing happened.

In game terms, it’d be like:

Ian Teacher-nim attempted a massive explosion!

But nothing happened!

“…?”

“Why… why isn’t anything happening?”

“Ah, seriously… Messed this up. Should’ve just left it alone.”

I’d tried delaying his death to spare students the unpleasant sight, but my mistake complicated everything.

What now? This became too troublesome.

My slip-up was too glaring to explain away. Might as well erase everyone’s memories.

Fortunately, I’d left my phone behind fearing it might get damaged – meaning the Principal wouldn’t witness this. No one’s immune to hypnosis.

No point overthinking. Just do what needs doing.

“B-but I pressed it! Why…?!”

“You mean this thing you pressed?”

“…?!”

“The detonator…! When did you…?”

“Who knows? Aren’t you curious when I took it?”

“…Give it back!”

“Tsk tsk. I told you not to move.”

“M-my body…!”

Students’ bizarre stares pierced my back. Understandable – the supposedly non-combatant counselor suddenly appears, spouting nonsense, then magically steals the detonator.

Though correction: I never actually took it. The detonator remained in Ian’s hand – I never approached him. Their belief otherwise was pure illusion.

What did they see when looking at motionless me? Honestly curious.

“Hmm, current time… About thirty minutes passed? Should be emerging soon.”

“Wh-what nonsense? Who are you really…! Gurk?!”

“Ah. There it is.”

Gurgle, gurgle.

Black smoke-like substance began oozing from Teacher Ian’s ears. Obviously nothing good – his pupils dilated before he collapsed with a thud.

“Sigh.”

A pitying sigh escaped me. He knew he’d be expendable… but never imagined being disposed of by his own hands?

Or did he know and proceed anyway? Can’t tell – no way to read dead men’s memories.

One thing’s certain: he was willing to sacrifice everything for revenge. Even his life.

“Kyaaahhh…! He’s…!”

“Oh dear… Time for cleanup.”

Didn’t want them witnessing death. They’d seen plenty before, would see more later – but hoped to spare them while under my care.

Epic failure. As they say – things never go as planned.

Another small sigh before putting everyone to sleep for cleanup. Honestly didn’t want to handle corpses – shocking even for me – but…

This was for the students. Could endure it.

***

“…So he died after all.”

“Seems so. I tried persuading him from the suicide pact… but something was planted in his mind. Want to see?”

“No need. Just leave it in my office.”

“The corpse will rot though?”

“Don’t worry about it. We need to investigate.”

“Well, if you insist.”

The Principal looked deeply saddened hearing the full story.

“…Damn. Thought he was reliable. Why would he…?”

“Uh… Revenge for his wife and daughter’s deaths.”

“Hm?”

“Didn’t you know? His family was killed in the power struggle between the Imperial Family and Papal Court.”

“…”

“You know about it, right? That incident years ago.”

“Yes. Who wouldn’t? It was infamous.”

The Principal’s face on the video call contorted painfully.

“…I see. His family. Now I understand why he targeted those two.”

“Though he failed, it was half a success.”

His goal was revenge against those two. While personal vengeance failed… his plan assumed failure from the start.

Half succeeded. Though betrayed by his organization, their goal of destroying Church and Empire aligned with his desires.

“Sigh…”

“Need a drink? Come visit later – I’ll make you something good.”

“Sounds excellent. I’ll hold you to that.”