Studying

“Gwaaah!”

“Damn it, our ally’s down! Medic! Medic!”

“Teacher, hurry. Go forward. We’ll be late at this rate!”

“Yes, yes!”

At Eileen’s urgent voice, I hurriedly stepped forward.

Someone was shooting fire and ice from their hands, while another lit cannons to attack the enemy.

The screams coming from all directions and flying dust made it impossible to see properly, so I began wandering the battlefield.

“Teacher, not there. This way. If we delay any longer, it’ll really be dangerous.”

“Ugh, I can’t see anything… Where is this… Eek?!”

With a KABOOM, a cannonball flew over my head and pounded the castle walls nearby, causing the collapsing walls to begin burying me.

I kept running in the opposite direction to survive, but ultimately got crushed under rubble.

After gasping for breath momentarily, my heart stopped.

I couldn’t help but lament while watching the scene displayed on the screen.

“Aaaaah… I died again… Sorry, Eileen.”

“No, it happens. Though I’m a bit surprised Teacher’s so terrible with directions.”

“I-I’m not terrible with directions?! It’s weird that you can find your way instantly when visibility’s this bad!”

“I’d like to agree, but Teacher’s already died three times here.”

“……”

When she puts it that way, I have no rebuttal.

But what am I supposed to do when this game’s pathfinding is ridiculously hard?

I wanted to protest, but Eileen was already accurately finding the path for the third time.

…Was I really that bad with directions? What a shock.

With a shocked expression, I put down the controller and said:

“I’m shocked to learn that I’m terrible with directions. Now then, Eileen. We’ve played enough, time to study…”

“Let’s keep going. I can clear it this time.”

“Changing the subject again? You said this was the last time.”

“Since I died because of Teacher, let’s just finish this chapter first. Okay?”

Sigh.

It’s not like I didn’t anticipate this.

In fact, I imagined this scenario so clearly that I desperately hoped to avoid it.

But no matter how hard I tried, Eileen remained immovable.

“…Are you really not going to study?”

“Ah, an item! Teacher, hurry or you’ll miss it.”

“Ugh…”

When I was young, back when I was still a student.

I often got annoyed at teachers and parents urging me to study.

I didn’t understand why they were so persistent when I’d study on my own anyway.

You’ll understand when you grow up. You’ll realize these were the good days.

You’ll regret not listening now. Those kinds of comments always bothered me.

Back then, I couldn’t comprehend why they said such pointless things.

Now, I think I understand.

…Because Eileen won’t study!

“We agreed to study after finishing this.”

“No, too bothersome.”

“Are you serious?”

“Not doing it.”

“If you don’t get good grades this time, you’ll repeat the year! Repeat! You were dead last during midterms!”

Truth be told.

Eileen, despite being called a genius, currently had the lowest grades in the academy.

Why?

Unlike other students who at least hit the scarecrow, Eileen didn’t land a single blow!

During an Attack Power Test, she didn’t attack at all!

“You should’ve at least hit the scarecrow once!”

“Uh, it felt kinda unsettling. Like it might attack me. So I gave up.”

“Grrrrrr…!”

Spouting such ridiculous lies.

She clearly didn’t do it because she didn’t want to, and now she’s spewing absurd excuses to avoid my nagging.

As a player, I found her carefree personality charming, but now that I have to make her study by any means necessary, I’m burning with frustration.

“…If that’s how it is, I have no choice. I’ll have to force you to study.”

“What? Sorry Teacher, but I’m not the type to study just because someone forces me. I appreciate your concern, but it’s a waste of time.”

“I know. That you’re the type who’d escape by any means if forced.”

Even if I hypnotized her into studying, she’d probably find a way to break free and escape.

I’d started developing such absurd yet specific trust in her capabilities.

…Then I won’t force her.

“So instead of forcing you, I’ll make Eileen want to study on her own.”

“What? No. Why would I do that?”

“Because it’ll be fun.”

“No, how could studying possibly be fun…?”

“Don’t worry, Eileen. I’ll turn you into a student who loves studying enough to rival model students.”

I knew exactly why Eileen refused to do anything against her will.

Even if the end was visible destruction, she’d consider taking initiative a sin.

She’d never willingly act unless it concerned her father. That was her way.

I knew she’d been deeply hurt as a child. It must’ve been painful.

But sitting still while wounds fester won’t improve anything. It only makes movement harder.

…She wouldn’t strive to achieve anything herself, so her destruction was inevitable.

Even if a train came charging at her, she wouldn’t actively avoid it.

Then I’ll forcibly drag her off the tracks.

“First, I’ll correct you until studying with friends becomes incredibly fun.”

Eileen might not consider Orca a friend, but regardless.

Since Orca was equally terrible at studying, I’d have to chain her to a desk too.

Others might be different, but these two – I’d drag them by force if necessary.

I couldn’t bear seeing them call Leona Stella or Anastasia “senpai”.

I’d tried to make them study without hypnosis, but with things like this, I had no choice.

I steeled my resolve.

***

“…This is strange, very strange.”

Stella couldn’t stand how much the current situation bothered her.

Nearly a month had passed since the assassin came.

Naturally, Stella hadn’t returned the assassin who’d revealed all information to the Imperial Family.

By now, they’d probably become excellent fertilizer for farmlands.

The Imperial Family couldn’t possibly be unaware.

The assassin who never returned. Herself still moving freely within the academy.

They should’ve taken other actions by now, yet they remained still.

“Was it just a probe?”

No, impossible.

Stella rejected her own hypothesis.

Her brother wasn’t that type of person.

He was the kind who’d exterminate by any means necessary if a hidden rat dared bare its teeth.

He wouldn’t stay quiet after losing a subordinate crossing that river.

“…I simply can’t understand.”

How much time had passed since she started staying up all night, wary of when the attack might come?

The thought that an assassin might slit her throat while she slept kept her from proper rest.

Feeling she might go mad from stress, Stella changed course.

She couldn’t discuss this with Charlotte, her childhood friend. Involving outsiders in family affairs could uproot entire noble houses.

She could ask Anya for help, but as the Church’s Watcher, her position was more restricted than Stella’s.

This minor matter didn’t warrant requesting her aid.

Thus Stella’s steps held no hesitation.

“Teacher Ophelia, are you here?”

“…Stella?”

“Yes, it’s me. May I come in…?”

“Come in, quickly!”

“?!”

With a sudden pull.

Teacher Ophelia yanking her hand left Stella bewildered.

The always-composed teacher’s flustered appearance.

Had assassins come to her counseling room?

Stella hardened her expression while observing her.

“What’s wrong, Teacher?”

“I-I couldn’t handle it alone. I tried managing by myself but couldn’t endure.”

“……”

“Please help me, I beg you…!”

Seeing the tearful teacher pleading shook Stella’s heart.

The vulnerable appearance of the always gently smiling Teacher Ophelia.

Thinking this resulted from threats caused by helping her, guilt welled up violently in Stella’s heart.

“Alright. I’ll help. Where’s the enemy?”

“…Enemy? Well, enemy or not… Over there. In the booth inside the recently made counseling room.”

“Don’t worry, Teacher Ophelia. I’ll handle it.”

Stella steadied herself and walked into the booth.

To protect her ally.

However, the scene inside was completely different from what she’d imagined.

“Hey Teacher, about this problem… Huh? You?”

“…Delinquent? And Eileen?”

“Oh, it’s Her Highness. Now that I think about it, you’re good at studying.”

“What?! Perfect timing!”

“Wait, what in the world is this…?”

“Hey, you said you’d be friends with me last time.”

“Delinquent. Wait a moment. Let me grasp the situation…”

“Forget that. You said we’d be friends, right?!”

Orca grabbing her shoulders made the princess involuntarily shrink back.

Instead of the expected enemy, only these two seemingly deranged individuals occupied the space.

“Y-yes. Friends. I did say that.”

“Then as friends, help me study! Come here! The Teacher said she didn’t know and ran away!”

“…The Teacher ran away?”

Only then did Stella realize.

That she’d gravely misunderstood something.

And that the Teacher had used her as bait before escaping.

Stella shuddered at the overwhelming sense of betrayal.