Where Did You Learn Such Harsh Words?

Including the handover period, it’s been over half a year since I started working at this academy.

But during that time, this is the first time the chairman has summoned me early in the morning.

“My, the rain is falling heavily.”

Mariel Aries.

The person who brought me into this academy and who is essentially my employer, occasionally giving me personal requests.

When I had just arrived at the chairman’s office, she was expressing her concerns while looking out the window.

“Come to think of it, around this time last year, the rainy season also continued for several weeks. Even if the rain stops, there’s the school festival planned after the upcoming final exams, I’m worried it might get canceled.”

“You don’t need to worry. Unlike other areas, this academy has an excellent drainage system.”

It wasn’t just words to agree with her.

In reality, there’s an extensive network of waterways under this academy.

In terms of scale and structure, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a vast labyrinth.

Unlike other regions, Maris has no restrictions on culture or tradition, so it’s possible to maximize the technological advantages of each area.

“That’s true. The problem is that managing that sewage system also requires considerable manpower.”

Yes, the reason for bringing up the topic of sewerage now is probably because they need manpower to manage it.

Not just to reinforce the structure, but to have surveillance forces to prepare for external forces that might infiltrate through the sewers.

“So, you want me to go there for a bit?”

“Hm? No, not that. I was just thinking of taking a short vacation before the school festival, and I’m looking for a date to accompany me.”

“I’m leaving.”

“Hey~ It’s just a light joke, don’t take it so seriously~”

Mariel grabbed my shoulder while making a whining sound.

Reluctantly turning back, Mariel returned to her seat with a regretful expression.

“…You called me because you have a task for me, right?”

Of course, to get straight to the point.

“Well, rather than a task, it’s more like I’ll be assigning you a job soon, so I thought it would be good to notify you to prepare mentally.”

Yes, this time it’s not a joke.

Surely, she must have foreseen that some kind of incident like the Haide attack would occur.

“I mentioned this before, right? Before Haide joined, there were a total of four sects based in this academy.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Christianity, Buddhism, and others…

Forces representing the most influential sects in the original world, their status and influence are considered unrivaled except for Haide.

And naturally, events where many people gather are their primary activities.

“Just before the war, they were only allowed to operate in the city, but for this year’s school festival, they’ve expressed their desire to have some stake in it.”

“Is that to evangelize to the students?”

“No, they won’t seriously engage in missionary activities with the kids. They’ll probably just hand out some souvenirs and say ‘Please take care of us~’ and be done with it.”

Ah, I think I get it.

It’s like those religious events in the military where they hand out hamburgers and cola and ask us to pray for them.

It can be annoying to attend, but you can skip some training and they often give out snacks, so it wasn’t bad.

If it’s just that, I didn’t think there was any need to be anxious. At least, just from hearing about it verbally.

“Still, as they’re preparing seriously, the meetings are expected to get quite heated as they try to secure even a small stake. We’ll be sending a representative from our academy’s special department to the coordination meeting in preparation for that time… I wanted Seine to participate as an envoy.”

“Hehe, why do you have such high expectations for a new teacher?”

“You may find it dubious, but experience isn’t particularly important for this. There are teachers who have religions, but you’re the only one with faith deep enough to use holy power.”

Yes, it’s not easy to pursue both academics and faith in the first place.

Unless you’re a doctor who’s more desperate than anyone to save lives, individuals who can represent the academy and mediate the opinions of religious forces are quite rare.

“…Well, I’ll do whatever you ask. As long as you pay me properly.”

Of course, that would come with tremendous responsibility, but Mariel is a leader after all.

Given her excellent eye for people, she’s probably assigning tasks within my capabilities.

Expressing such trust in my answer, Mariel smiled with satisfaction and placed related documents on the desk.

“Although the participants are all prominent figures, you don’t need to worry too much.”

Even before I could register the documents with my eyes.

“Of course, the Empire’s Sword will also attend the meeting, but that person has agreed to attend only as an observer, hiding their identity, so…”

Thud.

The hand reaching for the documents suddenly stopped.

“…What?”

What did she just say?

Empire… What?

“Oops, was I not supposed to say that? Certainly, that person also asked to keep their identity hidden, so please forget what you just heard…”

-Bang!!

Although she seemed to be trying to correct her slip of the tongue, it was already too late.

Eventually, a fist slammed onto the office desk, penetrating deep through its surface.

The moment the surface crumbled due to poor control of strength.

But what’s important now isn’t the aftermath of the destruction.

“…Seine?”

“What… did you just say?”

I even abandoned the honorifics I had been maintaining to keep our professional relationship.

I couldn’t help it.

The name she just mentioned was something I couldn’t overlook.

“…Did I just step on a landmine?”

Ah, right. She wouldn’t know.

Since I ran away from that house, only one person, Kariel Aries, has figured out my identity.

With Mr. Kariel now retired, I’m the only one in this academy who knows about the relationship between me and that woman.

“Tell me right now. Is that person, the Empire’s Sword, in this school?”

“Calm down, Seine. For now, she said she wanted to look around the campus, so she’s probably somewhere on the school grounds…”

-Clatter!

The moment I rushed out of the chairman’s office without listening to the rest.

Soon, everything in my field of vision turned into afterimages.

And then…

---

-Clang.

A cart filled with medical instruments made of iron.

As it collided with her body and cluttered the floor, the woman who suddenly barged into the infirmary began to close the distance between them.

“Why are you trembling like that? I just approached because I’m interested in what you said.”

The woman rested her chin on her hand as if she couldn’t understand why the other person was stiffening up.

Just by facing that nonchalant appearance, the Saint felt her breathing quicken.

‘Different.’

White hair tied back and blue eyes.

The clothes she’s wearing boast a wide area using black cloth without cutting, and the long sleeves along with the integrated top and bottom give a voluminous feeling despite her small frame.

As a saint who has encountered many cultures, she knew what kind of attire this was.

Attire from a foreign country outside the continent…

In the scabbard at her waist, there would be a weapon called a “katana,” a form unfamiliar to this continent.

‘She’s completely different from that person.’

Yes, only the appearance is similar.

The black clothes contrasting with her hair color, the cold-looking eyes.

Even the emotions she showed when facing her could be said to be the exact opposite.

“By the way, Seine, Seine…”

That person starts to draw a faint smile while repeating a name.

“Fufu, it’s such a nostalgic name.”

She knows her.

As if teaching that the connection isn’t just their similar appearance.

“Hey, little miss.”

And with that realization, her attention is now completely fixed on her.

“How do you know that name?”

There’s a smile on her lips, but not in her eyes.

A chill rises in her gradually widening eyes.

Unable to withstand that sensation, her body, which was stepping back, eventually slumped down onto one of the beds in the infirmary.

“Is that child in this academy?”

Even amidst this, the uninvited guest is still moving her two legs.

Slow yet leisurely.

When that gait finally closed the distance completely, her fingertips began to gradually extend towards her chin.

“Don’t worry. If you just answer the questions I ask, I’ll let it go without saying much.”

A clearly defined jawline. Skin that looks smooth even to the naked eye.

But the eyes are cold, and the touch on her chin is incredibly rough.

Just like that person.

‘But different.’

Yes, this person’s hands lack self-restraint.

There was no consideration for her.

“However, since this is a sensitive matter for me as well, if you don’t speak…”

As if to prove that thought true, her fingertips move downward.

“…I might play a bit of a mischievous prank.”

-Snap.

The sound of cloth tearing as the fingertip swings.

When she came to her senses and lowered her gaze, she could see that the center of the patient gown she had worn instead of pajamas was widely open.

With just a finger, just its nail, she had forged an aura blade that even the person in front of her couldn’t perceive.

“How about it, do you feel like answering now?”

The hand that can manifest such a blade is now pointed at her neck.

A moment when life hangs in the balance according to the other’s whim.

“I, I…”

In such a moment, the Saint could do nothing but tremble.

Even for someone who serves the god of the afterlife, as she has repeatedly reminded herself that death, unlike birth, comes equally to all.

Although according to those teachings, it wouldn’t be strange for the end of her life to come at any time, the Saint couldn’t suppress the fear she felt at this moment.

Because she couldn’t understand.

Because she felt a presence comparable to a ‘god’ she served from an ordinary person.

That discrepancy is interfering even with her acceptance of the end that has come to her at this moment.

‘Sei…’

But what came to mind at that moment wasn’t the god she served.

‘Teacher Seine.’

Why…

Why did she think of her name at this moment?

Does she really believe that she will come here?

-Crash!!

As if responding to that hopeful expectation.

The tightly closed entrance door shatters, and its fragments begin to scatter throughout the infirmary.

And a white afterimage barges in through the scattered fragments.

-Crash!!!

The body of the uninvited guest collides with it and smashes the infirmary window.

Eventually, the body that escaped through the window fell into the middle of the rain-soaked forest.

No, it’s not a fall.

That body moved lightly as if feathers were scattering through some kind of force, and then gently landed on the ground.

“…You’re still charging in without looking ahead or behind.”

The woman who had completely nullified the damage from the collision looked down at the palm she had raised for defense.

A slight tremor that occurred as if unable to completely absorb the impact.

The woman was feeling a sense of familiarity from that sensation.

“Was that young lady such an important person to you? That’s too much. From my standpoint, having waited for you to return all this time, I’m almost jealous…”

“Shut your mouth, you smell like a sewer, you whore.”

The woman in the white gown approaches while hurling abuse.

The mana spreading around her was raging fiercely, unlike the person she was facing.

“My, my, where did you learn such harsh words while I wasn’t looking?”

The moment even the flowing rainwater visibly bounces off.

The eyes of the uninvited guest open clearly as she reads that flow, and then a low voice begins to echo through the heavy rain.

“…Our daughter needs to be disciplined by her mother.”