Clue

Around the time Ophelia was stabbing people’s hearts while picking up the children’s snacks one by one.

Her students barged into the principal’s office with grave expressions.

“Grandma.”

“Wh-what is it? You kids look terrifying.”

Perhaps because five students had swarmed in all at once.

Veronica startled and hid something behind her back.

However, Stella – who had been the first to speak to her at the door – could clearly see what she was hiding.

A small red wrapper and slightly puffed cheeks.

…That old hag was eating weird stuff like Red Ginseng Candy again.

No wonder she gets treated like an elderly despite complaining about it.

“We came to ask about Teacher Ophelia.”

“…Did you come to ask where the counseling teacher went? I already told Leo I don’t know.”

“Yes, you did.”

That much was probably true.

So she didn’t deny that fact itself.

“But what we want to ask isn’t the counseling teacher’s whereabouts.”

“Hmm? Then what?”

“…Where you first met her. That’s what we want to know.”

“Why would you want that?”

Facing the puzzled Grandma, Stella decided to employ a small trick.

The others were sending optimistic glances as if thinking she’d just tell them if asked directly…

But they were wrong. That old hag was more suspicious than she looked and would likely refuse after agonizing over why they wanted that information.

Her current expression made that perfectly clear.

If they stayed like this, they’d return empty-handed.

So what trick should she use?

Through her long experience with Grandma, Stella had discovered her weakness.

“It’s… because I… miss Teacher…”

“…Stella. You know as well as I do that simply saying you miss her isn’t enough reason… People have privacy.”

“I know. But… I owe Teacher so much. I just… want to feel even a little more of her presence…”

After saying this, Stella subtly trembled her body and voice.

It wasn’t too difficult. Though the weather was getting cooler as autumn approached, it wasn’t yet cold enough to remove outerwear.

She’d hidden a small cooling device in her back under her clothes and activated it remotely at the right moment to make her back cold, naturally causing her body and voice to tremble.

Though it was from cold, to others it would look like she was holding back tears.

As expected, that foolish Grandma looked shocked.

Well, considering how rarely Stella had cried in front of anyone, such surprise was warranted.

However, there was one fact Grandma would never know…

Stella had never shed genuine tears in front of anyone.

Whenever Stella had shown tears, Veronica had always been present, and Veronica had always ended up giving Stella what she wanted.

Grandma’s weakness.

She was surprisingly vulnerable to tears and emotional appeals.

What reaction would she show if a student she’d watched grow up started crying after being refused?

Stella smiled triumphantly in her heart.

“N-now, don’t cry. There’s no need to go that far.”

“I’m not crying. I’m not… crying. I’m… destined to be the next Emperor. Something this trivial… won’t make me cry.”

“That’s right. That’s how it should be. Now, calm down…”

“…*Sniff*”

Now for one tear.

As if finally releasing tears she’d been holding back, she let one drop fall.

This too wasn’t difficult.

All she had to do was recall those humiliating days of being defeated by that damned Older Brother, and the tears would naturally come.

But what was the result? Older Brother died. By my hand.

…With Teacher Ophelia’s help.

Perhaps because she suddenly remembered it was thanks to Teacher Ophelia’s help that she resolved things.

The tears she intended to release as just one drop began flowing more than expected.

“Oh, ohhh! Don’t cry! Don’t cry! The rest of you, hurry…?! Why are you crying too?!”

“Hic… I miss Teacheeeer… Waaaaah…!”

“Wh-what…?!”

“Teacher…”

“…”

Like Stella’s fallen tear spreading its influence, Eileen – who had been staring haggardly at Grandma – began wailing.

Eileen, who clearly had the most depressed inner state right now, probably had her tear ducts burst from this atmosphere and the negative answer.

Grandma looked at Eileen who had collapsed to the floor crying, then glanced at the other students for help, but they weren’t in any condition to assist.

Overwhelmed by despair at their last hope being blocked, none were in a state to care for others.

Now, Grandma.

Could you really endure this awkwardness?

“Umm, uuuum…”

She’s enduring it?

Seeing Grandma still agonizing even in this situation, Stella decided to deliver the final blow.

Even Grandma couldn’t withstand this.

“S-sorry. It seems my request was unreasonable. Let’s go, we’re just being a nuisance.”

“Waaaaaaaah…”

“Now, Eileen. Stop crying. If you cry… I’ll get sad too…”

“Aaaalright! Fine! I’ll tell you!”

Victory.

While wiping Eileen’s tears, Stella smiled triumphantly at an angle where Veronica couldn’t see.

Startled by this, Eileen’s tears stopped.

“Huh…?”

“Shh. You need to cry again? Otherwise she’ll get suspicious.”

“…?! Oh, right.”

The others finally seemed to realize Stella’s tears were fake, but she glared at them threateningly to maintain sad expressions.

Then, just before turning back to Grandma – who still hadn’t noticed and never would – she shed one more tear.

“I’m sorry, Teacher Veronica… It seems we’ve been a nuisance…”

“Hmph. As long as you understand. Honestly, if only you called me properly normally…”

The finishing touch – dropping the “Grandma” title and using her proper name.

Since she hated being called Grandma to an extreme degree, properly addressing her in this situation would make her more sympathetic.

Had the ultimate anti-Grandma strategy worked? Grandma began to open her heavy mouth.

“Well, that day I really wanted a drink…”

“…Sorry, Teacher Veronica. Could you get straight to the point? I want to find Teacher as soon as possible.”

“Kids these days like three-line summaries, I hear. It’s a short story…”

Short? What nonsense.

When Stella did something similar as a child, how long had those digressions lasted?

She remembered it being over three hours before being interrupted by her father’s summons.

Since then, whenever Stella saw signs of Grandma starting a long story, she demanded the main point first.

“I first met her at a tavern near the Academy.”

“…A tavern?”

“Don’t tell me…”

“What’s with those looks? A tavern with a bartender, not an adult entertainment establishment.”

As if her throat was dry, Grandma rummaged through her desk drawer and took two big gulps of something.

…Alcohol. Is it okay to drink that openly in front of students?

“*Phew*. It was a tavern run by a friend that I frequented. She was working there part-time.”

“…You have friends?”

“You little… Rude already when you’re the pitiful one here. What’s wrong with having a friend with a slight age difference?”

“No, um… Right. Of course.”

That “slight” age difference was probably at least 60 years.

Stella almost said so but stopped herself.

Mentioning that might make Grandma clam up again.

“While drinking and talking, umm…”

“…What happened?”

“No, my memory’s a bit fuzzy. Why did I bring her here again?”

…Here it comes.

All the students gathered in the principal’s office became certain.

She must have been hypnotized into being hired as an Academy teacher.

Their long-held suspicions turned to conviction in that moment.

“Hmm, not sure if it was the alcohol… My memory’s vague… She was probably counseling customers.”

“Counseling…”

“Yes. She looked quite experienced. Turns out she majored in psychiatry. Seeing her give psychological counseling like a ghost, I thought – this is it.”

“Instead of hiring a professional?”

“Appearance matters when approaching students. With that appearance, I thought she could connect better with students.”

There was no way a living ghost like her with no background information could have majored in psychiatry.

Meaning this too was part of the hypnosis.

But what kind of hypnosis didn’t matter now.

“Where is this tavern?”

“Planning to visit? Hmm. Teacher probably isn’t there though.”

“…What?”

“Didn’t I say I’m a regular? Already went once. My friend said they hadn’t seen her. Probably didn’t go that way.”

“Th-that can’t be…”

“Well, I won’t stop you if you want to check. Here. Let me write the address. Say hello if you go.”

Though they got the desired address, Stella and the students’ complexions darkened.

Teacher wasn’t there?

Then where could she possibly be? Despair crept up their bodies.

But no further clues existed.

The students clung to their fading hope and agreed to meet at midnight at the address provided.