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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“So, why did you want to have lunch with me?”
“..Prieresil Millen, did you seduce him?”
“Professor…? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Prieresil started to inch away from Sola, overwhelmed by her imposing aura.
As she scooted back, dragging her chair with a screech, she resembled a herbivore caught in the gaze of a predator.
“…No. It’s fine. It could happen.”
Sola glanced at me and sighed deeply before resuming her meal.
“Speaking of which, you mentioned you had something to ask the professor, right? Back then…”
“I already asked during class. More importantly, what I need to do now is…”
Prieresil cleared her throat, her voice laced with newfound determination, then…
“I’m sorry!!”
Thud!
Her forehead met the table with a resounding crash.
“Huh? What are you sorry for?”
“I… I misjudged you based on your appearance and picked a fight… I even ignored you because my friends did… I’m so sorry!!”
“I didn’t really mind.”
Prieresil continued to apologize, her head still bowed, mistaking my words for mere courtesy.
People with immense pride rarely admit their faults or bow their heads in apology.
That was why Prieresil’s actions, her willingness to acknowledge her mistakes despite being at the top of her class, touched me deeply.
Of course, the headbanging was a bit much.
“And… I know it’s shameless of me to ask this now, but…”
“True. It’s not the best time.”
“Uh… Professor? I don’t mind, but…”
“…Hmph.”
Sola, who had been silent until now, let out a soft scoff and continued eating.
Whatever had rubbed her the wrong way, she didn’t seem interested in pursuing it further.
“I… I’m truly sorry for everything I’ve done. I know it’s incredibly presumptuous of me to ask for a favor now, but if you could…”
“Look, the intro’s too long. I already forgave you, so let’s move on. What’s the favor?”
“I… I… I…”
Prieresil glanced at me nervously, fidgeting with her fingers.
She was acting like a shy young lady trying to hide her embarrassment.
To my surprise, it was Sola who reacted most strongly to Prieresil’s behavior.
She stopped eating and stared at her, her expression unreadable.
“What, you gonna confess your love or something? In front of me?”
“N-No… It’s not like that…”
What was with her sharp tone?
Had the food upset her stomach?
“She has to eat the food she chose, even if it kills her.” I said.
“What are you talking about? I finished mine ages ago. Besides, I’ve been an adventurer. It was annoying at first, the food was awful, but…”
Lost in her memories, Sola trailed off, clinking her spoon against her empty bowl.
“…My taste buds must have adapted to his cooking.”
Oh, my sweet, innocent girl.
Her love-struck expression was almost comical.
“Um, if it’s okay with you, could you give me some advice about Labyrinths and scouting?”
If she was going to be so serious, she should have just gotten straight to the point.
Of course, I agreed to her request.
I had been thinking about mentoring the next generation of adventurers anyway, and her offer, coming from the top student, was a welcome one.
“A-Are you sure…? Should I come to your dorm…? Or would you prefer to come to mine…?”
“Why would we study in a dorm? This building is huge, and there are plenty of empty rooms. We can use one of those.”
Her question reminded me that unused classrooms were usually locked.
Thankfully, Sola was here.
As a professor, she should have the authority to unlock them.
“Professor, could we borrow an empty classroom?”
“…I’m coming too.”
“Huh? Okay, but…”
The meal ended in a strangely chilly atmosphere.
We decided on a time and place to meet for our impromptu lesson and parted ways to attend our respective classes.
And that’s how I found myself sitting in a classroom, staring blankly at the professor.
The course was an elective called [History and War Heroes].
I had enrolled on a whim, hoping to hear familiar names from the past, but the professor was… underwhelming, to say the least.
I mostly spent my time there zoning out.
Because…
“Alright, next presenter, please get ready.”
Every class consisted of students presenting their research on war heroes, followed by brief feedback from the professor.
I wasn’t an expert on teaching methods, but this felt like a cop-out.
The thought was demoralizing, to say the least.
And so, I ended up treating it like a free period.
It wasn’t like I needed to do any research.
I had lived through those events.
The major ones, at least.
Today’s presentation topic was Elphonse Rumanin, former captain of the Prometheus Empire’s Royal Guard.
…I received praise for my insightful analysis.
The next class was [Labyrinths and Scouting].
I had enrolled for two reasons: I considered scouting my forte, and I thought I could actually contribute something in this class.
My hopes, however, were dashed in the first five minutes.
“As I mentioned last time, scouting is about ensuring the safety of yourself and your comrades… Equipment… Prevention… ..”
It was excruciatingly boring.
I was confident that even I, with my limited knowledge, could do a better job than this professor.
And so, I resorted to my usual pastime: staring out the window.
I didn’t mind.
The tuition I paid was an investment in the future, a way to repay my debt to Rain.
Let them achieve great things by stepping on my back.
At first, the professor tried to engage me, but I always had a witty comeback ready.
He eventually gave up.
Another uneventful day passed.
I sent a message to Tolman, informing him that I wouldn’t be able to make it to our training session, and mentally celebrated my escape from the musclehead.
Then, I headed to our meeting place.
Sola and Prieresil were already there, waiting for me.
“Ah, you’re here.”
“…What, I’m not allowed to be on time?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Sola’s usual grumbling was almost comforting.
I took a seat.
Prieresil, her preparations complete, sat quietly, her gaze fixed on me.
It was impossible to see her expression, but I could practically feel her excitement radiating from her.
“Haha, how about we start with introductions?”
“…Hmph.”
“My name is Prieresil Millen, from the Hidin Academy… I enrolled in this lesson to learn as much as possible. Please take care of me…”
Her serious demeanor was making me uncomfortable.
I cleared my throat and jumped right in.
Calling this a “lesson” felt pretentious.
“So, you wanted to learn about Labyrinths and scouting? I don’t know what to teach you, to be honest. We’re both students here.”
“No! You’re probably the best scout in the entire academy! You even worked with the Hero herself, without falling behind…”
“…She collaborated with him?”
“Yes? Yes… well, technically, it’s not allowed, but the headmaster gave him permission…”
“So, they didn’t just explore together, they strategized together? Just the two of them?”
Sola’s tone was laced with disbelief, as if she already knew the answer but couldn’t quite accept it.
Prieresil, struggling to breathe under Sola’s intense gaze, nodded slowly.
I was used to this kind of pressure, but it was clear that she was finding it difficult to handle.
“…I’m leaving. Lock the door when you’re done.”
Sola stormed out of the room, her mood souring for some unknown reason.
I was alone with Prieresil now.
Not that it changed anything.
Prieresil might be beautiful, but I was immune to such distractions.
My bandaged face was the ultimate defense against romance.
“Shall we begin?”
“Ah… Yes…!”
Prieresil seemed distracted by Sola’s abrupt departure but quickly turned her attention back to me, nodding eagerly.
And so, I began to share my knowledge, drawing upon my experiences and the countless books I had devoured in Fel Burn’s grand library.
“First, I’ll teach you how to move silently.”
I demonstrated, then explained.
“It’s not as important when you’re with a strong party, but erasing your tracks is crucial when you’re scouting alone.”
I vaguely recalled reading something similar in a novel.
The scene involved a handsome male lead tutoring a beautiful female lead in a secluded room…
Of course, the reality was a bandaged, shady-looking instructor and a student who couldn’t even see his face.
“That’s it for today.”
I announced, stopping abruptly after a thirty-minute lecture.
Prieresil, who had been completely absorbed in my words, tilted her head in confusion.
“Already?”
“It’s better to learn in small doses. 30 minutes a day is enough.”
“Oh… Okay. I understand… I’m satisfied with even 30 minutes…”
Prieresil readily agreed to my arbitrary time limit.
Part of me felt bad for taking advantage of her eagerness, but it was an investment in the future.
Besides, it allowed me to avoid Tolman’s training regimen.
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Time flew by.
I continued to live a monotonous life, attending classes and imparting my knowledge.
I had no intention of leaving the academy anytime soon.
There were still too many things I wanted to see, too many events I couldn’t miss.
Events that made my heart race with anticipation just thinking about them.
As always, luck seemed to be on my side today.
The cafeteria had my favorite bread, the dorm served my preferred meal, my classes ended just as I was starting to lose my mind, and I even found an academy-issued communication device on the ground.
My good fortune put me in a cheerful mood, making me forget a crucial lesson: good luck rarely lasts.
And so, I found myself entangled in an unexpected predicament during our mandatory [Terminology] class.
Prion, who had been relatively quiet until now, decided to pick a fight with me.
For no apparent reason.
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[Sola is hella jealous lmao, but Rain is psycho so idk which is more crazy]
