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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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He followed the professor, maintaining a respectful distance.
“…….”
She seemed different from her usual self. In the classroom, she was always composed and aloof, a strict instructor. But now… something had changed.
“This is it. I thought this would be a good place to talk.”
They arrived at the observation deck. A vast expanse of sky stretched beyond the transparent walls, and the sophisticated equipment placed around the room indicated that this wasn’t just a place for relaxation.
They stood in silence for a moment, the quiet amplifying the subtle tension in the air.
The professor stopped and leaned against the window, looking at him, her gaze hesitant and uncertain, a stark contrast to her usual sharp, appraising eyes.
“…The weather’s nice.”
She said, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside, her fingers tracing patterns on the cool glass, her movements unusually slow.
Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily across the azure sky beyond the transparent wall.
He took a deep breath. It wasn’t their first time being alone together, but the atmosphere felt different this time, a mix of awkwardness, unfamiliarity, and a strange sense of intimacy.
“Um…”
She seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
“Why did you bring me here, Professor?”
He asked.
She looked at him for a long moment, her gaze searching, as if trying to gauge something, then she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, her cheeks tinged with red,
“I just… wanted to have a proper talk with you….”
“Talk? About what?”
He had thought she wanted to discuss something important, perhaps ask him to mediate between Eilly, Elisha, and Melina. But her expression suggested something far more personal.
“It’s… a bit difficult to talk in the classroom. With everyone else around… and with both of us… in our roles as teacher and student.”
“But here… it’s different.”
Her voice was low and soft, a strange mix of warmth and coolness. She seemed to be struggling to find the right words.
He took a deep breath and asked again,
“So, what did you want to talk about, Professor?”
She smiled faintly, a hint of hesitation and uncertainty in her expression, as if hoping he would understand something unspoken.
“It’s… nothing important, really.”
She turned towards the window, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside.
“What do you… think of me?”
She asked quietly, her reflection in the glass meeting his gaze.
It was an unexpected question. He frowned slightly, studying her face. She was smiling, but there was an unreadable emotion in her eyes.
“…Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.”
He hesitated, sensing an unfamiliar vulnerability in her, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor as a strict and decisive instructor.
She seemed like a young girl, wanting to connect with him, not as his teacher, but as a person.
He sighed softly and answered, meeting her gaze,
“I think you’re strict, but also… kind.”
It was an honest answer. Even in the game, she was portrayed as a strict but caring teacher.
She smiled at his answer, but there was a hint of disappointment in her expression, as if he had missed something, a hidden meaning she had hoped he would understand.
And then,
“A-Arnold…”
She turned to face him, her gaze hesitant, and then she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper,
“…Do you… dislike older women… romantically?”
Her question hung in the air, its meaning unclear.
He hadn’t really thought about it before, whether he preferred older women. But if he had to choose, he supposed he was more attracted to older women.
“I-”
Crash!
Just as he was about to answer, a sudden jolt shook the airship, the floor beneath their feet trembling, throwing him off balance.
“Ugh?!”
Professor Adria stumbled, losing her balance, and he instinctively reached out to steady her.
“A-Arnold?!”
She looked up at him, her eyes wide, her expression filled with a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite decipher.
He met her gaze, and—
“E-Eek?!”
—her face quickly flushed crimson. She pulled away, flustered, and stumbled backward.
“S-Sorry!!”
She hurriedly escaped his embrace and retreated, her flustered demeanor evident.
“Professor? Your question-”
“Sorry, I have to go!!”
She ran out of the observation deck, her face still flushed, before he could even finish his sentence.
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“Haa…”
Adria walked down a deserted hallway and stopped, staring into the distance, her face flushing again as she recalled the incident.
She pressed her hand against her forehead, her ears burning, and sighed softly.
“Should I… not have asked?”
She felt foolish for having worked up the courage only to be defeated by her own embarrassment.
“Who would like someone like me anyway?”
A self-deprecating laugh escaped her lips.
A cold, strict professor, someone everyone kept their distance from… Was she even worthy of love?
“And Arnold is surrounded by so many women…”
“Especially Elisha. She’s his fiancée.”
Even if she was interested in Arnold, there were already so many women vying for his attention.
“Should I just… give up?”
Just as she was about to resign herself to her unrequited feelings—
“Professor.”
—a familiar voice called out to her.
“A-Arnold?!”
Startled, Adria instinctively clutched her chest.
When did he get there? He stood there, his expression calm as always.
“W-What are you-”
“About your question earlier.”
He continued, seemingly oblivious to her flustered state.
“Don’t! It’s… it’s fine-”
“I prefer older women… to those my age or younger.”
“…Huh?”
She was stunned by his simple words, as if she had been struck by lightning.
“Really…?”
She asked, unable to believe her ears, and Arnold shrugged nonchalantly.
“Yes. I haven’t really thought about my ideal type, but I suppose that’s true.”
With those words, he walked past her.
Adria stared blankly at his retreating figure, a slow smile spreading across her face.
“He likes older women…”
His words were like a compass, guiding her lost heart.
Just moments ago, she had been denying herself, convinced that her feelings were wrong. But… his words had given her hope.
“Maybe… these feelings… aren’t so wrong after all.”
A small spark of certainty flickered within her. She clenched her hands, her previously slumped shoulders straightening.
“Yes, don’t give up.”
She whispered to herself.
At this moment, she wasn’t a cold, strict professor, nor a dedicated researcher,
but simply… a woman in love.
Adria smiled, a quiet, confident smile.
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“Master’s a bit late, isn’t he?”
“I hope he’s not getting scolded because of us.”
A heavy silence had settled over the room. They tried to lighten the mood with small talk, but the tension of waiting for him lingered.
“Well, I’m sorry about that…”
“The professor isn’t unreasonable, so it should be fine.”
Eilly and Elisha spoke, and Melina and Varis added their own comments, but the awkward silence and the subtle tension remained, their glances cautious and hesitant.
“Upperclassman, do you know anything about the dungeon?”
Varis finally broke the silence, his voice a mix of nervousness and curiosity.
He was anxious about the lack of information about the dungeon and hoped to alleviate his worries. He looked at Lucy, their mentor, with hopeful eyes.
But—
“…….”
—Lucy didn’t answer. She sat there silently, her head lowered, an unnatural stillness about her, as if she had stopped breathing, disconnected from the world.
The already heavy atmosphere in the room grew even more oppressive.
“Upperclassman?”
Varis instinctively sensed something was wrong. He felt his throat tighten, his lips pressed firmly together, and then he slowly reached out and lifted the brim of her hat.
And then –
“Whoa?!”
He recoiled instinctively, a chill running down his spine, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.
“What’s wrong?”
Melina, sensing his reaction, approached him and followed his gaze, then froze.
“Upperclassman?!”
At Melina’s cry, everyone tensed.
“Upperclassman?”
“Lucy!”
The room buzzed with nervous energy. They all rushed towards her, but no one dared to touch her.
“…….”
Lucy’s eyes were vacant, staring blankly into space, devoid of life. They didn’t know what had happened to her. But one thing was certain.
“Ugh…”
There was a chilling, unsettling emptiness in her gaze, a look of primal fear and vulnerability, as if she was facing an unseen horror.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
