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“Professor. It’s Elysia.”

“Come in.”

I knocked and announced who I was through the door.

Immediately, as if expecting me, a response came back.

Opening the door and stepping inside, I found my homeroom teacher, Ferrent, sitting at his desk, diligently working on something.

Even after calling me over, he didn’t spare me a glance.

Seeing no hint of him getting up from his seat, I walked closer to his desk and sneaked a peek at the paperwork that seemed to be piling up due to the approaching Celestial Festival.

“I’m sorry for calling you over, but as you can see, I’m busy and don’t even have the luxury to offer you a cup of tea. If you want some, there’s a teapot over there, so help yourself.”

Ferrent pointed to one side of the room without even lifting his head, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for him, even as a student.

Feeling a bit sorry, I thought I’d take the opportunity to play the role of a disciple—even though I had no particular desire to drink tea. I poured tea leaves into the kettle and added hot water to steep it.

To steep it properly, I would’ve needed to do a few more troublesome things, but I put in just enough effort to get it to this point.

I lifted the two teacups I had poured, placing one in front of me and the other beside Ferrent, who was busy filling out paperwork.

Of course, I kept a bit of distance to prevent any disasters where he might accidentally knock over the cup and spill tea all over the documents.

As a student in need of a consultation with the professor, I was filled with a desire to wrap things up quickly and exit this room, but I held it in and brought the teacup to my lips.

The tea had been hastily steeped, but perhaps due to the quality of the leaves, it actually had a decent aroma and taste.

In fact, knowing the tea leaves were this good, I thought maybe I should’ve put a bit more effort into steeping it.

Though it was an unexpected solo tea time, it wouldn’t matter if I was a bit late—Ferrent had called me over, and my friends all knew about it.

Ferrent seemed to have forgotten he was the one who called me, diligently rolling his pen and focusing on his work.

As I emptied the teacup, listening to the sound of the pen, he finally took a break and put down the pen he had been holding and took a sip from the teacup I had left for him.

Whether he lacked sensitivity to temperature or the tea had cooled down, I couldn’t see any sign of him reacting to it being hot.

I wanted to tease him for drinking tea like it was alcohol but looking at the dark circles under his eyes, I could only feel pity.

“Well, I didn’t expect to be served tea in my office, especially by my designated student. Anyway, it was good, Elysia.”

“Not at all. So, what’s the reason you called me?”

If someone who was strict saw my blunt request for him to get straight to the point, they would likely call me rude, but given the months we’ve known each other as student and teacher, it wouldn’t be a big issue.

Even if Ferrent were to get annoyed, what could be done about it? If he didn’t want to be distracted, he shouldn’t have called me over in the first place.

Fortunately, Ferrent spoke with a nonchalant expression that matched my expectations.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if I hadn’t called you, but as your supervisor, I’m not going to neglect my duties.”

Ferrent, having finished his tea, reached for a piece of candy from a basket on one side of the desk, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.

The crunching sound he made while chewing was pure manliness.

He offered me some of the candy as well, but I had no interest in eating that bitter candy meant for old men.

When I showed my palms to decline, Ferrent just popped the candy back into his mouth and continued his noisy crunching.

“Soon, you’ll probably get a call too. It’s about the recent incident involving the Saint. The investigations for Professor Selren and Selian have already concluded, and those involved are currently being questioned. I was also called in a few days ago.”

The Saint heading toward the capital, along with her few attendants.

Among those were myself as a student, Selian, and professors Selren and Hilphin.

And Hilphin had died due to that incident.

It was at that time I was chosen as a Hero by the Goddess. I still have no idea why to this day.

“Selian is doing alright, right?”

I recalled that a few days ago, Selian had been absent for some reason.

It stood out in my memory since she usually never left my side unless it was something really important.

“Your concern for your friend is commendable. As a homeroom teacher, it’s nice to see. But there’s no need to worry. At that time, both you and Selian, along with everyone else, believed that Selian would become the Hero. There’s no way someone who’s going to become a Hero would collude with the Demonic Race, right?”

Phew.

Ferrent’s words that there shouldn’t be any issues brought me some relief.

However, separate from that relief, I was a bit annoyed that he hadn’t told me about such an important matter.

Perhaps from Selian’s perspective, she didn’t want to worry me, which motivated her actions, but hearing it through a third party was rather unsatisfactory.

“In any case, I’ve been grilled by the investigators about that matter, and now I’m even shorter on time than before. I’ve been unable to leave work, living in the professor’s office for days now… Of course, they have their responsibilities to attend to, and given the circumstances, it’s understandable they’re working hard, but that doesn’t make it any less irritating. They’re just inflexible bastards…”

“Oh, yes. So you called me here to warn me that the investigators might call me soon?”

Not wanting to be stuck listening to the old guy’s complaints any longer, I quickly found an opportunity to intervene and cut him off.

Ferrent seemed to catch on to my intent to interrupt, casting a sideways glance, but he was just an old man.

Of course, I hadn’t asked for this, but if he was feeling wronged, he could’ve gone to learn TS magic like I did.

According to a now-faded memory, a non-magic user had said that becoming a perfect and flawless beautiful girl was the norm, right?

If TS magic existed, even a middle-aged man like Ferrent could become a beautiful girl.

Of course, now that the non-magic user was dead, there wasn’t a single mage left who knew how to do TS magic.

“Ahem. Anyway, you, as the Hero, will probably be the last to be called. In fact, the investigation will likely only consist of formal questioning and not much else. If you had indeed colluded with the Demonic Race, you wouldn’t have been chosen as a Hero by the Goddess.”

If you put it that way, the credibility of the Saint, who was making a living with the Holy Water, and me, a former Assassin, becoming Heroes has plummeted drastically.

However, I figured this wasn’t a topic worth bringing up to Ferrent; I stuck to my silent doubts directed at the Goddess.

“By the way, it’s surprising that you, not Selian, are the Hero. I should have gotten a clear confirmation on that long ago.”

“Huh?”

Did Ferrent say something to me?

Thinking back, I couldn’t recall anything notably significant.

“It’s about the recruitment for the 3rd Imperial Knights from back then. From the way you don’t remember, it must not have been an appealing offer. Given how much you’ve grown compared to then, it’s understandable.”

“Ahaha…”

Now that I think of it, there did seem to be some sort of offer from Ferrent in the past.

As the former commander of the 3rd Imperial Knights, he had asked me to recommend a talented individual for his successor, right?

“No need to be so cautious. I explained thoroughly to my juniors how eagerly they desired you, and it’s just an excuse that no applications have come in. Normally, if you identify someone who’s suitable, you would place some conditions to bring them in and later negotiate with the finance side.”

They don’t know that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than seek permission. Ferrent offered this advice, which came from experience.

Hmm. I’m learning something good today again.

It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than seek permission.

Let’s remember that. It’s advice that will become blood and flesh for living life.

“In that sense, I’m different from my juniors. How about it, Elysia? I can promise you the best treatment in the industry. After your Hero business is over, why not come work as my teaching assistant…”

“Thank you for the advice, Professor. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

Feeling as if the purpose for which he had called me was fulfilled, I quickly stood up.

As I bowed and exited through the door, I thought I could hear Ferrent’s voice still fervently talking behind me… but that must be just an illusion.

I didn’t hear anything.

Well then, good luck with your late-night work, Professor!

 

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