Chapter 6
Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Teacher's Resolve
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I lay on the bed, panting heavily, a strangely sweet scent wafting up from it for quite some time.
"I'm hungry...."
A groan escaped my lips unbidden. Come to think of it, I realized I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. Things had been so hectic that I hadn't even noticed my hunger.
...Maybe this body of mine wasn't moving properly not because my stamina was terrible, but because I hadn't eaten a thing?
I lay there on the bed in a daze, running a tiny loop of hopeful thoughts through my mind, before finally getting up.
Going to look for the girl who'd just fled seemed like too much effort for now, so I first secured the infirmary door and headed out.
If my guess was right, she'd come back to the infirmary eventually.
She might not show up because of the unexpected incident, but if that happened, I'd have no choice but to track her down myself.
...Maybe it would be better if we just never crossed paths again.
Still, she was a character I'd quite liked, so the desire to see her clashed with the embarrassment of having been caught in such an awkward scene.
If I hadn't loved this damn game so much, none of this would have happened, right?
Sighing over it wouldn't change anything, though, so I clutched my starving stomach and headed back to my dorm room first.
Now, how was I supposed to handle meals?
In the game, it wasn't something you had to worry about, which made it a bit tricky now.
Since this was reality now, there had to be a way, but nothing was coming to mind right away.
...Maybe there'd be a guidebook or something if I searched the dorm room.
Or I could ask Michelle for help....
It might be awkward to face her after what we'd done, but survival came first, didn't it?
I took a deep breath in front of the door and opened it. It wasn't locked, so Michelle was probably inside.
As I stepped in, I saw her sitting stiffly at the table. Our eyes met, and she looked away awkwardly, clearly remembering what had happened earlier, her head bowing slightly.
She'd said she had a hunch, hadn't she?
It felt like a gesture inviting me to talk, so I sat across from her, and that's when I noticed the object on the table.
It was a dainty white paper box, decorated adorably.
As my gaze landed on it, Michelle, who had been frozen stiff, tore open the wrapping.
Inside was... a cake, it seemed. A fresh cream cake topped with a large strawberry.
The sudden appearance of the cake made me blink in surprise, and Michelle let out a soft sigh as she spoke.
"...It's not much of a thank-you gift, but I figured you might need some sugar after all that. Do you... dislike it, by any chance?"
"Ah, no, not at all...."
"That's a relief."
Her face brightened a little, and she took out the cake and offered it to me.
I stared at its pristine white form. Normally, I wouldn't touch dessert with a ten-foot pole. It'd just turn into fat covering up the muscles I'd worked so hard for.
But she'd gone out of her way to bring this, right?
I'd heard women loved desserts so much they had a separate stomach for them.
So... turning it down here would probably be a bad move all around.
With slightly trembling hands, I picked up a fork and cut into the cake.
The white cream split open, revealing pale cake layers stacked with more cream and small chunks of fruit embedded within.
"Gulp."
That's when it hit me clearly.
This body was craving it.
I carefully lifted a piece and put it in my mouth.
"Mmm...!"
The thick cream melting on my tongue, the nutty flavor of the sponge, and the sweet-tartness of the sugar-soaked fruit.
All of it blended into perfect harmony as it slid down my throat.
It happened in an instant.
As I shoveled the cake into my mouth ravenously, I snapped out of it and glanced at Michelle. Unlike before, her expression hadn't changed much as she watched me. But there was a subtle sense of satisfaction on her face.
A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and I cleared my throat awkwardly. Then I realized she hadn't touched the cake and spoke up.
"...Aren't you going to have any, Instructor?"
"Ah, no... I'm fine."
She averted her gaze, her face showing a hint of distress.
I instinctively knew why she thought I was fine.
Obviously, because of all these muscles!
I understood her reasoning deep down.
But somehow, it irked me.
Did that mean I could just balloon up? Or that it didn't matter since I already had this body?
...She probably wasn't thinking that way, but it still felt unfair for some reason. I had no comeback since I was enjoying it so much, but still.
I couldn't be the only one losing muscle mass.
I carefully cut a piece of cake, speared it on the fork, and held it out to her.
"...After what happened, you should eat some of this."
"... "
After a moment of hesitation, she accepted it with slightly flushed cheeks. Her eyes widened round as she ate it, making me suspect it might be her first cake. A belated pang of guilt hit me, like I'd done something I shouldn't have.
On top of that, the earlier events resurfaced, leaving me flustered, so I decided to change the subject.
"So, you said you had a hunch?"
"Ah, right."
...It was all the same crap anyway.
As I stuffed the last of the cake into my mouth, I listened to Michelle's story... which was shocking—no, downright astonishing.
It was something that should have happened in her earlier teens, but it seemed to have manifested late.
In simple terms, late puberty had come knocking.
"I thought I was the type it skipped, but then it hit me like this, so late. I don't really know why."
Michelle continued in a casual tone, as if it were no big deal, something everyone went through.
I nodded silently, not showing any sign of it. As the school nurse, it wouldn't make sense if I didn't know.
But I was utterly confused by this setting I'd never heard or seen before.
Was there something like that in Frizea Chronicles? This was news to me.
Did that mean every student at the academy was a walking time bomb, not knowing when 'that' would pop up?
Was I really in Frizea Chronicles? Or had I somehow ended up in a bootleg version?
No... I'd definitely bought it through official channels.
"Plumeria Teacher?"
"...Yes?"
"You don't look well. Well... this was your first day on the job, wasn't it? It must not be easy adjusting."
"Ha, ha...."
This is driving me crazy.
My expression must still have looked off, because Michelle panicked a bit and continued.
"In that sense, your handling of the situation was quite impressive, Plumeria Teacher. If I were a student, I'd feel safe walking around."
Please, stop.
That's not it at all.
I silently shoveled more cake into my mouth. Thoughts of muscle loss or gaining fat were gone from my mind. Only this sweet pleasure distanced me from reality.
Soon after, Michelle said she'd do her daily training and left.
Alone now, I summoned Undine.
After asking her to wipe down my slightly sticky body since I hadn't showered, I pondered what to do next.
Should I just escape the academy?
There were too many hang-ups for that.
For one, I didn't know the extent of my abilities. The infirmary aside, I had no memory of a character using what seemed to be a water spirit.
Plus, aside from the crises hitting me personally, I had no real complaints about the environment, so venturing into the unknown world was a huge risk.
I wasn't even sure anymore if this was really Frizea Chronicles.
So, leaving the academy—where I had at least basic living conditions and safety—wasn't an easy choice.
...Especially since what had happened earlier wasn't life-threatening.
"Eut."
Then, a strange sound escaped me at the sensation of Undine moving over my body. I looked at the girl flitting about, and she vanished with a peculiar smile.
Was it a different entity each time I called?
It felt subtly different somehow....
I stared in the direction Undine had disappeared, then opened the window and thought.
Alright, let's think positively.
Not every student might manifest 'that' like Michelle did, right? It didn't seem like everyone did, so there was a decent chance.
I'd ruled out leaving the academy for various reasons, but I felt like the way back home was probably here too.
Following clichés, seeing the ending might send me back.
So, my plan was this:
First, adapt to academy life while scouting couples to pair up for the endings.
Then, prepare for combat events by grabbing all the hidden opportunities scattered around.
I'd have to figure out what to keep for myself and what to pass to efficient people.
As I sorted through my thoughts step by step, I started feeling a bit excited.
Thinking about it, wasn't this a chance to experience the game I'd enjoyed firsthand? Not just VR level, but fully real.
...Even if it seemed a little different from what I knew, I'd try to stay positive. Positive.
Plus, I'd panicked earlier and used my hand, but I had Undine now.
Nothing major would happen. It was a relief to have such a perfect ability.
So, for the time being, I'd focus on adapting and exploring.
However, to prepare for any students hiding in the infirmary like before, there was something I needed.
From Michelle's story, it seemed like it might be no big deal, but you never know.
I rummaged through the cabinet where I'd gotten the clothes earlier.
I needed money.
...By the way, how much did a school nurse make?
It better be good pay.