31
Chapter 31
As expected, both the school store and the dormitory were completely empty.
It made sense, considering there were only about twenty minutes left until class started.
I took two glass bottles of coffee from the display case, which was kept warm by Heat Preservation Magic.
"How much is this?"
"That will be two silver."
"Oh, I'll pay for my own."
"It's fine. Today is the last class anyway, so I was planning to buy some snacks for the kids."
After picking out some snacks and paying, I tucked them into my subspace first.
"Here you go."
I handed over the coffee.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. It'll be cold outside, so shall we talk here?"
There was a separate dining area right in front of the store, so we took a seat there.
"Huh? Oh, sure."
Outside the window, the snow was still falling heavily.
It didn't look like it would stop soon, so leaving tomorrow might be a bit of a hassle.
"So, what did you want to tell me?"
"Um... I heard that you're resigning at the end of this semester."
I was a bit caught off guard.
How did she find out... Ah! Did the Dean tell her?
"I heard it from the Dean. When I went to submit my resignation letter..."
It was the Dean, as I thought.
I didn't think he was the type to be loose-lipped, but I had begged him to keep it quiet. This is too much.
"As you've heard, my health isn't great, and this whole incident has left me feeling a bit disillusioned."
If I didn't say that, she might misunderstand and think I was leaving because of something with May.
"Ah, yes, I heard the reason as well."
Telling her the reason too... he's really crossing the line.
Anyway, the fact that she went to hand in her resignation letter matched my prediction perfectly.
After being humiliated in front of every single trainee at the academy, it would be hard for anyone to endure it without immense mental strength.
Still, thanks to her reputation, it didn't seem like there were any major issues, or was there?
Well, it's none of my business.
"So, what you wanted to say was..."
"I heard that you already knew I was planning to quit. Even though I never mentioned it to you..."
"Ah, I was a bit harsh when I was explaining things. Between that and everything else, you must have been very uncomfortable because of me. I'm sorry."
'What am I doing? Why am I apologizing?'
'It's all over tomorrow anyway.'
Unless you want to intentionally increase the difficulty of your life, it's best not to make unnecessary enemies.
Especially considering Amelia's background.
"Not at all. If anything, I'm the one who caused Instructor Bio so much trouble..."
"We just had different perspectives. I think I was too stubborn about my own views. I was too embarrassed to say it, but I've learned a lot from you, Instructor Amelia."
A little bit of lip service, and she looked completely touched.
"It's all in the past, isn't it? I hold no ill will toward you, Instructor Amelia. Please take good care of the trainees next semester."
This is a perfectly graceful exit.
"...Is that why you left those words with the Dean?"
"Huh? What words...?"
"I heard that you already knew I was planning to quit..."
Ah, that. I thought it was something else.
"I just thought that since I pushed you so hard, you might make that choice, so I mentioned it. If that offended you..."
"No... It wasn't just that you thought I might. I heard you told him to try and persuade me to stay if I tried to resign."
Well, that was obvious. If Amelia left the academy, the Dean might go back on his word and try to keep me here.
Of course, the chances were slim, but it wasn't exactly zero.
"Instructor Amelia, you care for the trainees so much."
"That's not true. After everything with May, I've thought about it a lot, but I..."
The trainees' attitude toward her didn't seem to have changed much, so she was probably overthinking it.
It's draining when you put your whole heart into saying something nice and get a reaction like that.
"Excuse me, Instructor?"
"...Why are you being so kind to me, Instructor Bio? I was so mean to you."
'So she does realize it.'
For a moment, the words 'You're the one who acted that way despite knowing' almost escaped my lips, but I barely held them back.
"It's because I could tell you're a good instructor. The trainees really need you."
"..."
No answer.
Did I say something wrong?
I'm trying my best to only say pleasant things since it's the end....
Sigh, class is about to start; what on earth am I even doing here....
"I think you're a great instructor too, Instructor Bio. So, I wish you wouldn't quit."
What kind of nonsense is this?
Do you know how hard I fought to get this resignation?
"I appreciate the compliment, but my mind is made up. I've already settled everything with the Dean, so bringing this up a day before I leave is..."
I thought she'd be clapping with joy when I left, so what is this?
"The Dean trusts you a lot, Instructor Bio. If you're open to it, I can help persuade you to stay."
Did she eat something weird today?
I don't think there was anything wrong with breakfast.
"Still, I've already made my decision..."
"Th... then, if you promise to keep being a Ranger Class instructor with me next semester, I'll think positively about meeting you."
She's speaking with a face so red it looks like it might explode; I'm genuinely baffled.
Meeting her?
"Aren't we meeting right now?"
"That's... not what I meant... You know what I mean."
Her face is even redder now, but what exactly am I supposed to know?
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."
'You idiot, this is a total green light.'
Even Ark is talking nonsense, as if he's eaten something wrong too.
'What do you mean, green light?'
No matter how I look at it, there's no reason for Amelia to like me.
I've been kind to the trainees lately, but it's impossible that she'd like me just for that....
Wait, is she mistakenly thinking I like her just because I spoke well of her to the Dean?
"Do you perhaps have an interest in..."
"I... I can't accept a confession already. I said I'd think about it positively if you promise to keep being an instructor with me."
...She actually was serious.
Haha, so that redness in her cheeks earlier wasn't from the cold, but from emotion?
I've lived long enough to see everything.
'You finally figured it out? This is why lifelong singles are hopeless.'
'Lifelong singles?'
'It's a thing. Now, what are you going to do?'
'I don't know.'
I admit Amelia is beautiful.
It's not that I'm against marriage; I've considered dating and marrying when the time is right....
But not this.
Too much has happened between us to date her just because she's pretty.
To be honest, the only reason I'm even dealing with her now is because I won't have to see her after tomorrow.
Most importantly, I have no romantic interest in Amelia.
"I think you're mistaken, but I've never looked at you as anything more than a fellow instructor, Instructor Amelia."
"You can be honest with me. Even before, when you called me a woman, it was actually because you saw me as a romantic interest, wasn't it?"
She's completely adrift in her own sea of delusion.
"I'm sorry. I have absolutely no interest in you, Instructor Amelia."
Amelia wears a look of total bewilderment.
I'm sorry, but I felt that if I rejected her vaguely, she'd just keep imagining things, so I had to be blunt.
"You don't have to hide it. There's no one else here, so just be honest..."
"If I did anything to lead you on, I apologize. I'm sorry."
"Wait, Instructor Bio..."
Amelia's expression suddenly hardened.
"Well, I'll be heading to class now."
I quickly left the area, fearing that staying any longer would only make things more tedious.
'Well done. But isn't it funny?'
'What is?'
'The part where she didn't even say she'd date you, but that she'd think positively about it.'
Now that he mentions it, it is rather funny.
But considering her background, it's not entirely incomprehensible.
Amelia Dmitri.
She is the youngest daughter of Grand Duke Alaf Dmitri of the Principality of Dmitri, which borders the Beluga Empire to the south and the Frozen Earth to the north.
Thinking about it again, it's truly bizarre.
While not as powerful as the Empire, the Principality is quite a decent nation.
Its military power is second only to the Empire's, and although farming is difficult due to the low temperatures, they have improved crops and receive ample support as the Empire's primary ally, so there's no food shortage.
Since the first Grand Duke of Dmitri was the younger brother of the first Emperor, the two families aren't completely unrelated.
Her family is far more prestigious than any ducal house, even if they don't quite match the Imperial Family's level, so I couldn't fathom why the youngest daughter of such a house would be an instructor here.
According to Old Man Daph's information, she's a late-born child, and the Grand Duke, as well as her siblings who are twenty years older, all adore her.
Would they really just let such a daughter work as an instructor in a foreign land instead of her own?
'Why are you just standing there? Are you disappointed?'
'Disappointed my foot.'
She's simply not the kind of woman for me.
Even if our statuses had been similar, my choice would have been the same.
After all, my goal is to escape Belliard Academy.
****
"I will conclude the closing ceremony with the hope that we will all meet again in good health next semester."
I woke up to the sound of trainees' footsteps leaving the auditorium.
I guess it's finally over.
Just like during my active duty when I visited the academy, it seems Deans have a passive skill for long-winded speeches.
'Get some rest, but don't play too much—do some training and studying.'
It's quite a talent to stretch a single sentence like that into nearly two hours.
Anyway, is this finally freedom?
The auditorium entrance was crowded with trainees, so I figured it was better to wait a bit before leaving.
There's no rush anymore anyway.
"Have a great break, Instructor!"
"Instructor, I heard from May that you're from the South. I'm from the South too, so if you ever visit our region, please stop by!"
I thought they were all focused on leaving, but a few trainees, including May, came over to say goodbye.
I responded with a modest smile and a wave of my hand.
Although I hesitated for a moment yesterday, I didn't mention my resignation during the last class.
Since I'd been kind to the trainees lately, they followed me better than expected, and I figured they might actually try to cling to me and beg me to stay if I told them now.
Of course, I have no intention of reversing my resignation just because students ask.
Honestly, I'm human too, and it would be a lie to say I didn't develop any affection for them, but I just want to rest.
I plan to go fishing in Seinti, sleep in as much as I want, and perhaps go on a journey to explore ancient ruins, as Ark suggested.
Come to think of it, I barely spent any of the money I made from selling the artifact when I first entered.
How busy they must have been.
Since I have my pension and barely spent my academy instructor's salary, maybe I can indulge a bit from now on.
I have a house in Seinti, a small town, so it might not be much different from the academy, but I should visit high-end inns and eat plenty of delicious local specialties while traveling.
While debating whether my first destination should be the Three Yalta Nations or Sachsen after some rest, I felt a presence behind me.
"Instructor Bio, it's such a shame."
"Haha..."
Surely they aren't changing their mind now?
"But it can't be helped. To be honest, I saw you closing your eyes in pain during the speech earlier. Your health is that poor... you've worked so hard."
That... that was just because I had a nightmare while sleeping...
Ark commented that I was interpreting it far too favorably.
"I'm sure I'll feel better after resting. Even from afar, I'll pray for the trainees' growth and the Dean's health."
Fortunately, they didn't take it back, but fearing I might be held back if I talked more, I quickly left the auditorium.
I had already packed my bags yesterday and completed the checkout process, so I just had to step out.
I walked toward the main gate, which had become slightly less crowded as the trainees filtered out.
As I stepped outside the main gate, I felt strange and instinctively looked back.
Perhaps it was because it was the end, but looking back, it wasn't that bad.
It wasn't as hard as I expected, and I was able to meet Old Man Daph often for drinks.
Well, that was only possible because I coasted through more than half the semester with self-study.
'Are you actually sad to leave after singing about wanting to quit for so long?'
Sad? My foot.
It was a nightmare being here.
Let's never meet again, Belliard Academy.
****
Phew, the cleaning is finally done.
I finally came home, only to spend the whole day cleaning.
Thanks to the Village Chief's management, there were no cobwebs, but since no one had lived here, there was quite a bit of dust accumulated in the hidden corners.
I skipped dinner and, too lazy to bathe, handled it simply with magic before taking off my prosthetic arm and lying on the bed.
Just lying there brought a smile to my face.
The academy dormitory had much better facilities, but home is still the best.
Tomorrow, I should do some shopping and go greet the villagers.
Now that I think about it, the Village Chief was shocked when I went to get the key and told him I had quit.
He seemed to think I'd been fired, but I didn't care.
Whether I was fired or quit, the point is I'm home.
Vowing to do absolutely nothing and rest completely for the next month, I was about to turn off the light and sleep, but the magic lamp flickered out before I could even inject mana.
Is it broken?
I have plenty of time now, so I can just fix it tomorrow.
I dismissed it as nothing and closed my eyes, but just before falling asleep, I heard a knock at the door and felt a presence outside.
It wasn't that late, but who could it be when the lights were off?
At first, I wondered if it was the Village Chief, but I felt two presences outside.
Did he come with his wife?
The Village Chief's wife was generous and often brought over food.
I was in my pajamas, but I was too lazy to change.
Since it was just the two of them, it didn't matter, so I got up and headed for the entrance.
"Shine, are you sure we've come to the right place?"
"I'm sure. When I asked the Village Chief, he said this was Instructor Bio's house... Yes, this is it."
From the voices beyond the door, I knew it wasn't the Village Chief and his wife, but I opened the door anyway and... what?
Am I dreaming right now?
"Nice to meet you, Instructor Bio. Since the light was off, I thought you weren't here, but you were?"
'This is not a dream.'
Seeing Ark speak, I knew it was reality, but now wasn't the time for thoughts; I immediately bowed low.
"Baronet Bio Rain greets Her Imperial Highness Helena, the 8th Imperial Princess of the Beluga Empire."