53
Chapter 53
Everyone seemed exhausted from the first day; aside from the sentries, they all fell fast asleep.
I scanned the surroundings once more, but there were no unusual signs other than the trainees and the monsters.
The place where I met the silver-haired woman was quiet, and there were no messages through the crystal balls shared among the managers.
There's no way they're just sitting tight.
Maybe they're laying low after hearing that the academy's field training is underway?
I don't think they fear the academy instructors or the Southern Legion's troops, but having too many eyes around would be a nuisance.
That would be a relief... my foot. How frustrating.
If I'd known they'd be this quiet, I wouldn't have joined the training from the very first day.
They say an unlucky man breaks his nose even when falling backward; that sounds exactly like me.
I returned to the stream where May was, and then I noticed something.
"Oh? I thought you were asleep, Instructor. Where have you been?"
It seemed May was the sentry for this shift.
"Patrolling the area. I cannot disclose the results."
"I wasn't planning on asking."
Usually, she would have said something like 'That's okay' or 'Oh, I see,' but her tone today had a bit of an edge to it.
Ah! Is she still pouting over what happened during dinner?
In that case, I might as well keep it up.
"I think it's time for a midnight snack."
I moved part of the campfire next to the field tent closer to May and used Subspace Magic.
I set up a camping chair and table, placed a plate on top, and lined up biscuits coated in chocolate.
May pretended not to look, but she kept stealing glances.
Next, I brought out some metal skewers and marshmallows.
I skewered the white marshmallows and used telekinesis to hold them over the fire, rotating them slowly.
The fire was strong, so they browned evenly in a minute. I placed each one on a biscuit and topped it with another.
As I took a bite, the sweetness of the crunchy biscuit blended with the gooey marshmallow and chocolate in a perfect harmony... though it was far too sweet.
I'm not even a fan of sweets; I only prepared this to tease her.
Now she was just staring openly.
"In... Instructor, what is that?"
"It's a dessert called a s'more, popular in the West of the Sumatra Kingdom."
I answered and took another bite.
The marshmallow stretched out like melted cheese.
It looked great, but the feeling of it sticking to my teeth wasn't pleasant.
I might have used too much chocolate, as it melted and smeared all over my hands, making it a bit messy to eat.
"......Is it good?"
"I craved something sweet, so I made these, but they're almost too sweet. I'll have one and save the rest for..."
I was about to say I'd eat them later, but May looked so desperate that I gestured for her to come closer.
"Want a bite?"
"No...."
"Suit yourself."
When I pretended to pack things away, May finally reached out.
"I... I'm just curious about the taste, so please give me a little."
A poor excuse.
The marshmallows seemed to have cooled, so I toasted them again to make a fresh s'more.
She thanked me with a stutter.
Upon taking a bite, May's already large eyes widened even further, becoming as round as saucers.
"I've never had anything this delicious. I think it's even better than the hot chocolate you gave me last time."
What a fuss.
It was obvious she loved them, so I considered giving her one more, but decided to pack up instead.
"You're packing up? I'd be the happiest person alive if I could have just one more... Ouch!"
I gave a little flick to her forehead instead of another s'more for trying to sneakily ask for more.
"Since Trainee May accepted food from her instructor, you've been penalized 3 points."
"What? But you're the one who told me to try it!"
May looked completely wronged.
"I only offered it to test your mental fortitude, Trainee May."
No matter how much of a favorite she was, I couldn't show blatant favoritism as an instructor.
"Um, Instructor, since I've already lost points, couldn't you just make me one more? I think it's way tastier than the hot chocolate you gave me during break."
She was completely hooked.
"I gave you that hot chocolate so Arin and Sia could have some too."
"No, that's not..."
"It's fine as long as you all shared. But no more s'mores. Do you want to double your penalty?"
"N-no, sir."
"Focus on your sentry duty. If you slack off, your fellow trainees will be in danger."
"Yes..."
Hearing her lifeless response, I momentarily regretted not just making her one more.
I watched the campfire for a while, and just as I was about to head in and sleep, May approached me again.
"Instructor, there's something I'm curious about."
"I thought I told you no questions..."
"It's not about the field training."
Not about the training?
"Go ahead."
"I'm curious why you came back to the academy."
Was my explanation last time not enough?
No, come to think of it, I've never actually explained it to her properly.
I'd vaguely brushed it off with some ridiculous excuse in the classroom, but that probably didn't work on her.
May believed I had left because I was disappointed in the academy and the students.
I had been similarly vague when I delivered the letter to Imperial Princess Helena.
"Why the curiosity? Don't tell me you were expecting a new instructor and are disappointed that your boring old one is back?"
"T-that's not it! I... I..."
"You what?"
"I thought about how much I wanted you to come back. How could you say such a thing...?"
May looked truly heartbroken, her eyes welling up with tears.
Of course, I knew she didn't actually think that.
I was just teasing, but maybe I went too far?
"Shortly before the semester started, I went home and checked my mail."
"And...?"
"I received quite a few letters."
"What? I only sent one."
May looked surprised.
"They came from other trainees as well. At first, I thought you had told everyone that I was quitting."
"I didn't! I didn't meet any of the other students during the break."
She sounded genuinely offended.
"I know. They weren't letters begging me to stay, just ordinary letters asking how I was."
"...Is that why you came back?"
I nodded instead of answering.
It was partly to help Imperial Princess Helena, but I couldn't deny that the students played a big part in my return.
"I told you, didn't I? All the students like you."
"I am well aware that I'm handsome."
'Did he eat something wrong?'
"Yes. You're the most wonderful man I've ever known."
That was unexpected.
Honestly, I was just joking, but May is truly May.
'See that? That's my influence.'
'You just manipulated her into praising you.'
'What do you mean? I didn't even touch her. What praise?'
'...I'm not even going to bother.'
"Um, Instructor, then why did you say those things earlier?"
"What things are you referring to?"
"The part where you said I didn't miss you."
Is she still upset?
"The other trainees probably stayed silent because they didn't know, but you knew everything and still didn't ask me to return, did you?"
"You said you were disappointed and hurt by the trainees, so how could I possibly ask you to come back...?"
When she puts it that way, she has a point.
"You can, May."
"What?"
Even back when I was barely teaching and trying to find any excuse to leave the academy, May had always believed in me and called me her instructor.
I told her I was going to sleep, ruffled the confused girl's hair, and stepped into my tent.
'I think May likes you.'
'Of course she does. I made her an Expert and got her to rank 3rd in Greeta...'
'...Whatever. Just get some sleep.'
I pretended not to understand Ark's words, but I actually knew what he meant.
Even if I've never dated in my life, I'm not so blind that I can't tell the difference between respect and affection.
In fact, when I was stranded in the desert because of Evankel's ruins, May was the person I thought of the most.
I kept thinking about her expression and the way her shoulders slumped as she walked away when I told her I'd quit.
But May's current feelings might just be a misunderstanding because I've helped her so much.
Even if she's one of the older trainees, there's still a significant age gap between us.
To begin with, romance between a trainee and an instructor is strictly forbidden.
Not to mention, May and I already had a scandal...
Well, if her feelings remain the same after she graduates from the academy, then I might seriously consider...
'Still awake?'
'I'm trying to be.'
I think staying awake is just leading me to idle thoughts.
I used magic to quickly wash up and changed my clothes.
Just as I was about to get into my sleeping bag, I felt a vibration from my discarded clothes.
I pushed the fabric aside to find my crystal ball glowing blue and vibrating.
As I poured mana into it, Instructor Amelia's face appeared.
"Instructor Amelia? What's happening at this hour?"
"We just received word from the instructors in the city; apparently, a massive fire has broken out."
A fire? Out of nowhere?
Could it be that their target wasn't the Creta Forest, but the city itself?
Then why the forest...?
"Please give me a detailed explanation."
"It's not a natural fire. It won't go out, and they suspect terrorism. The other instructors have ordered that the training be halted, so please come to the entrance."
"Understood."
I changed back into my clothes and woke the sleeping students, leading them toward the entrance.
Though they were full of complaints, everyone followed orders once I informed them of the terrorism in the city.
I dealt with the Goblins and Kobolds that tried to approach us along the way, given the urgency of the situation.
"What's with the Ranger Class instructor?"
"Now that's what a real Ranger looks like."
"Quit chatting and keep moving, everyone."
After waiting a bit at the entrance, the rest of the training group joined us.
As I had noticed earlier, it seemed the Exile bastards hadn't made any moves within the forest.
As soon as we gathered, the Southern Legion troops insisted they had to handle it since Creta Island was in the South, and they left.
Because of that, Amelia and I were left in charge of the 280 trainees.
"I'll take care of the female trainees... do you have something to say?"
"Instructor Amelia."
"Yes?"
"I believe I need to head out as well."
"Instructor Bio is leaving too? Then I'll have to handle all the trainees by myself...?"
"The terrorists' target seems to be the city, so this area shouldn't be very dangerous. Contact me if anything happens."
Instructor Amelia looked slightly anxious but eventually nodded.
"All trainees are now under the command of Instructor Amelia. Since this is suspected terrorism, refrain from any independent action."
I shouted the order to all the students and sprinted toward the city.
The acrid smell grew stronger as I drew closer.
Is the fire still burning?
I was stunned when I arrived at the city.
I had expected the entire city to be engulfed in flames, but only a few skyscrapers were on fire.
The reason for my shock was the color of the flames.
That White Flame devouring the buildings was far too familiar.
White Phosphorus Flame Bombs.
These are specialized explosives used only by the Beluga Intelligence Agency, combining rare materials and magic to create an inextinguishable White Flame.
My heart began to race.
The Old Man said he'd arrive tomorrow, and while he could have sent an agent ahead, a Black Agent wouldn't cause a fire like this.
These bombs are so strictly managed within the agency that even I had barely touched them during my active duty.
If these bombs were used for terrorism, there was only one answer.
There was a high probability that Zero, the man who cut off my arm, was nearby.
Wizards were continuously casting water magic, but the fire showed no sign of dying down.
The White Flame cannot be extinguished with water.
I almost stepped out immediately, but I first found a secluded alley to put on my mask and change into my black uniform.
If I acted as an academy instructor and drew suspicion, I could put the academy and the trainees in danger.
I might be mistaken for a terrorist myself, but the Vicious Exile bastards would likely be watching from somewhere.
I checked my gear, rolled up my sleeves, and activated the Image Effect on my arm.
Since it would look like a perfectly normal arm, no one would suspect it was me.
I left the alley and headed straight for the fire scene where the crowds were being controlled.
As expected, the troops controlling the perimeter surrounded me in a circle.
They seemed to be Viscount Lapierre's men, mixed with some from the Southern Legion who had arrived earlier.
"Who are you?"
"Identify yourself."
I spoke calmly to the guarded soldiers.
"I am from the Beluga Empire Intelligence Agency."