I Became the Homeroom Teacher of the Villains (2)
"Teacher, don't get sick—stay healthy, alright~."
"Thank you for your hard work."
I waved to the coachman as he departed, still spouting that crisp dialect to the end, then looked up at the full view of Mershu Academy.
"It's exactly like the illustrations."
Well, it was the same place, so that was to be expected.
The academy's exterior matched what I remembered perfectly. If there was any difference from the black-and-white illustrations, it was that the real thing felt even more majestic.
The pure white academy, dotted with countless spires, was more than enough to overwhelm anyone who beheld it.
Indeed, as the setting described, it was the continent's largest academy, where all the talents of the land gathered.
Its infrastructure was among the best anywhere on the continent.
This is the stage for Part 1 of Steel Flower.
Steel Flower was a lengthy novel, up to four parts in my memory, still ongoing.
Of those, this academy was the setting for Part 1, chronicling the growth of the protagonist's party and the villains.
"Are you Teacher Otto?"
"That's right."
As I stepped down from the carriage, a cheerfully smiling man approached me.
To think I'd get to see this face in person.
"Hello! I'm Guide, in charge of orientation at Mershu Academy!"
"Nice to meet you, Teacher Guide."
"Huh? You know my name? Most people don't think of 'guide' as a name."
As if I wouldn't know.
He was the first person the protagonist met in the original story.
I might not remember every detail, but the early scenes were crystal clear in my mind.
In the original, the protagonist didn't realize "Guide" was a name and had to ask.
"I'm pretty quick on the uptake."
"I can see that. I'm jealous—I'm always getting called clueless."
Just like in the original, Guide was famous for being a lovable klutz.
He had a decent role size too. And like something out of a romance fantasy, he was annoyingly handsome.
Guide flashed another bright smile and said,
"I'll be showing you around the academy today, Teacher Otto. Anywhere in particular you're curious about?"
"Curious spots..."
I glanced around Mershu Academy.
If I had the time, I'd love to stroll leisurely, heal my soul a bit, maybe bump into some original characters by chance.
But no time for that now.
Abel Lilith.
The original didn't detail it, but I was half-convinced the teacher she killed was me.
The small comfort was that, unlike the nameless "Otto" who didn't even appear in the story, I knew all about those kids in detail.
"Take me to the Shopping District, Guide."
"That's the farthest spot. Wouldn't it be better to see other places on the way?"
"I need to buy something. Fastest route, please."
"Alright then..."
"Oh, and Guide."
"Yes?"
I grabbed Guide's hand.
Guide's face flushed red in an instant.
...Why the hell is this guy blushing like that?
Feeling some indescribable emotion, I bowed my head and pleaded,
"Stick with me all day today, okay?"
"...Pardon?"
This was the moment to flail for survival.
▶
The Old School Building was nearly deserted.
Abel giggled as she poked at the paper a pigeon had delivered to her door.
"He came after all."
She crumpled the notice ordering her—the homeroom teacher for the problem children—to be in the classroom at the designated time, rolling around on her bed.
It even had a cheeky warning about extra penalty points for no-shows.
She tossed the torn paper out the window when someone knocked on the wall.
Unlike the soundproof, secure New School Building, this ramshackle Old School Building—little more than huts slapped together—let sounds through easily.
A drowsy voice drifted in, one that made her feel languid just hearing it.
- What... are you gonna do...?
"I told you, Iruka. I have no intention of playing the academy's game."
- But if you don't go... expulsion... I can't get expelled... You'd be in trouble too, right, Abel...?
All the students gathered in this Old School Building had maxed-out penalty points, on the verge of expulsion and isolated as a result.
One more strike, as the notice said, and expulsion was certain.
From the girl named Iruka beyond the wall to Abel, Rise, and everyone else here—each had their reasons to avoid expulsion at all costs.
Yet Abel smiled leisurely.
"Don't worry. These are the traps we so diligently set up. If anything, the teacher will be the one late."
- True, but... what if he breaks through them all?
"No need to fret. My sources say he's a pathetic 2nd Circle mage at best. Getting here is impossible."
- 2nd Circle... Not even academy entry level. Why'd they assign a loser like that to us?
"Lost a faction fight, I suppose. Poor thing."
- Whatever... Too tired to care. Gonna sleep more.
"Hehe. Sweet dreams."
A thud echoed as the girl collapsed onto her bed.
Wasn't the soundproofing too bad? Still, this place beat that nauseating New School Building.
Abel glanced at the clock.
It was 2 p.m.
Assembly was at 2:30.
If the teacher didn't break through the forest in 30 minutes, he'd be late naturally.
They could just claim they left since the teacher was late and who knew when he'd show.
"Gotta collar him from the start to train him properly."
Everyone here was teetering on the penalty point cliff.
Handing initiative to the new teacher might let him wield expulsion power over them at will.
Abel had no intention of that, hence the scheme.
These were traps set by top-tier troublemakers over a week.
"Ahh, I wonder what state he'll show up in. Losing a limb would make him easier to handle."
Abel giggled at the delightful mental image.
She gathered faint mana in her hand and scattered it lightly.
Just to check the other rooms—no one had left; all were holding position.
Rise's room cut off with a spark of mana, but whatever.
Abel shook her hand in the air at the slight sting from the rebound.
"So prickly, as always."
First, break the teacher—then slowly train Rise into a loyal dog.
Confinement was a year.
Abel was confident she could make Rise hers in that time.
Not just Rise—all of the Old School Building's residents into faithful slaves.
Then she'd crush that student council president bitch.
"I wonder when he'll arrive."
Time flew, and 30 minutes later.
Abel beamed at the clock just shy of the mark.
"Just a nobody after all."
A low-rank bureaucrat who lost a power struggle.
Easy prey for Abel.
Now, how to cook him? As she plotted endless plans, the minute hand hit exactly on the hour—and a strange sound filled the Old School Building.
[Hoo—. Hoo—.]
"This is..."
Abel looked up.
The Old School Building's mana speakers were transmitting a man's voice.
"Strange. The notice clearly said everyone to be seated in the 1st-floor classroom by 2:30."
"How...?!"
The third floor—students' living quarters—grew noisy.
Everyone startled by the sudden broadcast.
"Everyone who doesn't want expulsion, assemble in the 1st-floor classroom immediately. Time starts from—"
Her plan ruined, Abel bit her lip.
She figured she'd go as late as possible for a power play, but the teacher declared solemnly.
"—now. You have 15 seconds."
"15 seconds...? You're joking...!"
Even with superhuman student physiques, from two floors up in the same building, 15 seconds meant full sprint.
[15.]
[14.]
[13.]
What to do? If she didn't go, expulsion—but blindly obeying hurt her pride—
Then—crash, thud, shatter.
Someone smashed through their door and bolted downstairs.
"Ughhh... running wakes me up..."
Even Iruka from next door was pounding down the hall.
[10.]
[9.]
[8.]
Time was nearly half gone—no normal way to reach the classroom now.
Cold sweat trickled down her neck.
Pride wouldn't save her from expulsion.
Abel made her choice.
"...Nngh!"
She wrapped her body in mana and hurled herself out the window.
No time to open it—she shattered the glass and plummeted from the third floor.
[7.]
[6.]
[5.]
"Damn it...!"
Seconds countable on one hand left.
The classroom was right ahead, but circling to the front door was impossible.
Again, Abel smashed a window with one hand and dove inside.
"Puhaha! What the hell is that look? Loser."
"Shut up, Rise. Not in the mood."
Apparently, she was the only one who'd struggled this much—everyone else was already seated.
Rise especially clutched her stomach, laughing at elegant, poised Abel's disheveled state.
Resisting the urge to punch that grinning face, Abel eyed the lectern.
An "adult" sat there.
The kind of adult Abel despised.
A man with somewhat gloomy, overcast eyes and plain features framed by black hair.
His presence carried an intimidating weight beyond mere size or age—Abel swallowed slightly.
"1. You barely made it."
"Hello, Teacher."
"...Property damage violates school rules too."
"Ah."
Abel froze.
Too focused on descending, she'd forgotten that basic fact.
Her mind went blank.
Expulsion like this? This ridiculously?
...If so, she'd kill the teacher to silence him—
"Eh, I'll let it slide this once. We'll be seeing plenty of each other. Take your seat, Abel."
"...Yes."
Abel sat.
"Kuhk... kuheheh...!"
"Rise."
"Kh, pfft. Kuhk...!"
Next to her, Rise gripped her stomach, tears welling as she laughed.
Abel opened her mouth to snap, but Otto was faster.
"I'll call roll now. No response means unexcused absence—keep that in mind."
Otto called names one by one.
"Iruka."
"...Yes."
The blue-haired girl with sleepy eyes mumbled into her pillow.
"Rise."
"Yeah, whatever."
The golden-haired beastkin girl with sharp eyes flipped him off.
"Hakan."
"Ohhh! Good day, Teacher! This must be the Lord's will too!"
"It's afternoon."
"Even that is the Lord's will...!!"
The white-haired boy in priest robes shot up from his seat.
"Riko."
"Ahaha♬ Nice to meet you, Teacher!"
The pink-haired girl beamed cheerfully.
"Serath."
"Speak not my name so freely, thou rogue."
The rose-red-haired girl scowled.
Finally, Otto's gaze fell on the still-flushed girl fuming with indignation.
Silver hair, red eyes.
A girl whose face already bore a hint of beauty.
Otto's expression didn't twitch.
"Abel."
"...Yes, Teacher."
"Good. All six confirmed present. Now, my introduction."
For some reason, the man stepped to the chalkboard—scratched with nail marks—and picked up chalk.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
White chalk raced across the dark board, perfectly forming letters.
My name is Otto Becker. From today, I am your homeroom teacher for the Special Class.
The man, Otto, eyed the students with impassive eyes.
"One year ahead. Let's get along."
Gold Moon.
The first day of what would be March on Earth.
Otto Becker had become the homeroom teacher of the villains.