Counseling (4): God is Dead
I glared at the goddamn moon that hadn't granted a single one of my desperate wishes.
Of course, it was daytime now, so the sun was glaring down at me instead, blasting its intense light as if wondering why I was staring.
"How can the world be this uncooperative?"
I recalled my counseling sessions with the kids.
Starting from Serath, whom I'd counseled the day after Iruka...
"I detest the lowly and ugly above all else in this world."
"...Uh, okay."
"Why do you think I am uncooperative with the academy? Simple. This academy is filled with hideous creatures like you."
"Let's proceed with the counseling—"
"I shall take my leave. Staying here any longer with such ugliness isn't worth the cheap tribute you offered."
Insulted for being ugly.
"Ehehe~ Thanks for the perfume, Teacher!"
"...Hey, what about the counseling?"
"Ah, I'm kinda busy right now! I'll come back later! Oh, and I'll put it to good use!"
Grabbed the perfume and bolted.
"Do you believe in the Lord, Brother Otto?"
"No, I—"
"Do you believe in the omnipotent Lord who watches over us from the heavens above?!"
"Let's talk first—"
"Aaaah!! O Lord! Omnipotent and holy Lord! Behold, your children confess their sins!!"
Listened to praises of the Lord all day long.
"...Why hasn't this one shown up?"
Just snatched the meat and ran.
"...I miss Iruka."
I swallowed tears as I thought of Iruka, the only one in this old school building capable of actual 'conversation.' Who would've thought her frustrating sessions would be the most normal ones?
I laid my head on the pillow.
The cheap pillow's slightly hard texture enveloped my head.
'Give me back my pillow.'
'Didn't I give it to you?'
'...I lent it to you. Here, take this instead.'
The premium pillow Iruka had left behind not long ago had been snatched back by her the very next day. In exchange, I'd gotten the hard, standard-issue pillow rationed to Iruka whenever she came to the old school building.
Better than nothing.
I wanted to use what was practically a gift from Iruka to ease my fatigue a bit more, but sadly, there was no time for that.
From now on, I had to stay on maximum alert—no showing even a hint of weakness.
—Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the staff room door.
In this old school building, only one person was capable of such refined behavior.
"Come in."
"I hope you're well, Teacher."
With a ladylike greeting, Abel entered the room.
The space, which had held only one man, brightened instantly with her arrival.
Serath has a ladylike concept too, but she's more like a villainous noble lady.
Abel, on the other hand, appeared purely innocent and naive in both looks and demeanor.
Of course, her true nature was that of the real main villain, incomparable to Serath.
"Good morning, Abel."
"Good morning, Teacher Otto."
And she was one of the few—along with Riko—who actually called me 'Teacher.'
She seemed like the ideal student at first glance, but knowing her crimes, I couldn't let my guard down.
"You look a bit tired."
"Oh? Do I?"
"Your dark circles seem a little heavy."
"Oh dear. I stayed up all night looking forward to today's counseling."
Not pondering how to rip out my heart, right?
I nodded vaguely.
Abel puffed her cheeks at my half-hearted response, but I calmly ignored it and spread out the documents.
It was Abel Lilith's report card and student record.
Her grades were excellent.
A+ in every subject. The only blemish was an A in history—could you even call that a flaw?
Her student record was impeccable too.
The other kids had been confined to the old school building for things like 'poor grades,' 'assault,' 'habitual verbal abuse,' 'persecution of heretics,' and 'theft.'
Abel's reason for confinement? Nothing major.
'Inadaptation to classes.'
Ridiculous compared to the others— so minor it was baffling they'd confined her for it.
Of course, I knew why Abel had deliberately entered the old school building for such a trivial reason.
"Any inconveniences with old school building life?"
"Hmm... Not really? After being constantly crowded by people at the academy, it's nice to relax like this for almost a month."
"Good to hear."
"Hehe, it is nice. Any inconveniences for you, Teacher? This place must be less comfortable than the new building."
"...None in particular. Thanks for your concern."
Didn't expect her to worry about me.
Hearing actual concern for the first time since arriving in this world nearly brought tears to my eyes.
If it hadn't come from Abel, I might've really cried.
But I wasn't naive enough to show weakness before the lion plotting to devour me.
Stay sharp, Otto.
Don't forget the identity of the innocent-looking girl before you.
I recalled Abel's magic power.
Even in the original story's first part, the power that let her command hordes of minions and threaten the protagonist and student council president: Subordination.
Yes, Abel had infiltrated the old school building on purpose—to turn its delinquents into her puppets.
▶
'His guard is tighter than expected.'
Abel gazed at the teacher, who wore a stern expression.
Most teachers would soften and drop their guard at her bright smile alone, but not this one.
She couldn't help tilting her head at his serious face, as if facing not a student but a lion.
'I deliberately acted my age, and he still seems wary of me.'
She'd stomped her feet on purpose, shattered a window in feigned frustration over being late— all calculated.
...Really, all on purpose. Never a slip in emotional control.
He couldn't possibly know her true identity; it had to be pure instinct.
'More capable than I thought.'
Quite competent for a 2nd Circle trash mage.
From his skill handling people, to gathering intel on what students liked, to that unyielding intuition—Abel admitted he was a worthy target for subordination.
'And being 2nd Circle means no annoying procedures.'
Abel's unique magic power, Subordination, forced absolute obedience.
The stronger the target, the harder it was—requiring mental breaking or prolonged physical contact—but low-level mages below 2nd Circle fell with a mere gesture.
Abel's circle was a whopping 6th—kept secret as 3rd at the academy, but truly among its elite.
With only two 6th Circle teachers, her strength was prodigious for her age.
'I want him.'
Decision made, no need to hesitate.
"Teacher."
"Yes, Abel?"
"Would you look closely at this finger?"
Abel raised her finger.
The moment Otto's gaze naturally followed, she snapped it.
With a snap, mana swept through the room.
"...? What was that?"
"Hehe."
Abel looked at Otto.
He just sat there, puzzled, unmoving.
How cute. She loved these moments.
Look at the pitiful teacher, oblivious that he'd become her slave.
Unlike crude hypnosis or brainwashing that shattered personalities into slaves, her Subordination preserved everything—implanting one absolute 'truth' in the mind.
[I devote everything to Abel.]
Surely etched deep in his heart now. Abel commanded:
"Teacher? Stand up?"
"Alright. ...Ugh."
The teacher rose obediently at her word, as if it were natural.
But as he stood, he groaned in pain.
"Oh? Are you hurt somewhere?"
"...Iruka kicked me flying a while back."
"Oh? Iruka did? Surely you must've done something wrong. She's not the type."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"Ahaha."
Abel giggled merrily.
Daring to deny her words.
She couldn't help laughing at fools who chatted casually, unaware they'd become her slaves.
"Teacher. Kneel."
"..."
The man who'd just denied her dropped to his knees at a single gesture.
Abel laughed at fully subjugated Otto, then perched on the desk.
Still seated, she slowly removed her shoes, socks, and black stockings, revealing her pale bare legs and feet.
"Teacher."
Abel smiled seductively and extended her bare foot toward Otto.
"Lick."
She wouldn't normally go this far, but he deserved punishment for embarrassing her in front of the others.
I'll kick him right before his tongue touches, she thought with a grin.
"Huh?"
Something was off.
The teacher neither stuck out his tongue nor brought his face closer.
He just stared up at her with a rigid expression.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence hung between them.
Abel finally realized something was wrong.
"Um, Teacher?"
"Yes, Abel?"
"What am I to you...?"
Her hesitant question hung in the air.
Without permission, Otto stood up.
Stunned by the unimaginable turn, Abel was speechless.
Otto looked down at her and sighed, then lightly chopped her head with the side of his hand.
"Abel, never pull a stunt like this again."
"Kyaaack?!"
Abel's scream echoed through the staff room as she realized Otto wasn't under her control.