Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Return to Everyday Life
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“Hey, what was that thing this morning?”
“How should I know? I thought a volcano had erupted or something.”
As usual, in the classroom where bright sunlight filtered in.
I was stifling the sleepiness creeping up on me while eavesdropping on the unusually lively chatter around me.
‘It really did erupt, though...’
There were no volcanoes on Avillon Island, yet someone thought one had gone off.
That student was probably just making a playful joke...
-“Ahem... Hey, everyone? Don’t you need to listen to class today? So, please take your seats~”
-“What about you, Chancellor...?”
-“Ahaha~ I still have some business with this shorty here~”
-“Wh-what business? I have nothing to discuss with a witch like you!”
Regrettably, something far more ferocious than any volcano had exploded—the Chancellor’s rage.
‘Serves you right for poking at her temper like that...’
Even though her eyes twitched and her expression nearly cracked with laughter until the very end.
But the moment Michellan called her an “old hag”...
Just recalling that face made chills creep up all over my body.
After that, all I remembered were massive explosions interspersed with bursts of flame rising into the air.
And even from quite a distance away, the faint, agonized screams that reached my ears...
“Hmm... I wonder if he’s still alive.”
It was enough to briefly halt our heartless departure.
Of course, it was also a moment that made me realize my fear outweighed any pity.
In any case, as I passed the time watching students trickle into the classroom one by one.
Lea appeared at the front door, her hair a disheveled mess.
“Yaaawn... So sleepy...”
She couldn’t hide her exhaustion either, her eyes half-closed in a pitiful pout.
Her usual vibrant energy was gone; she trudged in, all limp and droopy.
“Ehehe, morning...”
Yet when she approached me and flashed that beaming smile.
Lea’s adorable state made laughter bubble up uncontrollably.
“Ugh... I didn’t get a wink of sleep.”
“Huh? But didn’t we have plenty of time?”
“We did, but... I had a feeling I’d oversleep...”
Lea naturally claimed the seat next to mine and slumped her body down.
The warm sunlight made her drowsy; she buried her upper body on the desk with a gooey expression.
Even so, she sent over a clear voice with a strange little smile.
“But it was so much fun, no regrets...”
“Ahaha, you look way too sleepy for that.”
“Ugh, that’s not true...”
Her words and actions didn’t match at all, so I teased her playfully.
Her puffed-up cheeks and sulky face were utterly cute.
“Mm... I had no idea the Chancellor and Michellan knew each other.”
“Yeah... Wonder when they met. They seemed surprisingly close.”
“Cl-close... is that okay?”
Well, that much was true...
I knew the Chancellor had impressive connections, but I hadn’t expected this level.
I vaguely recalled hearing that Michellan was nearly 200 years old from some offhand comment.
Just what was the Chancellor’s true identity, treating someone like him so casually...
“At least with the Chancellor there, I feel relieved.”
“Huh? Relieved how?”
“Since it’s our first time meeting... I was nervous handing over the bracelet you gave me...”
Lea sat up straight, stretched languidly, and continued.
She must have been worried about losing the gifted bracelet.
Thanks to the Chancellor, she seemed reassured, letting out a sigh of relief.
“Ugh... My wrist feels so empty...”
“Ahaha, she said she’d return it soon. Just wait a bit.”
“Tch, that’s not what I meant...”
Lea pouted, stroking her pale white wrist.
Then her delicate fingers crept slyly toward my left hand.
Tap tap.
Her hand tickled the back of mine lightly, sending a subtle signal.
...She wants to hold hands?
As I didn’t react, Lea’s gaze grew sharper and sharper.
Her hand roamed freely over my left one, playing pranks here and there, until I finally grasped it.
Smoothly,
She finally burst into a bright, innocent smile.
“Ehehe, now I’m a little satisfied!”
“Ahaha... Glad to hear it.”
“Especially since that ring’s gone. It was really... bothering me.”
Smoothly, smoothly,
Lea stroked my ring finger with a peculiar smile.
The [Blessing of Miruen] that Serin had personally slipped on my finger.
Having helped me so much while we were together, its absence left a strange emptiness—and an odd feeling.
-“Hmm~ Hey, Rowen? Why not leave that ring with this guy?”
-“...Pardon?”
-“The mana’s faint, and the engraving’s badly damaged. No major issues, but... it’d be better to polish it up~”
I never imagined the day would come when my favorite’s personally given ring would be removed...
But I’d handled it too roughly, and it was damaged. What could I do?
At least it was a relief that I’d get it back in a day or two.
Seeing how anxious and fidgety I was.
The Chancellor finally chuckled and promised to fix it as quickly as possible.
-“Ahaha, don’t worry too much~ I’ll get it done fast?”
-“...Why are you deciding that?”
-“...Hey, just fix it like I tell you to.”
-“......”
Of course, Michellan faced some playful blackmail along the way.
But in the end, everyone got a satisfactory outcome, right?
As I chatted idly with Lea like that.
Rattle!
The door opened, and Serin entered the classroom.
As always, her poised yet cool demeanor.
Serin boasted ink-black hair and bewitching red eyes.
‘It’s been forever...’
After midterms ended, I’d been stuck in the infirmary for a while.
Not seeing Serin that whole time made the joy of reunion feel doubled now.
“Everyone, quiet. I’ll start taking attendance.”
Flip,
Her captivating voice recited names along with the rustle of the roster.
Familiar names passed by, then close ones like Dores and Lea.
“...”
At the bottom of the list.
Serin’s gaze seemed to linger on the very last name.
“...Rowen.”
Uncharacteristically, her expression held worry as she called attendance.
Well... she hadn’t visited me once, so it was natural she’d be concerned.
Even hearing updates, she’d only gotten word that I was improving bit by bit.
The midterms at Avillon Academy, the empire’s top academy.
A demon appearing in the safest exam hall.
I could imagine how busy she, the Imperial Knight Commander, must have been.
Even a minor variable could spark massive chaos.
Let alone a demon brazenly assaulting a student in the exam room.
Class after class, she must have scoured the empire and academy to hunt it down.
As Serin let out a small sigh and closed the roster.
A ticklish feeling stirred in a corner of my heart, and I replied with genuine gladness.
“Here, Professor Serin.”
Did my joy reach her?
She snapped her head up, her gaze locking onto me.
For a long moment, Serin stared blankly, her face cycling through worry, relief, joy, longing— a mix of emotions.
“...Yes, it’s been a while.”
Finally, she exhaled softly in relief, a faint smile forming.
Forcing her lingering gaze away, she began the lesson.
Feeling that strange satisfaction, I tried to focus on Serin’s long-missed class.
Then, from the seat right beside me—where Lea clearly sat—a chilling voice whispered.
“...Rowen, what’s your relationship with her?”
“...Huh?”
Tap tap...
Even though she whispered softly with a smile.
For some reason, my instincts kept blaring alarms.
Smoothly,
Her fingers, which had been tapping my hand, now boldly seized it.
A warm yet somehow chilling tension flowed through our hands.
“...Last time, you said you weren’t anything special, right?”
“...”
“These days, even without a relationship, people exchange those affectionate looks, huh.”
Squeeze...
A soft, warm, satisfying sensation.
I knew I should deny it, make excuses...
But an inexplicable urge to stay still overwhelmed me.
And, as if by fateful prank, Serin’s icy gaze turned toward us.
Receiving it, Lea wore an oddly satisfied expression for some reason.
“...”
“...”
Scary...
‘...What is this feeling?’
Standing at the podium, Serin recalled the scene she’d just witnessed.
Rowen’s innocent smile and pure joy at seeing her.
It had tickled a corner of her heart, so she’d averted her gaze with effort...
Smoothly,
Serin opened her tightly shut eyes.
What entered her view was utterly unbelievable.
Her disciple, who had always obeyed her words with pure loyalty and possessed shining azure hair...
Was now carefully glancing at Serin while blushing deeply.
Moreover, the ring she’d given him was gone.
His ring finger, which had filled her with subtle satisfaction just looking at it, was empty.
‘You promised to look only at me...’
Rowen slipping the ring on shyly with a tentative voice.
Even if it was just a formal vow.
They had promised to look only at each other...
“...”
Yet there he was, nestled in the arms of her own student, Lea.
‘B-but why do I keep...’
Serin, who had always viewed student romances extremely negatively.
For her, this scene should have been disappointing.
Yet for some reason, an exhilarating, inexplicable emotion surged within her.
Thus, unaware of her own secret tastes.
Serin spent the entire lecture gripped by a strange, constricting feeling in her chest.