How Did You Live Like That?
"But first, there's something we need to take care of."
Bow.
But before any of that, Laval bowed his head to me in apology.
"Lord Laval—?!"
"First off, I'm sorry for everything, Joseph."
Why? I'd have to hear the reason to know, but for an elder and my guardian to do this... The Confucian instincts ingrained in me from my past life were recoiling in discomfort?
"What's with the sudden—?!"
"It's about the full-time professor thing."
Ah. That...
"You were supposed to go in as a swordsmanship specialist from the start—that's what I requested from the academy too. But the moment they heard it was you coming, the principal switched it to full-time on his own. I only found out later."
"……"
"I know full well that compared to other orthodox nobles, I can't wield real power in the imperial capital. But to ignore me so blatantly like this... It stings my pride more than I expected, and I didn't have the face to see you."
"How is that Lord Laval's fault...? It's fine..."
"In the end, without roots, this is what happens. Even with a ducal title, you can't conjure up a foundation out of thin air."
It seemed he really wanted to apologize for that fact. Well, I'd already accounted for it from the beginning. Since none of this was what Lord Laval intended, what did it matter to me?
And yet, here he was—not staying at the ducal mansion, coming all this way to see me, and bowing his head to his junior like this. I was the one feeling embarrassed now.
"Aigoo..."
So I just stayed quiet, watching him bow his head.
The reason he'd become such a powerless duke... Maybe I knew it better than anyone?
Long ago, back in the days when tigers smoked and Lord Laval was charging around as the hero.
Every time we wrapped up a mission and stopped by the capital for reports, he'd always stand right up to the emperor like this.
'Oh, my dear hero and his comrades. I too have heard the tales of your valor echoing from the western plains.'
'Thank you, Your Majesty.'
'If there's anything you desire, speak it. I shall reward you personally.'
'Is that so? Then this Laval Lagrange requests a vast tract of land near the capital for a new villa.'
'—Hahaha!! What bold ambition. Very well, it is yours!'
Sometimes gold, sometimes land, sometimes medals. So worldly. It didn't exactly fit the image of a world-saving hero, did it?
So one day, I asked him.
'Lord Laval.'
'What is it, Joseph?'
'...You always demand such worldly things. Honestly, I'm worried. What if you fall out of the emperor's favor?'
'Hahaha, you don't know the half of it.'
But then.
Laval said this.
'...I'm only telling you this, but they'll never let me in anyway.'
'Pardon?'
'The capital's a cesspool. No matter the hero title, they're not bringing in a provincial noble like me. They might act impressed on the surface, but in the end, they'll shut me out.'
'Uh... uh-huh...'
'I get why you'd feel bad about it. It's not like I don't know how to play the noble hero.'
His worries ran so deep back then.
'...But what if I actually slay the Demon King with you? You think the emperor would treat us the same then?'
'—No. We'd definitely get the boot. Once the rabbit's caught, they boil the hound.'
'Exactly. You get it. That's why I'm acting like this from the start—to slip out of the emperor's watchful eye.'
'Ah.'
I'd misunderstood a bit, thinking he was oblivious to the risks. But he knew his place better than anyone.
'No one fears a controllable pawn. So I have to look utterly greedy, calculating... easy to read. Plant myself there, and protect everyone. My family, my house, you. All of it.'
And so, Lord Laval spent his life pretending to be full of desire. Pretending to be human, pretending to be a subordinate the emperor could control at will. It had worked so far—he'd gotten the ducal title after slaying the Demon King and lived diligently.
But when the backlash hit me like this, he couldn't stand it and came rushing over, face full of shame.
Damn it. Seriously.
"...Lord Laval!"
"Y-You're mad after all, aren't you?"
"No."
This was my honest truth. Knowing how he'd lived all these years, after all the grace he'd shown me—how could I be angry at him? Without this man, I'd have been a street rat as a kid and now.
I owed him big time.
At that, Laval flashed his usual faint smile.
"Good, that's a relief. You look ten years younger."
"If anything, thinking I'd get mad over this is what's off."
"No, I figured you'd be pissed nine times out of ten... Even asked my daughter, and she'd say the same."
Only then did Laval finally snatch the glass from me and down it, pausing for a beat.
"So, about that thing you wanted to talk about..."
"Yes, skip the apologies and tell me. What made you come all this way?"
"At today's imperial council, His Majesty brought you up."
…….
….
….
Fuck!
"Why?!"
"Heard you joined as the full-time professor for Mist Flower Class?"
"Why?!"
"He praised how you stopped the duel between Lady Einheart and Grand Duchess Pernov in one go. Then asked if you're doing well."
"What'd you say?"
"Something vague, that you're fine. Didn't want to put you in a spot."
I stared at the ceiling.
Haaa...
Why, you ask? My gut was right. The emperor mentioning my name meant getting dragged into the vortex of intrigue. I'd retired to avoid the politics and survival games.
And now, teaching this problem class pulls me right back in.
"You look lost in thought. Coming back to the capital's complicating things, huh?"
"Yeah, exactly... This shouldn't have happened. That's why I still can't forgive that Orlan bastard."
Hahaha.
"It's nothing for now, so don't worry too much. His Majesty's just taking interest again—not like he's plotting something right away."
No way. How could he, after we both spun the same hamster wheel under him... He'd know better than anyone.
"But interest can turn into anything anytime. What if he suddenly summons me to the palace?"
"That's why I'm here."
Laval stood.
"I know I've already slipped up once and you're doubting me, but I'll block what I can to let you live quietly here."
Aigoo. Aigoo...!
Bro! Thanks. Wanna crawl between your legs?
"But in return."
However, Laval said calmly. But with a voice full of sincerity.
"Take care of our Sion. She's under His Majesty's watch too... Protect her."
His words made my blood boil.
The emperor taking interest in me and Mist Flower Class naturally meant his daughter, Lagrange's duchess-to-be, was in view too.
So as a father, he was leaning on me. I was closer to the palace than he was, after all.
"Say no more, or it'll be nagging. She's already stuck to me like glue."
Then I'd do my duty.
What wouldn't I do for my benefactor's daughter?
"Of course you will. She's liked you since she was little. Hell, I could even arrange a marriage after graduation, so take good care of her."
But the moment I heard that, my face froze.
...Pardon? What?
"D-Don't be ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous how?"
"It's already too late for that—what marriage talk?!"
"Hey, with you, any tears I'd shed would be real ones, that's why I said it."
"Shut up. Ugh, you really just got old..."
"Hahaha—! Think it over. Anyway, how about we hit a tavern tonight?"
"Worried about your wife?"
"She'll be fine."
"...Then lead the way."
And so, I accepted Lord Laval's invitation after ages, swapped stories, and the next day arrived.
Yesterday's meeting meant a lot to me. Not even the hangover could shatter my reason.
'Sniff sniff...'
Though the booze lingered a bit.
Anyway, per Lord Laval... The emperor had clocked Mist Flower Class, right?
And because of Irina and Zigrinde's duel, no less.
In other words, dragging this out wouldn't help. The class was already branded trouble, and failing to rein it in would look bad.
"Whoa, full house. After just three days?"
So today, before heading to work, I swung by Zigrinde's detention cell, picked something up, then...
"Student Irina."
"Oh, Professor. Good morning!"
"Got a moment?"
"Of course."
I quietly called her over in the hallway and moved to a quiet end of the corridor.
The instant we got there, I handed her the thick stack of papers I'd brought from morning.
"This is...?"
"Take a look."
"......Good lord."
About ten pages—this was Zigrinde's earnestly scribbled apology letters from detention.
The handwriting was pretty, but the content was a mess. Still, you could tell she meant it, at least enough to be readable.
...Seeing that, I realized even that mad dog Zigrinde knew to read the room and apologize. Surprising, but glad too.
But my personal satisfaction didn't matter.
What counted was turning Irina's heart.
The magnanimous girl I knew wouldn't be merciless.
"—Looks like Zigrinde put real thought into this. She wanted me to pass it to you, so I brought it straight from detention."
"……."
The issue was Irina staying unusually silent, poring over it carefully.
...Well, understandable. As a grand duchess, she'd lost face. Big time. Worth thinking seriously about.
And right then.
Irina broke the silence.
"Heh. As expected of our professor—you even heard Zigrinde's side."
"Naturally. She was dead wrong, and it was grave rudeness to you, Grand Duchess... But she's my student too."
"Your fairness is admirable. No wonder I like you, Professor."
Aigoo. I see.
"How about this, then, Professor."
"What?"
She placed one hand on her hip, lifted the apology stack with the other, eyes gleaming.
"Rematch."
"Oh ho."
"Under your supervision, let us have an honorable rematch. Do that, and win or lose, I'll speak favorably for Zigrinde."
"Fine attitude?"
"Of course. Just as you care because she's in our class, I'm class rep—I can't abandon her."
Whoa. I always thought Sion was our class rep.
But this side of Irina? Total material.
Perfect. Love the boldness. You've earned it.
"But Irina."
"Yes, Professor."
"I can't allow that."
"Why?"
Why? Obvious.
"Skill gap's too clear. Fight like this, and you'll get crushed like last time."
"Eek—!"
"Nothing more boring than a fight with a known outcome, right?"
So Irina flushed beet red in an instant. Her usual bravado vanished, eyes quaking at her sore spot.
But hear me out.
"So, I'll train you personally."
"P-Professor...!"
"Might as well go all out. Get you in top shape, Irina, and beat Zigrinde."
Then.
Irina... grinned ear to ear, like she couldn't believe it.
"Y-You'll really do that?!"
"Obviously. I believe in you, class rep."
"Heh... heheheheh... hehehehehehe—!!"
Her fighting spirit burned brighter than anyone's.