Chapter 45 - The Veil Has Meaning Precisely Because It Is a Veil. Actually, It's Tiel Kelga.
I hadn't meddled with her much. My inner motivation was always just to keep the students out of trouble and protect the hard-won rice bowl I'd finally grasped. From that perspective, honestly, she was the student least likely to explode right away, so I hadn't touched her much.
Looking back now on everything that's happened since I was assigned to Anemone Class… without my intervention, they all would have veered off in different directions. In extreme cases, they'd have converged toward mental breakdowns.
But Tiel? She was just like any other extra student, quietly going about her business. Eating well on her own, studying diligently… For someone in the problem-child class, she'd been remarkably well-behaved, hadn't she? She never even showed any desire for something from me like the others did.
On the contrary, I'd given her a decent evaluation in my mind as the kid who didn't bother me. And part of me was relieved about that. Because… truthfully, she might have been the trickiest one for me to handle.
This me. A male professor, that is.
…The condition for that thing inside her to explode is when Tiel can't regulate her inner peace.
But what was her state? I hadn't dug into it anyway, since I wasn't particularly interested. But she was a girl crossdressing as a boy, at least as far as I knew. And she hated above all else the idea of that fact being exposed to the world.
But if I, a man, got too chummy and approached her carelessly, then slipped up by implying I knew about it, making her anxious… In other words, if her peace shattered, then Tiel's "something" would erupt.
And what came after that? I didn't even want to imagine.
Well, let's see. In the original story, that bandaged arm of hers… just a brief proper outburst from whatever was inside had turned an entire administrative district to ash. Then she got sealed whole in the Aslan Empire's central temple, if memory served.
Mark my words: the moment she truly went off the rails, Tiel would become a far more terrifying time bomb than even Sion.
And yet, damn it all, here she was on the verge of exploding so stubbornly. I didn't know what had happened, but it was a headache. I had to stop this somehow.
So, watching Tiel groan in agony before me, I judged the situation coldly and clearly.
"………."
The stigmata etched across her body were convulsing. Her tiny frame, like a little kid's, trembled with some unknown anxiety. But was her life in danger?
No.
Was the convulsion worsening, then?
…It's not getting worse. If anything, it's subsiding.
Then… then… The only thing I, who had first discovered her in this state, could do wasn't drag her to the infirmary or something. It was just to give her time.
So, coronet in hand, I quietly knelt on one knee before Tiel.
"Tiel."
"P-Professor?!!"
And good lord, how long had I been there? She'd been struggling alone to wrap her bandages, oblivious to everything, but now she finally looked up, her blue eyes widening.
What to say about that expression? She couldn't accept the hulking man right in front of her, breathing raggedly in panic, her little head clearly spinning on how to deal with the aftermath. I could practically hear the gears turning from here.
But since I'd spoken to her, there was nothing more I could do. Looking closely, her ever-present bag was beside her, and it had spare bandages inside. I grabbed two with one hand and held them out to her.
"………."
Sure enough, her arm was glowing white from the convulsion. But because of that, something was unusually visible, unlike usual.
Self-harm scars…? Some still have scabs, so it's recent. …What's our Tiel student been going through?
On one hand, wondering what the hell she was doing to her arm; on the other, thinking it was only right to let her hide something like this. So, without acting like I'd noticed, I told her,
"—No rush, so wrap it all up and come out. I'll be waiting."
"…Ah, y-yes."
Of course, I wanted to wrap it for her. She looked too weak to even hold herself up right now. But if I did that and accidentally made physical contact… things could spiral out of control.
So, I chose the role of mere bystander, intending to help her handle everything on her own.
"If you ever need the professor for anything, just call right away."
"Y-Yes. Yes—."
I remembered the original description. Even if it was subsiding, a convulsion that bad must hurt like hell and be agonizing. But Tiel seemed to accept my concern for her as the right thing, replying in a voice choking back the pain.
Clunk—.
"Hoo."
Once outside, I let out a sigh that could have caved the ground. I ran a hand through my hair and dry-washed my face.
"—Thank goodness. Thank goodness. So damn lucky…."
The smell of burning mana had really startled me. But it seemed we could wrap this up without incident. If I hadn't arrived in time and Tiel exploded, or if some outsider had intruded and hurt the students… I couldn't even imagine how I'd go on living.
Being able to fix something is truly wonderful.
* * *
It wasn't long after. Well, that's what I wanted to say, but after anxiously checking my watch, exactly one hour and twenty minutes later…
Tiel timidly opened the warehouse door.
—Creeeak.
"…P-Professor."
Her arm was perfectly wrapped with the bandages I'd given her—this time, tightly. She always tied her long hair in a ponytail, but after that ordeal, she had no energy for it. Sweat-soaked strands hung loose as she gave me an awkward smile and approached.
Seeing her like this… yeah, she really was a girl. No makeup like the other academy girls, but you could tell instinctively from her build and frame.
"Are you alright?"
When I asked, Tiel replied as if unsure how to even respond.
"…Y-Yes. Thanks to you, Professor. The bandages… I couldn't get them out because it hurt so much. But you did, so I could…."
"I see. Can you make it to the infirmary, then?"
"N-No, that's okay…."
Yeah. The infirmary's too complicated with all its prying eyes, huh. Alright then.
"Got it. Head back to the school building and rest, then return to the dormitory at dismissal time."
"………."
"The professor will head out now. No big deal, so thank goodness."
"…Huh?"
As I turned to retrace my steps and finish my duties… Tiel hesitated, then chased after me with clear, purposeful strides.
"Um, Professor…?"
"Yes? More business?"
"—Uh, well. Um. Th-that—."
But as expected, it wasn't easy to spit it out. She just opened and closed her mouth, seemingly organizing her thoughts.
She looked a bit regretful for blurting it out impulsively. Then, suddenly, Tiel ran her hand over the bandage I'd given her.
And she spoke.
"Wh-why…."
"Pardon?"
"Why didn't you ask anything…?"
"………."
For her, this must have been baffling enough to demand an answer right here. Fair enough.
What I'd seen was her "something in the arm" that she desperately hid. And the secret she might have actively concealed—the crossdressing—that I'd surely glimpsed while helping.
Her expression upon seeing me, worrying those two things would be exposed? I'd read it plain as day.
But contrary to those worries, here I was, helping resolve it all then leaving without a word. How else would that look?
No special reason for my judgment, though.
"If I'd asked, would you have answered?"
Tiel shook her head.
"Then that's that."
Of course I was curious. What sudden mishap had disrupted her inner peace, causing this mana rampage? But.
But still. I didn't want to make this girl anxious.
She was one of my Anemone Class students, after all. If something happened she couldn't handle alone, I'd help anytime. But like with Lulua, unless she came to me herself, I wasn't one to meddle.
That was all it was.
I said,
"Just one thing, Tiel. You should carry more spare bandages from now on."
…Keep it light. For this girl, waiting patiently while gently coaxing her to open up would be enough. For now, that should suffice.
With that, I turned back down the path.
But because of it, I didn't see.
"……Professor."
How Tiel's slender eyes stayed fixed on my retreating back.