You Can't Escape, Teacher

"You can't escape. Teacher."

No way.

Was that the problem……?

So a "happy ending" means spoon-feeding her all the way to the end……

"……Ah."

I stared blankly into empty air. Job. Raising. It felt like someone had just smacked me upside the head.

That was it. Before she was a mental patient, Elara was a hero.

Simply overcoming her trauma and cuddling up with me was never this game's ending.

Her stepping back out into the world and completing the hero's duty that had ground to a halt—

That was the true condition for a Happy Ending.

"Ha…… fucking hell, there's so much work left."

I let out a long sigh and closed the gallery window.

"First things first, I should step outside, take a walk, and look over the mansion."

Nothing was going to happen if I just sat still.

I needed to get outside and start observing my surroundings.

The moment I left the room, the corridor looked different.

The mansion that had always been steeped in a gloomy gray now hummed with life.

Broken windows had been repaired; the garden was neatly tended.

"Good day to you, Teacher!"

"Good morning!"

As I walked the hallway, the servants now greeted me first with bright faces.

No doubt because they saw me as the mentor of the hero who had saved them, the benefactor who had transformed their mistress.

And in the center of the lobby—

The old butler stood in a tailcoat pressed far stiffer than usual.

A bandage still clung to his face from the aftermath of the last battle, yet his eyes burned as fiercely as they had in his prime.

"Ah, Teacher. Did you rest well?"

"Yes, Butler. Though your expression looks rather grim. Is something the matter?"

At my question the butler drew an elegant gold-foiled letter from his breast and offered it with formal care.

"Well…… a message has arrived from the Imperial Court."

"……The Imperial Court?"

The Imperial Court—did that mean the Emperor himself had sent a letter?

I quietly looked down at the golden missive, then back at the butler.

He answered in a low voice through his thin lips.

"Yes. From the Mistress subduing the ruffians of the Hero's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Party as a true hero, all the way to rather exaggerated rumors…… it seems her exploits have spread quite widely……."

Well, crushing the Hero's Party in a single stroke was no ordinary feat.

I kept my attention fixed on the butler's words.

"And so—this is a request for the subjugation of an S-rank magical beast, a Chimera, that has appeared in the northern forest."

The butler's voice trembled, yet he added with unmistakable pride,

"With the current Hero's Party…… dissolved due to unfortunate circumstances, they say the only one who can resolve this is the true hero, Lady Elara von Heim. A formal commission has arrived."

Monster hunting.

That was the past duty Elara had so thoroughly loathed and fled from—her true profession.

At the same time, it was the "find her a job" event Geumbalgeoyudaisuki had mentioned.

This had to be it.

"The Mistress still seems to be occupied with something in her room. I intended to deliver it the moment she came out."

"……I see."

I stroked my chin, sinking into thought.

This was an opportunity.

But it was also a crisis.

……Would Elara even accept this commission?

Calling her a hero was still awkward; she had only just begun to grip the holy sword again. Demanding she return to her old profession might be pure greed.

The thought crossed my mind that easily.

Right now she still seemed a little dependent on me.

If I shoved her forward by force here, she might get hurt all over again and hide away.

Then there was only one method.

I had to make her take up the sword and walk out on her own.

That was the final role I had to play as her counselor.

"Butler."

"Yes, Teacher."

"Do not deliver that commission to Elara yourself."

"Pardon? What do you mean……?"

"I will deliver it personally."

I took the commission letter from the butler's hands.

"Pardon? You, Teacher?"

"Tonight…… I believe a final counseling session will be necessary."

That night. Once more, right on schedule for counseling, I stood before Elara's door.

The gold-foiled commission in my hand was damp with sweat.

Hoo…… don't get nervous.

Tonight was the final session.

I drew one deep breath and knocked.

Knock, knock.

"……Come in. The door's open."

The voice that answered from inside was different from usual.

Languid, wet, and strangely sticky.

Click.

The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, a thick rose fragrance and the scent of wine stabbed my nose and made my head swim.

"……Lady Elara?"

Not a single candle was lit in the room.

Only the blue moonlight pouring through the window spotlighted the bed.

……And on top of it, she was there.

"You're here, Teacher?"

Elara reclined against the headboard at a slant, swirling a wine glass.

The neat dress she always wore was nowhere to be found.

All she had on was a single thin white silk slip that left her bare skin clearly visible.

"Mmm…… you're late. I was waiting so long I thought my neck would fall off."

When she sat up, a slender shoulder strap slipped down, revealing the delicate line of her collarbone and the full curve of her breasts in a heart-stopping flash.

Especially those large, abundant breasts that looked as ripe as a peach orchard……

And between the slip, her white thighs, soaked in moonlight, stretched out with blatant invitation.

She was a vicious succubus in human form.

Khh…… damn it, the fact that I can't do anything is genuinely tragic.

Endure a woman dressed like that?

But I had to endure.

I forced a small smile and let out a sigh.

"……Isn't that outfit a little cold?"

"If I'm cold, Teacher can just warm me up, can't you?"

Elara smiled seductively and patted the spot beside her on the bed with soft thumps.

"Sit. Right next to me."

"Ah, well…… shouldn't we at least turn on a light……"

"Ah, you're really so unromantic……!"

Elara flushed faintly and lowered her head.

"If I turn on the light…… I don't think I'll be able to look at your face."

Her voice trembled in tiny shivers.

I pretended nothing was wrong and stepped closer, intending to set the commission on the table.

"Don't just stand there staring. Come sit here."

"I came because I have something to tell you."

"Is there still counseling left?"

"Ah, no. I came because of a commission letter."

At my words Elara instantly radiated a cold atmosphere.

"……Don't put that down."

"Pardon……?"

She rose from the bed and came toward me.

Even the sound of her bare feet touching the floor was silent.

Before I knew it she was right in front of my nose, thick rose fragrance and……

a strange scent of alcohol drifting from her.

Had she needed a glass of wine just to face me sober?

"If you put that down…… Teacher, you'll just talk about work and leave, won't you?"

Elara's white hand clenched the sleeve of my shirt tight.

A girl's trembling touch. Yet her eyes burned as if they would catch fire.

"……Teacher."

"……?"

"What do you think of me?"

What do I think of her……

I offered an awkward smile.

"……Of course, you're Lady Elara. My client."

"Not like that. I'm not a little kid anymore……. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

……What the hell is this atmosphere?

But I had to play as ignorant as possible.

"I understand. You're an outstanding hero."

"No, not that……."

She took my hand and pulled it, pressing it against the thin slip over her pounding heart.

The sensation of thin fabric and scorching body heat transmitted straight into my palm.

"I'm…… a woman too."

She clumsily burrowed into my arms.

It was not skilled seduction.

It was the relationship of man and woman.

Of male and female.

In other words, a desperate clinging—terrified that this body of mine might vanish, wanting to mix body heat just to confirm I was still here.

"……I know I shouldn't think of that damn bitch, but. Lillian said it. That if a woman does this…… a man can't leave."

"……She only taught you the bad things, I see."

"So what if it's bad. If I can just keep Teacher…… I'll do anything."

She lifted her head and looked up at me.

Blue eyes wet with moonlight. Inside them pure affection and black obsession mixed in a precarious balance.

I swallowed dryly.

This was more dangerous than mere temptation.

I gently cupped her shoulders and put a little distance between us.

"Elara."

"Teacher…… don't push me away."

"I'm not pushing you away. I'm trying to protect you."

I deliberately put on a stern face and held up the commission letter.

"Even if you don't cling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to me like this, I will stay by your side. However—there is a condition."

"……A condition?"

"Yes…… First, this is a letter from the Imperial Court. Would you read it for me? Aloud, please."

"……"

Elara unfolded the letter with a reluctant look.

Soon she read the contents in front of me: that she was to be formally appointed as a hero, and that if she subjugated one of the demonkin, they would grant not only the title of the von Heim family but territory as well.

"This is…?"

"Elara, I like you. But you cannot stay cooped up in this place forever. You have a future too."

"……"

I walked slowly to the window, gazing at the scenery outside as I continued.

"No longer a hero candidate— a hero. Elara von Heim. That is the place ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you must go and claim. Not counselor and client."

"……So you're telling me to become a 'hero'? And what about you, Teacher?"

— Zzzzt.

She was agitated.

Noise ringing was never good news.

One wrong word here and the situation would turn ugly.

The fact that Elara had put on such a bold outfit already meant she intended to seduce me.

In that case…… I would pretend to seek her best interest while securing my own gain.

"I…… will wait for Elara. While treating difficult patients."

"Then I……."

"Elara's treatment is completely finished now. All that remains is for you to move forward."

"Does that mean you're throwing me away……?"

The noise swelled again, louder.

Elara's eyes, visible by the window, began to tremble more and more.

Then she came toward me.

"Teacher…… I can't do this after all."

— Whoosh!

"……!?"

Suddenly Elara lunged and pinned me down.

Thud!

"E-Elara!?"

"……You can't escape."

Damn it. Elara's grip strength defied imagination.

As if the title of hero was no decoration, both of my wrists were completely restrained in one of her hands.

"E-Elara!?"

"……Teacher, I can't live without you…… You have to stay here forever. Understood?"

Her hot breath tickled my ear.

But what made my head spin even more was the heavy, overwhelming weight pressing against my arms and chest.

"Nngh……"

Every time she burrowed deeper into my embrace, those luscious white hills, barely contained by a single thin silk slip, crushed against my body as if to smother me.

A fullness so unreal it felt divorced from reality.

The slender shoulder straps dug into her skin under that tremendous weight, and between the deep neckline the pure-white peach orchard, ripe to bursting, was laid bare in full.

"……Lady Elara, please give me a little space……."

"……No."

Every time she shook her head, dense, swaying waves transmitted vividly into my arm.

Soft yet packed density. This was not mere skin contact.

It felt like a vast, soft swamp trying to swallow me whole—a sensation of suffocation.

"……Answer me. Say you'll stay here."

She pressed herself even closer.

Dazzling flesh half-spilling from the slip crushed against my chest.

Close enough that my heartbeat traveled straight along her soft curves.

I squeezed my eyes shut and turned my head away.

Sight and touch attacked simultaneously with this heavy pleasure; there was no way to endure it.

If I gave in here, it was over.

I am a counselor.

Handling these runaway emotions is my job.

I steadied my rough breathing and opened my mouth with deliberate calm.

"……I'm not trying to run away. But…… if you remain a NEET like this, I cannot stay by your side."

At those words, the lips that had been burying themselves against my neck froze.

The enormous pressure crushing my chest eased slightly.

"……A NEET?"

"Yes. That profession you lost."

I indicated the gold-foiled letter on the table with a glance.

"The hero reinstatement proposal from the Imperial Court. As you read, you must return to active duty."

Elara's brow furrowed.

"Ha, I don't need that crap. Hero or whatever—I just want to be with Teacher……"

She tried to cling to me again.

In the instant that overwhelming volume surged forward to fill my vision once more, I hurriedly continued.

"There is a condition!"

I cut her off and coldly pointed out reality.

"Do you think renewing a hero license is easy? Look carefully at the letter."

Elara shot the letter a sidelong glance as if it were a nuisance.

Then she confirmed the vicious difficulty written inside.

"You read it in front of me earlier, but what were the reinstatement conditions again…… Ah! Must be performed solo. Bring back the heads of five S-rank magical beasts that have appeared across the entire continent! That is no ordinary task."

……Or so I said.

Even for Elara, it was absolutely not easy.

Of course she was more than capable of becoming a hero, but I also had to save five heroines to escape this game, so I could not remain with her.

If I stayed here any longer I might end up having to do all sorts of chaotic things……

Ugh, I really don't want to die after doing something like that.

"……Ha."

Elara let out a hollow laugh.

With her laughter the precarious curves against my chest swayed seductively.

"Five S-ranks? Are they insane? And I have to do it alone?"

"……Yes. That is the weight of the hero's profession."

I slowly turned my head and met her wavering eyes head-on.

"Elara. If you—without my help…… achieve this absurd employment condition and return as a proper hero."

I swallowed dryly and played my final card.

"Then I will grant you one wish."

"……A wish?"

"Yes. Anything. One thing."

I put strength into my captured wrists and gently clasped her hands in return.

This was not restraint—it was a gesture of oath.

"Anything is fine. Whatever it is, I will follow your will…… How about it?"

In that instant, the annoyance and irritation vanished cleanly from Elara's eyes.

She loosened the grip that had held my wrists, then instead yanked me forward by the collar as if seizing me by the scruff.

The whining girl from moments ago was gone.

"……You're serious, right?"

"Of course. An oath with my client."

"……If it's a lie, I'll lock Teacher in this room for the rest of your life and make you look only at me."

Fuck, that's terrifying as hell……

The corners of her lips curved into a line so bewitching it bordered on grotesque.

When she leaned down, a dizzying valley that a scrap of thin cloth could never hope to cover poured toward my eyes in raw detail. The depth was enough to steal my breath.

"Hoo, fine. I understand. Then I'll do it that way. That aside—what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠will Teacher do? If I have to leave my post because of hero work."

"I will work…… haha, so that I can become a man worthy of Lady Elara."

"Ah……"

Elara whispered softly.

"I wouldn't care even if Teacher were a NEET…… Hoo."

"Pardon?"

"I understand. If what Teacher wants is for me to live a normal social life…… I'll grant it. However! Keep the promise."

At Elara's words I smiled faintly and nodded.

Her tastes seemed uniquely distorted, but I let it slide for now.

"Understood. I'll be going then. But instead—!"

"Instead?"

"Promise me tonight."

She grinned and wrapped her legs around my waist. There was no escape route left.

"Sleep with me. This is the 'down payment.'"

I'm screwed.

One mountain after another, as they say.

I stared up at the ceiling in resignation.

Yeah…… better than the confinement ending, at least. Probably.

(Service Scene)