Don't Hit on My Teacher

High noon, the sun perched at the crown of the sky.

The streets thronged with crowds out to enjoy their lunch, and Ruby and I moved through the press of bodies. She, of course, had her black robe pulled up over her head to the tips of her ears.

"Hey, kid. Where the hell are we going? I'm dying of heat over here."

"Hmm. There's one last thing I need to prepare."

The opening of the Heavenly Spirit Tournament was right around the corner. The affection work had gone smoothly enough, but the problem was equipment.

Beyond the Phoenix Whisper, she needed proper armor as well. The set I'd commissioned at the blacksmith shop Black Anvil had excellent defense, but it was far too heavy. Even as a half-elf, she was still an elf — and an archer at that — so mobility had to be secured. Worse, armor was pure poison for Ruby Scarlet's specialties: high-speed maneuvering and firepower projection.

In the end, the only answer was specially treated magical clothing. The catch was that most reputable ateliers only opened during the bustling daylight hours.

"We're here."

"Hmph…? Velvet Rose? What's this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠place?"

"They deal in specialized garments for mages. Shall we?"

I pushed open the door, prodding the hesitant Ruby forward by the small of her back.

Ding-a-ling.

A clear chime rang out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as we stepped inside, and a soft lavender scent washed over us.

"Welco— hup."

The young clerk who greeted us, dressed in a neat uniform, froze the instant she saw us. More precisely, she seemed to have sensed the ominous aura rolling off the black-robed figure standing behind me.

Her wary gaze was just about to lock onto Ruby when—

Ding.

The system window flashed. The absolute aura of Good left behind by the Chapter One heroine, Elara — her parting gift — had activated.

"…Oh my?"

The clerk's pupils wavered. The suspicion-laden stare she'd been leveling at Ruby melted like magic the moment it touched my face. Whatever sense of wrongness she'd felt a second ago seemed to vanish under the affection boost my skill provided.

"Um, e-excuse me! Is there something you're looking for? I can — I can show you everything!"

Without so much as a glance at Ruby, the clerk scurried right up to me and clasped her hands together. Her eyes sparkled with an intensity that was almost oppressive. The skill's performance was rock solid, I'd give it that.

"Ah, it's not for me. We're here to look at combat attire for this lady."

"Ah… I see."

When I pointed to the side, the clerk finally spared Ruby a glance — the kind you'd give a piece of luggage. Her disappointment was plain. Even so, her eyes remained glued to my face as if someone had painted them on with industrial adhesive.

"Then… is she, um… your girlfriend?"

The clerk's voice trembled ever so slightly.

Girlfriend…?

I briefly pictured Ruby's face hidden under that hood. Sure, if your girlfriend were a peerless half-elf beauty who looked ready to set the continent on fire, other men would envy you. Reality was different. The moment I became lovers with this ticking time bomb, the genre of my life would stop being romance and turn into a Bad Ending — the kind where I couldn't even complete the salvation route, died myself, and ended up as a resident ghost on the gallery boards.

So I waved a hand with an awkward smile.

"Haha… as if."

"Ha…? Who the hell would be this bastard's girlfriend…"

Ruby clicked her tongue under the robe, equally appalled.

"So… she's not?"

"To be precise…"

I looked at Ruby and defined our relationship in a businesslike tone.

"She's my client. My… contractor, so to speak."

"Client…? Thank good— I mean, what an honored guest!"

The clerk's expression bloomed bright again, as if holy water had been poured over a wilting flower. She took another step closer — dangerously close.

"Then let me show you around! Oh, and while you wait, would you like a cup of tea? I brewed it myself — the aroma is wonderful. And if you're going to watch the Heavenly Spirit Tournament tomorrow, I could even be your guide…"

Her aggressive advances were just about to continue when—

"Hmph."

A cold snort cut through the air like a dagger from beside me. Ruby had pushed her robe back just enough to glare at the clerk and me in turn, standing with a cocky tilt to her shoulders.

"Hey, lady. You running a business or not? The one who needs clothes is me."

"Ah, yes! I'm so sorry, miss. This way, please."

Crushed under Ruby's killing intent, the clerk jumped and hurriedly guided her toward the fitting rooms. Before she went in, Ruby narrowed her red eyes at me and mouthed a clear warning: Don't try anything.

"…I was just standing here. This is unfair."

I scratched my cheek sheepishly and sank into a sofa.

A few minutes passed.

Shrrrk!

The fitting room curtain was yanked aside with force.

"Hey, Teacher!"

Ruby's sharp voice rang through the store. I turned my head and, for a moment, lost the ability to speak.

The heavy black robe was gone. What she wore now was a lightweight combat dress built around a deep crimson base. Instead of thick iron plate, specially treated magical leather hugged her lean, agile frame. The skirt line was cut boldly for mobility; a corset cinched her waist firm. Every time she moved, the fluttering hems of the fabric blended with her red hair until she looked like a living flame. A hood was even attached — perfect for concealing her identity.

"…Well?"

Ruby fussed with the fit as if she couldn't care less, but the sidelong glances made it painfully obvious she was waiting for my answer.

"It suits you perfectly. Like a flame sweeping across a battlefield."

"Hmph… empty flattery."

She answered gruffly, but the corner of her mouth twitched at the praise.

That good mood didn't last. The moment her gaze landed on the clerk hovering near me, it turned razor-sharp — because the woman's hand was lingering around my shoulder.

Ruby's eyebrows twitched.

"By the way. You there, lady."

"Y-yes?"

The clerk stumbled back under the sudden chill.

"Aren't you laying on the unordered service a little thick? Sure, my teacher is decent-looking, but still."

Thud. Thud.

Ruby strode over and snagged my arm, pulling it against her as if claiming it. Soft leather and body heat pressed against my skin. She pressed herself against me for the clerk to see and lifted her chin high.

"I hired this man. So stop drooling and just take the payment, yeah?"

— Zzzzt.

Suddenly, Psychological Insight triggered. From deep within Ruby Scarlet's red eyes, a seething aura mixed with irritation came pouring out — almost as if she were jealous.

"Let's go, Teacher. The air in here is foul. Reeks of fox."

"Ah, right, right. Let me pay first. How much is it?"

"Ten thousand gold, sir."

The equivalent of a thousand PT. Not a small sum by any means — but if it raised Ruby's survival rate, it was a bargain. I handed over the points without hesitation.

"Here you are."

"Th-thank you! Um, but sir… before you go…"

"Yes?"

"Could I perhaps have your name or contact information? Personally, I…"

The clerk, face flushed, was about to slyly rest her hand over the back of mine when—

Thwack!

Ruby's hand seized my wrist. No — she crushed it with a grip that felt ready to pulverize bone.

"Ha!? Enough already, let's go! Are you deaf?"

"W-wait, Ruby! My arm's going to fall off!"

"S-sir…!"

Ding-a-ling.

In stark contrast to the cheerful chime, Ruby dragged me out of the shop like a sack of cargo. I thought I heard the clerk's disappointed cry behind us, but soothing this furious flame took priority right now.

Back out on the crowded midday street, Ruby walked a good distance before finally releasing my arm.

"Ow, ow, ow. That hurt."

"…Hey, Teacher."

"Yes?"

"…From now on, don't go around outside with that stupid loose expression on your face."

Ruby narrowed her eyes and snapped at me.

"…When exactly was I 'loose'?"

"Ha? Your mouth was practically hanging off your ears. Men, I swear… no backbone, just grinning like idiots. So damn annoying."

"…"

She was thoroughly in a foul mood. Watching her walk ahead with those red lips stuck out in a pout was actually rather cute. I chuckled under my breath and matched her stride.

"Still — do you like the clothes?"

"…Hmph. The fit isn't half bad. More importantly…"

Ruby openly scowled at the elves strolling the street.

"…Too many of these disgusting long-ear bastards. They stink."

"Please calm down. The hotel is right ahead."

If I provoked her any further, she looked ready to grab a random elf off the street and hold a public burning. We ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hurried our steps toward the hotel.

And then—

— Kyaaaaaah!!

A scream tore through the peaceful street as if ripping it apart. At the same time, a heavy vibration rolled up through the soles of my feet.

Rrrrumble—!

"O-out of the way! The horse has gone mad!!"

"Everyone, run!!"

A massive carriage horse, foam flecking its mouth and reins snapped free, charged straight onto the sidewalk. The coachman had already been thrown and was tumbling across the ground, while the heavy iron materials loaded in the cargo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bed danced dangerously with every jolt.

"Ah… there's a child over there!"

Among the fleeing crowd, a young elf child whose legs had given out sat frozen dead-center in the carriage's path. Leave things as they were and a gruesome smear was only a matter of time.

"…"

But Ruby didn't move. From beneath her hood, her eyes looked down on the terror-stricken crowd and the child facing death with nothing but blank indifference.

Damn it, I'll be too late!

I instinctively lunged toward the child — but Ruby's hand clamped onto my shoulder like an iron chain.

"…Leave it."

Her voice was dry as dust.

"Too weak to even run away. Getting weeded out is the natural order. One pureblood elf brat dying doesn't change a damn thing about the world."

"Ruby! This is a matter of life and death. Please help!"

"Ha…? Why should I? I'm a half-elf. Save a pureblood brat like that and all I get is spit in my face."

Logic thoroughly befitting a villainess heroine. But there was no time. The thunder of hooves closed in. The child's sobs frayed into broken gasps of pure terror.

In the middle of all that, I looked at her calmly and spoke.

"Have you forgotten my counseling? The master of the Heavenly Spirit Tournament holds the very power of life and death."

"…What?"

"Even in the tournament, you have to display your power. The one who decides that child's life isn't that rampaging beast. It has to be you — Ruby Scarlet."

In that instant, a strange light flickered through Ruby's red eyes.

"Ha…? You've got one hell of a way with words."

She irritably flung back the hood she'd been wearing. Crimson hair scattered in a brilliant cascade.

"Fine. I can't stand the sight of some lowly animal strutting around in front of me."

Fwoosh!

Ruby's form shot forward like a streak of red light. Scarlet flames whirled into her right hand.

"You crazy animal bastard, who the hell do you think you're screaming at!!"

KRAAAANG—!!

An explosive roar swallowed the street. Ruby loaded her fist with bursting heat and smashed it square into the charging horse's face. The massive animal's body slammed sideways without even managing a scream. The carriage, unable to kill its momentum, toppled over with a bone-chilling screech of metal.

Rumble—

Crash!

The cargo materials spilled out, about to bury the child — and Ruby planted herself in front of the kid and stamped her foot. A wall of surging flame erupted and flung every falling piece of iron aside.

The street looked as if a typhoon had torn through it. In the thick cloud of dust, only one figure still stood.

"…Hic, hic…"

The child gasped for breath, the front of their clothes soaked. Ruby spat on the unconscious horse, then looked down at the child crumpled at her feet.

"Hey."

Her red eyes flashed. For a savior, the look was far too vicious.

"Shut your mouth. Whine one more time and I'll stomp you myself."

"Hic…!"

The child was so terrified the crying cut off cold.

As the dust settled, the surrounding people began to murmur in shock at the cascading red hair and the face now fully revealed.

"W-wait… that woman…!"

"Red hair and red eyes… is that Ruby Scarlet?"

"Th-that infamous arsonist… saved a child?"

As if the confused stares of the crowd meant nothing to her, Ruby irritably brushed the dust from her clothes, then jerked her chin toward me where I stood frozen.

"Hey, Teacher. What are you doing? We're leaving."