Even a Hero Needs Someone to Rely On
Even a hero needs someone to rely on.
Principal Marina handled the incident in a way that didn't match her appearance.
In my case, it was the one who started the dispute, and as self-defense, it was resolved by formally protesting to the Basil Kingdom side.
"Still, Professor Arthur?"
Marina sat on the edge of the table. Her short legs didn't reach the floor, so she was swinging them up and down.
"From now on, try to show some mercy in your handling. If something like this happens again, it will be disadvantageous to you, Professor."
Her expression was serious. As the head of an institution, her expression was one of responsibility. I nodded my head. It was a given. If a professor who was supposed to be a professor from the first day of his appointment had his legs kicked out from under him, it would be troublesome.
"Then it's settled!"
Marina returned to her bright smile. The expression change was fast. Is a dragon a creature with such emotional ups and downs?
"Edith? If this incident is resolved, is it okay to take Professor Arthur with us?"
"Of course."
Edith took a step forward. The cold interrogation face from earlier was gone, and her eyes were sparkling.
"If it's a general from the Leon Kingdom... is it that hero who was called a hero in the war between Leon and Basil?"
Hero.
Every time I hear that word, my shoulders feel heavy. But now I'm somewhat used to it. I nodded my head.
"Probably."
I said it in a stiff, cut-off manner. I couldn't rule out the possibility that the Empire side might know my actions during the war. I opened my mouth, but if I said even one wrong thing, the concept would collapse.
"Ah! Then!"
Edith's voice suddenly rose by a tone.
"If you have time next time, could you tell me about the stories from the war? Of course, if it's a bother, I'm sorry, but—"
Her words came out fast.
"—I had seen the situation of the war at that time through divination, about the secret to overcoming an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation... especially that battle where you alone disrupted the rear against the Basil knights—"
Her gestures mixed in as she poured out words. It was hard to believe that the same person as the cold interrogation officer from earlier. Is it that the princess has a hobby of risking her life for battle stories.
"—and how you managed to hold on when the supply line was cut off in the trench warfare—"
I was sweating cold sweat.
These were stories I knew nothing about. I didn't even know such battles had happened until today. If I continued like this, the concept would collapse. No, before the concept, I would be suspected for not being able to answer immediately.
I gave a signal.
I turned my gaze quietly towards Marina. Save me, Principal.
Marina caught my gaze. A mischievous smile appeared on her lips. When she turned around, the air shook. Magic swirled, and the space distorted. A portal opened.
Marina made a gesture with her finger to follow. And like when she first appeared, she jumped into the portal.
This time was different.
When she first came out of the portal, her body was extremely alert. My heart felt like it would burst, and my hand automatically grabbed the sword. But now, it was no big deal. My body was calm. It wasn't the portal itself that was the problem, but my reaction to the existence of Marina.
I glanced at Edith, who was still enthusiastically explaining. She hadn't noticed that I had already moved my feet towards the portal, and she kept creating questions. Was this her personality? At first glance, she was so cold, but perhaps when it comes to her area of interest, she becomes another person.
I stepped into the portal.
***
It was a luxurious office.
The bookshelves in deep wood color filled the walls, and between the shelves, strange liquids in transparent glass bottles were displayed. Orange sunset light seeped through the windows. But—
Objects that were the opposite of the luxurious interior were placed here and there.
On the desk was a clam-shaped doll. On the shelf was a blue cushion shaped like a jellyfish. On the ceiling, a fish-shaped mobile was hanging and slowly rotating. It felt like random children's toys had been randomly thrown into a serious office atmosphere.
"This is my office and principal's office!"
Marina was sitting in the chair behind the desk. In her arms was a starfish doll. Since her arms couldn't reach, the doll almost covered her upper body.
"Sit."
She flicked her finger, and the dolphin doll on the opposite chair floated up. Then it flew to my lap and hugged me. Is it moving with magic? No trace of magic was felt until the doll landed in my lap. It was precise control that couldn't even be detected unless I concentrated.
I hugged the dolphin doll tightly.
It was soft.
The touch was much softer than I thought, and my fingers automatically pressed the doll's belly. The dolphin face was squished. The cloth mouth was distorted, but the touch was more satisfying.
"Huhu."
Marina smiled with satisfaction.
"My collection must be to your liking. I made it based on the dolphins I had in my hometown."
Clack.
A teapot and two cups landed on the desk. The cups were also floating in the air and moving. No trace of magic flow was felt. If she could use magic to this extent, it made sense that my body had felt extreme fear earlier.
"Since you're here, I should greet you again?"
Marina placed the starfish doll on her lap. She stared straight at me.
"I am Marina, the principal of the Einar Empire Academy."
Her pupils changed.
They became vertically elongated slits. Reptilian eyes. The space became momentarily heavy. My breath stopped for a moment.
"I'm also a blue dragon."
Dragon.
My heart was racing. A different kind of excitement from the earlier fear bubbled up. Dragon. An imaginary race that can't be absent in a fantasy world of swords and magic. My village was rural, so I had never found any trace of dragons. I only knew through books that they existed.
But now, they really existed, and they were right in front of me.
I didn't know what I was doing, and I grabbed her hand.
"By any chance, did you hide your scales? If you're okay with it, I could touch your scales once..."
My fingers were groping her hand back. Scales weren't touched. It felt exactly like human skin. Is it hidden with transformation magic? Or do scales not appear when in human form? Curiosity exploded. Just as my fingers were about to go beyond her wrist to her forearm—
My mind snapped as if I had been doused with ice water.
Marina was staring at me without saying a word. Her slit pupils were staring fixedly at my face. No emotion was read in her gaze. That was scarier.
I hurriedly let go of her hand. I bowed my head.
"I'm sorry! It was my first time seeing a dragon, so I was rude!"
"Puhahahaha!!"
Marina burst out laughing.
The chair tilted back. She threw her waist back and laughed, and the chair fell to the floor. But the laughter didn't stop. With a thud, Marina rolled on the floor with the chair. Her short legs were kicking in the air.
"Ah, no no—"
After laughing for a while, Marina raised her body with magic. The chair returned to its original position. She tapped her eye area with her finger. A little tear was in her eyes.
"It was fun. You're the first guy to react like that when I show you."
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled with a grin. Looking at her smile, I realized belatedly.
Ah.
My hero concept.
I had forgotten.
"But, Arthur Professor?"
Marina propped her chin. Her pupils returned to circular shape. With the innocent eyes of a child, she looked at me.
"Was it really your first time seeing a dragon? You smell like a fellow dragon's magic from you."
"Eh?"
"From the damp smell, it seems you're a black dragon..."
Black dragon?
"I'm a black dragon. No idea about black magic or hypnosis?"
Hypnosis.
The magic that turned my 10 years of youth and the title of hero on its head. Is the hypnosis related to the black dragon? This is the first time I've heard that the spellcaster who cast the hypnosis was a dragon.
"From your face, it seems you have some idea."
Marina flicked her legs and looked at me.
"I've known my fellow dragons for a long time, so... want to tell me?"
There was sincere curiosity in her voice. Maybe— I might not need to do the concept in front of this person. A hope bloomed in a corner of my heart.
***
The story became long.
I told Marina everything. That I was conscripted at 14, hypnotized, and fought in the war for 10 years. That after the hypnotist died, I woke up and became a hero. That I don't remember at all what I did with my own hands. That people around me treat me as a hero, but in reality, I'm just a timid civilian.
Marina listened to the end without interrupting. Her serious eyes didn't match her childlike appearance at all. Sometimes she nodded her head, sometimes she hugged the doll tightly and followed my story.
Stories I couldn't write in letters to my family. Truths I couldn't tell to friendly soldiers. Truths I had to hide from the princess who approached me easily. I told all of that to a dragon, a being who lived much longer than humans.
Perhaps because of Marina's appearance as a child. Or because she treated me as just 'Arthur', not as a war hero. It would have been unimaginable in my usual self. But now, I felt a sense of relief in my heart.
"Unfortunately, I can't find your lost memories. If it were a black dragon, maybe, but since it seems you went into hiding somewhere, it will be hard to find."
After the story ended, Marina smiled.
"No."
I shook my head.
"I think it's rather good."
I didn't want to revive the bloody memories of the war. Rather, this way was better. If I found the 10 years of memories, they might turn me into a different person. That was scarier.
"Then it's fortunate! Unlike a black dragon, I'm specialized in water elements, you know."
Marina smiled bashfully. She was incredibly cute. I wanted to make a fart because I forgot that she was a dragon. I swallowed it inside.
"Even though there's no memory, the body reacts on its own..."
Marina tapped her chin with her finger.
"I was originally planning to ask you to teach military science, but it seems difficult."
She called me by name only. Without attaching the title of professor, just 'Arthur'. Just that small title made my heart feel at ease. It felt like she was treating me as a civilian Arthur, not as the war hero Arthur.
"Probably so."
I nodded my head. Teaching military science? It was absurd. How could I teach when I didn't even know proper unit organization, let alone tactics from the war.
"But Arthur is stronger than the regular professors."
Marina picked up the clam doll on the desk. She fiddled with the doll and continued.
"It might be better to assign combat studies. We can proceed with classes centered on practical training."
Combat studies.
It might not be a bad choice for my current body condition. This body remembers combat instincts. The problem is whether I can control those instincts.
"Would it be okay if I teach combat studies? Since I have almost no memories of actually fighting..."
"Uh-huh, it should be fine."
Marina nodded her head.
"Arthur was wary of me earlier. Arthur's body seems to have good instincts. If something happens, the body will react on its own, so it should be fine."
She placed the clam doll down and added.
"And since I'm specialized in water elements, as long as I don't die, I can save anyone."
It was said with a bright smile. It was scary to think that she could save anyone as long as she didn't die. But listening to her words, I felt like anything could be done. It's the academy where the principal is a blue dragon. In such a place, a combat studies professor is no big deal.
"I understand."
I nodded my head.
"Then, please take care of me from now on."
"Uh! If Arthur is in trouble or needs help, come anytime. That's the principal's role."
Marina hugged the starfish doll again. Her blue eyes sparkled towards me.
Let's give it a try once.