At the Academy (1)

"…A double agent?"

"Yes. That's just how things ended up."

On the walk back to the dorm, Scarlet laid out the full picture. Isaac had taken a liking to me and ordered her to investigate.

"Fortunately, he doesn't seem to know about us."

"This is about Lady Elise, after all. Even Isaac doesn't know about the things she has me do privately."

"Huh…"

That was a genuine relief.

"Ah — and if you ever run into the Guild Leader with me, you absolutely cannot act like you know me. He's a monster who can pick up even a casual glance. If I'd acknowledged you back there, we would have been caught."

"Sorry. I'll be careful."

I'd looked at Scarlet in the gap while I was bowing to apologize to Elise, and he'd caught that? I really could not afford to let my guard down.

"But if you're a double agent, doesn't that mean you have to keep feeding them information about me?"

"That's true, but it's fine. I'll just give them the vague version."

Scarlet lifted both hands in a gesture that said this was nothing to worry about.

"And if you get caught?"

"Then I switch sides completely and come over to you, Ho-yeon. I'll be in your care."

I let out a hollow laugh as Scarlet dipped her head.

"…You're something else."

She talked a big game, but Scarlet would handle it. She might look like that, but she was a capable woman. She wouldn't get caught.

"Ah, I'll also pass along the information about that Centaur. It might not happen immediately, but the Guild Leader should get back to us soon."

"Yeah. I'm counting on you."

Liliana was going to be thrilled when I told her.

We chatted as we walked, and before I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knew it the dorm was right in front of us.

A chime sounded as I stepped inside. Liliana was sprawled on the bed, and at the table Nam Da-eun and Nam Daehee were nibbling their way through a pile of snacks.

"…It really is cramped in here."

Scarlet looked faintly overwhelmed by the packed dorm. Five people. This was a spacious single by academy standards, and we'd at least put a bed in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the living area — but it was still something I never would have imagined. This was far too hot to dress up as the warmth of human companionship.

"Right? Find us a nice house."

"Huh? Scout's here?!"

"Scarlet unnie!"

Liliana, who'd been lying down scrolling on her smartwatch, shot upright. Nam Daehee, mid-snack, did the same. Both of them rushed over like they were reuniting with family after years apart.

"What have you been doing all this time?"

"My apologies. Work has been busy."

"Unnie, why'd you take so long? I want to eat something tasty now…"

"…Excuse me?"

Tch. They sure seemed happy to see Scarlet after so long. The actual owner of the room walked in and they didn't even glance my way.

I was peeling off my jacket in a vaguely bitter mood when someone came up beside me.

"Did you look at houses?"

"You're the only one, Da-eun."

"Hehe. Everyone's just excited because it's been a while. You're happy to see her too, aren't you?"

Nam Da-eun smiled as she took my jacket from me.

"Something came up today, so I didn't get to look. Scarlet's going to handle it later — if there's anything you want, tell her."

Liliana's face lit up at that, and she grabbed Scarlet's arm.

"Scout. I want a place with a big room."

"Unnie, I need lots of toys."

Hmm. When we moved, I should give Da-eun the best room.

"Daehee. You should say hello to oppa too."

"Huh? Oppa's here too?"

"…Yeah. I'm here too."

"Scout. Look at this. I made it while you were gone."

"That's impressive, Lady Liliana."

Still, it was nice seeing everyone together again after so long. The atmosphere felt a little more alive.

"Scarlet. We definitely need to go look at houses later. And Liliana? Come here for a second."

"Huh? Why?"

Liliana had been clinging to Scarlet's arm, so delighted she hadn't even registered I was there. I called her into the bedroom. This wasn't a conversation for anyone else to hear, so I shut the door — and Liliana immediately started squirming.

"It's not even night yet… Master, already? How long have you been holding it in out there…"

"It's not that. I have something to tell you. Sit down."

"Aw, what."

I looked at the giggling Liliana and slowly opened my mouth.

"You remember, right? That Centaur from Hell."

"Yeah. Of course. That horse-man."

At the mention of Centaur — a fellow native of Hell — Liliana focused on my words at once.

"Looks like you'll be able to meet him soon, so think about what you want to say ahead of time."

"Hah… Really?"

"Yeah. Don't just stand there stammering when he's in front of you. Prepare properly."

"…Okay. Thank you."

Liliana met my eyes, nodded with something like gratitude, then sat down at the desk and started writing.

She looked like she was thinking hard. Good. That was the idea. After everything I'd gone through to make this opportunity, part of me wanted to puff myself up and demand a little more gratitude — but she seemed genuinely serious, so I slipped quietly out of the room.

Monday morning. I got ready to leave the dorm. Time to go back to academy life.

Or is it?

To meet Centaur, I'd actually have to go to France in person. I wasn't sure there'd be time.

"I'm heading out."

"We'll be back, Miss Liliana."

"Unnie, hold down the fort!"

"Byeee. I'm gonna play with Scout."

After saying goodbye to Liliana, I left the dorm with the Nam sisters.

Once we got a house, we wouldn't have to go to school at the same time every day. We really needed to find a place soon.

Or maybe not?

If I was going to the academy anyway, walking there with pretty girls was better, right? No. The risk was way too high. We'd been lucky so far and hadn't gotten caught… but now even a small slip-up could blow everything.

"Unnie! Oppa! See you later!"

"Don't fight at school, study hard, and if anyone picks on you, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you tell oppa right away. Got it?"

Before Nam Daehee went into the affiliated middle school, Nam Da-eun straightened her clothes one more time. Why tell her to come to me if she got picked on?

"Okay! Got it! See ya!"

"Hey, why are you telling her to come to me?"

"If Daehee gets bullied, you're not going to help her?"

"No, of course I will."

I wouldn't forgive anyone who messed with our Daehee.

"See? Hehe."

Nam Da-eun heard my answer and, looking thoroughly pleased, chuckled as she walked ahead of me.

"I hate Mondays~."

"At least it's Professor Lim Sol's class today."

"Oh, for real?"

Class A was as lively as ever. Nam Da-eun split off from me before we entered the building and went into Class A first. I came in a little later.

"Lee Ho-yeon, hi."

"Yeah. Hey."

Every now and then a cadet I didn't even know would greet me like that. I just gave them a light response and left it there. I didn't want to get involved with the guys, and getting involved with the girls would be a disaster. I could barely keep up with the heroines as it was.

"Good morning, Ho-yeon."

"Morning, Rumi."

"…"

Rumi greeted me with her usual faint smile. But Lucy was strangely avoiding my eyes.

"Lucy. Are you feeling okay?"

"Ah, no. It's just…"

What was with her now?

I was frowning slightly at Lucy's status when Rumi, sitting beside me, tugged on my clothes.

"Ho-yeon."

"Yeah?"

"After class today, let's stop by the club. It's been a while."

"Oh, the club?"

Not a bad idea. We'd set it up early on and never used it. There wasn't actually much to do there even if we hung out… but if they wanted to, I should go along with it.

"Alright. Let's hang out later."

"That's a promise. You heard that too, right, Lucy?"

"…Yeah."

Lucy was still avoiding my eyes, her cheeks faintly flushed.

"Fireball…!"

Morning class was Professor Lim Sol's. It was a practical session — the mage cadets would cast their spells while she walked the line giving critiques. Opportunities to get advice from a mage of Lim Sol's caliber were rare, so the cadets all loved this class.

I was at the very back of the firing range where the cadets stood in a row. Nobody wanted this spot, because everyone wanted feedback first. Which meant I had it to myself. Perfect.

"So why are you here?"

I looked at Lucy, who was standing next to me for no particular reason. She pouted slightly and peered up at me.

"…I wanted to be with you. Is that not allowed?"

"Sorry. I was joking."

Lucy was a mage too, so she was in this class with me. I smiled and went on.

"You used to be up there fighting for a spot."

The cadets lining up in front to get their feedback. Lucy used to be right in that crowd.

"It's not like there's that big of a difference anyway… I just wanted to talk to you."

"So in simple terms, you chose me over magic?"

"Please don't say weird things!"

Whack! Whack! Lucy pounded on my arm with a flushed face. Getting hit somehow felt pretty good.

"Okay, okay. Sorry."

"Haa. If you say something weird again, I'm actually leaving."

She'd come over here herself, and now she was embarrassed because I'd teased her. Cute.

I glanced over to see how far Lim Sol had gotten. It would be a while before it was our turn.

"The professor's still far off, so I'll take a look. Try casting something."

"…You?"

"I'm Lee Ho-yeon. You don't know Lee Ho-yeon, the genius mage?"

"Hmmm. Fair enough. Then watch closely!"

Flames roared to life as Lucy drew a magic circle, and dozens of her signature sharp fire arrows rose into the air. They streaked downrange and punched into the targets with a crack. I watched the whole sequence carefully, then nodded. I had a pretty good idea of the problem.

"Well?"

"It's all good, but the finishing of the spell is lacking. When you draw the magic circle…"

As my own level had risen, I could pick out shortcomings from a casual look. I might even have been better at this than most magic professors. Those people couldn't identify a problem the instant they saw a spell.

Lucy redrew the magic circle with my critiques in mind. Naturally, the fire arrows she produced this time were far hotter and more threatening than the ones before.

"Wow, wow. You really are a genius."

"Obviously."

Having a pretty girl pump me up felt pretty great.

"I think you teach better than Professor Lim Sol at this point…"

"Hey, if you say that…!"

I was startled by Lucy's words.

"Then you wouldn't need to attend my class, Cadet Lucy."

"Huh? What? Ah— Professor Lim Sol…"

Professor Lim Sol had been standing behind Lucy this whole time, listening to me give critiques. Lucy hadn't noticed because she'd been focused on her magic.

Lim Sol had been looking at me with a warm gaze, as if to say that of course there was nothing her disciple couldn't do — until Lucy's comment made her expression harden.

"That's not what I meant. I wasn't putting you down, Professor, I was trying to compliment Lee Ho-yeon…"

Lucy's voice grew smaller and smaller. Lim Sol's expression hadn't softened.

"Haa. Cadet Lucy, go over there and practice on your own."

"Yes! Understood!"

In the end Lim Sol sighed and shook her head first, and Lucy seized the opening to flee the scene. The speed of her escape was something else.

Lim Sol watched Lucy run off into the distance, then turned to me with a slight smile.

"So now you're trying to steal my students too?"

"I just have so much talent. I didn't mean for it to happen. My apologies."

"Haa. Now you're trying to put yourself on the same level as a professor?"

Lim Sol walked up to me with an incredulous look and rapped me on the forehead. Of course, there was a pleased smile on her lips.