Four Professors, One Chef, and One Homeroom Teacher... Cause of Death: Overwork
It was pure luck.
I was surprised when I first learned that the woman I'd met in the tent earlier—the one I'd thought was a senior—was actually a professor. But when I found out she was also the homeroom teacher for my class, the shock was even greater. Still, Arin decided it was a stroke of good fortune.
Of course it had to be. I'd originally planned to ask her for guidance anyway. If she was a swordsmanship instructor rather than just a senior, I'd receive far more proper training than if I'd simply begged for a favor.
At the same time, since she was right in front of me, I wouldn't even need to wander around the school to express my gratitude.
Click—
Arin glanced down at the sword hanging at her waist—Sunset. It was the blade she'd received from her two days ago.
The custom scabbard she'd ordered had finally been completed. As she gently stroked the crimson sheath that now housed Sunset, Arin turned her gaze toward Professor Aria standing at the lectern.
She wanted to thank her, but now wasn't the time. If she was going to do it, she'd have to wait until after class and visit her separately.
So Arin focused on Aria, who had begun speaking after introducing herself. Before long, Aria seemed to have run out of things to say and declared it was time for questions and answers.
“Well… if you have any questions, ask me anything. I'll answer.”
“…Pfft.”
Despite how overwhelmingly strong she was, her demeanor as a teacher wasn't all that different from the instructors Arin had seen as a child. A small smile tugged at Arin's lips as she fell into brief thought.
“Hmm…”
The problem was that she didn't really have any questions to ask. For a moment she wondered if she should ask about her first love like she had several times in the past, but the moment the thought crossed her mind, something happened that made her abandon the idea entirely.
“Then, Professor. Could you perhaps tell us about your first—”
Thwack!
The instant the words about first love left the boy's mouth, a white object struck him. He collapsed without even managing a scream. When they looked to see what it was, it turned out to be an ink bottle lid.
Arin was impressed that a light plastic lid could knock someone unconscious, but somehow it didn't seem strange at all if it was Aria doing it.
Aria, who had thrown the lid, let out a small snort with a slightly twisted expression and rested her arms on the lectern.
“That question is rejected. Next!”
It seemed she had quite a bad memory associated with first love. Arin congratulated herself for not having asked first, then suddenly remembered something and clapped her hands together silently.
“Now that I think about it…”
During the entrance ceremony earlier, when Professor Aria had first introduced herself, she'd said something that caught Arin's attention.
Arin carefully recalled the exact words Aria had spoken.
“‘My classes will not be easy to follow. The same goes for my younger siblings’ classes.’ That’s what you said. But… what did you mean by ‘my younger siblings’ classes’?”
The part that had stuck with her was none other than the phrase “my younger siblings’ classes.”
It sounded as if Aria’s younger siblings were also professors here at the academy.
Once the thought occurred to her, curiosity surged like a wave. In the end, Arin cautiously raised her hand and spoke.
“You’re that kid from back then. I noticed you the moment you walked in. So, what’s your question?”
“Ah, you remembered me!”
At the tone that suggested she truly remembered her, Arin’s face lit up with a bright smile.
She had already guessed that Aria knew she was a student at Lua Academy ever since she’d told her to use polite speech next time, but she hadn’t expected her to remember her face as well.
But that lasted only a moment. Arin gently set aside her personal feelings and asked the question she had intended.
“It’s a question that came up while listening to you speak at the entrance ceremony. Professor, do you have younger siblings?”
“Mm, that’s right. There are four below me. Three of them are professors here at the academy with me, and the remaining one works in the cafeteria.”
“The cafeteria?!”
The one who shouted at the end wasn’t Arin or Aria, but a girl with orange hair tied in braids—Kana, the first student Aria had called on.
Only after feeling the eyes of Aria and the other students on her did Kana realize she had suddenly stood up. She quietly sat back down. Watching her, Aria continued where she had left off.
“You’ll all learn their names during practical classes anyway, so I’ll skip that. As for the classes my siblings teach—hand-to-hand combat, archery, and magic.”
“I’m taking hand-to-hand combat too… so I’ll get to meet them.”
“Yeah. They’re all strict, but I can guarantee their strength.”
Rattle—
“…?”
“S-sorry. My body felt a little strange for a moment.”
At the mention that one of her siblings taught hand-to-hand combat, Arin felt a small surge of anticipation. But then she turned her head toward the rattling sound coming from behind her.
The person she saw when she looked back appeared to be an elf girl. The girl with flowing light-blue hair quickly apologized the moment Arin turned around and then slumped over her desk.
…Is she sick?
The sight was clearly strange. Arin tilted her head, wondering if the girl was ill, but her breathing didn’t seem labored, so she soon stopped paying attention and turned back to Aria.
In that brief moment, Aria had already taken another student’s question and was answering it. Arin rested her chin on her hand atop the desk.
It looked like the Q&A session was going to run quite a bit longer.
Whew. Thank goodness. I managed to finish safely.
I ended the class, opened the classroom door, and let out a sigh of relief.
I’d hastily thrown together a Q&A session because I couldn’t think of anything else to say, but thankfully the students cooperated enthusiastically. I was able to fill the full forty-five minutes and escape.
Of course, I remembered the face of that one kid who asked about first love. Even though he was an extra.
Do you even know what my first love was like?! After being pushed by my friends to confess, getting completely ignored, and then having to see her in the same classroom the next day—do you have any idea how that feels?!
I’d managed to forget about it for nearly ten years, but that guy made me remember it all over again.
“…Sigh.”
The more I thought about it, the more I sighed. I shook my head vigorously to drive the memory away and headed upstairs, when someone called out to me from behind.
“…Professor! Professor Aria!”
“Hm? Ah, it’s you.”
When I turned around at the voice calling me, I saw Arin. Her hair was slightly disheveled, as if she had hurriedly chased after me the moment I left the classroom.
But why had she come to me? We’d only met once before. There shouldn’t be any particular reason for her to seek me out, right?
I tilted my head inwardly at the question that arose. Arin drew the sword at her waist—Carnia, Sunset—and held it out to me as she spoke.
“Um… I was so surprised last time that I couldn’t greet you properly, but thank you so much. For this sword.”
“Ah, so that’s what it was.”
I’d wondered what the reason was, but it turned out she just wanted to express her gratitude. Honestly, I didn’t need any thanks.
Like I’d told her before, my own sword was already endgame gear, so I’d simply handed Carnia over because I had no use for it. Receiving gratitude for it felt burdensome. But if I refused, knowing Arin’s personality, she’d probably keep it bottled up inside forever. So I nodded casually and patted her head.
“Yes, you’re a good child. Since I gave you this sword, make sure to cherish it.”
“…Yes!!”
Oh, the hair of my favorite character. It’s incredibly soft. But I couldn’t just touch it openly, so I only tidied up her slightly messy locks before turning back toward my original destination.
“Well then, I have work to do, so I’ll be going. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes! Have a good day, Professor!”
When I bid her farewell, Arin bowed deeply in return. Was the sword really that moving to her? Well, I had used it well myself.
I gave a small smile to the bowing Arin and quickly headed to where I needed to go.
I didn’t need to say where—it was obviously the principal’s office. I’d already been there three times today, but this time I was going to pick up the class schedule for the upcoming week.
Mira had offered to send it to the temple if I wanted, but since I needed to check it quickly to plan for tomorrow, I’d decided to pick it up in person.
If I didn’t map out my route properly, things would get incredibly difficult.
So I soon arrived at the principal’s office and knocked carefully on the door.
“It’s Aria.”
“Come in.”
After receiving permission, I opened the door and entered. For some reason, Mira looked like she had been waiting for me. She immediately handed me the schedule paper she was holding.
“You came quite quickly. Here’s the timetable.”
“…You’re handing it over right away without any nonsense for once.”
It was suspiciously efficient. I narrowed my eyes at Mira, but she simply shrugged as if I was being unreasonable.
“There really isn’t anything this time, okay? You must be tired too, so consider it a kindness so you can go back and rest?”
“If that’s the case, then fine. Thank you for now.”
I still had my doubts, but I also really wanted to return to the temple where I could relax in peace. So I gave Mira a light bow, left the principal’s office, opened a window, and jumped out.
It was the seventh floor, but with Aria’s body, even falling from the floating Sky Island would only deal about ten damage. There was no problem at all.
Of course, I couldn’t inconvenience the students heading back to the dormitories below, so I landed softly without raising even a speck of dust and quickly left the academy grounds.
“Let’s see…”
On the path from the academy to the temple, I unfolded the paper Mira had given me and checked tomorrow’s schedule.
“Magic class at ten, cooking duty in the kitchen at twelve, swordsmanship class at two, and archery at five.”
Ahahahahahahahaha!!!
I couldn’t help but burst into bright laughter.