1 VS 15
I was captured by my demon students, carried off like a sack of potatoes, and transported straight back to the classroom where everyone was waiting.
Since I’d torn my own clothes in a desperate escape attempt, I was still shirtless and tied up with rope. I tried to reason with them anyway.
“...Hey kids, I’m getting kind of cold… Could you untie me and let me put on a shirt…?”
My little beasts all burst out laughing at once.
“No.”
Damn beasts… After all the love and care I poured into raising you…!
I hung my head in despair, mourning my fallen authority that now lay trampled in the mud like a discarded rag.
Even in my pathetic state, my adorable little beasts simply looked at me and continued their discussion as if nothing was wrong.
“Ahem. First, let me speak for the sake of preventing any accidents. We have no intention of monopolizing Teacher.”
Ophelia, who had drawn everyone’s attention, pointed at me from the teacher’s desk. I was still pathetically tied to it, slumped over like a hostage.
“As you all know, our teacher is incredibly clever… Especially when it comes to escaping. No one can match him there.”
“Haha… I would never abandon my dear disciples…”
“That’s why I’d like to propose something to all of you. We should utilize Teacher as the Shared Husband of the Fifteen Stars.”
Wait a second.
The classroom fell completely silent. It was as if the entire universe had frozen for a moment….
“To put it in slightly more ordinary terms.”
Ophelia smiled with perfect politeness.
“It’s the Shared Husband System.”
“Come on, there’s no way the kids would agree to something like—”
I looked at my properly educated disciples—the ones who weren’t beasts—hoping they would back me up. But of course, they were all beasts too.
“Shared… husband…”
Elena covered her face with both hands.
Her ears were bright red as she murmured quietly.
“T-Then that means Teacher will become family to all of us, right?”
“Why are you interpreting it so purely, Elena?”
“If we’re family, we can eat together every day, train together, rest together…”
She kept talking as if trying to convince herself, but Elena’s eyes began to sparkle brighter and brighter until she finally reached her conclusion.
“I think it’s great!”
“Elena. I feel like you shouldn’t be the one agreeing to this, so why are you the most enthusiastically on board?”
Disappointed in Elena, the next to jump in was Serena. She quietly raised her hand.
“I agree as well.”
“Serena?!”
“Teacher skips meals when he’s alone, overworks himself, and even hides it when he gets hurt.”
“That’s just part of being a teacher…”
“So it would be better if we all took care of him together.”
Serena smiled gently.
“Instead of calling it a shared husband, how about we think of it as a communal care subject?”
“I’m still young, you know?”
Brunhilde had been silent for a long time. Then she gave a short nod.
“Necessary.”
“What is?”
“Shared husband.”
“...Can I ask why?”
She looked at me with her usual blunt expression.
“Teacher overdoes it. He won’t last long.”
“Don’t coldly evaluate your teacher’s survival ability, please.”
“Therefore, constant protection as our shared husband is required.”
“...Can’t you just send me to a nursing home?”
Lucia moved her fingers through the air as if drawing a small constellation.
“It’s logical.”
“Even you, Lucia?”
“If one person monopolizes Rowell, the probability of conflict rises. If fifteen people divide the rights simultaneously, the chance of total destruction decreases.”
“Does that calculation include my human rights at all?”
Lucia paused for a moment.
“But Rowell. If we fight over you, you’ll end up divided into fifteen pieces…”
“...Ah.”
“If that doesn’t matter to you, then…”
“Umm…”
Since Lucia could see the future to some extent, I suddenly became very conflicted.
Aruel smiled quietly beneath her flower crown.
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”
“Aruel?”
“Teacher has always looked at all of us equally.”
She gently stroked her bow.
“So if someone fights over Teacher, it would go against everything he taught us.”
“Yes, exactly! So if everyone could just give up—”
“Therefore, I support the opinion of dividing him fairly.”
“Could you please stop piercing my conclusions with arrows…?”
Laira tilted her head.
“Don’t like complicated words.”
“Then oppose it.”
“Hmmm… So Teacher becomes mate for all of us?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Laira grinned brightly and wagged her tail.
“I like it! A mate protected by the whole pack is safe!”
“I don’t remember joining any pack.”
“You can join now!”
“No, we’re humans… Laira dear…”
“Starting today, let’s be beasts!”
Valeria crossed her arms and snorted.
“This queen originally prefers monopoly.”
“Good. Then oppose it.”
“However, kings warring over treasure lacks dignity.”
“There’s also the dignified option of giving up.”
“That is not what a king does.”
Valeria’s crimson eyes turned toward me.
“Therefore, this queen shall approve. However, the first night with Teacher belongs to me.”
“What… what exactly did I do wrong…?”
Tethys rested her cheeks in both hands and gazed at me.
“I’m fine with it.”
“What about me?”
“Yes. The sea is very patient, after all.”
“No, what about me?”
Tethys smiled serenely.
“Even if you flow to everyone else, in the end, the deepest place will still be me—the sea.”
“You’re not listening at all.”
“You will sink to me someday.”
“Hahaha.”
Airel sat by the window and smiled softly.
“I like it too.”
“Even you, Airel?”
“Yeah. If Teacher isn’t tied down anywhere, he can stay by everyone’s side.”
“...I should have taught monogamy…”
“Anyway, being by everyone’s side includes being by my side too.”
Airel floated a small flower petal on her fingertip.
“If Teacher runs away, the wind will tell me. And even without that, I’ll find him somehow.”
“Don’t start with something poetic and end with a surveillance system.”
Mirabel rested her chin on the desk and laughed cheerfully.
“Hehe, it looks fun so I’m in favor too!”
“Don’t decide based on fun.”
“But Teacher, fifteen bride candidates? If we turned it into a fairy play it would be insanely popular~?”
“Don’t turn it into a play.”
“How about this title? Teacher of Fifteen!”
“That title is brutal.”
Mirabel made a heart shape with both hands.
“Oh! Add dream visitation rights to the shared rules too!”
“There is no such right.”
Roselia quietly rose from her seat.
“I wish to respect Teacher’s wishes.”
“Roselia…”
I was moved for a brief moment. A very brief moment.
“However, I believe we must also consider the possibility that Teacher has not properly realized his own true feelings.”
“Why wouldn’t I know my own heart…”
Roselia bowed politely.
“Therefore, it would be best to stay by his side for the time being and confirm his true intentions.”
“Without the consent of the person involved, that’s called imprisonment, dear.”
“I see.”
Astella rested her chin on her hand and stared straight at me.
“I’m in favor.”
“I’m scared to hear your reason.”
“If Teacher chooses just one of us, the rest will cry, right?”
“That’s… well…”
“Teacher hates it when we cry, doesn’t he?”
She closed her eyes playfully.
“So just choose everyone. Super easy, right?”
“Don’t package the hardest choice in the world as something easy.”
“Teacher taught us. Difficult things should be solved by sharing them with those around you.”
“Don’t apply it like that.”
Asteria remained silent for a while. Then she spoke slowly.
“It’s not bad.”
“Even you?”
“Instead of taking, we divide. Instead of commanding, we reach consensus.”
Her red eyes looked straight into mine.
“It’s the way Teacher taught us.”
I was at a loss for words.
Asteria added in a very small voice.
“So Teacher. Don’t run away. Listen to our consensus.”
“My opinion isn’t in that consensus.”
“You will listen now.”
“That’s just a notification.”
Bellina clasped her hands neatly and spoke quietly.
“If Master stays with us, the form it takes is not very important to this girl.”
“Bellina…”
This time I actually felt a little relieved.
“If it doesn’t please you, we can simply make it so that it does. That is all.”
“Pardon?”
“Yes. So please be at ease… This girl wishes to be loved by a Teacher who chooses us of his own free will.”
“Yes. I love you. Okay, let’s stop here.”
“There is no soul in those words…”
Finally, Ophelia closed the binder with a cheerful expression.
“I’ll summarize.”
“Don’t summarize.”
“Majority in favor. One opposed.”
“Isn’t my opposition the most important?!”
“It is important. That’s why we classified it as a separate review item.”
“You just rejected it.”
Ophelia smiled.
“Teacher. Don’t worry. This system is not forced marriage.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It is simply a long-term cohabitation plan in which we will collectively persuade you until you come to understand it yourself.”
“The wording got even scarier.”
“We have also prepared an official name.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“Returned Students’ Co-habitation Adaptation Course.”
At that moment.
The classroom door opened.
“Hm. That’s a good name.”
“It’s been a while. Everyone, I approve this proposal for now.”
That familiar old-person speech pattern… When I turned my head, the academy director had already arrived and was greeting us cheerfully.
“D-Director! Please listen to me! The kids are going completely crazy right now…!”
“Yes, yes. A shared husband for the stars… Hm. It pains me to send Teacher Rowell, but I shall permit it for now.”
“Excuse me?”
“As expected, I knew the Director would understand.”
“However, I would like to attach a few conditions…”
“Please tell us.”
“Hello?! What about me???”
Apparently I was invisible now. Ophelia and the Director sat down together and began discussing in earnest.
“I hate you all…”
“Hehe. Darling~”
Laira came over to my miserable side and rubbed her cheek against mine.
It was a habit she’d had since she was little. Her body temperature had always run high from running around so much, so her cheek was incredibly warm.
“...Yeah, well… if it’s what you all want, then I guess it’s fine…”
Starting with Laira, they took turns touching me one by one.
At that point, I… sort of gave up.
It seemed like the situation had already slipped far—very, very far—beyond anything I could handle with my own power…
While Rowell was being consumed one by one as the students’ favorite plush toy,
Ophelia was discussing Rowell’s treatment with the Director.
The Director moved his hand through the air as if pulling out documents, even though there was no teacup in sight.
And sure enough, documents really did appear.
“First. Teacher Rowell is, above all else, the supervising instructor. During class, his instructions take absolute priority.”
At those words, Rowell looked at the Director with warm eyes for the first time, seeing a glimmer of hope.
“Director…”
“Second. Capture, pursuit, and restraint are permitted within the scope of practical training, but inflicting irreparable injury on Teacher Rowell is strictly forbidden.”
That glimmer of hope was immediately buried in the mud.
“What about reparable injuries?”
“We have Miss Serena, don’t we?”
“Director?”
Serena smiled quietly as she looked at me.
“Leave it to me.”
“I don’t want to leave it to you.”
The Director flipped to the next page without concern.
“Third. If Teacher Rowell expresses a genuine refusal, the action must be stopped immediately.”
This time the classroom fell silent for a moment.
No one made a joke about that condition.
Elena clasped her hands together, Serena nodded, and Asteria quietly uncrossed her arms.
Ophelia asked,
“How do we distinguish between genuine refusal and a false surrender made for survival?”
“You all know that better than anyone.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Ophelia nodded as if convinced.
For some reason, that made it even scarier to Rowell.
“Fourth. Any single star monopolizing Teacher Rowell is prohibited.”
“Fifth. Requests for counseling, meals, walks, training, and daily guidance will be assigned in rotation. However, they may only occur outside of Teacher Rowell’s class hours.”
“What about my daily life?”
“Can’t be helped. You’re a teacher.”
“Doesn’t the word ‘teacher’ solve way too many problems?”
“Sixth. Students’ desired class request forms must be reviewed by the supervising instructor.”
Rowell shot upright and answered energetically.
“Excellent! I will reject them all!”
“I said review them. I didn’t say reject them.”
“Director?”
Ophelia immediately raised her hand.
“We request the addition of a clause preventing abuse of rejection rights.”
“Approved.”
“You’re not listening to my opinion at all?!”
“Seventh. This course will continue for three years. Until they receive their diplomas, the stars may not leave the Hall of Stars.”
Rowell carefully raised his hand.
“Me too?”
“You are the supervising instructor.”
“So what about me?”
“You are the supervising instructor.”
“That’s not an answer.”
The Director simply smiled and turned to the final page.
“Eighth. Teacher Rowell’s private room shall, in principle, be designated as a safe zone.”
“Director…!”
Rowell looked at the Director once again with warm eyes.
“However, visits are permitted in cases of emergency counseling, meal delivery, health checks, mental stabilization, emotional exchange, class preparation, or daily guidance. Please check the key at the main office staff room entrance.”
“What happens to my personal life?”
“You’re not used to that yet?”
“..........”
Ophelia spoke gently.
“The reasons for visitation are quite specific.”
“Just because they’re specific doesn’t make it okay!”
“Ninth. Barriers, threads, contracts, collars, and other capture assistance tools must be pre-registered without exception.”
Rowell’s pupils shook wildly.
“Why does ‘collar’ come up so naturally?”
The Director was still smiling.
“It’s a provision for the future.”
“What future?”
“You’ll be happier not knowing.”
It wasn’t happy at all.
“Finally.”
The Director lightly closed the documents.
“Teacher Rowell’s final treatment will be discussed again after the graduation ceremony in three years.”
“Could you not use the word ‘treatment’?”
“If you stop trying to run away, I’ll change the wording.”
Rowell thought for a moment.
“Treatment sounds good.”
Ophelia nodded in satisfaction.
“Conditional approval confirmed.”
“Don’t confirm it.”
“Then we will proceed with this system under the official name Returned Students’ Co-habitation Adaptation Course.”
The Director clapped once.
“Excellent.”
Still tied to the teacher’s desk, Rowell looked up at the ceiling.
“.....I’m so tired.”
“Then can I touch your chest?”
It was Astella’s turn. She stopped rubbing her cheek against him, pulled back, and pressed something soft against him as she spoke.
“No… Noooo….”
“Your crying face is so cute~”
She smelled really nice.