The Contract's Crumbling Edge

Jerome gazed at Rai with a sly grin, then turned his attention to the contract Celenas had brought. "Such a sloppy contract, don't you think? How is anyone supposed to enforce this? No wonder problems arise."

He scanned the document, shaking his head in mock pity. "The signature line is still blank, yet the clauses match the original exactly. I'll add a few personal touches while I'm at it."

With practiced flair, Jerome's pen flew across the page, carving in his own demands. "First, I expect absolute obedience to my orders. Why even bother with a contract if the Devil of All Nations is roaming the empire like a tourist? This one goes too—let's trim it further. A few more adjustments and it'll be perfect."

He polished each clause with self-satisfied flair, then set the pen down with elegant finality. Rai's eyes narrowed at the sight, but Jerome simply tucked the finished contract under his arm, leaned back against the sofa, and sighed in satisfaction. "This is the kind of contract a reasonable man can live with. I'll manage it without any fuss, Headmistress. No need to worry."

Watching Jerome sip his tea with relaxed ease, Celenas let out a bitter laugh that never quite reached her eyes. Rai flipped through the contract, then caught Jerome's gaze and smirked, a glint of mischief dancing in his red eyes.

Rai snatched the contract from Jerome's hands and ripped it clean in half with a single effortless tug. "What the hell are you—"

"Yo, signing something like this? You must have been backhanding those naive kids for a long time. How dare you hand out an unfair contract with that smug look on your face."

He didn't stop at the first tear. Ripping the paper into tiny shreds, he flicked the pieces at Jerome's face like confetti. The sight was beautiful in its chaos, yet Jerome's expression twisted in quiet fury as the fragments rained down. Setting his saucer aside, he rose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slowly, voice tight with barely contained rage. "How dare you threaten the empire—"

"Why? Jealous? Go tell the emperor himself: 'Your Majesty, this guy won't listen to me~ Haaang~ Please punish him~'"

Watching Jerome's humiliated smirk, Celenas bit back a laugh and bowed her head. Jerome shot her a quick glance, forced a smile, then locked eyes with Rai, eyes burning. "Are you really rebelling against the empire now?"

"The empire? Please. We've already sealed the deal with that contract. If you'd handed me the one you wrote, I'd have signed it. Stop underestimating me. When you negotiated, did you only deal with dummies?"

"I'm the current representative. The empire has granted me full authority."

Jerome tried to sound threatening, but Rai stayed calm. "Then tell them I'm not signing. And mention that my representative is too stupid to understand the terms."

Jerome threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the room. "Still a man who once ruled the era, aren't you? Such fire in your pride."

He straightened, eyes cold as steel. "Refuse, and you'll end up right here."

"How exactly? I have permission to use lethal force for self-defense. You'd need a division to take me down."

"Arrogant. Do you really think the empire will let you live once your true identity is revealed?"

Jerome's mustache twitched. Rai flashed a lazy grin. "When my identity comes out, the once-stable Kingdom of Keilen—or rather, Iderea Territory—will rise up in rebellion?"

"You think the empire's strength can't crush it? Our empire's armies treat such resistance as nothing more than a nuisance."

"Aah~ You're the one who should know best."

Rai nodded, unperturbed. After all, in the Era of Strife he'd clashed with far more dangerous foes than this.

But Jerome's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smirk faded as Rai leaned forward, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "What if the empire only goes after Iderea? They're barely stabilizing the region to control trade routes. If rebellion flares up there, who do you think the empire will blame?"

"... ..."

"Shall I stay at the academy pretending to be a good student? Or the incompetent mustache-wielder they sent to manage me? Let's test it. I'll see if you have time to shave that thing properly."

Jerome's face hardened. Rai chuckled, stood, and returned moments later with a plate of cookies from the cabinet. He kicked his feet up on the sofa, lounged back, and popped one into his mouth, voice dripping sarcasm. "Why am I being managed by some idiot? My pride hurts. Headmistress... wait, now you're the mustache? Celenas, please keep managing me. I'm dying here. The empire doesn't value me anymore? Please talk to the emperor for me."

Every word was pure venom, yet Jerome could only sit there and simmer, silent as a stone. Celenas watched quietly, unable to reply. Rai brushed cookie crumbs from his clothes and met Jerome's eyes with a sweet smile. "Oh, I have one more request. One cookie a day... no, deliver them straight to me? Ah, too much? I was just thinking out loud. It's fine anyway—the headmaster visiting every day must be exhausting."

Before Jerome could recover, Celenas placed a fresh contract on the table. She had clearly anticipated this outcome, having prepared a copy along with the shredded original. Jerome's hand trembled with fury as he signed. He slammed the pen down so hard it skittered across the table. Rai snatched it mid-roll, signed without hesitation, and grinned.

"Thank you, Master. Ah, do you like being called Master? Do you like the mustache? And don't mistake this for Ten Thousand Evils—I'm just Rai. Wouldn't want a rebellion in Iderea, after all. You really should keep that thing neat."

"Keep running that mouth and it'll be the last thing you ever do."

"You started it, mustache. I was just sitting here. Huh? No? No?"

Celenas had always been Rai's ally, yet even she looked away, clearly embarrassed. Jerome stood abruptly. "I'll take my leave then."

"Eh? Now? After everything, what changes? What, what—putting on airs? Ah, what a magnificent headmaster. The last part was almost believable."

Celenas stifled an awkward smile and gave Rai's side a quick shove. "Ah, wait—just a little longer! Don't push me!"

Grumbling, Rai was still being herded toward the door when Celenas bowed to Jerome and slipped out. The door clicked shut. Jerome exhaled deeply, trying to calm his racing heart.

The door suddenly burst open. Rai strolled back in, holding the remaining cookie envelope, and tossed it onto the sofa. **

** A moment of silence followed by the sound of shattering objects echoed from the headmaster's office. Rai chuckled as he heard the noise behind him. "Did I push you too far?"

"Funny, isn't it? I came in here to push you out. Besides, I like this headmaster."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Celenas's expression softened with relief, but she still scolded him lightly. "Things are bound to escalate. Just watch."

Rai, who had just finished training with the students, stared at Jerome and the staff with a blank face. The employees deliberately avoided his eyes, but Jerome approached with a bright smile. "Even I have to admit that an instructor occupying an entire villa meant for guests creates an unfair advantage for some of the other teachers."

His confident, almost arrogant tone made Rai smile faintly. "Ooh, look at that—someone got embarrassed. Even a goblin wouldn't stoop that low."

"It's not embarrassing. It's simply following regulations. Judging by your work ethic, there are quite a few issues with Instructor Rai."

Jerome adjusted his monocle and flipped through the thick stack of documents he'd brought. "Forty-two unapproved class cancellations. The faculty meeting attendance is harder to count, but the real problem is students participating in tournaments while acting as an instructor. That's an automatic violation."

"The dean already punished me for that."

"Ah, but a half-measure like that won't do. It's not even in the rules. As for the previous offenses, they'll be deducted from your salary. Hmm... next year we'll keep you on unpaid status."

The new year had barely begun and already they were cutting his pay. "What kind of nonsense have you been pulling?"

"I'm simply paying off past karma."

Aslan and Philia shot him pitying looks. "Yo, kids. Become my allies or I'll let you starve."

"What? You told me you gave you money."

"That was lost gambling."

"You insane gambler! How can you lose when you gamble so well!"

"Even the best gamblers have losing days. Mine just happened to be excessive."

While Rai and Aslan bickered, Jerome's gaze met Philia's. She knew him well—second ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prince faction, always running between battlefields, carrying out orders under her father Count Infante. Seeing Philia, Jerome's expression darkened further. "Count Serios worries greatly about his daughter. Is she not returning?"

"I've already left home. The Serios family has nothing more to do with me."

Jerome nodded without emotion. "Count Serios must be quite worried. An adult daughter living with a man outside her family... that reflects poorly on her dignity."

"Ooh~ What can I say? An academy student seducing the headmaster. It's not like it's illegal, right?"

Diana, who had been watching from the side, snuggled up to Jerome. He regarded her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with icy eyes. "Diana Deschubella, a lazy troublemaker. That's why you got embarrassed."

"If you worked hard to become like me, I'd keep playing instead. An academy headmaster with... intentions toward students? Disgusting."

Diana wrinkled her nose and waved her hands in revulsion. Noticing the resemblance between master and student, Jerome glanced at Rai, then at his staff. "Shall we enter then?"

"... ... Are you really doing this?"

"We must follow the regulations. This is not the instructor's private property—it's a facility for guests."

The staff moved in reluctantly, avoiding Rai's gaze as they entered the villa at will. Rai watched them, then grinned at Jerome. "Leave by tonight. Fortunately, the kind staff members have offered to help you."

Watching the employees haul items out, Rai frowned. "Miss Hana, you look happy."

"Hic—! No, no. I don't want to... the new headmaster... no..."

Hana bolted inside after catching the eye between Rai and Jerome. Rai shrugged, amused by her overreaction. "Then where am I supposed to go?"

"Search me. This is the academy, not a refugee shelter."

A massive crash echoed as a staff member was blasted out of the wall. In the sunless shade, Agnes rode Tora, her red eyes glowing with lethal intent. "Another headache the headmaster created."

Jerome sighed softly at the ominous aura radiating from her. "Agnes! We're only following the headmaster's orders—"

The staff stammered an explanation, but Agnes raised her sword without listening. "Stop."

Agnes paused, staring blankly at Rai before lowering her weapon. Her lip trembled with barely contained anger. "Since it's my stuff, you can leave anyway."

Rai spoke casually. The staff hesitated, but Jerome nodded, and they finally moved. "I'll be gone by tonight. Don't worry about me—leave."

"Insubordination toward the headmaster is not part of your work ethic."

"Is hanging the headmaster's head at the door also considered proper etiquette?"

Rai's killing intent flared. Jerome's mouth snapped shut. He couldn't harm his contract partner, yet the pressure made him instinctively shrink back. "Everyone, pack everything and leave today. I'll check tomorrow."

Rai watched Jerome's retreating back, then turned to the students and Agnes with a grin. "Sorry, I'm now a vagrant. Ah, you all too."