Chapter 197: Teacher (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 197: Teacher (1)
“Merlin, what should I do?”
The vibrant colors of the garden had since faded into a lush, deep green. The sweet scent of spring had long since departed.
Around the time the freshmen were finally adjusting to academy life, Princess Snow White was sinking into a deep depression.
White sat on the dry grass, leaning against the trunk of a tree near Orphin Hall. She poured out her troubles to Merlin Astrea, who stood faithfully by her side.
It was a familiar sight. At this point, Merlin wasn't sure if listening to these woes was officially part of her duties as a knight escort.
“It’s because of me that Senior Isaac is suffering from these malicious rumors… rumors that he’s a player. I didn’t mean it in a romantic way! I meant that I liked him out of respect… that’s what I intended for my victory speech to convey, but I never expected things to turn out like this…”
White’s hands trembled, her face a mask of grief.
It all stemmed from the beauty contest held during the Grand Festival.
White had been crowned the Goddess of Beauty at Märchen Academy after taking first place. However, her victory speech—in which she dedicated her honor to Isaac, the person she trusted and respected most—had been misinterpreted by the student body.
— “I… like this person the most in this academy. I dedicate all this honor to ‘Senior Isaac.’”
The phrase “I like this person” was the catalyst.
To the students, "like" was synonymous with "love."
Students lived for sensational gossip, and many were already well aware of how attractive Isaac was. With his handsome features, incredible talent, diligence, and a maturity that far exceeded his peers… it would be a lie to say the female students didn't find him appealing.
However, because Luce’s intimidating aura was so overwhelming, most had no choice but to suppress their budding feelings.
White’s public declaration had reignited a fire. Between Luce and Dorothy—two powerful women already heavily involved with him—the old rumor from last year that "Isaac is a player" had been resurrected with a vengeance.
As a result, White’s speech was now viewed as a public confession of love.
It wasn't that White didn't see Isaac as a potential romantic interest, but her feelings at the time were rooted in genuine admiration.
I should have been more careful with my words…
White had been drowning in regret for days.
To make matters worse, Isaac had recently gotten into a confrontation with the Priestess and was seriously injured. When White was called in as a person of interest, she learned that the Priestess had used her name to stage a dramatic provocation.
Isaac had fought the Priestess—the ruler of the Eastern Nation and a genius with Grade S mana—all for her sake.
Naturally, the guilt was crushing. That was why she was currently confiding in Merlin.
“It should be alright, shouldn't it? The Sir Isaac I know is a thoughtful man. He isn't the type to be disappointed over such a trivial matter…”
Merlin trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
It was a terribly dishonorable rumor, after all. If Merlin herself were the subject of rumors claiming she was a "player," she would have immediately hunted down the source and cut them down.
It didn't matter how White intended the speech; people interpreted what they saw and heard through their own lens. The damage was done.
Merlin struggled to decide if this was strictly White's fault. While she had been careless, the reaction was arguably out of her control.
“Wouldn’t the issue be resolved if you just had a proper conversation with Sir Isaac? Most conflicts are settled through communication,” Merlin managed to respond.
Ultimately, it was between Isaac and White. If Isaac brushed it off, the rumors would eventually die down.
The problem was, if it were that simple, White wouldn't still be this distraught.
With a miserable expression, White shook her head.
“But you’ve seen it too, Merlin. Lately, Senior Isaac has been avoiding me. He hardly speaks, and when he does, it’s only short answers… I thought everything was fine after I apologized, but now it feels like we’ve grown even more distant…”
Lately, Isaac had been strictly formal with her.
A few days ago, White had explained the situation and apologized. He had told her not to worry, saying it wasn't her fault and that he was actually grateful she thought so highly of him.
White had been relieved, thinking the storm had passed.
But since then, their conversations had been brief and strictly academic. Whenever she tried to pivot to a personal topic, Isaac would give dry, one-word responses like “Yeah,” “Uh-huh,” or “Right.” They hadn't had a real conversation in days.
In reality, Isaac was simply hyper-focused on mastering 7-star elemental magic. However, White, accustomed to his usual kindness, interpreted his preoccupation as discomfort.
The person she felt most comfortable with in the entire academy was Senior Isaac. She couldn't bear the thought of losing that bond.
“There must be a reason. It will be okay soon.”
“What if…”
“Yes?”
“…What if Senior Isaac finds me uncomfortable and decides he wants to leave me? What should I do then?”
When people start feeling awkward around a close friend, they often distance themselves until they eventually vanish. White was terrified of this. To her, Isaac’s current behavior looked like the first step toward abandonment.
“How could Sir Isaac ever abandon you, Princess? He fought the Priestess for you. He isn't that kind of person.”
“That’s true… isn’t it?”
“And even if that were to happen, so be it. There’s no need to cling to someone who wants to go.”
“That’s also true…” White let out a helpless sigh.
Merlin found the girl’s expression endearing and offered a small, silent smile before quickly regaining her composure.
“Don’t worry too much. You’ll be receiving guidance from Sir Isaac soon. Don't be so disheartened.”
“I’m not disheartened, just… hurt. If I’ve done something wrong, I have to make an effort to fix it.”
White stood up, her voice devoid of its usual energy.
“Should I go see him now?”
*
At a corner of the Hydrangea Garden, White’s wind magic rippled across the surface of the lake.
“White, take a break.”
“No, I’m still okay! I can do more… Uh-oh, nosebleed!”
“I said take a break.”
White was training with more intensity than usual. It was obvious she was trying to show me her best side. Regardless of her motivation, the effort was good to see, and a small smile tugged at my lips.
“Time’s up. Good job.”
“Haaa… haaa… It’s over…!”
Once the session ended, I conjured a stone chair using [Rock Generation]. Drenched in sweat, White collapsed onto the seat, gasping for air.
While she recovered, I brought over five rolls of parchment I had prepared.
“Here. This is your homework.”
Flustered, White scrambled to gather the scrolls into her arms.
“Ah, Senior Isaac… why is there so much today? You usually only give me one…”
“Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to mentor you for a while.”
“…!”
White froze instantly, looking as though she’d been struck by lightning.
“My schedule just won't allow it for the time being.”
“Why?! Why not?!”
“Do you remember me mentioning I wanted to learn a 7-star spell?”
I took off my glasses and looked at her. White nodded slowly.
“I’ve been given the chance to learn from the Tower Master of Hegel. She said if I pass her test, she’ll take me as her disciple. The test will likely last for three days.”
I spoke calmly, wiping my lenses with a cloth.
“If I pass, I won’t have much free time. And I plan to pass, no matter what.”
I was determined to clear whatever trial Aria Lillias set for me and Luce. If I started training under her, my schedule would be completely overhauled. My free time would vanish, making it impossible to keep teaching White.
“So, I need to focus on my own tasks for now. I’m sorry. Let’s disband for today…”
I put my glasses back on and looked at White, only to find myself at a loss for words.
She looked utterly devastated. A faint, broken whining sound—“Heeee…”—escaped her lips. She looked like she’d lost her mind.
Why is she reacting like this?
“White?”
“I’m okay… I’m really… okay…”
She didn't look okay at all. I activated [Psychological Insight].
What’s this? Is she worried I’m abandoning her forever?
Where did that come from?
I searched my recent memories of her and realized the cause. Come to think of it, I hadn't talked to her much lately. I’d been so preoccupied with 7-star magic formulas that our conversations had dwindled to almost nothing.
Was she really that sensitive? To think she felt I was distancing myself just because of that…
Even with [Psychological Insight], I couldn't fully wrap my head around the psyche of a teenage girl.
Regardless, I needed to reassure her. I had been too blunt, saying "let's disband" when we wouldn't be seeing each other for a while.
“White.”
“Yes…?”
I pulled a pudding bar from my pocket, unwrapped it, and held it out.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Merlin sprinted past us, snatched a bite of the pudding bar, and kept running. The gust of wind from her passing whipped White’s hair and the hem of her dress.
…Well, then. I held out the remaining two-thirds of the pudding bar to White’s mouth.
White looked back and forth between the snack and me, looking bewildered.
“Study hard and improve your skills. Surprise me when I get back.”
White hadn't been able to pay off her "debt" by the last deadline. As a result, I’d proposed a new training method: circulating and sharing our mana. It was a way to enhance Mana Mastery and Elemental Resistance, tapping directly into her latent potential.
We had tried it once, but White couldn't handle the mana backlash. She’d panicked and run off to vomit somewhere, so we had to extend the deadline again.
Thinking about it now, White’s expression was a mix of happiness and bitterness. It was actually quite adorable.
Despite her being a key figure for the second semester of the second year, I felt a genuine affection for her as a student. I wouldn't dream of abandoning her.
“You’re coming back… right?”
“Huh?”
White asked in a small, subdued voice, her eyes cast downward. She seemed to be summoning every ounce of courage to ask.
“You’re really coming back, right…?”
She slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. She reached out and gently gripped my collar.
“I’m such a lacking person… hic… a pest that only causes trouble for you, Senior… You’re not trying to get away from me, are you…?”
Her voice cracked, on the verge of a sob.
I felt a chill run down my spine. Where is this self-deprecation coming from?
“You have talent and you’re doing well. Why would I ever leave you?”
“Then, Senior Isaac… please come back soon. I’ll miss you…”
Her desperate attempt to hold back the tears was so pathetic it was almost funny. I let out a small chuckle and nodded.
Finally, White seemed to relax. She leaned in, took a bite of the pudding bar, and chewed happily.
“Sniffle… it’s delicious…”
She took the rest of the bar, savoring the taste even as her expression remained mournful.
*
[It’s quite amusing, isn’t it?]
The sky was like spilled ink, dotted with brilliant stars.
Inside the student council room, only a single desk lamp emitted a soft glow. Beside it sat a plump purple cat—the Phantom Cat, Cheshire. He was speaking to the girl with pale gold hair sitting across from him: Alice Carroll, the Student Council President.
Alice sat in her chair, gazing out the window while holding a cup of tea.
[Meow~. Let’s review the situation!]
Cheshire stood up abruptly, spreading his front paws wide.
[The Black Monster—the one who always defeats demons and vanishes—appeared atop the clock tower as if he were watching the academy! As soon as he was spotted, he fled! But don’t you find it strange?]
On the final day of the festival, the Black Monster—The Nameless Hero—had acted suspiciously.
Alice took a slow sip of her tea.
[The White Dragon flew straight to him, didn't it? Because of that, the teachers and Imperial knights were forced to notice him. It was as if he wanted to be found! As if he were creating a distraction to hide something else!]
The Phantom Cat tilted his head to the side. His eyes gleamed with a predatory sharpness, like the edge of a blade.
[Isaac. Let’s just kill him.]
Alice’s hand froze mid-sip.
[It’s obvious he’s the Black Monster. He probably gave the cloak to an accomplice to create an alibi…]
“Cheshire. Go back.”
[Meow? So suddenly?]
Whoosh.
Alice forcibly unsummoned Cheshire.
A moment later, dark mana began to seep from her choker. It rose above her head like thick smoke, coalescing into a shape that resembled a woman, yet remained monstrous.
Alice remained perfectly still, her expression unchanging as she stared out the window.
The head of dark mana moved its lips.
[Venerable Alice… how are you faring…?]
The voice was bizarre, a haunting feminine rasp.
[It is almost time… Enough with these games, don’t you think…?]
From the cheekbone of the smoky head, a spindly, frail arm emerged. A hand with seven slender fingers reached out and gently stroked Alice’s hair.
[For the sake of the kingdom you cherish so dearly…]
The mysterious entity whispered into her ear.
[Please… faithfully fulfill the contract.]
In the blink of an eye, the dark figure vanished.
Alice moved to take another sip of tea but stopped, placing the cup back on the desk. She reached up and touched her choker. Her hand began to tremble.
She dug her fingernails into the choker, scratching at it with desperate force. Even as the grating sound filled the room and her nails cracked and bled, she didn't stop.
Finally, Alice let out a long, silent breath.