I Have Too Many Superiors - 3
I'm definitely the chief, so why does sitting through chief gags feel like some kind of torture? It's almost unfair. Even when my mouth itches to talk back, I keep it shut—but the status thug right in front of me does this without a shred of hesitation.
Maybe it's because of her age.
The resentment softens the moment I remember how old the Demon Duke is, and a twinge of pity takes its place. She's spent a hundred and twenty years living the solo life—no marriage, let alone children. If jokes like this are what keep her entertained, I should just take it. That's the proper attitude for a young man dealing with an elder.
"Baby? What are you thinking about?"
Apparently the pity showed on my face, because the hand still stroking my hair suddenly pressed a little harder.
"I was thinking that if I had Your Grace's sense of humor, my subordinates might follow me more readily."
"Oh dear. It sounds like my baby has been having a hard time. Don't worry—everything will sort itself out as you get older."
I really don't want that.
The Demon Duke had just stamped me with a terrifying curse of a prediction: You'll turn out just like me when you're my age. Mages who have reached the highest realms supposedly pour power into even casual remarks. I felt a little scared.
Separately from my own feelings, my words seemed to have pleased her; her smile deepened a shade.
"I met the child you're talking about eight years ago. That was the only time I ever taught anyone magic."
"Is that so?"
That was a relief. If Luise was the sole person she had ever instructed, it meant the Demon Duke's disciples weren't scattered in unknown corners of the world. Multiple would have been a problem; one could still be written off as a whim or a hobby.
Even the Emperor's suspicions wouldn't reach into something that private. I had been fretting over the possibility that he might start eyeing the Demon Duke with distrust, but of course a duke would already have considered every angle I could think of.
Anyway, eight years ago put Luise at about nine years old.
Of course it's only a one-year difference.
The free chapters had covered her up to age eight. The moment the paid chapters began, she just happened to get tangled up with a duke and start learning magic. Marketing, I guess.
"The girl herself doesn't even know that the person who taught her was Your Grace. It seemed a shame that she doesn't realize what a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck she received."
"I was traveling, and I didn't want things to get noisy."
The last question was answered. She had simply hidden her identity out of a traveler's whim. Fair enough—turning a restful journey into a circus would have been a headache.
I felt lighter. Being dragged into an abrupt meeting with the Demon Duke had been unnerving, but at least I had heard the truth straight from the source. She wasn't the type to lie about something like this.
"Is the child doing well?"
"Ah, yes. She's healthy and well."
The Demon Duke had already taken her hand from my head and was asking after Luise. Even if it had been a whim, she must still feel some fondness for the student she taught.
"When I first saw her she was such a little thing with the most melancholy face. I'm glad."
I quietly nodded.
The truth the Demon Duke had shared was nothing more than the ordinary story of a romance-fantasy heroine receiving a stroke of fortune. After the serious discussion with the principal, the result felt almost anticlimactic. Still, a non-event was far more comfortable than having to clean up some major incident.
With the matter settled on a peaceful note, it was time to head back to the Academy.
"Baby, pour me another cup."
"Yes, Your Grace."
So why wasn't the elder leaving?
I swallowed the words that rose all the way to my throat and carefully refilled the teacup she held out.
The Demon Duke had hauled me into the Audit Department by the hair over an invasion of privacy. She had already forgiven me, and we had covered everything about Luise; there was nothing left to discuss. Yet she showed no sign of departing.
"Is the Academy treating you well?"
For a second it felt exactly like a grandmother asking her grandson, "How's school?" I carefully locked that observation deep inside where it could never escape.
"Yes. I've gotten used to it."
"I see. When I heard my baby was going to the Academy, I was so amused."
"Haha."
So my suffering had been entertainment for Her Grace.
"Back when I attended..."
The Demon Duke trailed off while reminiscing about her school days and awkwardly raised the teacup to her lips. I quietly lowered my gaze as well.
Her reluctance to mention her own age was an open secret too embarrassing to even call a secret. Pure elves were said to be indifferent to age, but the Demon Duke was a half-blood. Having lived among humans rather than elves, her values leaned human as well.
Even if her mind accepted her overwhelming age as natural, her human-adjacent heart would reject it violently. She had probably started talking about her school days, realized the conversation was about to expose exactly how old she was, and shut her mouth in a hurry. Most people already knew her approximate age anyway.
A graduate from a hundred years ago, wasn't she?
But that, too, was something that must never leave my mouth. Even the Iron Blood Duke had earned a sour look for treating her with excessive formality. If a mere heir like me started discussing her age, there was no telling how she would react.
"They say the Academy has changed a great deal these days. I'd almost like to visit if I get the chance."
"The principal would be delighted if Your Grace came."
"Would he? I wonder if there's still a teaching post open."
No. Please, no.
My eyes twitched at the sudden remark. The Demon Duke lightly shook her head.
"But I'm busy enough with Magic Tower business. It would be hard. Though it would be a chance to stay in the same place as my baby."
"I share the regret, Your Grace."
The Demon Duke smiled faintly, set down her teacup, and finally rose from her seat. Her gaze drifted toward my arm as I stood to see her out.
"Do you need some?"
"No, I'm fine. There's still plenty left."
When I moved to roll up my sleeve, she waved me off. Fair enough—I had drawn blood right before being dispatched to the Academy, so there should still be some remaining. Even before the transmigration, donation intervals had been about two or three months. Drawing more now would be cutting it a little close.
"I expect good results soon, so look forward to it."
"I'm glad my blood seems to be of value."
"I'm relieved you feel that way. Drop by the Magic Tower later. You should travel home comfortably as well."
"Thank you for the consideration."
With that, the Demon Duke left the Audit Department. Her pure white hair, glittering whenever it caught the light and trailing along the floor, was impressive every time I saw it. She claimed she had cast a spell so that it never got dirty no matter how much it dragged.
Robot vacuum...
Wherever she passed, the floor was left spotless—not a speck of dust. The magic effect was definitely top-tier. She really was like a living cleaner.
I sat back down with that slightly blasphemous thought. Come to think of it, she had said good results would come soon.
Faster than I expected.
The northern war had revealed physical traits even I hadn't known about—an absurdly tenacious life force and ridiculous recovery speed. I had no idea how many times those qualities had saved my life up north, and they had also drawn the Demon Duke's attention to my bizarre body.
I still remembered how stunned I had been when a duke suddenly showed up at the Audit Department and asked me to sell my blood for experiments. Of course, having once traded blood for two chocolate pies, I accepted without much resistance. She wasn't forcing me; she was offering fair compensation. No reason to refuse.
But what does "soon" mean to her?
"Soon" by the standards of a hundred-and-twenty-year-old half-elf... was probably very different from the "soon" ordinary people used.
Not long after the Demon Duke left, a knock sounded.
"It's over. Come in."
At my answer the executives poured in—exactly five of them. Apparently no one had been out running around; they had all been gathered. Or maybe they had been urgently summoned the moment word of the Demon Duke's visit spread.
"Are you all right, sir?"
"Yeah, no problem."
I nodded to the deputy chief who asked on everyone's behalf. The conversation really had ended without any particular issue. Relieved by the peaceful outcome for a personal visit from a duke, the deputy chief let out a quiet sigh.
"Chief, she came because she missed the place where we work, right? She's just not honest about it."
Once he confirmed the situation wasn't serious, Section Chief One immediately launched into nonsense. The way he scurried over the moment I crooked a finger was deeply unpleasant.
"Mmmmph──!!"
"It was a private matter, not work-related, so don't worry about it. Just do your jobs as usual."
I pinched Section Chief One's lips and explained to the others. Unlike the Golden Duke's visit, which had been a friendly-fire incident caused by a work misunderstanding, this disaster had been entirely my personal blunder. Just thinking about it again made me furious. That bastard of an Intelligence Director.
"But what on earth could make the Demon Duke come in person? She's rarely seen outside the Magic Tower."
I rubbed my chin at Section Chief Two's question, then spoke. I had considered staying silent since it involved a duke's private affairs, but she had told me herself, so it was information the Audit Department was allowed to know.
"There was a noble who received Her Grace's unique magic. When I started looking into it carefully, she came and explained it herself."
"Her unique magic? Whoever it is has hit the jackpot. If they're the Demon Duke's disciple, people would be lining up to recruit them just for existing."
"It's Luise."
Section Chief Two hastily bit his lip, his face twisting. Everyone already knew Luise was the president of the club I supervised. The miraculous probability that the young lady under my charge turned out to be the Demon Duke's disciple left them unsure whether to laugh, marvel, or offer condolences.
"That's astonishing."
The deputy chief's quiet murmur spoke for everyone.
"Mmph— mmph."
"Ah, right."
Just as I was about to sigh, a pitiful moan came from beside me. I had meant to hold him only for a moment and completely forgotten to let go.
"Will you be returning right away?"
"There's nothing to do this morning anyway. Since I'm already here, I'll rest a bit before I go."
"Understood."
The Demon Duke meeting—the whole reason I hadn't wanted to be summoned to the Audit Department—was over. I had already informed the principal, vice-principal, and Villar that I might be late. Club time was still a while off. I could catch my breath for a moment before heading back. A small half-day off for myself after all the trouble.
While I was resting, the communication orb began to glow brilliantly.
"Ah."
I had only just returned and the rumors were already spreading.
I should have gone straight back. What wealth and glory was I hoping to enjoy by lingering?