The Blonde Instructor (2)
The pure white panties, adorned with delicate lace trim, trembled faintly with every tiny spasm that shook Leah’s thigh. It was right in front of his eyes.
“D-Dean…! Please close your eyes right now!”
Leah’s voice trembled as if she were on the verge of tears from sheer embarrassment. The usual image of the reliable, upright former holy knight instructor had completely vanished.
Logan quickly shut his eyes at her pitiful plea. Leah saw that he had closed them and tried to stand, but she couldn’t. Her left hand was still massaging her convulsing left thigh, while her right hand braced against the wall to support her upper body. Both hands were occupied.
“Dean… I really can’t put any strength into my body. Could you please hold my waist and help me up?”
At Leah’s desperate request, Logan thought, This should be about right, and reached out. But with his vision blocked, his hand instead clamped firmly onto her firm, plump rear.
“Kyaa…!”
Startled, Logan quickly pulled his hand away. This time, more carefully, he reached higher, found her waist, and gently pushed her up.
“…….”
Leah’s face, ears, and even the nape of her neck burned bright red with mortification. She respected Logan as both an examiner and the Dean. Yet here she was, showing her pure white lace panties to the very man who had acknowledged her skill in sparring, recognized her as a compassionate instructor despite her prosthetic leg, and then letting out a shriek like some girl not even twenty years old.
Even though Logan’s eyes were closed, Leah was so ashamed she couldn’t lift her head. Paradoxically, the overwhelming shock and surprise seemed to have calmed the terrible spasms that had been tormenting her.
Seizing the opportunity, Leah frantically pulled up her uniform trousers. Her hands slipped while fastening the belt and button, but she moved with single-minded determination to get out of there as quickly as possible.
“Dean… I’m sorry. I’m truly, truly sorry…”
Her voice trailed off. Leah rose from her spot without daring to meet Logan’s eyes.
“The spasms… seem to have eased a little. I have committed a grave discourtesy toward you, Dean. Please excuse me!”
Without waiting for a reply, Leah flung open the storage room door and fled outside.
Left alone in the storage room, Logan slowly opened his eyes. He watched Leah sprint away through the doorway and swallowed a dry laugh.
Logan stepped out of the storage room, closed the door, and walked slowly.
“…She said mana wasn’t conducting properly.”
He headed straight for the academy’s main library. After receiving book recommendations from the librarian about holy magic tools and prosthetics, he returned to the Dean’s Office. Flipping through the pages, he began a meticulous analysis of the symptoms Leah was experiencing.
— Holy magic prosthetics for arms and legs are designed around holy power to prevent demonic energy corrosion.
— The prosthetics are made of a special material that conducts neither mana nor holy power.
— As a result, mana emitted from the body loses its path at the joint and stagnates. This stagnant energy stiffens surrounding muscles and causes spasms during excessive activity.
— The most effective relief method is to delicately inject and circulate mana from an external source.
Logan turned the final page and closed the book.
I’ll have to speak with her properly again tomorrow.
After that day, Leah began openly avoiding Logan. If they nearly crossed paths in the hallway during academy patrols, she would quickly avert her gaze and turn in the opposite direction. Even on the training grounds, she would only offer a slight bow in greeting before vanishing among the students the moment she spotted him.
Logan did not force the issue. He simply observed her condition from afar. And so he witnessed the same scene repeating for several days.
In the evening after training ended, Leah would slip into the storage room alone. The door would stay shut for a long while before she finally emerged, unable to hide the frustrated expression that said things hadn’t gone well.
That day, Logan sent a simple summons to the instructor’s office.
Please come to the Dean’s Office after training concludes.
Upon receiving Logan’s summons, Leah realized she could no longer avoid him. A short while later, the door to the Dean’s Office opened and Leah stepped inside.
“Have a seat.”
Logan, seated on the sofa, got straight to the point.
“How has your leg been lately, Instructor Vesper?”
“It’s fine. There’s no need for you to worry about it.”
“Fine?” Logan crossed his arms and gazed at her steadily. “I saw you entering the storage room alone after training recently. You were going to massage your prosthetic by yourself, weren’t you? You know better than anyone that struggling with mana control you aren’t good at and rubbing it yourself is pointless.”
A mixture of shame and embarrassment spread across Leah’s face.
“That was…”
“Last time was an emergency, so it was an unexpected accident. But if we prepare in advance and prevent it properly, I can help you. You know my mana control ability better than anyone.”
Logan spoke carefully.
“If you agree, contact me beforehand and wait in the storage room. And… don’t forget to choose your clothing carefully.”
At those words, Leah’s face flushed so deeply it looked ready to burst. The memory of the exposure incident in the storage room suddenly resurfaced, along with the emotions she had felt then.
Leah rose slowly.
“…I’ll think about it.”
After her retreating figure disappeared beyond the Dean’s Office door, Logan leaned back in his chair for a moment before picking up his outer coat. The sun had not yet fully set. The place he headed to was Isabel’s residence.
Lately, Isabel had been throwing herself excessively into academy administrative work. The driving force behind her was the desire to shed the label of “incompetent commoner woman” and be of help to Logan, but it seemed that desire had been too strong. When Logan heard she had collapsed from overwork and caught a cold, he quickened his steps.
Logan picked up some fruit and headed to her quarters. He arrived at the door and knocked lightly.
Knock, knock.
A moment later, Isabel opened the door. She gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.
“Ah, Dean! What brings you here without any notice…?”
“I heard you caught a cold. Are you still in a lot of pain?”
Isabel shook her head slightly.
“The fever has gone down a lot now. I just… think I pushed myself too hard lately.”
She smiled faintly, but self-reproach lingered in that smile. Logan pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. There was almost no heat left.
“The fever is almost gone.”
Isabel leaned into his touch, gently rubbing her forehead against his hand before shyly lifting her head again.
“Having you come see me in person… makes me feel like I’ll recover even faster.”
Logan withdrew his hand, looking a little embarrassed. He realized tomorrow was the weekend. Gazing at Isabel, he made a quiet suggestion.
“Tomorrow is the weekend. How about you and Bella take a one-night, two-day trip somewhere nearby?”
“I… would like that, but I should ask Bella first. I’m not sure if she’ll want to…”
Logan nodded.
“Then let’s go ask her together.”
After a brief hesitation, Isabel followed Logan to the dormitory where Bella was staying. Startled by the sudden visit from the Dean and her mother, Bella’s eyes widened and she came running out with delight.
“Mom! Dean!”
While Isabel hugged her daughter, Logan brought up the main topic.
“How would you like to go on a one-night, two-day trip with your mother tomorrow? I’ll prepare the carriage and driver. Your mother seems to have been overworking herself lately. Take this chance to go heal and relax together.”
Bella paused as if thinking, studying her mother’s face. She already knew. She knew how tender her mother’s eyes became when looking at the Dean, and how happy her mother appeared whenever the two of them were together. A mischievous smile spread across Bella’s lips.
“Hmm, sounds good! But Dean… you should come too!”
“Me?” Logan asked, caught off guard. Bella grabbed his sleeve and whined in a coquettish voice.
“Yes! Mom hasn’t fully recovered yet. I’d feel much safer traveling if a strong, reliable man like the Dean is with us. You’ll come with us, right?”
With a troubled expression, Logan turned to Isabel.
“Isabel, would it be alright if I joined you?”
Isabel was surprised by her daughter’s bold suggestion, but she couldn’t hide the joy in her heart as she answered carefully.
“Yes… it would be much more reassuring to have a dependable gentleman with us on a mother-daughter trip.”
Receiving the expectant gazes of both women, Logan finally nodded in surrender.
“We’ll depart for a nearby destination tomorrow morning.”
A bright smile bloomed on Isabel’s face, and Bella let out a small cheer as she clung to Logan’s arm.
The next day, the carriage waiting at the academy’s main gate was a spacious four-seater with thin lace curtains draped over every window. Bella climbed in first and claimed the window seat. She hugged her small travel bag tightly, kicking her feet excitedly as she gazed outside.
Isabel wore a violet dress. She took Logan’s hand and stepped carefully into the carriage, one foot at a time.
“Thank you.”
As the carriage began to move, Bella waved out the window and shouted.
“We’re off! Goodbye, academy!”
Isabel smiled and stroked her daughter’s hair.
“Bella, don’t lean out the window too far.”
They arrived at the city of Vihenna around lunchtime, and the streets were alive with festival energy. Performances by clowns and musicians filled every corner. Bella’s eyes sparkled as she tried to run toward the lively streets.
“Wow! Mother, look over there! They’re making candy sculptures too!”
“Bella, don’t rush. There are so many people here.”
Isabel tried to follow her daughter, but the festival crowd was far denser than expected. As countless people bumped shoulders while passing by, Isabel’s body swayed. At that moment, a large hand caught her waist.
“……!”
Startled, Isabel looked up to see Logan’s impassive face.
He steadied her upright, then took her hand.
“There are too many people. It would be easy to get swept away.”
Logan watched Bella’s back as she walked ahead and murmured in a low voice.
“It’s the perfect place to get lost, so don’t let go of my hand.”
“Ah… Yes, Dean.”
While walking through the streets, Logan stopped in front of a shop displaying ornate accessories. The shelves were filled with handmade jewelry. He chose a cute pearl-shaped pendant for Bella, then selected one for Isabel.
“This should suit you well.”
What Logan picked up was a brooch set with a transparent violet gemstone. It matched Isabel’s violet eyes perfectly.
“It’s really beautiful… It’s my favorite color. Thank you, Dean.”
“Mom looks so pretty. The Dean picked something that suits you perfectly.”
Isabel spoke a little shyly, saying she would cherish it.