Unexpected Conversation with Professor Selen
Before leaving Professor Perrent's office, I thought I might have heard something strange, but it was probably just my imagination. Or perhaps it was Perrent's joke. Yeah, a joke. I had only thought he was a rigid, old-fashioned person because he was the former knight commander, but he could joke too.
“Oh~ It's not our Elicia. Are you on your way back from counseling?”
No. I probably just heard nonsense because my condition wasn't good. Even now, nonsense was coming to my ears.
During the mid-term exam period, staying up late reading a novel I hadn't had a chance to read before made my condition worse. There were still plenty of novels on the list Selen had recommended, but today, I decided to stop reading novels and go to bed early.
“How about it. Aren't you still planning to transfer to class 2?”
Even though I was trying hard to ignore her by pretending I hadn't heard, Professor Selen kept bringing it up, clinging stubbornly.
“No. I don't think I'll ever go to Professor's class.”
“Hmm. It seems you were really looked down on. Well, let's save that topic for next time. How about coming to my room to have a cup of tea?”
Despite my cold refusal, Selen invited me even more to his office. Even though my view of Selen has hit rock bottom because of the previous incident, Selen seems to have goodwill towards me.
“Then I'll see you in the next class.”
“Don’t be so aloof. I called you because I wanted to hear about Yuri.”
“...Yuri?”
As much as it was Selen's words as Yuri's former advisor, I couldn't just let it go, so I followed Selen to his office.
This is really a bad situation where I'm being summoned to the professor's office twice in one day. If a stranger saw it, they'd think I'm a problem student.
The inside of Selen's office after following him in was quite simple. The only thing that caught the eye was probably the adventurer's badge. Selen was a platinum adventurer on the continent, one of only 9, and originally planned to retire and go back to his hometown, but for some reason changed his mind and took the position of professor at Griffin Academy.
Sitting in front of the table placed formally in the middle, Selen familiarly brought out a cup of tea.
I had already drunk tea when consulting with Perrent, but since it was hard to refuse, I accepted.
“Ah, sorry. Because I'm from a mercenary background, there aren't many things I can serve that's decent, so only this cheap tea.”
When I picked up the teacup, the warmth of the tea felt through the cup. To check if it was hot, I slightly touched my tongue, but it was moderately warm, so I took a sip.
It only filled my mouth with bitterness. But after swallowing the bitterness and taking a short breath, the unique fragrance came out.
It's Deple Tea.
It's something you can easily see anywhere on the continent, more like a bunch of weeds than actual tea leaves.
It's completely the opposite of the tea I drank in Perrent's office earlier.
It doesn't taste good, and because it's a bunch of weeds, it doesn't give satiety. So no one drinks it, but the only use is drinking it as tea. But there are almost no people who drink this tea leaf by enjoying the slight fragrance after the bitterness.
“Oh, you know Deple Tea? My class's little ones don't know what it is, they take one sip and spit it out or with a wrinkled face, they don't even touch it anymore.”
While ignoring Selen's chuckling words, I took another sip. It was quite a familiar taste and aroma.
As I said, Deple Tea is just a rough brew of some common weed with warm water, without much taste. Although no one drinks it, conversely, it's a tea that anyone can drink.
It's limited in drinking, and in the assassin guild days when I had no time, every time I went out, I would often pick Deple leaves and brew tea. When bored, I'd just put it in my mouth and chew it slowly.
Of course, at the academy, there were many other things to eat, so I didn't touch it, but when we reunited like this, I was quite happy.
Selen, who also poured water into his own teacup and brought it, sat in the top seat and took a sip of the Deple tea.
“Actually, now I have the luxury to drink any expensive tea, but because of the memories of the past, this tea is the one that suits my taste the most.”
Even though I've been eating only delicious food for a while, seeing that I missed it, it's a story that somewhat resonates.
Actually, I also have a preference for this side more than the tea I drank in Perrent's room earlier. But even if resonance is created, it doesn't create any goodwill towards Selen.
“Just tell me what you have to say quickly. I...”
Because I didn't like Selen professor due to the past incident, a slightly impolite tone came out. Actually, there was no particularly busy situation.
But I didn't care much. For some reason, Selen has goodwill towards me. I thought he would overlook this much, and if not, I could at least tolerate one subject score.
Of course, he might directly try to make fun of me, but I don't think the platinum adventurer would be that petty.
“It’s not a big deal. I called you because I was curious how Yuri is doing.”
Even though Selen's words about what he did to Yuri should be insincere, there was no insincerity in his tone.
“Why are you so concerned about Yuri? After all, you won't be her class teacher anymore...”
Selen set down his teacup and shrugged.
“Rather, it's easier to ask since you are no longer my class teacher. She is the daughter of my close friend.”
“That means...?”
“I’ve known Yuri’s parents, the two of them, for a long time. As friends' daughters, isn’t it worth worrying about to some extent?”
When Selen said that, his face at least didn't seem like he was lying in my view.
“If you want to worry so much, then why didn't you help Yuri last time?”
“I told you the reason back then? My educational policy hasn’t changed. Even if it’s the daughter of a close friend, there are no exceptions. And originally, the one who suggested not to make any exceptions at all was Craig’s comment?”
“If it’s Craig... Yuri’s father?”
“Yeah. That guy rather wants Yuri not to hold a sword. He’s quite attached to her. Though he’s originally a quiet guy, after Linis died, he became even quieter... so Yuri, without knowing that, is chasing her dad and swinging a sword.”
It’s a line I couldn’t hear from Yuri.
“Then why don't you tell Yuri directly instead of telling me...?”
“Well, isn’t it funny that now I call Yuri and talk about various things? So, I'm asking you. It’s not to ask Craig to give up the sword, but just to ask if she can live well by my side.”
But I had already taken the teacup to my mouth, but now it was empty.
“But then, Professor would be betraying Craig, Yuri’s father... Lord Craig’s request, right?”
However, Selen smiled wickedly at my words and gulped down the tea in his teacup at once and opened his mouth.
“I liked Linis more than Craig.”
As I opened the classroom door, Yuri greeted me.
From the conversations I've had with Yuri so far, Yuri didn't know at all how her father thought. Yuri herself knew that her father was being strict with her and that her family didn't pay attention to her.
But according to what I heard from Selen, it was a bit different. Craig was just awkward in expression, and the family actually feared Yuri and distanced themselves.
“I stopped by somewhere else on the way.”
But I didn't tell Yuri what I heard from Selen. There was no law that Selen's words were all facts, and as an outsider, it was sensitive for me to get involved.
If there's a chance later, I'll tell the story then.
“Yeah? If it's counseling, what would you ask? Probably to point out that the mid-term scores are low?”
“Probably. Uuu... Next time, I will definitely receive high scores in written tests too...”
Yuri's guess was wrapped around by Anne next to her. It's a sorry word to Anne, but I can definitely guarantee that her determination will become a blank sheet in just three days. I can bet on it!
Originally, even during the mid-term preparation period, Yuri was the one who barely dragged me to study when I decided to study for a few days and then gave up.
So, I can guarantee it.
Yuri even later started to avoid me and hide, but somehow Yuri brought her back every time, made her sit in front of the desk, and made her study.
Anne should be grateful to Yuri. If Yuri hadn't been there, Anne's written scores would have been even more horrific than now.
“Then, will I tutor you in studying from today? Like during mid-terms?”
Even now, Yuri's determined words spark in her eyes as she says she'll teach studying, but
“Ah, no. It seems fine for now!”
Look. Just a few seconds after making a promise, Yuri rejects the proposal to help study.
Always Anne.