The Allure of the Rare Treasures Expo
"Expo?"
"Yes! It's an expo! An expo!"
The students replied to my puzzled question, uncharacteristically failing to hide their excitement.
It had been a few days since the Manual Ghost Story incident. In the peaceful days that followed, with no ghost stories attacking, we gathered in the Paranormal Investigation Club room as usual, each tending to our tasks. That's when talk of the expo bubbled up among the students.
Everlight Academy sat on an island—one large enough to rival a small city. The surrounding area boasted facilities and a population on par with a major national metropolis. Yet the academy remained isolated. The island's sheer size allowed a degree of self-sufficiency without outside aid, making external exchange even less essential.
In this context came the exhibition: a special expo gathering rare artifacts and displays from various countries, held just for Everlight Academy's students. It was a rare opportunity indeed. Even for Everlight Academy, such a grand event happened once every few years, if that.
They were all in their overflowing twenties. Just as the academy's routine was starting to wear thin, news of the expo must have hit like a thunderbolt.
"Getting this worked up over something like that. Heh. Kids after all, huh."
"We're in our twenties too, you know!"
"Twenties are still a long way from grown-up. Whatever."
"You're in your twenties too, Teacher!"
I'm packaging fraud, so it's fine.
"You all seem pretty interested in this expo, then?"
"Of course! This isn't just any expo—it's one where talents from academies across the world have gathered, so countries are willingly lending out their rare war trophies and treasures. The scale is unprecedented! All the world's historical artifacts in one place..."
Elaine, unusually flustered with excitement. And she wasn't alone.
"The guidebook says there are even dinosaur fossils on display. Dinosaurs! I wonder if there'll be pterosaur or mosasaur fossils too?"
"I've heard the pearl necklace worn by Renia's queen two hundred years ago will be unveiled!"
Rone and Rozalia too—each drawn to different items, but all captivated by the expo's offerings. They'd even handed out guidebooks, it seemed. Pretty official. Though given the scale, that made sense.
Aurora was the only one staying cool.
"...So you want to go check it out?"
"Ah, w-well..."
The club members' energy dipped at my words.
"N-no, of course we're curious, but... We have to stay in the club room in case a ghost story strikes. The fate of the world rests on our shoulders—we can't just go gallivanting around!"
"Y-yeah! Just a few days ago, you were risking your life against ghost stories. We can't be so irresponsible as to sightsee leisurely!"
"We can leisurely enjoy expos like that after we've saved the world from doom! Ohohoho!"
They rushed to insist they had no intention of going, as if afraid I'd scold them. Their eagerness made it all the more obvious how badly they wanted to.
"No. You should go."
Unlike what they expected, I had no intention of forbidding it.
"Huh? Really...? No, still, it's not okay! We don't know when a ghost story might hit—we can't go playing around!"
"I'm not testing you or anything. I'm saying it's genuinely fine if you go enjoy the expo. Preparing for ghost stories is good, but more important is your mental health."
I wasn't immune to worry—what if a ghost story hit the academy while we were out? Logically, it made sense for the members to hunker down in the club room. With the Outer God's revival just years away, carefree outings could seem like foolish wasted time.
At first, I'd planned to drill the students relentlessly for three years straight. The top priority was stopping the Outer God three years from now; nothing else mattered if we failed. So after grinding them harshly, we could reward them with money, honors, whatever they wanted, and let them live freely. Right?
But that ignored mental limits. Just because something's invisible doesn't mean it doesn't exist—or that it can't break.
Mental strength is consumable. Once depleted, it needs replenishing, or problems arise. Especially against ghost stories, which wear on the psyche.
And there was another reason. My initial grind-them-for-three-years mindset smacked of cram-school-obsessed meritocracy—like the parents from my past life in Korea.
Those parents squeezed their kids' youth mercilessly for "the future," forcing brutal schedules. "It's all for your own good. Suck it up now, and you can date and play in college later."
But having lived through that Korea once, I knew better. A gray school life bred gray adulthood. Precious memories from youth aren't just for then—they pillar a lifetime. Skimp on them, and even success won't bring happiness.
Likewise, promising them wealth and fame later in exchange for sacrificing their academy days to club activities wouldn't make them happy. Heroes fighting to save the world deserve at least some joy in their school life. They had a right to that much happiness.
So sometimes, even risking danger, we needed to give the students rest and freedom.
Hah. I've really become a teacher. Thinking like this now. When I first came to the academy, I only cared about my own fun.
"Especially you, Elaine. You've been fighting ghost stories with me since day one—time for a real break. If you want to go, enjoy the expo to your heart's content. I'll hold down the club room alone. If anything happens, I'll rewind time."
"...Teacher Allen."
Sensing my sincerity, Elaine and the others looked at me with moved expressions.
"Honestly, if I weren't dealing with ghost stories, I'd want to check it out myself. No need to tell you how much you all do. Just come back and tell me what you saw."
"Yes! I'll tell you everything without missing a thing! Thank you so much!"
With Elaine leading, Rone and Rozalia dove into their guidebooks with joyful determination.
Is it really that great, guys?
Then—
"Teacher, you can go to the expo too."
"What're you talking about?"
"Simple. I'll stay in the club room, so you can go enjoy it."
Aurora said it casually, eyes on her textbook.
"I'm not interested in the expo, so I'll stay and study."
"Not going...? Why?"
At my question, Aurora closed her book and met my gaze.
"Exactly that. Studying matters more to me than the expo. To explain: unlike Elaine, our leisurely class rank leader, I have to study nonstop to stay in the top ranks. Plus, club activities might demand time if a ghost story appears, so I need to push harder now while it's quiet."
"Hmm. Do you really need to obsess like that? You're not some commoner desperate for success—you're from a count's family."
"It's not about social success. I just want to prove my abilities through academic achievement. Studying isn't merely a means to success, right? We pursue learning for its own value."
"...Yeah. Fair point."
Her straight talk left me speechless for a moment. In my past life, studying was just a ticket to a better job. Even decades after reincarnating, that mindset lingered.
Aurora seemed to see academics not just as diligence, but as self-realization.
I nodded, yet felt a subtle unease in her demeanor. She'd changed slightly since resolving the Letter of Misfortune ghost story—more driven, almost pressured. Or was she pressuring herself?
"Still, rest is important sometimes. Why not take a breather?"
"If anyone's taking a rest, shouldn't it be you, Teacher Allen? You told Elaine she needs it after fighting ghost stories so long—but you've faced the most in the club."
"Ah. True."
"Exactly as Aurora says, Teacher! Go enjoy the expo with us for a change of pace!"
"No, I need to stay and prepare for—"
"That's just parroting what you told us. Preparing is good, but your mental health matters more!"
She had me there. I accepted their kindness, and with Aurora volunteering as guard duty, we all headed to the expo grounds.