Feigning Indifference: The World Never Bends to My Will
The world had a way of never quite going according to plan, no matter how subtly I tried to pretend otherwise. According to my calculations, even if I couldn't push for outright punishment, I should at least have had enough leverage to drag Ios to the disciplinary committee. Whether she made excuses or flat-out denied it, I'd set the stage where she'd have no choice but to show up.
"Can't convene it?"
But Helena's response threw a wrench into my smooth-sailing scheme.
"Ios lodged a formal protest through her family, claiming the summons was unjust."
"Can't you override it with your authority as principal?"
Helena shook her head with a wry smile.
"Even if the Michele family is the top magic house, that doesn't make it a dictatorship. The Savin family is a prestigious powerhouse in its own right—we can't let it escalate into a full-blown house feud."
"Then there's no way to summon Ios. Even if she denies it, everyone knows she's the backer behind those illegal workshops I raided."
"Knowing it and pinning it on her without evidence are two different things."
Helena was firm. There were limits to how much she could help me, after all.
"We have to produce results from a neutral standpoint. No room for backlash later."
"Tch. My head's gonna hurt again."
If I couldn't pull Ios out this time, she'd slink off to some unreachable depth where my hands couldn't touch her. And lately, she'd even stationed guard magicians at her workshops. A clear sign she was watching me. Even if my skills had improved, taking on multiple guards at once was still beyond me.
"Can't just march up to her and give her a good smackdown. No sharp ideas coming to mind."
With no progress, I left the principal's office and headed down the stairs. I'd raided every one of her workshops through sheer grit, yet she slipped away like an eel every time. I'd been yanking her mustache so much she had to be pissed. The tailing attempts on me had ramped up too—Ios's side might strike first soon.
"Pssht. Pssht."
Not quite a whistle, more like air leaking from pursed lips, echoing in the empty floor. In front of the portrait of the fifth principal, an elderly magician. Shadows hid the details, but a human figure was beckoning me.
"Pssht. Pssht."
"What the—beckoning me?"
I stood there staring instead of approaching, and the figure let out an annoyed hiss of a voice.
"Your senses are trash.... Come here already."
"Who the hell...?"
I'd guessed Ignil or Darian, but it was an unfamiliar voice. No—familiar, just hadn't heard it in ages. As I drew closer, the figure sharpened into focus. Tall stature. Toned build like an athletic woman. Tanned skin with a brownish tint. Even wearing the male uniform. Boyish looks, but those massive breasts straining against it belonged to Nagisa.
If you can't place her, think back to my early days as punishment instructor. She was the only one who backed me up.
"Your name was... uh, Naksa?"
"How do you mix it up that badly? It's Nagisa."
True to her personality, she brushed it off with a hearty laugh and glanced around cautiously. Cool and straightforward like a volleyball club ace— the type girls swoon over.
"Doing well these days?"
"Yeah... sorta. But weren't we not close enough for chit-chat?"
Not just closeness—we hadn't even exchanged words since I became instructor. We'd passed each other occasionally, but no greetings. I'd wanted to thank her back then, but she'd shown zero interest in me.
"True. I only knew you as 'the instructor'—didn't even know your name."
"Lee Hyun. No need to memorize it; 'instructor' is all you need."
"Got it, Instructor. You've got a glow-up lately, huh?"
Do I? I checked my outfit. Gone were the shabby servant rags; now I sported a proper instructor uniform. Yeah, I looked sharper. But Nagisa wasn't pointing at my clothes.
"Skin's clear, face brighter."
"That so? Figured I'd look haggard from all the stress."
"Got some secret remedy?"
If I did, sure. Unlike my servant days drowning in stress, now I was the one stirring up trouble for those who'd tormented me—and it felt damn good. Plus, nightly playtime with Sena had us tangling bodies every evening; no wonder my mood was up. Come to think of it, Sena's skin had that glossy sheen lately too. Thought she'd switched skincare, but nah.
"Something like that."
"Ooh...."
What was with that trailing tone, full of unspoken words she hesitated to spit out? I shot her a questioning look, and she scratched her head sheepishly.
"Nah, not that. Uh, how's things with Clara lately?"
"You know Clara?"
"Hometown friend."
What a coincidence. That airhead had friends after all.
"Hang out with her a lot these days. What're you two up to that she's not forgetting to meet up regularly?"
"Not playing around. Just... supplementary lessons or whatever."
She kicked idly at a floor seam, then shot me a sidelong glance.
"She enjoying it, by any chance?"
"...Enjoying? Probably. Her skills are visibly improving."
"Ah, not quite what I meant. Hmm, got it."
What, that abrupt? Conversation stalled, but she lingered, staring expectantly. Tired of waiting, I turned to leave.
"If you're not gonna say it, I'm out."
"W-wait. Um...."
"Quit hemming like a dog desperate to poop. Spit it out already—don't drag me around. My plans with Ios are derailed and giving me a headache; you gonna keep me here?"
"Senior Ios?"
Nagisa perked up at the name, nodding as if it just clicked.
"Oh yeah, heard rumors you've been poking around the academy lately."
"Knew that? Then get to the point or let me go."
"What do you wanna know about Senior Ios?"
What the hell? She flipped to acting like she held the cards.
Why act like she'd spill on Ios?
"What do you know about her?"
"Just the essentials. Ask away if you're curious."
"......"
Right—she was one of the rare students who'd confronted Ios head-on. While others quaked in fear, she'd stood tall and talked back sharp.
"I need to summon her to the disciplinary committee, but she keeps dodging slyly. Got anything solid to grab her by the hair?"
"...Hmm. Which of her workshops have you wrecked so far?"
She did know something. Her posture was confident, eyes brimming with assurance.
"Drug trafficking, deals, prostitution, illegal research, assassinations and violence commissions."
"That should be plenty."
"She keeps cutting tails. Claims no ties to the caught ones, flapping her gums."
"Hmm."
Nagisa leaned back, scanning the stairs for anyone nearby, then lowered her voice.
"Would info directly linking her help?"
"Illegal?"
"Very. But high risk."
"...What is it?"
"First!"
Damn, knew it. She spread her arms wide, derailing the flow with a grin. My anticipation deflated at her sudden shift.
"Goddammit! Fine, what do you want? Money? Items? Or play slave for a bit?"
"Slave play? Haha!"
She burst out laughing unexpectedly and scanned around again for eavesdroppers. Her paranoia had me checking too. Coast clear—just us.
"Nah, nothing like that. ...Or maybe related?"
"...?"
"Just one favor."
"Name it."
Her cheeks flushed as she flashed a girlish, beaming smile. Pure and innocent like a country girl—mischievous yet genuine, shy but excited.
"Next time... you meet Clara."
"Clara? Sure... okay."
"Let me join."
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. She was playing coy, pretending casual, but I'd seen this act plenty. Eyes closed, hand out—classic.
Nagisa. She craved it bad.
"Those supplementary whatever with Clara. Let me watch. Then I'll give you the Ios intel you want."