36 – Club Time (1)
A few days had passed since Elaine had been kidnapped.
Contrary to expectations, the renegades didn’t make any moves, and nothing happened.
Seemingly, this fellow named Kali had really run away.
“Hmm. Well, although it’s a pity, I can’t help but accept it.”
Anyway, while no big incident had occurred, this did not mean there were no other changes.
None other than Elaine had found out about my real identity.
So since then, I can’t help but feel somewhat pressured by the way she looks at me.
For instance.
“Professor! Please teach me this!”
There seemed to be more questions than usual.
And that was not the end of it.
-“Professor, don’t eat alone! Let’s eat together!”
She would even go so far as to suggest such things, without caring about the curious eyes around us.
Because of this, there were occasional misunderstandings from the people around us.
For example.
-“Mr. Kael, are you by any chance dating student Elaine?”
Such questions were thrown at me by Nel, for instance.
There was a notably icy glare in her eyes that day.
‘Well, it’s a bit unseemly for a professor like me to date a student,’ I thought.
Understanding Nel’s glare did make sense in a way.
Anyway, I had my fair share of difficulty trying to clear up the misunderstandings to Nel and the others.
Well, other than Elaine being friendlier than usual, there was nothing going on.
And so, the day began as usual.
“Mr. Kael, have you seen this?”
Nel approached me with her usual smile.
I cocked my head at her question.
“What are you referring to?”
“Look at this.”
She quietly handed me a piece of paper.
I quickly scanned the document.
‘Club time?’
As I read through the paper, I realized instantly what Nel was asking about.
“So, it’s club time this week.”
“Yes. Didn’t you mention that you are in charge of a club, Mr. Kael? I thought I should let you know.”
“Thank you for the heads up. Are you managing any clubs yourself, Nel?”
“Isn’t it a bit late to ask?”
Indeed, it was a bit late to ask given that the club formation period had ended quite some time ago.
I simply scratched my cheek with an awkward smile.
Then, she answered my question.
“Unfortunately, I don’t.”
This was unexpected.
Most professors take charge of a club for the sake of their careers, so I didn’t think she wouldn’t be in charge of anything.
‘Now that I think about it…’
Cael once again looked at the details written on the paper.
It was stated that one more professor could be brought along for club activities.
I suggested, just loud enough for her to hear,
“Would it be possible for us to do this together this time, if you’re okay with it?”
The next moment, she looked somewhat surprised.
And then, declined the offer with an apologetic expression.
“Oh, I’m sorry about that. I’d love to join you, but I have something else to do this time.”
She appears to be quite busy this week.
Soon, she continued her question.
“So, what kind of activities are you planning this time?”
At that question, the professors around us perked up their ears.
Since they are all mostly from class S, they all seemed interested.
“This time….”
***
Today too, the class S students are waiting in the classroom as usual.
They engaged in conversations as they awaited Cael’s arrival.
“Today is the professor’s lecture, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“I wonder what he will teach today.”
“More like, how is he going to drill us, isn’t it?”
“hahahaha.”
Maria’s words drew an awkward smile from Elaine.
Because it was true that they got drilled every practical lecture!
Just as usual, the class S students were waiting,
-squeak-
Cael quietly opened the door and entered.
Cael walks in with his usual expressionless face.
He gives a casual sweep over the students.
Then, he opens his mouth.
“Let’s skip the attendance and move right main topic.”
All look puzzled at his words.
Cael hands over the club notice to Maria and says,
“I plan to conduct club activities without lectures this week.”
“?!”
Instantly, the students in the S-grade class widen their eyes.
They hadn’t even thought they would do club activities.
Without minding their reactions, Cael continues.
“This time, we’re going to have an adventurer experience.”
“An adventurer experience?”
As Elaine tilts her head, Cael nods.
He then explains in a relaxed voice,
“You can think of it as carrying out missions from the adventurers’ guild among yourselves.”
“Ah, by ourselves?”
“Is that even possible? We don’t even have adventurer’s guild IDs?”
“There’s no need to worry about that. I’ll take care of everything.”
“?”
The students are even more puzzled.
Of course, unlike some students, Maria, Ellie, and Elaine understood what he meant right away.
“Due to time constraints, let’s leave immediately.”
And so, without any notice, they were forced to go to the adventurer’s guild.
***
Naturally, it didn’t take long to reach the adventurer’s guild.
After all, the headquarters of the adventurer’s guild was originally located on the main road.
Upon reaching their destination,
“Waaah!”
Elaine’s eyes shimmer as she looks around in excitement.
The rest of the students blush at her actions.
And rightfully so.
-Murmurs.
Aren’t people around us peeking at us?
In particular, those who seemed to be adventurers didn’t look very favorably.
‘Is such a reaction expected.’
From the adventurer’s perspective, they’ll think that the kids came to play.
Ignoring the gazes around, Cael led the students inside.
Then, he walked up to the notice board.
‘Hmm, if it’s them ……’
He narrowed his eyes and skimmed through the adventurer’s request board.
At the same time,
‘This should do.’
He found a request on the board that will prove a trial for them.
Without hesitation, Cael ripped the request off.
Soon, he showed it to the clerk.
“Let’s take on this one.”
“Are you serious?”
At that moment, the clerk’s eyes bulged seeing the request handed over.
He nodded leisurely to the question.
Then, the clerk scratches his cheek awkwardly.
“But isn’t this too much? Going on an S-rank with such team members is a bit much.”
“What? S-rank?”
“Taking kids to an S-rank dungeon?”
“Have they gone mad?”
“Completely insane.”
At these words, rough-faced adventurers erupted into explosive laughter.
With this, the S-rank students realize they were being ignored and glare with fierce eyes.
Next moment,
“Gasp!”
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“Squawk!”
The adventurers whose vitality had been felt by the students turned pale.
An unexpected situation caused the employee to appear flustered.
‘It’s not unreasonable for them to react that way.’
If the students here were just ordinary children, it wouldn’t matter. But they are talents who will lead the future.
‘Each one of them is talented.’
The apprentice of the sword saint, the daughter of a magic tower owner, son of the commander of the Holy Knights, a future great warrior, the elf elder’s daughter, the third princess.
Each one of them had unthinkable potential.
They fundamentally operate on a different level than those who just casually catch monsters on the street.
Seeing such kids all worked up and glaring their way?
If it’s natural for the adventurers, who are at best a little stronger than average people, to be scared, then it’s natural.
“Cough!”
“Guh!”
Some were unable to breathe due to the pressure.
Kael, watching such adventurers, let out a breath.
‘I should resolve this before it gets out of hand.’
Kael, having sorted out his thoughts, pulled out a badge and an ID from his pocket space.
And then, showed it to the employee.
“Huh?”
Seeing this, she looked at him with a disbelief-stricken expression.
At the same time, she bowed her head at a right angle and apologized.
“I’m sorry! You can go!”
Hearing that, he put away the ID and the magic tower’s badge.
He picked up the request form, took the students, and left the guild.
Then, the adventurers smartly parted to the left and right.
It seemed that the students’ glaring had been quite effective.
“What did you show them, Professor?”
At that time, Rei approached and tilted her head.
Instead of answering, Kael took out his ID and showed it again.
“Huh?”
Seeing that, Rei was completely surprised.
‘A SSS-rank adventurer?’
Kael put his ID card back into his pocket.
Leading the students, he began to move towards their destination.
***
At that moment.
There was a man in a cave, inscribing runic characters.
“hehehe.”
The man continued to draw while letting out a sinister laugh.
He smiled pridefully as he slowly completed each character.
“It will soon be completed.”
The man, who emitted more magic than a traitor, stared at the rune and was confident.
He could soon summon monsters from another dimension.
‘Yes. Sacrifices. Hasten your arrival.’
With that final thought, he eagerly awaited the adventurers.