Chapter 28 – No Filming Allowed! …… Probably…….
I wonder if this feeling of complete exhaustion is what it truly feels like.
Whether it’s the superficial privilege of being the head of Freya Adorers or simply due to Professor Aegis’s mischievous yet considerate jests, the sole solace was knowing I didn’t have to attend every event of the Adorers.
“I thought I was going to die….”
It wasn’t an exaggeration; I almost died.
Hoping that on days when I dine with Freya, swords and crossbows won’t rain down from the sky has become a daily wish.
If I hadn’t worn a mask and ascended to the head position, I might have long been discovered as a corpse in the lab closet. In any case, I had no intention of becoming front-page news for being murdered in the fan club of a friend for such an absurd reason.
And so, with heavy, dragging steps, I reached the central garden.
At the corner where the Magic Research Lab and the main building faced each other, hidden amidst the dense shadows and strategically placed foliage, there was a single bench.
They call it the ‘Shadow Bench’ in common parlance… but in reality, the fact that different people call it by different names is a minor peculiarity in the rumors.
Whether lovers share their affections or shady dealings go back and forth, it was just a bench overgrown with such intriguing tales. Unfortunately, I was unlucky enough to only hear vague rumors, not witness any such interesting scenes.
However, today, there was an oddly distinct aura. If someone was engaging in a secret game, as a teacher, it was something I should sternly regulate. Unable to quell my curiosity, I cautiously approached, suppressing any noise. Beyond the bench, a familiar fox ear perked up. It was Cecilia.
And right next to her, a silvery head bobbed up and down.
“Oh! Wait, don’t move, dear. That thing from earlier.”
“You mean this?”
“This, how on earth did you manage to take this shot?”
“…… I waited under the bed for 4 hours.”
“U-Under the bed?!”
“…… Yes.”
“This is unbelievable! What were you thinking! Isn’t this, isn’t this extremely inappropriate?! This is an issue that cannot be overlooked as a prefect!”
“Is that so?”
“This is stalking! No, just sneaking into the lab to wait is already creepy! How did you even unlock and get in through the door! This won’t do! I’m reporting this to the faculty right now…!”
“I’ve developed one more copy of the photo you have. If you need it, I can provide it.”
“Did you think I’d just overlook something like this, you creepy stalker broker! I will immediately report to the teacher a….”
“And this is a photo taken this morning. It’s truly impressive.”
“……!!”
“… Our teacher, peacefully unaware, fast asleep.”
“…… Please, just go away… I can’t have illegally taken photos like this in my collection.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“And this one is right after she finished showering. With a towel…”
“Kya… Kyaah… Shameless! This, this lewd picture and such…!”
“…. The towel is slowly… slowly… coming undone…”
*Gulp!* With a gulp, the silver-haired girl, our friend Vundi, caught something with the most suspicious expression, then turned her head, her lips quivering.
“H-Hmm~ Let’s pretend you never saw this, okay?”
She’s such a hopeless girl.
“What do you mean pretend? Are you even winking at me?”
“………….”
“………….”
“………….”
A brief stillness. It felt as if only the crackling of a campfire could be heard.
Pop! With a flash of light, Undine’s arms turned into twenty blurry images. Stiff pieces of paper that had been fluttering in the sky were seamlessly drawn into Undine’s hands.
“Oh… Oh my~ What a pleasant surprise! Teacher! What brings you here?”
“What are you all doing here?”
“Huh? Huh? Huh? We were just… having a friendly chat…”
Undine grinned, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Having a good relationship was like walking on thin ice, ready to break into a friendly conversation or a bitter argument.
Regardless, as soon as I revealed myself, Cecilia extended her arms as if she had expected it.
Well, deceiving the keen sense of a fox, especially their sense of smell, was quite a challenging task. Cecilia probably sensed me approaching.
With a gentle sway, her tail couldn’t be ignored. When I lightly extended my hand towards it, dissatisfied, she sat down, arched her back, and raised her arms as if asking for a hug. For a moment, I almost succumbed to old memories and nearly accepted, but realizing the difference in surroundings and attention due to her mature height, over 170 centimeters, I quickly stepped back.
I almost fell for it.
“Teacher…”
“Wait a moment, this imp! How many circles must your attitude turn for your voice tone to change so drastically?! It’s too blatant; I can’t even speak!”
It’s not your place to say, Undine.
I sighed, steering the conversation in a different direction.
“Seems like you two have become quite close behind my back.”
“Oh my~ Teacher, really, Cecilia and I are so… close…”
“… Really, Cecilia?”
“Yes, teacher.”
Cecilia nodded her head slightly, her eyes relaxed with a languid smile. Even if I were to ask her a question right now, I was certain that a proper answer wouldn’t come back.
It was precisely at that moment.
Perhaps our voices had been somewhat noisy, as there was a sense of someone approaching the ‘Shadow Bench,’ considered the third most secret place on campus.
“Heh, losers having a jolly good time together, huh.”
Who are you?
I squinted but couldn’t grasp anything concrete. The only distinctive feature was that he seemed somewhat slender. Of course, I had no memory of seeing him before.
In the brief silence, before anyone could speak, a strong gust of wind swept through. Almost simultaneously, something Undine held onto tightly seemed to scatter and gleam in the air.
“Oh! My secret, heart-pounding collection that I barely managed to get!”
S-Secret… What…?
Did something like a picture just get blown away in the wind…? It seemed to have had more flesh tones, right?
Surely, it must be a mistake.
Don’t trust your peripheral vision, trust Undine…
No, trust the student, Eugene.
While Undine was frantically hiding an unidentified object, Cecilia impassively scanned the boy, then concealed herself behind me.
Even though it seemed like there was a connection between Undine, Freya, and Ignis, she was still very guarded around others.
Hovering at the boundary between boyhood and adulthood, he glanced at Cecilia and Undine before curling up his stern lips and letting out a short chuckle.
“Engaging in such clumsy movements, it doesn’t seem like you’ll achieve a good performance in this Eunwol Festival, Mijaji.”
Eunwol Festival…?
“Wait… could it be… are you a student of this school?”
“…Professor Neperna, indeed.”
Although it was a somewhat timid response, I was genuinely surprised and stifled a laugh.
“At last, a student-like student is being introduced. hahahahaha! I almost forgot this was an academy, believe it or not. This is a memorable moment! It’s the first time I’m memorizing a name not on the attendance list, but I, Eugene Sir Neperna. I’ll strive in my own way, staking my pride as a time instructor. What’s your name?”
“Anyway, there’s no point in telling a name that’ll be taught to the losing team.”
“Hmm! Your determination is commendable.”
Though a bit twitchy, compared to Kim Yuseong or Rebecca, who were either disrespectful or grumpy, this was a remarkable improvement.
… But where have I heard this voice before…?
The quite positive first impression was shattered by the following remark.
“A fox race… I can’t understand why a race living in the woods would be lurking around the academy.”
“It’s better not to hold words of regret in your mouth, Allen.”
It wasn’t me who delivered the blow.
Instead, it was Fernandez who appeared from somewhere.
I couldn’t even guess where this guy had been eavesdropping on conversations.
One thing was certain, though: whether this was a shadow bench or whatever, at least I could confidently say it wasn’t a secret place.
Unless all students and staff were monitoring this area in real-time, how could they conveniently appear like this? It was clear that what was known as a secret place had already become a hot spot.
The boy referred to as Allen quickly concealed his pale face and hurriedly greeted.
“Good day, Professor Fernandez.”
“To wizards, age, gender, and social status are, of course, irrelevant, not to mention the race. Wasn’t that what I taught in the first class? Unless Professor Alexander’s guidance was different?”
“… No, you’re correct. Your words are appropriate.”
Fernandes nodded briefly in response, replacing words with a slight bow towards Cecilia, who had been eavesdropping behind me.
“I heard you’re Cecilia, the student. Let me apologize personally. Alden doesn’t usually behave like this, but he seems a bit off today. Whatever the reason, it ultimately falls on me for not guiding him properly. I won’t make long excuses. I’m sorry.”
“… No, it’s okay.”
Although it might seem like a belated apology, I had intended to speak up for Cecilia against the boy.
Hey!! She’s my assigned student!!! I could have handled it more elegantly and gently!!!
Fernandes suddenly appeared and took away the player, Allen!!
But now, knowing that whining at this point would be petty, I clenched my teeth, grumbled, and addressed Fernandes as if venting my frustration.
“Is this student under your guidance?”
“Hmm, Eugene, right? An excellent student, but unfortunately, we didn’t connect. You’ll probably meet a more outstanding professor than me. This time, I specifically requested him to join our team as a mercenary during the Eunwolje Friendship Match.”
He replied politely.
A mercenary for the Eunwolje Friendship Match… It seems he’s in a position similar to Wundi and Ignis. Fernandes turned to the boy named Allen and spoke firmly.
“Allen. While playing as a mercenary in the upcoming Eunwolje Friendship Match, you’re also a member of our team.”
That’s quite a leader-like statement.
Freyja Adoration’s high-ranking officer, codenamed ‘Fernandes.’
Fernandes himself is a decent person as long as he’s not associated with Freyja. In fact, even without Freyja nearby, he could transform into such a gentle person. Personality, skills, and character – he was impeccable in every aspect. Showing such a rational and calm demeanor, he could easily be considered an entirely different person.
“Understood. I misspoke about the race. But, Professor, isn’t the fox race expelled from the 6th Holy Sword party? I can’t understand why someone who hasn’t even taken the official test is allowed to stay at this school.”
“Criticizing inequality with affection for the school might be praiseworthy, but consider the circumstances, Allen. Admission based on meaningful external achievements is not a violation of school regulations. Being a member of the 6th Holy Sword party is a clear and acknowledged achievement based on significant external performance.”
“Then, the hero of the Sixth Holy Sword…!”
“The hero and the scion of the Clan Klorand left the school due to an urgent mission in the snowy field. Cecilia stayed behind because she has a separate mission. Isn’t that right, Professor Neperna?”
“Well, yes.”
I shrugged my shoulders and replied casually.
The fall of the hero of the Sixth Holy Sword and Rebecca’s death haven’t been disclosed externally yet. It has only been discreetly conveyed to some involved parties and important individuals.
The corruption of the hero was not an issue to be easily overlooked from the beginning.
After the persuasion of the chairman, other heroes of the Holy Sword are suppressing the Clan Klorand with force, or so I heard.
Fernandes probably heard that the hero of the Sixth Holy Sword died in the snowy field, even if he doesn’t know the details.
It will be revealed someday, but for now, it’s not the time, according to their judgment, including the chairman.
Whether I like it or not, if all I have to do is play along, it wasn’t something I couldn’t handle.
Allen nodded uncomfortably with a complex expression.
Fernandes laughed ironically.
“Well, if your curiosity isn’t satisfied, one way is to try it yourself.”
He shrugged his shoulders and said this.
“Cecilia and Undine students. Would you like to have a mock battle with this friend?”