Three weeks since the attack.
Life at the academy had returned to normal.
Perhaps thanks to the swift response, the once-chaotic atmosphere had faded into nothing more than a minor disturbance in the mories of the students.
Even the faculty, who had been on high alert, had begun to lower their guard.
"Do not worry."
"The traitor has already been identified, and the purge is complete."
"Since this is a classified matter, I expect everyone to remain silent."
The headmaster’s vague assurances seed to be enough.
After all, he had been leading Galimar for forty years.
It was a bond of trust, in a way.
Of course.
A faint tension still lingered.
The fundantal problem remained unresolved.
The traitor within had been dealt with, but the fact that the academy was being targeted from the outside had not changed.
Professors were keeping sharper eyes on their surroundings than usual.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, it was ideal.
It’s better if they remain on guard.
The story had changed.
By this point, the academy should have already been in ruins.
Yet, because of certain interventions, it still stood.
However, with the story’s trajectory significantly altered, predicting the future had beco increasingly difficult.
That was why the faculty needed to contribute to the academy’s defenses.
They were more than capable.
Besides, they’re all quite fond of now.
Since the attack,
I had received a great deal of gratitude from the faculty.
Uncovering the hidden passage in the academy’s underground and taking down the cultists had earned recognition.
Apparently, the sight of —pale-faced and in a wheelchair—had left quite the impression.
As a result, their evaluation of had skyrocketed.
"If not for Yuda, this could have been disastrous."
"He prevented what could have been a major incident."
"He truly is a star-worthy talent."
"I used to underestimate him, but this ti, I have to acknowledge it. Facing cultists directly to protect the academy—such courage is comndable."
"Tsk, tsk… A sha, really. We should have brought him in as a disciple."
"But isn’t he under Professor Selena now? At his age, it’s natural to be drawn to a mature woman. Hmph, I wouldn’t want a student who makes decisions based on appearances anyway."
"Professor Lucy, just admit you’re jealous."
"Ugh…! Fine! I’m jealous! Why her of all people?! I could teach him so much better!"
"How disgraceful."
It was… strangely awkward.
I was used to standing out, but this ti, it felt like I had maxed out their favorability as well.
Even those known for their arrogance were now treating warmly. It was an odd feeling.
Anyway.
Everything’s back to normal.
The academy’s atmosphere had returned to how it once was.
A winter without tragedy.
Of course, given the bumpy road we had taken to get here, there were still noticeable differences.
And the one who had changed the most—
Without a doubt, was Selena.
My teacher.
"Yuda."
The drunkard.
Even that nickna no longer suited her.
Ever since that day, she had been avoiding alcohol.
The fading scent of liquor was accompanied by a lighter mood.
The gloom that once clung to her like a broken doll had lifted, and now, a faint smile adorned her lips.
She whispered.
"It’s all thanks to you, Yuda."
Overcoming addiction required long-term treatnt.
It would take a long ti for her to fully recover.
However.
She was no longer standing still in sorrow.
Even if she stumbled, she was walking toward the light.
As long as that resolve did not break, she would reach tomorrow.
I had decided to watch over her.
"I… I want to start living properly from now on."
A promise to her sister.
Selena had begun approaching the faculty mbers she had once kept at arm’s length.
Breaking the icy silence, she was now the first to greet them.
It must have been confusing for them.
For the past seven years, she had treated them as if they were nothing more than air.
So even worried she might be suffering from a terminal illness.
It seed forming bonds with her colleagues would take so ti.
Still, it was a refreshing sight.
She looks good.
Watching soone make an effort to change,
It gave a foolish sense of satisfaction—
Like I had actually managed to change sothing.
I guess you could call it pride.
Naturally,
My relationship with Selena had also progressed.
The strange distance that had lingered between us had collapsed, bringing us much closer.
The only issue was—
"Yuda, could I ask for your help again today?"
"Help, as in?"
It felt like we were too close now.
In a low voice, she murmured.
"I want you to hold … like you did that ti."
That ti.
Perhaps the mory of waking from the dream, wrapped in my arms, had left too deep an impression.
Selena would spread her arms and ask for an embrace.
"Is that… not okay?"
A mont’s hesitation.
As if thirsting for affection, she lifted her head slightly, but her crimson eyes wavered pathetically.
Like soone afraid that the answer might be a rejection.
There was never a trace of confidence in her.
Of course—
"If that is what you wish, Teacher."
I never refused.
"…Thank you. Always."
"No need to thank . Co here."
Every ti, I would hold her for quite a while.
If I spent three hours in her office, two of them were spent with her clinging to .
Selena would bury her face against my chest, desperately seeking warmth.
Apparently, it helped calm her anxious mind.
I would simply stand there, lightly patting her slender back.
For hours.
"······."
Eventually, it began interfering with work.
After a few days of consideration, Selena reached a conclusion—
She would sit on my lap while working.
And so, I ended up processing docunts with her nestled against , my arms wrapped around her from behind.
Perhaps because of our close proximity, I could feel her warmth and the contours of her body all too clearly.
Now and then, her pen would pause with a faint scratching sound, her violet hair brushing against my shoulder—
And our lips would hover just short of touching.
When our breaths mingled, just a hair’s breadth apart, it left with a strange feeling.
No matter how much we were teacher and student, wasn’t this a bit too close?
"It’s nice… being together like this."
She murmured in a drowsy voice.
Her faint smile erased the unnecessary thoughts crowding my mind.
And then she spoke.
"Thank you."
"Haven’t you said that a little too often?"
"Even so, it still doesn’t feel like enough."
"Hearing that makes happy, at least."
"You’ve given sothing new, Yuda. A reason to keep living."
A reason to live.
Her fingers seed to trace toward .
As they reached closer, the tips brushed against my lips.
"That’s why… I’ll treasure it. Everything you’ve given ."
And then.
The forr drunk pressed the very fingers that had touched my lips against her own.
The way her gaze t mine, the way her eyes curved—
It was particularly seductive.
Truly, experience was sothing else.
There was a bewitching charm to her gestures and her gaze.
She leaned into once again.
"From now on, I will live for those things."
Selena whispered softly.
I nodded.
As warmth and breath intertwined, another day passed.
Our relationship grew deeper still.
Days spun on.
As ti passed, I, too, underwent small changes.
"Hmm."
Most notably, my body had more or less recovered.
With my dwindling life force replenished, I could move about normally again.
Well, I had technically been able to before—
But at least I no longer had to force myself into a wheelchair, which was refreshing.
"What a sha. You looked good in that state."
Elize, sounding sowhat regretful.
She seed disappointed that our two-person wheelchair duo had co to an end.
"If I were still in a wheelchair, who would push yours, Your Highness?"
"My sister could do it. Or sotis Tanya does."
"That’s quite cruel of you."
"Says the royal physician who keeps leaving his tail everywhere."
"I’m afraid I don’t understand what you an."
"Seems like you’ve chard another professor this ti. Be careful—you might actually get locked up one day."
"Ha… ha ha…."
A brief mont of peace passed in chatter.
And then, exactly one month after the cult attack—
A letter arrived at my dormitory.
"Here, take this."
"Hmm? What is it, Irene?"
"It ca through magical mail earlier today. There’s no sender, so it must be from headquarters."
"A letter from headquarters, huh…."
I had a vague idea of what it might be.
Carefully, I unsealed it.
Rustle.
A thick docunt slid out.
On the first page, a title was written.
[Report on Mana Stone Depletion Syndro]
[Author: dro Andreas]
Just as I had expected.
After skimming through it briefly, I muttered to myself.
"Has the ti finally co?"
It seed.
It was ti to cure the Rose’s illness.
Reviews
All reviews (0)