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“So yeah, that means I’ll be resigning from my teaching position at the academy too.”
“Ughhh…”
“Waaah! He collapsed!”

The next day, when I dropped by the academy and explained my plans to the Guildmaster, he foamed at the mouth and fainted on the spot.

Good thing I’d gone ahead and borrowed the lounge just in case—if anyone had seen that, it would’ve caused a huge scene.

“I’m not leaving right this second, though. I only just decided on this path. Until a successor is chosen, I’ll keep working as usual.”
“Thank goodness!! Oh, thank goodness!!!!”
“Waaah! He came back to life!”
“Of course I did! We can’t have Laika quitting on us now. And you even saved one of our students…”

“That attack was originally aimed at us. I just took care of it while I was at it.”
“Um, and what about Plerion…?”
“He’s resting in the dorms for now, just to be safe, but he should recover soon. He also asked me to pass along his thanks to both of you.”
“Huh, that twisted little brat? Must be a sign dragons’ll be falling from the sky tomorrow.”
“Come on, Master! Just accept the thanks for once!”

Momo scolded me, but honestly, when a student who’s been that combative suddenly thanked you, it’s hard not to be suspicious. It’s Plerion we’re talking about. For all I know, he’s just waiting for me to lower my guard so he can launch a surprise attack.

“But… a so-called ‘Outlander Killer,’ huh? Truth is, we’ve got a few Outlanders at this academy too.”
“Yeah, I bet that’s not easy to hear. The academy should be on alert for a while. You might want to add more golems to your defenses.”
“Mr. Kagase said he’d be focusing on city patrols for now too. I’m sure he’ll help out if we explain the situation!”
“…So, you’re suggesting we team up with the Magic and Magitech Districts, then?”

At that, the Guildmaster’s face twisted like he’d swallowed a hundred bitter bugs.

He knew full well that cooperation made sense—but his pride as head of the Magecraft District was clearly getting in the way.

“It’s not our place to interfere, but if something happens, it’ll be too late. Plerion was extremely lucky. Please, make a choice you won’t regret.”
“…You’re absolutely right.”
“Well then, I’ve got class, so I’ll be off. Do try to find a replacement teacher as soon as possible.”

A glance at the clock on the wall told me it was nearly time for the warning bell. I stood up, ready to head to class.

From here on out, it was up to the Guildmaster to decide the academy’s course. It wasn’t our place to get involved.

“Master, are you sure you’re not just running away because you don’t want to deal with more work?”
“What are you saying, Momo? I’m simply respecting his decisions. It’s absolutely not because I don’t want to shoulder any responsibility.”
“That sounded a lot like a confession to me.”
“Well, it’s true I’m not in a position to take responsibility. Besides, he understands the academy’s current state better than we do. If we meddle, we might just get in the way.”
“When you put it like that, I guess it makes sense…”

As we walked (and floated) down the corridor, I talked circles around Momo, though she still didn’t seem fully convinced.

Lately, she’d gotten used to my tricks—talking my way out of things wasn’t as easy as it used to be.

“Taking on more work than you can handle will only break you. And we’ve got no obligation to stick our noses into things we weren’t even asked to deal with.”
“Hmmm… Then Master, make sure to save your strength for when it really counts. I’ll go poke my nose in where it doesn’t belong instead!”
“You really are…”
“It’s fine! Even if I mess everything up, I believe you’ll bail me out anyway! See you at lunch!”

Without even waiting for my reply, Momo turned on her heel and headed back down the hallway toward the Guildmaster.

Knowing her, she was probably about to trample all over someone’s personal boundaries, get herself wrapped up in trouble, and then come running back to me with it all.

But maybe it was time she learned that reality wasn’t always so forgiving. This time, I wouldn’t lift a finger to help her. I’d just sit back and have a good laugh. No matter how much she cried and begged, I wouldn’t show an ounce of mercy. Absolutely not. No way.

Absolutely not.

✦✧✦✧✦

“Teach… did you fight…?”
“What’s this all of a sudden, Stell?”

The moment I finished my morning classes, Stell approached me with a worried look on her face.

“It’s just… You haven’t met Senior Disciple all day…”
“Well, that’s because we’ve got classes. Momo isn’t exactly free, you know. She probably just didn’t have time between breaks—”
“…She always came by. Even if just for a bit…”
“…Now that you mention it…”

Over the past few days, Momo had been stopping by this classroom any chance she got—during short breaks, while passing through the hallways, whenever she could squeeze it in.

She had her own duties, of course, so it’s not like she came every single hour, but thinking back on it, this was the first morning she hadn’t shown up at all.

“Teach… why are you two fighting…?”
“We’re not. She’s just off being meddlesome again. Probably got herself caught up in something.”
“A fight, is it?! What unspeakable cruelty have you inflicted upon that pink-haired girl?!”
“Where the hell did you come from, Plerion? Weren’t you supposed to be recovering?”
“I’ve already made a full recovery! I was only pretending to rest so I could spy on you and catch you off guard!”

Apparently, Plerion had been eavesdropping on my conversation with Stell—he dropped down from the ceiling like he’d been waiting for his cue.

I’d sensed something off, and of course, it had to be him. That kid never lets an opportunity slip by.

“For the last time, it wasn’t a fight! Momo’s just too busy sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. And anyway, once it’s lunchtime, she’ll probably come waltzing in, hungry as ever—”
“Ah, Teacher! The pink lady said she’s heading to the Magic District, and to go ahead and eat lunch without her!”
“……”

One of the students passing by on the way to lunch casually relayed Momo’s message as they walked down the hall.

So she hadn’t just skipped out on me—she’d gone off to the Magic District on her own.

“…Teach, what about the afternoon class…?”
“Self-study! Thanks to that idiot girl, now everyone thinks we’ve had a falling out. I’m going to give her a piece of my mind!”

She’d probably gotten involved in something unnecessary again. I had no intention of helping her.

Absolutely no intention of helping her whatsoever.

But I did feel like yelling at her.

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