The Villains I Taught Became Heroes - Chapter 103



102 – Before Seeing the True Ending – 1

The next day.

I woke up and started handling my tasks as usual, but something felt off.

“Where are they?”

The kids who usually burst in and say, “Let’s go eat!” were nowhere to be found.

Did I drink too much yesterday?

Maybe they couldn’t move properly because of a hangover.

If that’s the case, I can’t just sit back as a teacher.

After having breakfast in the dining hall, I bought honey water and hangover relief drinks from the store and headed to the kids’ room.

“Hey, are you there? Can I come in?”

“Yes! It’s okay~!”

The voice I heard from inside was Rifa’s.

When I opened the door and stepped in, I found Rifa sitting alone in the living room.

“Good morning.”

“Yes. Good morning. Are you okay, Instructor? You seemed to drink a lot yesterday.”

“I’m fine. But what about the kids? Are they still asleep??”

“Yeah. It seems so.”

“Really? Then when they wake up, tell them to eat this.”

I placed the things I had brought on the table.

As Ripa checked the contents with a bitter smile, Sowol’s door opened.

“Ugh… my stomach…”

Sowol, emerging with a pale face, stiffened the moment she saw me.

Did she think I was Medusa or something?

Sowol, frozen like a stone, flustered for a moment before subtly averting her gaze.

Oh ho. What do we have here?

“Hahaha! Sowol, who likes the master. Hello? Good morning.”

“Y-yes. Th-thank you, good morning…”

I thought it was Lena.

As she stammered and cautiously spoke, she tried to retreat back into her room with a stiff demeanor, but I grabbed her and pulled her toward the table.

“Oh, I haven’t even washed up…!”

“It’s okay. You’re pretty even without washing.”

I wasn’t joking; I meant it. Objectively speaking, Sowol was a sufficiently attractive beauty.

Even if she looked like she was suffering from a hangover.

As I handed her honey water and a hangover remedy, she stared at me blankly, trying to hide her face with her long, luscious hair.

“…You don’t dislike me or anything, do you?”

“Dislike you?”

“Because I was drunk yesterday…”

I knew this would happen.

Sowol’s blanket might have a hole in it.

Smiling at her, whose face was flushed with embarrassment, I shook my head.

“There’s no way I could dislike you. No matter what happens, you’re my student, and I never dislike my students for what they do.”

“…Really?”

“…In a reasonable situation, that is.”

What was that look just now?

She tried to avoid my gaze with a predator’s stare fixed on its prey.

As Sowol clicked her tongue in disappointment while drinking the honey water and hangover remedy, Lena’s door opened.

“Oh. M-master. You’re here…”

“Yeah. Are you okay?”

“Yes. I-I’m fine. But why did you come so early in the morning?”

Is this girl’s memory gone?

She seems to have no recollection of what happened.

Seeing her looking no different than usual, I handed her the honey water and hangover remedy.

“I thought you drank a lot yesterday. I brought this for you.”

“Ah… th-thank you…”

“Do you not remember what happened yesterday?”

“Um… Did I, did I do something?”

You did.

You cried and complained to me about everything.

You even made a fuss about how I didn’t like you.

But if you can’t remember, there’s no need to mention it.

After I gently patted Lena’s head, I handed her the magic crystal ball that recorded what happened yesterday.

Sometimes, there might be something better than words.

“Check it out later when you go to your room.”

“Um… Okay. I understand.”

Tilting her head slightly, Lena accepted the crystal ball obediently.

While the two disciples sipped on their honey water, I looked towards Arisha’s room.

Why isn’t she coming out?

“Shall we go in?”

“Yeah, would you?”

Lifa stood up and opened Arisha’s door.

A moment later, she came out with a pale expression.

“T-Teacher! Arisha!!”

Is something wrong? I followed Lifa into Arisha’s room.

It was a bright room that suited Arisha’s personality well.

On the bed, decorated by a woman of her age, lay Arisha, who looked like she was on the verge of death.

“Ugh… I-I’m so tired…”

Looks like she’s in bad shape.

What on earth did she drink?

I checked on Arisha’s condition.

“What should we do? She looks really unwell.”

“A hangover doesn’t respond to healing. We just have to leave her like this.”

“Teacher…”

“Don’t drink so much in the future.”

Arisha, who was holding my hand tightly and on the verge of tears, nodded repeatedly. I came to tease her, but seeing her like this, I couldn’t even do that.

I helped her sit up and gave her a hangover remedy first.

“Feed me…”

“I figured you’d say that, so I’m going to feed you. Now, open your mouth.”

“Ahh…”

Looks like she didn’t even have the strength to joke around.

I fed the hangover remedy to Arisha, who opened her mouth obediently, and then I tried to get up from my seat.

“Teacher… don’t go…”

Arisha, clutching the hem of my clothes, said weakly with a face that was almost in tears.

“Pet me…”

“Sigh. Alright. Alright.”

She’s just like a little kid.

I gently stroked Arisha’s forehead.

Only then did her face relax a little, and with barely open eyes, she looked at me, her voice trembling.

“I won’t drink anymore…”

“Right. If that’s the case, don’t drink at all.”

“Ugh…”

After throwing a bit of a tantrum, Arisha fell back asleep.

It was then that I was finally free to step outside, and in the meantime, Sowol had transformed into a somewhat tidier version of herself, as if she had washed up.

“Where’s Lena?”

“She hasn’t come out since she went into her room earlier. I guess she’s reflecting on what she did yesterday.”

I subtly turned towards Lena’s room. Pressing my ear against the closed door, I could hear the sound of something being kicked.

It seems she’s kicking her blanket.

Let’s just leave her be.

“What kind of alcohol did you all drink?”

“…You don’t know, Master. Our feelings.”

“I’m afraid to think you might.”

She shot me a sulky look and let out a heavy sigh.

I smiled at her and stood up.

“Aren’t you all supposed to be heading back soon?”

“…What about you, Master? Where do you plan to stay?”

“Me? Do I have a place to stay? I was thinking of using the academy as a base and coming and going.”

“…You haven’t forgotten about going to the Eastern Merchant Guild, right?”

“I haven’t forgotten. When are we going?”

“Well… I want to go today, but I also need to stop by the church…”

“To the church? Why?”

“…It’s just something I need to do.”

“Oh. Are you trying to keep a secret from your master? You’ve grown up. I guess I won’t need to be by your side anymore.”

“If you tell me, will you stay by my side?”

That’s a loaded question.

With her firm statement, as if she wouldn’t allow any jokes, I shrugged and smiled.

“Not a chance.”

“Now you’re not even trying to hide it.”

“Didn’t you already catch on?”

“Ha. Is confinement the only answer…?”

“Do what you can. I won’t stop you.”

It’s just laughable.

I stood up with a smile and patted Sowol’s head.

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She looked at me as if resentful, then took my hand and guided it to stroke her cheek.

Slowly, she brought my hand towards her lips, gave a brief kiss, and looked up at me.

It was a captivating and provocative gaze.

But that doesn’t mean I would waver.

I raised my hand to cradle her small face.

“Mmph!”

“If you want to bring your lips to someone else’s hands, you have to accept at least this much.”

I held So-wol’s face tightly with my iron grip and let go at the right moment.

Though she glared at me in pain, she was just too cute.

I pinched So-wol’s cheek lightly and stood up from my seat.

“Anyway, take a good rest and see you next time.”

“…Yes. Just you wait.”

As evening approached, students began to gradually disappear from the academy. Each went home.

After sending off those who came to greet me while I was in my room, I stepped outside for an evening walk and spotted a slumped-over Lena.

“Lena?”

“Hiiyii?!”

As soon as she spotted me, Lena dashed away as if fleeing.

However, even while running, she kept glancing back, so it seemed I was on her mind. In that case, I should chase after her.

“Hehe! You can’t escape!”

“Kyahhh!”

As if she could run away.

I quickly blocked Lena’s path, and she covered her face with both hands.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Well, if you’re that sorry, I have nothing to say. Just drink a little less from now on?”

“Yes, yes…”

I patted the dejected Lena, who replied weakly, and we sat together on a nearby bench.

“By the way, when do you plan to go to the Ivory Tower?”

“Oh, I’m planning to go today…”

“Today? Wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit more before going?”

“I-I have to study the devices of the Mage Empire…”

“The devices of the Mage Empire? Which ones?”

“…The ones related to dimensions.”

Dimensions, huh. She’s diving into a challenging area.

“W-Would you like to join me, Master?”

“I’ll pass.”

My magical skills are nothing but a collection of bugs.

It’s not that I lack knowledge, but when it comes to delving deeper, I have nothing to say.

The wizards of the Ivory Tower would probably handle these matters much better.

“Alright. Do well.”

Maybe my student could become the first dimensional magician. In that case, it would be right to cheer her on with a smile.

“How’s your research going now?”

“Oh, I don’t know the details yet, but… I think it will be tough.”

“Really? You should work hard then.”

It won’t be an easy path.

I gently stroked Lena’s hair, and she leaned slightly against me.

“…I will definitely make it happen…”

What are you so eager to achieve with those sparkling eyes?