The Villains I Taught Became Heroes - Chapter 80



79 – Vacation – 8

“Your confidence is impressive.”

Well, this is Sowol.

I reached out to pat her head but stopped my hand.

Sowol, who had been quietly waiting with her eyes closed, tilted her head. She must have thought I would pet her.

“I guess I should refrain from this kind of thing in the future.”

“Just because I like you doesn’t mean the fact that I’m your proud disciple disappears, does it?”

“That’s not the case.”

“Well then. You know what to do next.”

What a clever girl.

As she closed her eyes again and brought her head closer, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Beaming with a smile, she accepted my pat and lightly clenched her fist.

“Alright! Shall we give it a try?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

.

.

.

We captured all the cultists inside the cave.

We didn’t need prisoners for evidence.

They were already performing a curse ritual using those they had kidnapped inside as sacrifices.

“These kinds of scum deserve to be executed on the spot.”

“Heh. It’s truly enjoyable to think the same as you, Master.”

With a light swing of the blood-dripping sword, she sheathed it and released the bound captives.

While those who would have been sacrificed in the ritual expressed their gratitude, I surveyed the surroundings.

“Hmm? What’s this…”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, I found something interesting.”

It was a small envelope.

Stamped with the seal of the Asura cult.

[The time of opportunity is approaching.

We must unite our strength in preparation for the descent of Asura.

We need to grow our power before the cruel church and the sorcerers can prevent Asura’s arrival.

Many have already decided to join us, so let the Ruin cult also participate for the sake of spring days.]

“The Asura cult is on the move.”

—

“Spring day? What does that mean?”

“It must refer to the time when the Asura Church begins to move in earnest.”

The religious war event starts at the end of Chapter 2.

When that time comes, the cults from various regions will begin to stir, and the church will commission the academy.

Whether or not they accept that commission will determine the branching point between the ending and the true ending.

“Hmm…”

Normally, the cults from various places would start to act.

But the influence of those cults has been significantly reduced by Sowol and Luna.

So, what will happen now? Will the remaining cults take action? But even that alone won’t create the chaos the Asura Church desires.

Then…

“The Asura Church will have to step forward.”

“How strong will their influence be?”

“Well, I’m not sure. But the Asura Church is made up of those who draw in souls to use as their own power. In other words…”

“You mean they will try to create chaos using the power of the cultists we’ve captured so far. That means the enemies will be stronger.”

Sowol tightened her grip on the letter in her hand.

Watching the stiff letter slightly crumple, I patted her back.

“You must be busy.”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

I didn’t know where the Asura Church would move from.

Since it was an event that occurred randomly in the game, I had to keep watch by borrowing the strength of other factions as much as possible.

“Do you think you can do it?”

“Of course.”

I had allied with numerous factions for this moment.

I needed to make use of them.

Sowol, the saint of the church and one of those factions, smiled confidently at me.

“Who do you think I am?”

“My proud disciple.”

“It would be even better if you said I’m lovely instead of proud.”

“A disciple like a flower on a cliff.”

“If it’s someone like you, Master, you could easily climb that cliff, right?”

“Oh, don’t expect such things from an old man like me.”

“…How cowardly.”

“Adults are supposed to be cowardly, you know.”

I ruffled Sowol’s hair.

Though she pouted and grumbled, just like in the past, she accepted my touch and swayed her head gently.

“Let’s go back.”

As she swiftly turned and walked ahead, I followed her.

Since returning to the resort, nothing significant had happened.

No, it would be more accurate to say that I had ensured nothing significant happened.

I had entrusted the students’ management to Arisha, Sowol, and Lena, and focused on contacting the various factions I was familiar with.

A few days passed like that.

“How disappointing~.”

The enjoyable vacation will end tomorrow.

Ariasha, lying in front of me at the resort café, expressed her regret.

“I wish we could stay just a few more days~.”

“Then how about resting a bit longer?”

“Are you going to rest too, teacher?”

“No.”

“Aw~. It’s no fun without you, teacher~.”

Like a rolling puppy, Ariasha lifted her head slightly.

Her green eyes were directed at me.

Avoiding her gaze, I checked the materials sent by the dwarves.

From noble mtl dot com

It was a report stating that there was a group of socialists in the mountain range where the dwarves lived.

Truly, they exist everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

It never ends.

“Oh! Teacher! When we return, you’re going to the academy, right?”

“Right?”

“Then, um~. With me…”

With a bright smile, Ariasha reached out her hand toward mine.

Playfully holding my hand, she tickled the spaces between my fingers with her long fingers. When I tried to pull my hand away, she gently clasped it.

“Wow. Your hands are big~.”

“Ugly hands, aren’t they?”

“But I really like these hands! Ah, not that. When we return…”

“S, Sensei.”

Lena approached.

I withdrew my hand from Ariasha and smiled at her.

I wondered what she had come to ask? As always, she hesitated, glancing at Ariasha before lowering her head deeply.

“W-when we return, to the cabin…”

“Oh, right. We agreed to go there together. Are you going right after we return?”

“Yes, yes!”

She seemed delighted that I remembered. With a bright smile, Lena grabbed my hand and shook it excitedly before disappearing as if she were running away.

“…Teacher. Where are you going with Lena?”

“Hmm.”

“Where?”

“To the cabin where we used to live together.”

“…Hmm. Can’t you come play with me instead?”

“I have a prior engagement.”

“That’s no fun.”

“Life can’t always be fun, you know.”

I gently pinched Ariasha’s cheek.

Soft and chewy like a glutinous rice cake, the flesh stretches and elongates.

“Ouch, ouch~. It hurts~.”

“I’m saying it hurts, you little rascal.”

“Hehe.”

Covering her slightly reddened cheeks with her hands, Arisha stood up.

Then she came over to my side and whispered in a small voice.

“It’s not like you and Lena unnie are going to become… you know, that kind of relationship, right?”

“Don’t worry.”

“……”

“It won’t happen with anyone.”

“Hehe~.”

With a mischievous smile, Arisha whispered in my ear.

“Is that really the case?”

Saying that, Arisha planted a quick kiss on my cheek.

This girl, really.

“Hahaha! Teacher, your expression is so cute!”

Arisha ruffled my hair and then bounced back playfully.

With her hands lightly clasped behind her back and her waist bent, she flashed a crescent-moon smile.

When the next day arrived, all the students felt a sense of regret. It seemed they had enjoyed their time at the Emerald Resort that much.

“Let’s come again next year!”

Our art club president, Ludwig, said to the downcast students.

Receiving his strong determination, the other students also ignited their fighting spirit.

“Um, Teacher.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you… um, enjoy yourself?”

“Yeah.”

It was unexpected. Or perhaps it was something I had anticipated, but it was true that I had enjoyed myself.

I lightly patted Lena’s shoulder as she approached me and turned my head away.

“I hope we can come again next year.”

Going to Emerald Beach is only during summer vacation.

In other words, it means it will be after the main story has ended.

And by then…

I won’t be in this world anymore.

“Yeah.”

But there was no need to say that.

I nodded toward Sowol, who was looking up at me with a gentle smile.

“Alright! Then let’s meet again next time!!”

The students began to move in order.

After Arisha gave me a tight hug and joined the other students heading to the academy, only Lena and I were left.

“L-Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

I traveled to Greenhild through dimensional magic with Lena.

The Greenhild that I visited after a long time didn’t seem to have changed much.

Lena, glancing around, naturally grabbed the hem of my clothes and began to giggle.

“Th-this place… it doesn’t seem to have changed at all… That’s the shop we went to with Master…”

“Right. That’s where you bought your gear, isn’t it?”

“Heh. Hehehe…”

“Shall we head to the cabin first? I wonder if it’s still standing.”

It’s been ten years; by now, it’s probably in ruins.

With no particular expectations, we moved through the forest and arrived at the cabin, and I couldn’t help but be surprised.

The cabin looked as if someone had been taking care of it consistently; it hadn’t changed much compared to the past.

“Hehehe…”

“Did you take care of it?”

“Y-yes.”

Standing in front of the cabin, Lena slowly turned her body.

And she looked straight at me.

“To me, it’s all memories.

Something I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

“I see.”

“I-I like Master. So much that I can’t help it.”

Trembling with fear, Lena didn’t stop.

I felt sorry for her as she recalled memories of the past, but I could only shake my head.

“…I-I don’t want anyone but Master.”

“Even if you don’t want it, it can’t be helped.”

Lena, who had been gazing at me intently, clutched her robe tightly.

What could she be so tense about?

After hesitating for a long time, Lena seemed to have made up her mind and lifted her bowed head.

“B-but, M-Master.”

“Yes.”

“…Isn’t that something a strong person should decide?”