The Villains I Taught Became Heroes - Chapter 97



96 – Not Much Time Left – 1

***

As I received Ludwig’s report, I let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, while we were away, Class A had successfully passed Chapter 3.

Proud little ones.

I nodded at Ludwig, who finished his report with a satisfied expression.

“Well done.”

“Heh. This is nothing.”

He pretended otherwise, but it was cute how proud he was.

I patted his shoulder. Perhaps because he felt recognized, his shoulders seemed to lift slightly.

“So, about that. Instructor. Are you not thinking of going to the Empire? His Majesty said he would hold a ball to celebrate this occasion.”

“A ball?”

Now, only the final chapter remains.

I need to nurture the kids as much as possible before then.

For that, I have to give it my all, but a ball…

“Wow! A ball! I want to go too!!”

Where did this one come from?

Arisha, who had jumped onto the terrace where Ludwig and I were, naturally hugged me from behind.

“The ball, right? The one where you dance and stuff!”

“Um. Something like that.”

“I’ve never been to a ball before~.”

“Hmm…”

Well, could this also be an experience?

After releasing Arisha from my embrace, I looked her straight in the eye.

I nodded at Arisha, who blinked at me and smiled brightly.

“Sure. If you really want to go, there’s no reason you can’t.”

Attending such events can sometimes enhance learning efficiency or provide additional bonuses.

If it helps in raising Arisha, attending wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“First, let’s hear what the others have to say.”

The next morning. During the morning assembly, I shared with the students what Ludwig had informed me.

Some seemed annoyed, but the majority appeared eager to go.

“A ball hosted by the Emperor! That’s an honor!”

Among them, the most excited was Rifa.

Her squealing while holding Arisha’s hand seemed to pique the interest of even those who had shown no interest before.

“Where is it being held?”

“It will be at the Sun Palace.”

—

“Isn’t the Sun Palace a place only high-ranking nobles of the Empire can enter?”

“Uh? Saintess. Did you know about that?”

“Yes. I once briefly entered there after receiving a commission from the Empire to deal with a socialite. It was a very beautiful place…”

“Wow. You’re amazing, Saintess… I’ve never been there.”

As Roxa, the child of a high-ranking noble of the Empire, expressed her admiration, Sowol chuckled lightly.

Anyway, judging by the overall atmosphere, it seemed like attending the ball would be fine.

“Those who don’t want to go can choose not to attend. But this will also be a good experience for you, so I hope you all will participate.”

“If the instructor says so…”

“Understood. I will attend.”

Even those who had no interest or didn’t want to go nodded their heads.

Then it should be decided that we would attend, right?

“I will inform His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Okay. Please do.”

After class, while I was checking documents in the instructor’s office, a knock sounded on the door.

“Master, is it a good time?”

“Yes. Come in.”

Sowol, who entered after opening the door, pointed to the seat next to me.

I nodded in response to her gesture asking if she could sit down, and she gently took her seat with a soft smile.

“You seem busy.”

“There are surprisingly many duties as an instructor. So? Is there something you want to say?”

“It’s about the ball, Master. Do you know that at a ball, you are supposed to have a partner?”

“It’s not a formal ball, so just go.”

“But I am the Saintess of the Church. For the sake of the Church’s reputation, I must always conduct myself properly, and when attending such events, I need to act formally.”

“Hmm. So?”

“I would like to grant you the honor of being my partner. No, please become my partner.”

“I’m too honored to accept. And if I become your partner, what will the others say?”

“They will state the truth. That you have feelings for me, Master.”

“Hey, student. Your master has no intention of giving anyone special treatment. I love everyone equally.”

“Hehe. You’re greedy. I see. You don’t intend to be anyone’s partner, right?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s good enough for me. I hope you keep that promise.”

Huh? Is it ending like this?

I tilted my head at Sowol’s surprisingly easy concession.

But since it wasn’t a bad thing for me either, I was able to smile.

“Sowol.”

“Yes.”

“I hope you don’t get too caught up in your position as the Saintess.”

“…Hehe. Don’t worry. It’s not that hard.”

“But it is hard, isn’t it?”

“…This person really.”

So-wol murmured briefly and took hold of my face.

Then, she gently kissed my forehead.

“Do you know? Seeing you like that makes me even thirstier.”

“Shall I give you water?”

“I’d prefer something sweeter. For example…”

The hand that was holding my face moved.

Her fingers touched my lips.

Slowly, as if caressing, she lightly traced my lips before stepping back and smiling.

“Like this.”

“That might be a bit expensive.”

“Hehe. I know. So, make sure to keep it safe.”

So-wol, with light steps heading towards the door, turned her head slightly.

I noticed that her burning gaze was fixed on my lips.

“That belongs to me.”

Even after So-wol came, several students approached me, hoping to become my partner, but as I told So-wol, I had no intention of favoring anyone.

It was unfortunate to see the disappointed kids leave, but it was for the best.

Thinking this, I finished up my paperwork and lay down on the bed.

“Teacher!!”

The door burst open, and Arisha came in.

Still not bothering to knock, she saw me lying on the bed and ran over, jumping into my bed.

“I decline your partner request.”

“Then I’ll just have to sleep with you!”

This kid?!

I lightly picked up Arisha and carried her outside.

She squealed and shouted while perched on my shoulder, and when I dropped her outside, she puffed up her cheeks.

“A grown kid shouldn’t say things like entering the teacher’s room and sleeping together.”

“Uh? I’m grown up now?”

“Correction. A girl shouldn’t just enter a room with a guy alone.”

“Well, but you know I wouldn’t do anything dangerous, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Then can’t I stay by your side?”

What a tremendous logic.

That’s an unexpected cleverness from Arisha.

“People will talk.”

“But you don’t care about what others think.”

“Yes, they can talk.”

“Hehe~. I don’t care about others either.”

This doesn’t make sense.

“So-wol!! Lena!! Take this kid away!!”

In that case, there’s no choice but to use a different strategy.

As I shouted, Sowol and Lena quickly came down.

And they grabbed Arisha, who was in front of me.

“Have a pleasant night.”

“Ah, good night…”

“Uwaaang~! Let go~! I was supposed to play with the teacher all night today~!”

“You’re being noisy.”

“I’m, I’m a bother to the teacher.”

From noble mtl dot com

Arisha, being taken away by Sowol, waved her hands at me.

After I greeted her, I returned to my room and lay down on the bed.

Let’s just get some sleep.

A few days later, it was time to head to the Empire.

As I led the students, now dressed for the conquest of the academy, to the dimensional magic circle, the dean was waiting.

“Instructor Lee Hyun~!!”

The dean rushed over, almost on the verge of tears, and grasped my hand tightly. Why is this person acting like this?

“I can’t express how grateful I am that you came to the academy!”

“Hahaha. What have I done?”

“Thanks to you, the academy’s status has risen so high; to say you haven’t done anything is absurd!”

“It’s all thanks to the students’ hard work.”

The subjugation of the Asura cult and the prevention of terrorism in the Magic Empire.

The dean trembled, saying that the academy’s status had risen because of those two events.

He’s quite an old fellow; I worried he might have a heart attack from excitement. I patted the dean’s back.

“I hope you will continue to elevate the academy’s status while in the Empire!”

We’re just going for a ball; is there really a chance to elevate our status?

But I figured that no matter what I said, it wouldn’t reach the dean’s ears, so I just nodded vaguely.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

“Please take care! Come back safely!!”

Anyone would think I was heading to a battlefield.

I led the students through the dimensional magic circle.

Upon arriving at the dimensional magic circle near the capital of the Empire, the Empire’s knights were waiting.

“We have been waiting. We will escort you to the capital immediately.”

Guided by the knights, we entered the capital.

Perhaps it was because we had entered a capital that dwarfed any ordinary city?

The students, coming here for the first time, seemed to be in a daze, looking around.

“Wow… So that’s the Imperial Palace!”

One of the students exclaimed upon seeing the massive castle in the center of the capital.

It certainly is impressive.

As we arrived in front of the palace, I spotted a few familiar faces.

“Welcome!! Lee Hyun!!”

A middle-aged man greeted us with a broad smile.

No, to be precise, he was welcoming me.

“Long time no see, Your Majesty.”

“Hahaha! Yes! It has been a long time! Have you been well in the meantime?”

The Emperor.

He, whom I saved from the clutches of the Great Demon, embraced me and patted my back.

Some of the imperial ministers looked at me with a hint of disdain, but I had no need to care about their gazes.

“Come on in! What are you all doing? Don’t you see we have esteemed guests!”

The members of the imperial court led the students toward the Sun Palace. While watching them, the Emperor spoke in a subtle voice.

“By the way, have you thought about it?”

“Excuse me?”

“My daughter and your marriage.”

“I must decline.”

What was I even saying?

Since I saved the Emperor from the Great Demon, he had often brought this up.

The Emperor’s daughter is still just a girl who hasn’t even come of age. There’s a fifteen-year age gap—what do you mean by marriage?

“Hahaha!! Always the same! Yes! Come on in!”

“But really, did you hold a ball just to congratulate me? Or…”

“You catch on quickly. Yes, there’s a reason I called you all here.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve discovered a gathering of the descendants of the Mage Empire.”

Oh. The final chapter is starting.