Hamel’s carriage stop.
-Okay… Focus! I’ll explain today’s schedule…
-Kill orcs on sight.
-What are you doing during free time? If you don’t have plans, let’s drink in my room.
-Be quiet! Ahem. For today, we’ll drop our luggage at the accommodation and have free time. Proper practice starts tomorrow… Don’t talk, just listen!
Ignoring the student council president’s loud commands, I slyly looked around for a secluded spot.
‘Why am I here?’
Sighing deeply, I scratched my head.
‘Haah…’
The incident began with Hans’s brief report.-Histania Malik has been proposed as the supervisor….
At the time, I thought it had nothing to do with me. I was practically a dropout, not a mere on-leave student, so I believed there was no reason for me to be involved with the academy.
I found it tiresome to get entangled with them.
I figured they’d also want to avoid any association with me. The incident at the ball would be something we’d just have to move on from.
As you know, the current third-year students—Yuria’s friends—had been my classmates during my short academy stay.
Despite the short-lived academy years, those who endured the lady’s mischief and me, a natural disaster, disliked me.
They had even driven me out.
I didn’t think poorly of them. We deserved what we got for our wrongdoings. Hence, I believed I wouldn’t intersect with the academy.
‘Damn it.’
Sighing deeply, I shook my head.
‘What else could I do? When the boss tells you to go, you go.’
-Hey Ricardo.
-Yes, sir.
-Sorry to drop in suddenly, but can you take care of something for me? I need to check out a new store opening.
-Sir, what on earth is your job?
-Royal Knights.
-…Haha. Anyway, I’m afraid I can’t do it.
-I haven’t even told you what it is yet….
-It’s something related to the academy, isn’t it.
-100,000 gold.
-I’ve decided not to get involved with the academy, so no, thanks.
-200,000 gold.
-Sorry, I don’t sell my valuable time for money. Next week, I’m making pizza with the lady….
-Didn’t want to resort to this…
A week ago, Malik suddenly showed up at the mansion. From his jacket pocket, he pulled out a thick stack of papers and placed them firmly in my hand.
[Friends of Forest. Priority reservation tickets: 100]
-Hm?
-They’re not free.
-Even so, I highly value my time…
-I’ll make them free.
Unable to resist free food, I happily shook Malik’s hand.
-If it’s for you, sir, I’ll do it for free.
-Then I’ll assume that means you don’t need these…
-Sir, that puts me in a difficult spot.
Recalling the lady’s smiling face as she put meal tickets in her treasure pouch, tears of joy welled up.
-Eek! Ricardo is awesome!
-I know.
-So capable! I’ll give you some chocolate!
-I thought you ate all the chocolate I gave you today…
-Oh no…!
‘Well, I guess it’ll be fine.’
I took a glance at Michail, who was disembarking from the carriage with Yuria, and then sat on a nearby bench.
This episode centered around Michail.
The story began with a conflict with cultists during the orc subjugation.
In this episode, Michail started to show his animosity towards the cultists.
‘Just don’t mess with Michail, and it should be fine.’
If I just lead them properly, I wouldn’t bear any responsibility. Helping students in danger was my only task, so I decided to work with ease.
‘Haah…’
I don’t want to work.
Basking in the warm spring sun and absorbing the light through photosynthesis.
“Mr. Butler!”
A familiar voice reached my ears.
A voice that matched the spring.
Hearing the cheerful and clear voice of a maiden, I slowly lifted my head and smiled.
“Hanna.”
“Hehe…”
Histania Hanna.
Having briefly met at the ball, Hanna was looking at me with a heavy bag on her back.
Despite the bag looking oversized for her, Hanna smiled brightly, showing no sign of strain. Her cheerful smile was infectious.
I gestured for Hanna to sit beside me on the bench.
Putting down her bag hesitantly, Hanna sat beside me and flashed a beaming smile.
“Long time no see, Mr. Butler!”
“Yes, long time no see.”
“You’re still as handsome as ever.”
“I know.”
“Aren’t you supposed to deny it?”
“Being overly humble is not a virtue.”
Hanna giggled at my confident response and murmured, ‘That’s what makes you cool…’
As we talked about how things had been, I noticed a familiar head of green hair unloading baggage from the carriage.
“It’s Green.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Hanna accepted the nickname “Green” for Ruin without any qualms.
Seemed Hanna had also accumulated a lot of frustration towards Ruin.
Nodding, I lowered my estimation of Ruin.
Ruin looked grim.
It was the darkest expression I had seen on his face so far. Seeing Ruin, burdened with concerns over his lost talent and strained relationship with Yuria, piqued my curiosity. I asked Hanna.
“How’s that guy doing?”
Hanna sighed deeply and shook her head.
“Not well.”
Seeing Ruin’s dejected face, walking sluggishly within a week of the new semester starting, evoked memories of a mantis I once saw in Hamel, making me feel a strange sense of kinship.
Wonder how that creature is doing.
I had an urge to visit, but considering insects often die suddenly, I decided to wish it a long life and held back my visit.
Hanna rested her chin on her hands, watching Ruin.
When she first came to the mansion with Ruin, she had shown respect towards her senior, but now her expression was an honest ‘Why does he even bother living?’ look, which made me chuckle.
‘Should have behaved better.’
Hanna slowly began to speak.
“Senior Ruin is an outcast at school. He often skips classes, waits in Yuria’s classroom, gets ignored, and repeats the cycle.”
“Neglected green.”
“Exac. He keeps making the same stupid mistakes, and his temper has worsened too.”
“Hmm… It’s unpleasant to see him unchanged.”
Hanna turned to look at me. Her emotional question about feeling sorry for Ruin made me laugh and shake my head.
“No.”
I gathered a lot of information from Hanna.
The students in Hamel were not all second and third years, only top students were selected to come.
Listening to Hanna’s story about being in the same group as Michail and Yuria, I saw her uneasy expression.
In the novel, Michail, Ruin, and Yuria were in one group.
So, it’s actually a good thing.
I thought while watching Ruin unload the baggage silently.
Given conflicts with cultists.
Nodding at Hanna’s words, I gave a farewell wave when Chartia’s voice called to assemble the academy students.
Before joining her group, Hanna stammered.
“Um… Will you be staying at our lodging, Mr. Butler?”
Hanna’s hesitant question made me smile awkwardly and shake my head.
“No. The lady dislikes me staying out.”
“I see…”
Hanging her head in disappointment, Hanna shouldered her heavy bag and slowly walked towards the other students.
‘Time for me to get going too.’
Watching the students wrap up their arrangements, I began walking slowly towards them.
The academy’s blue sprouts were watching me approach.
-That’s Ricardo, right?
-Yeah, I think so. But why is he here?
-Crazy… Is he serious?
Nodding at the murmuring students who seemed impressed with my handsomeness.
Long time no see, familiar faces.
Most students stared at me with looks that could kill, while those in second-year gazed at me like they were spotting a legendary villain.
Hands in my pockets, I observed the students.
As I counted silently to myself, one, two, three, I gradually closed my eyes.
‘About one inquisitor and three cultists.’
Comparing the numbers with the information from the novel, I nodded and stretched my neck.
“Ahem. Nice to meet you all. I am your supervisor for the trip to the orc habitat. My name is Ricardo.”
-Is that for real?
-No way…! Why is he here?
-Crazy… Is this some kind of joke?
In the midst of fierce reactions, I noticed three faces showing significant surprise.
Michail.
Ruin.
Yuria.
Our intertwined fates seemed to cast a shadow of negativity.
Michail showed hatred.
Yuria bore friendship.
Ruin radiated resentment as they all looked at me.
Ignoring them, I said my piece as the appointed supervisor.
Since I was hired for this job, I needed to do it right.
“I’m very happy to see many familiar faces.”
-What is he talking about?
-Yeah, let’s report him to the student council president.
-Yeah. He was just another student; what’s with this supervisor role?
-But at the ball…
-Hey! That was concluded to be Princess Chartia’s magic!
“Don’t be rude. I’m on your side. Even though we won’t be seeing each other for long, I feel like being honest, but…”
Giving an awkward smile at Chartia’s stern face.
“That wouldn’t be polite, right?”
A sigh of relief came from Chartia. Smiling at her, I began to speak more seriously.
“From now on, I am your supervisor. I’ll guide you to the accommodation and to the practice site on the middle slopes of Hamel Mountain. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“During my off-hours, I won’t respond if called. If you talk trash, I’ll make sure you’re buried in a sunny spot.”
My speech, meant to set clear boundaries, further hardened the students’ expressions.
“Why do you all look like that…? I was joking.”
Seems like nowadays kids don’t appreciate this kind of joke. Smiling bitterly, I held up three fingers for emphasis.
“I only have three requests for you.”
-One.
No matter what happens, do not leave the designated area. Any consequences will not be my responsibility.
-Two.
If you judge it’s dangerous, run away.
-Three.
Always follow the supervisor’s instructions.
In a modest tone, I addressed them. Naturally, the response I got was…
“Piss off!”
“Why is that crazy bastard here!”
“Why should I listen to you!”
Fierce rejection.
Smiling, I watched them and put my hands back in my pockets, smiling broadly as I spoke.
“Shut up. This isn’t the academy.”
End of Chapter
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