Chapter 22: Consultation with the Follower (1)

“…So, what is your business with me after all?”

“Yes?”

Having cleared up the misunderstanding with Xeth, Xenia accompanied me to the infirmary as if it was an everyday routine, and kept on chattering with Xeth. I was fed up and inquired, to which Xenia tilted her head as if to express ignorance over my question.

“I am asking you what’s your purpose in coming here. Doesn’t preparation for teaching materials and other matters still need to be done even if you don’t have a homeroom class?”

“Oh, that will be done tonight, so forget about it. Three hours of sleep a day is all I need.”

I restrained the urge to retort, “That’s because your body is a corpse, you know.”

“Wow, that’s amazing! But you are still young, Teacher Xenia, so you should be fine, but don’t overwork yourself.”

“Haha, even if you said I am young, I am still much older than you, Mr. Xeth. I am not perpetually youthful either, so I can’t afford to push myself too hard.”

“No, not at all. You are still young enough, Teacher Xenia!”

Xenia laughed, “You really know how to flatter people,” while Xeth responded earnestly.

I did not particularly mind if you wanted to have a conversation, but please find another place to do so.

“Teacher Xenia. I have a counseling session scheduled for one of my students. If you have no other business, I would prefer to finish my other work before that.”

“Oh, I am sorry. I got carried away talking with Mr. Xeth… I came here today for a favor from you. In my next alchemy class, I am going to cover some modern pharmacology, so I was hoping that you could show me some of the medicines you are concocting today.”

“Unfortunately, I would have to decline your request.”

My immediate refusal was instantaneous. What was she saying out of the blue in front of Xeth?

But to my dismay, even Xeth became intrigued by this topic.

“Can I have a look at the medicines that are being mixed by you, Teacher Kanaki? If so, can I learn from you?”

Didn’t I already mention that wasn’t possible?

Xenia, who had caught a tailwind from an unforeseen source, pleaded fervently with me with a vicious glint in her irises.

“Teacher, please don’t be so dismissive. This is for the sake of the students who are attending my class as well.”

“Your feelings are very clear to me, but it is dangerous so I cannot present them to you, and above all, it is physically impossible for me to do so right now. Right now, my hands are full, and I am not in a position to procure the ‘ingredients’ for the medicine.”

After being informed of this, Xenia’s shoulders slumped demurely and she seemed to give up.

“I see… I am sorry for asking an unreasonable request.”

“No, nothing like that. Forgive me for not being of assistance to you too. Since that is the situation, Xeth, would you be so kind as to give up on this occasion?”

“…I understand. I apologize for being impulsive.”

“Good riddance,” I mentally muttered to myself as I watched Xenia’s back as she left the infirmary.

After she opened the door of the infirmary, the person I was waiting for, Fina Trinity, came in at the wrong time.

“Oh, it’s Ms… Trinity, isn’t it? Did you hurt yourself somewhere?”

“Ah… no, I am here today to discuss a matter with Teacher Kanaki…”

“Heh, I see.”

While saying this, a searing stare momentarily swept across Xenia’s vision to me.

No, no, I won’t do it here.

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Xenia was staring at me as I softly shook my head, then she shifted her attention back to Fina before waving goodbye and leaving. No, if I was intending to carry the act out here, what would you have done, Xenia?

“I am glad you are here, Fina. Then, shall we have a talk over there?”

“Yes.”

Inviting Fina into the Student Counseling Room, I let her settle into a chair, while my seat was across from hers.

“Fina, this is your first time in this room, isn’t it? What do you think? It doesn’t strike you as very school-like, right?”

With my hand on the table, the conversation proceeded along the standard lines of chit-chat, allowing the student’s vigilance to be relaxed.

The foundation of the student counseling session was talking about irrelevant topics before the outset of the central subject. For students to have the impression of being in an average family setting as opposed to a classroom, I tended to maintain my hands in an open position where visibility can be observed, with the aim of ensuring that students would not subconsciously be on their guard. Squashing even the smallest possibility of a student experiencing even the mildest reluctance from sharing their thoughts with me was one of the things I did thoroughly.

“―So, what kind of matter did you come here today, Fina?”

We exchanged small talk for a while after which a breath of relief was released. At last, I cut to the chase.

Her demeanor betrayed a trace of hesitancy, but she eventually spoke up, appearing to be at great pains to express her concerns.

“…Actually, it’s about the student knight tournament….”

“So that was the subject, after all.”

Being pleased with the accuracy of my prediction, I laid out the answers that had been prepared.

“Indeed, the risk of defeat accompanies you should you participate in the tournament. Furthermore, with your caliber, qualifying for the finals is not an impossible dream, and at that time, you will be competing in front of the King, Karen’s father. Even I can sympathize a little with your fears of being exposed in a disgraceful light. But…”

“―U-Um, Teacher? What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

It was then that my words were caught in a halt as my attention was drawn to Fina’s bemused expression for the first time.

“That… may be what is afflicting you, Fina?”

“It is true that I would be lying if I said that no pressure arises for me to participate in the finals and to compete in front of Lady Karen’s father―His Majesty the King. However, to show my back and retreat there would be a reflection on my capacity. Most likely, you thought that this consultation was about whether or not I would participate in the student knight tournament, but that is not the case.”

“…Wow.”

I have done it now. Having offered advice with such confidence a moment ago, embarrassment was setting within me.

I held my eyes with my hands as I turned my gaze up to the ceiling. Of course, my hands were blocking my vision, so the familiar ceiling wasn’t displayed, but I didn’t want to see anything right now.

“Teacher, are you okay?”

“I am sorry… I am just a little too embarrassed, I am more in the mood to be consulted than you are…”

“Teacher, you’re always too firm only when it comes to consultation…”

“I didn’t expect a follow-up attack from you here…”

“Pfft, forgive me.”

When my hands were withdrawn there and I looked at Fina, a soft smile adorned her face. It was a blessing for me as a teacher to witness her smiling at me like this, as the corners of her mouth usually stayed fixed in position before the others. For now, I considered it a positive outcome that I was able to catch her flashing a smile.

I coughed deliberately, and she still maintained a beaming expression but I chose to press on with the conversation.

“So, then, what did you want to discuss, Fina?”

“Yes, actually, I would like to have Teacher Kanaki personally train me for the student knight tournament that I will be participating in.”

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