Chapter 24: 24

Torture in the Name of Seclusion

“When the god Faril came down to Earth, there was only a wild wasteland that stretched out endlessly. God’s tears became the sea, and God’s breath became the wind. A strand of hair became a river, a nail became a mountain, and then a forest. Finally, God dropped a drop of blood on Earth. It became a pair of living creatures.”

Three days had passed since she started taking supplementary classes. She was now in the middle of a theology lecture, and Jornwerner was, surprisingly, a decent teacher.

“The creatures born of the blood of the god Faril are regarded as the first man and woman. They were born on Earth without a stitch of clothing and loved each other by instinct. From there, life sprouted, and the human species flourished, but if we trace it back to the beginning, we can say that all human beings were brothers and sisters. Becoming one with each other like them can be considered both a sacred act and an immoral act at the same time. It’s a very dangerous contradiction of two laws. The scent of immorality and obscenity is irresistible, isn’t it?”

“…”

If it weren’t for this indecent and suggestive comment in between.

Judging that it wasn’t necessary to memorize the entire second half of the lecture, Sheila wrote down the useful first half in her notebook.

“Sheila, you know the whole mythology too, don’t you? The many names of the gods.”

“In our village, it was common practice to pray to the gods and spirits.”

“I see…. The 52 gods, descended from the god Faril, created more spirits. I suppose this myth has been firmly rooted in your village.”

By continuing to pray to spirits and gods, they will also help you in various ways. However, she didn’t tell Jornwerner.

“I knew the names of some of the gods, but I didn’t know about Lonowana, the God of Learning.”

“The one you need most right now.”

“That’s right.”

It was frustrating, but it was true. If possible, it would be nice to have the blessings of the Goddess of Fortune, Ayrilla, and the God of Effort, Zurk.

Today Jornwerner was sitting next to Sheila, not at the podium. He brushed aside his blue-grey hair on his shoulders and looked closely into her eyes.

“What do you think? Next time, the two of us will have a dazzling love affair like the first man and woman….”

“I refuse.”

Even though it was for the purpose of improving her grades, it was tough every day.

The fact that she was alone with Jornwerner was very exhausting. Moreover, it was bad to get rid of him because her grades were actually improving. Claushezade basically taught them etiquette and the proper way to interact with nobles rather than study, which was a different direction from Jornwerner‘s lectures. In terms of studying, she could say that he taught better than any of the teachers in the academy.

“Now if only there weren’t so many indiscriminate verbal attacks….”

Sheila muttered with a sigh as she wrote the name of the designated deity on the paper. She had meant to mutter it in her mouth, but Jornwerner responded.

“I don’t know. I’m sure I’ve chosen the right person?”

“――Eh. Why am I chosen?”

She looked up with a start at his words.

She had no idea what tugged at her heartstrings, even though she must have been listening indifferently.

Jornwerner smiled, looking straight at Sheila with his azure eyes.

“Maybe it’s because you’re the cutest, and I like your reaction. I only whisper my love to you, my favorite.”

“…. Was I being whispered love to? It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”

When she looked at him in astonishment, Jornwerner chuckled. This person always squinted at her with affection, but there was something akin to amusement lurking in the depths of his eyes.

He didn’t like people, he just liked their reactions. It must be exactly as he said. No matter who he was with, even if it was Sheila, whom he just whispered his love to, she must be of equal value to him as an inanimate object.

“――You’re…..”

Jornwerner‘s smile faded and his azure eyes widen slightly.

‘Ah.’

She failed.

He’d noticed. That she saw through to his ever-quivering nature. She guessed that it made him uncomfortable to be known.

Sheila quickly pulled herself together and smiled.

“Did you know, Jornwerner-sensei? Since supplementary classes started, it was well-known that you don’t tease other people anymore. Thanks to that, I’m treated as a barricade against Jornwerner-sensei.”

She knew by instinct. Jornwerner didn’t want people to touch the real him. She wasn’t particularly close to him, so it was safer for her to do what he wanted.

That’s why she deviated from the topic with a nonchalant face. To let him know by her demeanor that she would never step in.

Jornwerner stared blankly at Sheila for a while, but eventually chose to go along with the conversation.

“――That’s true. Since I’ve been in a rendezvous with you every day, I can’t bring myself to tease other men.”

“It’s not a rendezvous, it’s just a supplementary lesson.”

When she sharply retorted as usual, the usual atmosphere suddenly returned. Jornwerner also returned to the podium happily.

For a while, she concentrated on solving the questions on her paper. While she was writing down the names of the gods, she remembered that she still hadn’t been to the library once since then.

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‘Speaking of libraries….’

“Jornwerner-sensei.”

Sheila put down her pen and turned her gaze to the podium.

“I went to the library the other day, and it seems that there is a rule that commoners are prohibited from reading magic books.”

“That’s right. I don’t think there’s any particular reason.”

“That’s the thing. If there’s no particular reason, why can’t they show it to me? Can’t they do something about that system?”

She was told that it wasn’t allowed, but she still couldn’t give up if it was one of the ways to become stronger. She wondered if she could appeal to the dean and see what could be done.

“Shall I make it so you can read….?”

“Eh?”

Jornwerner looked down at Sheila from the podium.

“I’m saying that I’ll talk to the dean. If that doesn’t work, I can talk to the royal family. With His Majesty the King’s permission, such a rule wouldn’t exist….. In exchange, will you give me what I want?”

A soft voice. His smile was as sweet as honey. And yet, it was like the temptation of the devil.

“What do you want?”

“You should know. I made a declaration at the opening ceremony.”

Sheila ruminated on his bizarre greeting. He was researching the creation and improvement of magic tools in the academic tower, and he said with a smile that he was recruiting test subjects from time to time.

“…. Test subjects, was it?”

“I’m very curious to know what kind of abilities you have that you even beat Leidyrune-kun.”

Jornwerner smiled darkly with delight in his azure eyes. It seemed that he no longer intended to hide his true nature.

He never got attached to anyone. He was ruthless and brutal in nature, though he hid it behind a mask of smiles. He was never moved by emotion. That was the kind of person he was.

Don’t let Jornwerner‘s power overwhelmed you. When facing a terrifying beast, you had to be more calm.

Sheila exhaled every breath in her lungs and looked up firmly.

“If I need the power of a teacher, there are other options.”

“The King’s trust, not a teacher, may be what counts, you know?”

She was struck back, but she didn’t hesitate any longer.

“Then, even more so. Because I know someone like that.”

At Sheila’s words, Jornwerner‘s eyes narrowed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly folded his arms and smiled sadistically.

“…. Hmm. Claushezade seems to be confiding in you more than I thought he would.”

She twitched nervously as he successfully guessed who she was talking about.

Jornwerner took his gaze away from Sheila, who didn’t react further, and shrugged his shoulders. Immediately, the tense atmosphere eased.

“It was a pity. I thought I almost got you there.”

“….. To be honest, it was a close call. I felt like I was being led to believe that there was no other option.”

“Is that so? I thought I was talking normally.”

Jornwerner unfolded his arms and began to walk slowly. He bent over in front of the seat where Sheila sat.

Blue-gray hair cascading down his shoulders spilled over her desk and tickled Sheila’s hand. His hair, straight and unruffled, was as hard and cool as she had imagined it would be.

“But you said ‘I’ for the first time.”[1]

He smiled at her so seductively that she cringed. Perhaps it was because she was too nervous about the conversation that she had become sloppy in her speech.

Jornwerner‘s thin fingers touched Sheila’s arm. Cold to the touch, as if he was the inhuman one.

A frighteningly well-defined face came closer. A wet, red tongue peeked out from his sexy lips.

Fingers traced up her arm. Her upper arms, shoulders, neck, and chin. She writhed at the itchy sensation.

A finger reached her lips and lovingly traced the contours over and over again. Her neck chilled all the way down. She felt as if she were in front of a rabid beast that would kill her if she moved even the slightest bit.

“Like that, fall to me little by little. I seem to want you more than I thought I would….”

Jornwerner softly narrowed his eyes. She felt the light that dwelled behind them softened for the first time, as if in reassurance.

Translator Notes:

1. She said ‘I’ in the feminine form “Watashi” instead of “Boku” which was usually used by men and young boys.

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