Chapter 16

Thanks to driving out Rox, the class was able to finish without any issues.

Well, it might not be entirely accurate to say there were no problems, as Eliza's half-crying voice echoed in the funeral-like silence.

"Seal Release"

When I lifted the spell, Rox, who had been leaning against the wall in the hallway, fell on his buttocks.

"Wh-what... What the hell is going on...?"

As Rox muttered while sitting on the ground, Felter walked over and spoke.

"It's just a student who talked back getting disciplined by a new teacher."

When Felter said this in a low voice, glancing at me, Rox's face changed, and he looked at me.

"You...! How dare you do this...!"

I put my palm in front of Rox's face, who was about to get angry and say something, to silence him.

After confirming that he had shut his mouth and pulled his chin down, I spoke.

"You shouldn't bring your status into a school. In this academy, teachers are teachers, and students are students. There's no room for anything else."

"... Do you know how much my royal family has invested in this academy..."

Rox, with bloodshot eyes, spoke in a low voice. I smiled at the corner of my mouth.

"If you had earned it yourself, that would be one thing, but isn't it embarrassing to act superior with your parents' money? Or is that your pride?"

When I asked provocatively, Rox showed a face as if he was about to bite me but managed to hold back.

"... Remember this. No matter the reason, I won't forget that you mocked me."

With that, Rox turned on his heel. For some reason, Eliza's face turned pale.

Rox, who was about to walk away, stopped when he noticed Felter wasn't following.

"What's wrong?"

When Rox said this in an unhappy tone, Felter waved his hand in response.

"I need to talk to this teacher for a moment."

Rox looked suspicious but soon noticed my gaze, snorted, and walked away.

After confirming that Rox was gone, Felter looked down at me.

He's a tall boy. No, he doesn't look like a boy anymore. His body is covered with thick muscles that push up his clothes. And his golden hair and tail stand up like a lion's mane.

"... A tail? Is Felter a beastman?"

"... Is that a problem?"

When I said this, Felter glared at me as if his eyes were making a sound.

I smiled and shook my head.

"It's not a problem. But, could you crouch down a bit? I'd appreciate it."

When I said this, Felter, looking puzzled, bent his knees.

"Then, I'll go ahead."

I couldn't help but smile broadly and placed both hands on Felter's head.

"Ah..."

Ignoring Felter's surprised exclamation, I started petting his head. Soon, my goal appeared.

Triangular but rounded at the tip, thick ears. They were fluffy and looked nice to touch.

"Oh, such cute ears! Can I touch them?"

"O-of course not!"

When he shouted in refusal, the cute ears rolled backward and away.

"Ah..."

"Don't look so disappointed!"

Felter's hair stood up, showing his wariness, and Eliza panicked.

"S-sorry! Aoi is a bit天然 (natural) and...!"

She added a rather impolite comment. Well, petting someone's head on first meeting was impolite. Next time, I'll ask first.

As I thought this, Felter looked at me with a complex expression that seemed to be a mix of anger and anxiety.

"... You're a difficult woman. But..."

After saying this, Felter, who had been in a combat stance, relaxed his posture. He took a light breath and looked at me.

"... I saw that you can not only use magic but also close combat. What weapon do you use?"

"A sword."

When I answered, Felter smiled happily.

"... There hasn't been anyone in this academy who can properly handle close combat. Even those good at physical enhancement prefer to use magic from a distance."

He muttered, clenched his fist, and brought it in front of my face.

"I hope you're strong."

Felter smiled fiercely and said this before leaving gracefully.

His large body swaying with a cute tail as he walked away looked amusing and age-appropriate.

"Aoi! Why did you do that!?"

As soon as Felter was gone, Eliza, with teary eyes, confronted me.

Then, Shenli, who couldn't come out of the classroom, cautiously appeared.

"Is it okay...? Felter-sama is the next head of the Bushmills duchy, and Rox-sama is..."

Shenli whispered anxiously, and Eliza nodded repeatedly.

"Rox Kilbegan... He's from the Varted Kingdom, which has the closest ties to this academy! And he's the second prince...!"

Eliza, holding her head in her hands, started headbanging, and Shenli, frightened, took a step back.

It seems they were from the upper nobility of the six major countries and a prince.

"... A prince and the next head of a duchy showing such attitudes in public. Maybe I should have been stricter..."

"Opposite, opposite!"

"A-avoid getting involved..."

Eliza and Shenli objected to my muttering, but I couldn't give in on this.

"School should be equal. Regardless of birth, everyone should learn and enjoy their time as students equally. Teachers, who should be role models for students, should treat everyone equally without discrimination."

"... Didn't you say you'd be stricter because they're royalty?"

"That's one thing, and this is another."

I brushed off Eliza's comment and looked at Shenli.

"Shenli. If someone important says something to you, let me know. I and Eliza-sensei don't care about status."

"Me too!?"

For some reason, she confirmed this with a scream.

"... Doesn't Eliza-sensei want to help troubled students?"

When I asked, Eliza, still half-crying, pulled her chin down.

Shenli, looking at Eliza's face, opened her mouth anxiously.

"Ah, ah... Don't worry about me... Just that, Eliza-sensei caring about me..."

Shenli, with tears in her eyes, said such a brave thing, and Eliza squirmed with a guilty conscience.

"... If you say that, I can't not try my best..."

And so, Eliza decided to help Shenli after all.

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