Chapter 45

I'm sorry, but I'll need to make another title change...

Will the third time be the charm...!

The number of students didn't increase as much as I thought.

After that, only two more students in the next class, and one in the class after that. In total, only three new students came to the class.

"Why is that?"

When I asked, Eliza shook her head vigorously from side to side.

"I don't know...! But recently, the number of students in every class has been decreasing...!"

At her words, Strass finished chewing the bread in his mouth and nodded.

"Indeed. The number of students in my class has also decreased compared to usual."

Turning to Strass, Eliza said,

"See! Everyone is experiencing the same thing! In fact, it's amazing that your class has even increased a little in this situation!?"

"Is that so?"

Hmm... I feel like I've been dragged into this. Well, it's fine.

"But why are the students decreasing like this?"

When I asked, the two of them crossed their arms and tilted their heads in unison.

"I don't know."

"Why do you think that is?"

While they gave such answers, a deep sigh came from my left side.

Turning, I saw Speyside walking towards me. He's a striking figure. It seemed that even the people in the cafeteria were looking in his direction.

Speyside distorted his handsome face and sighed again.

"Teachers should also be interested in the students' movements. I don't think it's right for teachers to only think about magic."

He threw in a sarcastic remark.

Eliza bared her teeth in a threatening manner, but I ignored it and asked back.

"Do you have any information?"

When I asked, Speyside shrugged lightly and spoke.

"Anyway, I've heard that some groups are wandering around the city. Also, it seems that Rox is investigating this on his own. However, he hasn't told me anything."

"I'll catch Rox and get the information."

I made an immediate decision and stood up.

"Wait, wait, wait."

"Wh-What!?"

The two of them stood up and protested.

"It's not confirmed that he's the mastermind."

"That's right! It could be a false accusation!"

Their overly dramatic reactions made me frown.

"...I may have phrased it poorly, but I don't intend to interrogate Rox as a suspect..."

Narrowing my eyes at the two of them, they turned their faces away with a sound. I was dissatisfied.

"...Well, fine. First, I'll track down Rox."

Leaving those words behind, I started my search.

Strass and Eliza both have classes after lunch, so I'm the only one who can move. They both told me, "Don't do anything reckless," but I didn't respond.

There were few people walking in the hallway.

Occasionally, passing students or faculty members would take a step to the side when they saw me and bow.

Although I thought something was odd, I returned their bows.

In the midst of this, a person who didn't keep their distance from me appeared. Not only did this person not keep their distance, but upon seeing me, they widened their eyes and ran over excitedly.

"Hey, you! No, Aoi-sama! I need to talk to you!"

The man, Balvenie, suddenly appeared and knelt on one knee in front of me, almost prostrating himself.

"What's going on all of a sudden?"

When I said that, Balvenie quickly checked his surroundings, took my hand, and pointed down the hallway.

"We can't talk here! I'm sorry, but can you come with me?"

No room for argument, indeed.

Before I could respond, I was dragged by Balvenie to the courtyard.

Once Balvenie determined that no one was around, he grabbed my shoulders with both hands and quickly leaned in.

Something was being taken.

Judging this, I reflexively bent my elbow sharply and swung my palm upward in a near-uppercut.

"Ugh"

Making a strange sound, Balvenie's head tilted thirty degrees, and he lost his balance.

After watching him spin halfway and fall to the ground, I spoke.

"An unexpected ambush. However, you're still too weak. Thinking I couldn't handle close combat was the end of your luck..."

"N-No! What are you talking about!? I didn't ambush you! Really!"

Balvenie tried to explain, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, possibly from biting his lip.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously but reined in my hostility when I saw how desperate he looked.

"...I'm sorry for hitting you by mistake. What did you want to talk about?"

When I asked again, Balvenie looked startled and knelt on one knee again.

"...I heard that Aoi-sama teaches weather manipulation magic. I wanted to confirm if that's true..."

"Yes. The students can now create rain clouds temporarily."

"W-What...!?"

Balvenie's eyes widened so much they seemed to fall out, and his mouth opened and closed like a carp's.

His pupils seemed slightly dilated, but he seemed to be okay.

As I watched the flustered Balvenie, I remembered the last time I met him.

Come to think of it, he was researching rain-summoning magic back then...

"...I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry. Let's talk next time."

Saying that in a hurry, I turned and left. I thought I heard Balvenie say something, but I didn't have the courage to turn back.

Perhaps, without realizing it, I had interfered with Balvenie's research.

If that's the case, his achievement would have been significant if he had successfully popularized rain-summoning magic. He wouldn't have spent years researching it otherwise.

If that's true, Balvenie must be very angry with me.

"...What should I do? I should bring something as an apology... Would dragon scales or skin be inappropriate?"

Muttering to myself, I slapped my cheek. Trying to make amends with money or gifts is beneath a teacher.

I need to apologize sincerely.

But I'm not mentally prepared yet.

While thinking about this, I continued down the hallway, and this time, a group of five students appeared, with four girls following a boy. They were laughing and walking towards me.

The boy in the center noticed me. It was Hyram.

"Ah, Aoi-sensei! It's been a while! How have you been?"

"Ah, yes. I'm doing well. Thank you."

"Really? You look a bit tired. What a waste, you're so beautiful. Beautiful people should always smile. If you need to talk, I'm here for you?"

He responded with a very casual attitude and words. No, this is Hyram's usual tone.

Despite being the third prince of Mapleleaf, is this really okay?

I had various thoughts, but to avoid being thrown off, I decided to ask my question first.

"I have something I want to ask."

When I said that, Hyram smiled happily.

"What is it?"

"Recently, some students have been acting strange, and I'm also concerned about Rox's actions."

When I asked, Hyram narrowed his eyes for a moment and smiled again.

"...You're asking me? I don't want to lie to Aoi-sensei. If I say anything, it might put Rox in a difficult position. You should talk to Rox directly. I think Court might know a lot too, but for the same reason as me, he probably can't say anything."

"...Rox's, position?"

I repeated some of the words, but Hyram only shrugged with a wry smile.

Reluctantly, I decided to search for Rox again.

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