Chapter 51

Aiko Hatanaka, 25 years old. Social studies teacher.

For her, being a teacher is not just about imparting professional knowledge to students, striving to improve their academic performance, being a role model in their lives, and guiding them. Of course, these things are important. However, more than anything, Aiko believes that becoming a 'companion' to the children is the most important thing. Specifically, it means being an adult that the children can rely on outside of their families.

This is because her experiences during her student days had a significant impact on her, but let's set that aside for now. In short, being a companion to the children outside of their homes is Aiko's creed, pride, and the pillar that supports her as a teacher.

Therefore, Aiko is extremely dissatisfied with the current situation. When she was suddenly summoned to another world and was stunned, a student with the highest leadership charisma in the class took over and summarized the situation. By the time she realized it, the most important students had already begun preparing for war.

No matter how many times she said it, the 'tide' of decisions had already swept away Aiko's opinions, and she ultimately failed to stop the students' steps.

At the very least, she wanted to protect the students from the sidelines! Despite making this resolve, because she possessed a rare ability, she was assigned to a task unrelated to combat (improving and developing farmland). Aiko resisted with all her might, but after being convinced by the students, she could not refute their valid points and reluctantly accepted the task.

Every day, she thought about the students fighting far away and spent her days in restlessness. While being guarded by the Temple Knights of the Holy Church and the Royal Guard of the Helich Kingdom, she wandered through various villages and undeveloped lands. As her work gradually came to a close, she returned to the palace only to receive the news of a student's death.

At that moment, Aiko blamed herself, thinking, "Why didn't I insist on going with them from the beginning?!" In the end, her ideal of being a teacher was just empty words, a mere wish of hers! Of course, if asked what changes occurred in her at that moment, Aiko wouldn't be able to answer. However, this incident was like a blow to the head for Aiko, marking the beginning of her awakening.

The overwhelming fear of 'death' that the students experienced, and the church and kingdom officials' desire for them to continue fighting. Aiko would no longer go with the flow! She confronted the church officials and the kingdom's nobles head-on. Using her position and abilities as a shield, she loudly shouted and pursued those who tried to approach her students.

In the end, she managed to achieve victory. The pressure to force students who refused to fight disappeared. However, Aiko's efforts, which were so moving, further increased her already high popularity. Although the students could no longer participate in the war, many of them were motivated to take on the task of guarding Aiko, who was traveling around the country. The result was truly ironic.

Aiko tried to persuade the students to change their minds with phrases like "There's no need to fight" and "The knights assigned to us will protect us, so it's fine," but in the end, those students insisted, "We will protect Aiko!" and their enthusiasm only grew. As a result, Aiko's opinions were completely overshadowed, and from then on, the students accompanied her on her tours of the farmlands. "I'm just going with the flow again; I'm a useless teacher..." Aiko's image of collapsing on the ground while saying this is unforgettable.

Incidentally, the dedicated knights appointed as Aiko's guards also tried to persuade the students (not to participate in the guard and combat duties), but the students stubbornly demanded that the knights abandon their (guard duties) in a rather amusing turn of events.

As for why the students were averse to other guards, this can be summed up in one line that encapsulates the students' entire opinion.

"We will never hand Aiko over to people of unknown origin!"

Rather than being concerned about the dangers of bandits or monsters on the road, the students were more concerned about Aiko's dedicated knights. The reason was that all the knights were terrifyingly handsome. This was a strategy by the kingdom and the church's upper echelons to attract someone like Aiko. In short, it was a kind of sweet trap. One student noticed this and shared the information with the others, leading to the formation of the "Association to Protect Aiko from the Handsome Army."

However, the students made a miscalculation, which was that they didn't expect to be the ones who would be seduced. As evidence, let's look at what the knights said to persuade the students.

Captain David of the Temple Knights' dedicated guard team

"Don't worry, I will protect Aiko. I won't let her be harmed in the slightest; Aiko is my everything."

Deputy Captain Charles of the Temple Knights

"I am prepared to dedicate everything to Miss Aiko. I would even abandon my faith for her. Can this not put your minds at ease?"

Royal Guard Chris

"Meeting Aiko was a fateful encounter. How could I let the other side of fate die?"

Royal Guard Jed

"I swear on my life, not as a Royal Guard, but as a man."

At that moment, the students thought, "What's going on?! Instead, these guys are the ones who have all fallen for her?!" In other words, the initial concern was that Aiko would fall into a sweet trap, but after hearing these words, "We will never hand Aiko over to people of unknown origin!" became a meaningless parental spirit, and perhaps it was the students who should leave Aiko's side.

Additionally, something happened between Aiko and them, but the story is too long to recount here. Aiko is the type who works hard but often in vain, and her honesty and the charm of her cuteness gradually permeated those around her. She became the kind of person who, if you pay attention, would become a follower of Aiko, a story with that kind of feel. If you were to tell it, many new stories would emerge... all kinds of things.

After all that, the students are now divided into the Brave Group, led by Kō, who are undergoing practical training and gaining experience in the "Orkus Great Labyrinth," the remaining residents, and Aiko's guard group.

Then, just a few days before the two-month mark since the imperial envoy visited the Helich Kingdom, Aiko and her farmland improvement and development team were traveling in a swaying carriage to a new farmland that needed improvement. Their destination was the lakeside town of Uru.

"Aiko, are you not tired? If you are, don't hesitate to say so. We can rest immediately if you need to."

"No, it's fine, Mr. David. We just rested a moment ago, and I'm not that weak."

In the spacious large carriage, Captain David of Aiko's dedicated guard team spoke to Aiko with concern. Aiko's response was tinged with a slight smile.

"Hehe, Captain is so worried about Miss Aiko, even though she was exhausted just from moving around a day ago... I'm also very worried about you. Are you sure you don't need to rest?"

"That was a bit of a hassle for you, and it was my first time traveling by carriage... But I've gotten used to it, so I'm really fine. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Charles."

At first, due to the movement of the carriage and the new experiences, Aiko showed various unflattering sides. Recalling her past, Aiko's cheeks slightly flushed as she thanked Deputy Captain Charles. Seeing Aiko's flushed cheeks and her hand covering her mouth in embarrassment, Charles tried to casually hold Aiko's hand. "Ahem!" His hand was stopped by a cough and a sharp glance. The person who stopped him was a girl, Yuka Sonobe, a member of the "Association to Protect Aiko from the Handsome Army." The carriage, a small enclosed space, also contained several other members for some reason.

Incidentally, this was an eight-seater carriage. Outside, a squad of knights was accompanying them. "Is it really okay for the captain and deputy captain to be in the carriage?" This had already been pointed out. Using various reasons, the handsome knights had managed to get in, seemingly very reluctant to leave Aiko's side.

"Oh, oh, I've been glared at. That frown is a waste of such a cute face."

Saying this, Charles gave a standard handsome smile. Any ordinary woman would have blushed at this smile. However, Yuka's reaction was still a look of disgust.

"Calling another woman 'cute' in front of Aiko-sensei? Aiko-sensei, this person is definitely a playboy, be careful."

Yuka believed that someone who called other women 'cute' in front of their beloved was not serious. They also understood that they were a sweet trap for Aiko, meaning they had confidence in their appearance's ability to charm women. Charles, despite his forced smile, gave a small counterattack to Yuka, who maintained a nonchalant expression.

"Miss Sonobe, don't be so aggressive. And calling me 'sensei' and then adding 'Aiko' is a bit much... Can't you just call me Aiko-sensei?"

"No, Aiko-sensei is 'Aiko,' so if it's not Aiko-sensei, it's not acceptable. This is the opinion of all the students."

"What, I don't understand at all. And the common understanding of the students? Is this the mindset of a carefree generation? I need to work harder; this is a trial to become a dignified and trustworthy teacher! I must understand the students' thoughts!"

Aiko, who was saying "I need to work harder!" to herself, eased the tense atmosphere between Yuka and Charles. This is why Aiko is called 'Aiko,' but Aiko didn't notice. The path to becoming a dignified teacher is still long.

However, it is precisely because of this that the students trust Aiko. It seems like a mutual dependence, but for the students, she is the closest adult. This 'figure' is more deeply rooted than the 'figure' of Aiko standing up to the kingdom and the church's upper echelons. Especially for the students who were emotionally affected by A's death, Aiko is their spiritual pillar.

The students who volunteered to be Aiko's guards were actually half motivated by the simple desire to be near Aiko. In addition to Yuka Sonobe, the Aiko Guard Team also included Mio Sugawara, Nana Miyazaki, Shō Aikawa, Akira Kawara, Jun Tamae, and Kōji Shimizu, a total of seven students.

After that, the carriage continued to sway and travel for four more days.

The handsome knights actively approached and pursued Aiko. Aiko thought they were so proactive because the upper echelons had said something to them, but this consideration overlooked the general situation. Aiko didn't realize that they were genuinely infatuated with her. In this situation, the arguments and the students' glares often made the atmosphere in the carriage heavy, and it was always Aiko's words and actions that calmed things down... This cycle repeated itself until they finally arrived at the lakeside town of Uru.

While recovering from the fatigue of the journey, they began the work of surveying and formulating improvement plans for the farmlands near Uru. During this period, there were many romantic comedy-like incidents centered around Aiko... These can be discussed another time.

Then, shortly after the start of the agricultural reforms, when the title of "Goddess of Harvest" was widely known in the streets of Uru, one of the students went missing.

Aiko, for her most important students, ran around tirelessly. At the end of her efforts, she would face a shocking reunion and the most undesirable outcome. Aiko is currently unaware of this.