Chapter 39
Vice Principal Poras looked like a neat woman who didn’t appear to be older than her mid-thirties. She was completely different from what I had expected. She probably didn’t become vice principal just because of seniority—was it skill, or connections?
“Welcome, Elpini. I hear you’re asking for reinstatement?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
It was Irix again. I gave up and pointed at him. The vice principal looked in that direction.
“Then why did you just leave last semester? It would be one thing if you hadn’t taken the exam at all, but you attended and submitted a blank paper. There was nothing we could do. If your academic ability were lacking, we could teach you—but what you did was an act of disregarding the authority of the school. So we took it very seriously.”
Her gentle eyes turned toward me. It was something Irix couldn’t explain either. There was sympathy in her gaze.
“Tell me why you did that.”
I wanted to—but there was a problem. I couldn’t explain anything at all.
Because I had no memory.
I’m curious myself. Why did Elpini do that?
At that moment, Irix suddenly spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
Why are you—
Ah, whatever. You handle it.
“I apologize. At that time, Elpini was…”
Irix thought for a moment before continuing.
“…going through mental turmoil.”
There was no way Irix knew Elpini’s circumstances, so of course it was a lie.
“What kind of turmoil?”
“…I will look into it.”
Even I don’t know, so how would Irix?
“Please grant the reinstatement first. I’ll make sure she studies.”
Wait—what are you going to do?
“Well… that’s… difficult.”
The vice principal looked troubled.
“It’s only failing grades. There are quite a lot of subjects, but it can be fixed with enough studying.”
“Yes, that’s true. But she failed all subjects. That’s not something easily corrected.”
Irix looked at me.
Right—couldn’t you have at least passed one subject?
…That’s what his eyes were saying.
The Aether inside me started boiling again (probably), and Irix immediately grabbed my shoulder.
The vice principal said:
“Elpini will have no choice but to repeat the entire semester.”
What?
Irix’s face brightened, while I suddenly wanted to be expelled.
A school life with one semester left instantly became one with a full year remaining. I’d rather go to hell. Why keep someone who was practically dead and make them go to school?
Vice Principal Poras smiled.
“Still, this is fortunate. You haven’t given up on your future. Please work hard from now on. Elpini, you’ve done well until now, so I believe in you. It seems you went through a difficult period, but you’ve always been diligent—you’ll recover.”
Those kind eyes were directed at Irix.
I’m the one who couldn’t give up—so why is he getting praised?
“In fact, Elpini’s guardian said that if she wishes to continue her studies, her semester registration should be processed at any time. They have already paid all expenses, including tuition.”
Wait—guardian?
Irix looked at me. His eyes were asking:
Senior, since when did you have a guardian?
Exactly—since when?
With that, the theory that Elpini was from a wealthy family was discarded. She was a child sponsored by someone wealthy.
But then why had she tried to quit school like that? If you’re studying with someone else’s money, that’s not a decision you make lightly.
“Please stop by the academic office on your way out to register and receive your timetable. And—”
The vice principal pointed at the snake peeking out of my pocket.
“That species seems prohibited from being kept on campus. It’s cute, though.”
“It’s not being kept,” Irix said.
“It’s inside Elpini’s pocket?”
“It’s a species whose habitat is human pockets.”
“…What?”
The vice principal tilted her head. Anyone would—because that was nonsense.
“It’s a rare wild snake that lives in people’s pockets. Like spiders that build webs by windows, or bedbugs that live in mattresses.”
This was a murderous venomous snake that had already killed two people—but now it was being compared to spiders and bedbugs.
“Neither I nor my senior can take away the snake’s home carelessly. It’s the law of nature.”
So the mastermind is the law of nature…
Right—he didn’t follow human morality, but he didn’t defy natural law either.
If you hit a building hard enough it collapses; if you hit a person they feel pain—that’s also natural law.
“I’ve never heard of a snake that lives in people’s pockets.”
“Neither have we. That’s why we’re researching it together.”
“…I see.”
The vice principal looked at the snake again.
The snake simply blinked its bead-like black eyes and flicked its tongue. Like that, it really did look harmless. No one would think it was venomous.
“Please study it well. Irix, your passion for knowledge and curiosity are always admirable.”
I had to look back and forth between the teacher and Irix. The teacher was sincerely impressed, while Irix seemed used to such praise.
What exactly is this guy—top student or troublemaker?
“Now we should talk about Irix. You no longer need to act as Elpini’s guardian.”
Only then did Irix realize he himself had been called here, and his face stiffened.
“You know your father came, right?”
“Yes.”
The space between Irix’s eyebrows tightened. His jaw hardened.
He really hates this.
“He’s waiting next door.”
Irix jumped to his feet. I was startled. Even the snake flicked its tongue in surprise.
“I heard there was a serious accident on your way here. It was nearly disastrous.”
The vice principal placed a hand on her chest and sighed.
“Irix’s father is extremely worried.”
Irix’s face said it all:
Worried? No way.
“Why did he come here? He could have waited at home.”
I immediately understood from Irix’s expression.
He hadn’t planned to go home. His father must have known that, so he came to the school.
“He said he couldn’t wait at home. Irix, it’s impressive—you experienced such an accident and still came to school first. No matter how important studies are, you should take care of your father.”
Not because studies were important—he just didn’t want to see his father.
Besides, Irix had ignored his father’s order to go to the cathedral and came to school instead.
Vice Principal Poras stood and knocked on the side door. Why does this school have so many side doors? Are there doors on every wall?
Soon the door opened, revealing two uniformed men.
“I’ve been waiting, Irix.”
A soft, languid voice came from inside. Just hearing it made something itch under my skin.
“Come here. And your friend beside you as well.”
There was the sound of someone standing, followed by footsteps.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you work so hard to help someone else.”
Irix glared through the doorway.
A man of similar height to Irix stood there.
“I was worried because you always walked alone. But now you finally have a friend. Your father is so happy.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up.
What did he just say?
Fa—ther?
I looked at the Duke of Verkart standing before us.
He was tall with broad shoulders, and his striking appearance resembled Irix’s. Anyone could see they were father and son.
But—
Rather than an imperial chancellor, he looked like a famous writer or artist. Even though he was neatly dressed, there was something extravagant and inappropriate about him.
“When did you make this friend? I’m curious.”
“Later.”
“I want to hear it now.”
“You can’t.”
“Why?”
“I’m busy.”
A student on vacation said that to the imperial chancellor.
The duke’s deep eyes turned toward me—blue with a hint of violet.
“I’m very curious what kind of child my son’s friend is. Can’t you spare that much time?”
“No.”
“What could my Riksy possibly be so busy with?”
Irix bit his lower lip, and I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
Hold it in. Hold it in.
But I wanted to run away immediately. My hands were trembling.
This time Irix didn’t even try to stop my Aether.
Naturally—he couldn’t control himself either.
“Studying.”
“Haven’t you already earned all the credits needed for graduation?”
“Not yet. I need to learn more. I still need to study now, so I’ll be leaving.”
The duke chuckled.
“In that case, I’ll have to meet Elpini separately later.”
“Don’t.”
It sounded more like: Don’t you dare.
“Why?”
“Because you’re not a moral person to introduce to friends.”
“What makes me immoral?”
“The gossip papers. They use only initials, but everyone knows it’s you.”
“They’re all lies.”
“Mostly true.”
Even as the conversation went like this, the duke kept smiling.
“Elpini, are you uncomfortable with me?”
Yes. Very.
Please leave. See that window? You could exit quickly through it.
But the duke did not.
He sat down on the couch and gestured in front of him.
“Both of you—sit there.”
