It was said so naturally, like we were truly just having “a cup of tea.”
Don’t fall for it, you devil.
“Unfortunately, I might become a criminal if I don’t handle this first, so I think I should take care of that.”
It really wasn’t unfortunate, but I answered with drooping eyes, pretending it was a shame.
Cheating at the academy wasn’t a trivial matter, so it served as a decent excuse.
“Ah, my eagerness got the better of me.”
Dean Delrano, who understood that, backed off a little. Then his eyes sparkled when he noticed Mion on my shoulder.
“Oh, what’s this? A baby kitten?”
Strictly speaking, he wasn’t a baby, but to others, Mion’s not-yet-matured form did look like one.
‘In the original novel, he comes of age with Melin, right?’
Since the divine beasts came of age at 50, that meant Mion was currently 45 years old.
I was honestly stunned at the realization.
‘Not five…?’
Considering how he acted, it was hard to believe.
He had been locked away in the underground of the Penelope family estate since a very young age and had only been freed four years ago, so his ignorance of the world was understandable.
Still… this was a bit much.
“May I pet him?”
“Sure.”
He asked for permission and gently stroked Mion like an animal lover.
As his hand touched him, Mion fluffed up and hissed. Must’ve seen his past.
For the record, Dean Delrano’s specialty was pharmacology. His main research involved animal testing.
“Sorry, he’s a bit ill-mannered…”
“Ah, animals are always like that. Hohoho.”
Dean Delrano smiled kindly and pulled his hand back.
‘He probably only acts like this in front of you.’
I thought, but wisely kept it to myself.
As we walked together to the principal’s office, Dean Delrano spoke again.
“They’re saying Professor Logen accepted a bribe, but I find that hard to believe.”
Logen Ilias.
The Ilias family was known for their scholarly achievements, but unlike the wealthy and prestigious Skylar family, they didn’t have fortune or fame.
They were a classic example of “poor nobles who only knew how to study.”
‘For someone who doesn’t know Professor Logen, the bribery accusation might sound believable.’
But from what I’d seen, he wasn’t the kind of person who would take a bribe. Or rather—he must not be.
‘Because I’d be implicated too.’
So I quickly agreed with Dean Delrano.
“I think so too.”
“Right? I knew you and I were on the same wavelength, Clemence. Hohoho.”
He burst into hearty laughter and continued.
“Our research interests might align too, you know?”
Excuse me? I must have misheard.
His gaze was like a predator eyeing prey.
Once I confirmed that I hadn’t misheard, I swiftly pretended not to hear and sped up my steps.
‘I hate animal testing!’
It was basically a retreat.
I hurried to the principal’s office and knocked quickly.
“Come in.”
I recognized Principal Albrecht’s familiar voice and entered.
Upon seeing me, the principal beamed.
“Oh, Clemence! It’s been a while.”
“What, you don’t see me, Al?”
“Nope~ I don’t see you~”
Dean Delrano and Principal Albrecht had attended the academy together, so they spoke casually.
“You’re here about that matter, right?”
Thanks to Principal Albrecht’s opening, I got straight to the point.
“Yes. I plan to publicly solve the graduation exam problems in front of the professors. But since it seems difficult to gather all full professors at once, I thought I’d start with those who are available.”
“What do you mean, you can’t gather all the professors?”
Albrecht looked puzzled, as if I’d said something absurd.
“Schedules can be arranged, can’t they?”
“…Sorry?”
“So don’t worry about that. Instead, why don’t you visit my research lab—”
Just as Principal Albrecht began speaking, Dean Delrano cut in.
“I asked her first.”
“Says who?”
“Normally there’s no order, but for things like this, order matters!”
Then Principal Albrecht slammed his desk and stood up. Both Dean Delrano and I flinched at his sudden outburst.
“I’m the principal!”
“You’re just using your authority! You’ve only gotten worse with age!”
“And what’s with your lack of respect?”
‘…What is even happening?’
My head started to ache from the chaos.
‘Didn’t Duke Dinero say he’d give them a heads-up?’
It was as if his message had never been delivered. The two were fighting over who would get to “claim” me.
Mion, still on my shoulder, looked entertained, his pupils wide with interest.
But I couldn’t just sit back and watch popcorn-worthy drama—not when the subject of their fight was me.
I quickly raised both hands and shouted:
“Wait a moment!”
Both men fell silent at my outburst.
I glanced between them and carefully asked:
“Did Duke Dinero not mention anything to either of you…?”
“…Ahem.”
“…Haha…”
One cleared his throat, the other gave a hollow laugh.
I knew the duke told them!
“So… when would be a good time for the demonstration?”
“The sooner the better, but since you’re all busy, please choose whatever’s most convenient.”
After Principal Albrecht nodded in agreement, I bowed and quickly left the office.
I was half afraid Dean Delrano would follow me out, but thankfully, he didn’t.
‘Still, things are going smoothly, all things considered.’
Since arriving at the academy, everything had been going according to plan.
At least, I thought so—until just a moment ago.
“…You.”
The moment I saw the student assigned to guide me to my temporary accommodation, my brain temporarily froze.
Before me stood a boy so handsome it took my breath away.
‘Lennox…?’
Only a few years had passed, but I nearly didn’t recognize him.
He seemed a bit nervous as he introduced himself.
“I’m Len.”
Why is he here?
My mind spun at the sudden appearance of Lennox.
While I was still too flustered to respond, he casually picked up my luggage. I stammered a question.
“Don’t female students usually guide female dorms?”
“Since Jacqueline-sunbae was assigned to the professors’ dorms, it was decided I, the class president, would assist.”
‘Something feels off here.’
Why was I, a mere graduate, being placed in the professors’ dormitory?
And since when did the class president handle student accommodations?
I’d never been to the academy for something like this, so I had no idea if this was normal.
‘Well, it’s not like he’d lie.’
Thankfully, his gaze felt like that of someone meeting me for the first time.
‘Hmm, as expected—he’s gotten even more handsome.’
I thought I’d built up enough resistance to good looks thanks to my classmates…
‘But Lennox is on another level.’
I could already imagine how many noble ladies would fawn over him once he came of age.
So I followed his lead toward the professors’ dormitory.
As we entered the dorm made of white brick, a hallway stretched out on both sides, and a staircase led up to the second floor in the middle.
‘Oh wow. Definitely bigger and brighter than a normal dorm—it’s for professors, after all.’
Walking alongside him, I pretended to observe the dorm while sneaking glances at Lennox.
It wasn’t just his appearance that had changed.
He was now a full head taller than me.
‘He used to barely reach my shoulder…’
He hadn’t had his birthday yet, so he was technically still fourteen—but even so, he was tall for his age.
As sunlight caught his golden hair, I smiled.
‘He’s still wearing the magic item I gave him.’
His hair, originally jet-black, was still a brilliant blonde.
Considering his swordsmanship involved lots of physical activity, I thought a necklace would be cumbersome, but he wore it faithfully.
‘I wonder how he’d look with black hair…’
Curious, I imagined what he’d look like in his natural color—when suddenly, he stopped walking.
