“Wh-what did I just say…”
Rianis’s eyes were dyed with confusion.
“Lovers? That professor?”
She wondered if maybe Aisha was just joking around…
“Hic… hic…”
But does someone who’s crying their eyes out like that really have the energy to joke?
While the truth behind those words just now is unclear, Rianis judged that at the very least, she’s taking it as fact.
Quickly composing her expression, she prepared herself to console her friend.
“It’s just you and me here, so speak your mind. Why did you say it seems like the professor has a lover?”
After setting up the perfect stage for her friend to naturally spill her guts, she quietly leaned in to listen.
All while hoping she’d be able to regain her composure and escape from her sadness.
“S-so…”
And with that encouragement, Aisha began recounting everything she’d seen.
How the professor had been looking unusually cheerful these past few days.
“Hmm, I see.”
The strands of hair stuck to the floor and clothes.
“…I see.”
And then… the bite mark on the neck.
“……”
By the time Aisha finished speaking, Rianis’s face was completely frozen solid.
“Rianis… are you okay?”
To the point that the person who was just crying her eyes out moments ago was now asking if she was alright.
Truthfully, Rianis had thought it was nothing serious when she brought her into the room.
It was probably just Aisha’s timid personality causing some trivial misunderstanding to blow out of proportion.
She figured she’d just clear up the misunderstanding.
But…
If everything said just now was true, then it’s possible the professor really does have a lover.
“Bite mark… on the neck…”
She found it a bit strange when she heard about how the professor had been acting unusually cheerful lately.
Even when she heard about the strands of long hair on the professor’s clothes and in the office, she still thought it was weird.
‘Maybe the professor is just happy about something and smiling more, and the hair could’ve gotten stuck while teaching other students,’ she reasoned.
Still, she decided to just listen patiently without interjecting.
Thinking that there’s no way she wouldn’t know what she herself knows.
As expected, the real issue came next.
The bite mark on the neck.
A mark clearly left by someone with definite intent.
‘Could it be that it happened against their will…? No.’
The professor had mentioned it as “proof of being loved,” so it wasn’t forced.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to conclude that the professor does indeed have a lover.
A lover with quite possessive tendencies and… a desire to show off.
“…Aisha.”
Having reached this conclusion, she called out to her friend whose sniffling had started to slow down, seemingly calming down a bit.
*
*
*
“Thanks Rianis… I feel a bit better thanks to you…”
“That’s good to hear. Be careful going home.”
Though occasional sniffles could still be heard, her friend was definitely in much better shape than before when she saw her off.
*Plop*
Returning to her room, she threw herself onto the bed.
“Haa, dammit… I’m losing my mind.”
Simultaneously roughly brushing back her blue hair, a coarse word slipped out of her mouth.
Anyone who knew her usual self would’ve suspected this was some copycat doppleganger rather than the real deal.
Of course, she was the real Rianis.
Just…
That she now found herself in a situation where she’d have to ask the professor directly if they were seeing someone.
“Why did I even say that…”
To put it bluntly, she’d gotten carried away with the mood.
Though they act like friends in private, they’re technically still TA and student.
The person she finds most often in the professor’s absence is bound to be Aisha.
‘Thought I could return the favor for all the help she’s given me before?’ Thinking she could do the same for once, she ended up making a rash move.
Saying she’d ask the professor for her instead if they really had a lover.
“…”
Her pale face tinged slightly red with regret and embarrassment at what was to come.
Her head was in turmoil.
“Still, it’s a promise… gotta keep it.”
Since there’s no taking back what she’s already said, Rianis resolved to refine the question she’d ask the professor tomorrow.
“Not gonna get any sleep tonight.”
Crafting this potentially offensive question into something less intrusive was going to take quite some time, no matter who was doing it.
She needed to adjust her condition for the upcoming exam soon, but…
What’s one day gonna hurt?
*****
Elsewhere.
Upon returning to her room, Eisha’s body tensed up.
‘Did I… leave the lights on?’
No, she always makes it a habit to turn off all the lights before leaving.
Though, it’s not impossible that she might’ve accidentally left them on.
-%&^@#
Intermittent sounds coming from the kitchen indicated that someone other than her was inside.
‘T-hief!? But why my room…?’
Whoever could infiltrate the academy undetected and end up in her lowly TA’s room, breaking into the kitchen, was anyone’s guess.
But one thing was certain.
-…..
Apparently, the presence in the kitchen had also noticed her by now, because there hasn’t been a sound since.
‘C-calm down Eisha… Even if it’s a dragon coming to eat me, as long as I stay composed—’
“Less painful death for you…”
“Eeeeek!?”
A shriek escaped her lips at the voice from behind.
Without hesitation, she unleashed the lightning magic she had been casting toward the source of the voice.
“But if you dodge so easily—”
-Pahjijik!
This was no ordinary magic. It had homing capabilities.
*
*
*
There’s good news and bad news.
The good news is that the intruder in her room wasn’t a thief, but a professor.
The bad news is…
That professor just so happened to teach alchemy.
“Professor Alkea, my arms are going numb.”
“Eisha, I did wrong, I admit… But still, as a professor… This kind of treatment—”
-Pahjik! Pahjik!
Whatever Alkea was about to say got cut off by the ominous crackling sound aimed his way.
“Arms.”
“Yes sir.”
He didn’t forget to raise his arms higher either.
“…..”
The sight of a professor kneeling before a TA with arms raised might make an outsider suspect they’ve entered some kind of reverse world, or perhaps a case of underling rebelling against their superior.
But anyone familiar with these two would immediately assume the professor must’ve done something wrong.
And indeed, this was justified punishment.
The envelope on the dining table backed this up.
[From Professor]
“Why, why… would you do that…?”
“I’m a professor too, but—”
-Pahjijik!
“Got it. I’ll be quiet…”
By the time he reached the door, the envelope that had been full of meat was now completely empty, showing its hollow insides.
Even though it was a gift, considering how expensive the meat was…
And since it was given by the professor, she hadn’t dared to eat it and had been keeping it safe.
“That… why that…!”
“Well, food is meant to be eaten—”
-Pahjik! Pahjik!
Just as she was about to fry the drunken man in front of her with rage,
-Kangkangkang!
—What are you doing in there, Professor?! Come out quickly!
Alkea’s TA was knocking on the door.
Even if it’s embarrassing, a professor shouldn’t be getting electrocuted in front of their TA, she thought.
So she retracted her magic and opened the door.
“Professor, I clearly told you to just apologize and leave. What exactly did you do to make it this— Eisha?”
The person who opened the door seemed surprised to see someone else there, eyes widening in confusion.
‘It looks like this guy ran off somewhere again.’
“TA… please help me…”
Only then did she notice Alkea kneeling in the corner and direct her gaze accordingly.
“Hey, Eisha.”
“Yes?”
“Did I—”
“Planning to take him with you?”
Eisha answered without hesitation or ambiguity.
Looking straight into another person’s face.
Uncharacteristic behavior for the usual Eisha, indicating she was extremely angry right now.
If things went wrong, she might get caught in the crossfire too.
Deciding it was best to abandon the plan to take Alkea with her.
“No, that’s not it. I was just wondering if this is forgivable.”
They’d settle it together.
Without needing to examine the situation, it was obvious the responsibility lay with Alkea.
She’d get justice for Eisha while settling her own score too.
“Jo, TA?”
“Professor Alkea.”
“I’ll… I’ll behave from now on. Cut down on drinking, work harder on lectures…”
In a last-ditch effort, he started spewing promises he’d likely break within a week.
“Lower your arms.”
“Really? Thank you, you’re the only one for me…”
He actually thought it worked.
“Bang your head.”
Of course, it didn’t take long for him to realize otherwise.
“You’re being too harsh…”
Tears welled up in Alkea’s eyes as he suddenly found himself delivering an undeserved headbutt.
But surprisingly, no one cared.
Serves him right for not behaving properly in the first place.
