Ah, now that I think about it, I almost forgot about the festival talk.
Unfortunately, Minerva’s festival was already over.
Now I understand why my request to rest was so easily approved; it was because of the festival period, huh.
Still, we were lucky that there was a banquet left, but we didn’t bother attending.
Probably because we had our fill of fun in the capital already, everyone seemed to have a “Do we really need to?” attitude.
I was curious how Minerva’s festival went, so not participating felt rather disappointing.
So I tried to console myself with effort.
“Alright, one more lap to go!”
I shouted loudly from atop the podium.
Watching my students run hard and sweat made me feel quite refreshed.
Of course, I didn’t mean it in a perverted way.
Really.
“Kyaaa…”
“Huff… Huff…”
“Ahhh, demon…!”
Apparently, my students have a different mindset.
They know how to play hard when it’s time to play and train hard when it’s time to train.
Just their stamina seems lacking after running 10 laps around the training ground.
“Looks like they’re slowing down… Black Wolf!”
At my voice, Black Wolf slapped Senna’s bottom who was at the back.
“Ouch!”
“Kyaa! Professor, that’s too much…!”
“Just blame Allen. I just follow orders.”
With tears welling up, Senna started moving her legs again.
“Nothing beats running for improving stamina, huh?”
I sat leisurely on the railing and sipped coffee.
After finishing the remaining coffee, I casually placed the cup to my right.
Gulugulu-
Earl, who was waiting, promptly refilled my coffee.
Though it’s not as good as café coffee, it smelled pretty decent.
“For how long do you plan to make them run?”
“Don’t worry. Once this is done, it’ll be your turn.”
“…”
Earl’s face darkened.
It was an obvious fact even without looking.
I chuckled and took another sip of coffee.
“How are the other students doing?”
“They’ve improved a lot. Especially Reinhardt can now freely manipulate sword energy and has become proficient in shield techniques.”
That Earl taught Reinhardt shield skills surprised me a bit.
Wait, how did someone who only knows magic teach shield techniques?
“…I got some help from other professors. And I do know the basics. It was a required subject in battle mage courses at the military academy.”
“Aha.”
That makes sense then.
“I thought I mentioned this before…”
“Why should I remember that?”
“Haa…”
Sighing at him probably meant he wanted to train, right?
Though it’s unfortunate, let’s finish the students’ training here and move on to Earl…
“By the way, what are your vacation plans? Next week is break, right?”
Tch, observant little thing.
Knowing each other’s thoughts so well sometimes feels inconvenient.
Guess surprise attacks won’t work.
“Well, first I’m heading to the Eastern Union Conference. Before that, I’d like to visit your mansion.”
“Eh? Why our mansion? Could it be Amy…?”
“I have business there, so stop thinking useless things. Unless you want trouble.”
“…Always picking on me.”
Ignoring Earl’s muttering, I fell into thought.
Since I don’t exactly know when the Eastern Union Conference is, coordinating the timing to visit Helios is difficult.
Normally it wouldn’t matter when I go, but this time there’s special business.
“Anyway, shouldn’t we stop soon? They might collapse otherwise.”
“Hm?”
Lost in thought longer than expected.
Seeing the students running purely out of inertia, I quickly shouted.
“Stop!!!”
“Ugh…!”
As soon as they stopped, Ariana ran towards the bushes…
The rest will be omitted for the students’ honor.
Hmm, today I learned a lesson.
Don’t daydream while training students.
***
People think exercising always leads to weight loss, but surprisingly, it’s not always true.
Fat may decrease, but muscle increases, causing weight gain for some.
Generally, thin body types gain weight while those with more mass lose it.
Most of our students fall into the gaining category.
“Woo-hoo! Vacation!!”
The only one who lost weight, Senna, cheerfully celebrated.
As she said, we had just finished the closing ceremony.
It was less eventful than expected.
Head professors Cain and Angelica briefly reminded us of precautions, and Heinz gave a pep talk.
Isn’t that the same as in my past life?
“Professor! Do you have any vacation plans?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“What is it?”
“Hmm… Our Senna body transformation project?”
“…!!!”
Jokingly saying that caused betrayal to flash in Senna’s eyes.
I stared blankly as she babbled about how I could say such things.
Amazing.
How does she avoid losing weight in certain areas?
I heard they’re usually the first to go.
Or maybe she did lose weight?
It’s hard to tell under her loose clothes and robes normally.
“You’re listening, right? I’m at my lowest weight ever! Can’t you see these skinny arms?”
“Uh, yeah, I see them.”
Though saying this might sound a bit perverted…
Every time Senna raised her arm in an ‘N’ shape and pinched her upper arm, something wobbled.
It was so exaggerated I could almost hear ‘boing boing’.
Wow, how is that possible?
Out of pure curiosity, not perversion.
Through VIP information provided by the Information Department, I knew her measurements,
but how could I accurately imagine based on numbers alone?
The reality was far more impactful.
“…What exactly are you looking at?”
“!”
Cold voice made cold sweat trickle down.
Turning around with a creak, Lux stood behind me with crossed arms, staring intently.
Her chilly gaze made me innocently tilt my head.
“Looking at your arms? Still lacks muscle tone. Seems like strength training is needed.”
“Hiik…! Run away!”
My perfect acting fooled Senna, who fled immediately.
But Lux wasn’t an easy opponent.
“Not true. You were looking at Senna’s chest, weren’t you?”
“Me? Why would you think that, student Lux?”
No amount of questioning could break my poker face.
What can you do if I deny it?
Lux narrowed her eyes then shook her head.
“…Fine. I wasn’t going to push it anyway.”
“So what is it? Did you properly receive the ‘top student’ reward?”
Thanks to winning Olympia, Lux secured top rank this semester.
As proof, she held a case containing an elegantly packaged certificate and a gold owl badge.
A gold badge adorned with jewels… I wonder how much it costs.
“Yes. Thanks to professor.”
“My contribution was minimal. It’s all due to your hard work.”
“No. Without professor, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
Lux firmly stated.
I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
I understood why she said that.
“I’ll repay this favor throughout my life.”
“There’s no need. It was simply my duty as a teacher.”
“It’s my decision.”
“Uh, alright. Do as you wish… Anything else? If not, I’ll…”
“When are you free during vacation?”
As if following Senna’s lead, Lux asked about my schedule.
Blinking in surprise, I thought for a moment then answered honestly.
Figuring she probably already knew.
“I’ll be staying in the capital. Aren’t you returning to the Imperial Palace?”
“Come with me.”
“Was planning to. Though I assumed Ariana and Senna’s plans are unclear, at least you and Amy will go to the capital, right?”
“Not that. Come to the palace with me.”
“Huh?”
Before I could question, Lux grabbed my arm with a faint smile and whispered in my ear.
“Our father requests your presence.”
“…”
Realizing the meaning, I recalled the Eastern Union Conference.
This brat is deliberately confusing things…
“Alright. Let’s at least meet in the capital.”
“Yes.”
Briefly answering, Lux crossed her arms.
Ever since returning from Isis’ tomb, physical contact has increased noticeably…
“Hey. Others are watching.”
“If it bothers you, professor can pull away yourself.”
“…”
“Do you secretly enjoy it?”
Regretting my inability to refute.
While hesitating to speak, Lux whispered again.
“I’m not small either…?”
That comment unconsciously brought Lux’s three sizes to mind.
The sensation of Lux touching my arm became clearer in that instant.
***
From afar, the undeniable image of a couple made Senna look bewildered.
“Whatever happened that day?”
“Getting worse as time goes. It’s embarrassing to watch.”
Ariana frowned.
Feeling like third wheels, their frustration grew.
Not long ago, they were competing on similar starting lines, yet now Lux was clearly leading the race.
“Our professor is becoming Lux’s property. How do we stop it?”
“Stop? How? What can we do against that proud imperial princess?”
“That… We’ll figure out later.”
No clear strategies existed.
Can one really control someone’s heart as they wish?
Pondering, Ariana cautiously suggested.
“What about rejecting confessions outright? Surely Lux has confessed by now. Let’s create chaos by rejecting her and see what happens. Everyone has feelings for the professor, right?”
There was no hiding it anymore.
Except for Senna, of course.
“Ah, Ariana, you too?! Since when?”
“…Let’s skip that. Who should confess first?”
Quickly changing the subject, Ariana turned her gaze to the dazed Amy beside her.
“You go first. Your family supports it, right?”
Regaining focus, Amy coldly replied.
“…Don’t judge people’s feelings so lightly.”
“You pretending doesn’t help. Girl.”
“Even if I like Professor Allen, I don’t plan to confess under pressure from others. Careful consideration is necessary before confession, and success isn’t guaranteed. I’ll confess after thorough planning.”
Reasonable words made Ariana sigh.
“Haa, then how do we stop her dominance?”
“…Don’t know.”
No matter how much they thought, no answers came.
Ultimately, increasing time spent with Allen to raise intimacy was the only method.
Ariana resolvedly spoke.
“The competition is during vacation. Someone must stop Lux’s dominance.”
“Got it!”
“…Sigh.”
Only Amy sighed pitifully, observing everything with disdain.
