It had been a week since Allen’s class had started. As the lessons progressed, the students’ levels were gradually improving, but the side effects were undeniable.
“Ugh… I might die like this… I’m so tired…”
“…As much as I agree, can you please not cling to me?”
Ariana pushed Senna away who was whining and clinging to her. Shocked, Senna’s eyes wobbled.
Then she clung to Amy instead.
“It’s too hard! Amy, I’m hurt~”
“Haa… It’s a rare holiday, why don’t we rest quietly?”
Exhausted and without the strength to push her away, Amy left Senna be. Senna smiled faintly in Amy’s embrace.
“See! You need to have a broad heart like Amy! You’re small because of that!”
“What is this girl looking at and saying…?!”
“Kyaa! Amy! Save me!”
“Haa…”
On their day off, the three visited the commercial district but ended up taking a break at a café due to the unexpected heat.
“I didn’t know holidays were this important.”
Ariana sipped her peach iced tea while lounging on a comfy chair. Senna nodded while drinking her iced chocolate latte.
“I mean…”
“Does that professor even realize we have other classes?”
“That’s true. He really is terrifying. But because of that… somehow he’s also more appealing…”
“…You need to visit a mental hospital first.”
Listening silently to their conversation, Amy lifted her teacup filled with Darjeeling.
“Still, it’s a fact that our skills are improving.”
At that, Ariana frowned.
“If our skills didn’t improve under such pressure, wouldn’t that be abnormal?”
“Didn’t your family train you to this extent?”
“Well… not exactly…”
After sipping her Darjeeling, Amy spoke confidently.
“Excluding my father, this is the finest education I’ve ever received. Even professors who claimed growth limits could be reached through time couldn’t predict these results.”
“Definitely… better than those incompetent ones.”
Ariana had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Truthfully, it was an issue the professors themselves would find unfair. The Royal Class consisted only of top talents, and among them, Amy and Ariana were considered the best of all time.
Thus, there was little the professors could teach them, especially as they approached graduation. Naturally, the professors advised time and experience were needed.
But Allen was cramming that experience in real-time.
“Eh~ Still, calling him incompetent is going too far.”
“Senna, you can’t deny it either.”
“…I’ll refrain from commenting.”
Senna weakly buried her head in Amy’s chest. She too had significantly improved in divine magic. Amy pondered whether she should shake her off now.
“Haa… Huh?”
While sighing and absentmindedly gazing out the window, Amy spotted an unexpected figure—Allen, the very person they’d just been talking about.
“Did you see something interesting? Oh…!”
“What is it… Ehh!”
“…Do we really need to react this dramatically together?”
With an obviously intentional reaction, Amy gave the two a dry glare.
“Still, we were surprised, right?”
“That’s true. Who knew the man knew how to take breaks on weekends?”
“Yeah, I thought he’d be out hunting teaching materials every weekend.”
“What do you two actually think of Professor Allen?”
The two answered simultaneously.
“Cold-blooded professor”
“Cool beauty handsome guy?”
“…If I get the chance, I’ll inform the professor.”
“Uu~”
“Be a role model~!”
In unison, the two criticized Amy.
“Anyway, does Professor Allen have a girlfriend?”
“Cough…!”
Caught off guard by the sudden topic, Amy accidentally sprayed her Darjeeling.
Seeing this, Ariana smirked.
“What is it, Amy~ Do you have feelings for Professor Allen?”
“What? Really? What should I do~”
Looking at the teasing grin of Ariana and the overly excited Senna, Amy coldly muttered.
“…Both of you, shut up.”
“Understood…”
“Sorry…”
Upon seeing Amy’s battle-ready aura and rising mana, the two quickly quieted down. Feeling pity for her deflated friends, Amy decided to ease up slightly.
“Hmm… Still, I am curious about how he spends his free time.”
“Right, right? Aren’t you curious too, Amy?”
“…You’re quite something.”
This rapid change in behavior made Ariana grimace. Amy also shook her head in agreement.
Regardless, Senna suddenly perked up.
“This won’t do. Let’s stalk him!”
“What? Are you serious? Waste our golden holiday like this?”
Though Ariana complained, she couldn’t deter Senna’s determination.
“Before heading back to the dorm today, let’s prove our skills by not getting caught stalking!”
“What if he raises the difficulty of the class later?”
“…C-Come on! It’ll be fine as long as we don’t get caught!”
Listening silently, Amy recalled a past conversation with Earl.
“When do you rest?” “When do I have time? In the battlefield.”
Even when asked if he ever rested, Earl firmly replied.
“No. You never know when the barbarians will attack. Unlike other units, we either maintained our weapons or trained physically. Didn’t want to die wielding a sword.”
Earl’s eyes held no emotion while talking about having to wield something after losing his magic abilities.
Even after rehabilitation, Earl couldn’t sleep deeply. According to his mother who nursed him in the hospital, he would wake up at the slightest sound and raise his mana. Despite the pain caused by raising mana with an ailing body…
Earl couldn’t break that habit, making his mother cry.
Then what about Allen, who fought longer wars than Earl?
Amy couldn’t even begin to guess. Thus, she impulsively decided.
“Let’s do it. Stalk.”
“…What? Are you okay, Amy?”
Ignoring Ariana’s shock, Amy stood firm.
“Maybe we can get hints for the next lesson.”
“Come to think of it… Isn’t there an exam soon?”
Realizing it was two weeks until the midterm, Ariana recalled.
“Ah! Allen’s special class started mid-semester, right? But he said the schedule would proceed normally?”
“…Why are you suddenly speaking in explanation tone?”
“Just felt like it?”
“Let’s stop talking…”
Although it wasn’t part of the original semester plan, Allen’s lectures attracted many top students. Assuming it wouldn’t interfere with other exams…
The possibility of Allen’s test determining this semester’s ranking was… extremely high!
Calculating this, Ariana couldn’t help but be shocked.
“Did you think this far, Amy?! You’re obsessed with grades!”
“…Yeah.”
Though it wasn’t the case, Amy decided to just go along with it. Seeing the decision to stalk, Senna quickly grabbed both their arms.
“Hurry! We’ll lose him!”
And thus, the three began hastily following Allen.
***
“Is the concealment magic secure? Amy?”
“Of course. Be careful not to stray out of range.”
Currently, they were about 100 meters away from Allen. They wanted to close the distance, but considering his ghost-like senses, this was the best they could do. Narrowing her eyes, Senna observed Allen and blinked.
“Still, why is he carrying so much baggage?”
Behind Allen floated a rather large load. This scene had formed after visiting several shops. Impressed by his skillful use of telekinesis, Ariana whistled.
“Truly an amazing guy. What exactly is his specialty?”
“His close combat was unmatched… yet he’s no slouch with cold weapons either. And now telekinesis? Perhaps… he’s older than he looks?”
After contemplating, Amy immediately countered.
“That’s unlikely. According to Earl, Professor Allen is definitely ‘human.'”
“Blargh, maybe he’s just more talented than us?”
Though they hadn’t seen Allen’s true abilities yet, Ariana instinctively sensed he was stronger than imagined. Maybe even a Master. Shaking her head, she said.
“Anyway, that’s not important now. Where is he going with all this baggage? Eh? There…”
The direction Allen headed was a familiar shop often visited by the three. Venus, a store in Minerva’s commercial district known as a male-free zone. As the name suggests, it exclusively sold women’s underwear.
“Could he really have a girlfriend…?”
Staring blankly, Senna mumbled. The other two were similarly stunned by the unbelievable sight. After several minutes passed…
Finally regaining their senses when Allen exited the store.
“Uh… buying lingerie for his girlfriend… he really is an extraordinary man…”
Ariana’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke brokenly. Senna hurriedly urged them forward.
“Quick, let’s follow! Time is running out to find his true destination!”
“Should we interfere if he’s meeting his lover…?”
Amy murmured somewhat dejectedly.
“Tsk! After coming this far, what’s this weak talk? Let’s go all out, whether it turns out well or not!”
“Don’t push me…!”
Thus, the three continued following Allen until the end. Even after leaving the commercial district, Allen kept walking.
“He lives quite far.”
Noticing the sign indicating the outskirts, Ariana tilted her head.
“Are there residential areas out here?”
“Hmm? I haven’t been this far out either, so I don’t know.”
Even Amy found it strange. Was someone living so far from the central area?
“Here… Could it be…?”
Only Senna seemed to have realized something, blinking her eyes.
“Do you know something?”
“This is where I come for volunteer work…”
“Volunteer? Then could it be…”
The moment the three finally figured out Allen’s destination…
“Ah, you’re right. It’s the orphanage run by the royal palace.”
“…”
“!!!”
“?!”
Turning around awkwardly, the three saw Allen smiling cheerfully.
“…How long have you known?”
“Since… uh, never mind. I’ve known from the start.”
Muttering something briefly, Allen grinned.
“Specifically, since Amy used concealment magic. It was quite advanced, but compared to shadow snake clans, it fell short. If you want to stalk again, try controlling your mana at civilian levels.”
“Hide among the trees, huh.”
Witnessing Amy’s realization during this situation, Ariana looked exasperated. Pointing at the baggage behind Allen, she asked.
“So all this baggage was for donation to the orphanage?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I usually send part of my salary, but since I rarely visit Minerva, I thought I’d drop by once.”
“Then the women’s underwear was…?”
Carefully asking, Senna saw Allen shrug.
“The girls were lacking underwear, so I bought some of all sizes. Not sure about the details, but Venus is the most famous place, right?”
“High-end brand indeed…”
“Good to hear. By the way…”
Tapping his baggage, Allen smiled at the three.
“Why did students decide to follow their professor on a rare day off?”
The same smile felt strangely sharp. Intimidated by the atmosphere, none dared meet Allen’s eyes.
“That…”
“Surely you came to volunteer too, right?”
Unable to bear it, Allen threw them a lifeline, which Senna quickly accepted.
“Y-Yes! Absolutely no intention of finding out about Professor’s girlfriend or trying to get exam hints!”
“…”
“You idiot…!”
Startled by her friend’s self-destruction, the two turned pale. Meeting Allen’s gaze…
“Hmm~”
He seemed oddly delighted. Anticipating tougher lessons ahead, the two vowed to punish Senna someday.
Watching his adorable students, Allen chuckled softly.
“Come on, let’s go. The kids must be waiting with bated breath.”
“Ye-es…”
Like cattle being led to slaughter, the three followed Allen. Somehow, they spent their precious day off happily volunteering at the orphanage.
