The Villains I Taught Became Heroes

The next day.

I woke up and started handling my tasks as usual, but something felt off.

“Where are those kids?”

Usually, they’d barge in and drag me to eat, but none of them showed up. Did I drink too much yesterday? Maybe they couldn’t move properly because of a hangover.

If that’s the case, I can’t just sit back as their teacher.

I had breakfast at the cafeteria and bought honey water and hangover cure drinks from the store before heading to their room.

“Hey, guys~. Are you in? Can I come in?”

“Yes! It’s okay~!”

That was Ripa’s voice from inside.

When I opened the door and walked in, I found Ripa sitting alone in the living room.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. Are you okay, Instructor? You seemed to drink a lot yesterday.”

“I’m fine. But what about the others? Still sleeping??”

“Yes. They seem to be.”

“Really? Then when they wake up, tell them to eat this.”

I placed the items I brought on the table. Ripa checked the contents and smiled bitterly just as Sowol’s door opened.

“Ugh… my stomach…”

Sowol stepped out with a pale face and froze as soon as she saw me.

Did she think I was Medusa or something?

Sowol, stone-faced, panicked and subtly shifted her gaze away. Oh ho. Look at this?

“Hahaha! Sowol, who likes the Master. Hello! Good morning.”

“Y-yes. G-good morning…”

I thought it was Lena.

She spoke cautiously as she stuttered and tried to retreat into her room, but I grabbed her and pulled her to the table.

“I-I haven’t even washed up yet…!”

“You’re pretty even without washing up.”

I was serious. Honestly, even looking at it objectively, Sowol was a beautiful girl.

Even if she looked like she was drowning in a hangover.

As I handed her the honey water and hangover cure, she stared at me blankly.

“…You don’t hate me or anything, right?”

“Hate you? Why would I?”

“Because of what happened yesterday when I was drunk…”

I knew it would go this way.

Sowol probably had a hole in her blanket.

Her face turned extremely red, probably out of embarrassment, and I smiled and shook my head.

“I could never hate you. You’re my student, no matter what happens, and I won’t hate what my student does.”

“…Really?”

“…In normal circumstances, that is.”

What was that look just now?

She avoided my gaze as if she were a carnivorous animal in front of its prey.

Sowol clicked her tongue in disappointment while drinking the honey water when Lena’s door opened.

“Oh! M-Master. You’re here…”

“Yeah. Are you okay?”

“Yes. I-I’m okay. But why did you come here so early in the morning?”

Did this one blackout or something?

She seemed like she couldn’t remember what happened.

She looked just like any other day, and I handed her the honey water and hangover cure.

“I thought you drank a lot yesterday, so I brought these for you.”

“Ah… th-thank you…”

“Do you not remember anything from yesterday?”

“Um… d-did I do something?”

You did. You cried and complained to me about everything.

Plus, you threw a fit saying I didn’t like you.

But if you don’t remember, then there’s no need to mention it.

I patted Lena’s head and handed her the magical crystal I had recorded yesterday’s events in.

Sometimes, actions speak louder than words.

“Go check it later in your room.”

“Um… okay. I will.”

Lena, with a puzzled look, accepted the crystal.

While my two students sipped their honey water, I glanced over at Arisha’s room.

Why hasn’t she come out?

“Shall we go in and check?”

“Would you?”

Ripa got up and opened Arisha’s door.

A moment later, she came out with a pale face.

“Instructor! Arisha is!!”

What’s going on? I followed Ripa into Arisha’s room.

It was a bright room that suited Arisha’s personality.

On the bed, Arisha lay there, looking half-dead.

“Ugggh… ughhh, I feel terrible…”

Looks like she hit the bottle hard.

What was she thinking drinking so much?

I checked Arisha’s condition.

“What should we do? She looks way too out of it.”

“Hangovers don’t respond to healing. We just have to leave her like this.”

“Master…”

“Don’t drink so much in the future.”

Arisha, clutching my hand and on the verge of tears, nodded repeatedly. I came to tease her, but I couldn’t even do that in her current state.

I helped her sit up and fed her a hangover cure drink.

“Feed me…”

“That’s why I’m here to feed you. Now, open your mouth.”

“Ahhh…”

Looks like she didn’t have enough strength to mess around anymore.

Arisha obediently opened her mouth as I fed her the hangover remedy, and I tried to get up from my seat.

“Master… don’t go…”

Arisha, holding the hem of my clothes with a tearful expression, spoke weakly.

“Pet me…”

“Sigh Fine, fine.”

What a baby.

I gently stroked her forehead.

Finally, she eased up a bit and gazed at me with tearful eyes.

“I won’t drink anymore…”

“Okay. If you’re going to act like this, then don’t drink at all.”

“Uuugh…”

After being overly clingy, Arisha fell back asleep.

Finally, I was free to leave her room, and in the meantime, Sowol had cleaned herself up a bit.

“What about Lena?”

“She hasn’t come out since she went into her room. She must be reflecting on what happened yesterday.”

I casually headed toward Lena’s room. Pressing my ear to the closed door, I heard something kicking.

Looks like she’s kicking the blanket.

Let’s just leave her be.

“What kind of alcohol did you all drink?”

“…Master doesn’t understand our hearts.”

“I’m scared you might.”

With a pouty face, she shot me a glare and let out a heavy sigh.

I smiled at her as I stood up from my seat.

“Isn’t it about time you all headed back?”

“…What about you? Where will you stay?”

“Me? I was planning to use the Academy as my base and come and go.”

“…You haven’t forgotten you’re going to the Eastern Trading Company, right?”

“I haven’t forgotten. When are we leaving?”

“Um… I’d like to leave today, but I also need to stop by the church…”

“The church? Why?”

“…It’s a thing.”

“Oh. Trying to keep a secret from the Master now? You’re all grown up. I guess I can leave you alone now.”

“If you tell me, will you stay by my side?”

That was a loaded question.

With her firm statement, as if she weren’t allowing any jokes, I shrugged with a smile.

“There’s no way.”

“Now you don’t even try to hide it.”

“Didn’t you figure it out already?”

“Sigh. I guess it’s the only option to keep you locked up…?”

“Go ahead if you can. I won’t stop you.”

That’s just laughable.

I stood up with a smile and patted Sowol’s head.

She looked at me, annoyed, and took my hand to guide it to her cheek.

Then, slowly moving it toward her lips, she planted a quick kiss and looked up at me.

Her gaze was enticing and provocative.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll waver.

I lifted my hand to cradle her small face.

“Uhh!”

“If you want to bring your lips to someone else’s hand, you better be able to handle this kind of treatment.”

I firmly gripped Sowol’s face with my iron claw and released my hold at just the right moment.

She glared at me, but it was just adorable.

I pinched Sowol’s cheek lightly and stood up.

“Anyway, take a good rest and see you next time.”

“…Yesss. Just wait.”

By evening, students gradually started to disappear from the Academy, heading home.

I was in my room and had just seen off the visitors when I went outside for an evening stroll and spotted a droopy Lena.

“Lena?”

“HIIIII?!”

As soon as she spotted me, Lena bolted away.

But while fleeing, she kept glancing back, so I guess I was on her mind. In that case, I must chase her down.

“Hehe! Can’t escape!”

“KYAAAAAH!”

Running away won’t save you now.

I quickly blocked Lena’s path, and she covered her face with her hands.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“If you’re this sorry, I have no words. From now on, drink just a little, okay?”

“Y-yes…”

I patted the sulking Lena and sat down on a nearby bench with her.

“But when are you planning to go to the Ivory Tower?”

“Oh, I’m planning to go today…”

“Today? Wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit longer?”

“I need to research the Magic Empire’s devices…”

“Magic Empire’s devices? Which ones?”

“…The ones related to dimensions.”

Dimensions, huh? You’ve picked a tough one.

“Do you want the Master to join you?”

“I’ll pass.”

My magical abilities are essentially a product of bugs stacked up.

It’s not that I lack knowledge, but if I dig too deep, I have nothing to say.

The mages at the Ivory Tower will know and handle these matters better.

“Okay. Good luck.”

Maybe my student could be the first Dimension Mage. If that’s the case, it’s only right to support her with a smile.

“So how is your research going?”

“Ah, I don’t know the details yet, but… it seems it’ll be difficult.”

“Really? Then you have to work hard.”

This road won’t be easy.

I patted Lena’s head, and she leaned against me slightly.

“…I’ll definitely make it happen…”

What are you so set on accomplishing with those sparkling eyes?

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