We untied Atlas Whisper and all sat in the storeroom. This place did not really have anything to store and had become Iaso’s hideout.

There were scratch marks on the freshly built walls, and dozens of broken, wooden swords were left on the racks in the store room. Iaso had draped them all with a cloth, but it wasn't going to escape my eyes.

Other than that, there were also snacks. Discarded wrappers, some beddings.

“Hey! I told you not to use this place as your hideout.”

Iaso turned her gaze away and stuck her tongue out.

“Are you two friends from before class, professor?”

Atlas asked as he watched the two of us.

“Not really? We met in the academy.”

“That’s right. He’s just a nosy old man you’ll find anywhere.”

Iaso pushed my face away with a small grin.

How rude. I wanted to get angry, but I couldn’t disagree.

Just a month ago, this girl was hissing at me. It was quite endearing to see her open up.

“The professor is very unique.” Atlas scratched his cheeks. Then, he suddenly turned to me and asked in a low tone. “Professor. How do you know so much about demonic culture and language?”

“I had an accident when I was in the army.” I shrugged. That time was quite rough. It hadn’t been a whole month since my enlistment.

Originally, I was supposed to be helping in the barracks, the count was a little cold, but not cold enough to send his son to death.

Unfortunately, a mistake had landed me and my entire unit on the frontlines.

“I didn’t want to learn, but I had no choice.”

Iaso seemed intrigued by my words too. “Since when have you been in service?”

“Since I was sixteen, so a year younger than you guys?”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Iaso and Atlas both gasped.

“S-sixteen? That young? What about the academy?”

“Never been. This is as new for me as it is for you guys.”

Iaso suddenly lowered her head.

“I didn’t know…”

“Well, it was eight years back. I don’t really like to talk about that time.”

Atlas started shaking his hands, worried he might have touched a sore spot, but I waved him off.

War was always terrible. Just like everyone else, I had my fair share of bad memories from then.

“W-what did you need my help with, professor?”

“Right. What is happening in the classroom?”

Atlas seemed a little confused by my question. His mind was probably running dozens of things right now.

It was sad how quick this kid was to play along. We had just kidnapped him and he was already helping us. I could imagine a tough road down the line for him.

“Um… there is a bit of an awkward tension with one person…” Atlas crossed his arms. “There is also Lady Elara. But it doesn’t seem like something she minds.”

Aha.

There it was. I was right to trust in Iaso’s naivete. She was kind-hearted.

This person had the same opinion. While things might be awkward and troublesome for a lot of people, the key here was the last bit.

Elara Danube was too competent to let such things weigh her down, but it seemed that someone else was feeling quite disgruntled about things.

“Is it Lumine Ador?”

Atlas nodded. “She doesn’t talk to anyone, even if someone else starts first. When she has no choice but to speak, she is extremely tacit.”

“I guess her personality is just like that, professor.”

“It might be,” Atlas said. “But I have noticed her staring at others every time she sees people talk.”

“I think she always enters the first and leaves the last as well.”

Iaso and Atlas started listing off the things they found odd about Lumine.

Even if she was someone who kept people away by her own choice, it seemed as if that was not her true intention.

Her ‘actions’ did not line up with her ‘words.’

This was slightly more complicated than I initially thought. I believed there would be some of them unable to get along with each other.

Maybe childish stubbornness, maybe being unable to accept their position, maybe competitiveness.

It was important that I changed my perspective now, or I would keep making such mistakes.

“Very well…” I clapped my hands and stood up. “You two, help me out a bit by keeping an eye on her.”

Atlas sighed in relief. “I was worried you’d ask us to be friends with her.”

“There’s no point in doing that without understanding what is wrong.”

“So, professor,” Iaso cut in. “Why exactly are you doing this?”

“Because you kids are my responsibility.”

It was a good question. Why exactly was I planning to intervene like this?

I had planned to take a backseat for now and let things happen. Even the Ministry and the Civil Servants asked the same of me.

But…

Since the incident with Iaso, I had believed that it was wrong to let things happen.

Iaso shook her head.

“I think her problems are something she should solve.”

I was momentarily shaken, but Iaso’s words made my mind clear again.

“Just like you.” Grinning, I rustled her hair. “Anyone can use a hand. Now go back to your rooms, don’t hang out too late.”

Waving my hands, I stepped out of the gates.

The question that she asked stuck with me.

Why am I doing this?

It was truly a puzzling question.