“Ken?”

“Present.”

“Lumine.”

“...”

Yet again, no response came back as I took the roll call. My classes that had perfect attendance all this time had finally caved in, and student Lumine was nowhere to be found.

Of course, I wasn’t going to let a situation like Iaso happen again. I knew she had locked herself in her room, and verified it myself. It was a relief, but that didn’t make the situation any better.

I held in a sigh and continued class. It proceeded smoothly with the students being the same as ever.

I was noticing more and more of the kids these days. They had started to feel comfortable in the classroom, and that made me happy.

Except for Seren.

“Professor, what’s their economy like?”

“Prof, how do demons reproduce?”

“Yo, ya got a girlfriend?”

The more comfortable she became, the more annoying she got. I wasn’t discouraging questions, that first one was great! But the last one? Yeah, that’s a no-go.

I chided Seren, and she momentarily changed back but would revert soon enough. It had become a battle of endurance.

Anyway—the class ended soon and it was time for the students to go out. They were the ones changing classrooms to a laboratory for alchemy this time.

Elara Danube stopped in front of the teacher’s desk and waved a bunch of papers in her hands.

“I’ve done all the paperwork, professor. Everyone in the classroom will be joining our new club… Except for one person. I pushed the joining form under her door but didn’t get it back.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Elara had proposed that we make a club for the class when the Club Hunters were making their rounds. I had agreed to take on the role of the advisor for them.

The class’ golden-haired commander said she was making a place where all these people—the hostages of the Empire who would fit in with the other students—could do their own thing. I knew she had different plans.

Elara’s drive was not hidden from me.

She was someone who was born in the weakest kingdom on the continent, she was trying to up her influence.

Out of all the students in the classroom, she and I were the most similar.

I took the documents from Elaran and glanced at them. All the official matters were handled cleanly. I would just have to drop this with the admins and could start the club within a week.

To be honest, this was work for the Black Rose. The school would have no choice but to bend over backward for their every wish. Elara didn’t make it a concern, but rejection was not an option.

“Wait. The purpose of the club is to study the effects of plush toys on the psyche of different species. What?”

Elara shrugged, her cheeks were tinted a slight shade of red.

“We couldn’t decide what to write. It was not me, Zacka suggested the purpose.”

Zacka? That dwarf whose muscles could win against a bear in a wrestling match? I would have believed her if she said Rosentea or Atlas, but this was definitely a lie!

I guess the school would have to bend over for their wishes. Thank god rejection was not an option.

“It’s alright. I’ll handle this. Plush toys are great.”

“Plushies are the best.”

I looked at Elara and she averted her gaze again. Caught in the act this time, girl. Give up.

“Student Elara…” I called out to her before she could leave. There wasn’t a reason to, but it didn’t hurt to ask. “Do you know anything about Student Lumine?”

Elara nodded. “She’s the priestess of the Lunar sect, right? I heard she is very popular, they say her blessings make money rain.”

Elara traced her eyes back to the classroom, at the empty front seat where Rosentea sat. The Scential family was a merchant group loyal to the Lunar sect.

“Aside from that, anything about her past?”

“About her past… Well, I don’t know anything, but I can write a few letters if you want.”

“You would?”

“Of course. It’s a small thing if it can make you owe me a favor.”

How cunning. For a child, she had a great eye for people.

Unfortunately, the Danube family’s information network was nothing compared to my friend circle.

“My letters would work faster and better, so I’ll have to say no this time.”

Elara smirked and raised her hands. She seemed amused.

“I’ll leave you to it then, professor,” Elara said as she turned on her heels and set off, but stopped at the door. “There’s something your letters won’t tell you.”

She didn’t look back.

“I hear her sobbing in her room.”

With those words, Elara left.