Chapter 164
Clael had successfully cleared 'The Music Festival of the Dead', one of the Seven Mysteries—but he didn't go on to investigate other supernatural events on his own.
Reina had warned him, and besides, it was too much for one teacher to handle alone.
He reported it to the headmaster through Amlet, the department head, and left the response to them as usual.
"Now then, everyone. If you witness anything suspicious, you must report it immediately. Whatever you do, don't approach it, and don't let the students get close either."
A few days later, an emergency staff meeting was held in the staff room.
The one speaking in front of the teachers was a middle-aged man in a suit... the vice-principal, a background character who didn't even have a name in the game.
(His name... I forgot.)
The bespectacled vice-principal, rumored to be self-conscious about his thinning hair, stood before the teachers, passionately delivering his speech.
Whether it was because Clael was cold-hearted or because the man had such a weak presence, he couldn't recall his name, game or not.
"Effective immediately, no staying after school. Club activities and committee meetings are also suspended. For the safety of the students, all information regarding the Seven Mysteries is strictly prohibited from being shared with them!"
The vice-principal said firmly.
Clael didn't recall any such setting in the game... but apparently, over ten years ago, the Seven Mysteries had also been unleashed in the academy, causing significant damage.
At that time, some students who learned about the Seven Mysteries had gotten involved out of curiosity, which reportedly made the damage worse.
(Just the fact that Reina... the Saint and the route characters aren't here probably makes a big difference...)
"The Seven Mysteries... I'd heard rumors, but I never thought they were real..."
The one who spoke uneasily was the history teacher, Yurii Kanesta.
Yurii, a male teacher who looked indistinguishable from a woman, listened to the vice-principal's speech while turning to speak to Clael beside her.
"You're the one who resolved the issue in the music room, right, Clael-sensei?"
"Yes, more or less."
"Was it scary after all? What should I do if I end up encountering one too... I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight from anxiety..."
Yurii's eyes shimmered as her voice trembled, like a woman frightened after watching a horror movie.
(If someone didn't know better, they'd definitely misinterpret that reaction... no, seriously.)
"The Seven Mysteries probably only occur after dark. If you leave work early, you should be fine, right?"
The supernatural events caused by the Seven Mysteries only began after school hours.
If you finished work early and retreated to the staff dormitory, you likely wouldn't get caught up in it.
"Yes... I'll go home early. Ghosts are just too scary..."
"From now on, male teachers are to patrol the school building after school. If you see any students staying behind, make sure to warn them!"
"Eep...!"
Yurii let out a strained voice at the vice-principal's instruction.
Her expression was the very picture of despair.
She too... no, he was a male teacher. Which meant he now had patrol duties.
"N-no way... patrol duty? I'll get eaten by a ghost..."
"............"
I mean, come on, that's just adorable.
Though rather than being eaten, there was a chance of being cursed to death, depending on the situation.
"C-Clael-sensei..."
"...I'll go with you. I'm technically a priest, so if anything happens, you can rely on me."
"Th-thank you...!"
Yurii tearfully expressed her gratitude.
She was, how should I put it... a woman—no, a man—who could shatter your sense of what you're into.
(I wouldn't get the wrong idea now, but if I'd met her back in my student days, I might've been fooled... maybe I'd have thought, 'a guy's fine too'.)
"Thank you so much, Clael-sensei..."
"Uh, sure..."
Yurii clasped his hand with teary eyes.
Clael, faced with his overwhelmingly cute colleague, once again resolved to steel his heart.