It was around the time when the war with the evil cult was coming to an end.
Sowol, resting in the barracks after finishing a battle as usual, sighed with a dejected face.
“…How long do we have to keep doing this?”
The endlessly appearing evil cult was enough to eat away at her mind.
Moreover, if there was no information about the Asura cult she wanted, it would be even more so.
She was getting tired.
She wished that at least searching for Lee Hyun would yield some results, but even that didn’t have much success.
‘Master…’
Where in the world are you?
She tightly grasped the Moonlight Sword, the proof of graduation and Lee Hyun’s last gift, and read the letter he had sent for the last time.
That letter, which had already been read hundreds and thousands of times and was tattered, was the real trace of him, different from the hundreds of letters that she couldn’t tell were real or not.
To smell Lee Hyun’s scent remaining on it, she was slowly bringing the letter to her face.
“Saint!”
“Ah, you startled me!”
Sowol hastily put down the letter and slightly frowned at Laila, who had urgently entered the barracks.
‘She probably didn’t see, right?’
Hoping that she didn’t see her clinging to traces of Lee Hyun, Sowol tried to put on a haughty expression.
“What’s the matter that you came in so urgently? What? Did you perhaps find information about the Asura cult?”
“I found information about Master Lee!”
“…What? Is it true? Not fake? Do you mean real information about Master?”
Sowol stood up from her seat and stared blankly at Laila.
“Master Lee has become an instructor at the academy!!”
“Re, really? Truly? Is it really true?”
With a trembling voice, Sowol spoke to Laila and grabbed her arm tightly.
Please let it be true, not a dream. Sowol, shaking and clinging to Laila as if begging, finally shed tears at her answer.
“A report came in that Master Lee was directly confirmed at the academy!”
“Ahhh…!!”
It’s true.
We really found Master.
Sowol kept letting out moans without being able to wipe her flowing tears. Hugging her tightly, Laila spoke with a choked voice.
“You were right, Miss…!! Master Lee was alive!!”
“Hic… Sob… Waah… S-see… I, I was right…!!”
“Yes! Sob… That’s right!! You were right!!”
Sowol and Laila hugged each other tightly while shedding tears profusely.
“…Sob. Then this isn’t the time to be doing this.”
“Yes…!!”
There’s no need to rejoice now either.
Sowol knew what she had to do right away.
“I’m going to the academy…!!”
.
.
.
It’s not that the church never sends students to the academy.
In fact, there are already priests who belong to the church.
But the Saint of the Sword.
Isn’t she the person with the highest status in the church right now, and it’s no exaggeration to say she’s right below the Pope?
“That… Would you like to have a cup of tea first…”
Even considering social status, the Saint of the Sword is much higher than the principal herself.
To think such a person would come as a student.
Using just the power of the church and the power of other organizations associated with the church, she’s in a position to fully aim for the principal’s seat, isn’t she?
The principal, who had such a person in front of her, forced a smile while trying to hide her glumness.
“Thank you.”
The beauty with long pink hair smiled slightly.
It’s not the smile of someone who would be called the Witch of the Battlefield by the evil cults, the person who crushed numerous evil cults with a single sword.
She showed a smile beautiful enough to make even herself, a woman, have her heart flutter. She drank a sip of tea and smiled brightly again.
“But… Why has the Saint come to the academy…?”
“The war with the evil cult has come to a pause. The church said they would give me a vacation… So I wanted to learn many things for the time being and applied to transfer to the academy.”
“I, I see. Transfer…”
“I should have enrolled originally, but the timing wasn’t right… I hope you can understand this much.”
“Of course. Of course, I should understand. If the Saint transfers, there will be many people who will be happy.”
Even more so considering the church members at the academy.
Because from their perspective, there will be few chances to see the Saint fighting on the frontlines.
So, the principal wanted to place the Saint in the second or third year.
“I’d like to enter the first year. Class A, if possible.”
“Pardon?”
First year, Class A. Isn’t that the class where people currently receive attention at the academy is heavily positioned?
The 3rd prince of the empire.
The 1st princess of the Deornt Kingdom.
The disciple of the Ivory Tower’s Yellow Citadel chief grand mage Luthgen.
The daughter of the magical engineer Srien.
And the niece of the Fist King.
Lastly, the teacher leading that class is Lee Hyun, who has tremendous qualifications.
Honestly, just having them made the principal’s stomach churn.
‘Just thinking about what happened during training makes my stomach ache…’
During the artificial ruins exploration training of the first-year Class A, led by Lee Hyun, a Giant Rock Worm appeared.
That powerful and rare monster that even skilled adventurers should think they’re dead if they encounter it appeared at a facility managed by the academy.
If it hadn’t been for Lee Hyun, they all would have died or been heavily injured, and the responsibility would have clearly fallen on her, the principal.
So, she didn’t want to include any more high-ranking individuals in the first year. She was thinking of having the first years only do safe training for now but for the Saint to enter the first year, and Class A at that.
“Ha. Hahaha… Saint, you would be fine even applying for the principal position, but the first year…”
“Then, should I apply for the principal position?”
“…Would suit you very well. Since the Saint is also very young, you will get along well with the students. Hohoho.”
“Fufu. Thank you for thinking that way. Then from when can I enter?”
“If you want, it seems you can enter right away tomorrow. I will tell Instructor Lee Hyun.”
“I don’t know how to express my gratitude for the principal’s consideration. I will pray for the light’s blessing to be with you.”
“Hohoho… I really hope there will be blessings…”
Her strength is draining.
After watching Saint Sowol get up and leave, the principal plopped down on the sofa.
“As expected of the Saint of the Sword…”
Just from her being in front, the pressure makes her flesh tremble just thinking about it.
The principal took off her glasses and rubbed her face.
Somehow, she feels like she has aged ten more years. She was already heartbroken that her wrinkles had deepened these days, but then this had happened.
It was just as the principal, who thought she should get skincare after work today, was about to get up.
“Principal!!”
Judging by the complexion of the secretary who entered through the door, it didn’t seem like good news.
With a haggard face, she held out her hand.
“What… is the matter…”
“There has been a change in the student the Ivory Tower would send for the exchange today.”
“A change in the student?”
It’s chilling.
A dagger was flying and stabbing into her chest.
The principal dripped with cold sweat. It couldn’t be. It won’t be. Another VIP is coming? It couldn’t be, right?
However, her hopes were easily shattered by the secretary’s next words.
“The Colorless Chamber Master is included…”
The principal’s complexion turned even paler.
“…Why is that genius coming?!”
***
Sowol wanted to run to him right away.
Of course.
How many years has she waited?
She has waited this long to meet him.
Even when everyone said he would be dead, she thought Lee Hyun was alive and searched for him.
And how happy was she when she heard the news that he was found?
Only she believed, and when her belief was proven to be right, she cried while hugging Laila.
That’s why she wanted to go to him right now, hug him, and say she wanted to see him.
“Then why don’t you do that?”
“Hm, hmph! Laila. I’m the Saint. And also the only successor of the great Eastern Merchant Guild. For someone like me to go find a person currently in class without dignity, what would Master think?”
“I think he would just be happy…”
When Sowol heard the news that Lee Hyun was found, it seemed like she would rush over, putting everything aside.
Laila was just amazed that she was showing this reaction.
“Tsk tsk. This is why you’re no good.”
Sowol raised her finger, acting arrogant.
Laila, curious about what kind of sophistry the Miss would come up with this time, decided to just listen obediently.
“Think about it. Master hasn’t seen me for a long time. Right?”
“Right?”
“And I’m not the Sowol from back then.”
Laila sighed at Sowol, who brushed up her hair and took a sensual pose.
“For the Saint to take such a pose is a bit…”
“Anyway! Right now, to Master, I’m the young Sowol. But what if such a brilliantly grown-up, cool woman appears? Wouldn’t Master’s heart flutter too?”
“I don’t think it would.”
“Huhuhu. When he sees the overflowing charm of the disciple he hasn’t seen in a long time, Master will also fall for my charm, right? Then Master will say this. Sowol! The moment I saw you, I knew I was wrong! I’ve fallen for you! Sweet love you!”
“What is sweet love you?”
“To such a Master, I’ll say this. Although you’re the Master who hasn’t contacted me or shown your face for a long time, I’m kind and merciful. Because I’m the Saint. So I will embrace Master with love. If you really want, we can even date! But would Master want to show such a side to the students? Probably not, right? Because Master also has pride to uphold in front of the students. Ahh. How am I such a supportive woman? Master is really lucky. A woman like me will accept you.”
“… You’re not even pretending to listen to what I’m saying, are you?”
Sowol, who fell into her delusion, trembled.
Just thinking about it makes her happy.
Thinking so, it was when she was sipping the coffee Laila bought.
“Uh, uhh?!”
At the shout she heard then, Sowol turned her head, and there she found a charming beauty with silver hair and blue eyes in a black robe.
“Oh my?! Isn’t it Lady Lena?!”
“Sa, Saint!”
Sowol, sitting in the cafeteria, stood up from her seat. The one standing holding a plate with cookies, bread, and drinks was none other than Lena.
As Lena, who couldn’t erase her surprised expression, approached, Sowol kindly smiled and greeted her.
“I never thought I would meet you here like this.”
“M-me too! Gre, greetings.”
“Yes. It’s nice to see you too. Since we’ve met like this by fate, how about you sit here?”
It’s not possible for the Ivory Tower’s Chamber Master and a mere maid to sit in the same seat.
When Laila got up, bowed to greet her, and left somewhere else, Lena sighed in relief and gently sat in her seat.
“Wo, would you like some co-cookies?”
“Oh my. I’ll eat well. Huhu. Meeting someone I know here. Today is such a joyful day! Huhuhuhu~.”
“It, it seems you have so, some good news…”
“Yes! I told you before, right? That there’s someone precious I haven’t met in a long time. I get to meet that person today!”
“Th-that’s gre, great! I, I’m also meeting my pre, precious teacher today…”
“Oh my? Is that so?! What a coincidence! Huhuhu. Then…”
It was just as she was about to say something more.
The bell on the academy side began to ring.
It was the signal that today’s classes were over.
Students and instructors start coming out of the large building.
Watching that, Sowol focused her gaze there instead of speaking.
He will come out soon now.
My heart is pounding.
My breathing is getting faster, and my face is heating up.
I’m more nervous than when facing countless enemies.
The clamor of the students coming out after finishing class couldn’t be heard. Her sensitized senses only wanted to find one appearance.
When Sowol was staring at the exit with senses as sharp as a blade.
“Te, teacher!!”
Lena in front of her shouted with all her might. It seems she found him. Then I too…
Ahh. There he is.
Walking out from over there.
Although many years have passed, he has hardly changed.
Lee Hyun, who looked a little thinner than back then but looked even wilder because of it, was walking into the classroom.
My legs are giving out.
I’m out of breath.
Even so, Sowol stood up from her seat.
Lena, in front of her, was also getting up from her seat and running.
Ahh. Now’s not the time to mind such things. Right now.
“…..?”
It’s strange. The direction Lena is running is the same as mine.
“Teacher! Teacher!”
And the person she’s looking at is the same person I’m looking at.
Why…?
It’s a lie…?
“Huh? Sowol and even Lena? You finally came?”
Not knowing Sowol’s feelings, Lee Hyun was spreading his arms with a lucky expression.
Should I hug him?
Lena also seemed surprised and was looking at Sowol.
When both of them were dazed at the unexpected situation.
“Tea~! cher~! Let’s eat dinner together~!”
A blonde beauty jumped into his open arms and hugged him, and the light disappeared from Sowol and Lena’s eyes.
“Master.”
“Teacher.”
The two spoke in an emotionless tone while staring straight at Lee Hyun.
“”Who is that woman?””