* * *

To start with the conclusion, mingling with the parents turned out to be beneficial.

They suggested traveling together since they were heading to the Academy too, giving me a convenient excuse to return.

‘Though it may have been poison to my liver…’

The effort it took to keep from vomiting while maintaining my character roleplay was staggering.

I didn’t know the technique of secretly dumping liquor on the floor.

I nearly got caught midway through and even spun a lie that I’d spilled it due to lingering effects of an old injury. Acting like the old wound from my nemesis was acting up from all the drinking was sheer torture.

‘Thank goodness they got drunk first from pouring and drinking among themselves. Seriously.’

I soothed my churning stomach and picked up my sole piece of luggage.

It was still dark outside, but that was exactly why I needed to move now.

“The reason we came a day early is because of this bashful Duke here.”

The problem was Duke Serif’s excessively conspicuous beauty and status.

Serif, who suffered from severe social anxiety, was reluctant to arrive on the day of the Parent Observation Class when crowds would be at their peak.

So they had decided to arrive early, when no one else would be around.

‘Of course, I couldn’t take that at face value.’

If that were the only reason, he could have simply skipped the Parent Observation Class entirely.

The fact that all three of them—none of whom were the doting-parent type—had come in person meant they had a separate agenda.

For instance…

‘To verify something at the Academy with their own eyes.’

That would explain why even Bright, who had been holed up in the Magic Tower for decades, had made the trip. As Twin-braid’s grandfather, the man was insatiably curious.

And the target of that curiosity was, with high probability—

‘The Protagonist.’

Couldn’t even use basic magic. Suddenly transformed into some kind of Flame Man. Knocked out a professor with a single punch.

No matter how hard the Principal tried to plug the leaks, there was a limit.

Some unidentified freak was in the same class as their children? And there was an official event—the Parent Observation Class—coming up soon?

Perfect excuse to dig around. The real reason for sneaking in early was to get to the Protagonist first.

In the original story, the Protagonist had been hounded not only by the Holy Emperor and the Demon Lord but also by recruitment attempts from powerful figures like these.

‘Michael, you’re really going to live a Protagonist-worthy life from here on. Hang in there.’

That’s “fighting” in our language. Well, I’d be seeing him soon enough anyway.

“Heeey, Sir Chris! Are you packing your luggage all day? Come on down already!”

Yikes, that startled me. At Natasha’s booming call, I hurried out of the room and headed downstairs. All three of them were already ready to go.

“My, you don’t look well. I hope I wasn’t being insensitive, rushing someone suffering from a hangover.”

Natasha grinned and pressed herself against my right arm as she spoke.

How did she know? I’d been barely holding it together. A world without bean sprout hangover soup was cruel. Not that I could let it show, of course.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Haha, I’ll hold on to you from the side, so lean on me whenever you feel dizzy. Those aftereffects are a wretched thing—you never know when they’ll strike.”

For someone speaking as if joking, her gaze was awfully serious—like someone genuinely worried. Maybe I’d overdone the acting at the drinking table.

“…….”

Even Duke Serif attached himself to my other arm.

Anyone could see I looked like I was being dragged off, but I lacked the physical strength to shake off a muscular older woman and a man as tall as a model. I had no choice but to let them drag me along, pretending I was merely putting up with it out of annoyance.

“Oh, it’s starting to rain. Let’s hurry. I’ll dry you off with magic once we arrive.”

Just as Bright said, raindrops were beginning to fall from heavy clouds overhead.

‘A thriller-worthy night, walking alongside three people draped in black hoods… Anyone who saw us would think we were a highly suspicious bunch.’

I was entertaining such pointless thoughts on the way to the Academy when…

“Hm? There are other weirdos out at this hour besides us.”

At Natasha’s murmur, I narrowed my eyes and looked ahead. Sure enough, a group was approaching from the opposite direction.

The only building ahead was Bedallua Academy, so were they faculty?

“…Professor… next to… kidnapping…”

They were pointing at us and shouting something, but the rain drowned out most of it. All I could make out was one figure at the front bouncing up and down frantically.

I stumbled while watching them. Damn this muddy ground!

“Oops, Sir Chris. You should be careful. Want me to carry you on my back?”

Fortunately, Natasha’s terrifying grip kept me from falling. Though I ended up dangling from her arm like a piece of laundry.

I felt bad about cringing instead of thanking her.

“Back off.”

“Haha, I’m afraid I can’t do that. After all, I’m partly responsible for your current state…”

Just then, a commotion erupted from the opposing group. The one who’d been bouncing earlier even pulled out something gleaming. Was that a sword?

“We have to rescue you… every second counts…!”

While I was still trying to grasp the situation, Natasha sensed their hostility, released my arm, and strode forward.

“Well now, an ambush in the dead of night. It would be rude not to oblige them.”

“…I’ll hang back.”

“Sir Tot, please don’t kill anyone. Go easy on them. They sound young.”

“I wasn’t planning to—”

Whoa, her eyes just went wild. There was clearly an uncrossable river between her definition of “go easy” and the rest of the world’s.

Just as I thought I should intervene before things escalated—

“…That was the plan!”

Hey! You bolted out before I could even do anything! Now that we’re away from the inn, you’re just going to go all out?!

“……!”

At Natasha’s bull-like charge, the one with the sword rushed forward to meet her.

Two shadows collided in the darkness.

Clang!

The fierce clash of metal rang out, and a brilliant flash of light burst forth. As if lightning had struck between them.

This was no ordinary spark from blades clashing…

‘Light Magic?!’

A swordsman who used Light Magic. Similar to Natasha’s style. No, more precisely—a hallmark of the Tot family.

‘W-wait. No way. No way.’

Nah, no chance. There was no reason for X-Class kids to crawl outside the school in the dead of night. It wasn’t like there was a fried chicken joint or an internet café nearby.

So the odds of that figure in the identical black hood being the Model Student were extremely low…

“Haha! To think a little brat could receive my blade—you’ve grown quite a bit since last time!”

“Aagh, Mother?! Why are you kidnapping our professor?!”

…My ass! Damn swordsmen! They recognized each other in a single exchange!

“Your professor? …Ah.”

Natasha glanced at me and smiled.

To think my identity would be exposed like this.

Kidnapping, though—did they seriously think the group of parents was abducting me? What an absurd misunderstanding.

‘Must be teenage imagination running wild. Well, if the other side is X-Class, there’s no reason to keep fighting. Situation resolved.’

I breathed a sigh of relief, expecting Natasha and the Model Student to sheathe their swords and explain their respective situations.

However.

“Oho-ho! I’ve taken a liking to this professor! I’m not letting her go so easily!”

One was a battle-crazy mother dead serious about teasing her own child.

“What?! That can’t be! You already have multiple lovers, Mother! Our professor is the only one we have! Hand over the professor!”

The other was simply an idiot.

Excuse me, but I’d rather not get caught up in the Tot family’s romantic melodrama, thank you very much?!

‘No good. If this keeps up, the rest of them will get dragged in and it’ll turn into an all-out brawl.’

I needed to shut this down before the sparks started flying.

“Stop right there.”

I was nervous about catching a stray blade, but I stepped forward boldly.

They were my students. They’d listen to me better than their thoughtless parents would.

It takes two to tango—if I calmed them down, the problem was solved.

“…! Professor, it really is you?!”

“What, you’re perfectly fine? Well, someone of your caliber wouldn’t just sit there and let yourself be threatened.”

“Professor, I’m suddenly sorry about this. To think…”

Princess, Twin-braid, and even the Healer. Had the entire class really climbed over the school wall? What on earth were they planning? A midnight stroll?

I’d momentarily forgotten that every one of them was part of the Protagonist’s extraordinary entourage.

I stopped in front of the one among them capable of causing the biggest catastrophe.

“Michael.”

“…….”

“Explain.”

Swish, the Protagonist slowly pulled back his hood and looked up at me with an expression on the verge of tears.

Wait, on the verge of tears? Why? Did I ask in that intimidating a manner?!

I narrowed my brow slightly to hide my panic, and the Protagonist opened his mouth.

“I… I thought you were really leaving me behind…”