* * *

As expected, Lion’s romantic venture was smoothly heading toward ruin.

“Gabana, you’re not using that large body lately? Is the doll body more comfortable?”

“…The large body is uncomfortable to hide.”

The one received from the Martial God was the ‘large body,’ and the previously used stuffed doll was the ‘doll body.’

Since all she needed to do was install Bob Hair’s Soul Stone, switching bodies was easy.

“I mean~ Our Gabana is so pretty and cute that she keeps drawing everyone’s attention, you know? I’m worried that even more flies will start buzzing around at this rate.”

Twin-braid said with a crescent-eyed smile. Judging by that sight, Lion would soon be officially rejected.

I hid my satisfied smile behind a torturous textbook.

‘That’s what you get for carelessly straying from the path of a Roleplay Addict, Lion. Realize that this is the only place that would accept you, and come back.’

[Bead: No, I’m genuinely flustered because I’ve never seen resentment so steeped in personal bias before.]

Oh, come now, don’t make me out to be such a petty person.

Even so, this was genuinely a measure for the sake of the X-Class kids and Lion.

‘Considering what Lion’s fate was in the first round, it really was.’

Better to let him taste the bitterness of first love properly; he might not make the same choices as before. He might even throw himself into training and grow stronger.

As I was thinking this, a blue window materialized before my eyes.

[Main Quest: Request of the Earth God 3-2]

[The Academy doesn’t simply teach students; it also helps guide their career paths. In that spirit, career experience activities are scheduled for the second semester. As their professor, please guide their dreams.

Condition 1: Accompany ‘Michael Foxin.’

Condition 2: Ensure zero casualties among the students.

Condition 3: Never look back.]

Career experience activity. So this was what came up.

‘Well, a professor’s duties do extend that far…’

But when my own future was pitch black, finding career paths for the kids was no easy task.

Recalling the first round, this was closer to socializing under the guise of a career experience activity.

Most of the students being nobles, they’d lend a casual hand to each other’s families, share a cup of tea, and call it a day.

‘In the first round… I’m embarrassed to say it myself, but I had a reputation as a top-tier instructor, so requests came flooding in from all over and it was convenient.’

It wasn’t that I taught particularly well. I just looked flashy because I was an overwhelmingly overpowered existence.

‘Still, there’s always a way.’

A method that perfectly matched ‘Chris’s’ roleplay and could be exploited without lifting a finger.

That was—

“Today is career experience activity time.”

“Wow! I’m excited! Where are we going? The Magic Tower? The Holy Kingdom?”

“Where am I going. We’re already here.”

“Huh? But this is the same classroom as usual… D-don’t tell me!”

“It’s a Bedallua Academy professor experience. Apparently, it’s one of the most desired career paths among graduates.”

When I tossed that out in a half-hearted tone, even the Model Student’s face was painted with horror.

That’s right. This was exactly the kind of career experience that a lazy, ill-tempered ‘Chris’ would choose.

“Each of you, go ahead and pretend to be a professor for a bit, then sit down.”

I tossed that out casually and took a seat. Since they were the professors today, I sat next to the students.

“…”

Even I could see that no one was in a mood to step up and teach.

I was certain. None of them would want to become a Bedallua Academy professor.

‘I’m sleepy. Should I just doze off like this? I’ve been exhausted from working late nights lately anyway.’

But the System had a disposition that couldn’t stand seeing me comfortable—

[The quest difficulty is being adjusted.]

‘I had a feeling, damn it…’

I’d reached the point where I could gaze at the System window with a serene face even in a crisis.

What would happen this time. The fact that the next System window didn’t pop up immediately was not a good omen.

But come, System’s sweet malice. I’ll find a way to overcome you somehow.

Just then, *rattle*.

The sound of a door opening was heard.

“I-I’m sorry I’m late. I only just received the notice.”

A voice trembling from excessive excitement.

Dressed in a suit so blindingly white it seemed to glow, with a thick book he couldn’t even read tucked under his arm.

A being whose third-stage transformation I’d now witnessed.

Lion. Why was this guy showing up here?

‘No, more importantly, Twin-braid. What exactly did you tell him about Bob Hair’s tastes?’

Was it even possible that he looked more ridiculous than when he was doing his middle-school syndrome act?

“Hehe, our senior is earnest to the point of being foolish~”

I caught a glimpse of Twin-braid’s expression, and it was so wicked that I decided to pretend I hadn’t seen it.

“I had an unexcused absence in my first year and missed the career experience activity… I was told I need to complete it now, so I should join a class that’s under capacity…”

In other words, X-Class, with the fewest students, had won the lottery.

‘The difficulty adjustment is weaker than expected.’

Sure, he was an annoying bastard, but he wasn’t uncontrollable. One extra student wasn’t going to make the quest impossible.

“Um, where should I sit…”

“Figure it out yourself.”

“Ah, yes ma’am!”

His eyes were darting around so openly that it was obvious he was looking for someone…

‘Could the real problem be here?’

“Dolce, where’s Gabana right now?”

“She said she’d stay inside my bag in her doll body.”

I could hear Healer and Twin-braid whispering. Fortunately, it seemed the two wouldn’t cross paths.

‘…But something’s strange. Bob Hair might not express much emotion, but she still hasn’t rejected Lion?’

Bob Hair was someone who was excessively razor-sharp precisely where she needed to be.

She was the type who, upon hearing ‘I like you!’, could sink the entire confession with a single ‘I don’t like you, though.’

It had been days since Lion started his courtship.

He should have been rejected ages ago, so why…

‘Uh… this is intense. I’m getting a feeling that’s even more intense than before, right now.’

*Rattle.* Right on cue, the sound of a door opening came again.

This time, it was the back door.

“What? Don’t tell me there’s a second senior joining the class…”

Are you kidding me? —Twin-braid’s words, meant to complain, got stuck in her throat.

In stark contrast, Lion’s face lit up like a blooming flower as he approached the newcomer.

“Gabana! Are you feeling okay? You could’ve rested a bit more, you know. Hehe…”

“I’m fine. But next time, let me know in advance, Senior. I need to prepare.”

“Sorry, it was decided on short notice. Hehehe…”

A man grinning foolishly and a woman who was clearly more dressed up than usual.

Twin-braid leapt from her seat with a crash and shouted.

“What’s going on with you two?! What are you doing right now?! No, right? Gabana, tell me no?!”

Then she grabbed the back of her neck with a face suggesting her blood pressure had spiked dramatically.

I, too, wanted to look away from the spectacle before me.

‘I was sure it wouldn’t work…’

I was wrong.

As Bead had said, a man and woman catching each other’s eye was beyond my realm of prediction.

My rabbit-like disciple had been stolen away by some outside man.

At the same time, my fellow Roleplay Addict had been stolen away by the world of social butterflies.

That was the cold reality, and—

‘I have to teach a class with these lovey-dovey kids…’

This was the true beginning of the difficulty adjustment.

* * *

Lion and Bob Hair’s romance.

If I had to name someone as indignant about this situation as I was, it would undoubtedly be Twin-braid.

“I just can’t understand it. Why that foolish man…”

“Hmm, if they both like each other, isn’t that fine? You might feel left out, but calm down, Dolce.”

“But she hasn’t said a single word to me this whole time! And then she suddenly says they’re dating!”

Healer tried hard to console her, but there was no sign of her anger abating.

At least she was aware that the two were sitting right nearby, so she lowered her voice…

“Hehe, Gabana. Was being a professor your dream? I didn’t even know that. It’d suit you, you’re so sharp and capable.”

“No. Not particularly. I’m just participating because I’m interested in the class that Ms. Chris is conducting.”

“Hehehe, I see. My dream is to build a house and, you know, live happily ever after with you, uh-hehehe.”

“Just the two of us?”

“O-o-obviously just the two of us!”

‘With him like that, he probably can’t hear a word anyone else is saying.’

My stomach was starting to turn, so I simply closed my eyes.

Why did they have to sit in front of me.

With a quest condition telling me not to look back, it was hard to avoid.

[Bead: Oh my, it’s the prime time for love, the prime time. Students date and break up easily, that’s just how it goes.]

Honestly, Bead wasn’t wrong.

Love, especially the romance of pubescent boys and girls, didn’t need plausibility.

But that was the story of ‘normal’ boys and girls.

‘Something’s been bothering me.’