No, wasn’t that a bit too much fire? Look at the remaining mobs. They’re so terrified by your sudden transformation that they’re losing their minds.

It was right around then, as I watched with pity a berserk horned rabbit having its horn ripped off by the Model Student’s hand.

“It can’t be… I had my suspicions, but it really is Lady ‘Chris’!”

An unfamiliar voice rang out from the sky.

I hastily snapped my head up.

A figure in a black hood riding atop a flying monster came into view. The kind of look that screams, ‘I’m the villain here.’

Right, I was wondering when they’d show up. The owner of the summoning circle that dragged us here.

‘Probably someone from the Demon Lord’s army serving as the ‘villain’ in the novel.’

I’d predicted that much. The problem, however…

“Ah! Where have you been and what have you been doing all this time, without showing your lovely face even once? I truly missed you!”

What’s this guy’s relationship with the ‘real Chris’?

He even tossed aside his hood—wasn’t he trying to hide his identity?—and approached with the face of someone hopelessly in love.

Like they were best friends at the very least. Or worse, something resembling a couple.

‘X damn it…’

…I could feel burning gazes on my back.

I didn’t even need to look. I was on the verge of being mistaken for an accomplice to some suspicious black-haired woman who controlled monsters while wearing bandages over her eyes.

Kids, no. It’s not like that! I have no idea who he is! I’m seeing him for the first time today!

“Haha, why that expression? Are you not happy to see me? Ah! If you’re still upset about that incident from before, I apologize.”

What incident! Wasn’t Chris just a reclusive mage? Why does she have connections with someone who looks like a villain at a glance!

This was a mistake with the reward. Instead of that damn Monkey KeyRing, they should have given me the real Chris’s memories or something.

I maintained a poker face while squeezing the monkey hidden beneath my robe as if wringing its neck.

The only reaction I could muster in this situation was…

* * *

“P-Professor…?”

Michael called out to her in a small voice.

“…”

But no answer came.

Chris had kept her mouth tightly shut for a while now, glaring at the stranger who had alighted gracefully onto the ground with her crimson eyes.

Everyone present could tell.

That man was dangerous.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen the Professor this wary of someone.’

He was likely the one who had summoned X-Class to the plain. And given how he stroked the monsters as if they were his own children, he was probably the culprit who had released them.

“Anyway, I was wondering who killed my cute little puppy, and it turns out it was you, Lady Chris. Still, blowing it up until not even a trace remained is going too far.”

Just as I thought. Michael ground his teeth. The grotesque sight of that thing trying to devour Chris was still fresh in his mind.

‘If it hadn’t been the Professor, I would’ve died for sure.’

Yet the man simply smiled brightly, as if he couldn’t care less about others’ lives.

Michael felt a sickening sense of familiarity.

“When my Lord wished to see how much our young master had grown, I intended to observe his reaction by killing a friend or two right before his eyes.”

The stranger shrugged.

“But I see you’ve already attached yourself to him? Honestly, my Lord is so inconsiderate. All that effort poured into the summoning magic, wasted.”

“…!”

A confession.

The air instantly grew taut with tension, and every member of X-Class immediately took up combat stances.

But the stranger’s demeanor was utterly relaxed. He even closed the distance with unhurried steps, stopping right in front of Chris.

“…!”

A flinch. Michael almost began chanting a magic spell without realizing it. But Chris silently raised a hand and stopped him.

Angelina, who had been raising an ice spear; Nika, who had been emitting light from both hands; Dolce, who had been gathering water droplets; and Bell, who had been trying to put power into her voice.

With a single, small gesture from Chris, they all froze like stone.

Then Chris pointed downward with her finger.

‘Is she telling us to lower our weapons?’

They all naturally read her intent and obeyed.

By now, they were relying solely on Chris in this unfamiliar and dangerous situation.

“In any case, you’re the one who ruined my work, yet you haven’t said a word since earlier. Well, apologies and excuses don’t suit you.”

Of course, when the stranger reached out and stroked Chris’s cheek—

“…!”

Everyone couldn’t help but flinch violently.

“I really should have told you beforehand. An encounter like a surprise gift is enjoyable, but I wanted to show you a more properly dressed appearance. Who could have guessed that Lady Chris would be playing babysitter for children?”

Despite the insolent remark, Chris didn’t retort. She only furrowed her brow further.

‘Judging by her expression alone, she looks like she wants to kill him, so why isn’t she dealing with that scoundrel immediately…?’

The question was fleeting. Michael soon realized.

‘Could it be… because we’re here…?’

If Chris had been alone, she could have fought without worrying about her surroundings.

But right now, behind her were five helpless chicks.

The stranger was a dangerous opponent, as anyone could tell from the aura he exuded. Protecting all these young children while subduing him would be difficult even for Chris.

No matter how strong someone was, having people to protect inevitably made them weaker.

…How frustrating. Michael stomped on the neck of a half-charred, dying berserk horned rabbit on the ground.

An obstacle to his teacher. Someone who could barely manage to kill even a dying monster.

This is the extent of my level.

“Well, since you’re also following my Lord’s orders, I won’t interfere further. However, won’t you smile once to compensate for my efforts? Then not even a trace of disappointment will remain.”

The stranger’s whispering voice was affectionate. Anyone unaware of the circumstances would truly mistake the two for having a tender relationship.

Of course, that was absolutely, absolutely not the case. No matter what had happened, it was the stranger’s one-sided pursuit!

One look at Chris’s cold gaze confirmed it. It definitely wasn’t just Michael wanting to believe that.

“If it’s difficult, I’ll help. You’ve always been fond of saying my face is pretty, after all.”

As he said this, the stranger slowly began unwinding the bandages over his eyes—

And in that moment, Chris’s arm moved abruptly.

“…!”

By the time anyone realized it, the cold tip of a blade was already pressed against the stranger’s throat.

‘How…?!’

Michael, the stranger—no one present had even noticed when Chris drew her sword. Not a single trace of mana flow could be felt from her.

She had simply been as terrifyingly calm as always.

The stranger also wore a surprised expression. In this situation, only one person remained unfazed.

Chris Dotten herself.

‘…Did the Professor even bring a sword in the first place?’

It seemed more plausible to say she had manifested one out of thin air.

Even knowing that ‘Creation’ magic was so rare that only a handful of people on the entire continent could attempt it.

Somehow, it felt like Chris could do it.

If it was Chris…

“Bullshit.”

She broke the silence, spitting out the words as if chewing them.

Michael could see Chris’s face—smiling coldly, mocking the stranger with contempt.

“Were you dreaming, you piece of trash?”

The stranger chuckled lightly at her exceptionally rough tone.

“You really never let things slide… My Lady Chris.”

* * *

[Monsters Subjugated: 50/50]

[Quest Complete! Received ‘Bedallua Academy Map (3/4)’ and ‘Worn-Out Sword’ as rewards.]

I survived.

Thanks to the Protagonist.

I thought I was going to die of fright.

Not knowing how the situation would unfold, I couldn’t unequip the Monkey KeyRing or say a word.

With the mindset that keeping my mouth shut would at least get me halfway there, I was having a staring contest when I suddenly remembered—

[Monsters Subjugated: 49/50]

‘Right. Wasn’t the quest reward a worn-out sword or something?’

A sword was a weapon. And a weapon was exactly what I needed most in this standoff with an unidentified stranger.

I desperately pointed downward, signaling the students.

‘Just one of the ones scattered on the ground! Just kill one more for me!’

Fortunately, the Protagonist seemed to understand properly, and the quest completion message popped up at the most precarious timing.

The Monkey KeyRing’s equip time limit had barely ended too…

[Unequip ‘Monkey KeyRing’ and equip ‘Worn-Out Sword’?-]

‘Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes!’

[※Equipped items cannot be unequipped for at least 5 minutes-]

‘I said yes! YES!!! Give it to meee!’

[Equipped ‘Worn-Out Sword’!

It can cut through most things. Until it breaks, that is.

Uses remaining: 3/3]

…Thanks to that, I barely managed to save both my dignity and my life.