“Good morning.”
“Morning, Dad, Mom.”
Kent and Tia prepared themselves and left her room, heading to the living room next door.
“Oh, good morning to you both.”
“Good morning. You two had quite a fun evening last night, didn’t you?”
Parker and Brook, who were already eating breakfast, turned to Kent and Tia and said.
“W-well, if you’re going to say that, M-Mom and Dad had fun too, right?”
“Ugh.”
“Oh, my. You caught us.”
When Tia retorted to Brook, Kent awkwardly averted his gaze, embarrassed that their actions had been discovered. Brook, however, maintained a calm expression.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been this active. Though we were at it the night before as well. This house has thin walls, so you realized that, didn’t you, Kent?”
“W-well, yes, I suppose so.”
Kent thought it was just like Brook to speak so openly about their activities, knowing that their neighbors could hear.
“Speaking of which, you slept in quite a bit. Are you planning to leave next week?”
“Eh?”
Tia froze upon hearing Brook’s words.
“Did the stagecoach… leave without us?”
“Yes. It seems to have departed a little while ago.”
“W-what will we do? It’s fine for me, but Kent won’t be able to attend class.”
Once Tia realized they had missed the stagecoach, her immediate concern was that Kent would be unable to attend class.
“Huh? But that’s strange. The stagecoach to this village only runs once a week, and even with special supply transport, it only runs twice at most. I’m sure there wasn’t a special transport. Kent, how did you get to this village?”
Tia had been so preoccupied with meeting Kent that she hadn’t thought deeply about it. However, upon reconsideration, she remembered meeting Kent at the academy three days prior. Tia had departed the Royal Capital by stagecoach that evening for Laoshi Village. She had a transfer along the way, but making the most efficient travel arrangements, she arrived in Laoshi Village on the night of the second day. Yet, Kent had arrived in this village the day before that, using an even faster method of travel. No matter how she calculated it, it didn’t add up, so she asked Kent about it again.
“W-well, it might be troublesome if you inquire too deeply.”
Kent thought he could tell Tia if they were alone, but he couldn’t reveal the means by which he had arrived in the village in front of Parker and Brook. Kent decided to gloss over the matter for now and explain to Tia later.
“Tia, Kent looks troubled.”
“B-but…”
Parker, having witnessed strange occurrences since Kent and Hanako arrived in the village, sensed that Kent had something he couldn’t say and offered assistance.
“It’s probably something he can’t tell us. When the time comes, he’ll surely tell you, Tia.”
“O-okay. I won’t ask any more about it.”
“Now, now, breakfast is all ready for you both.”
Convinced by Brook, Tia decided not to press Kent further. Brook prepared breakfast for Kent and Tia, and the four of them spent a leisurely morning together.
“Kent, you have school starting tomorrow, what are you going to do?”
“I plan to attend. And you too, Tia.”
After breakfast, Kent and Tia had nothing to do, so they left the house. In the town square, preparations were being made to clean up after the festival held the previous day. Not everyone was participating; it was being carried out by volunteers from the village. Kent and Tia also tried to help with the cleanup, but they were gently refused, with the explanation that it wouldn’t be right to have the honored guests help. Involuntarily, the two of them took a walk through the small village. It was then that Kent was asked about tomorrow’s plans by Tia.
“I’ve already resigned from the academy, so I won’t be attending. Besides, even if I hurried from this village to the Royal Capital, I wouldn’t make it by tomorrow. You know what happens when students miss school without a special reason, right? I’m very worried about that.”
Tia said this with concern for Kent. As far as Kent remembered, he only knew that he shouldn’t miss school without a special reason, but he didn’t know what kind of penalty he would face if he did.
“What happens if I miss school?”
“Do you know ‘stone-holding’? You have to kneel on a floor covered with triangular wooden blocks and place a heavy stone on your knees. It’s very painful and difficult.”
“R-really?”
Kent turned pale upon hearing this. He was surprised to learn that this punishment, which was meted out during the Edo period, was actually practiced.
“I’m not sure. My teaching career was short, so I never witnessed it firsthand, but I heard as much from my senior teachers.”
Tia also only heard about it through others and didn’t seem to know if it was actually carried out.
“If that happens, I’ll take responsibility and hold the stone with you, Kent.”
“But if you quit being a teacher, you won’t be able to enter the academy anymore.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Tia expressed her readiness to share Kent’s punishment, but if she quit being a teacher, she wouldn’t be able to enter the academy, making it impossible.
“As I said earlier, I’ll attend school without missing. And Tia, I want you to continue being a teacher at the academy.”
“That’s impossible. I’ve committed an act that a teacher should not do.”
“Hmm, Elnet said she would bring you back, so I doubt you’ll be questioned. The way she put it suggests your resignation wasn’t accepted and is still pending somewhere.”
Kent urged Tia to continue her teaching career.
“But the Headmaster said, ‘I understand,’ you know.”
“It’s probably stuck somewhere with the Principal.”
“Do you think so?”
Tia responded with doubt to Kent’s speculation.
“Just in case, I need to confirm with Elnet, but I think it’ll be fine. Since they’re temporarily in charge of our class due to a teacher shortage, she should know the situation.”
“Elnet-san is acting as my substitute?”
“Yes. The whole class was surprised when Teacher Arnet made an appearance after so long.”
“I’ve inconvenienced Elnet-san again.”
Tia knew Elnet was from the Duke’s family, and she felt sorry for troubling her.
“And, this is my request, but I truly believe you shine the brightest when you’re teaching. I want to see you standing at the podium, Tia.”
“If Kent-san puts it like that, I suppose I have no choice but to return. But if my resignation has been accepted, please give up.”
Tia, persuaded by Kent, decided to continue teaching if possible.
“Hm, is your conversation finished?”
“Ah, Hanako. You stayed at the village chief’s house last night, didn’t you? How was it?”
Just as Kent and Tia’s discussion concluded, Hanako approached them.
“Hm, I did my evangelistic work properly as a false priest.”
“Hey, hey.”
Kent was surprised by Hanako’s casual remark.
“We didn’t have much time to talk last night, but you’re Marie-san’s child, Hanako-san, right?”
“Hm, probably. It’s nice to meet you properly.”
“She’s so cute, like a doll.”
Tia and Hanako had met a few times before but properly introduced themselves. Tia then stroked Hanako’s head, remarking on her doll-like cuteness.
“Hm, if you stroke my head, it’ll come off.”
“Eh?”
*Pop*
“Kyaaa!!”
Tia, thinking Hanako was just joking, continued to stroke her head when suddenly she felt her head become detached, and Hanako’s head bent at an odd angle. Seeing this, Tia couldn’t help but scream.
“Hm, it was just a little joke.”
*Crack crack*
Hanako said, and with both hands, she repositioned her head, then shook it side to side to stabilize it.
“Haa, haa, haa. Don’t scare me like that. For a moment, I thought my heart stopped.”
Realizing Hanako’s joke, Tia let out a sigh of relief, her chest heaving.
This story marks the final update of the year.
We appreciate your continued support next year as well. (Written on December 27, 2023)
