Chapter 24: “This Water Is Deep”
As Liya, the homeroom teacher, had plenty of things to offer as temptation.
“So… so… doesn’t this small fry young master want to beg me to let you pass the practical exam? I know your strength very well, don’t you want a shortcut?” Liya confidently brushed her hair back.
“Thank you. I believe that one’s achievements are made with ninety-nine percent effort and one percent talent.”
“Then… then then then, I can also offer you benefits for getting through midterms and finals!”
Liya turned around flustered.
“Thank you. I firmly believe that school courses are not just for passing exams, but for testing one’s learning results.”
“This… Hmph!” Liya hadn’t expected that this glib, spoiled brat would speak so earnestly. Could it be that he was actually quite studious?
“Then…” Liya lowered her stance slightly. Since “practical exams” and “midterms and finals” couldn’t tempt him, and he seemed to be a studious person… She had no choice but to…
Liya took a step forward, getting close to Will in the narrow office. Her small hand reached out and touched Will’s chest. Looking up, her red pupils did their best to feign a cringingly sycophantic expression. She gently opened her cherry-like lips.
“Then, perhaps I can offer you a… a… private tutor who is accomplished in magic, especially ancient magic… a cute, petite… private tutor in exchange—” Liya even managed to force out a sweet smile, although it was a bit of a forced smile. That’s right! If temptation doesn’t work, then seduction it is!
Will paused. He swallowed. Liya thought it was working! Hmph, as expected, no one could refuse the world’s cutest little witch like her.
However… Will pushed Liya away. He refused righteously.
“Thank you.”
“You’re refusing this too?!”
“I think…”
“What other grand principles can you spout?!”
“I like mature women.”
“You—!”
Witch Liya, failing completely because their preferences didn’t align.
But… after doing all this, Liya’s lips curved upward slightly for a moment—perhaps only for a second or two. Will observed this smile from her face but didn’t seem to pay it any mind and continued to speak.
“However, I do have something I want.”
“Say it. Hmph, what comes out of your mouth is probably just some trivial matter.” He felt that since Liya was willing to bring him to a private place and he wasn’t holding her previous attack against her, Liya might be at a point where she could engage in an equal trade. Should he try to pry open her mouth starting with this simplest of requests? After all, it wasn’t a difficult question for Liya to answer. It was also part of an important “mission,” something he could use to test Liya’s tolerance.
“I want information about your client.”
Yes, the client. Liya could live for a long time, and as a witch, her strength wasn’t weak. If she caused trouble, she could run away and live in seclusion in the forest for decades until her enemies died… Oh, and she was also a scumbag who would do anything for money. For her, selling out her client would be incredibly easy, wouldn’t it?
But… the moment those words left her mouth, the slightly relaxed atmosphere abruptly fell silent. Liya suddenly lowered her head, and the smile from earlier vanished.
“What’s wrong? This is simple. You must have a way to contact them, just give me the information.”
“I can’t do that. I don’t have it.”
“When you take a commission, there’s no intermediary. There must be someone who directly contacts you, so it’s easy to check…”
“No, this is the only thing I cannot do.”
“Huh? Don’t worry, if you give me the information, with the Hysterm Family’s power, I’m sure we can…”
“Trade failed. Classmate Will, we’re done here. Get out.”
Upon hearing this, Liya seemed to have touched a minefield. She appeared very nervous, directly opening the door and pushing Will out.
“It-it’s really fine, look at my family’s background…” Liya pointed her finger at Will, speaking warningly. “Listen up, that client told me the commission is completed. So I won’t do anything to you, and you won’t get hurt because of it. But… but take my advice, don’t investigate further. This water… is deep! If you keep investigating, something bad will happen to you!”
“Ah?” Will stood outside the door, stunned. He had been pushed out.
“In short, that’s all for today. From now on, I’m just your homeroom teacher, and you’re just my student. Forget everything else!”
*Bang.* The door closed. Liya seemed unwilling to continue. So, something that couldn’t be traded in Liya’s heart?
But… outside the door, Will looked at the closed door, surprised. Liya had unleashed a barrage of words, making countless excuses, as if she were forcefully rejecting him and throwing a tantrum. However, he could tell that she said this because she didn’t want to drag Will down with her. In other words, she was actually caring about and protecting Will, not wanting to involve him in this mess.
Looking at the door, Will sighed. “Sigh…” He recalled some scenes from the original work. For example, after the male protagonist washed her clothes and cooked for her, she would sneak into his room and carefully fold his clothes, then leave a small cake she had bought. For example, after the male protagonist and she went shopping for clothes, she would wear the one the male protagonist thought looked good the next day and walk back and forth in front of him, letting him look at her more. For example, after the male protagonist provided her with food and lodging when she was penniless, she worked for several nights and then bought him a nice tonic, placing it under his pillow.
These were all things Liya did secretly. She remembered everyone’s birthdays very clearly. On their birthdays, she would personally prepare gifts for everyone, though she always gave them secretly. She also remembered everyone’s combat positioning habits. As a back-row support, she often provided cover for the front-liners at opportune moments during fights. Just like this, on the surface, she would act tsundere and refuse to admit it, but in private, she was very meticulous, a witch who thoughtfully remembered every “friend.” When danger arose, just like today, she preferred to bear it all herself.
Someone like her, setting aside her tsundere side, was quite suitable to be an “elder”—like a teacher or a mother. However, she would never say these things out loud. The person she wanted to win over, she wouldn’t actively pursue, reaching out from a distance, only to withdraw her hand.
So… Liya, really… she was the epitome of someone who did everything but refused to speak up or act, a tsundere loser!
“Forget it, forget it. There’s still a long way to go before you learn how to go from tsundere to openly yandere and blacken.”
“Anyway, the bait has been cast. That’s all for today.” Will stretched and left Liya’s office. However, this made Will even more curious. What kind of power did this client behind the scenes possess, for Liya to actively shield him? At least it proved… it was an existence that Liya considered troublesome for the Hysterm Family?
