Chapter 37: The End of the Semester Break

“Ah! It’s finally over!”

As I stepped out of the classroom after submitting my answer sheet, Anne, who had been the first to leave the classroom, greeted me with a loud cheer. Anne’s focus wasn’t on how many questions she had answered correctly, but on the fact that the exam was finally over.

At times like this, instead of pointing it out, it’s better to pray that Anne gets at least one more question right so she doesn’t fail.

Celian and Yuri, who had been waiting for me, seemed to share the same thought, as they just stared at Anne without saying anything.

Celian and Yuri had both submitted their answer sheets and left the classroom much earlier than I had, having spent the last moments in the classroom contemplating the answers.

If someone were to ask what the difference was between Anne, Celian, and Yuri, it would be clear—they just don’t know Anne well.

Anyway, as Anne said, the first semester’s schedule had finally come to an end. Now, before the second semester starts in September, there would be no classes, assignments, or exams—just free time.

Already, I could see a few students outside the window packing their belongings, ready to leave the dorm and head back home. Quick movers, indeed.

Of course, one could stay in the dorm, but with no official schedule, it’s almost certain that no one would remain at the academy.

“Are you all heading home? When do you plan to leave?”

Since all three of them were from noble families, they would likely go back to their respective houses during the break, either to relax or follow their family’s schedule.

“I’ll rest today, and once Ian finishes preparing, I’ll head back. Probably tomorrow or the day after.”

I was sure that Anne’s reference to Ian’s preparations involved quite a bit of work, but I didn’t say anything.

No doubt, Ian would be complaining while handling a number of tasks for Anne, as he always did.

“I’ve already sent people from home, so I’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”

On the other hand, it seemed Yuri’s family had already arranged for people and a carriage to take her back in time with the academy’s schedule.

I had heard from Professor Selene before that Yuri’s father doted on her.

Whether that was true or not, I couldn’t be sure from just hearing a third party’s words, but the fact that they had already sent people suggested that they probably wanted to see her as soon as possible.

“I’m not sure… Maybe I’ll leave next week… But what about El?”

Among the three of us, Celian was planning to return home the latest. Why “the three of us,” you ask? Because, unlike them, I don’t have a hometown to return to.

I was kidnapped at a young age, and because of that, I have no memories from before I joined the Assassin’s Guild. I don’t even know where my hometown is. Even though the lands belonging to Elysia, the identity I’m currently using, have been partially restored from the demonic destruction, I can’t visit.

If I were to go, it would be problematic if I ran into someone who actually knew Elysia. With Yuri, we managed to get by without much trouble, but I can’t expect that kind of luck again.

Therefore, I had no intention of returning to my hometown. Instead, I planned to visit the Assassin’s Guild hideout where I had grown up after being kidnapped.

A few months had passed, so the place might be almost abandoned, but the guards might have grown lax as well. If I’m lucky, there may still be some secrets hidden there that could help me—whether it’s money or something else.

“I don’t really have anywhere to go, so I plan to stay in the dorm during the break.”

Of course, I couldn’t tell them my real plan, so I just lied. I didn’t feel guilty about it because the guild’s hideout was only a day’s travel away. It wouldn’t take long to search, and even if it did, two days would be plenty of time.

Two days out of the two-month break was practically like a short errand.

“Then, as we talked about last time, you’ll come visit, right?”

We had talked about it after midterms ended. They had kindly invited me to visit their homes since I had nowhere to go during the break. Of course, I hadn’t forgotten, but I didn’t bring it up since it was awkward to mention as the visitor.

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable by showing up uninvited.”

“That wouldn’t happen.”

“Then how about we go together tomorrow? Since we’re leaving anyway, it might be better to travel together.”

“Should we? Then let’s go to Yuri’s house first, and where should we go next?”

At my question, Anne quickly raised her hand and answered.
“Our house!”

“Okay, then please visit our house last. You can relax there for a bit before heading back to the academy.”

“Now that we’ve more or less decided, should we talk about the details while we have lunch?”

To accommodate the students who were returning home right away, the final exam of the semester ends no later than the morning.

Even if it’s finished by evening, they can leave the next morning, so there’s not much to praise, but since the higher-ups want to show off, we just let it slide.

We had lunch together and adjusted the schedule for the break, specifically the schedule that involved me.

“So, I came to tell you that I probably won’t be able to visit for a while during the break.”

Room 707 in the Magic Building. Just like last time, I was sipping tea, which was served by a teddy bear, and asking for Presia’s understanding.

“Boss, aren’t you going anywhere during the break?”

“Not really…”

Hmm… I can already imagine it. Presia will likely spend the entire break inside Room 707, sleeping on the sofa every day, leading a lazy life.

Right now, higher-ups sometimes give her tasks, and I often visit to experiment with her, but once the break starts, everyone will return to their homes, and I’ll be away for a while too.

“Ah…!”

As I was seriously considering whether to stay in the dorm or visit my friends’ houses, Presia let out a small exclamation as if she remembered something.

“Come to think of it, the Emperor told me to come by during the break. I almost forgot.”

…There’s something else you should forget, not that. How could you forget something like that?

Well, since she has an actual schedule, I no longer have to worry about her just locking herself in the lab and sleeping the whole time.

Plus, since the visit to the Imperial Palace won’t be a short one, it worked out even better.

Though, I am worried that once she gets to the Imperial Palace, she might end up just sleeping in her room except when meeting the Emperor…

But she wouldn’t do that, right? Even Presia wouldn’t sleep like that in front of the Emperor.

Probably.

Since I would be leaving the dorm tomorrow, I made sure to tidy up. Of course, no one would dare to enter my room, but just in case, I packed a few items that might be suspicious into my bag and hid others carefully.

I also packed clothes to change into and some personal items. By the time I finished, it was almost time for the roll call. However, I didn’t hear the usual announcement to start.

Many students had already left the dorm, and with the last exam over, the semester schedule had ended, so they gave us a little freedom.

Now that I think about it, on the first day of the semester, I had left without realizing there was roll call, and I had gotten scolded for it.

Tap tap

As I was reminiscing about the past, I heard a familiar sound—someone tapping on the window. Without being startled, I opened the window, and with familiar footsteps, the cat came into the room.

Since the first time the cat had stayed in my room, it had occasionally come by to sleep on my bed.

“Looks like the cat’s here.”

The cat had already climbed onto the bed and was baking itself like a loaf of bread, so I stroked it and spoke to it. The cat simply raised its tail slightly before lowering it, as if in response.

If the cat is going to respond like that, I’ve got my own ways to deal with it.

Bam

With the hand I had been petting the cat with, I lightly slapped its bottom with the other hand.

Bababababang

Naturally, I didn’t just stop after one hit. I quickly snapped my wrist and gave another swift tap.

It seems that no matter what, the cat can’t escape its instincts. It stayed in my hand, even lifting its bottom as if asking for more.

I happily continued the playful spank, giving it extra energy and enthusiasm.

Previously, the cat had been horrified by me spanking its bottom, but now it seemed to have gotten used to it, and it even seemed to enjoy it, not knowing what to do.

One thing, however, remained the same: after I finished spanking, the cat always slapped my cheek.

It always acted so dignified, but it must be embarrassed to show such a disheveled side of itself.

After our little play session, both the cat and I lay down on the bed together.

“But what should we do tomorrow when I’m not in the room? Don’t get upset, okay, cat? It’s not that I won’t open the window, I just can’t.”

I’m not sure how the cat finds my room, but starting tomorrow, I won’t be here.

It made me a bit anxious to think that after coming all the way here, the cat would just be tapping on the window from the outside.

“Meow.”

But the cat responded shortly, as if it understood what I was saying, then closed its eyes again.

Now that I think about it, the cat has always seemed to understand what I said.

After all, there are goblins in circus troupes that can read, so it’s not entirely impossible for a cat to understand human speech.

I shouldn’t worry about it.

Instead, when I return, I’ll bring the cat a present.