Chapter 20: Old Ties and Bitter Tea- Conversations and Unspoken Bonds

Before leaving Professor Ferrent’s office, I thought I heard something strange, but it must have been my imagination. Or perhaps it was just Ferrent joking.

Yeah, a joke. I thought he was a rigid person as a former knight commander, but he can be quite funny.

“Oh~ isn’t that our Elysia? Are you on your way back from counselling?”

No. It’s probably just that I’m a little unwell and hearing thing. Even now, I’m hearing strange sounds.

Staying up late reading novels I couldn’t read during midterms has left me feeling a bit off. There’s still a huge list of novels Celian recommended, but I think I’ll skip reading tonight and go to bed early.

“How about it? Still not considering transferring to Class 2?”

As if he couldn’t see my efforts to ignore him, Professor Selene persisted in chatting with me.

“Well, Professor, I don’t think I’ll ever be joining your class.”

“Hm. Seems like I really did get on your bad side. Well then, let’s leave it at that for now. How about coming to my office for a cup of tea?”

Despite my cold rejection, Professor Selene went a step further and invited me to his office.

Even after the last incident, my view of Professor Selene had hit rock bottom, but he still treated me with a friendly demeanour.

“Then I’ll see you in the next class.”

“Don’t be so aloof. I just wanted to talk a bit about Yuri.”

“…Yuri?”

Since Professor Selene was Yuri’s former homeroom teacher, I couldn’t ignore his mention of Yuri and ended up following him to his office.

Goodness, being summoned to two professors’ offices in a day. Anyone who sees this would easily misunderstand and think I’m a troublemaker.

The inside of Professor Selene’s office was fairly simple.

The only thing that stood out was his adventurer’s badge.

Professor Selene is one of only nine platinum adventurers on the continent, who originally intended to retire and return to his hometown, but for some reason changed his mind and took up a professorship at Griffin Academy.

After sitting at the table set in the middle, Selene poured a cup of tea for me with practiced ease.

I had already had tea during my counselling with Ferrent, but I accepted it since it seemed awkward to refuse.

“Ah, sorry. Since I’m a former mercenary, I only have this cheap tea to offer.”

As I held the teacup, I felt the warmth of the tea beyond the cup.

Wondering if it might be too hot, I lightly touched my tongue to it, but it was just comfortably warm, so I took a sip.

Bitterness filled my mouth. After a moment, the unique aroma began to emerge, easing the bitterness.

“It’s Deple.”

It’s a plant so common across the continent that it’s more of a weed than a tea leaf.

It’s the complete opposite of the tea I drank in Professor Ferrent’s office earlier.

It’s bitter with no nutritional value, and being a mere weed, it doesn’t even provide any fullness.

That’s why no one drinks it, though some use it for tea to enjoy the slight aroma that comes after the bitterness. However, few would willingly drink a tea like this.

“Oh, you know Deple tea? The kids in my class don’t even know what it is; they either spit it out after one sip or make a sour face and won’t touch it again.”

Ignoring Selene’s chuckling comment, I took another sip. It was a familiar taste and aroma I hadn’t experienced in a while.

As I said, Deple tea is flavorless, just a tea brewed with a common weed steeped in hot water. No one drinks it, but it also means anyone can drink it.

During my days at the assassin’s guild, with limited food options and no spare time, I would often pick Deple leaves whenever I went out and brew tea with them.

Sometimes, I’d even chew on the leaves to pass the time.

Of course, since joining the academy with its plentiful food options, I hadn’t touched it, but it was quite pleasant to reunite with it like this.

Pouring water into his own cup, Selene took a seat in the honorary position and sipped his Deple tea.

“Actually, I can afford any expensive tea now, but this one suits my taste best because it reminds me of the past.”

It’s somewhat relatable, considering I missed it even after having eaten delicious food for a while.

In fact, I also prefer this tea to the one I had in Ferent’s room earlier.

But just because we share common ground doesn’t mean I have any newfound affection for Selene.

“Could you just get to the point quickly? Contrary to how you may see me, I’m actually busy…”

Since I don’t like Professor Selene due to past events, a slightly impolite tone slipped out. Honestly, I wasn’t really busy.

But I didn’t care much. For some reason, Professor Selene holds goodwill toward me.

I assume he’ll let it slide, and even if not, I can afford to lose one class grade.

Of course, he could outright try to mess with me, but would a former platinum adventurer be petty enough to go that far?

“It’s nothing serious. I just called you because I was wondering how Yuri is doing these days.”

Considering what Selene did to Yuri, it should have been an insincere statement, but there was no trace of pretense in his tone.

“Why are you concerned about Yuri? She’s no longer your student anyway…”

Professor Selene put his teacup down with a clink and shrugged his shoulders as he replied.

“It’s actually easier to ask now that I’m no longer her professor. She’s the daughter of my close friends.”

“Do you mean…?”

“For various reasons, I’ve known Yuri’s parents for a long time. Isn’t a friend’s daughter worth some concern?”

Selene’s face didn’t look like he was lying, at least not to me.

“If you’re that concerned, then why didn’t you help Yuri last time?”

“I told you the reason then, didn’t I? My teaching policy doesn’t change. Even a close friend’s daughter isn’t an exception. And besides, it was Craig who first asked me to never make any exceptions.”

“Craig… you mean Yuri’s father?”

“Yes. He actually doesn’t want Yuri to take up the sword. He cherishes her dearly. Although he was always quiet, he’s spoken even less since Linis passed away… So, Yuri doesn’t know any of this and just wields the sword, following her father’s path.”

This was news to Yuri.

“Then why not tell Yuri directly, instead of telling me…?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be strange for me to suddenly call Yuri and start talking about this? That’s why I’m asking you. I’m not asking you to make her give up the sword like Craig wants, just to look after her.”

He brought the teacup to his mouth, but by then, it was already empty.

“But doesn’t that mean you’re going against Yuri’s father, Marquess Craig’s wishes?”

Selene, however, merely gave a sly smile, gulped down the rest of his tea, and responded.

“I liked Linis more than Craig, after all.”

***

“You’re late?”

Upon entering the classroom, Yuri spoke as soon as she noticed me.

From my conversations with her, it was clear that Yuri had no idea what her father thought. She believed he was harsh with her and that her family members were indifferent to her.

But according to Selene, the reality was slightly different. Craig was just bad at expressing himself, and her family was more fearful of her, keeping their distance.

“I just stopped somewhere on the way.”

But I didn’t tell Yuri what I’d heard from Selene. There’s no guarantee that everything he said was true, and it’s a sensitive matter for an outsider like me to interfere with.

When the opportunity arises later, I can talk about it then.

“Really? What do you think they’ll ask at the counseling session? Will they bring up my low midterm scores?”

“Probably, right? Ugh… next time, I’m definitely going to get a high score on the written part too…”

Next to Yuri, Anne clutched her head in response to Yuri’s guess.

Sorry to Anne, but I can bet that her determination will be forgotten in just three days.

I’d even bet on it! During the midterm preparation period, whenever she studied for a few days, she would almost immediately give up again, only for Yuri to drag her back and make her study.

In fact, by the end, Yuri would track down Anne, who was hiding to avoid her, and force her to sit at a desk and study.

Anne should be grateful to Yuri. If it weren’t for her, Anne’s written test scores would have been even worse.

“Should I help you study from today? Like I did during the midterms?”

Even now, as Yuri’s eyes sparkle at Anne’s words of resolve, she offers to help her study.

“Oh? Ah, no. I think I’m okay for now!”

See that? Just seconds after her resolve, Anne immediately declines Yuri’s offer to help.

That’s always Anne.