And so we returned to the school.

　It was surprising to me that it felt so long since we had been apart for only half a month.
　I've heard that the lessons have progressed quite well. It might be tough to catch up. Mainly, though, for Amu.

　Anyway, it's best to be at peace.


****


　It was the day after I returned that I went to see the headmaster.

'You've done a great job, you two.

　As soon as Mabel and I entered the room, the headmaster said this with a big smile on his face.

I didn't expect that the winner of the first Teito Comprehensive Martial Arts Tournament would be from our school. I'm also very proud. Well, I don't know if there will be a second edition but anyway, you did a great job with the Lamploog. And Mabel. Great job on making it to the semifinals. It was a shame that the students of the school ran into each other. If we had played a different block, we could have had a shot at second place.

　After winding up in a breath, the headmaster of the school adds after a bit of a pause.

However, you are only students. What is the real nature of a student?　Yes, I'm learning. This will help your career a little bit, but that's all. If you don't do anything, you'll be left behind in no time at all. Especially Mabel.

　When her name was called, Mabel asked back as if she was confused.

''........Me?''
''For our own reasons, I left the school for half a month right after I enrolled. It's hard to catch up with them. It's a good thing that you have a lot of experience in this field. The young lady of Lamplogue and her squire had good grades, so you can ask her to teach you.

　Mabel blinked a few times, as if confused, and then nodded her head in perplexity.
　The headmaster smiled and clapped his hands.

''Well. I'm sorry to have you come so early when you got back. You should get some rest today to prepare for tomorrow. Oh, the rump rogue. Will you guys stay behind for a bit?

　I remained silent and kept my eyes down.
　Mabel seemed a little lost, but in the end, she walked out of the headmaster's office alone.

"....
....

　After the door closes, neither I nor the headmaster are talking.
　Eventually.
　As Mabel walked away from the room, the headmaster finally spoke up.

The headmaster finally spoke up. You're not going to ask me something about Lamprog, are you?
...Yes.

　I let out a breath.
　I see.
　If you're coming at me, let's just stop trying to get around to it.
　With a smile, I tell him, "Are you happy now?

Are you happy now?　Mr. Dean.
Hmm. What do you mean?
'Mabel's failure to make it to the finals broke the plot to make it appear that the brave man is dead. I mean that's all right?

　The principal looks at me with narrowed eyes.

"It's strange that you ask if you're happy with that much knowledge. It's not exactly what we had in mind.
I just thought it was odd.

　I walked around the room and continued.

"I don't need two school nomination slots for the sake of plotting. There was no need for me to compete. Well, if that's the only reason, it's to cover up the unnaturalness of having only one new student selected. I'm all about discretion. It's just... but even so, you have been very careful.
"...?　What are you talking about?
'After I heard the name of Crane's house, I was curious and asked my parents about it. I wondered what kind of house it was. Naturally, I didn't get much information. That he was a magical researcher, and that there were many people from the school faction. That it was actually an old family. The only other thing........is that he was very protective of Mabel, who he recently adopted. 　It's like we're really adopting him.

　The headmaster blurted out with his head in his hands.

''Those guys........they're getting too carried away. After I nailed them all to the wall....
The school and its top brass had no intention of following the plot from the beginning. Our goal was to have Mabel in our possession.

　I'll continue.

"Despite the condition that I take no responsibility for the outcome of the match, I don't think the LeGrook Chamber of Commerce could afford to let Mabel go out of the finals. They needed to get Kyle's exams done. So naturally, he had a say in the tournament list. I went through the contestants' backgrounds and placed a dangerous candidate like Reynas on Kyle's side who would certainly win. Mabel would advance to the finals in order, where she would lose and die.
....
''As far as what the academy can get out of it, there is only Mabel. Perhaps the LeGrook Chamber of Commerce didn't rent out Mabel like a mercenary, but sold her to the academy?　It would be weird to ask for someone who was going to die in the final to be returned later. I would have at least put a clause in place to dispose of her if she escaped but I didn't expect her to survive the loss. And that's when you got to the point where you tried to have her by forcing me to defeat Mabel. Is this it?

　The headmaster sighed after a brief silence and said.

'I've been licked,'
....
'I'm not responsible for the outcome of Mabel's game. If things don't go the way we want them to, we won't return the money. Moreover, they want to make their own mercenaries participate in the tournament, and they are intent on making their name known by making them the winner, but they raise their commission fee just because there is a chance that Mabel will win. A brave man is an important factor in deciding the course of this country, and yet it shows how underestimated the current empire has become. I'm sure that's why I used you to break their noses, isn't it?　They've lost Mabel, they've lost their confidence, and they're not going to be very happy. It's a nice feeling.
And you didn't think that I could lose to Mabel and Kyle?
I'm still alive a long time.

　The Dean twists the corners of his mouth.

He has a certain amount of knowledge about the extent of his power. Your talent is probably comparable to that of a brave man. Moreover, you have already achieved a great deal of power. It's a frightening thing. I'm not sure if it's even better than a brave man's.............................or if it's even possible. There's no way there's a talent in this world that surpasses a brave man.
Well, that doesn't matter. All I want to ask you is one thing, really.

　I say quietly, "What are you gonna do to Mabel?

"What do you want Mabel to do?
....
'You didn't plot this just to give LeGrook a crack at it, did you?　Getting Mabel, that in itself should have made sense. What is it?

　The headmaster huffs and says.

What's the point of asking that?
'It's not. If it's a pathetic reason, I just think it's pathetic. But since I have some righteousness I might do something for you if there's something I can do for you.
"Ha-ha, that's horrible. What do you imagine the reason is?

　I raise an eyebrow and reply, "To protect the school from within, I suppose.

"To protect the school from within, I guess. Even if you hire security guards, they can't know what's going on inside the school. Since there is a possibility that spies may be sent to the school as enrolled students, they needed someone to protect Amu as a student?
I see, that's good. But it seems like the attention of the demon tribe will be removed from the academy in the future, though?　The fact that you, who clearly didn't match the content of the oracle, won the championship this time, allowed the school's human resources to be fought over. The fact that the assassins and spies somehow disappeared one by one last year will no longer be able to be said to be the work of a brave man.
Well if you say it's not, then what is it?

　The dean of the school, after a brief silence.
　He suddenly lowered his eyes and muttered to himself.

"I took pity on her.
....
You don't believe it. But it's true. You can't shake it any longer and get nothing out of it.

　The Dean begins to speak.

''At first, the officials were about to drop this plan. Although they finally found a candidate for a brave shadow warrior, it's no use if they can't make him win. They're taking a lick at the Chamber of Commerce's terms and conditions, and they want to turn this plan into a clean slate. Attah was in favor of that, too. But after meeting with Mabel, I've changed my mind.
....
'A child blessed with talent. But he looked as if he had tasted every misfortune in the world. He was going to be killed by his own brother, whom he adored so much, so it was natural. The only thing is, she told me that she would win the championship. I want to ease my brother's changed ways. He wants to use his gift to help me kill my brother, and he wants me to use mine. With a dead eye. Then I thought to myself, "This is not the way to go.
....
So I convinced the officials to sign a contract with the Chamber of Commerce, and then I thought of a way to use the demon card Seika Lamprog for that girl who would never abstain. That's one of the reasons why I've put the young squire's daughter on the list. Didn't you feel a little nervous that she might have to compete if you withdrew?　It's one of the talking points merchants use.

　The Dean continues.

'When you live long enough, you lose your attachment to many things. You lose your attachment to many things, to money, to honor, to power, to life itself. But it's hard to let go of the attachment to do something for others. Maybe that's why you are in this position. You don't know that yet, do you?
No....

　I trailed off.
　In a previous life, I picked up orphans and apprenticed to them, and I'm pretty sure I'm just like him.

　He said it was an attachment to the power he once had.
　I've lost it in my reincarnation, or perhaps because I lost to my beloved disciple.

　I let out a breath and ask, "What happened to Mabel?

Mabel was worried that LeGrook would send an assassin. The other side is probably angry about losing Kyle, and they wouldn't leave Mabel, who knows what's going on inside.
''You can't be that untouched. Crane is a baronet, but his family is venerable and has strong ties to the court, plus his wife is the third daughter of the duke's family. Even though she's adopted, what awaits Rougrok if he gets his hands on their breath girl is ruin. That's why they asked for a load of money to be handed over to them, but you said they paid off the messenger at the door. Well, we won't have to worry about that.

　'Besides,' the headmaster adds.

'It's only in the last few years that LeGrook has begun to gain strength. A person who has been gaining momentum will be cowed if he or she is unexpectedly caught flat-footed. He'll be quiet for a while, I'm sure.
Really? Well, I guess I don't have anything to do.
What are you talking about?

　The headmaster says in dismay.

'It's no surprise that you don't have to be afraid of assassination. What's important is how you live with that. She is about to start her unfamiliar school life. You must help her in many ways. As an older student.
I'm aware of that, sir.

　Then I turned on my heel.
　I think we're done talking.

　I sighed inwardly.
　Now that I think about it, I shouldn't have gotten too deep into it.
　I'm going to have to withdraw from the race and spend my time regardless of Mabel's death and the headmaster's intentions. That would have been the best thing for me to do.
　It was a mistake to give in to unwanted curiosity.
　But I didn't regret it.

　Suddenly.
　A trivial question occurred to me. I look back at the headmaster.

By the way...you said you lived a long time, but how old are you really?
You ask a woman her age. You're a f*cking brat. I wish I could tell you how old I am.

　The headmaster spat out.

'I'm not counting beyond three hundred.