Chapter 36
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After the operation of the dreamscape ended.
Ban returned to the dormitory without saying anything about it.
There was a short conversation just before returning.
“…Why are you not asking anything?”
It was inevitable to be puzzled by that.
Even after seeing all the fantasies, the Hero did not say anything.
There were no questions at all.
Just like someone who hadn’t seen anything.
He only handed over a teacup emitting a white and hot steam.
…The Hero did have something he wanted to say.
The Nubes Salon incident.
If we talk about that incident, counselling time alone won’t be enough.
However, the Hero decided to keep his mouth shut.
‘…Is delving into it really what he wants?’
Facing pain is the best way to overcome it.
But forcing someone unprepared to relive a bad memory is no different from stirring up a not-yet-healed wound.
So, the Hero asked in return.
“Do you want me to ask something?”
Ban looked into the eyes of the Hero.
It was a calm gaze as usual.
It was different from those hook-like eyes that always dug into and tried to solve his problems.
The boy faced a dilemma.
…Does he really want someone to delve into his problems?
It was difficult to answer right away.
“If you’re not ready now, that’s fine. In that state, any help, advice, or counselling would be meaningless.”
Ban chuckled.
The Hero, who had set down the teacup, spoke.
“Let’s just touch on this for now. It doesn’t have to be immediate. If you need help, speak up. I’ll do my best to assist.”
“Why go to such lengths…”
“I’m your assigned professor.”
“…”
“And before being a professor, as a fellow investigator, I believe in your potential.”
At the mention of that, he felt something hot piercing his throat, Ban bit his lips tightly.
“You know, Ban, deep valleys are usually found in high mountains.”
Reflecting on the mentor’s final words, the boy left the counselling room.
It didn’t feel much different, yet a sense of gentle comfort lingered.
* * *
So, after twists and turns, the last day of counselling arrived.
Only three students remained.
Luke, Cuculli, and Leciel.
In reality, it was effectively two.
Thinking about their personalities as contrasting as their hair colors, I began the corrections.
‘… Why is it so quiet?’
Today was a weekend without classes.
Although the corridors should have been bustling with students chatting and moving around, every path to the Gaudium Hall was eerily empty.
It was only after seeing the carriages lined up in front of the dormitory that I could figure out what was going on.
‘Ah, it starts today.’
With the start of the new month, it was the day when students could visit the village outside the campus.
Of course, the Rosenstark campus had all sorts of facilities, but students would go crazy for such outings.
Moreover, more than half of Rosenstark’s students were nobles.
In the village created by merchants who smelled money, there was everything from taverns, race courses, and auction houses to dressing rooms.
“Hey! Stop dawdling! It’s time to leave for the tour!”
“Sorry, sorry! I was fixing my makeup! I’ll be there in a moment!”
…Only the freshmen looked at the seniors with eyes full of envy.
Freshmen were not allowed to go on external tours during their first month.
‘Good timing.’
Passing by the excited group of students, I entered the Gaudium Hall.
It was the moment I stepped onto the third floor where the counselling room was located.
A sharp voice echoed in my ears.
“Cu-Cuculli! Stop it now! Stop it, I said!”
“Hehe, just a moment, just a moment. Ugh, okay, fine!”
Two completely mismatched individuals were intertwined.
It reminded me of yesterday’s scene with Ban and Lucas, albeit with a slightly different atmosphere.
“Enough.”
I grabbed the back of Cuculli’s collar, who was vigorously sniffling Pia’s chest.
“Hehe!”
She extended both hands and feet towards Pia with a disappointed expression, but I lifted her first.
As she met my eyes, she laughed,
“Haha.”
Explaining the situation seemed better coming from the victim.
“Can you please explain what’s going on?”
A blushing Pia stammered in response,
“Uh, I used a lot of Calera root powder in the morning experiment! I forgot that Ice Dragons are sensitive to that smell!”
I turned my gaze away.
Cuculli, with a face like a cat drunk on catnip, was making noises in the air.
“…Cuculli Evans.”
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“It’s a splendid evening, Professor! I came for counselling!”
“It’s morning right now.”
“Hehe… Where I lived, I couldn’t really distinguish between the two.”
She spoke with a mischievous voice, I sighed and put Cuculli down.
Pia, who was checking her appearance, trembled in surprise.
“Don’t worry.”
For someone like Cuculli, resisting the allure of Calera root powder was a breeze.
In other words, she just got drunk because she wanted to.
Sure enough, when I shook her head a few times, her eyes refocused.
“Hehe!”
A mischievous grin circled around on her face.
Her white face, surrounded by sky-blue hair, gleamed like eyes reflecting sunlight.
I pointed to the clock in the corridor.
“I’d like to ask why you came 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time.”
“No one wants to play with me in the dorm. Sob~ please counsel me.”
…Well.
It’s better than having only serious individuals like Ban.
I tried to think positively and dragged him into the counselling room.
“You may leave now. There are only two counselling sessions today, no need to take up unnecessary time.”
“Congratulations on the early finish, Assistant!”
Click!
The door closed.
“Yes…”
Pia’s voice, sounding drained, faintly reached me from the other side.
* * *
“Ugh! Grilled squid, tornado potatoes, lamb skewers, fruit snacks, and ice cream-loaded coffee! Hey, where did they all go!”
Cuculli seemed quite disappointed with the delicacies left behind in the dream world.
She waved her hands through the disappearing illusion in frustration.
Then, urgently, she asked me,
“When is the next counseling session?”
“Probably around this time next month.”
“Next month….”
She muttered with a very serious expression.
“What’s next month?”
“…Get out.”
“…Even if it’s late, I’ll be here next month! I promise! Definitely! Pinky swear!”
Thud!
As I listened to the cheerful footsteps receding behind the closed door, I let out a deep sigh.
The counselling with Cuculli went almost exactly as expected.
The Great Snow Sea.
A sea that has never melted once in recorded history.
The dream took us to her pristine white homeland.
In that untouched landscape devoid of human traces, we…
Snowball fights (with snowballs the size of one meter in diameter) erupted.
Sledding down steep cliffs.
We even finished a campfire with various spices that would never exist in the Great Snowy Sea and dishes from Rosenstark’s restaurants.
Even when asked if there were any concerns, she only had one response.
“Those are things for weaklings!”
It was indeed a response befitting the Ice Dragons.
If there was one thing that deviated from expectations in the counselling with Cuculli, it was one thing.
There was no improvement in understanding.
‘I thought she would grasp it the fastest.’
Unfortunately, the counselling session was more about enjoying rather than sharing inner thoughts.
‘I should try to lead it into a more serious atmosphere next time.’
After organizing Cuculli’s counselling record, I realized that the sun was already at its zenith.
‘Finally, only one person left.’
Leciel Hiyashin.
Now, the only students left without a crossed-out name on the list were her and Luke.
The long counselling schedule was coming to an end.
There was a 10-minute break before the next counselling session.
I recalled my memories of Leciel.
The first thing that came to mind was the sense of decadence and sharp atmosphere around her.
It felt like she intentionally kept her distance from everything around her.
Her dryness, which was not typical for her age, was somewhat concerning.
However, she seemed to be doing better in academy life than expected.
According to Kasim, other professors also praised her.
“She’s perfect. I’ve never seen such an excellent student during my teaching career.”
“When it comes to swordsmanship, she seems to be naturally gifted.”
“Her theoretical knowledge seems a bit lacking, though. Hahaha!”
“Friendship? Well, I’m not sure, but everyone seems to want to be friends with that girl anyway.”
She was diligent even in extreme conditions.
Surprisingly, she was somewhat of a model student.
Her outstanding talent and effort combined, she was growing smoothly.
‘Another impressive thing was…’
It was the gaze she directed towards me.
The reactions people usually show when facing the Hero are quite similar.
Admiration, awe, affection, longing, goodwill, admiration… or envy.
Well, those kinds of similar emotions.
But in her eyes, there was a clear sense of competitiveness.
A boldness that saw me as a target to surpass beyond not viewing me as just the Hero.
Even if we set aside her exceptional talent, I saw her as the one most likely to fill the ‘Original’s’ vacancy.
… For this reason, this counselling session was extremely important.
Leciel: 1/100
Above all, she was someone who boasted the lowest level of understanding.
Perhaps she had no concerns at all.
Furthermore, it was a perfect chance to get closer to her.
‘Alright, let’s do this well.’
With such determination, I waited for Leciel to open the counselling room door and come in.
… For a very long time.
Until sunset, and even when the students who went out returned, bustling around the corrections, Leciel did not show her face.
Around the time when the fireflies began to light up.
It was unbelievable, but I had to admit it.
‘…What on earth?’
I blankly stared out the window.
One lingering question subtly raised itself.
…Why.
Why were there no normal people in the Extreme?
* * *
“Uhh!”
Leciel stretched her hands straight, waking up from a deep sleep.
Her body felt stiff as if made of wood due to sleeping without moving.
“Where is this…?”
She looked around absentmindedly.
A dark space.
The lingering drowsiness that hadn’t completely disappeared yet robbed her of a sense of reality.
It took some more time for her to come to her senses.
“…Art room?”
She looked around absentmindedly.
After discovering the easel with an almost-finished painting, Leciel could finally grasp the situation.
The counselling session was scheduled around noon.
She must have stayed up late browsing the anonymous bulletin board.
Rather than sleeping awkwardly, it seemed better to come to the art room in the same building and draw a picture.
And then…
And then…?
“……”
Sighing deeply, Leciel rubbed her eyes.
“…I messed up.”
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