I Became an Academy Counselor

“…He eats well.”

Orca looked at Leo with a somewhat disgusted expression.
At first, she seemed very displeased about eating with Leo, but that didn’t last long.
It seems those feelings disappeared soon, replaced by amazement at the amount of food constantly entering Leo’s mouth. Rather than being displeased, she was watching the scene before her eyes as if it was just fascinating.

“Teacher, can you handle that…? Didn’t you say you’d treat? No matter how I look at it, the bill seems like it’ll easily exceed hundreds.”
“Don’t worry. This teacher has more money than you might think.”
“…Really?”

Orca started worrying about my wallet situation, but I was confident.
I still have plenty of money left from exchanging the jewels I received from the principal.
Actually, using that money alone was a little, no, quite burdensome…
But I didn’t mind using it for something like this at all.
The principal probably wouldn’t mind if it’s used to feed students…

“Do you have a beggar in your stomach? Why do you eat so much?”
“Gulp. I do tend to eat a bit more than others.”
“A bit…?”

Orca looked at the mountain of seafood remains piled up next to Leo.
The staff kept coming to clear it away, but there was no sign of it diminishing.

“Usually, I eat like other people… Sigh, but occasionally I need to eat like this.”
“Need to eat?”
“It’s because of the power of the relic.”

I opened my mouth to satisfy Orca’s curiosity.

“The relic he possesses uses the user’s life force as a sacrifice.”
“How does Teacher Ophelia know that…?”

Oops.
I unconsciously answered instead of Leo.
A familiar story came up and before I knew it…
I answered Leo’s question while breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Students’ special circumstances are organized into data. Sometimes I end up memorizing information about students who stand out.”
“…I see.”
“Y-Yes…”

Fortunately, Leo didn’t seem to doubt my excuse too much and started focusing on the food again.
It seems my excuse worked, thank goodness…
When I glanced at him, he didn’t seem to want to explain further.
However, rather than being displeased, he just seemed to want to eat more of the food in front of him.

Since he’s not the type to avoid talking about his benefactor, it should be okay for me to speak.
On behalf of him who had started to focus on the food in front of him again, I decided to explain to Orca.

“According to the sett… I mean, the data, Leo’s armor was given to him by his benefactor.”

The silver armor worn over the academy uniform is slightly bigger than his body.
That armor is a relic.
When Leo was still young, for some reason, his village was burned down.
It’s said that a passing knight helped Leo, who was about to die at that time.
To save Leo, the knight handed over part of the relic he was wearing, and thanks to that, Leo’s life was saved.

When he tried to find the knight to return the armor after everything was resolved, the knight had already disappeared.
In the end, unable to return the armor, Leo always wears it, admiring that knight.
…That is Leo’s background setting.

“Heeh…”
“However, relics aren’t always just good. The relic Leo has takes something in return for giving power to the wearer.”

That’s precisely taking away life force.
This is also why Leo doesn’t grow.
Most of the nutrients Leo ingests go to the armor.
The young Leo kept wearing the armor out of admiration, and in the end, his life force was taken by the armor and he couldn’t grow.
By now, he’s reached an age where growth is impossible.

…Well, judging from the game dialogue, even if Leo knew this fact when he was young, he probably wouldn’t have taken off the armor.
Anyway, because of the armor’s ability, Leo periodically eats like this.
The usual meals can’t fully replenish the energy used.
In the community, they described Leo’s eating as “refueling”.
Because it looks like filling a car with gas.

“…So that’s why he eats so much?”
“That’s right. Phew… Thanks for the meal, teacher.”
“You can eat more. It’s still not enough, is it?”
“I do have a conscience, teacher. I think I’ve already eaten to the point where it’s quite burdensome.”

Leo finally stopped eating and bowed his head to me as he spoke.
…What’s with him? Why is his expression like that?
I haven’t done anything, so why does he look so impressed?

“I’m impressed by your willingness to accept such significant expenses for the students.”
“…You’ve got quite a thick face too.”
“Don’t worry, Orca. I can pay for the food I ate myself.”

Huh, wait…?
I was planning to pay for the meal…

“Um, I was going to pay for the meal…”
“I understand your intentions to care for the students, teacher. But it would be better if you didn’t. As a teacher who hasn’t been here long, your wallet must be thin. There’s no need to push yourself.”

Leo smiled at me gratefully, but refused my offer to treat him.
He must be worried about my financial situation
He really is a kind child. He knows how to be considerate of others.
He was smiling even though it was obvious he must be regretting it inside, thinking it turned out to be expensive food after eating.

Maybe he thought it would be rude to show a weak side to me.
His consideration even for things he doesn’t need to consider was exactly like Leo’s depiction in the game. 
…As well as his complete lack of tact.
I really have a lot of money, student…

“…So? Why did you come?”
“Pardon?”
“You came because you had something to say, right? I was surprised to see you eat, but it should be about time to talk.”
“Ah, right. That’s true.”
“Did you forget, kiddo…?”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Why is the teacher forgetting too…?”

No, it’s because he ate so well.
I was so fascinated watching that I forgot the purpose.
Come to think of it, it seemed like Leo had something to say.

Leo also seemed to remember only after hearing this, as he scratched his head as if he had been focused on eating. Then, looking a bit embarrassed, he let out a sheepish laugh and then approached us and bowed his head.
Towards Orca, not me.

“I’m sorry.”
“Huh, wha…?!”
“I came to apologize for that day.”

Leo bowed his head once again towards the very flustered Orca.
As if he was truly sorry.

“I’m sorry for lecturing you recklessly without checking the details. You must have felt bad. I’m reflecting on it.”
“T-Teacher…?”

Orca looked back and forth between me and Leo as if she didn’t know what to do, but I decided not to intervene. This was an issue between the two of them. It wouldn’t be right for me to intervene. It would be better for the two of them to resolve it.
Maybe I should even leave this place altogether…
But I don’t want to. I’m curious about what kind of conversation these two will have
I didn’t even think that Leo would come to apologize to Orca.
Is it because of the change in the outcome of the prologue?

“After hearing that you weren’t intimidating students recklessly, but were trying to chase away the stares that looked at you like some strange creature, I really wanted to apologize.”
“…”

Orca kept shifting her gaze here and there as if she felt awkward receiving an apology in this situation. The very situation of receiving an apology from someone must be extremely awkward for her. When something bad happened, she was always pointed out as the culprit.
She, who was always blamed even for things she didn’t do herself, must be more used to criticism and insults than apologies.

“Will you accept my apology?”
“Uh, um…”

In that sense, the current situation was rather good.
Although our Orca is cute, her sociability is at rock bottom…
It’s hard to even imagine a situation where she could become friends with someone.

But what about Leo?
The boy who dreams of becoming a knight, admiring his childhood benefactor, is as immature as his small frame.
He still makes mistakes like judging the whole based on a small part, or easily believing lies, as he hasn’t grown up yet.

But because of that, he often tries to quickly acknowledge his mistakes and correct them.
And since he doesn’t have any bad experiences with demon-possessed people, he’s in a very good position to become friends with Orca.
Good luck, Orca.
If you accept the apology here, you might be able to become friends…!

“…Hmph, it happens all the time, so I don’t care.”
“I-Is that so… I’ve hurt you again…”
“Argh, how annoying! I’m saying you don’t need to care, kiddo!”
“T-Then, are you accepting my apology?”
“I’m saying there’s nothing to apologize for, you idiot!”

…I left the restaurant after watching only up to that scene.
I felt like if I watched any more, I might make a strange noise and ruin the good atmosphere.
To be honest, I was already so happy that I couldn’t control my expression.
Other people might be looking at me strangely.
As I left the store, I casually said to the employee sitting idly at the counter:

“I’d like to pay the bill, please. Including what that male student over there ate.”
“Understood.”

Perhaps because Leo ate so much.
The amount printed on the receipt was beyond imagination.
…This much could buy a used car, couldn’t it?
Was Leo planning to handle this by himself?
He probably doesn’t even have money.
Being considerate in unnecessary places…

“…You look happy, customer. Did something good happen?”

The employee who was looking at the receipt curiously while finishing the calculation asked me casually.
I guess it showed after all.
I smiled at the clerk’s question and answered:

“I saw the first friend being made for a child I thought would never have friends in their lifetime.”
“You must be proud.”
“Of course.”