I Became an Academy Counselor

“Then, I’ll take that as your acceptance.”
“Are you getting up already? You could drink a bit more, it would be fine.”
“No, it’s alright. I need to check the location of the counseling room at the academy, and I have a lot to do.”

Surely, until just a moment ago, she must have been staggering drunk.
Veronica, as if the thought of doing something for the students had sobered her up, quickly rose from her seat.

“Next time we meet, let’s see each other at the academy. I enjoyed the drink.”
“What’s this…?”
“I don’t have cash right now, you see. It might be a bit troublesome, but please use this for payment. You can keep the change. Consider it a welcome gift.”

A welcome gift? This?
I looked at the object Veronica handed over.
Beautiful, colorful, shining jewels.
Even though I don’t know much about jewels, I broke out in a cold sweat at the sight of these gems that looked quite large.
No matter how I looked at it, they didn’t seem to be fake.
Given Veronica’s personality and status, I couldn’t help but think that these were real jewels.

“I’ll contact you when the time comes, so make sure to wait.”

Even though I thought I couldn’t accept such items and tried to return them, Veronica had already left the store somehow.
Did she leave while I was in shock?
Looking at the door which cold air had started to enter, as if she had opened it and left, I muttered.

“She could’ve at least left a contact number…”

I felt like a job seeker who had only received an acceptance message, without even knowing when to start work.

***

Was it really true that Veronica had come to this store?
Had I dreamed it all up while the owner was away because I had been waiting for her so much?
I often had such thoughts.
Because even though she had come, nothing in my daily life had changed at all in the past week.

I was still working as a bartender in the owner’s store.
Only one thing had changed. A few jewels were carefully enshrined in a corner of the bar, telling me that the incident wasn’t a dream.
You’re asking if I have used them?
How could I? It’s too burdensome.

“Ophelia.”
“Yes?”
“By any chance, did Veronica come to the store while I was away?”
“Ah, yes… Once, a few days ago.”
“…What did she leave behind?”
“Those jewels over there.”

Then one day.
The owner suddenly asked me about Veronica’s visit.
When I showed him the jewels that she had given me and left without a word, the owner heaved a deep sigh.

“I told her so many times to not pay the balance with things like this…”

It seems like this wasn’t the first time she had paid in this manner.
Just how rich must she be to spend money so freely like water?

“…What should we do?”
“Veronica gave it to you, so you should keep it.”
“What? B-but it was payment for the drinks…”
“Tsk. Trying to deceive me, are you?”

The owner playfully tapped my forehead as he spoke.

“It’s obvious she would have told you to keep the change, just accept it.”
“…”

Ah.
He had said he kept telling her not to pay the balance with things like this.
The owner must have experienced this more than once or twice, I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.
As I awkwardly smiled and reluctantly accepted the jewels, the owner pulled out a thick envelope from his chest and handed it to me.

“What’s this…?”
“Take it. It’s your severance pay. I heard from Veronica. You decided to change jobs, right? She said you should go to the academy today.”
“Ah, B-boss! That’s…!”

Ah.
Come to think of it, I had completely forgotten to tell the owner.
Was it because I had hypnotized my way to work here as a part-timer?
Realizing I had forgotten even the most basic facts, I hurriedly opened my mouth to make up some excuse to the owner.
However, the owner stopped me as if he already knew what I was going to say.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s not uncommon for part-timers to suddenly quit.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I told you I don’t mind. Hurry up and take the severance pay. My arm is getting tired.”
“I can’t accept that.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve already received too much, to take severance pay on top of that…”

No matter what, accepting severance pay pricked my conscience.
To forcibly become a part-timer through hypnosis and then receive severance pay was a bit…
However, the owner, as if he couldn’t back down on this, started to act with an awkward tone.

“Oh, a part-timer refusing severance pay. I don’t want to become a criminal…”
“B-boss…?”
“I’ll be crying sadly in prison… Saying I should have forced the severance pay on you then…!”
“Ah, okay! I’ll take it, alright!”

Even though I knew it was an act, I couldn’t possibly refuse. As I took the envelope, the owner finally smiled brightly and hugged me.

“Boss? What’s this…”
“These past few months have been enjoyable thanks to you, Ophelia.”
“…”

The owner hugged me and thanked me.
Saying that thanks to me, his boring days had always been enjoyable.
He said that he had been lonely for a while, but while I was there, he didn’t even have time to feel lonely.
I couldn’t say anything for a while as I received the owner’s hug. I wasn’t sure if it was okay for me to receive such thanks, having forcibly inserted myself into the owner’s daily life using hypnosis.
In the end, I spoke to the owner in a crawling voice.

“It’s nothing…”

I felt my conscience pricking me sharply.

***

I looked around and marveled.
If this building were moved into a game, wouldn’t it become the background of the game I used to play?
Seeing the academy that was the background of the game that I enjoyed on screen right before my eyes, I was on the verge of getting a sore neck from constantly looking around.
Seeing me like this, Veronica, no.
The principal chuckled.

“Is it that interesting?”
“Ah, I-I’m sorry.”
“No need. There’s nothing to be sorry about. This is the place you’ll be working from now on.”

The principal smiled at me gently, but I couldn’t help but blush.
Was I too excited?
Thinking that I had been as giddy as a child despite the principal being right in front of me, I bowed my head deeply.
Seeing me like this, the principal smiled gently and said,

“I’ve been thinking hard. Where should the counseling room be?”
“Usually on the first floor, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. However, my thoughts were a bit different.”
“…How so?”
“While accessibility is important for students coming to the counseling room… There’s a bigger issue.”

A bigger issue?
To me, who was tilting my head not understanding what the principal was saying, she said.

“Our students are getting tired of constant competition. That’s why I invited you.”
“Competition, you say.”
“Yes. While the students who are always successful might be fine, the others are a bit… unstable.”

I understood what she meant immediately.
I had seen such children occasionally when I was a student too.
Children who pretend to be okay in front of their friends, but are deeply disheartened inside because of poor grades.
She must be talking about such students.

“Of course, it’s good that students grow significantly through competition, but isn’t it a bit much if too many students are left behind?”
“…That’s true.”

I wondered why someone who knew this had neglected to care for the student’s mental health up until now and would continue to do so in the future.
I was curious about this but decided to let it slide.
The principal certainly cares for the students.
There must have been something more urgent.

Someone who doesn’t even show their face despite incidents occurring at the academy every day. If they don’t show up for much bigger events, it’s nearly impossible for them to care about such trivial matters.
If I hadn’t hypnotized them, that is.

“But… Children with worries won’t visit the counseling room if it’s on the first floor.”
“Because others will look down on them.”
“That’s right. The very act of seeing someone enter the counseling room would be burdensome.”

It wasn’t exactly wrong.
People want their problems solved or helped with, but they don’t want others to find out about their problems.

“So, I decided on a place where people don’t often pass by. What do you think?”
“Pardon? What do I think…?”
“Ah, I haven’t told you yet. This place is going to be the counseling room.”

…This is the counseling room?
I looked around at her words.
Soft sofas and luxurious tables in the center are visibly made of good material.
A space that looks like a work area in the corner, and two pristine white beds.
At least four bookshelves filled to the brim with novels and comics.
I thought it was a reception room…?

“You mean here…? It looks too luxurious no matter how I look at it…”
“Well, I did use some expensive items. Children from wealthy families won’t even try to enter if the standard is too low.”

I stared at the principal, dumbfounded at the unbelievable sight.
Is this… the true intention of the academy’s principal?

“What do you think? Is it alright?”
“Uh, well… Yes, it is… I like it…”
“If anything is lacking, just tell me. I may not be able to do it right away, but I’ll do it as soon as possible. I couldn’t pay much attention as it was made in a hurry.”

This is what she calls not paying much attention?
I once again realized the wealth of the woman who used jewels just to pay for drinks.
She is rich…

“Well then, I’ll leave the students in your care.”
“Ah, yes…”

And so, I was appointed as the counseling teacher at the academy which was the background of the game I enjoyed.

Two weeks later.
I lay on the pristine white bed in the counseling room and muttered.

“I’m bored…”

No students came.
Not even one.