The Master of the Villains Has Disappeared

The first impression was of an enraged white cat.

Or, a white rabbit.

They say rabbits kick the ground with their hind legs when angry.

This was roughly what Karian was thinking after being kicked by the girl for an unknown reason.

However.

'...She resembles him.'

White hair.

Serious eyes that seem full of thoughts.

A presence that is not light.

Except for the overall youthful appearance, she looked quite similar to the person Karian had lost long ago.

Perhaps that's why.

"Did I make some mistake?"

Instead of taking out the sharp blades from his bosom, he only made an awkward expression.

He still didn't know exactly why, but just because she reminded him of a precious person in his memory, he couldn't treat her lightly.

Then came the youthful voice.

The small mouth that opened with a faint sigh slightly chided Karian to show proper manners towards a lady.

"I don't know who you are, but. Carelessly patting a woman's head is rude behavior."

Whether it was her upbringing, or her status.

Or if not that, her bloodline.

"I apologize for... the rough behavior just now. It's just that it's the first time I've experienced this in my life."

Even in her calm voice, dignity and refinement were evident.

This was also why Karian realized that the girl was not of low status.

The elegant face that shifted its gaze from Karian to make eye contact with the cafe owner.

Realizing that it was now meaningless to ask who was more concerning between Lilian and himself, Karian finally turned away from the girl.

As expected, there was Lilian mocking Karian.

She even had a satisfied smile, as if she found it quite gratifying that the girl had kicked Karian.

'She's really enjoying this.'

However, before Karian, who was trying hard to maintain an indifferent expression, could fully return to the table.

"Then, shall I make you a strawberry smoothie as usual today, Professor?"

"Yes. ...Ah, please add a cappuccino and a mango smoothie too. For my assistants."

'...Professor?'

Karian's steps suddenly stopped at the cafe owner addressing the girl as 'Professor'.

His head unconsciously turning back towards the girl again.

'Could it be... Leta Yurt?'

He didn't recognize her because she wasn't wearing the robe with the ancient dragon's emblem.

However, now that he was aware she was a professor and looked again, she certainly seemed different from the students.

Only then did he realize the reason for the heavy presence he sensed.

Deep intelligence and brilliance were nestled in her round eyes.

He could faintly sense the flow of dense mana that didn't match her young age.

However, in addition to his first meeting with her not being very good.

"Ah, I really like that child. I personally want to give her some kind of reward."

As Lilian was making an amused expression and irritating him with words that were not quite self-talk.

"You were courting old men, and now you're coveting young girls? Your tastes are quite unique."

Karian, who had resumed his steps and returned to the table, also lightly sneered.

Almost simultaneously, a vein clearly protruded on Lilian's forehead.

"What courting? I was only trying to find Master."

"Don't you still realize that he's not someone you can find with such crude methods?"

"I was grasping at straws, okay? Well, I suppose a vagrant who doesn't even know gratitude wouldn't have tried to find Master."

Both Karian and Lilian had light smiles on their faces, but the words exchanged between them didn't quite match those smiles.

Their choice of words would make even a stranger instantly realize they were arguing.

They were just not raising their voices, but the atmosphere around them was becoming fierce, just like a while ago.

At the moment when not only the cafe staff but also the customers were watching their behavior.

"...Now as before, you don't know your place."

-Whoosh─!

"I've never tasted the blood of the Divine Beast, but it wouldn't hurt to know what it feels like."

-Rustle...

Unable to endure each other's sarcasm any longer, Karian and Lilian revealed the Divine Beast's staff and a dark shadow for the first time.

And, at the same time.

"...This is getting out of hand."

-Whoosh!

The girl, who could no longer bear watching the two, waved her finger in the air and chanted two spells.

"『Silence』"

"『Order: Expulsion』"

-Whizz!

Along with the sound of something small cutting through the wind, the surrounding scenery instantly changed.

The quaint cafe scene disappeared, and instead, a vast forest filled the surroundings of Karian and Lilian.

"Wh-What's this?"

"...I suppose a professor is indeed a professor."

A hollow laugh flowed from Karian's lips as he instantly realized that they had been expelled from the cafe by the girl.

Lilian, who was a few steps away, seemed not to know what had just happened, but there was no obligation to tell her either.

"Well then, I'll be going now. It's about time for construction to resume."

"What? Hey!!"

Karian, filled with curiosity towards the young professor instead of displeasure towards Lilian, said this and moved his steps.

On the other hand, Lilian, whose irritation towards Karian hadn't subsided even a bit, raised the Divine Beast's staff towards the familiar shadow in the distance, but.

-Whoosh!

"...Tch!"

She finally relaxed her hand as Karian disappeared in less than a second.

As much as she hated to admit it, it was impossible for the current Lilian to chase after Karian.

In the end, all Lilian gained was the fact that Karian had come to the academy to look for something and a bit of satisfaction.

What was fortunate was that it didn't seem like Karian would particularly block Lilian's path.

She didn't care what Karian was looking for at the academy.

Whether it was high-value artifacts or scrolls from the vault, they were all objects outside her interest.

'Still, should I give the dean a heads up?'

Making an appointment to meet the dean the very next day was purely to give Karian a hard time.

There was no other reason for saying that it would be good to strengthen the academy's security during the Stage of Advancement period.

"We wouldn't want any petty thieves getting into my quarters. I'd appreciate it if you could pay attention to this."

"...I understand."

○

"Y-You've already met her?"

"Yes. She was sitting in the cafe."

I didn't mention that I had expelled Lilian, who was sitting in the cafe, with an expulsion spell.

I just casually handed over the mango smoothie I had bought for Princess Irina.

After giving Evan the cappuccino I had bought for him, the conversation with Princess Irina resumed.

However, seeing that she asked me how Lilian's mood seemed, it appears she also didn't expect Lilian to arrive so soon.

Therefore, I told her how Lilian was, packaging it as positively as possible.

It didn't seem like a good choice to badmouth her, saying she had caused nothing but trouble to those around her.

"She didn't seem that bad."

"...That's a relief..."

It was then that I casually asked Princess Irina, who seemed to have a slightly relieved expression, if she was thinking of going to see Lilian.

However, Princess Irina, who shook her head slightly from side to side at my question, said.

"I'll meet my sister after achieving excellent results in the Stage of Advancement. If I meet her before that, I think I'll just get more nervous for no reason."

She said she would go to meet her proudly after making Lilian see her differently.

Well, if that's what Princess Irina wants to do, I have no intention of forcing her to go meet her.

However, as Evan, who had been listening carefully to the conversation between Princess Irina and me, suddenly asked about Lilian's appearance.

"There's a rumor that she's a beauty born once in a thousand years. How did she look to you, Professor?"

'...Lilian?'

I, who had been watching Lilian since she was very young, closed my mouth for a moment, slightly flustered.

Of course, she wasn't an unattractive person, either when I first saw her or now.

Certainly, if you just look at her face, she is princess-like in many ways, but...

'My brother's maid kept following me, so I just put a 3rd-rank security spell on her mouth.'

'Th-That's an interesting joke...'

'Hehe.'

'...It is a joke, right?'

For me, who had seen everything there was to see, she was just a tomboy, nothing more, nothing less.

Perhaps that's why.

"...The younger sister looks better than the older one."

My honest thoughts came out without realizing it.

I couldn't call the person who had shattered my illusions about the Ardenia Imperial Family the continent's top beauty.

"Ah, well, um... Certainly Princess Irina is beautiful too! Haha...!"

Evan's appearance as he scratched the back of his head at my honest answer.

Of course, to a man like Evan, it might look different...

...No, come to think of it, I saw her when I was a man too. Hmm.

After being confused for a moment, I belatedly noticed that Princess Irina had gone quiet.

For some reason, Princess Irina's lips were moving as if she wanted to say something but kept stopping herself.

Did I say something wrong?

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"N-No. I'm fine."

Ah, it's almost class time.

With those words, Princess Irina hurriedly left the office, and I tilted my head in confusion.

However, with less than 5 minutes left until my next class.

Instead of falling into doubts about Princess Irina, I had to head to the auditorium with Evan.

"Um, Professor. Princess Irina left without taking her study materials..."

"...Just carry them for her today. Please."