Ch. 16 - Disrespectful to a Royal Family

Thanks to Rox being kicked out, the class ended without further incident.

Well, considering Eliza's half-crying voice echoed through the silence akin to a funeral, it wasn't entirely without problems.

"[Unseal, Release]."

As I canceled the magic, Rox, who was propped up against the corridor wall, fell to the floor on his butt.

"Ugh… ?! W-what happened…" Rox muttered while sitting on the floor.

Felter walked over and said in a low voice, "A student who spoke out of turn was disciplined by the new teacher."

Felter glanced at me.

Rox, realizing what had happened, turned to me with a shocked expression. "Y-you…! How dare you…!"

I silenced the enraged Rox by putting my palm in front of his face.

After confirming he was silent, I said, "You shouldn't bring your status into school. In this academy, a teacher is a teacher, and a student is a student. There's no room for anything else."

"Do you know how much my royal family has invested in this academy…?" Rox growled in a low voice, his eyes bloodshot.

I merely smirked. "Isn't it shameful to boast with money that isn't even yours? Or is that your pride?"

At my provocation, Rox looked like he was about to snap but somehow restrained himself. "I will remember this. Whatever the reason, I will never forget that you insulted me."

With that, Rox turned on his heel. For some reason, Eliza turned pale.

As Rox walked away, he noticed Felter wasn't following and stopped.

"What's up?" Rox asked irritably.

Felter waved one hand in response. "I need to have a word with this teacher."

Rox made a doubtful look but then snorted and walked off when he noticed my gaze.

After confirming Rox had left, Felter looked down at me.

He was a tall boy. No, he didn't look like a boy anymore. His body was covered in thick muscles that pushed up his clothes from below, and his golden hair and tail stood up like a lion's mane.

" … Tail? Felter-kun, are you a beastkin?"

"… Is that a problem?" Felter glared at me with fierce eyes.

I smiled and shook my head. "It's not a problem. However, I'd appreciate it if you could crouch down a bit."

He hesitated for a moment but eventually crouched.

"Then, excuse me." With a full smile, I placed both hands on Felter's head.

"Ngh…"

Ignoring Felter's surprised voice, I ruffled his hair, and soon, my target appeared.

They were thick, triangular ears with rounded tips. The fur was fluffy and looked pleasant to the touch.

"Oh, what cute ears! May I touch them?"

"No, absolutely not!" Felter shouted. His cute ears turned and moved away from me.

"Oh…"

"Don't look so disappointed!"

Felter raised his hair in alarm, which made Eliza panic.

"S-Sorry! Aoi-san is a bit of an airhead!"

How rude. Well, it was rude to pat someone's head upon the first meeting. I should ask for permission next time.

Felter looked at me with a complex expression filled with anger and confusion. "… You're a difficult woman to understand. But…"

Felter, who was on guard, relaxed his stance and looked at me. "… I see you can handle not just magic but also close combat. What weapon do you use?"

"A sword," I replied.

Felter smiled with apparent satisfaction. "There hasn't been anyone here who can handle close combat properly. Even those good at physical enhancement tend to fight from a distance using magic."

He clenched his fist, brought it in front of my face, and said with a fierce smile, "I hope you're strong."

With that, he walked away briskly.

Watching him leave with his tail swinging was quite amusing, making him cute, considering his size and age.

"Aoi-san! Why did you do that!?"

As soon as Felter left, Eliza rushed over to me with teary eyes.

Then Shenley, who had been too afraid to leave the classroom, timidly stepped out. "I-is everything going to be okay? Felter-sama is the next head of a marquis family of the Bushmills Empire, and Rox-sama…"

Eliza nodded repeatedly at Shenley's anxious words.

"Rox Kilbegan-kun… is from the royal family of the Verted Kingdom, which is closely connected to this academy! Moreover, he's the second prince!"

Eliza held her head in both hands and began to shake it, causing Shenley to shrink back in fear.

It seemed they were both high-ranking nobles, one a prince and the other the next head of a marquis family.

"… To think a prince and a future marquis would display such attitudes in public. They need stricter discipline…"

"Stop, stop!"

"I-I think it's best to avoid getting involved…"

Eliza and Shenley both protested my musings, but I couldn't back down on this point.

"School should be a place of equality. No matter their birth, students should learn and enjoy their time here equally. And teachers should be role models for the students and treat everyone equally without discrimination."

"… Didn't you say you were going to be stricter because they're royalty?"

"That's that, and this is this."

After brushing off Eliza's comment, I turned to Shenley. "Shenley-san, if anyone tries to act high and mighty, just let me know. Neither I nor Eliza-sensei care about social status."

"Me too?!" Eliza asked with a cry.

"… Eliza-sensei, don't you want to help troubled students?"

Eliza, still tearful, clenched her jaw.

Shenley said hesitantly, "Ah, um… Please don't worry about me… Just the fact that Eliza-sensei cares about me is enough…"

With tears in her eyes, Shenley said something so touching that Eliza squirmed with guilt.

"After hearing that, how can I not try my best…"

And so, in the end, Eliza decided to help Shenley.

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