Maou Reijou no Kyouiku Gakari - Chapter 3 – A Former Student –

Chapter 3 – A Former Student –

When I walked out of the main gate of the academy, the sun had completely set and it was now nighttime.

There is a carriage parked in the stables just outside the main gate that I used to use a lot until yesterday, but now that I’m an outsider there is no way for me to be able to use it anymore.

Just when I was about to move my feet toward home, I feel a chill that seemed to represent my current state of mind–

「Sensei! Sensei! Please wait!」

I hear a voice behind me.

I turn back in that direction and see Lily Herschel, who was one of my students and the student I was most focused on, running towards us.

「Lily… Whats wrong?」

I call out to her as she comes right in front of me.

Perhaps it’s because she’s been running at full speed, but her long, beautiful blonde hair, which she’s so proud of, is greatly disheveled and she’s out of breath with her hands on her knees.

「Ha~ha~….. I heard that Sensei is no longer going to teach at school….」

I’m not sure how she found out, but it seems that’s the reason why she ran full speed from her dormatory.

「Yeah, I’ve just received the verdict. Word travels fast.」

「Is…. that true?」

Our eye’s meet as she looks up while catching her breath.

She has a well-groomed face that you would unintentionally admire even if you weren’t a teacher and student, and the blue eyes there are blurred with tears.

「Yeah, apparently.」

「I’ve heard that… its a personal matter…」

「Hmm… Well I guess that’s because I’ve been accused of a crime that I have absolutely nothing to do with.」

「No way… Sensei your innocent right!?」

「Yeah, no one believed me, though. That’s the hard part of being a commoner.」

「If that’s true! Then I’ll go protest!」

「Oi, wait.」

As soon as she said that, I stopped Lily, who was about to run towards the main gate, seemingly without a second thought.

「Why are you stopping me!?」

「….Because it’s not even possible to do anything anymore. Because apparently the board and the faculty all voted in favor of expelling me.」

There is no way a decision made unanimously can be overturned by a single student’s protest.

「But….」

「But no. I don’t want to put yourself in a bad position. You’ve worked so hard to get to this point, and for what?　Are you going to waste my teaching?」

What would happen if rumors started that this girl, who is from a commoner’s background, like me, was protecting a teacher, a commoner who had been expelled for a scandal, is as clear as daylight.

Even if it’s just that, this girl stands out, so I can’t let her carry any more strange burdens.

「But to lose Sensei… I…」

Finally, she can’t take it anymore, and tears start to fall from her round eyes.

It’s a teacher’s job to think this much, but it’s also a teacher’s job to stop his students from trying to sacrifice themselves for nothing.

「Lily you do remember what I taught you, right?」

I says this as i puts my hand on her head and lightly stroke her soft hair.

「Yes…. I remember it all…. Half of what i learned where form sensei.」

I looked at Lily as she replied with tears in her eyes. I still remembered when she was admitted to entered the school.

While most of those entering the school were nobility, this child, who came from a commoner’s background, often cried alone because she couldn’t even receive proper teachings at the time.

I discovered an unfathomable talent in Lily and taught her to the extent that people around her thought she was my favorite.

And now, I’m proud to say that I’m the one who raised her to the point where she can be respected even by her fellow students, who are from prestigious families.

It’s an oddly misleading phrase, but it’s not entirely wrong to say that half of her is made up of me.

「Then you’ll be fine. If you stick to what I said all the time, you’ll be able to climb higher.」

This girl’s talent is not something that can be contained in a place like this.

And more importantly, there’s no way she’s throwing that away for me now.

「But… without sensei I…」

「That’s okay too. Just remember what I taught you, and we’ll see each other again. Here…take this.」

「This is….?」

Lily wipes her tears and takes what i offer her.

It was an ordinary hair ornament that could be found anywhere. I heard that her birthday was coming up soon, so I was secretly preparing this one.

I was worried as a teacher giving it to a student might create some strange suspicions, but now it was a futile concern. After all, I’m not a teacher anymore.

「An early birthday present from me.」

「Present…?」

「Yeah, I’ve never bought anything like this before, so I don’t know your what you like.」

「A hairpin… right? Can i put it on?」

「Yeah.」

When I said that, Lily combed her long golden hair, which was still in disarray, a little bit and then put on a hairpiece that resembled a white flower.

「What do you think…?」

Then she ask for my opinion while fidgeting a little

「It looks good on you. Yeah, my taste is pretty good, if say so myself」

「What’s with that?」

Lily puts her hand over her mouth and giggles elegantly.

「Put that on and follow my teachings and we’ll definitely see each other again.」

「You have to… okay?」

「Yeah, have I ever lied to you?」

「…it’s rather common.」

Lily made a thoughtful gesture with her face down for a few seconds, and then she said it once and for all.

「It’s strange, isn’t 」

「Yes, the other day–」

And then we would talk about the old days and look at each other with a smile on our faces.

It’s a shame that I won’t be able to watch her grow up, but if we don’t break apart with each other, our paths will eventually cross again.

「Now then… i think its time to go back to the dorm don’t you think.」

「….Yes.」

I don’t know the exact time, but the dormitory curfew should be approaching by now.

If she doesn’t go back soon, no matter how much of an honor student Lily is, she’ll still be punished.

And even though I’ve been fired, I’m still a teacher at heart. I can’t allow students to break discipline.

「Sensei… We will see each other agian… won’t we?」

「Yeah, it would be great if you’d be so freaking great by then that you’d hire me.」

When i utter such a joke, Lily giggles agian.

「In that case, the next time we meet, I’ll be far more accomplished than your sensei. I’ll hire you as a tea-maker for the next time we meet.」

Lily says with a smile as she wipes away the tears that are beginning to flow again.

「Making tea……… That sounds like it would be a lot less daunting than being a teacher.」

「Yes, I promise.」

「Yeah, I’m counting on you. I’ll see you later.」

Then I turn my back.

「Yes. Please take care of yourself….」

I could hear Lily’s trembling voice from behind me, but I didn’t look back and continued on my way.