Chapter 27 The Instructor, Destroyed It

The Instructor, Destroyed It

“Sieg, I am disappointed in you.”

The moment he heard these words, Sieg flinched.

“I expected you to be a leader. If I became the leader, it would just turn into a group of teacher and students, and that wouldn’t work. The hierarchy would be distorted. It would be hard for students to express their opinions. That’s why I entrusted it to you. I thought you had the qualities of a leader. You had successfully brought together the children from the slums, so I trusted you. I thought I had taught you everything. Of course, there were things I didn’t teach you, but I passed on everything I could: management methods, how to deal with problems, how to handle finances…everything I knew. You were my best student. And I made sure that I taught you the most important things. Tell me, Sieg.”

“…”

Sieg was frozen, unable to move.

You haven’t changed at all, no matter how old you get.

When things go wrong, you stay silent like always!

“Don’t be afraid of being scolded, you idiot! I told you it was okay to fail! But! I told you over and over that matters of life and death are different! If you die! That’s the end! You won’t come back! Why did you neglect that? Answer me, Sieg!”

I shouted as if I was spitting blood.

When was the last time I scolded him like this?

Countless memories flashed through my mind.

Unconsciously, tears began to trickle down my cheeks.

“!?”

Sieg was visibly shaken.

Damn it!

What could I have done to prevent this?

How could I have avoided a conflict with my student?

Where did we go wrong?

…No, I don’t want to think about that right now.

There’s no point crying over spilled milk.

No matter how much you mourn, the dead don’t come back.

The priority now is the survivors.

I can’t lose any more of my precious students.

As I confronted Sieg, I ran some simulations in my head.

I had been thinking about this for a while.

…Hmm….

Will it work?

“I have decided.”

I muttered, full of determination.

“Wh-what have you decided…?”

Sieg replied, stunned.

I didn’t answer him but took action.

“Summon!”

I snapped my fingers and summoned a large black book.

Most of my documents were left at the clan house, but I couldn’t part with this one.

It’s the source of all my knowledge.

I’ll talk about it again someday.

I opened the book, glanced through it, and delivered the message.

“Anna! You should go to the Great Church of Seirion. I know a bishop there. I think it would be a good environment for you. There are many sacred rites there that you can’t access in this town. I’ll send a letter of introduction to your room. Dispatch Post! …Rolf! I recommend that you join the Quetzal Mercenary Corps. I think it’s the best place to hone your skills. If you mention my name to the commander, he’ll meet you. Don’t worry, you’ll fit right in. …Lotte, you should go to the Great Library of Casselburg. I’ve been corresponding with the librarian there, and he said he wants a young disciple. It’s perfect for someone who loves books as much as you do. You might even be able to read forbidden books. I’ll send you a letter of introduction and address. Dispatch Post! …Yutta, you…——”

I quickly wrote letters and sent them off using [Post] magic.

It’s a spell that sends letters to a predetermined location.

“Wait! Wait! What are you saying, Sensei!?”

Anna asked, looking confused.

“What do you mean? I’m introducing you to new job opportunities. Fairtrack is no longer viable. It will not contribute to your growth. On the contrary, it may even be a danger to your lives.”

“What!? How can you make such decisions on your own?!”

Sieg shouted in protest.

I looked at him and said,

“Because you failed to lead the clan properly. This is just my suggestion. You’re all free to refuse; I’m only offering it because I thought it would help you grow. If you really had the ability to lead everyone, then this wouldn’t be happening, would it?”

Sieg looked shocked.

You fool!

Ignoring him, I wrote letters for all the clan members and sent them using [Post] magic.

…Even if I die, it doesn’t matter.

I wish I could have sent them off with a smile.

“…Aren’t you coming with us, Sensei?”

Lotte muttered softly.

She clung to the hem of my clothes.

This girl is so clingy...

“I’m the clingier one,” Alice said softly, wrapping her arms around my neck.

Really? Competing over that?

And could you not grab me by the neck?

“I’m sorry, Lotte. I have to do something. But I’ll definitely visit you when I’m in the area, and I’ll write you a letter once a month.”

I leaned down and gently stroked her curly, soft hair.

Okay, I’ll pet you later, so stop rubbing your head against my back, Arisu.

Lotte frowned and then explained solemnly.

“…Once a week.”

…That’s quite frequent.

I won’t have much to report, though…

“Then, I’ll go to the Great Library.”

Even without my reply, Lotte had already made up her mind.

This child is going to be someone big! Fufu.

“I will also go to the Great Church of Seirion! I wanted to learn more!”

Anna raised her voice.

“…I’m going too. I want to test my own strength.”

“If Sensei recommends it, it will be a good opportunity….”

“Well, it might be time for me to see the world, too.”

“…I’m starting to get excited!”

The clan members began to express their excitement.

“Sensei….”

Ricardo.

He used to be close to Sieg.

He must feel uncomfortable.

“Ricardo, you’re my student too. Don’t forget that.”

“…Sensei, I’ll stay and support Sieg… He’s still our leader.”

Ricardo bowed his head.

“That’s good. Support him. I can’t stay by his side anymore, so I’m counting on you.”

I patted his shoulder.

“Leave it to me!”

Ricardo smiled shyly.

What a good friend he’d made.

“As naive as ever, aren’t you?”

Arisu muttered in amazement.

“But it was you who said you liked me for being like that, wasn’t it?”

“That’s true, but….”

She pressed her head against my back again.

Is she a cat?

My students were staring at us in shock. Let’s tone it down, Arisu.

I guess you don’t like it when I only pay attention to my students.

“Don’t say that out loud!”

I didn’t say it out loud… I was just thinking it in my head.

Sieg stares at me with a tense expression.

He probably has a vague idea of what’s about to happen.

He probably realizes on some level that this is the end of the clan.

At the very least, it can’t continue in its current form.

Considering the members who have left, it’s impossible to continue as before.

It will be a big blow for Sieg.

I built it.

We all nurtured it.

And I destroyed it.

The clan Fairtrack is finished.

It took a lot of effort to build it, but it was destroyed in an instant.

We all worked so hard.

But I don’t want to lose any more of my students.

This is the last gift I can give them.

I hope their future will be bright.

After finishing all the letters, I closed the book and unsummoned it.

So this is goodbye.

Just thinking about it made me feel a sharp pain of loneliness.

“Don’t worry, Danna-sama. I’m here with you, always.”

Arisu whispered softly and came to stand beside me.

Thank you. You’re truly an incredible partner.

“At times like this, I wish you’d just say it out loud instead of holding back.”

“Arisu, I love you.”

I looked her straight in the eye and confessed.

“…Th-that’s unfair….”

Arisu turned away, blushing.

Alright, I win.

“Aaaaahhhhh!!! Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!!! Who cares! That guy! Veiss is a demon king! That’s why! I’m going to kill you! Die! Become my nourishment!”

Did I push him too hard?

Well, I expected this.

In fact, I predicted it.

“Don’t interfere! After I kill Veiss, I’ll kill that woman too!”

He shouted with bloodshot eyes.

“How scary. Danna-sama, please protect me~?”

Arisu said playfully, hiding behind me.

You really talk a big game…

“This is the first time we’ve really fought since we met, isn’t it? Well, I’m going to teach you the true meaning of a deadly fight, Sieg.”

I lowered my stance and slowly shifted my mind to a fighting state.

“This is the last lesson I’m going to teach you.”