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nBlackmailing the Professor

nThe next day, Hikaru arrived at building C to find it locked, even though it was already time for classes to start. He tried using Mana Detection, but no one was inside.

n「She bailed, huh? Isn’t the student supposed to be the one cutting classes?」

nLeft without anything to do, Hikaru started jogging.

nThe next day, Mille still wasn’t around. He trained alone.

nThe day after, same thing.

nAnd the day after…

n「Still not here…」

nHikaru stood in front of building C.

n「I see. So that’s how you wanna play. Hahaha. You thought if you kept doing this, I would eventually stop coming. Hmm, yes.」

nHikaru smirked.

n「I will find you.」

nHe went back home and waited till dusk. Fully armed, Hikaru headed out to town.

n「Whoo! Ale is so good! This is what I live for!」

n「Quite the drinker as always, Mille-chan.」

nThe manager smiled from behind the counter. They were in an establishment located three streets down the business district that only a select few in Scholarzard knew about. Small, with only more or less thirty seats, it was always full. Customers lined up the counter like birds on a power cable.

n「If you keep on chugging them down like that, no guy will buy you a drink.」the man said.

n「There’s no one crazy enough to even think about doing that in the first place.」another chimed in.

n「Damn right.」

nMiddle-aged men, who looked to be regulars, burst into laughter. Each one shouted over the noise in the tavern whenever they spoke.

n「What did you say? If I tried, I’m sure I can get a few men. You old coots better be grateful I even talk to you.」

n「Yeah, right! You always cry when you’re dead drunk, saying “I want a boyfriend.”」

n「I don’t cry! Idiot!」

n「Can you even stay out late? You mentioned something about not being able to return to the academy’s dorm right now.」

n「Ah, yes. They’re remodeling it at the moment. I’m staying at a friend’s place.」

n「Wow! You have friends?!」

n「Why does that surprise you?! I’ll beat you up!」

nSounds of commotion and men’s laughter rolled in the tavern.

n「The night’s still young! I’m gonna drink all night!」

n「You look incredibly lively.」

nA voice came from behind.

n「Of course I am! I woke up in the evening!」

n「What about today’s class?」

n「I didn’t even plan on going! Ahahaha!」

nMille laughed, waving her hand, before noticing the voice didn’t come from the older men.

n「That is very interesting, Professor Mille Crepes van Quad.」

nIt came from the boy she met a few days ago. Mille trembled, being on the receiving end of someone’s wrath from point-blank range.

n「You taught me how to carry a short sword the other day. Now I have a question for you. Am I carrying one right now? If I am, for what purpose? 」

nMille let out a shriek as she fell from her chair, her face frozen in fear. Oops, I didn’t mean to scare her that much, Hikaru thought.

n「H-How’d you get here?! There’s no way you followed me without me noticing!」

nOh, so that’s what surprised her. If he hadn’t activated his Stealth, she would’ve noticed the moment he stepped into the tavern with her Instinct.

n「Hey, kid. If you’re looking to start trouble, we won’t just sit here quietly.」

n「Yeah.」

n「Well said, men! Throw this boy out!」Mille said.

nShe felt revitalized with the older men backing her up. Incidentally, her legs were spread open, and her underwear was in plain sight. Hikaru didn’t even feel a tinge of sexual urge.

n「Please, gentlemen. I’m a student of the academy. It seems the professor has been piling up debts from all her drinking and she has to pay them back. She’ll receive her salary by teaching me, but should you wish to shoulder her debts, you may do so. What do you say?」

n「………」

n「………」

nThe men exchanged glances.

n「All right. Let’s drink some more!」

n「Oh, right. Something funny happened today…」

n「Oh…」

n「They left me for dead! What happened to our bond?!」Mille exclaimed.

nHikaru smiled at her as she stood up, glaring at him.

n「You reap what you sow.」

n「I’m never going to teach you ever again!」

n「Okay. I’m actually meeting the principal tomorrow…」

nMille quickly prostrated herself.

n「I’m deeply sorry. I’ll teach you starting tomorrow.」

n「I see. Then I’ll cancel my appointment with the principal.」

n「Y-You’re bluffing, right? You don’t have any connection to the principal, do you?」

nHikaru smiled.

n「Your smile is much scarier!」

nMille screamed, but not one person in the noisy tavern cared. From that day onwards, she showed up in the tavern less often.

n「Mille’s tab was piling up. Doesn’t really make any difference to my sales.」the manager told his regulars.

nShe was apparently causing trouble everywhere.

nOne attack was not enough to bring Mille down. She devised a plan to deceive Hikaru and go drinking, but Hikaru was quick to counter it. First he found out where she lived and the taverns she frequented.

n「I’ll make her work hard so she can pay her debt. Please tell me if she drops by to drink.」he told them and he was warmly received.

nLastly he went to wake her up every morning. And so Hikaru managed to put the short sword lectures classes back on track.

n「Oh, Hikaru!」

nOne day, he happened upon Mikhail Jarazack, the great sword instructor. Hailing from the land of hairy men, he was the one who let Hikaru in the academy as a scholarship student.

n「So you’re already attending classes. Since when? Today?」

n「No. I started about ten days ago.」

n「What?! Why didn’t you come see me?!」

n「Why would I? I told you I’m here to learn about short swords.」

n「Ah, short sword. The instructor is quite something, huh? Mille barely even teaches. Just forget about her and come attend my lectures.」

n「Actually…」

nHikaru gave a smile.

n「She’s actually doing her job. I’m heading to her class right now. See ya!」

n「Wait, what? For real?」

nHikaru started walking, leaving the puzzled Mikhail behind.

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