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Episode 19: The After Hunt Cleanup
( Please take note that like the previous episode, the perspective switches, this time it happened in the middle of a scene TT_TT so I added a note when it happened.)
“Oh, it’s Annette.”
As if nothing had happened, Julius laughed, but sweat was forming on his temple.
At that time, Sislin belatedly appeared next to Annette.
It was the boy he was certain was a problem child.
It was a very nervous situation for Julius, but he decided to have a bold heart for now.
‘Aren’t I a teacher and aren’t those children just trees?’
‘These two little kids came by chance.’
Julius secretly hid his left hand that was wearing the Pluto ring behind his back.
Annette’s eyes that were staring at his hand were somehow tenacious.
The girl’s eyes, which had always been soft like pudding, were now like a hawk seeking its prey.
At that moment, using his right hand, Julius snapped his fingers and took their attention.
“I should apologize first.”
He pretended to be a ‘generous adult’ and smiled softly.
‘Isn’t it cool to be an adult who quickly admits my mistake and apologizes to the children?’
Julius, who risked his life for his authority and image as a teacher, put one hand on his chest and bowed his head to apologize. He had a very dignified appearance like a noble etiquette teacher.
It didn’t look humiliating at all.
“I apologize, Sislin.”
“……”
“I misunderstood you as a problem and gave you an indelible wound. This teacher is also heartbroken.”
Julius’ deep blue eyes shone with sincerity.
Sislin looked up at him with his red eyes without saying anything.
Seeing that reaction, Julius was quite upset.
“Hey, it’s polite to say that it’s okay if someone asks for forgiveness, Sislin.”
Nevertheless, Julius taught the boy gently yet strictly. Like a great teacher.
Then Annette, who was staring from the side, said,
“Sir, what about the ring?”
“……!”
Julius was terribly surprised, but fortunately he did not show it outwardly.
‘There is a persistent side, this stupid rat.’
Without his realization, strength entered the hand which had the ring, and his fist clenched.
“This is not a ring for children to play with. It’s very dangerous, and it’s a valuable thing to Teacher.”
“If it’s a valuable thing, you should have treated it more carefully.”
Annette resolutely held out her palm.
“Please. A promise is a promise.”
There was a lovely smile in her pale green eyes as she said that.
“Didn’t all the children of the Forest hear what Teacher promised with this ring? You have to keep your promise!”
Gently, Annette laughed.
‘This wretched thing!’
Sislin, who was next to her, opened his mouth for some reason.
“Teacher, give it to her.”
Although there were only four words in the phrase ‘Give it to her’, it made an impact as it was the words of this red-eyed child who usually spoke very little.
Besides, he had a dignified appearance like a child of a nobleman. He didn’t want to admit it, but Julius felt a little daunted by the atmosphere.
But he smiled desperately so as not to lose his adult composure.
“Annette.”
“If you don’t give it to me, I will go and tell the children. I’ll say the teacher is a liar who doesn’t keep his promises.”
“……!”
Julius’ relaxed expression instantly cracked.
‘Damn it. Then my authority as a teacher…!”
He looked down at the ring.
It was a ring that had never been removed from his hand for 20 years since the day of the Pluto clan’s ring presentation ceremony when he was 5 years old.
He even wore it while sleeping.
The ring contained his soul, and the Pluto clan dedicated it to a great man who could be their master.
A ring with the power to summon him anywhere by rubbing the ring.
Giving this to that little child was absurd.
Julius quietly stared at Annette, whose height barely reached his waist.
Then, he had a good idea.
‘I can give it to her, then secretly steal it…!’
‘Why didn’t I think of that earlier?’
Anyway, the little ones wouldn’t even know how to ‘bind’ this ring.
“Good.”
Julius took this chance and raised his eyebrows.
“A promise is a promise, so I’ll give you this ring.”
“Yes!”
Annette’s expression brightened.
“Instead, it’s a precious thing for Teacher, so you have to keep it carefully.”
“I will, sir.”
“But it must be quite big for you.”
Julius took the ring off with trembling hands and handed it over to Annette.
“Ah, maybe so?”
Annette put the ring on her index finger and expressed pure delight.
Then she whispered into the ring.
“Pluto Vimeria.”
It was the spell that binds the ring.
In an instant, Julius’s eyes grew as big as an apple. At the same time, he stretched out his hand wildly.
“How do you know that, eh? No way…!!!”
Whoosh–!
( Note: It’s now Annette’s perspective.)
At that moment, the ring lit up and shrunk to fit my finger.
“…I’m really happy that the best wizard on the continent will listen to everything I say in the future.”
In front of Julius, who had stiffened like crazy, I laughed wickedly.
“Thank you, Teacher!”
“……”
Blink, blink. Julius just kept blinking, with an expression that seemed as if his soul had escaped.
‘What, the ring didn’t suck his soul?’
I swung my hands in front of Julius— wave, wave.
But luckily, he seemed conscious. Seeing that he was sweating so much.
‘Look, Teacher.’
‘There is still another highlight left.’
“Sislin, Teacher is right. Since he apologized, you should answer?”
“……”
Thud—
Sislin’s hand rested on Julius’ head, which had become like a stone with his body bent over.
Then, pat pat, a small hand brushed over Julius’s head.
“I’ll forgive you, my brother.”
“……!!!”
“From now on, be more careful in everything.”
It was only then that Sislin and I left the place leisurely while holding hands.
The scream of Julius, who received strict life admonitions from his ‘11-year-old brother’, was belatedly heard behind our backs.
“Haha!”
Sislin and I looked at each other and laughed happily.
Our steps were as light as if we were flying.
***
“Sister, where did you go… Uhhh!”
As soon as I saw Heinrich in the dormitory, I ran to him and hugged his small body tightly.
“Sister…?”
Heinrich, who looked a little confused, immediately faced me and hugged me tightly back.
“What, all of a sudden.”
Although he said that, his voice sounded excited and his ears were burning red.
Heinrich’s body temperature in my arms was familiar and precious.
Heinrich grumbled as if there was nothing he could do about it.
“Does my sister like me so much?”
“Idiot.”
I doubted him… Thinking about this, I let Heinrich go. His eyebrows rose abruptly as he checked my face.
“Why are you about to cry…? Sister, what’s going on?”
Feeling sorry for Heinrich, my eyes got wet without realizing it.
Heinrich, who quickly became sensitive, gently placed his hand on my cheek.
“Which bastard made my sister cry? Tell me. I will kill him.”
“…It’s not like that, Heinrich. Actually, I have something to confess to you.”
“Confess?”
I sat down with Heinrich and calmly explained what had happened.
I spoke about the doubts I had, to the point that I tested him with the fountain pen.
It was difficult to guess what Heinrich was thinking from his expression as he was listening calmly.
The purple eyes like the dawn sky beneath his silver hair were just staring at me.
After I had said everything, I bowed my head.
“I’m sorry, Heinrich.”
“……”
“I’m so sorry for doubting you… I’m sure you are disappointed with me. No matter what you say, even if you get angry, I’ll accept everything.”
Heinrich pointed at himself with his index finger as he watched me express my apologies.
“I’m most suspicious of myself too.”
“…Huh?”
“Listening to you, I also felt that I seemed the most suspicious… Well, because my usual behavior was kind of like that.”
‘I was afraid that he would be sad…’
I became more emotional because of his kind and good heart.
Heuk-heuk, our sweet bean rice cake baby.
How could I have doubted such an angelic, cute and adorable baby!
“I’m a really bad sister.”
“No, you’re the best sister in the world.”
“I misunderstood that you did something bad…”
“I shouldn’t do bad things… because my sister hates it.”
Heinrich hugged me first. That kindness felt quite mature.
“And I will never be mad at you. No matter what happens, I will never be angry with you.”
“…Heinri.”
“So, don’t worry, Sister.”
Rather, my heart ached at the angelic response of Heinrich.
‘My baby, I’m sorry. Now I will never have any doubts about you.’
I faced Heinrich and hugged him tightly.
And after a while–
Heinrich went to Vivian’s room while she was packing. It was her last request before going to the Forest Temple.
With a tear-soaked face, Vivian clenched her fists and glared at Heinrich.
Then she cried.
“Heinrich, I will tell Annette everything you did!!!”
“……”
Heinrich’s purple eyes suddenly became cold.
Like an ice cube.