"Ahem, and this is your new classmate, Avrora."
Amidst the cheers of her new classmates, the newly transferred Avrora excitedly took her seat next to Akatsuki Nagisa.
She kept turning her head left and right like a little sparrow, curiosity brimming from her every movement.
"Now that we've finished introducing your new classmate, next up is your new homeroom teacher for the foreseeable future."
Having said this, the teacher stepped aside from the podium.
The students below exchanged glances, then burst into cheers as one.
"What's the occasion today? We got both a transfer student and a new teacher?"
"The gods have answered our prayers! I hope she's a beauty."
"As if! The transfer student's already this cute. Good fortune like that doesn't just happen twice."
For any student, new variables within the school grounds were a source of great joy.
The classroom door slid open with a swish, and Arcueid stepped slowly onto the platform.
Standing confidently at the lectern, she adjusted the glasses on the bridge of her nose and swept a smiling gaze across the classroom.
"Hello everyone, it's nice to meet you. I am your new homeroom teacher, Arcutie."
A brief moment of silence was followed by an eruption of excited chatter.
"The gods really did answer our prayers!"
"Ah, she's so beautiful, I think I'm gonna faint!"
"Teacher~ What subject do you teach?"
'Not a bad reaction.'
Arcueid nodded in satisfaction. "I heard someone's question. As I just said, I will be your homeroom teacher."
"Huh? But teacher, which subject do you teach?"
"Just the homeroom teacher."
The students tilted their heads, their eyes filled with confusion.
Arcueid clapped her hands lightly. "Your subject teachers for all other classes will remain the same. I am only responsible for homeroom duties."
She winked playfully. "Feel free to come to me with any… extracurricular questions."
'Arcueid… is so amazing!'
Down among the students, Avrora stared excitedly at Arcueid on the platform, her arms waving about energetically.
To her, the idea of her guardian also being her teacher seemed incredibly fun.
Amidst the warm, chattering send-off, Homeroom Teacher Arcutie left the classroom.
Outside the door, a petite girl with long, raven-black hair stood waiting for her, arms crossed and a thoroughly resigned look on her face.
"Satisfied now?"
"Heh~ Heheh." Arcueid chuckled as she walked alongside Minamiya Natsuki towards the staff office. "It's just so convenient for keeping an eye on the kids at home~"
"Only you would think of taking a position just as a homeroom teacher." Minamiya Natsuki shook her head in defeat.
"What else could I do? I'm not familiar with the subjects you all teach." Arcueid glanced at the students having lessons in other classrooms, the smile on her lips refusing to fade.
"Though if the school decided to host a special lecture on vampires, I'd be perfectly qualified for that."
Having looked after Avrora for three years, she'd gained a decent understanding of this world's Summoner-Vampires.
Minamiya Natsuki paused.
This lecture idea… she was actually a little interested.
"The students aren't quite ready for that kind of knowledge yet," she said, lightly fanning herself with a folding fan before turning to climb the stairs. "The Attack Mages, however, would be quite suitable."
"Eh~? Overtime? No way."
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the hallway.
Minamiya Natsuki opened a parasol, blocking the soft rays. Arcueid chuckled and ducked her head, hiding behind the small shade it provided.
Their faint, conversational voices trailed behind them as they entered the office located on the top floor.
--+--
Afternoon arrived, the sunlight outside the windows now carrying a stifling heat.
The curious and excited Avrora from the morning had vanished, replaced by a drowsy, sleep-surrounded Avrora in the classroom.
A little golden head bobbed up and down over the desk, nodding off like a fisherperson drifting into sleep.
Plop. Her soft cheek squashed flat against the desk, followed by the sound of steady, even breathing.
'Just as I thought.'
Arcueid, watching silently from outside the window, revealed a knowing smile.
There was no way Avrora, who couldn't even stay awake through Trimmau's general knowledge class, could withstand this.
Arcueid wiped the smile from her face, adopting a stern expression as she stood by the back door.
A sudden premonition struck Akatsuki Nagisa. As a skilled spirit medium, she seemed to sense something.
She quickly reached out a finger and gently poked Avrora's little head.
"Gwah—!"
Avrora immediately jolted awake from her dream, snapping her head up.
Her golden hair flew through the air, the sunlight passing through the strands casting a faint, rainbow-like glow.
And then, the stern-faced Arcueid standing at the back door entered her field of view.
Teacher Arcutie, with a completely serious face, pointed directly at her, then turned and walked away, leaving Avrora with a look of pure 'I'm doomed' on her face.
'That was close, I almost couldn't hold my laughter in.'
The moment she turned around, a smile instantly burst onto Arcueid's face.
Her footsteps light, she headed towards Minamiya Natsuki's luxurious office.
--+--
Late at night, under a bright, full moon.
Avrora clung nervously to the edge of the rooftop, her blue eyes stealing occasional, furtive glances at Arcueid, who was admiring the moon beside her.
Her little face tense, she spoke softly, "The… the moon is so beautiful tonight. Perhaps we could—"
"No can do."
Those simple words effortlessly shattered Avrora's hope. She puffed out her cheeks, her entire face written over with displeasure.
As punishment for sleeping in class that afternoon, Arcueid had cruelly revoked her ice cream privileges for the night.
"I already told you, even if you come out with me, the punishment won't be rescinded." Arcueid found it amusing, pinching the girl's puffed-out cheek.
"Wuu…"
The highly inflated cheek was squeezed by slender fingers, forcing the trapped air in her mouth to escape with a whoosh.
"Alright, let's get ready to start."
Arcueid released her fingers and dangled the ice cream she'd brought next to Avrora.
Then, under Avrora's longing gaze, she hung it from a nearby fishing rod.
They had come out tonight hoping for a… serendipitous encounter with the Blazing Banquet participants brought here by the Warlord's Empire.
"Did you understand everything from today's lesson?" Arcueid asked casually, lowering the fishing line.
Avrora's gaze, which had been fixed on the 'bait,' faltered. She guiltily averted her eyes, her hand unconsciously fiddling with her hair. "O-of course!"
"Really?" Arcueid shot her a glance. Avrora's sudden, fidgety 'busywork' instantly gave her away.
She let out a soft sigh. "If you don't understand the homework, you can ask Nagisa or Natsuki-chan."
Avrora tilted her head, her eyes revealing a purity utterly untouched by the ravages of knowledge. "What's homework?"
Silence.
In the quiet of the night, a dreadful understanding seemed to dawn on Avrora.
She swiftly turned her head away, a frantic will to survive boiling within her mind.
Just then, the suddenly jerking fishing rod snatched their attention.
'So soon?'
Arcueid stared blankly at the rod in her hands.
Avrora's eyes instantly lit up. 'A perfect opportunity!'
"I-I'll help you with that—!" Before she could even finish the sentence, she flung herself over the edge with a whoosh.
Followed immediately by a scream that pierced the heavens.
"WAAAAAAAAAH—!"
"We are on the rooftop, you know." Arcueid chuckled and shook her head, then flipped over the edge after her.
"What a foolish vampire."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.