Chapter 125
A week had passed since Clael began his life as a teacher.
He had drawn jealousy and resentment from some students, and from others, suspicions about his relationship with Reina.
Despite various incidents... Clael's teaching life had been, on the whole, smooth sailing.
Incidentally, Reina only accompanied him as an assistant on the first day. From the second day onward, she naturally acted alone.
"That's how it should be, but..."
"Sir Clael, let's have lunch."
Every lunch break, Reina would come to the sanctuary to meet Clael.
Reina carried bento wraps in both hands. She had gone out of her way to bring a handmade lunch to eat with Clael.
"Reina... I told you I'm fine with lunch, didn't I?"
"I just want to make it... Was it a bother?"
"...No, it's a big help."
That face was unfair.
When she looked up at him with a clouded expression, he couldn't bring himself to shake his head.
"I'm glad. Then, shall we eat together?"
Reina suddenly broke into a smile.
Somehow feeling like he was being toyed with... Clael and Reina entered a room in the back of the sanctuary called the 'Theology Preparation Room' and sat at the table.
When she unwrapped the bundle and opened the bento lid... white rice, tamagoyaki, fried chicken, and broccoli wrapped in ham. All of them were Clael's favorite side dishes.
"As always, I wonder... how do you manage to get white rice?"
This country belonged to the Western cultural sphere.
Bread was the staple, and there was no culture of eating white rice.
Rice was sometimes brought in by traveling merchants... but of course, it was a luxury item.
It wasn't something easily obtained.
Even so... ever since Reina realized that Clael, seemingly a former Japanese, liked white rice, she had frequently included it in meals.
"Maybe in the Eastern country, but in the royal capital, even nobles can hardly eat it..."
"Well, who knows. Maybe a fairy brought it."
"............"
A fairy... in other words, a Holy Spirit must have brought it.
Most likely, she had borrowed it from an offering at a foreign shrine... but he wanted to believe it wasn't stolen.
"Here, please. Enjoy."
"...Thank you for the food."
Since worrying wouldn't help, Clael stuck a fork into the bento.
The white rice was cooked to perfection.
The tamagoyaki was sweet, and the fried chicken had a soy sauce flavor. All were seasoned exactly to Clael's taste.
"It's delicious. As always, very much so."
"I'm glad. Please eat a lot, okay?"
Reina smiled cheerfully as she watched Clael eat.
Ever since he started working at the academy, they had lunch together almost every day... didn't she ever get tired of watching?
"Um... Reina, are you enjoying this?"
"Yes, I am."
She answered immediately.
She declared it without hesitation.
"I like watching you eat, Sir Clael. I never get tired of it."
"I see..."
It was a statement he both understood and didn't.
Now that she mentioned it... Clael didn't dislike watching Reina eat either.
Despite her delicate appearance, Reina had a hearty appetite, eating more than twice as much as Clael.
Her bento box was also twice the size, and while she watched Clael eat with a gentle smile, her own hands never stopped moving.
With lightning speed, she moved her spoon and fork, bringing side dishes and white rice to her mouth.
"It's already been a week since you became a teacher, Sir Clael. Are you having any trouble?"
"No, I'm fine. Everyone's been kind, and the students are all very earnest."
The other teachers in the staff dormitory were all kind, and the students were diligent.
Most of the students attending this academy were children of nobles, and since Clael came from a marquis family and had been recognized as a Saint, no one dared to pick a fight with him.
"Well, I do get challenged to debates now and then. It's kind of cute."
Since the first class, that student named Abrus Pick had repeatedly challenged him to debates.
He must have been quite frustrated about being defeated in the first class.
For now, Clael had won every time.
(Since he's not resorting to petty harassment, but challenging me head-on with words, he's probably not a bad student.)
"There are students who seem to be putting effort in the wrong places... but somehow, I'm managing just fine."
"Even among my friends, your classes are said to be easy to understand, Sir Clael. I'm proud!"
"That's good to hear."
Having been a student himself, he understood... to be honest, many of the academy's teachers gave hard-to-follow lessons.
It wasn't a matter of academic difficulty, but of poor teaching methods.
(Since this world doesn't have the kind of exam wars Japan had in my previous life, there's not much effort to really drill knowledge into students...)
That must be why there's no need to pursue clarity to that extent.
For Clael, who had experienced top-tier lectures at a prestigious private school in Japan, the flaws in the teaching methods stood out.
"I never thought I'd realize it at this age... but maybe I actually have a talent for teaching."
"You're not only talented as a teacher. There's also..."
"Excuse meee! Is Professor Clael here?"
The door to the preparation room was knocked on.
Beyond the door... it seemed a student had entered from the sanctuary.
"Come in, it's open."
"Excuse meee. Oh, the Saint is here again today."
The student who entered was a second-year girl. She wasn't alone—there were three of them.
"Sorry to interrupt your meal. We'd like to learn organ playing again today..."
"Sure, no problem. We just finished eating."
Ever since someone saw Clael playing the organ, he had often been asked for instruction.
The ones who asked Clael for help were students aspiring to be musicians, or those aiming to be sisters but struggling with singing or playing.
"See? You're talented in music too."
Reina smiled proudly.
Clael wrapped up his empty bento box and placed it in front of Reina.
"Excuse me. I'll be right back, so Reina, please take your time..."
"I'm done eating. It's fine."
"Eh...!?"
Reina's bento side dishes had vanished.
He thought there had been a fair amount left... but Reina elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin. What on earth had just happened?
"I'll come too... You all don't mind, do you?"
"O-of course not... no."
"P-please, we'd be honored if the Saint joined us..."
For some reason, the girls looked frightened.
Even though Reina had a friendly smile, what were they so afraid of?
"Well then, shall we go?"
Clael led the four girls toward the organ in the sanctuary.
Clael's life as a teacher had been, on the whole, smooth sailing.
So far, he hadn't encountered any major trouble.