Chapter 94
It was decided that Clael Byrne, the Saint's guardian, would be officially recognized as a Saint.
On top of that, he was invited to serve as a temporary lecturer at the Royal Academy, which meant he would have to leave the town of Eggbell, even if only temporarily.
"Ugh... I never imagined things would turn out like this..."
While packing for his trip to the royal capital, Clael wore a complicated expression.
He had just returned from a trip, only to be immediately scheduled to head for the royal capital.
It wasn't that he was unhappy about it. Clael was originally a member of the Byrne Marquis family residing in the royal capital.
It was simply a return to his old home. He felt no resistance or confusion.
Still, the reason he couldn't be happy about it... was because despite the sudden decision to go to the royal capital, nothing had gone wrong.
(Priest Gieville agreed to take care of things while I'm away... He's already gotten along well with the townspeople, so there's no problem. Nothing at all...)
Even if he was absent, there would be no issues.
Looking at it another way, it could be seen as a sign that he was no longer needed in the town of Eggbell.
Of course, that was just a paranoid and twisted way of thinking. It wasn't that the townspeople found Clael to be a nuisance.
However, if your boss or coworkers smiled and said, 'You're replaceable, so you don't need to come to work,' you'd probably feel conflicted.
It was the same feeling—he couldn't help but be bothered by the fact that the town functioned just fine without him.
"Master Clael! Should we take this with us?"
Meanwhile, Reina, who was helping with the packing, looked cheerful. She wore a very bright smile.
"Ah—let's leave that book behind. You can get the same one in the royal capital."
"Understood! Ah, I'm so excited. I can't believe Master Clael is going to be a teacher at the academy... It's like a dream that we'll be together in the royal capital! Ah, it really is like a dream!"
"...Good for you."
She had been like this ever since she saw the letter sent from the royal capital.
Behind Reina, a divine glow constantly shimmered, and flowers sprouted from the floor wherever she walked down the hallway.
Whether she was aware of it or not, she had been performing miracles nonstop for a while now.
(W-Well, as long as Reina's happy, it's fine... right?)
He was starting to get confused.
One of the reasons for sending Reina to the royal capital was to help her become more independent from her guardian, but was this really okay?
(She's not independent at all... If anything, she seems even more dependent than before...)
"Master Clael, your panties! Panties!"
"Yes, yes, put the underwear in that bag. And don't go around shouting 'panties' like that, you're a girl."
Reina stuffed the underwear she took from the dresser into the bag one after another.
She was so overjoyed that she was acting even more childishly than usual—no, just plain strange.
That aside...
"Just so you know... Reina. Just because we're going to the royal capital doesn't mean we'll be living together, alright?"
"Eh? Really?"
"Yes, really."
The divine glow behind Reina dimmed.
Seeing Reina visibly deflate, Clael made an effort to speak calmly.
"You'll be staying at the Grand Shrine. I'll be living in the academy's staff dormitory. Students aren't allowed inside."
"No way... Then Master Clael should just stay at the shrine too!"
"No can do. We have to draw clear boundaries."
All academy teachers were required to live in the staff dormitory.
In the past, there had been incidents where students and their parents tried to falsify grades or steal test papers by breaking into teachers' homes.
The students and parents at the Royal Academy were all nobles. Some of them used their status to try and manipulate teachers.
Therefore, teachers were obligated to live in the well-guarded staff dormitory.
"Ugh... I guess that's just how the system works..."
Reina drooped her shoulders in disappointment.
Reina had a tendency to get carried away when she fixated on something, but she was fundamentally kind and fair.
She wasn't the type to break rules just to satisfy her own selfish desires.
"But... we can still be together inside the academy, right?"
"...Well, as long as you maintain proper boundaries between student and teacher."
"Yes, I'll behave!"
The divine glow reappeared behind Reina.
White lilies bloomed in abundance at her feet.
"Let's have lunch together. I'll make a bento every day!"
"Well, that's..."
"I'll help you with your work after school too! I have shrine duties, but... well, if I increase the number of plushies, I think I can manage!"
"............"
She wouldn't break the rules out of selfishness, but in other situations, she showed no mercy.
Clael let out a quiet sigh at Reina, who was launching an all-out assault while she had the chance.